2014 年元旦刚过，你可能会问朋友除夕怎样迎接新年，那你可以说：How did you ring in the new year? 当中的ring in 源自从前英国教堂鸣钟迎接新禧的传统。

New 往往令人联想到活力和生机。例如new blood（ 「新血」）即是能为机构注入活力的新成员。例如：The government decided to inject new blood to its cabinet in the hope of reviving its popularity.

New broom 是指能为组织带来改变和进步的新领袖。例如：The company needs a new broom who can modernise its marketing strategies.

Get a new lease of life 即「获得新生命」，也可解作得到新活力或比以前更好的新生活。例如： After taking a long vacation, she felt as if she had a new lease of life.

Turn over a new leaf：字面义是「翻开新的一页」，比喻重新开始、改过自新。Mr Chanhas turned over a new leaf after getting out of prison.

Break new ground 即「开拓新天地」，作出新突破，或成为某个领域的先锋。例如：The company has broken new ground in 3D printing by introducing low-cost 3D printers.

New 可以解作陌生、生疏。A (whole) new ball game 即和过往经验截然不同的陌生处境， 例如： Doing business in China is a whole new ball game for the company.

New to the game 形容在某方面缺乏经验。例如： Susan is new to the game and therefore willing to work her way up from the bottom.

New 亦用于问候语。跟朋友打招呼，可以说：What's new (with you)? 即「自上次碰面后，有没有新的事情发生在你身上？」

不过，What's new? 有时用作反问，形容一些早能预测及没有惊喜的事，带有嘲讽意味，例如：He has gone back to smoking. What's new? 谚语There is nothing new under the sun 的意思也近似。这句谚语取自《圣经》，用来表示所有现在发生的事，从前都已经发生过，不足为奇。

来源:明报