the world is your oyster. Falstaff: Not a penny.

 

//莎士比亞的喜劇《溫莎的風流婦人》（The Merry Wives of Windsor），其中有一段經典的文言文對話。

Falstaff: I will not lend thee a penny.
法斯塔夫：我不會借給你任何一毛錢。
Pistol: Why then the world’s mine oyster, Which I with sword will open.
皮斯托：那麼我就當這世界為我的牡蠣，我將以利劍撬起它。
Falstaff: Not a penny.
法斯塔夫：你一毛都別想拿到。

皮斯托的那句話，言下之意是要用他的利劍（透過暴力），隨心所欲地從這世上（在這裡被比喻成牡蠣）奪取任何他想要的東西，包括法斯塔夫手中的錢。皮斯托只需要用一把劍把牡蠣（這世界）撬開，牡蠣中的內容物便唾手可得。這是一句多麼傲氣凌人又自以為是的發言。

看到這裡，你可以猜到，「世界是我的牡蠣」是暗示自己可以在世上隨心所欲心想事成，實現自己的想像。這也是一般在網路上可以查得到的中文解釋。//

the world is your oyster

The phrase "the world is your oyster" means you have endless opportunities and the freedom to go anywhere or do anything you want. [1, 2]

Origin

Coined by William Shakespeare in his 1597 play The Merry Wives of Windsor.
Refers to the idea that an oyster must be forced open to find a hidden, valuable pearl inside.
Implies that success and good fortune are there for the taking if you use effort and skill. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

Usage and Examples

Often said to young people graduating from school or starting a new phase of life.
Used as a word of encouragement to show belief in someone's potential.
Example: "You just graduated with top honors, so the world is your oyster!"