文章轉(zhuǎn)載自 21世紀(jì)英文報(bào)

我們會(huì)有這樣一種感覺(jué)：英文學(xué)了那么久，可有時(shí)候歪果仁一開(kāi)口，明明每個(gè)詞都知道，可是組合在一起就是不懂什么意思……

1. a drop in the ocean 滄海一粟、九牛一毛，形容微不足道

如：His fee is a drop in the ocean compared with the real cost of broadcasting.

同播出的實(shí)際開(kāi)支相比較，他那點(diǎn)酬金不過(guò)是九牛一毛。

2. actions speak louder than words 事實(shí)勝于雄辯，行勝于言

如：Stop apologizing and prove to me that I can trust you — actions speak louder than words.

別再跟我道歉了，想讓我真的相信你，你得證明給我看，行勝于言。

3. add fuel to the fire 火上澆油

如：You should stop their quarrel. Don't add fuel to the fire.

你應(yīng)制止他們的爭(zhēng)論，別再火上澆油了。

4. the ball is in your court 指“輪到你了”，“該你采取行動(dòng)了”

如：I have done my best to explain my position, now the ball is in your court.

我已盡量表明我的立場(chǎng)，現(xiàn)在該你采取下一步的行動(dòng)了。

5. bend over backwards 不遺余力

如：Our company is bending over backwards to satisfy our customers.

我們公司盡全力讓顧客滿意。

有時(shí)也指投入了過(guò)多精力、幫人幫得過(guò)了，比如：

“I’ve been bending over backwards trying to solve his problems.”

“我好像幫他幫得太過(guò)了。“

6. bite off more than you can chew 不自量力，接受了超過(guò)能力范疇的任務(wù)

如：I think I’ve bitten off more than I can chew with this project.

我感覺(jué)接的這個(gè)項(xiàng)目超出了我的能力范圍。

7. by the skin of one’s teeth 指勉勉強(qiáng)強(qiáng)地完成了某事

如：我感覺(jué)自己這次考試低空飄過(guò)（差一點(diǎn)就掛了）……

I think I might have passed that exam by the skin of my teeth.

8. cry wolf “狼來(lái)了”，指在不需要幫助的情況下還大呼小叫求幫忙

如：My new roommate is always crying wolf.

我的新室友總是有事沒(méi)事就求別人幫她。

9. cut somebody some slack 指讓某人緩一緩，別那么苛責(zé)的評(píng)判

如：You need to cut the intern some slack. They are still learning.

你就讓實(shí)習(xí)生緩緩吧。他們還處于學(xué)習(xí)階段。

10. cut to the chase 直入正題，有話直說(shuō)

如：Okay, let's just cut to the chase.

好了，我們還是別兜圈子了，有話直說(shuō)。

11. get one’s head around something 下功夫了解某事

如：I’m going to spend tonight trying to get my head around this new legislation.

今晚我要好好了解一下這項(xiàng)新立法。

12. hear on the grapevine 聽(tīng)說(shuō)小道消息

如：He'd doubtless heard rumours on the grapevine.

他無(wú)疑是聽(tīng)到了小道消息。

13. it takes two to tango 一個(gè)巴掌拍不響，雙方都有責(zé)任

如：It takes two to tango, but I still think it was more his fault.

一個(gè)巴掌拍不響，但是我還是覺(jué)得多半是他的錯(cuò)。

14. miss the boat 錯(cuò)過(guò)機(jī)會(huì)、坐失良機(jī)

如：Jump to it, don't miss the boat.

馬上去做吧，不要坐失良機(jī)。

15. a piece of cake 小菜一碟、易如反掌

如：For him, the work is a piece of cake.

對(duì)他來(lái)說(shuō)，這點(diǎn)活兒跟白玩兒一樣。

16. pull yourself together 振作起來(lái)

如：Pull yourself together! Do you want to show the white feather in front of these people?

振作起來(lái)！難道你甘愿在這些人面前示弱嗎？

17. sit/be on the fence 保持中立

如：He considered that it was better for him to sit on the fence during the quarrel.

他認(rèn)為在這場(chǎng)爭(zhēng)吵中自己還是保持中立為好。

18. set up one’s game 提高自己的表現(xiàn)

如：If you want to get this promotion you’ll need to set up your game.

如果你想升職，就得好好表現(xiàn)了。

19. sell someone out 出賣(mài)某人

如：I asked you to keep that information to yourself. I can’t believe you sold me out.

我跟你說(shuō)過(guò)這事兒別告訴別人，真不敢相信你竟然出賣(mài)我。

20. your guess is as good as mine 我也一無(wú)所知、拿不準(zhǔn)

如：—"Do you believe they intend war eventually?"

“你認(rèn)為他們最終會(huì)打仗嗎？”

—" Your guess is as good as mine."

“我跟你一樣拿不準(zhǔn)。