Polish the apple

Lucy polished the apple at work because she wanted a day off.
He hopes to pass the exam by apple-polishing the teacher.
Polish的意思是“擦亮”，过去美国的小学生常在老师的讲台上放一只苹果，而且擦的发亮，使苹果看上去美味可口。本来是出于对老师的尊敬，后来就演变成对老师的讨好了。

引申:

Apple

a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush 一鸟在手，胜似二鸟在林
a blank slate 干净的黑板（新的一页，新的开始）
a bone to pick 可挑剔的骨头（争端，不满）
a cat nap 打个盹儿
a ouch potato 躺椅上的马铃薯（懒鬼）
a headache 头痛（麻烦事）
a knock out 击倒（美得让人倾倒）
a load off my mind 心头大石落地
a pain in the neck 脖子疼（苦事）
a piece of cake 一块蛋糕（小菜一碟，易事一件）
a shot in the dark 盲目射击（瞎猜）
a sinking ship 正在下沉的船
a slap in the face 脸上挨了一耳光（公然受辱）
a social butterfly 社交蝴蝶（善于交际，会应酬的人）
a thorn in someone''s side 腰上的荆棘（芒刺在背）
a turn coat 反穿皮袄的人（叛徒）
a weight off my shoulders 放下肩头重担
an ace up my sleeve 袖里的王牌
ants in one''s pants 裤裆里有蚂蚁（坐立不安）
back in the saddle重上马鞍（重整旗鼓）
back on track重上轨道（改过自新）
backfire逆火（弄巧成拙，适得其反）
ball and chain 铁球铁链，甜蜜的枷（老婆）
beat a dead horse 鞭打死马令其奔驰（徒劳）
beaten by the ugly stick 被丑杖打过（生得难看）
bet your life 把命赌上（绝对错了）
better half 我的另一半
big headed 大脑袋（傲慢，自大）
bigger fish to fry 有更大的鱼要炸（有更重要的事要办）
bite the bullet 咬子弹（强忍痛苦）
birds of a feather flock together 羽毛相同的鸟总飞成一群（物以类聚）
blow up in you face 在眼前爆炸（事情完全弄砸了）
break a let 折断一条腿（表演真实，演出成功）
break the ice 破冰（打破僵局）
brown nose 讨好，谄媚
bull in a china shop 瓷器店里的蛮牛（笨拙的人，动辄弄坏东西的人）
burst your bubble 扎破泡泡（打破人的幻想，煞风景）
bury one''s head in the sand把头埋在沙里（自欺欺人）
butterflies in my stomach肚里有只蝴蝶（心里紧张，七上八下）
buy the farm买下农场（归道山，死了）
cash in my chips兑换筹码（睡觉，就寝）
circle the wagons把篷车围成一圈（严阵以待）
clean up one''s act自我检点，自我改进
come down in sheets整片整片地下（倾盆大雨）
cross the line 跨过线（做得太过分了）
cross that bridge when we come to it 到了桥头就过桥（船到桥头自然直）
cut to the chase 抄捷径去追猎物（不绕圈子，开门见山，单刀直入）
daily grind 例行苦事，每天得干的苦工
days are numbered 来日无多
dead center 正当中
dead-end street 死路，死巷子
domino effect 骨牌效应
down to the wire 最后关头
down under 南边（常指面半球的澳洲）
downhill from here 从此都是下坡路（自此每况愈下）
drop the ball 掉了球（失职）
empty nest 空巢（儿女长大离家）
get hitched 拴起来（结婚）
get off on the wrong foot 起步便错（第一印象不佳）
get the ball rolling 让球滚起来（动起手来）
goose bumps 鸡皮疙瘩
hit the road 上路
hold your horses 勒住你的马（慢来）
hang somebody out to dry 把……晾起来了（把……坑苦了）
in one''s back pocket 在某人裤子后口袋里（是某人的囊中之物）
in the dark 在黑暗中（茫然，什么也不知道）
in the spotlight 站在聚光灯圈里（出风头）
it''s Greek to me 希腊文（天书）
joined at the hip 连体婴（死党，从不分开的两个人）
jump the gun 枪未响先偷跑（抢先）
kick the bucket 踢水桶（翘辫子）
kill two birds with one stone一 箭双雕，一举两得
last straw 最后一根稻草
left a bitter taste in one''s mouth 留下满嘴苦味（留下不愉快的回忆）
light a fire under your butt 在屁股下点一把火（促其行动）
light at the end of the tunnel 隧道末端的光（一线希望）
like shooting fish in a barrel 桶里射鱼（瓮中捉鳖）
ling winded 长舌，碎嘴
Monday morning quarterback 星期一早晨的四分卫（马后炮）
my old man 我的老头（我父亲）
out of the pan and into the fire 跳出锅里，掉进火里（每况愈下）
plenty of other fish in the sea 海里的鱼多得很（天涯何处无芳草）
poker face 扑克面孔（喜怒不形于色）
pop the question 提出大问题（求婚）
pot calling the kettle black 锅嫌壶黑（五十步笑百步）
punch your lights out 揍得你两眼发黑
put all of one''s eggs in one basket 鸡蛋都放在一个篮子里（孤注一掷）
put one''s foot in one''s mouth 把脚丫放进嘴里（说错话了）
rob the cradle 劫摇篮（老牛吃嫩草）
skate on thin ice 在薄冰上滑冰（如履薄冰，身历险境）
skeleton in one''s closet 壁橱里的骷髅（不可告人的事）
skin and bones 皮包骨
sleep on it 睡在上面（考虑一晚上）
small talk 寒喧，闲聊
smooth sailing 一帆风顺
stab in the back 背后插刀（遭人暗算）
stallion 千里驹（貌美体健的男人）
stud 种马（貌美体健的男人）
swing for the fence 打全垒打
take a hike 走路（滚蛋）
until you are blue in the face 干到脸发青（也是白干）
unwind 放松发条（轻松下来）
up for grabs 大家有份
up in the air 挂在空中（悬而未决）
when hell freezes over 地狱结冰（绝不可能的事）
weed out 除去杂草（淘汰）
well rounded全 能，全才
when pigs fly 猪飞的时候（绝不可能）
not lift a finger 连手指都不动一动（袖手旁观）
wrapped around his/her little finger 化为绕指柔（玩弄于股掌之间）
Bean brain
白痴，笨蛋
·He’s such a bean brain. 他是个大笨蛋。
*注意：此词语暗示某人的脑子只有豆子那么大。
Not to know beans about something
对某事物一无所知
·I don’t know beans about computers. 我对电脑一窍不通。
*注意：此词语只有否定形式， “to know beans about something”这种说法不存在。
Bean Town
豆城 [指马萨诸塞州波士顿市]
*注：波士顿市以其特产烘豆而闻名

early bird                        早起（到）者
               for the birds       乏味，索然无趣
               let the cat out of the bag 泄露秘密（天机）
               lucky dog                        幸运儿
               cold fish                          怪人
               get one＇s goat 使人生气（厌恶）
           
1.hang in there忍耐一下      Hang in there. Things will look up soon.      忍耐一下。事情很快就会好转的。     
2.hands-off无为而治，顺其自然      He takes a hands-off approach when it comes to raising his children.      他用无为而治的方式教养小孩。     
3.gag me with a spoon我快吐了      Gag me with a spoon! Please don’t tell me such disgusting stories any more.      我快吐了！请别再说这么恶心的故事了。     
4.get a move on赶快      Get a move on. You can’t park your car here.      赶快！你不能在这儿停车。     
5.cook up想出      He cooked up a wonderful way to surprise his wife on her birthday.      他想出一个在他太太生日时让她惊喜的妙法。 （呵，女人心中的好丈夫！）

1.let the cat out of the bag 泄漏秘密
    I won't let the cat out of the bag.
    我不会泄漏秘密的。
    2.in the market for 想买，积极物色
    People are always in the market for something new and different.
    人们总想买点新奇的且与众不同的东西。
    3.meddle in 干涉，搅和
    Harold asked his boss stop meddling in his personal life.
    哈罗德要求老板别再干涉他的私生活。
    4.screw loose脱线，神经不对头
    Bill must have a screw loose somewhere; he's acting really strangely.
    Bill一定是哪根筋不对，他的行动真奇怪。
    5.sell someone on 以...说服某人
    She sold me on her idea. I think it will work.
    她用她的看法说服了我，我想那行得通。
1.hit someone with a problem 让某人面对问题
    I’m sorry to hit you with this problem. I don’t know who else to turn to.
    很抱歉把这个问题抛给你，我不知道还可以找谁求助。
    2.have it bad for 狂恋
    He really has it bad for her, but she has no ideas.
    他狂恋着她，而她却不知道。
    3.hung over 宿醉未醒
    Don’t disturb him. He’s still hung over from last night.
    别吵醒他，他宿醉仍未醒。
    4.has-been 过时的人或物
    Lisa is a has-been. No one will hire her any more.
    丽莎已经过时了。没人会再雇佣她。
    5.have a bone to pick with 有账要算
    I have a bone to pick with you. You still owe me the fifteen dollars you borrowed.
    我有账跟你算。你向我借的十五美金还没还呢！
1.have a passion for 钟爱
    I have a passion for blue dresses.
    我钟爱蓝色的衣服。
    2.pep talk 打气，鼓励的话
    The coach gave his team a pep talk at half time, hoping to lead them to victory.
    教练在半场时候给球员们打起，希望将他们引上胜利之途。
    3.pick someone's brains 请教某人
    I don't understand any of this medical terminology. Do you mind if I pick your brains since you're so knowledgeable in this area?
    我对医学术语一无所知。你在这方面如此在行，我能不能请教你一下？
    4.pass out 醉到了
    He passed out after three beers.
    喝了三杯啤酒后他就醉倒了。
    5.way back 好久以前
    We've been friends since way back.
    我们老早就是好朋友了。
1.get the ball rolling开始
    Let's get the ball rolling.让我们开始吧。
    2.get on the ball用心做
    If you hope to keep your job, you'd better get on the ball and meet the deadline.
    如果你还想要你的那份工作，你最好用心做，赶上最后期限！
    3.lady-killer帅哥
    He's a real lady-killer. 他是个不折不扣的帅哥。
    4.lay off停止，解雇
    Lay off! I don't need you to tell me what to do!
    别再讲了!我不需要你告诉我怎么去做！
    5.knock it off=cut it off 停止
    Knock it off! I'm trying to get some sleep.
    别吵了！我正想睡觉呢！
1.down in the dumps垂头丧气
    The players were down in the dumps after their team lost the championship game.
    球员输掉决赛哪一场后个个垂头丧气。
    2.horse around嬉闹
    We've horsed around long enough. It's time to get to work.
    我们闹够了，该去工作了。
    3.pass something up放弃某事物
    You can't pass up this job. This kind of opportunity comes only once in a lifetime.
    你不可错过这个工作。这种机会一辈子才有一次。
    4.go whole hog全力以赴
    She went whole hog in planning he New Year's Eve party.
    她全心全力筹办新年晚会。
    5.shoo-in长胜将军
    There's no way he can lose. He's a shoo-in.
    他不会输的，他是位长胜将军。
1.put someone on the spot 让某人为难
    Don't put me on the spot like this. You know I can't give you confidential information.
    别这样让我为难，你知道我不能给你机密资料的。
    2.racket 非法行业，挂羊头卖狗肉
    The police are determined to break up the racket.
    警方决定打击这个非法行业。
    3.have it good 享受得很
    She really has it good. Everybody caters to her every need.
    她真是享受得很，大家都依着他。
    4.don't knock it 不要太挑剔
    Don;t knock it! You won't be able to find another job that pays so well.
    别挑剔了！你未必可以找到另外一个待遇这么好的工作！
    5.pig out 狼吞虎咽
    We pigged out on potato chips and cookies until our bellies ached.
    我们大吃薯条和曲奇，吃到肚子撑到痛为止。
1.act up 胡闹，出毛病
    The children started to act up as soon as the teacher left the room.
    老师一离开教室，孩子们就闹起来了。
    2.ad lib 即兴而作，随口编
    The comedian ad libbed most of his routine.
    那个喜剧演员大多是即兴表演。
    3.blah-blah-blah 说个不停
    All she does is go 'blah-blah-blah' all night.
    她整夜说个不停。
    4.hit it off 投缘，一见如故
    They hit it off instantly and have been good friends ever since.
    他们一见面就很投缘，从此成了好朋友。
    5.zit 青春痘
    Why is it that every time I have a hot date, I break out with a big zit on my face?
    为什么每次我有重要约会时，脸上都会冒出一个很大的青春痘呢？
1.flop （表演、电影等）不卖座，失败
    The movie was a flop. Nobody went to see it.
    这部电影卖座率奇低，没有人去看。
    2.drop in/by/over 随时造访
    Feel free to drop in anytime. I'm usually home and I'd love the company.
    欢迎随时来坐坐。我通常在家，也喜欢游人做伴。
    3.drop a line 写信
    Drop me a line! 给我写信！
    4.duck 躲闪，突然低下头
    Remind little Bobby to duck his head when he crawls under the table so he won't hit his head.
    提醒小波比爬到桌下时要低头才不会受伤。
    5.go with the flow 随从大家的意见
    Sharon is an easy-going person. She just goes with the flow.
    沙伦是个随和的人。人家怎么说，她就怎么做。
1.ripoff 骗人的东西
    What a ripoff! The new car I bought doesn't work!
    真是个骗人货！我买的新车启动不了！
    2.rock the boat 找麻烦
    Don't rock the boat! Things are fine just the way they are.
    别找麻烦了，事情这样就够好了。
    3.blow it 搞砸了，弄坏了
    I blew it on that last exam.
    我上次考试靠砸了。
    4.in hot water 有麻烦
    He is in hot water with his girlfriend recently.
    近段时间他跟女友的关系有点僵。
    5.put one's foot in one's mouth 祸从口出
    Wally is always saying such stupid thing. He has a real talent for putting his foot in his mouth.
    沃力尽说这种蠢话。他真有惹是生非的本事。
1.fishy 可疑的
    His story sounds fishy. We should see if it's really true.
    他的故事听起来可疑。我们应该看看到底是不是真的。
    2.flip out 乐死了
    Chris flipped out when I told him that we won the game.
    我告诉克里斯我们赢了比赛时，他乐歪了。
    3.fix someone up 撮合某人
    I think Xixi and Macaulay would make a perfect couple. Let's fix them
    up. (Haha,just kidding:)
    我想习习和macaulay会是理想的一对，我们来撮合他们吧。（呵，开个玩
    笑，习习和macaulay不会生气吧？：）
    4.take a shine to 有好感
    He really likes you. There are very few people he takes a shine to
    right away.
    他真的喜欢你。他很少对人一见面就有好感的。
    5.third wheel 累赘，电灯泡
    You two go on ahead. I don't want to be a third wheel.
    你们两个去好了，我不想当电灯泡。
    2.keep in line管束
    He needs to be kept in line. He's too wild.
    他太野了，要好好管束一下。
    3.jump the gun草率行事
    Don't jump the gun. We have to be patient for a while.
    不要草率行事。我们应该耐心等一会儿。
    4.jump to conclusion妄下结论
    Don't jump to conclusion. We have to figure it out first.
    不要妄下结论，先把事情搞清楚。
    5.lemon次
    This car is a real lemon. It has broken down four times.
    这辆车真次，已经坏了四次了！
1.come again 再说一遍
    Come again? I didn't quite understand what you said.
    再说一遍好吗？你刚说的话我不明白。
    2.come clean 全盘托出，招供
    The criminal decided to come clean.
    罪犯决定供出事实。
    3.spring for 请客
    Let me spring for dinner.
    我来请客吃饭吧。
    4.spill the beans 泄漏秘密
    Don't spill the beans. It's supposed to be a secret.
    别说漏了嘴，这可是个秘密哦！
    5.stick in the mud 保守的人
    Cathy is such a stick in the mud. She never wants to try anything new.
    Cathy真保守，她从不想尝试新事物。
1.go up in smoke成为泡影
    Peter’s vacation plans went up in smoke when a crisis arose in the office.
    办公室出了问题，peter的假期泡汤了。
    2.hit the road上路
    We should probably hit the road. It’s going to take us two hours to get home.
    我们可能该上路了吧？到家的两个小时呢！
    3.shape up表现良好，乖
    You’d better shape up if you want to stay on.
    如果你还想留下来的话最好乖一点儿。
    4.scare the shit out of someone吓死某人了
    Don’t sneak up behind me like that. You scared the shit out of me.
    不要那样从后面突然吓我。你吓死我了。
    5.pull strings运用关系 （源于“拉木偶的线”）
    He pulled some strings and managed to get us front row seats for the concert.
    他运用关系替我们拿到音乐会前排的位子。
1.keep one's shirt on保持冷静
    Keep your shirt on. He didn't mean to offend you. That's just the way he talks.
    保持冷静。那只是他说话的惯常方式，他并非有意要冒犯你。
    2.cool it冷静一点
    Cool it. You are making me mad.
    冷静一点。你快把我逼疯了。
    3.joy ride兜风
    Let's go for a joy ride.
    让我们去兜兜风。
    4.rap说唱乐
    Do you like rap music? I have trouble understanding the words.
    你喜欢说唱音乐吗？我听不太懂其中的歌词。
1.clock in 打卡
    Don't forget to clock in,otherwise you won't get paid.
    别忘了打卡，否则领不到钱。
    2.come on to 对...轻薄；吃豆腐
    Tanya slapped Bill after he came on to her.
    Tanya在Bill对她轻薄之后打了他一巴掌。
    3.come easily 易如反掌
    Languages come easily to some people.
    语言学习对有些人来说易如反掌。
    4.don't have a cow别大惊小怪
    Don't have a cow! I'll pay for the damages.
    别大惊小怪的！我会赔偿损失的。
    5.push around 欺骗
    Don't try to push me around!
    别想耍我！
1. We just want to break away from this town.
我们只想逃离这个城镇。
2. My aunt suffered from a nervous breakdown.
我阿姨得了神经衰弱。
3. Our car broke down on the way home.
在回家的路上，我们的车子出了故障。
4. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to break in on you.
对不起，我不是故意要插嘴的。
5. I'll break up with my girlfriend.
我要和女朋友分手。
6. All right you guys, let's break it up!
好了，你们几个，咱就别吵了吧！
7. Come on, give me a break.
得了吧，少来这一套。
1. Our neighbors keep going back and forth to Denver every week.
我们的邻居每周来往于家与丹佛市之间。
2. We'll never back down on this issue.
在这个问题上我们决不让步。
3. Mom is flat on her back in the hospital.
妈妈生病躺在医院里。
4. I told my boss to get off my back.
我告诉老板不要对我指指点点。
5. Please don't turn your back on me.
请你不要不理睬我。
6. My back's against the wall, there is nothing I can do.
我走投无路，什么也干不了。
7. We all back you up.
我们都支持你。
1. Don't beat around the bush! Just come out and say it.
别拐弯抹角的，直说好了。
2. The sun beat down on the sand, making it painful to walk barefoot.
阳光照射着沙子，光脚走上去甚至感觉到疼。
3. I want you to beat it!
我要你们给我滚开。
4. The man was arrested for beating up on the children.
那男人因殴打孩子而被捕了。
5. Last night we were partying to beat the band.
昨晚我们聚在一起简直玩疯了

blow one's nose: 擤鼻涕
cut off one's nose to spite one's face:想报复别人而害了自己
follow one's nose:凭直觉行事
have one's nose in sth:专心地阅读某物
Keep one's nose clean:不做违法、讨厌的事
look down one's nose at sb or sth:轻视，蔑视
poke one's nose into sth:干预，插手与己无关的事
with one's nose in the air:非常傲慢，自高自大
an eye for an eye以眼还眼、报复
be all eyes 非常锱意
cast sheep’s eyes at somebody(give somebody the glad eye=make eyes at somebody)苛人送秋波
cry one’s eyes at somebody
have an eye for 很懂赏
if you had half an eye如果你不是完全瞎了（或胡）的话
see with half an eye 一望而知
shut one’s eye to (turn a blind eye to )对无睹
make somebody open his eyes使人瞠目吃惊
get on the high horse
趾 高 气 扬 ( 坐 在 高 头 大 马 上 ， 当 然 就 是 这 副 嘴 脸 )
beat a dead horse
重 提 已 经 解 决 的 问 题 ； 徒 劳 ( 再 用 力 抽 打 死 掉 的 马 ， 它 也 不 能 起 来 跑 )
change horses in midstream
在 危 急 时 刻 做 出 重 大 变 动 ( 跑 到 半 途 要 换 马 ， 定 有 缘 故 )
buy a white horse
浪 费 金 钱 ( 是 不 是 说 白 马 要 比 杂 色 马 身 价 高 些 )
work like a horse
勤 奋 劳 作 ( 马 的 工 作 精 神 是 值 得 我 们 学 习 )
a horse of different color
完 全 另 外 一 回 事 ( 我 在 说 白 马 ， 你 却 听 成 是 大 红 马 ， 差 太 多 )
bygones: let bygones be bygones bygone是已过去的事。“让过去的事成为历史吧”；此语也含有“既往不咎”之意。Don't take it too hard. Let bygones be bygones. 不要放在心上，过去的事就让它过去吧了。
By golly! 与By God! 和By Gum! 一样都是感叹词，相当于“天呀！”By golly! You think I'm kidding you? 天呀！你以为我在骗你吗？
buy your story 不是“买你的故事”，而是“相信你的话”。I don't buy your story. 我不会相信你的鬼话。
busy-body 指爱管闲事的人，特别是多嘴者。Stay away from it, you busy-body. 走开，你这个爱管闲事的人。
busy as a bee 表示“忙得不可开交”，象忙碌的蜜蜂一样。You have to wait a moment. Our boss is as busy as a bee now. 你要等一会儿，我们的老板现在忙得不可开交。
Business is business 是“公事公办”，含有“不讲私情”之意。 Business is business. You have to pay the bill. 公事公办，你是要付账的。
bury the hatchet hatchet 原指美洲印第安人的战斧。据说他们讲和后，便把战斧埋在了地下。故此语之意是“媾和”。All right. Let's bury the hatchet and be friends. 好了，让我们捐弃前嫌，成为朋友。
bury one's head in the sand 据说鸵鸟遇敌时，便会把头埋在沙中，以为对方也看不到它。此语比喻一些人不敢面对现实。 Do something about it. Don't just bury your head in the sand. 想想怎样办，不要回避现实。

Apple（苹果）to be the apple of one's eyeexp. to be one's favorite 掌上明珠；心爱物·She's the apple of her father's eye. 她是她父亲的掌上明珠
the Big Appleexp. New York 大苹果城[即纽约]·I live in the Big Apple. 我住在大苹果城。
compare apples and oranges exp. to compare two things that simply cannot be compared比较两个无法相比的事物·That's ridiculous. Now you're comparing apples and oranges. 真可笑，你这是拿两种无法相比的东西作比较，就好像苹果和桔子。"How do you like them apples?"exp. "What do you think of that?" 你认为那怎么样？*注：这是对某种冒犯性行为做出报复后所说的话。
Banana（香蕉） To be bananasExp. To be crazy 发疯的；神经错乱的·That guy’s bananas!那家伙真是疯了。*注意：to go bananas exp. 1. to become crazy 发疯；神经错乱·I’m so bored. I’m going bananas. 我厌烦得要死，都快发疯了。2．To become wild with anger 狂怒，气得发疯·She went bananas when she found him cheating. 她发现他欺骗时气得要命。To play second bananaExp. To be second choice 第二选择；次要任务·I always play second banana to her. 我总是做她的候补。Top bananaExp. Main boss 领袖；头头；大老板·He’s (the) top banana in this company. 他是这家公司的大老板。关于apple用法的补充： 1、apple-polisher 马屁精 例如：She is a real apple-polisher for the way she's crawling around the boss and making eyes at him. 她是一个马屁精，整天围着老板眉来眼去的。2、The rotten apple injures its neighbours. 一只烂, 烂一筐; 一个坏朋友可以影响一群好人。 3、谚语：Throw away the apple because of the core. 因噎废食 An apple a day keeps the doctor away. 日吃苹果一只，身体健康不求医。4、习惯用语：as like as an apple to an oyster 毫无相同之处 bad apple,rotten apple （美俚）坏家伙polish the apple （美俚）拍马屁, 讨好upset sb.'s apple cart 破坏某人计划

1. What a stupid man（驴）!
     真是个傻瓜！
   2. Kate is busy as a bee（蜜蜂）.
     凯特是个大忙人。
   3. You dirty rat（老鼠）!
      你这卑鄙的小人！
   4. I'm hungry as a wolf!
      我要饿死了！
   5. What a turkey!
      真是个草包！