2014 年元旦剛過，你可能會問朋友除夕怎樣迎接新年，那你可以說：How did you ring in the new year? 當中的ring in 源自從前英國教堂鳴鐘迎接新禧的傳統。

New 往往令人聯想到活力和生機。例如new blood（ 「新血」）即是能為機構注入活力的新成員。例如：The government decided to inject new blood to its cabinet in the hope of reviving its popularity.

New broom 是指能為組織帶來改變和進步的新領袖。例如：The company needs a new broom who can modernise its marketing strategies.

Get a new lease of life 即「獲得新生命」，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：字面義是「翻開新的一頁」，比喻重新開始、改過自新。Mr Chanhas turned over a new leaf after getting out of prison.

Break new ground 即「開拓新天地」，作出新突破，或成為某個領域的先鋒。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 即和過往經驗截然不同的陌生處境， 例如： Doing business in China is a whole new ball game for the company.

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

New 亦用於問候語。跟朋友打招呼，可以說：What's new (with you)? 即「自上次碰面後，有沒有新的事情發生在你身上？」

不過，What's new? 有時用作反問，形容一些早能預測及沒有驚喜的事，帶有嘲諷意味，例如：He has gone back to smoking. What's new? 諺語There is nothing new under the sun 的意思也近似。這句諺語取自《聖經》，用來表示所有現在發生的事，從前都已經發生過，不足為奇。

來源:明報