1、a bad apple 坏蛋
A：Oh, my God! What happened? Why are you black and blue?
B：I got beaten by Peter’s brother
A：That’s a bad apple! Let’s think up a way and teach him a lesson
甲：噢，天哪！怎么啦？你身上怎么青一块紫一块的？
乙：彼得的弟弟把我给打了。
甲：这坏蛋，咱们来想个法来教训教训他。
2、a dog in the manger 占着茅坑不拉屎的人；占有有利条件却不会利用的人
A：Give the skates to me!
B：You shut up!
A：If you don’t know how to skate, why don’t you give the skates to me? Don’t be a dog in the manger.
甲：把冰鞋给我！
乙：你闭嘴！
甲：你若不知道怎么滑冰，干吗不把冰鞋给我？别占着茅坑不拉屎了！
3、a gay dog 快活的人
A：It’s strange they should get along so well!
B：That’s nothing unusual.
A：You don’t know much about the couple. One likes to be alone, but the other is a bit of a gay dog.
甲：他们居然能处得这么好，太奇怪了。
乙：没什么不寻常的。
甲：你不了解这俩口子，一个喜欢独处，另一个却喜欢热闹。
4、a hard nut 冥顽不化的人；无知无觉的人
A：Bob refused all his classmate’s invitations.
B：I really couldn’t understand him.
A：He’s surely a hard nut, nobody likes approaching him.
B：We’d better also leave him alone.
甲：鲍勃拒绝了班上所有人的邀请。
乙：他这个人我真不明白。
甲：他真是个脑子不开窍的人，没人愿意靠近他。
乙：我们最好也别惹他。
5、a hen-pecked husband 妻管严；怕老婆的男人
A：Aunt is scolding uncle again.
B：Don’t worry. Your uncle won’t utter a word back.
A：I didn’t know my uncle is a hen-pecked husband
B：He isn’t. He thinks it’s not necessary to quarrel with women.
甲：婶婶又在骂叔叔了。
乙：别着急，你叔叔不会还口的。
甲：我还不知道我叔叔是个妻管严。
乙：他不是。他觉得和女人吵架没必要。
6、big shot 要人
A：Do you know Mr. Smith?
B：No, but I know of him. He’s a big shot in the local politics.
A：I’m told he’s only a yes-man.
B：Yes, I hate that. At present, what we want is a strong, independent leader, not a bunch of yes-man.
甲：你认识史密斯先生吗？
乙：不认识，但我知道这人，他在本地政界是个举足轻重的人物。
甲：我听说他是个和事佬。
乙：没错儿，我就恨这个。现在，我们要的是强有力的、有主见的领导人，可不是和事佬儿。
7、fat cat 大款
A：Where’re those popular actresses in our school time?
B：Get into marriage.
A：Can everyone find a fat cat?
B：Everyone wants to, but not everyone succeeds.
甲：咱们上学时的那些女影星都哪去了？
乙：结婚了呗！
甲：人人都能找到大款吗？
乙：人人都想，可并不是人人都能找到。
8、bosom friends 知心朋友
A：Is Jack a friend of yours?
B：Yes. He is one of my bosom friends.
A：He’s a nice guy as far as I know
B：You can be certain of that.
甲：杰克是你的朋友吗？
乙：是，他是我的一个知心朋友。
甲：我也知道他是一个好人。
乙：这点毫无疑问。
9、con artist 大骗子手
A：Is this your first visit to this city?
B：Yes, why?
A：Perhaps I should warn you that this city is full of con artists.
B：Thanks for telling. I’ll take care.
甲：这是你第一次游览这个城市吗？
乙：是呀，怎么了？
甲：也许我该提醒你这座城市有许多骗子手。
乙：谢谢，我会小心的。
10、the long and short of it 概括地说
A：Do you know why John left our company?
B：It’s a complicated story but the long and short of it is that he transferred a large sum of money wrongly.
A：Who should be responsible exactly?
B：A crook took advantage of him. Our boss would never forgive such a stupid act.
甲：你知道为什么约翰离开我们公司了吗？
乙：这事很复杂，但概括地说，他错转了一大笔资金。
甲：确切说谁应负责呢？
乙：一个骗子骗了他。我们的老板永远也不会原谅这样愚蠢的行为。
11、no point 没理由
A：There’s no point in losing temper on me. It’s unfair!
B：What did you do to him?
A：If I did something bad, I wouldn’t blame him for getting angry with me. The point is that I did nothing wrong.
B：Maybe he thought you reported him to the manager.
甲：没理由向我发火。这太不公平了！
乙：你对他怎么了！
甲：如果我做了坏事，我不会怪他生我的气。可事实是，我没做什么错事呀。
乙：说不定他以为是你向经理打了小报告。
12、fat change（反语）微小的机会；极少的可能
A：I think it was Jason who stole my document.
B：Fat chance!
A：He’s the only one who left here late.
B：I know him. He’ll never do that sort of thing.
甲：我觉得是詹森偷了我的文件。
乙：不会的。
甲：他是唯一一个走得晚的人。
乙：我了解他，他决不会干这种事儿。
13、mark time 原地踏步；停顿
A：Why did we stop?
B：No, we didn’t really stop. We just marked time.
A：Marked time?
B：Yeah, we have to pause until we get approval.
甲：我们为什么停下来？
乙：不，我们并没有真的停下来。我们只是原地踏步。
甲：原地踏步？
乙：是的。我们不得不暂时停下待命。
14、have seen better days 有过好日子
A：Look, Mrs. Thomas is such a beauty in her early eyes.
B：But Mr. Thomas is short, skinny and ugly.
A：Why do you think Mrs. Thomas married him?
B：He’s certainly very poor now, but I think he’s seen better days.
甲：看，托马斯夫人年轻时这么漂亮。
乙：可托马斯先生又矮、又瘦、又丑。
甲：你猜他为什么要嫁给他？
乙：他现在固然很穷，可我想他有过好日子。
15、a storm in a teacup 风波；小事引起的轩然大波；小题大做
A：The husband can’t understand why his wife got angry so easily.
B：He’s too careless maybe.
A：No, it’s not that. Actually it’s a storm in a teacup. I also thought it’s the women who is to blame.
B：Anyway the man has to consider his wife’s feelings.
甲：丈夫不明白他妻子为什么那么容易生气。
乙：可能他太粗心了。
甲：不是，不是因为这个。实际上她是小题大做，我也觉得是他妻子不对。
乙：不管怎么说男人应该考虑作妻子的情绪。
16、the last straw 忍无可忍
A：That was the last straw!
B：Why did you say that? Did your girlfriend do anything wrong?
A：She refused to see me. She must have fallen in love with another guy.
B：I don’t believe it. Talk with her, will you? There must be some misunderstanding between you.
甲：真是让人忍无可忍！
乙：你为什么这么说？你女朋友做什么错事了吗？
甲：她拒绝见我，她一定是爱上别人了。
乙：我不相信。和她谈谈，好吗？你们之间一定是发生什么误会了。
17、make a clean breast of….忏悔
A：You’re restless. Are you in trouble?
B：I’ve done something I shouldn't
A：Then make a clean breast of it, you will feel released.
B：I’ve not decided yet.
甲：你老是不安？有麻烦吗？
乙：我做了件不该做的事。
甲：那就彻底忏悔一下吧。你会感觉轻松一些的。
乙：我还没决定呢。
18、to my way of thinking 依我看来…..
A：To my way of thinking, I think you behaved rudely before your dad.
B：I couldn’t keep my temper then, poor dad, he must be very sad.
A：How about apologizing now?
B：I hope he can forgive me.
甲：依我看来，你在你父亲面前表现得太无礼了。
乙：当时我控制不住。可怜的爸爸，他一定很难过。
甲：现在去向他道歉怎么样？
乙：我希望他能原谅我。
19、the same… as 同….一样
A：Jim, is this the bike you lost?
B：Let me see. No, mine has a special symbol on it.
A：This is the same bike as yours, I think. I can’t tell the difference.
B：If you were the owner, you could.
甲：吉姆，这是你丢的那辆自行车吗？
乙：让我看看。不是，我的车上面有个特别的标记。
甲：我想这辆车和你的很像。我看不出有什么区别。
乙：如果你是车主，你就能看出区别了。
20、the benefit of doubt (在证据不足情况下)假定某人无辜
A：Who did it?
B：Don’t be so angry, Henry?
A：It must be Robert.
B：Maybe Robert did it, maybe he didn’t. If I were you, I would give him the benefit of the doubt. It’s not so important anyway.
甲：这是谁干的？
乙：亨利，别发那么大的火好不好？
甲：准是罗伯特干的。
乙：也许是罗伯特干的，也许不是。如果我是你，我就先假定不是他干的。不管怎么说这件事也没什么大不了的。
21、right up one’s alley 正合某人的心意或技能
A：David is good at tennis.
B：Speaking of tennis, Daniel is the best.
A：That’s for sure. All sports are right up his alley. Actually, nobody can get a better hand over him yet.
B：He’ll make a successful sportsman, I think.
甲：大卫很擅长网球。
乙：谈到网球，丹尼尔是最棒的了。
甲：那是肯定的。所有运动他都擅长。事实上，还没人能胜过他。
乙：我想他会成为一个成功的运动员的。
22、school of hard knocks 艰苦的磨练
A：My boss is such a shrewd businessman everyone admires him.
B：Which university did he graduate from?
A：He never went to high school. He was educated in the school of hard knocks.
B：That’s incredible.
甲：我的老板是个非常精明的生意人，每个人都很欣赏他。
乙：他是从哪所大学毕业的？
甲：连高中都没上过。他是受了艰苦的磨练而成长起来的。
乙：真是难以置信。
23、something the matter with 出问题
A：Hey, Richard! What’re you doing right here?
B：My recorder has something the matter with its speaker; I want to have it fixed.
A：It broke down again? You really need a new one.
甲：嘿，里查德！你在这儿干什么呢？
乙：我录音机的喇叭坏了。我想找人把它修好。
甲：又坏了？你真该买个新的了。
24、under age 未成年
A：Why not take me to the party, Mom?
B：You’re too young, dear.
A：Oh, I’m really as tall as you.
B：Oh, you’re still under age.
甲：为什么不带我去参加晚会，妈妈？
乙：你还未成年，亲爱的。
甲：不，我都快和您一般高了。
乙：但你还是没长大啊。
25、the matter 麻烦
A：Is the anything matter?
B：I’ve been watching the game on TV. One of our athletes is seriously injured.
A：My goodness! Has she been sent to hospital?
B：Yes, poor girl. She’s only your age.
甲：出什么事了吗？
乙：我一直在看电视上的比赛，我们的一个队员严重受伤了。
甲：天哪！她被送往医院了吗？
乙：送了。可怜孩子，她只有你这么大。
26、rat race 激烈的竞争
A：America is a rich country. Many people are dreaming of going there but you came back.
B：To tell you the truth, I’m very happy with my modest job here and the peaceful life.
A：New York is exciting, isn’t it?
B：Yes, but I have no desire to take part in the rat race there.
甲：美国是个富裕的国读。很多人都梦想去那儿，但你却回来了。
乙：坦白地说，我很满意自己在这里的普通工作和平静生活。
甲：纽约很令人兴奋，不是吗？
乙：是的。但我却无心卷入那种你死我活的竞争。
27、take someone’s mind off something 使某人忘记某事
A：I need a week’s vacation so that I can take my mind of my troubles.
B：Yeah, maybe things will changes for the better.
A：I am hoping so.
甲：我需要一周的假期，这样我可以忘记我的烦恼。
乙：是啊，也许事情会有转机。
甲：我正希望如此。
28、think twice about 仔细考虑
A：You’re a native of the city and you have lived here for many years. How do you like it?
B：Well, I’d have to think twice about that.
A：It’s familiar to you, isn’t it?
B：Well, I think it’s beautiful. I especially like the weather here.
甲：你是本市人，在这儿呆了很多年，你觉得这座城市怎么样？
乙：恩，我得好好想一想。
甲：你不陌生吧？
乙：恩，我想，这儿很美，我特别喜欢这儿的天气。
29、Take the turning 拐弯
A：Could you tell me how to get to the bank?
B：Let me think. Well, take the second turning on the right and it’s opposite the supermarket.
A：I see. Is it far?
B：No, not really, only a few minutes.
A：Oh, good, thank your very much.
A：请告诉去银行怎么走，好吗？
B：让我想想，恩，在第二个路口向右拐，就在超市的对面。
A：我明白了，很远吗？
B：不太远，只有几分钟的路程。
A：非常感谢。
30、search me (非正式)不知道
A：Where’s Annie?
B：In the house.
A：In the house? Where is she?
B：Search me, I don’t know where she is now.
A：安妮呢？
B：在屋里。
A：在屋里？在哪儿呢？
B：不知道，我也搞不清。
31、have it in one 有能力（做某事）
A：Harry was elected monitor at the class meeting yesterday.
B：Do you think he has it in him to be a good monitor?
A：He’s a good student as far as his achievement is concerned. But I really can’t tell whether he’ll make a good monitor.
A：昨天哈里在班会上被选为班长。
B：你认为他有能力成为一名好班长吗？
A：就他的成绩来说他是一名好学生。但他是不是能当个好班长，我也说不好。
32、have it over 比…..好些；胜过
A：It’s pity that I haven’t been to many countries.
B：But I think you have it over me. I’ve never been out of China.
A：Never?
B：Never. I am not joking.
A：真遗憾很多国家我都没去过。
B：但我想你总比我要好。我从来都没出过中国。
A：从来都没出去过？
B：从来都没有。我没有开玩笑。
33、Have had enough 对…..发腻；厌烦
A：What do you think of the Prof. Smith lecture?
B：I’ve have had enough of that kind of stuff.
A：So have I. I decided not to go next time.
A：你认为史密斯教授的课上得怎么样？
B：我对他讲的课已经厌烦了。
A：我也是。我决定下节课不去了。
34、serve somebody right 自作自受
A：Would you please find me another job, Dad?
B：What’s wrong with your job?
A：I’ve lost it.
B：I once told you to work hard, but you always turned a deaf ears to me. It serves you right.
A：爸爸，能请您为我另找份工作吗？
B：你的工作怎么了？
A：我丢了这份工作。
B：以前我告诉过你要努力工作，但你总是当耳边风，你这是自作自受。
35、for that matter 而且
A：His parents won’t trust him and for that matter, neither do I.
B：But his records are very good.
A：But I like to judge a person from his close friends or kin.
B：It’s also a good ways.
A：他父母不信任他，我也不信任他。
B：可他的成绩非常好。
A：我却喜欢根据一个人的亲朋好友的态度来评价他。
B：这方法也不错。
36、free and easy 自由自在；满不在乎
A：Henry is free and easy with his money.
B：Yes, he is. His father is a millionaire.
A：As far I know, wealth hasn’t done him any good. He’s drinking and smoking. He’s even playing truant.
B：I’m really worried about his future.
A：亨利花钱满不在乎的。
B：可不，他爸是个百万富翁。
A：据我所知，有钱没给他带来什么好处，他有抽烟又喝酒，甚至还逃学。
B：我真替他的将来担心。
37、back up 支持
A：I agreed to your proposal at the meeting this morning. It was a good one.
B：You should have backed me up then when I needed it.
A：The matter was too complicated to explain.
A：我同意你今天早晨在会上的建议，建议很好。
B：那么你就应该在我需要的时候支持我的。
A：事情很复杂，不太好解释。
38、wet blanket 使人扫兴的人
A：What do you think of Lucy?
B：She’s a wet blanket!
A：Why do you think so?
B：She sulked during the entire movie yesterday. None of us could enjoy the show.
A：你认为露西这个人怎么样？
B：她很令人扫兴。
A：你为什么这么想。
B：昨天看电影时她一直很生气，弄得我们谁也没看好电影。
39、keep somebody at arm’s length 敬而远之；疏远
A：I have a feeling that Lily is not so close to Joe as she used to be.
B：Yeah, when she heard about his background, she decided that she’d better keep him at arm’s length.
A：But Joe feels miserable.
A：我觉得莉莉对乔不像以前那么亲近了。
B：是啊，她听说他的背景后，就决定疏远他了。
A：可乔却觉得很痛苦。
40、be on one’s back 卧病；卧床不起
A：Where’s Eric? I haven’t seen him for quite a few days.
B：He’s on his back now.
A：I’m sorry to hear that. But he was all right last week.
B：Yeah, he was caught in the rain the other days. He has got a very bad cold.
A：艾力克在哪儿呢？我好几天没见着他了。
B：他卧床不起了。
A：真不愿听到这个。上周他还好好的呢。
B：是啊，那天让雨淋了，他感冒得严重。
41、make somebody’s blood boil 使……极度愤怒
A：I want to sue the teachers for their physical punishments at school.
B：It’s all right as long as it doesn’t harm the children, or they won’t behave themselves.
A：Why do you also have the stupid idea? That’s brutal! It makes my blood boil to see our daughter standing in class for a long time.
A：我想起诉老师在学校对学生的体罚。
B：如果不伤到孩子的话，我想体罚一下也未尝不可，否则孩子们是不会守规矩的。
A：你怎么也有这样愚蠢的想法呢？那种行为简直太野蛮了！看到我们的女儿长时间地在课堂上罚站，把我的肺都气炸了。
42、 to the backbone 彻底
A：Helen is going out with Tom.
B：I hope not. Tom is a liar to the backbone.
A：How come?
B：He never tells anything true.
A：海伦正和汤姆交往。
B：我可不希望这样。汤姆是个十足的骗子。
A：何以见得？
B：他从来就没讲过真话。
43、sad dog 粗野的家伙
A：Ouch, you hurt me!
B：You’re no better. You knocked off my glasses.
A：You deserve it!
B：You, such a sad dog!
A：哎呦！你弄疼我了！
B：你也不怎么样。把我的眼镜都打掉了。
A：你活该！
B：你这粗野的家伙！
44、would give one’s right arm 要是……该多好
A：Listen! Someone is singing in the classroom.
B：Oh, it’s Billy. The song is beautiful!
A：I would give right arm to be able to sing like Billy.
A：听！有人在教室里唱歌。
B：噢，是比利。唱得多美！
A：我要是能唱得像比利那样就好了。
45、back out
A：Excuse me, sir.
B：Yes?
A：If the truck parks there, it will block the driveway. I have to back out soon.
B：I’ll ask the driver to park in the street.
A：Thank you.
A：对不起，先生。
B：怎么了？
A：如果把卡车听在这儿，会妨碍交通的。我的车一会儿就要退出来。
B：我会告诉司机，让他把车停在街上。
A：谢谢。
46、be up in arms 满腔怒火
A：What do you think of the plan for the new airport near here?
B：Perhaps they should give it a second thought. The residents here are getting up in arms about it.
A：I think they will.
A：你觉得在这儿附近建机场的计划怎么样？
B：也许他们该慎重考虑一下，这儿的居民对此非常气愤。
A：我想他们会的。
47、no fool 决不是傻瓜；聪明人
A：He thought he could take George in, but you know, George’s no fool.
B：So?
A：So. George just took him in instead and it cost him an arm and a leg.
B：You mean finally Mark bought the broken car himself?
A：Exactly. Mark’s almost broken now.
A：他想骗乔治上当，可是你要只乔治可不是傻瓜。
B：结果呢？
A：结果乔治反而把他给骗了，他可赔死了。
B：你是说马克最后把那破车买了？
A：正是，马克现在都快破产了。
48、in cold blood 冷血
A：The murderer was sentenced to life imprisonment.
B：It’s a severe punishment, I think.
A：Yeah, because he just killed a man in cold blood.
B：No wonder.
A：那个杀人犯被判处了无期徒刑。
B：我想这刑罚相当重。
A：是啊，因为他残忍地杀了一个人。
B：那就不足为奇了。
49、back down on 放弃
A：You finally backed down on your plan.
B：Yeah, I wouldn’t stick to it since most of you have opposite opinion.
A：You should give it a second thought.
A：你最后还是放弃了你的计划。
B：是的，既然你们大都反对这个计划，我也不想坚持了。
A：你再想一想吧。
50、work addict 工作狂
A：Who left the office with the light on?
B：Oh, Henry is still there working.
A：I see, the work addict.
B：Yes, he is. He’s never conscious of his health until he’s ill.
A：谁离开办公室没关灯。
B：噢，亨利还在那工作呢。
A：我知道了，是那个工作狂。
B：是的。不病倒了，他是不会意识到自己的身体重要。
51、give it to somebody straight 直截了当告诉某人
A：I’m very sorry. You see, I’m not in the position to tell you all this but I’m certainly very worried.
B：Don’t make a big speech about how sorry you are. Just give it to me straight.
A：We have to lay off some workers and you’re one of them.
A：我非常抱歉。你看，本不该由我来告诉你这一切，但我的确很担心。
B：你就别没完没了地抱歉了，你就直说吧。
A：我们不得不让一些工人下岗，而你就是其中一个。
52、square up to 对……摩拳擦掌
A：Being Chinese, the little boy bravely squared up to the tall Japanese solider.
B：And then?
A：And then with a whistle of bullet, the solider was killed.
B：By whom?
A：By the little boy’s father, appearing right behind the Jap!
A：身为中国人，那个小男孩英勇地与那个高个日本兵搏斗。
B：然后呢？
A：然后一声枪响，那个日本兵死了。
B：谁开的枪？
A：小男孩的父亲。他正好出现在日本兵背后。
53、have a thing about 对…….反应强烈（喜欢或不喜欢）
A：My grandfather has a thing about men with long hair.
B：Why?
A：He says it’s something like a rascal.
B：Well, tell him not to judge people by their looks.
A：我爷爷非常反对男人留长发。
B：为什么？
A：他说那有点儿像流氓。
B：嗯，告诉他不要以貌取人。
54、harp on 责骂；批评；申斥
A：My mother always harp on me.
B：So does my mother. They’re just like that, I’m already used to it.
A：But I can’t bear it.
B：What they do is just for our good.
A：我妈总是责骂我。
B：我妈也是。她们就是那样。我已经习惯了。
A：但我不能忍受了。
B：她们那样做也是为我们好。
55、to one’s face 当着某人的面
A：It’s hard to tell someone she’s wrong to her face.
B：Why are you so sad?
A：It’s my friend, Joan. She was very rude to her boyfriend yesterday. I told her she was wrong and she started to hate me.
B：No, that won’t do! How could she be so narrow-minded? I’ll do something for you.
A：当着一个人的面告诉她说“她错了”是很难的。
B：你为什么这么不开心？
A：是我的朋友琼，昨天她对男友非常粗鲁无礼。我告诉她说这样不对，她却开始恨起我来。
B：哦，怎么能这样！她怎么能这么小心眼儿？我会帮你的。
56、bind someone hand and foot 使动弹不得
A：Keep watch on him so that he won’t be able to escape.
B：We’ve already bound him hand and foot.
A：Just in case he escapes?
B：That’s impossible.
A：看好他，别让他跑了。
B：我们把他手脚绑上了，让他动弹不了。
A：万一他已经跑了呢？
B：不可能的。
57、have head like a sieve 健忘
A：What’s that man’s name?
B：I thought you’d been introduced to him twice.
A：Yeah. But I still cannot remember his name. I’ve got a head like a sieve
A：那位先生叫什么来着？
B：我想已经给你介绍了两次了。
A：不错。但我还是没有记住 他的名字，我很健忘。
58、in one’s heart of hearts 在心里
A：Are you really dating with Tom?
B：Yeah. But in my heart of hearts, I find he’s not very to my liking.
A：Then why not keep away from him?
B：The problem is that I just have no one to turn right now.
A：That’s stupid.
A：你真的在和汤姆约会吗？
B：是的，可是，我并不是从心眼里喜欢他。
A：那你干吗不离开他呢？
B：问题是我还没有找到更好的人。
A：这样做真愚蠢。
59、cool one’s heels 久候
A：You finally come. I had to cool my heels for you.
B：Sorry. Something unexpected tied me up.
A：Hurry up, or we’ll miss the last performance.
B：OK. Let’s go in.
A：你终于来了，我等了你好久了。
B：对不起，以外事情把我给缠住了。
A：快点，否则我们将错过最后一场表演。
B：好吧，我们进去吧。
60、have a big nose 爱打听
A：Frank said I have a big nose. I wonder what the means.
B：You’re interested in other people’s business, aren’t you?
A：Does he mean I’m inquisitive or I’m nosy?
B：That’s right.
A：弗兰克说我是“包打听”。我想知道这是什么意思？
B：你对别人的事情很感兴趣，不是吗？
A：他的意思是我很好奇或是我爱打听别人的事情吗？
B：是的。
61、have a sweet tooth 喜爱甜食
A：Alana is getting fatter and fatter. Why doesn’t she try to lose some weight?
B：She has a sweet tooth and loves meat more than anything else.
A：No wonder she’s getting weight so fast.
B：But now she’s come to realize the consequences and decided to cut down on candies and desserts.
A：阿兰娜越来越胖了，她为什么不试着减肥呢？
B：她偏好甜食而且最喜欢吃肉。
A：怪不得她胖的这么快。
B：但现在她已渐渐意识到后果严重了，并决心少吃糖果和甜点。
62、have an itching palm 贪财
A：Don’t trust Ben.
B：Why?
A：He has an itching palm and is sure to cheat you out of your share of the profits.
B：Then I must be careful about him.
A：别信任本。
B：为什么？
A：他很贪财，肯定会从你身上骗得好处。
B：那我必须小心了。
63、the shot in the arm 激励；鼓舞
A：Good news!
B：What is it?
A：The state of economy is starting to go up in our country.
B：That’s just the shot in the arm we need.
A：好消息！
B：什么消息？
A：我们国家的经济状况开始好转了。
B：那正是我们所需要的鼓舞人心的消息。
64、twist one’s arm 采取强制手段
A：It’s not easy to be a dean of a department.
B：I agree.
A：The new dean in our department is twisting the arms of some of the faculty members in order to get his way.
A：做系主任可真不容易。
B：可不是嘛。
A：我们系新上任的主任正在对一些教师采取强制手段，以到达他自己的目的。
65、rude awakening 如梦初醒
A：I heard that Daniel, not Donald has been promoted.
B：Yes, Donald had thought that he was the boss’s favorite employee. This time he had a rude awakening.
A：Poor Donald!
A：我听说丹尼尔升值了，而不是唐纳德。
B：是这样。唐纳德总以为自己是老板最得意的雇员。这次他才如梦初醒。
A：可怜的唐纳德。
66、poor apology for something 有名无实
A：Did you have a good time during your holidays.
B：Generally speaking yes. The restaurant I stayed in has a nice atmosphere, but they serve a poor apology for a meal.
A：How long did you stay there?
B：10 days.
A：假期过的好吗？
B：总的来说还可以。我住的酒店氛围还不错，只是饭菜有名无实。
A：你在那儿住了多久？
B：10天
67、what(ever) next 还有比这更荒唐的（或更料想不到的）吗
A：Lily’s the First Lady? Whatever next?
B：Why are you so surprised? Lily’s the prettiest among us.
A：But do you think beauty alone can make a First Lady?
B：I’m afraid I’ve no say here.
A：莉莉当上了第一夫人？还有比这更荒唐的吗？
B：你为什么如此吃惊呢？莉莉是我们当中最漂亮的呀！
A：但你认为漂亮就能当上第一夫人？
B：恐怕对此我没有发言权。
68、well up in 精通；擅长
A：It’s said you’re well up in literature.
B：You’re partial. I just like it.
A：Can you show me how to learn literature?
B：That’s a hard question. I’ve been reading and trying to write out my ideas.
A：据说你很擅长文学。
B：你说的不完全对，我只不过是爱好文学。
A：你能告诉我怎样学习文学吗？
B：这个问题很难回答。我一直在读书，并努力写出自己的感想。
69、scarcely ever 很少；几乎
A：Would you do me a favor?
B：What’s it?
A：My daughter has no interest in studying at college. Could you provide some information on job?
B：Scarcely ever to people get a good job these days without a good education. Tell this to her.
A：帮我个忙好吗？
B：什么事？
A：我女儿不想上大学，你能提供些求职信息吗？
B：你告诉她吧，现在没受过好的教育的人找到好工作很难。
70、sure thing 当然可以
A：Would it be okay if I used your phone to make a local call?
B：Sure thing.
A：Do I have to dial “0” first?
B：No.
A：我能用你的电话打个市话吗？
B：当然可以。
A：我是否得先拨“0”。
B：不。
71、 to the effect that 大意是……，72、 含有….. 之意
A：What did Prof. Lindsay say in his speech?
B：He spoke to the effect that the same symbol carries different implication or association in different cultures.
A：Can you give me an example?
B：Ox in Chinese is the symbol of diligence, honesty and responsibility as well as selfless contribution, but in Japanese, it’s of backwardness and inefficiency.
A：林塞教授在他的演讲中讲了些什么？
B：他大意是说，“同样一个象征符号在不同的文化中却有着不同的含义，使人产生不同的联想”
A：能否为我举个例子？
B：在中国文化中牛是勤劳、诚实、有责任感和无私奉献的象征；但在日本文化中，它却是落后和无能的代表。
73、 Thin air 子虚乌有
A：Jim, can you write a report for me?
B：Yes, I can, but you’ll have to give me all the data. I can’t create something out of thin air, you know.
A：No, problem.
A：吉姆，你能为我写份报告吗？
B：可以，但你必须给我提供所有的数据，你知道，我不能凭空捏造。
A：没问题。
74、 Under warranty 在保修期内
A：Oh! Is this recorder still under warranty?
B：It should be. I bought it only one month ago. Now it refuses to work these days.
A：It must be poor quality.
A：噢！这台录音机还在保修期内？
B：应该是。我一个月前刚买了它，可这些天它就不好使了。
A：一定是质量太差了。
75、 Too (clever) by half 可太聪明啦（贬义）；聪明过了头
A：He thought he could get Mr. Green’s money in his pocket but he lost all, he was too clever by half.
B：The fact is he never realizes that. He always starts out tricking others and ends up being tricked.
A：That’s the point. He once lost his briefcase by asking a “blind man” to take care of it for him.
A：他以为自己能把格林先生的钱据为己有，但却一分也没得到，他可是聪明过头了。
B：事实是他从没有认识到这一点。他总是开始时骗别人，到最后却被别人骗。
A：对啦，这才是要害。他曾丢过一个公文包，原因是让一个“盲人”帮他看包。
76、 (not)a shirt to one’s back 一无所有
A：Mrs. Brown deserve everybody’s pity.
B：I heard she became a widow last summer.
A：And a fire left her without a shirt to her back.
B：Bad luck.
A：布朗夫人值得大家同情。
B：我听说去年夏天她丈夫死了。
A：并且一场大火使她一无所有。
B：真倒霉！
77、 Cut one’s coat according to one’s cloth 量力而78、 为
A：Can we buy a house of our own, dear?
B：Not now. We have to rent house for a few more years.
A：The price is reasonable at present. What if prices rise?
B：My salary isn’t very large at the moment and we have nowhere to borrow much. We must cut our coat according to our cloth.
A：亲爱的，我们能买自己的房子吗？
B：现在不行。我们必须再租几年房子。
A：现在的房价挺合理。如果房价上涨该怎么办呢？
B：我现在的工资不高而且我们也没有地方借钱。我们必须量力而为。
79、 Die in one’s boots 工作时死去
A：Has your father retired?
B：Not yet. He hates to stay at home.
A：He’s old enough, isn’t he?
B：Yes, he is. But he says he would rather die in his house.
A：你的父亲退休了吗？
B：还没有。他讨厌呆在家里。
A：他太老了，不是吗？
B：是的。但是他说他宁愿在工作中死去。
80、 Dress somebody down 斥责；指81、 责
A：The boss looks cross.
B：Yes?
A：Jenny work is a mess, you know. I’m afraid he will dress her down.
B：That would be all right as long as he doesn’t give her a boot.
A：老板看来情绪不好。
B：怎么了？
A：你知道珍妮工作干得一团糟，我恐怕他要训她了。
B：只要不开除她就行啊。
82、 Fit like a glove 完全合适
A：Oh, the dress fits you like a glove!
B：Do you really think so?
A：Sure I do.
B：What about the color?
A：Maybe it’s a little bright. Pity it’s the wrong color.
A：噢，这套衣服你穿上真合适！
B：真的吗？
A：当然了。
B：颜色怎么样？
A：也许有点儿太亮了。就是颜色差了点儿。
83、 Get the boot 别解雇
A：You looked depressed, Tom. What’s the matter?
B：We all got the boot yesterday.
A：Why? Is it closed down?
B：No, our factory was taken over by another company.
A：Tough luck!
A：汤姆，你看起来情绪不高。怎么了？
B：我们昨天都被解雇了。
A：为什么？倒闭了？
B：没有，我们厂被别家公司接管了。
A：真倒霉。
84、 Give the shirt off one’s back 慷慨解囊
A：I’ve got an empty pocket recently.
B：I heard Mr. Genge is always ready to give the shirt of his back.
A：Do you think he’ll help me?
B：You bet.
A：最近我手头没钱。
B：我听说乔治先生对别人总是慷慨解囊。
A：你认为他会帮我吗？
B：当然啦。
85、 Hit below the belt 做事不86、 公道
A：He’ll go to court tomorrow.
B：Yes, I think he should be careful how he answers the lawyer’s questions.
A：We’ve talked a little about that. He knows the lawyer always hits below the belt.
A：他明天要去法庭。
B：是的。我相信他会小心回答律师提出的问题。
A：关于这一点我们已经谈过了，他知道律师做事从不体面。
87、 Keep one’s shirt on 保持镇静
A：Lily, keep your shirt on and don’t get agitated.
B：I just can’t. She peeped my diary.
A：莉莉，保持镇静，别发火。
B：我控制不住，她偷看我日记了。
88、 Be above oneself 趾高气扬，89、 得意忘形
A：Maggie seems to be quite above herself these days. What happened?
B：Well, she got promoted.
A：麦琪这几天得意忘形，怎么啦？
B：噢，她升职了。
90、 Of one’s own accord 自愿地，91、 主动地
A：Why did you help him? Is there anyone who asked you to do so?
B：Not really, I did it solely of my own accord.
A：你为什么帮他？是有人要你这么做吗？
B：不是，是我自愿做的。
92、 Give a bad / poor account of oneself 表现不93、 佳
A：Allen did not want to give a bad account of herself by talking about things she is not familiar with.
B：That’s natural.
A：艾伦不希望因为谈论不熟悉的事情而给人留下不好的印象。
B：那很自然
94、 Scrape (up) an acquaintance with sb. 设法接近（结识）某人
A：Look, that guy over there is trying to scrape up an acquaintance with Joanna.
B：I know that man. He is always after pretty girls.
A：看，那边那个人正在和乔安娜套近乎呢。
B：我认识他。他就爱追着漂亮姑娘。
95、 Put on an act 装腔作势
A：I really don’t like professor Wang’s lectures.
B：I don’t like either. He is always putting on an act, either speaking like a book or being playful with words.
A：我真不喜欢王教授的讲座。
B：我也不喜欢。他总是装腔作势，不是咬文嚼字，就是舞文弄墨。
96、 Make much ado about nothing无中生有，97、 无事生非
A：The speaker boasted that he would talk about the secret of becoming a successful man, but he actually made much ado about nothing.
B：If I were you, I would ask him if he himself was a successful man.
A：演讲者吹嘘说他会谈论如何成为一位成功人士，但事实上他却是在无中生有。
B：要是我，我会问他，他自己是否是一位成功人士。
98、 Be after doing something 刚刚作完某事
A：Could we go and have a talk with John?
B：I’m after talking with him.
A：我们去和约翰聊一聊怎么样？
B：我刚和他聊完。
99、 Come / go to someone’s aid 赶来/去援助某人
A：She called police.
B：Yes, they sure will come to her aid.
A：她报警了。
B：是的，警察一定会来帮忙的。
100、 Roll in the aisles 使某人捧腹大笑
A：How was the lecture last night?
B：It was funny. The speaker rolled everyone of us in the aisles.
A：昨晚的报告如何？
B：很好笑，演讲者把我们每个人都逗得捧腹大笑。
101、 In answer to… 应….之请求
A：In answer to Mike’s request, the company gave him a paid holiday abroad.
B：How nice!
A：应迈克的请求，公司允许他带薪到国外休假。
B：太好了！
102、 For anything someone cares 与某人不103、 相干
A：What’s the matter? You got conned for anything I care.
B：How dare you say this!
A：怎么啦？你让人骗了跟我有什么相干？
B：你怎么敢这么说！
104、 Go ape 神魂颠倒的，105、 发疯
A：Jack went ape. What happened?
B：He made a bomb in his sales business.
A：捷克简直疯掉了，怎么回事？
B：他赚了大钱。
106、 Look on the bright side 要看光明面
A：Why so sad!
B：Helen stood me up last night.
A：It’s one of those things. Look on the bright side.
A：为什么不高兴？
B：海伦昨晚失约了。
A：这是常有的事。要看光明面。
107、 That was close！好险！
A：Did you see that?
B：What?
A：That car almost ran over a jaywalker. Boy, that was close!
A：你看见了吗？
B：什么？
A：那辆车差点撞到一个乱闯马路的人。哎！好险！
108、 I mean… 我是说…
A：When did you go there?
B：Last Thursday, I mean last Tuesday.
A：你是什么时候去那儿的？
B：上周四，不是，是上周二
109、 Sorry, it slipped my mind. 对不110、 起，111、 我忘了。
A：What are you doing? Don’t you remember we have a date tonight?
B：I’m sorry, Mary. It slipped my mind. I’ll be right over.
A：你在干什么？难道你忘了我们今晚有约会吗？
B：对不起，玛丽，我忘了。我这就过去。
112、 I am so flattered. 真是过奖了。
A：You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met.
B：Oh, thank you. I’m so flattered.
A：你是我所见过的最美的女人。
B：哦，谢谢。真是过奖了。
113、 She’s a thorn in his side 她让他头大。
A：Richard has a nagging wife.
B：I know. He calls her a thorn in his side.
A：里查德的老婆很罗嗦。
B：我知道。她让他头大。
114、 Beat it! 走开！
A：What do you mean by “Beat it!”
B：It means “Go away.” But it’s a very rude way of saying so.
A：“beat it”是什么意思？
B：就是“走开”的意思。不过，那是一种非常不礼貌的说法。
115、 I have butterflies in my stomach. 我好紧张
A：I have a job interview this afternoon.
B：Really? Have you butterflies in your stomach?
A：A little.
A：我今天下午要去参加求职面试。
B： 着的吗？你紧张吗？
A：有一点。
116、 It’s some movie! 这部电影真不117、 错！
A: Did you see the movie “sleepless in Seattle”?
B: Yes. It’s some movie!
A:你看过《西雅图未眠夜》吗？
B:是的，真是部好电影！
118、 It’s a bittersweet feeling. 这是苦乐参半的感觉。
A: How are you feeling about your son going away from home to college?
B: it’s a bittersweet feeling.
A:儿子要离家上大学了，你的心情如何？
B:既高兴又舍不得。
119、 That’s not my cup of tea. 我对那没兴趣
A: What do you think of Mike?
B: He’s not my cup of tea.
A:你觉得迈克怎么样？
B:他不是我喜欢的类型。
120、 Can I have a doggy bag, please? 我可以打包吗？
A: Waiter! Can I have a doggy bag, please?
B: Sure.
A:服务员！我可以打包吗？
B:当然。
121、 It gives me the creeps. 我浑身起鸡皮疙瘩。
A: Mary, what do you think about the thriller?
B: It was really scary. It gave me the creeps.
A: 玛丽，你觉得这部恐怖片怎么样？
B: 太吓人了，我浑身起鸡皮疙瘩。
122、 She had a nose surgery. 她隆了鼻子
A：Did you see Susan? She looks so different.
B：She had a nose surgery.
A：你看到苏珊了吗？她看起来变化很大。
B：她隆了鼻子。
123、 Gravy train 美差；肥缺
A：George realized the gravy train was over when he got fired.
B：Wasn’t it too late?
A：乔治到被解雇时才明白，这下他的财源断了。
B：现在才意识到是不是有点晚了。
124、 Cut the mustard 符合要求；获得成功
A：Can this method work well?
B：This old method just doesn’t cut the mustard any more.
A：这种方法会奏效吗？
B：这种老方法不好用喽。
125、 What’s cooking? 发生了什么事？（在搞什么把戏？）
A：Hey, what’s cooking?
B：Nothing.
A：嘿，发生了什么事？
B：没什么。
126、 Hit the ceiling 勃然大怒；大发脾气
A：David’s dad hit the ceiling when he got home at two in the morning.
B：So did my dad.
A：大卫凌晨两点回到家时，他爸爸大发雷霆。
B：我爸也是。
127、 Rub someone the wrong way. 触犯某人
A：There’s something about her that rubs me the wrong way.
B：What is it?
A：她有些事让我很恼火。
B：什么事？
128、 Trip the light fantastic 跳舞
A：You weren’t here just now.
B：We just got back from tripping the light fantastic.
A：刚才你们不在。
B：我们刚刚跳舞回来。
129、 A change of pace. (为解乏、解闷等而130、 )改变活动（习惯、生活方式等）
A：A change of pace will probably do you good.
B：I’m thinking about it.
A：改变一下生活方式可能会对你有好处。
B：我正在考虑呢。
131、 Shout something from the rooftops ?公开宣布某事
A：How did you feel when Lily said she’d marry you?
B：I wanted to shout it from the rooftops.
A：莉莉答应要嫁给你时，你是什么感觉？
B：我真想告诉每一个人。
132、 Bring down the house. 博得全场喝彩
A：A young girl brought the house down with a ballet dance.
B：Do you know anything about her?
A：一位年轻姑娘跳的芭蕾舞博得了全场喝彩。
B：你了解那位姑娘的情况吗？
133、 Bite off more than one can chew. 承担力所不134、 及的事
A：We bite off more than one can chew when we started this project.
B：Is there any turning back now?
A：这个项目刚开始的时候我们就没有量力而行。
B：现在还有回旋的余地吗？
135、 Birthday suit 裸体
A：Our one-year-old son likes to turn around in his birthday suit.
B：Isn’t that lovely?
A：我们那一岁的儿子喜欢光着身子跑来跑去。
B：多好玩啊。
136、 Burn a hole in one’s pocket. （钱等）在口袋里留不137、 住
A：Money burns a hole in my wife’s pocket.
B：You should help her make a monthly budget.
A：我太太有钱就留不住。
B：那你该帮她做个每月的预算。
138、 On the right side of the blanket. 正式结婚所生的。
A：She couldn’t inherit the property simply because she was not born on the right side of the blanket.
B：That’s ridiculous.
A：她不能继承遗产就是因为她是个私生女。
B：这太没道理了。
139、 Give sb the boot (or give sb the order of the boot) 解雇某人；开除某人
A：Eric’s company gave him the boot.
B：What for?
A：埃里克被公司开除了。
B：为什么？
140、 Hit the panic button 过于惊慌；惊慌失措
A：Fire! Fire!
B：Keep cool, don’t hit the panic button.
A：着火了！着火了！
B：冷静点儿，不要惊慌失措。
141、 Make a fool of 出了洋相
A：I could kick myself, really.
B：What happened?
A：I made a fool of myself at the class meeting.
B：Oh, cheer up! Nobody will laugh at you.
A：我真想踢自己几下。
B：发生了什么事？
A：我在班会上出了洋相。
B：没什么！高兴点，没人会笑你的。
142、 Make good time 快速行进；有效利用运行时间
A：Do you always go to work by bus?
B：That’s right.
A：Isn’t it slow to go by bus?
B：Well, a little, even though the bus makes good time, I have to leave a minute margin.
A：你总是乘公共汽车上班吗？
B：对。
A：乘公共汽车不慢吗？
B：有点慢，即使开得很快，我还是得留出20分钟富余时间。
143、 Mother hen 婆婆妈妈地担心他人遭遇意外的人
A：Smoking is harmful to your health.
B：Don’t be such a mother hen. I can take care of myself.
A：You should stop smoking.
B：And you your babbling
A：吸烟对你身体有害。
B：别婆婆妈妈地，我会照顾好自己的。
A：你应该把烟彻底戒掉。
B：你别再唠叨了。
144、 Nasty piece of work 下流坯；讨厌的家伙
A：Are you going steady with Peter?
B：I probably will. What’s your opinion?
A：Mark my words. Don’t get mixed with him.
B：But why not?
A：He looks nice and fair, but beneath he’s really a nasty piece of work.
A：你准备和彼得将关系确定下来吗？
B：可能会吧。你看怎么样？
A：记住我的话，别和他搅在一起。
B：为什么不呢？
A：他虽表面上看着潇洒，但骨子里却是个下流坯子。
145、 New broom 刚上任的新官
A：Our mayor is from a bigger city.
B：He’s doing fine. A new broom sweeps clean.
A：He brings with him some talented people from his former city.
B：I think we we’ll benefit a lot.
A：我们的市长是从大城市调来的。
B：他干得不错。新官上任三把火嘛。
A：他从他先前就任的城市带来了不少有才能的人。
B：我想我们会获益的。
146、 No account 没用的人
A：He’s a person of no account.
B：But as far as I know, he once won the world champion at the Olympic Games.
A：Are you sure?
B：Yes, he was the very prize-winner in the court tennis ten years ago?
A：他是个微不足道的人。
B：但椐我所知，他曾在奥运会上拿过冠军。
A：你能肯定吗？
B：能。他就是10年前的那个庭院网球冠军！
147、 Bone of contention 争吵的原因
A：Why are the brothers grow cold and often quarrel with each other?
B：The division of their father’s property is their bone of contention.
A：So there’re no brothers when they come to money.
A：那对兄弟为什么关系如此冷淡，还总是吵架？
B：还不是因为他们父亲财产分配的事儿。
A：一提到钱，亲兄弟也不亲了。
148、 Tickle someone’s funny bone 逗某人笑
A：You seem to enjoy Bob’s company.
B：Sure. He always tickles my funny bone with his army stories.
A：Will you marry him?
B：For those jokes? Oh, no!
A：你好像挺喜欢鲍勃做伴的。
B：没错。他总是用他军队里的笑话逗我笑。
A：你会嫁给他吗？
B：因为那些笑话吗？哦，不！
149、 Be all ears 聚精会神地听
A：Go on with your story, Dad. I’m all ears!
B：It’s too late. Go to bed. We can go on tomorrow.
A：Oh, no. Five more minutes, OK?
B：You swear?
A：Yes, I swear.
A：接着讲你的故事吗，爸爸。我正聚精会神地听着呢。
B：太晚了，上床睡觉吧。我们明天再接着讲。
A：不！再讲5分钟好吗？
B：你保证？
A：是的，我保证。
150、 Face the music 面队现实；承担自己行为的后果
A：I crashed my brother’s car.
B：I’m sorry to hear that. But it’s good to see you are all right.
A：I’m sure I’ll have his back up. I really don’t know how I can escape the punishment.
B：You’d better tell your brother what happened and face the music.
A：我把我哥的车撞坏了，但只要你人没事儿就好。
B：听你这么说我很遗憾。
A：我肯定他会生气的。我真不知道怎样才能免受惩罚。
B：你最好跟你哥说实话，勇敢地承担责任吧。
151、 Have a finger in the pie 通晓一切152、
A：Where can I get the information, Alana?
B：Ask David. He’s sure to know about it.
A：Why?
B：He has a finger in the pie.
A：阿兰娜，你从哪儿能得到信息？
B：问大卫吧。他一定知道。
A：为什么？
B：他这人无所不知。
153、 In the flesh 本人
A：Have you ever seen Celine Dion?
B：I’ve seen her on TV but not in the flesh.
A：Me, too. I’m so familiar with her performance. But I don’t know what kind of person she is in real life.
A：你见过席琳迪翁吗？
B：我在电视上见过，可是，没见过本人。
A：我也是。我是那么熟悉她的表演。可是，我不知道实际生活中她是个什么样的人。
154、 Foot the bill 付款
A：Tom has bought so many expensive things.
B：Then what can the rich do?
A：Well, he’s only a student.
B：But his father is a millionaire who foots the bill for him.
A：汤姆买了许多贵重的物品。
B：有钱人还能干什么呢？
A：可是，他只不过是个学生。
B：但他爸爸是个百万富翁，是他爸爸替他掏的钱。
155、 Let one’s hair down 放松；不156、 拘束
A：Have you ever been invited to attend any formal banquets?
B：Yes, but on such occasions, it’s hard for you to let your hair down.
A：I think after drinking some wine, things will change a bit.
B：You said it.
A：你应邀参加过正式的宴会吗？
B：参加过。但是，在那样的场合你很难放松自己。
A：我想几杯酒过后，情况会有所改观的。
B：你说对了。
157、 Serve someone hand and foot 服158、 务周到
A：That Japanese guest is complaining again.
B：What? We’ve already served him hand and foot. What else does he expect of us?
A：He’s really a nuisance.
A：那个日本客人又在抱怨了。
B：什么？我们已经是服务到家了。他还想我们怎么样？
A：他可真令人讨厌！
159、 Be head over heels in love 坠入爱河
A：George doesn’t look the same as before.
B：Can’t you see he’s head over heels in love.
A：Really? With whom?
B：Ann, the newcomer in our class.
A：乔治看起来和以前不一样了。
B：你看不出他已经坠入爱河了吗？
A：真的吗？和谁？
B：安，咱们班新来的那位。
160、 After one’s own heart 所喜欢的
A：Congratulation on your wedding, Rose.
B：Thank you.
A：Alex is really a good guy.
B：He’s after my own heart and I think he’ll make a perfect husband.
A：罗斯，祝你新婚幸福！
B：谢谢。
A：亚力克斯真是个好小伙子。
B：他是很合我心意，我觉得他会成为一个完美的丈夫。
161、 Pull one’s leg 开某人的玩笑
A：Pity you didn’t sing this evening.
B：I had been longing to get that opportunity, but suddenly I caught cold and lost my voice.
A：If you had, I’m sure we would have shouted “encore”.
B：You’re pulling my leg.
A：真遗憾，你今晚上没唱歌。
B：我一直都渴望有这个机会，但我突然得了感冒，嗓子坏了。
A：如果你唱了的话，我相信我们一定会喊：“再来一个”的。
B：你开我的玩笑了。
162、 Bring home the bacon 养家，163、 维持生计；胜利
A：This play was written by Tennyson.
B：I never know that he was a playwright.
A：He was, but he didn’t earn much by his plays; it was his poetry that brought home the bacon.
B：No wonder.
A：这个剧本是丁尼生写的。
B：我还不知道他能写剧本呢。
A：他是个剧作家，但他不以写剧本赚钱，而是以写诗维持生计。
B：难怪呢。
164、 A bread-and-butter letter 对所受款待表示感激的信
A：A marvelous time, isn’t it?
B：Yeah. Have you dropped a line to her, dear?
A：Yes, when I got home, I wrote a bread-and-butter letter thanking her for the wonderful party we’ve ever had.
A：玩得真过瘾，你呢？
B：恩，亲爱的，你给她写信了吗？
A：写了，我回家后写信感谢她晚会上的热情款待。
165、 Know which side one’s bread is buttered.知道自己的利益所在
A：Mary is married again.
B：Is she? I wonder why the stupid husband wants to marry the butterfly. She will leave him any time.
A：Well, she won’t leave as long as he continues to make money. She knows which side her bread is buttered.
A：玛丽又结婚了。
B：是吗？我真不知道哪个愚蠢的丈夫会娶这个轻浮的女人，她随时都可能离开他。
A：恩，只要他还能赚钱，玛丽就不会离开。她知道为自己算计。
166、 Take the bread out of someone’s mouth 夺某人的生计
A：It’s really terrible!
B：What happened?
A：A new supermarket has been built opposite my shop. They’re taking the bread of our mouth.
B：Then you’d better do something.
A：太糟糕了！
B：发生了什么事了？
A：我商店的对面建了一家新的超市，他们会夺我的生意。
B：那你最好想点办法。
167、 A piece of cake 很简单的事
A：What do you think of the final exam?
B：It’s a piece of cake to me.
A：You’re bragging again. What if you failed?
B：No way.
A：你觉得期末考试怎么样？
B：那再容易不过了。
A：你又在吹牛了。你要是不及格呢？
B：不可能。
168、 Sell / go like hot cakes 卖的非常快
A：Did you get the book?
B：No, the books are sold out.
A：Sold out?
B：Yeah, they sell like hot cakes.
A：你买到书了吗？
B：没有，书卖完了。
A：卖完了。
B：是的，书卖得非常快。
169、 Take the cake 得头奖；居首位
A：Jack, you did a good job in the marathon race.
B：Thank you, Mr. Smith.
A：Scores of runners started, but only a few finished it. And just one, you, take the cake.
A：捷克，你在马拉松赛上可真棒！
B：谢谢你，史密斯先生。
A：开始时参赛者有好几十个，但只有几个跑完全程。而你居然得了头奖。
170、 Drive one to drink 把某人烦死
A：Don’t drive me to drink!
B：No, I didn’t. I’m just telling you to mind your own business.
A：你要把我烦死了。
B：我没有，我只是告诉你别管闲事。
171、 Make a night of it 欢闹一夜
A：Thank goodness. Summer vacation arrives finally
B：Let’s go swimming.
A：How about go dancing after swimming and made a night of it?
B：Yeah.
A：谢天谢地，暑假终于来了。
B：咱们去游泳吧。
A：游完泳后再去跳舞，玩它一夜，怎么样？
B：好啊！
172、 Do not have a minute to call one’s own 没时间做自己的事
A：What are you busying yourself with recently? I haven’t seen you for centuries!
B：I’m too busy. I don’t have a minute to call my own.
A：What are you busy with exactly?
B：All the things a secretary does. You know, our secretary has left for her holiday this month.
A：你最近忙什么？我已很久没见到你了。
B：我太忙了，几乎没时间做自己的事。
A：你到底在忙什么？
B：所有秘书应该做的我都做。你知道，我们的秘书这个月去度假了。
173、 In round figures (or numbers) 以整数表示；以约数表示
A：The price are always $99.99,$398.99, etc. in round figures $100,$400. I don’t know why they do this?
B：Some businessmen believe $100 will appear to be expensive while $99.99 is much more acceptable.
A：Nonsense, I’m not that stupid.
B：They do this after marketing investigations.
A：价格总是99.99美元、398.99美元，等等。以整数表示就是100美元、400美元，我不知道为什么他们不这样表示呢？
B：有些商人认为100美元会显得物价贵，而99.99美元更易被人接受。
A：胡说！我又不是傻瓜。
B：经市场调研之后，他们才这样做的。
174、 Dot one’s i’s and cross one’s t’s 对细节一丝不175、 苟；精确地
A：He’s a very careful student.
B：I always see him dotting his i’s and cross his t’s in every exam.
A：No wonder he’s always the best one of the bunch.
B：He was accepted by Beijing University.
A：他是一个非常仔细的学生。
B：考试中经常看到他一丝不苟地检查。
A：难怪他总是那些人中最出色的。
B：他已经被北京大学录取了。
176、 The eternal triangle 三角恋爱
A：I don't like Korean TV plays. There are always three major characters to be in the old eternal triangle.
B：You’re right, usually the hero is either very successful or at the bottom of life..
A：The girls will be the same with one pure, innocent and another sophisticated.
B：I can always guess the ending.
A：我不喜欢韩剧，三个主角总是卷进三角恋。
B：没错，男主角或是非常成功或是非常落魄。
A：女孩子总是一个清纯，另一个世故。
B：我总能猜到结局。
177、 Old wives’ tale 荒诞故事
A：What’s the date today?
B：It’s the 13th.
A：Oh, no. I was told not to travel on the 13th.
B：That’s all an old wives’ tale.
A：今天几号？
B：13号。
A：太糟了。有人告诉我13号千万别出门。
B：这纯属无稽之谈。
178、 Call someone by one’s first name 直呼其名179、
A：Do you really call your American mother-in-law by her first name?
B：Yes, I do.
A：Isn’t she angry?
B：Angry? No, she’s more than happy.
A：你真的对美国岳母直呼其名吗？
B：是啊。
A：她不生气吗？
B：生气？不，她高兴着呢！
180、 Straight A 高材生
A：You know Ann got 660 in the TOEFL test.
B：That’s no wonder for a straight A.
A：I know she’s a top student in biology but I never expect her to be so good at the English language.
A：你知道安托福考了660分。
B：对一个高材生来说这不奇怪。
A：我知道她是个生物方面的高材生，但我从不知道她的英语这么好。
181、 Comparatively speaking 相对而182、 言
A：Why is our country so poor?
B：It has a large population and, comparatively speaking, it’s short of natural resources.
A：Japan has a large population, and it hardly has any natural resources. I’d rather say it’s due to the backward education, science and technology.
A：为什么我们国家这么穷呢？
B：我们人口太多，相对而言，资源不足。
A：日本人口也不少，几乎没有什么自然资源，要我说，是由于我们落后的教育和科学技术。
183、 Blind spot ( 对某事或某一领域的)迟钝、无知
A: What did you talk about at the party?
B: Modern art, but I found it was a blind spot with Tom.
A: 在晚会上你们都谈了些什么？
B: 现代艺术，但我发现汤姆对此一窍不通
184、 Dry run 排练；排演
A: We’re going to practice a dry run of the performance tonight.
B: Where? In the school auditorium?
A: 今晚我们将进行彩排。
B: 在哪儿？在学校礼堂吗？
185、 Steal the show（尤指186、 配角或原处于次要地位的人）大出风头
A: How was your last night’s performance.
B: The warm-up band steal the show from us.
A: 你们昨晚的演出如何？
B: 开场前为演出制造气氛的乐队抢了我们的风头。
187、 Buck for 千方百计谋求；拼命争取
A: I think Richard is bucking for a promotion.
B: You can say that again.
A: 我看理查德正在千方百计地想要升职。
B: 你说得一点不错。
188、 Shell game 欺骗把戏
A: They are playing shell games.
B: I’d rather believe them.
A: 他们在骗人
B: 我宁愿相信他们。
189、 Have ( oneself) a ball 狂欢，190、 作乐
A: Have a ball on your trip.
B: Thanks.
A: 祝你旅途愉快。
B: 谢了。
191、 Block up 垫高
A: Not the engine, I think it’s the wheels.
B: Maybe we have to block up the rear wheel. Fortunately we’ve got a spare wheel.
A: 不是发动机的毛病，我觉得是轮胎。
B: 我们得把后轮垫起来，好歹我们有个备用胎。
192、 Take a licking 遭受挫折，193、 遭受惨败
A: Our team really took a licking in last night’s game.
B: Don’t lose heart.
A: 我们队昨晚比赛输了。
B: 别灰心。
194、 Start a family 生第一个孩子
A: When do you hope to start a family?
B: Not till I get my master’s degree.
A: 你打算什么时候要孩子？
B: 等拿到硕士学位后再说吧。
195、 Shoot the breeze 闲聊
A: Anything important?
B: Not really. We’re shooting the breeze.
A: 有什么重要的事情吗？
B: 没什么。我们在闲聊呢。
196、 Move in on 夺走，197、 逼近
A: John is mad at Robert for moving in on Joan.
B: Isn’t Joan John’s girlfriend
A: 约翰对罗伯特企图从他身边夺走琼的行为感到十分生气。
B: 琼不是约翰的女朋友吗？
198、 Play along （暂时）与某人合作
A: I don’t know what he wants, but let’s play along with him.
B: Isn’t it a little bit risky?
A: 我不知道他要干什么，可我们不妨与他合作看看。
B: 这不是有点太冒险了吗？
199、 Wild card 未知数，200、 无法预言的事物；不201、 符合常规的东西
A: The advertisement is still a wild card.
B: Let’s be patient.
A: 这个广告的成功与否还是个未知数。
B: 我们还是耐心点吧。
202、 See double 把事物看成重影
A: After getting hit in the face by a baseball, I was seeing double.
B: You poor girl.
A: 被一个棒球打中了脸以后，我看东西都是重影。
B: 可怜的家伙。
203、 Penny pincher 吝啬鬼；小气鬼
A: Why is George called a penny pincher?
B: Because he never gives a cent to charity.
A: 为什么把乔治叫吝啬鬼？
B: 因为他从未为慈善事业捐过一分钱。
204、 Old money 有祖传财产的人
A: There’s a lot of old money in this town.
B: That’s why people here don’t respect labor.
A: 这镇上有很多有世袭财产的富翁。
B: 难怪这里的人们都不尊重劳动。
205、 Throw the book at 从严惩罚；狠狠责备206、
A: The judge threw the book at the serial rapist.
B: It served him right.
A: 法官重判了那个强奸惯犯。
B: 他是罪有应得。
207、 Talk shop 说行话，208、 谈论自己的工作
A: Does your son know of the crisis of your business?
B: No, we never talk shop after David comes home.
A: 你儿子知道你工作上的危机吗？
B: 不知道，大卫回家后，我们从不讨论工作上的事。
209、 Grasp the nettle 迎着困难上；大胆地寻找棘手的问题
A：Don’t waste too much time talking, after all we have to grasp the nettle.
B：Let’s divide the job first.
A：OK. I’ll be responsible for money-raising.
B：I’ll investigate our market potentiality.
A：别浪费时间聊天了。无论如何我们得迎着困难上。
B：咱们先分分工吧。
A：好。我负责集资。
B：我去调查市场潜力。
210、 Fell left out 感到受了冷落
A：I’m not used to living with so many people around me, mom.
B：We don’t want you feel left out, you know.
A：I don’t feel left out. As a matter of fact, you never leave me alone.
A：妈妈，我不习惯周围有这么多人。
B：我们不想你别冷落。
A：我不觉得冷落，实际上，你从不让我独自待着。
211、 Blow one’s horn 自吹自擂
A：David, do you agree that I’m cleverer than you?
B：I’m afraid not.
A：Don't you know I won the first prize in the contest?
B：Everyone knows it; stop blowing your own horn.
A：大卫，你同不同意我比你聪明这一点？
B：恐怕不。
A：你不知道我在比赛中得了第一名吗？
B：人人都知道，你别再自吹自擂了。
posted on 2008-04-27 11:31
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