汉语习语英译

[敷衍搪塞] give someone the runaround

别拿话儿搪塞我们。我们只想知道你到底是同意还是不同意。

Don’t give us the runaround. We’d just like to know whether you agree or not.

“拿话儿搪塞”或“敷衍搪塞”的说法可用give someone the runaround的句式来表示。give someone

the runaround实际上指“使某人到处乱转”，即在“找借口”或“托辞”。这也就相当于“搪塞”所要表达的意思了。请看下述例句：

Sample Sentences

1、不要拿话搪塞我，告诉我你到底想不想和我结婚！

Don’t give me the runaround. Just tell me if you would marry me or not.

2、我跟他借钱，他只是拿话搪塞却分文未借。

I asked him to lend me some money, but I got nothing except the runaround.

3、希望这次你能给我个确切的答复，别再拿话搪塞我了。

I’ve come to know the definite answer this time, not the runaround again.

[哭穷] to poor-mouth

别跟我哭穷了，我还不知道你的底细？

Don’t poor-mouth to me . I have your number.

汉语中“哭穷”的说法实际上是指一种“掩盖钱财实力”，“装寒酸”的掩饰行为，可用俚语poor-mouth来表示。例如：每当我要跟他借钱的时候他就跟我哭穷。He would poor-mouth to me

whenever I come to borrow money. 此语是个多义词，有时也可用来表示“说话留有余地”的意思。另外，在特定场合，poor-mouth几乎还与bad- mouth（说坏话）同义。

Dialogue

Mark: I can’t understand why you should believe her story and lent her the money.

Jack: She seemed to be in great need of the money . That’s why I ……

Mark: Well, you were fooled by her. Each time she borrows money, she will poor-mouth to her

target.

Jack: But what would you do if you were in place?

Mark: If were in your place, I wouldn’t lend a single cent to her.

[白吃白喝] a freeloader

我可不愿意白吃白喝别人。我不是那种爱占便宜的人。

I wouldn’t freeload. I’m not a freeloader.

有人把“白吃白喝”说成：eat and drink without paying, 这种说法很不准确。To eat without paying岂不成了强盗？“白吃白喝”不是不pay，而是自己不用pay，让别人去pay。表达这一概念可以用to freeload, 其意思是：利用别人之慷慨而占便宜。另外，to make use of 、to take advantage

of 在某些场合也可用来表示这种概念。

Dialogue

Tom: I feel like having a ball after the exam was over. What about eating out?

Sue: Eating out?

Tom: Yes.

Sue: Well, forget. I’m broke.

Tom: No worries. Everything is on this time. I’ll pick up the tab and treat you .

Sue: No, thanks. But I’m not a freeloader.

Tom: Well, you can treat ME when you are in the chips again.

Sue: I prefer going Dutch.

Tom: All right. I’ll follow yours.

[牵线搭桥] pull the strings

听说你公司有个空位，我很想去试一试。但你能先为我牵线搭桥吗？

I hear there’s an opening in your company and I would like to fill it. But will you pull some strings

for me ?

英语的pull the strings所表示的意思几乎完全等于汉语中“牵线搭桥”的意思。有时，人们为了得到某种职位或建立某种联系，常常会求助于别人，让人先给搭搭桥。在这种情况下，人们便会说：Will you pull some strings for me ?例如：我不认识你们的老板，你能先为我拉拉线搭个桥吗？Your boss doesn’t know me. Would you pull some strings for me ? 请看下列对话：

Dialogue

John: Are you still hunting for a job. Mark?

Mark: Yes. I’m still pounding the pavements.

John: Listen. There is a job opening in my company. It would suit you to a T.

Mark: Thank you for the information. Could you pull some strings to get me hired?

John: I wish I could , but my hands are tied.

Mark: Do you know anyone who could throw his weight around for me ?

John: Let me see…well… you can turn to Joe . He’s a big hot. Maybe he could put in his two

cents worth.

Mark: Asking him for help? I’ll be wasting my breath.

John: How come?

Mark: I asked him once, but he only gave me lip service.

John: Don’t worry. I’ll see what I can do.

注：I throw one’s weight around for …的意思相当于汉语“为某人使劲儿”的说法。2、put in one’s

two cents worth的意思是“发表意见”，但在这里的意思是“请某人说句话”。

［甩掉］palm off

他让你赶紧把手中的次品都甩掉。

He urged you to palm off all the shoddy goods immediately.

汉语中的“甩掉”有很多用法，其英语表示法也各不相同。先请看下述例句：

Sample Sentences

1、 他们终于把跟踪的警察给甩掉了。

They had finally managed to get rid of the following police.

2、 当他发现很难甩掉尾巴时，就干脆坐在树下了，看到底会怎么样。

When realizing it difficult to throw off the pursuers, he sat down under a tree, waiting to see what

would happen.

3、 你为什么不赶紧甩掉手中的存货？

Why don’t you palm off the stocked goods now?

从上述例句中可以看出，“甩掉”可以用get fid of ,也可用throw off 或者abandon等词来表示。但在“甩掉”手中的物品时，英美人则习惯用paim of .

Dialogue

John: It seems to me that you believe whatever that guy told you.

Mark: I couldn’t see through him. He set me up by telling me a sob story.

John: Did you buy the whole kit and caboodle from him?

Mark: Yes, I did. He said I could have it for peanuts.

John: And he palmed off all his shoddy goods on a fool like you.

Mark: I didn’t realize it until the trap was sprung.

John: Don’t be so down. Wit once bought is worth twice taught. You can try and palm them off on

another guy.

Mark: But I don’t want to cheat somebody else.

John: Then you will have to hold the bag.

[得罪某人] get in Dutch with someone

张明得罪了他的上司，几个月后就被开除了。

Zhang Ming got in Dutch with his boss and in a few months he was sacked.

“得罪某人”的说法一般可用offend someone 的片语来表示。但是在口语中，还是用 get in Dutch

with…的句型更合适。例如：很少有人敢得罪他。There are few people who dare to get in Dutch with

him.

Dialogue

Lucy: Why does Sally want to switch to another job ?

Lisa: She doesn’t want that, actually.

Lucy: But why did she told me that she wanted to work in another place?

Lisa: That’s because she got in Dutch with her boss. She no longer feels it proper to go on

working there.

Lucy: I now get it . But she doesn’t have to leave just because of that.

Lisa: I can understand her. I would do the same if I were in the same situation.

[说别人的闲话] dish the dirt about…

她特别喜欢说别人的闲话，是我们这儿出了名的长舌妇。

She is a notorious gossiper here, who is very fond of dishing the dirt about others.

“说别人的闲话”可以用gossip about的片语来表示。但是作口语，英美人更喜欢用dish the dirt

abort.此语中的dish是动词，意思是“把做好的菜盛到盘子里”；the dirt的意思是“泥土”，合在一起的字面意思是“把泥土盛到盘子里”，意指“说玷污他人的话”。

Sample Sentences

1、 我可不愿意和那些爱说别人闲话的人在一起聊天。

I hate to talk with those who are so fond of dishing the dirt about other pepole.

2、 你不相信她的话，她那个人就喜欢说人家的闲话。

Don’t believe her. She is the sort who is very fond of dishing the dirt about other people.

3、我经常看到她和其他的女人在一起东家长，西家短地说人家的闲话。

I often see her talking with other women and dishing the dirt about someone.

[挂个电话] give a buzz

在来之前请先给我挂个电话，以免让你扑空。

Give me a buzz before coming so that you won’t come to a locked door.

打电话的表示法大家很熟悉，一般都会用give me a call 或 phone me的片语来表示。但很少人知道give a buzz是嗡嗡的声音，而give sb . a buzz就是给某人挂个电话的意思了。请看下述对话。

Dialogue

Sam: I Just feel like having a talk with you one of these days.

Sue: I’d love it , too. We haven’t had a good chat for a long time.

Sam: What about your former classmates? Are you keeping in touch with them?

Sue: Some are in touch, and some are not.

Sam: Why don’t you ask some of them to come over and have a talk together?

Sue: That’s a good idea. But I’ll to phone them and make a arrangement.

Sam: When you have made it , give me a buzz.

Sue: Sure. I’ll let you know as soon as we have made it .

[写封信] drop me a line

有空了给我写封信。

Drop me a line when you have time.

同“挂个电话”一样，口语中“写封信”是用drop me a line来取代write me a letter的。请看下面的对话：

Dialogue

Lucy: I feel sick at the thought that we’ll soon part.

Lisa: Me, too. But we must be in touch with each other.

Lucy: Surely I will . When I miss you, I will call you and talk with you on the phone.

Lisa: You can also drop me a line when you have any news.

Lucy: Yeah. I like writing letters and I will certainly often write you .

Lisa: I’ll do the same. I think that’s best way to keep in touch.

[榨干血汗] bleed one white

他们是在设法榨干你身上所有的钱。

They are trying to bleed you white.

汉语“榨干血汗”指“耗尽某人的钱财”。这一概念在英语中有个很好的表示方法：bleed someone

white.此语中的bleed 是个动词，意思是“使流血”，与someone white合在一起的字面意思是“让某人的血流光”，相当于我们所说的“榨干血汗”。

Dialogue

Jack: You have been hooked by the guys

Mark: What do you mean?

Jack: I mean the other guys are ganging up on you. And you must stop.

Mark: But I've already lost 3,000 dollars.

Jack: And they are trying to bleed you white, you know?

Mark: Bleed me white? How can that be true?

Jack: You'll soon have it coming on you if you don't listen to me and stop.

-----

［崭新的］ brand new

他买了一台崭新的轿车。

He bought a brand new car.

当形容某种物品很新，和从商店刚刚买回来的一样时，其英语的表示法是：be brand new。此语的字面意思是“还带着商标呢”。请看下面的对话：

Dialogue

Mark: How much is this car, sir?

Sir: This car? Oh, it's 3,000 dollars.

Mark: Three thousand for a used car?

Sir: Oh, no. It's brand new. I bought it only a couple of months ago.

Mark: But 3,000 is still a bit too much for a used car.

Sir: Then you make a price?

Mark: What about 2,500?

Sir: 2,500? Then I'd keep it.

［太便宜了］be dirt cheap

这块手表你才花了30美元？真太便宜了！

You bought this watch only for 30 dollars? It's dirt cheap.

汉语口语中“没法再便宜了”、“太便宜了”这类的说法除了用我们已经讨论过的 be for a

song 之类的说法外，还可以用dirt cheap 的片语来表示。dirt cheap 的字面意思是“便宜如土”，也就是“不能再便宜了”。

Dialogue

Sue: How much did you pay for the car?

Bob: I bought it for 800.

Sue: 800 for a Toyota car? It's dirt cheap.

Bob: Yeah. It can't be cheaper for a three-year-old car like this.

Sue: Does it work well?

Bob: Yeah. I tried it out on the high way and it worked just as other cars.

Sue: It's really a good bargain.

［费事儿］ take a lot of doing

做鱼特别费事儿，我可不愿意洗呀、淹呀、炖呀什么的。

It takes a lot of doing to cook a fish. I wouldn't like to spend a lot

of time washing, salting, stewing and whatnots for the cooking of it.

在日常生活中我们常讲的“费事儿”的说法有人曾用 take a lot of time 或 take a lot of

trouble之类的片语来表示。虽说这样的说法也能不同程度地表达“费事儿”的概念，但仍不如用 take a lot of doing更符合口语习惯。

Dialogue

Kate: What are you going to cook for the guests?

Lucy: I've no idea. Maybe we can get some ready-made food.

Kate: Some ready-made food? Didn't you promise to cook something for them?

Lucy: Yes, I did. I promised to cook them some beggar's chicken. But it

takes a lot of doing, you know?

Kate: I know. I also know you should keep your words.

Lucy: What do you mean?

Kate: I mean you must cook what you have promised.

［知道底细］ have someone's number

别跟我瞎吹了，我又不是不了解你的底细。

No big talk with me. I have your number.

汉语“底细”用途很广：既可以指一个人全部的所做所为，也可以指一个人某些不光彩的经历；既可以指一个人的家庭情况，也可以指一个人能力的大小。有些人曾用 details 来表示“底细”并把“我知道她的底细”说成 I know her details。虽然不能说此译有多大的谬误，但听起来总觉得词不达意。其担人的底细”。

⒂锟谟镏杏懈?have someone's number 的片语，其意思就是“知道某

Sample Sentences

1.警方已经掌握了嫌疑犯的底细。

The police have already got the suspect's number.

2.她说在未了解他的底细之前是不会答应与他结婚的。

She said that she wouldn't promise to marry him before she had his number.

3.在你了解她的底细之前怎能如此地相信她呢？

How could you place too much trust in her before you have had

her number?

注：汉语“底细”有时还可以用其它的说法来表示。比如：

1. 我很了解他们成功的底细。I know the true story behind their success.

2. 我很了解她到底是个什么样的人。I know her from A to Z.

［精品］the choicest goods

这家商店卖的手表都是精品，而且种类还特别多。

This shop sells a wide range of watches, all of which are the choicest.

在谈到商品质量时，我们常说讲的“精品”或“上等品”一般都是用 the choicest 来表示的。但是在英国，“精品”的概念还有其它的表示方法：of the Saville Row quality 或 of the Bond

Street quality. Saville Row 是英国伦敦的一条街道。此街荟萃了许多服装行业的精品店，专门出售高档精制的男子服装。因此，of the Saville Row quality 指的就是“精品”。Bond Street

是以销售高档女子精品服装而著称的另一条伦敦的大街。对于中国学生来说，还是用 the

choicest 来表示“精品”概念为宜。

Sample Sentences

1 这家商店的丝绸都是精品。

This shop sells the choicest silk and satin.

2 这些手表都是来自各国的精品。

These watches are all the choicest from different countries.

3 这是一家专营精品的商店。

This shop specializes in all the choicest goods.

［了解一下情况］get the lay of the land

经理说他想让我们先去海南了解一下那里的情况，然后再决定投资的事。

The manager said that he would like us to go to Hai Nan and get the lay

of the land there before deciding on the investment.

汉语“了解一下情况”多指先作一番调查。此语有很多的表示方法：make a study of, make a

survey of, make research on 以及 get the lay of the land 等等。其中当属 get the lay of

the land 最富有口语色彩，而且可用于表示很多情景中的“了解一下情况”。此语中的 land 原指“地形”，后转喻“状况”、“情势”、“情况”等。

Sample Sentences

1 当他们了解了对方的情况以后，总司令命令部队马上向那个地区发起进攻。

After getting the lay of the land of the enemy's side, the

commander-in-chief ordered an immediate attack on their land.

2 在了解情况以前，你们不应该采取任何行动。

Before getting the lay of land, you should not take any actions.

3 我们最好先了解一下那里的情况，然后再决定投资的数额。

We'd better get the lay of the land there before deciding on the sum of

the investment.

［掌上明珠］the apple of someone's eye

玲玲是她爷爷的掌上明珠。

Ling Ling is the apple of her grandpa's eye.

汉语“掌上明珠”的说法一般是用 the apple of someone's eye 的片语来表示的。此语源出圣经《旧约》，古人把 apple 视为眼睛的瞳孔，而把某人视为自己瞳孔的意思当然不言而喻。尽管瞳孔的现在用法是 pupil，而不再是 apple，但这一用法一直延续至今。

Sample Sentences

1 老王很宠爱他的女儿，那是他的掌上明珠。

Lao Wang dotes on his daughter. She is the apple of his eye.

2 你千万别得罪她，她可是咱们老板的掌上明珠。

Take care never offend her. She is the apple of our boss's eye.

3 别看别人不把当作一回事，在家里她可是她父亲的掌上明珠。

Although other people never take her seriously. She is the apple in her

father's eye at home.

［让人恶心］turn one's stomach/make one sick

听她讲话，看她和男人讲话的那股劲头儿真让我恶心。

Listening to her and seeing the way of her talking with men really turns

my stomach.

有人曾把“让人恶心”直译成 make somebody vomit，听来使人感到很别扭。其实，英语中有个类似的说法：turn one's stomach。此语直译为“让人翻胃”，与汉语“让人恶心”的意思相同。

Dialogue

Lisa: You seem upset. There must be something wrong.

Lena: I can't seem to get on with Joe. My marriage with him seems to be

a mistake and being in the same house with him turns my stomach.

Lisa: How come? You two used to get on like a house on fire,

Lena: But he turns out to be a liar.

Lisa: You mean he's unfaithful?

Lena: Worse than that! better to talk about something else. I feel

sick of mentioning him.

［惹麻烦了］be in a jam

小张这次可惹麻烦了。昨天他又让警察给逮住了。

Xiao Zhang's in a jam now. He was copped out again by the police yesterday.

单从“麻烦”两个字而言，英语的 in hot soup, in hot water, in trouble 都带有这个意思，但这些与我们日常讲的“惹麻烦了”的概念还有些差别。我们所讲的“惹麻烦了”往往指“通漏子”或“出事”，接近英美人讲的in a jam 的意思。

Dialogue

Linda: It seems to me that you're on pins and needles these days. What's

eating you?

Frank: I'm in a jam. Someone in the company charged me with padding my

expense account.

Linda: You shouldn't have done such a foolish thing.

Frank: I know. I only added two other receipts to the account.

Linda: But you can withdraw them and apologize to the boss.

Frank: The trouble is that the one who charged me

Linda: His wife?

Frank: No. His secretary.

注：pad one's account 的意思是“虚报账目”。

［关系很好］be on good terms with

据说老张和那个部长的关系特别好。

It's said that Lao Zhang is on very good terms with the minister.

“关系很好”的概念比较正式的表达法是 have a good relationship with 或 have good ties

with 等等。但是在口语中，英美人更习惯用be on good terms with 的句式。如果表示关系不好的概念，可以用 be not on good terms with 或者 be on bad terms with 的片语。

Dialogue

Linda: It seems that Sandra is on very good terms with the boss.

Sandy: Yeah. They're just like a house of fire.

Linda: Does his wife know that?

Sandy: What if she knows it? She's just like a lamb in front of him.

Linda: I wouldn't stand that sort of marriage.

Sandy: Don't boast. We never know what will happen.

［跟别人要钱］mooch off someone

我最讨厌跟别人要钱的人了。

I feel sick of those who mooch off others.

我们这里讲的“跟别人要钱”指专门为占便宜而向他人索取钱财的行为。这种人当然不会还钱，但又不同于诈骗或欺骗。这个说法应该用mooch off的片语来表示。此语中的mooch是动词，含有“强行讨取”之意。比如：他又跟我要了50元钱。He again mooched 50 yuan off me.

Dialogue

Linda: Did Joe go to borrow money from you?

Sandra: Yeah. He came to me and wanted to mooch me off.

Linda: Did you give him any?

Sandra: of course not, I've been mooched off several times

Linda: I'm sorry you were taken in. He's a big liar!

[钱挣海了]coin money

这几年老张的钱挣海了。谁也没料到他会发这么大的财。

Lao Zhang is coining money these few years. Who can ever expect he would

be able to make bundles like this!

汉语“钱挣海了”的概念除了可以用make a killing, make bundles, make a

bomb的短语表示之外，还可以用coin money，并且这种表示法更形象一些。

Dialogue

Kelly: I don't know why I'm always caught short

Sally: That's because money burns a hole in your pocket Waste not, want

not. You know？

Kelly: But why are so many other people so fortunate? I know some guys

who are rolling in money and they splash their money without thinking

twice．

Sally: Maybe they're on the gravy train．

Kelly: Yes. Take Thomas for example, he seems to be coining money and

rolling in it．

Sally: You'll never know. You may run into money one day and coin money,

too.

[钱多得花不完] have money to burn

老李的钱多得花不完，要不他敢这么挥霍？

Lao Li has money to burn. Otherwise, how could he splash his money about

like anything.

“钱多得花不完”是个夸张的说法，意思是有很多很多的钱。英语中也有个类似的夸张说法：have

money to burn（有可以供焚烧的钱）。此语的实际意思是说钱多得到了烧了也不心疼的地步。汉语中的“大肆挥霍”可以用to splash about或to blew来表示。

Dialogue

Frank: I hear Joe is making a killing out of clothes selling.

Betty: That's true He's his clients eating of his hand．

Frank: There's always someone who rides the gravy train.

Betty: That's the way things are, but he deserves it for the way he work.

He's been working very hard.

Frank: But Why don't we ask him to invest in out project? We are running

short of funds, aren't we?

Betty: Yes. But I don't think he's interested, though he has money to burn.

Frank: Why not?

Betty: He wouldn't do anything on the off-chance unless he's so sure of

what he's doing.

注： do things on the off-chance的意思相当于汉语“干事靠运气”的说法。

［钱能生钱］ Money begets money．

钱能生钱。没本钱又怎能挣大钱呢？

Money begets money Without money in hand, how can you make bundles?

在英语中有个谚语 Money begets money，与汉语的“钱能生钱”的意思一致。有些学生曾用Money can born money来表示，但是，born是bear的过去分词，不能当动词原形来使用。此外，英语中已有的说法我们应该照搬，在没有把握的情况下不宜再创造。

Dialogue

Frank: It seems easier for rich people to get still richer.

Betty: That's because money begets money.

Frank: Yes. Those who have little money don't have good chances.

Betty: They may have chances, but the problem is that they can't achieve

a lot with the little money they have.

[没钱]be broke

我手头没钱了，咱们别到外面去吃了。

I don't want to eat out today, I'm broke.

汉语“没钱”的概念当然可以用have little money, have no money以及be penniless之类的说法来表示。但是，英语中有个be broke的说法，与我们所讲“没钱”的意思一致。

Dialogue

Ted: I feel like having a ball. Let's eat out tonight.

Sue: Eat out? Forget it. I'm broke.

Ted: Don't worry. I'll treat you. I'm loaded today.

Sue: No. We'd better go Dutch. I don't want to freeload.

注：（1）feel like having a ball是地道的美国口语，意思相当于汉语“特有情绪”或“特别高兴”。（2）be loaded也是个地道的口语表示法，意思相当于“兜儿里有钱”。（3）go Dutch的意思是“自己付自己的钱”。（4）freeload是个动词，意思相当于汉语的“白吃白喝”。

[钱来之不易]Money doesn't grow on trees.

你不应该如此挥霍。钱来之不易呀！

You should not splash your money about like this. Money doesn't grow on

trees.

汉语的“钱来之不易”有人曾用Money doesn't come easily的句式译之。在一般情况下，这样的译法当然可以。但是，英语中有个更地道的表示方法：Money doesn't grow on trees（钱不是长在树上的）。

Dialogue

Ted: Why are you throwing all these odds and ends out?

Sue: I don't want these odds and ends to take up the space.

Ted: But we may need them one day.

Sue: When we need them, we may go to the shop. It's very close to us.

Ted: But they will cost you some money. Money doesn't grow on trees, you

know?

Sue: I know. But these trival things do not cost much.

注：odds and ends指家里的“零碎东西”。

[敲竹杠]a clip joint

那可是一家漫天要价、大敲竹杠的商店啊！

That shop is plain a clip joint!

clip一词有cheat或overcharge之意；joint大致与place同义。在英美等国，a clip joint常指索价甚高或漫天要价的商店或餐馆。比如：如果没熟人介绍，你千万不要涉足香港的酒吧。那里漫天要价的酒吧太多了。You should never step into a bar in Hong Kong that you haven't

been introduced to by an acquaintance. There're too many clip joints there.此外，还可以用a rip-off joint表示“敲竹杠”。

Dialogue

Jenny: I'd like to buy a new fur coat. This is already done for. But can

you recommend a shop?

Tommy: Why don't you go to the Myre? They have all the choicest fur products.

Jenny: The Myre? Forget it.

Tommy: Why?

Jenny: It's some clip joint. Their prices are sky-high. I wouldn't waste

my money in such a rip-off joint.

Tommy: But you can haggle.

Jenny： I don't like that. I would rather go to another Shop．

注：（1）the Choicest fur Products的意思是“皮货精品”。（2）the Prices are sky-high的意思是“价钱太高了”。（3）haggle的意思是“讨价还价”与bargain同义。

[生活很富裕] be well fixed

自从中国对外开放以后，有些农民也成了企业家，而且大部分农民的生活都富裕起来了。

Since China opened to the outside world, some farmers have become

entrepreneurs and many are well-fixed, living a much more comfortable

life．

汉语“生活富裕起来了”的概念一般可以用become better-off的片语来表示。我们这里讲的be well－fixed中的fixed指“安定”，加上well（有钱），也就相当于我们所说“生活得很富裕”了。

Dialogue

Ted： It's amazing that many Chinese peasants are enjoying a much better

life than before．

Li Ming: Yes. Thanks to China's opening policy.

Ted： Ten years ago when I first visited China, I noticed that many peasants

were living from hand to mouth.

Li Ming： That's true. But now they put on a new look. And many have become

well-fixed without having to worry about the next meal as they did in the

past

Ted： I can understand how they feel. And I'm glad they become much better

off.

注:（1）live from hand to mouth的意思是“饥寒交迫”。（2）put on a new look相当于“旧貌换新颜”的说法。

［吃了上顿没下顿〕not know where the next meal comes

虽然很多人都已经富裕起来了，可是仍有些人吃了上顿没下顿。

In Spite the fact that many have now become well-fixed, some people still

remain in a state that they do not know where me next meal汉语口语中“吃了上顿没下顿”的说法与英语not know where the next meal comes的意思完全吻合。

Dialogue

Tina: I feel sorry for these people fumbling in the garbage.

Ted: They all have to do that to make a living. These people usually don't

know where their next meal would come.

Tina: How can they tolerate such a kind of life?

Ted: If you were in the same boat, you would know the answer.

[发财]rake it in

他在海南挣了很多钱。真没想到他会发财。

He made bundles in Hai Nan． He was unexpectedly raking it in．

我们前面提到的making bundles， making a bomb， coining money, rolling in money以及have money to burn之类的片语均强调“挣大钱”或“特别有钱”的状态，而我们这里讨论的rake it in则侧重强调“发财”的动态。rake原指用耙子“耙”的动作，引伸喻指“迅速获取”。与it（钱）in（进）合在一起的字面意思是“很快搂进来很多的钱”，相当于“发了大财”。

Dialogue

Tina: Do you believe in fate？

Sue： In fate? What do you mean？

Tina: Some people remain poor for a better part of their life and, out

of the blue, they rake it in and become millionaires.

Sue: Nothing surprising A cat may look at a King They can't remain poor

all their lives.

Tina: But few people would believe that Joe can run into a fortune

Sue: But he did. That is the way of life

[太宰人了]cost an arm and a leg

这个饭馆太宰人了。一个白菜豆腐汤也得要上几十元。

Eating in this restaurant will cost you an arm and a leg. You'll have to

pay tens of yuan for even a soup of cabbage and beancurd.

在谈到物价的话题时，北京人近年来讲的“宰人”的英语表示法难倒了许多中国学生。其实，英美人早有类似的说法，其中，cost an arm and leg 就是很好的一例。此语的字面意思是“得让你付出一只胳膊和一条腿”，这样的夸张比喻且不比汉语的“宰人”更具体？

Dialogue:

John: which car do you like to buy?

Mary: I'd like this Benz. It stands out against all the other cars.

John: it's indeed a very good car. But it will cost an arm and

a leg.

Mary: I didn't expect that you were in the market for another car.

John: I'm thinking about it, but for the time being, I'd like another car.

[大吵大闹]yell bloody murder

如果我的妻子知道我为他们花了多少钱，她一定会大吵大闹的。

My wife will certainly yell bloody murder when she learns how much I have

spent for them.

学过英语的人大都用shout一词来表示汉语的“大吵大闹”，这种表示法却未能传达出“闹”的成分和“吵”的语气。英语口语中有个yell bloody murder的说法，即包含了“吵”的架势，也包含了“闹”的色彩。但必须同的是，yell bloody murder是美国用法，英国人用blue murder，很少bloody一词。另外，当英国人在表示“大吵大闹”的概念时，一般习惯使用scream blue

murder。

Sample Sentences

1.如果他知道我把这个消息告诉了你，一定会跟我大吵大闹的。

He'll yell bloody murder to me if he knows I've told you this.

2.你为什么要跟她大吵大闹的？她又没说你的坏话。

Why should you yell bloody murder to her? She didn't say anything bad about

you.

3.当她得知他的丈夫和别的女孩子约会时，她就大吵大闹起来。

When she learned that her husband had dated other girls, she started

yelling bloody murder.

[很象]the spitting image of

小李真象他的爸爸，在老婆面前象条虫似的。

Xiao Li is plain the spitting image of his father, who behaves just like

a lamb in front of his wife.

不同的“很象”在英语中有不同的表示方法。而在“小李很象他的父亲”一句中，用the

spitting image of的片语比其它的更确切。此语中spitting的意思是“影子”，这样，其语意也就很清楚了。请看下面的例句：

Sample Sentences

1.她长得很象她的妈妈。

She takes after her mother.

2.他跟他的父亲长得一模一样。

He's a dead ringer of his father.

3.你的手迹很象老张的。

Your handwriting is similar to Lao Zhang's.

4.在吃东西方面，他特别象他的父亲。

In eating, he's the spitting image of his father.

5.她很象个电影明星。

She's just like a film star.

Dialogue

John: Who's that kid teasing the cat?

Mary: He's Henry's son.

John: He's really the spitting mage of his father, isn't he?

Mary: Yes. He takes after his father. He's chip off the old block.

John: Like father, like son, of course.

注：Like father, like son.是个谚语，意思是“有其父，必有其子”。

[绝交信]Dear John

贝克收到他女朋友的绝交信的那天简直都气疯了。

Beck went plain crazy with anger on the day when he received his Dear John

from his exgirlfriend.

汉语口语“绝交信”的说法在英语口语情景中一般是用Dear John来表示的。此语原为第二次世界大战的军队用语，后传入民间。Dear John既可以作名词单独使用，也可以用作形容词，形成a Dear John letter的表示方法。

Dialogue

Joe: It seems that Jack is very down these days.

Sue: That's because he got his Dear John from Sandra.

Joe: They used to get on like a house on fire.

Sue: Yes, they used to get on like a house on fire, but Sandra soon got

fed up and turned to another guy.

注：get on like a house on fire的意思是“打得火热”。

[不能轻信]take something with a grain of salt

他说的话你可不能全信。他是个说谎不带脸红的人。

You must always take what he says with a grain of salt. He's born liar.

“不能轻信”的说法当然可以用not believe的句式来表示。但在英语中有个更地道的说法：take

something with a grain of salt。此语愿意为“不加盐就不能吃的食物”，后转喻“不加分析就不能轻信的话”，也就相当于“不能轻信”的意思。

Dialogue

Lora: Why are you so happy today?

Lisa： John told me that he would invest in our project.

Lora: It's really naive of you to believe him. He never keeps his words.

Lisa： He was serious enough when he made the promise.

Lora: Very well. But you still need to take what he says with a grain

of salt. You can't always trust him.

Lisa： I'll see whether he is serious or not.

[告发、检举]blow the whistle

据说检举这个事的政府官员也被调职了。

It's said that those government officials who had blown the whistle also

got transferred.

汉语中“告发”或“揭发”的概念有时可以用report或tell on somebody来表示。比如有人告发你的。Someone will tell on you.但在很多情况下，不如用blow the whistle更形象。此语是个俚语，意思是“检举揭发”某人的不正当行为。比如：公司中某个职员揭发了总经理的偷税行为。Someone in the company has blown the whistle on the general manager who committed

tax evasion.再如：有人揭发老张伪造帐目。Someone blew the whistle on Lao Zhang's doctoring

the accounts.此外，还有其它一些表示“揭发”概念的词或短语：expose, unmask, bring to

light, reveal, make known,等等。

Dialogue

Mark: Do you know that the general manager was charged with embezzlement?

Mike: Yes, Someone has blown the whistle on him.

Mark: Do you know who that someone is?

Mike: Someone in the company, of course.

[指控]charge somebody with

他被指控犯有强奸罪并被逮捕了。

He was charged with raping and got arrested.

“指控”及“控告”一般是用be charged with的短语来表示的。请看下面的例句：

Sample Sentences

1.他被指控犯有贪污罪。

He was charged with embezzlement.

2.有人控告他走私

He was charged with smuggling.

3.有人控告她从商店里偷东西。

She was charged with shoplifting.

[刮目相看]Sit up and take notice

他最近出了几十分畅销的书，这使得很多人对他刮目相看。

He has published a number of books and they all become best-sellers, the

fact of which makes many people sit up and take notice.

有人曾把汉语的“刮目相看”译成to look at somebody distinctively或treat somebody with

increased respect。这样的译法不能算作是忠实的翻译。在英语中，有个sit up and take notice的说法，其字面意思是“坐起来并开始注意”。这与汉语表示愿未引人注意，后因某事使人评价很高的“刮目相看”的意思几乎完全一致。

Sample Sentences

1.由于某种原因，虽然那个老师曾被人看不起，可是当他讲的课受到一位美国著名教授的高度赞扬时，过去看不起那些人也开始刮目相看了。

The teacher had been looked sown upon for one reason or another. But when

his teaching was highly spoken of by a very famous American professor,

many people around him began to sit up and take notice.

2、长期以来，人们从未把他当作一回事。可是当他在国外受到外国人的赞扬并被留下来在大学任教时，他原来的同事才对他刮目相看。

He had long been taken for granted until he was highly recommended and

asked to remain in a university to teach abroad when his former colleagues

began to sit up and take notice.

[挺不错的]be hunky-dory

他的女朋友挺不错的，跟谁都合得来。

His girlfriend is hunky-dory, getting on nicely with almost everyone.

汉语口语中"挺不错的"或"没说的"之类的说法可以用hunky-dory来表示。Hunky-dory是美国俚语，常用来表示"顶呱呱的"、"非常令人满意的"、"没说的"以及"挺不错的"之类的说法。过去，美国海军的舰艇在日本横滨的港口停泊时，士兵们常到横滨最主要的大街"本町道"（Honcho-dori）去游逛。到了那个地方，士兵们吃喝玩乐，一切都很开心。以后当士兵们提起那条街就随口说出Honky-dori , 用以表示十分令人满意的心情。

Sample Sentences

1、 A：你买的那套房子怎样？A：How about the house you have just bought?

B：挺不错的。房后还有个花园呢。B：It's hunky-dory. There's even a beautiful

garden behind the house.

2、 A：你新买的车怎么样？A：How about the car you've just bought？

B：没说的。既省油，马力也不小。B：It's hunky-dory. It's both economic and

powerful.

3、 A：你的这个工作怎样？A：How about your new job?

B：挺不错的。办公室里的人都很说得来。B：I'ts hunky-dory. People in the

office all hit it off.

[已经……了]be over

电影已经演完了。

The film is over.

在表示"已经了"的概念或思想情绪时，多数口语场合都可以用be over的短语来表示。请看下面的例句：

Sample Sentences

1、 雨已经停了。 The rain is over.

2、 腿不疼了。 The pain in the leg is over.

3、 会议早已结束了。 The meeting is already over.

[断断续续]be off and on

我断断续续学了十二年的英语了。

I have been learning English off and on for 12 years.

汉语"断断续续"的概念一般都是用off and on 这一短语来表示的。Off and on 在句中一般作状语，相当于一个副词，可放在动词之前，也可放在动词之后。除了可以用来表示"断断续续"的概念，还可以用来表示"有时……有时"或"一会儿……一会儿"之类的意思。

Sample Sentences

1、 他已经断断续续地在北京住了三十五年了。He's been living in Beijing off

and on for 35 years.

2、 这个灯有时亮，有时又不亮了。The light is on and off .

3、 这个牙一会儿疼，一会儿又不疼。The ache in the tooth is off and on .

[前途远大]have the world before one

你们的前途很远大，但仍须努力工作。

You all have the world before you. But you'll still need to work hard.

“前途远大”或“前程无量”之类的说法除了可以用have a bright future或have a

prosperous future来表示外，还可以用have the world before one。

Dialogue

Henry: Hey, boys. Don't be too proud of being young. I know you all have

the world before you, but you will have to work hard to make your world

beautiful.

Jack: Yes, Henry, we're all working hard.

Henry: But you aren't working hard enough.

Jack: We still have a lot of time to work still harder. But one fact you

cannot blink is that we must not overwork ourselves. All work and no play

makes Jack a dull boy, you know?

[好险]a narrow squeak

昨天晚上好险哪。老板同一个妇女职员在办公室里动手动脚的，差一点儿让他的妻子给撞上。

The boss had a narrow squeak last night in his office: his spooning with

a girl clerk was almost found out by his wife.

“好险”或“险些”的说法在汉语中一般有两种场合：一种是人命关开的场合，比如：“险些被压死”。这种场合的“险些”英语是用have a close shave的片语来表示的；另一种是有惊无险的场合，比如“干坏事险些被发现”，一般是用a narrow squeak来表示的。squeak原指短促的尖叫声，用作俚语的意思是“勉强地”、“侥幸地”，与narrow合用，常用于“非常勉强的成功”或“脱险”。

Dialogue

John: Do you know why our boss becomes watchful at Joe?

Mary: No idea. They used to get on like a house on fire.

John: That becomes a past story.

Mary: What's happened?

John: Joe got himself too familiar with the boss's wife and his spooning

with her was almost found out by the boss.

Mary: What a narrow squeak! If it was found out, Joe will certainly be

in trouble.

John: But I bet he will have it coming on him.

[手气好]have the Midas touch

王先生的手气特别好，干什么都挣钱。

Mr. Wang has the Midas touch: everything he does turns to gold.

汉语“手气好”的概念在大多数的情况下均可用have the Midas touch来表示。此语源自希腊神话。据说，神赐给一个叫Midas的人一种特殊的力量，任何东西只要被他的手一碰就会变成黄金。后来Midas touch便用来喻指“有发财的运气或技能”了。

Dialogue

Sue: You seem quite down. What's eating you?

Tim: I lost all my money.

Sue: But you insisted that you had the Midas touch.

Tim: That was because I seldom lost.

Sue: But luck is not always on the same person. You should know that.

Tim: I didn't believe they could take me to the cleaners.

Sue: But they did. You've got to stop by now.

注：take somebody to the cleaners的意思是“让某人输得精光”。

[走运]be on the gravy train

这几年他一直很走运。

He's been on the gravy train these years.

汉语“走运”或“运气好”的概念基本上可以用be on the gravy train的片语来表示。值得注意的是：当此语中的gravy train之前跟不定冠词a,形成a gravy train时，其意思是“美差事”或“有油水”。只有当使用be on the gravy train的形式时，其意思者是“走运”。

Dialogue

Mike: There are always people who are on the gravy train.

Mark: That's what things are. Some people always seem to have the Midas

touch. They make bundles by doing almost everything.

Mike: But nobody would believe that Jack can make bundles.

Mark: He is making a lot of money. But I don't think he'll always be on

the gravy train.

Mike: No. God won't always bless the same person, I believe.

[让人给骗了]be ripped off

我又被那个家伙骗了。

I was ripped off again by that guy.

在英语里，不同形式和不同内容的"骗"有不同的表示方法。Be fooled, be taken in, be done in ,以及be cheated 和 be deceived往往用于指"精神"方面的"骗"，而be conned, be hooked, be

hooked , be swindled 及我们这里讲的be ripped off 侧重指金钱或物质方面的"被骗"。Rip off

带有"欺诈"、"诈骗"之意，在表达这一概念时较为常用。

Dialogue

Susan: Why are you down in the dumps?

Sandra: I've got ripped off. Someone conned me and I lost more than 2，000 dollars.

Susan: You're kidding! Why couldn't you see through him?

Sandra: Maybe I'm still wet behind the ears.

注：be down in the dumps 的意思是"神情沮丧"。

［不入虎穴，焉得虎子］Nothing venture, nothing have

不入虎穴，焉得虎子。不吃苦，哪能会有收获？

Nothing venture, nothing have. No pains, no gains.

汉语的"不入虎穴，焉得虎子"是条成语，现有直译和意译两种译法。在较为正式的场合，此语多采用直译，而在非正式或大多数口语情景中，一般采用意译：Nothing venture, nothing have.

此语直译成汉语的意思是"不冒险就无收获"。

Dialogue

John: How's your business , Mark?

Mark: It let me down I can't put my finger on why business is bad . Retailing

is a hard nut to crack.

John: But you can't let things drift. You will have to do something.

Mark: I'm thinking of expanding my business to widen the profit margin.

But I need a short term interest-free loan .

John: I advise you to take stock of the situation before actually carry

out your plan. You should remain on the safe side.

Mark: I know. But nothing venture, nothing have. I've got to take risks.

注：(1) go overboard 一般指"过分追求"，但在此文中指"仓促地大量进货"；（2）make one's

hair stand on end 的意思是"使人毛骨悚然"；（3）A rolling stone gathers no moss 是个谚语，意即"滚石不生苔，转业不聚财"；（4）take stock of …的意思是"估计形势"或"对形势作出正确的判断"。

[白费力气]plough the air

只要打定了主意，他是绝对不会再改变的。你再劝他也只是白费力气。

He wouldn't change his idea once he's made up his mind. Any attempt to

let him change will only be ploughing the air.

"白费力气"一般可以用be in vain 的片语来表示。但作为地道的口语表达形式，用plough the

air 更好。Plough the air 直译为"在空气中耕耘"，这当然是徒劳的，白费力气的。

Dialogue

John: Why did you get so cross with Jack?

Mark: He butted in and loused up my talk with a potential client.

John: Don't worry. Maybe we can try and iron out the problem.

Mark: That'll be ploughing the air. The client has already turned to

another seller.

John: But do you think we can save the situation somehow?

Mark: Not even z dog's chance.

注：（1）get 的意思是“生某人的气”；（2）的意思是“把某事搞得一团糟”；（3）Not even a dog's chance是个俚语，意指“没有一点可能”。

[命好]lead a charmed life

他的命真好。爸爸是政府高级官员，妈妈是公司的总经理，自己过了托福考试并获得美国一所大学的奖学金。

His father is a senior government official, his mother is the general

manager of a large company and he himself had passed the TOEFL test and

got a scholarship from an American university. He must have been leading

a charmed life!

对于汉语“命好”或“命大”的说法，有人曾用lucky或have a good luck译之。此译虽不能说是错，但未能表达出其全部意思。其实，英语中lead a charmed life这一片语就十分接近“命好”或“命大”的意思，用之更准确。

Dialogue

Jack: Have you heard about the traffic accident in the Fifth Street last

Friday?

Mary: Yeah. Four people were killed and three got seriously injured. Of

the eight people in the two cars, only the eight-year girl survived the

accident.

Jack: That's what I mean. That girl must lead a charmed life. Isn't it

a mystery?

Mary: I've also heard that a girl who fell from a six-story building

only got slightly injured.

Jack: She leads a charmed life, too. That's another mystery!

注：（1）be in the dark的意思是“对某事一无所知”；（2）survive an accident的意思是“在车祸中幸免于难”。

[遭殃、倒霉]get in the neck

在家里，如果孩子们打架被父母发现了，倒霉的总是年龄大的孩子。

In the family, if the kicks-up are found out by the parents, it's always

the oldest of the children who'll get in the neck.

汉语“遭殃”、“倒霉”或某些场合中的“背黑锅”之类的概念在很多情况下都以用的片语来表示。此语的来源大概是：犯错的人或罪犯往往要被人用手掐住脖子并遭惩罚。后来人们便借此喻

指“遭殃”或“倒霉”之类的概念了。

Dialogue

Jack: Another mystery about life is that when a group of people are

involved in wrong doings, there's always someone who can get away with

a blue murder while others get in the neck.

Mary: That's for sure. Joe got in the neck the other day when he and his

friends were racing on the highway. Of the live boys, only Joe got cooped

out by the police.

Jack: He should have it coming on him. He's always been driving live a

lunatic.

[背黑锅]hold the bag

在任何情况下，我从没有让任何人为我背黑锅。

Under no circumstances have I made anyone hold the bag for me.

汉语口语中“背黑锅”的说法意指某人干了坏事而责任却落在未干坏事的人身上。英美人把这种情况说成“捧着布袋子”（hold the bag），但值得注意的是：英美人讲的hold the bag 的人既可能是同犯错误的人，也可能是没有牵连的人。

Dialogue

Tom: Why did Sue rage at you like that?

Sam: She blamed me for what we did yesterday.

Tom: What did you do?

Sam: We sold unlicensed medicine. But when we saw the police coming, we

ran away.

Tom: What about Sue?

Sam: She was too slow to run away. She was caught by the police.

Tom: So she was left holding the bag?

Sam: I didn't want that, of course.

[活该]should have it coming on somebody

他挨揍真是活该！谁让他老欺负别人。

He's got beaten up ? He should have it coming on him for the way he often

ill-treats others.

汉语口语中"活该"的概念有几种表示方法。有时可用serve somebody right, 有时可以用

somebody deserves it , 有时甚至还可以用It's due for somebody. 我们这里讲的 should have

coming on somebody 表达的也是"活该"的概念，其真正含义是"应得的下场"。

Sample Sentences

1、 A：没想到老板把他的秘书给开除了。

A： It's came as a surprise that the boss had dismissed his secretary.

B：那才活该呢！谁让她总是那么趾高气扬的。

B： She should have it coming on her , for she's been too conceited.

2、 A：有人给老板在背后捅了一刀。

A： Someone stabbed the boss in the back!

B：活该！谁让他总吹牛。

B： He should have it coming on him , for the way he always talks big.

[犹豫不定]be of two minds

我打算买辆汽车，可心里一直犹豫不定，不知道买哪个牌子的好。

I'm thinking of buying a car , but I'm still of two minds. I can hardly

decide as to which brand I should take.

我们日常生活中讲的"犹豫不定"、"拿不定主意"、"下不了决心"以及"不知该怎么好"之类的话均可用be of two minds 的片语来表示。此语直译为"处于两个大脑之间"，亦即"犹豫不定"。顺便提一下：be of two minds 是美语习惯，而英国人则使用be in two minds 的形式。

Dialogue

Bob： Have you decided on the job ? I mean which company do you like to

work for ?

Tom ：Well…I'm still of two minds. I like both of them.

Bob： But you can't work in two companies, can you?

Tom： No. But I can't make up my mind as to which one I should choose.

Bob： That's all up to you, of course.

[心事重重]something weighs heavily on one's mind

老板这几天沉默寡言，看起来好象心事重重的。

The boss is quite down these days, He seems to have something weighing

heavily on his mind.

我们日常所讲的"心事重重"或"有什么心事"之类的说法可以用something weighs heavily on

one's mind 的句式来表示。此语中的weigh是"重压"，与on one's mind 合在一起就成了"某事沉重地压在某人的心头"，也就等于"心事重重"。

Sample Sentences

1、 他看起来有些心事重重的。你知道他有什么心事吗？

Something seems to have been weighing heavily on his mind recently. Do

you know what that something is ?

2、 他女儿要和一个外国人结婚，这总使他感到心事重重的。

The fact that his daughter is going to marry a foreigner seems to weigh

heavily on his mind.

3、 我能看得出你这几天有什么心事。

I can see that there's something that weighs on your mind these days.

[埋头苦干]keep one's nose to the grindstone

这年头，只会埋头苦干的人是挣不了大钱的。

These years those who're keeping their nose to the grindstone can't make

bundles.

汉语口语中"老老实实地干活儿"、"埋头苦干"之类的概念都可以用keep one's nose to the

grindstone的习语表示。此语直译为"鼻子贴着磨盘转"，亦即"埋头苦干"。

Dialogue

Lora： How can we get rich?

Lisa： Working hard.

Lora： Working hard to get rich? No way!

Lisa： Why?

Lora： Can you give me an example showing the one who gets rich by working

hard?

Lisa： I don't know what else we can do. The only thing I know is to keep

my nose to the grindstone.

Lora： That's why you can't make a lot of money. You see , those who have

been keeping their nose to the grindstone get only peanuts.

注：get peanuts的意思是"挣微不足道的钱"，亦即"挣不了多少钱"。

[心凉了半截］cool one's ardor

丽丽深深地爱上了公司的老板并打算嫁给他。但是，当她听说他玩弄过几个女孩子之后，她的心凉了半截。

Lili was head over heels in love with their company's boss and was thinking

of marrying him , but the news that he had taken several girls for a ride

cooled her ardor.

汉语"心凉了半截"的说法在很多情况下都可以用cool one's ardor 的片语来表示。此语中的ardor是"热情"，cool是"冷却"，合在一起直译为"冷却热情"，亦即"心凉了半截"

Dialogue

Dora： I hear that Bob is going to many Sue .

Lora： Bob was thinking of marrying her. But when he knew that Sue had

been going out with several other men , it cooled his ardor.

Dora： So he will give up the idea?

Lora： That's for sure.

[使人大为激动]make one's spine tingle

小李答应与他结婚使他大为激动。

Xiao Li's promise to marry him made his spine tingle.

汉语"使人激动"的说法曾被误译为make one's blood boil。有人将此习语译成"使人热血沸腾"。这些都是由于对此习语的误解所致。实际上，make one's blood boil 的意思是"激怒某人"，而非"使人激动"。"使人激动"的说法除了可用make one excited 的片语来表示，在大多数的情况下均可用make one's spine tingle的说法。此语中的spine是"脊骨"；tingle是"震颤"或"抖动"，喻指"激动"。

Dialogue

Dora： When Frank told me that he was to marry me , he made my spine tingle.

I thought it was my dream come true .

Lora： But he didn't marry you .

Dora： Later I learned that he was just taking me for a ride . I was so

naive to believe him .

Lora： Few men can be trusted these days, you know?

[怀恨在心]bear somebody a grudge

千万别得罪他，他会对你怀恨在心的。

Take care not to offend him, or he'll bear you a grudge.

"对某人怀恨在心"的说法一般是用bear somebody a grudge的形式来表示的。Grudge 含有妒忌、怨恨以及恶怒之意；bear是动词，意思是"抱有"或"带有"，两者合在一起接近"怀恨在心"的意思。

Dialogue

Cathy： Why did you speak to the office wolf like that?

Betty： Because he was unfair to me .

Cathy： But he will certainly bear you a grudge.

Betty： I don't care. I couldn't stand him.

Cathy： But sometimes you'll have to eat humble pie .

注：eat humble pie 的意思是"忍辱含含垢"。

[感到四肢无力]feel wobbly and rough

这几天我总感到四肢无力。

I feel wobbly and rough these few days.

有人曾把“四肢无力”用英语have no strength来表示，这显然是中国式的英语。其实，feel

jaded和feel sluggish都能表达“四肢无力”的意思。前者侧重表示“疲倦”、“精疲力竭”，而后者侧重表达“懒惰”和“不太想动弹”的状态。我们日常所讲的“四肢无力”大都指身体不舒服时混身乏力的状态，因此，用feel wobbly and rough才较准确。

Dialogue

Susan: I'm already on the edge.

Sandy: You feel under the weather?

Susan: Yeah! I feel wobbly and rough. I often feel dizzy and I'm losing

a lot of sleep, too.

Sandy: Have you been to see the doctor?

Susan: Yes, I have. He gave me a check-up, but couldn't find anything

seriously wrong.

Sandy: You may be in for a nerve break-down. You really could do with a

break.

注：could do with a break的意思是“真该好好地休息休息”。

[受冷落]feel left out

在这样的场合上有谁会愿意受到冷落呢？

Who would like to feel left out at such a function?

“受冷落”在英语中有很多的表示方法，比如，get a cold shoulder和get deserted，等等。当几个人在一起聊天时，谁都不理睬其中一个人，这个人就会感觉受到冷落。在这样的情景中，用get deserted就不如用feel left out更符合英美人的口语习惯。当然，get a cold shoulder的说法也很地道，此语常有“不受欢迎”之意。

Sally: James, I thought you might feel a bit lonely in a place far away

from home.

James: By no means. I am used to living by myself.

Sally: But we don't want you to feel left out.

James: No. People around me keep me busy and make my spine tingle. I enjoy

my life here.

注：go out of one's way to 的意思是“尽全力”。

[不容易]no cinch

我是挣了钱，但这钱挣的不太容易了。

I know I've made some money, but it was no cinch to get it.

汉语“不容易”的概念较为笼统，若用英语来表示，不同语境有不同的表示方法。一般说来，可以用not easy或difficult之类的单词来表示，但作为地道的口语，no piece of cake或no cinch或no picnic就是几个广为人知的习惯用语。a piece of cake常用来喻指“轻松的事”，no piece

of cake意指“不轻松”。no cinch中的cinch指“马鞍等的肚带”，常用来喻指“容易做的事”或“必然发生的事”。因此，no cinch这个俚语的意思就与我们所说的“不容易”相吻合了。

Dialogue

Linda: How did you get the job?

Sally: Through the help of John.

Linda: How are you getting no with it?

Sally: It takes time to get used to all the routines. And doing a good

job in such a big company is no piece of cake.

Linda: Of course. We have to work hard and get things done. I know it's

no cinch to work in a big company. But on the other hand, the pay is usually

much better.

Sally: You deserve such a good pay for all the things you do.

Linda: Certainly

[偷懒耍滑头]goof-off

小王总是偷懒耍滑头。上班时，不是去打电话，就是跑到医务室去看病。

Xiao Wang's always goofing-off -- either making phone calls or going to

the clinic to see doctors during office hours.

汉语中“偷懒耍滑头”很接近英语goof-off这一短语的意思。此语主要用于逃避工作或故意偷懒的场合。

Sample Sentences

1.别偷懒耍滑头，开始干活儿吧！

Stop goofing-off and get down to work!

2.杰克很聪明。如果他不偷懒，一定会得到更高的分数。

Jack's clever. He could get even higher scores if he didn't goof-off.

3.李明因上班偷懒而被开除了。

Li Ming had been fired for goofing-off at work.

Dialogue

Sue: It seems that Dora is a big apple in her boss's eyes.

Tim: Yes, she is. She's an eager beaver and never goofs-off

Sue: She really wants to get ahead.

Tim: Yes. She's ambitious and hopes to make the mark.

Sue: She will succeed.

Tim: I bet she will. If she goofs-off at work, the boss wouldn't like her

like anything.

Sue: That's true. Bosses all like their employees to work hard.

［大动肝火]be up in arms

由于公司最近几个月的销售业绩不佳，老板正在大动肝火。

The boss is up in arms about the company's poor sales record in the past

few months.

汉语中“大动肝火”或“愤怒已极”之类的概念除了可以用fly into a rage, be filled with

indignation的片语表示外，还可以用be up in arms的习语来表达。此语的意思是“举起双臂，抖动两个拳头”，表示愤怒。

Sample Sentences

l.你未经允许就用了爸爸的汽车，这使他大为恼火。

Dad is up in arms because you used his car without asking for his permission.

2.居民们对政府在他们住所附近建造工厂的计划表示极大的愤慨。

Residents are all getting up in arms over the government's plan to build

a factory near their residence.

3.你为什么要为这么点的小事而如此地大动肝火呢？

Why should you fly into such a rage at a small thing like this?

[保持冷静］keep cool

即使是在十分气愤的情况下她也能保持冷静。

She can keep cool even under heavy pressure of anger.

汉语中“保持冷静”的说法在英语中有以下几种表示方法：to keep cool, to keep calm, cool

it, hold one's horses,等等。但是在口语中，英美人通常keep cool和keep calm两种。

Dialogue

Jack： Keep cool, Jenny. You don't have to be so angry.

Jenny： Keep cool? How can I keep cool? Didn't you know that he broke my

car again？

Jack： I Know that. But What's done can't be undone. What's the use of

raging like this?

Jenny： I just want to tell him that he broke my car and that I am angry.

Jack: Hold your horses, Jenny. I'm sure he will send it to the repair shop

and soon get it refixed.

Jenny： But I don't want my car to often stay with the repairmen

[说话兜圈子]beat about the bush

别跟我兜圈子了，快说你到底想干什么吧！

Stop beating about the bush. Just tell me what you want！

“说话兜圈子”意指“说话拐弯抹角”或不能“直来直去”。可以用 beat about (around) the

bush的片语来表示。此语直译为“在灌木丛中胡乱拍打”，意思就是“分敲侧击”或“兜圈子”。

Dialogue

Lucy: I...er... I want to ask you something.

Lisa: Say what you want to say.

Lucy: I...er... You see, I want to buy a new car.

Lisa: Yes. You want to buy a new car. What else？

Lucy: The car is very expensive

Lisa: Listen, Lucy. Stop beating about the bush. Say what you really want!

Lucy: I'm wondering if you could possibly lend me some money.

Lisa: I'm sorry, Lucy. I'm indeed very sorry But I don’t have any money

lend to you.

[心怀叵测]have an ax to grind

她总是心怀叵测，对她说的话你得多留神。

She always has an ax to grind. You should take whatever she say with a

pinch of salt．

“心怀叵测”相当于汉语口语中“没安好心”或“没好心”的意思。接近于英语have an ax to

grind的说法。此语直译为“有一把斧子要磨”。据说，此语源于美国政治家本杰明·富兰克林（Benjmin Franklin，1706－－1790）的少年生活，一天有一男子想磨斧子。由于他不知怎样使用磨石，于是，年幼的富兰克林便用尽全身力量把重达一百多公斤的grindstone推转很多次。此间，那个男子连连夸奖富兰克林。可是，斧子刚一磨好，他就嘲笑地对富兰克林说：“是故意让你这样干的”说罢转身就走了。后来此语转喻“心怀叵测”。

Dialogue

Sue: Why don't you talk with Jenny? She may be able to help you.

Tim: Talk with Jenny? You'll never know what she'll do.

Sue: What do you mean？

Tim: She may ruin you. She always has an ox to grind if she promises to

help others.

Sue: How come?

Tim: Once bitten, twice shy. I know what sort of person she is.

[心术不正］not have one's heart in the right place

他的心术不正，动不动就在别人的背后涌刀子。

He doesn't have his heart in the right place. He would find every

opportunity to stab in the back of others．

上面谈到的“心怀叵测”强调“另有企图”或“用心不良”的某段时间内的行为，而“心术不正”则指人坏的品质。因此，偶尔“心怀叵测”的人倒不一定是个一贯“心术不正”的人。有人曾用not have a good heart译之，但不如用not have the heart in the right place的表示法更符合口语习惯。此语直译为“心没长在正地方上”，即“心术不正”。

Dialogue

Sue: I don't see any point in your being nice to Jack.

Tim: Why not？

Sue: He is not someone who deserves your kindness.

Tim: I'm confused. Didn't you say he is capable?

Sue: I did say that. But his heart is not in the right place. That's why

I advise you against being too nice to him.

Tim: But I need his cooperation in the project.

Sue: I certainly know that. But you must be careful with him. He may let

you in and take advantage of you.

[背后捅刀子]stab in the back

我万万没有想到张某会在背后捅我一刀。我过去太信任她了。

I was taken aback and didn't think Zhang would stab me in the back. I placed

too much trust in her．

汉语中“背后捅刀子”、“暗下毒手”以及“脚底使绊”之类的概念在很多情况下都可用 stab

somebody in the back的片语来表示。此语与汉语的“背后捅刀子”几乎是形合意切。

Dialogue

Mark: I can't understand why a person like you should be passed over for

promotion.

Sally: It was all because of Muriel.

Mark: Muriel? What did she do？

Sally: She stabbed me in the back. She told the boss that I had gossiped

about him. So he bears me a grudge．

Mark： That was very bad of her．

[说某人的坏话］badmouth somebody

我从来没说过任何人的坏话。

I've never badmouthed anyone．

“说人的坏话”在英语口语中有两种表示方法：一是speak evil of somebody, 二是badmouth

somebody。比较起来，后者更具口语色彩。

Dialogue

Nancy: Why were you so angry with Sue?

Sally: She spoke evil of me behind my back.

Nancy: What did she say?

Sally: She said to the boss that I often goofed-off.

Nancy: It's very bad of her to badmouth you. You two used to get on with

each other, didn't see you.

Sally: But I couldn't see through her.

Nancy: Wit once taught is worth twice taught. You should chalk it up to

experience.

[傻笑]grin like a Cheshire cat

她真是个傻帽，时常无缘无故地就傻笑起来。

She's a real nitwit. She would now and then burst out grinning like a

Cheshire cat for no reason at all．

“无缘无故地傻笑”的概念常可以用grin like a Cheshire cat的说法来表示。此语中的Cheshire为英同郡名：柴郡。据说此地有一种猫，常常会无缘无故地咧开嘴冲着主人笑。后来人们便以此来形容傻笑的人了。

Dialogue

Lucy: I hate to talk with Linda.

Lisa: Why? Isn't she a pleasant person?

Lucy: She might be pleasant to other people, but certainly not to me.

Lisa: There must be something that has made you think of her like that.

Lucy: When I was talking with her, she often bursts out grinning like a

Cheshire cat, You don't know what she is laughing at．

Lisa: There are some girls who often do like her. That's a kind of

personality.

[厚着脸皮去干]have the gall to do

你怎么能厚着脸皮报怨说别人不勤快？

How call you have the gall to complain about other people's being lazy?

英语的gall是“胆汁”，to have the gall to do 直译为“有足够的胆汁去做”。中世纪欧洲的医学认为，如果胆分泌的胆汁过多，人就会傲慢无理或不知羞耻，因此，to have the gall to

do的实际意思就成了“有足够胆量去干”，也就“厚着脸皮云干”了。

Dialogue

Tom: Why did he jump down your throat like that?

Sue: He said that I was not diligent enough.

Tom: How could he have the gall to blame you? He himself always goofs-off

and never works hard.

Sue: He's unfair. And he's no sense.

[海量] have a hollow leg

你想灌醉他？他可是海量，从来没有醉过。

Want to drink him under the table? u can never do. He's got a

hollow leg, you know.

汉语“海量”的言我之意是“喝不醉”，意指“能喝很多”。在谈及某人的酒量时，常有人说He can drink many bottles of wine。虽不能说此语有错，但听来总感不地道，而且中国人所说的酒不是英美人讲的wine，而应该是liqueur或spirits。汉语的“海量”之说与英语的have

a hollow leg十分接近。have a hollow leg直译为“有一条中空的腿”，其意思是：无论喝多少，都不会醉。

Dialogue

Bob: You seem to be upset. What's eating you?

Sue: It's about my boyfriend, Jack, He got drunk again last night.

Bob: Why didn't you prevent him? It's your fault, I think.

Sue: I told him many times not to drink with those guys, but he just turned

a deaf ear. Those guys all have a hollow leg, you know.

Bob: Doesn't he know that?

Sue: I think he does. But he insisted that he could just drink as much.

[不分上下]be neck and neck

论开车技术，小李和小王那真是不分上下。可要说到做饭，小李可就比小王差远了。

In the skills of driving, Xiao Li and Xiao Wang are neck and neck. But

when it comes to cooking, Xiao Li is far next to Xiao Wang.

汉语口语中“不分上下”的说法在英语中有很多不同的表示方法。比如：the same as ..., as

well as ...,be similar in ..., share much similarity in ...,等等。但是，若用be neck

and neck来表示“不分上下”最为贴切。此语从赛马用语发展而来，原指把数匹马的脖子（neck）

排成一列地向前奔跑，后来用以表示“势均力敌”、“并驾齐驱”之类的概念。

1.当选票计算到一半的时候，张先生和赵先生仍是不分上下。

When the votes were half counted, Mr. Zhang and Mr. Zhao were still neck

and neck.

2.在画油画方面，王先生和李先生不分上下。

In the skills of oil painting, Mr. Wang and Mr. Li are neck and neck.

3.两个队已经打了近两个小时，可他们的比分仍不分上下。

The two teams have been playing for two hours, and yet, they are still

neck and neck in their scores.

[略胜一筹]be a notch above

论油画，张先生比刘先生画得好。但是谈到水彩画，刘先生可就比张先生略胜一筹了。

In oil painting, Mr. Zhang paints better than Mr. Li. But when it comes

to water colors, Mr. Liu appears to be a notch above Mr. Zhang.

“略胜一筹”一般可以用be 的句式来表示。例如：John's better at driving

than his wife is。但用be a 的句式更符合口语习惯。此语中notch的意思是“痕迹”。据说，古时人们比赛时把一根木棍插在地上，从下往上将得分刻得在木棍上。这样，得分高的人的notch也就高于得分低的人了。后来人们便借此比喻be better或be higher的概念了。

Sample Sentences

1.论教语法，王教授要比学院其他任何人都略胜一筹。

In teaching grammar, Professor Wang can be a notch above all the other

professors.

2.论教英语口语，王教授比其他任何人都强得多。

In teaching oral English, Professor Wang is several notches above other

professors.

3.从汽车的整体质量而言，奔驰轿车比其它任何牌子轿车都好。

In the overall quality, Benz cars are a notch above all the other brands.

[有头脑]be a brain

他可是个有头脑的人，决不会相信你的那一套。

He's a brain, who wouldn't be fooled into believing your babbling.

汉语口语“有头脑”之说意指聪明，有智谋。表达这一概念可以用以下几种方法：be intelligent,

have a brain, to have one's head screwed on the right way以及be a brain,等等。但用be a brain更符合口语习惯。此概念有时还可以用be on the ball来表示。

Dialogue

Sue: Jack's a brain.

Ted: But I can't stand him. He rubs me the wrong way and I can hardly put

up with him.

Sue: Why? Doesn't he have his feet on the ground?

Ted: I can't tolerate the way he talks to me.

Sue: I read his application and I feel he's the cream of the crop.

Ted: You mean you still want to hire him?

Sue: Yeah. I wouldn't employ a fool who's good for nothing, you know?

Ted: it's up to you.

[很能干]to have a lot on the ball

我知道李明很能干，但我怀疑他是否真的愿意到我们这儿来工作。

I know Li Ming has a lot on the ball. But I'm not sure if he likes to work

here.

“很能干”在英语中有很多表示方法。比如：to be able , to be capable ,to

be sufficient ,等等，但to have a lot on the ball更符合英美人的口语习惯。

Dialogue

Mary: Do you think Joe can do a good job in the business?

John: I'm sure he can, He's a lot on the ball, you know.

Mary: But is he capable of dealing with such a business?

John: I bet he is. He can turn almost everything into a fine art.

Mary: It seems you are so confident of him.

John: That's because he's so sufficient and capable.

注：He can turn everything into a fine art的意思是“他什么事都能干得很好”。

[有名无实]a poor apology

你刚才提到的那个作家只不过是个有名无实的人。他的作品太没意思了。

The man you've just mentioned is but a poor apology for a writer. His

writings are tedious.

汉语的“有名无实”用英语a poor apology来表示是再贴切不过的了。在这里，apology直译为“歉意”，意指“勉强的代用品”。加上形容词poor的衬托，就有了“滥竽充数”的意思了。

Sample Sentences

1.她很有名气，可只不过是个有名无实的歌星。

She does have a big name, but she's only a poor apology for a good singer.

2.我知道他是个大学生，可他也只不过是个有名无实的大学生。

I know he's a college graduate. But he's still a poor apology for a college

graduate.

3.那家饭店装饰得确实够水平，不过其饭菜的质量却有名无实。

That hotel is undoubtedly a well furnished hotel, they serve a poor apology

for decent meals.

[绞尽脑汁]to rack one's brain

他已绞尽了脑汁，可是仍未找到问题的答案。

He had racked his brain, but hadn't been able to work out the answer to

the problem.

“绞尽脑汁”可以用to think hard来表示。但用to rack one's brain更符合口语习惯。此片语中的动词rack原有“压榨”和“折磨”之意，这样，用to rack one's brain的意思就不言而喻了。

Sample Sentences

1.他们绞尽脑汁地想把我们从这个行业挤出去。

They had racked their brains to squeeze us out of the line.

2.她绞尽脑汁地想爬到那个位置。

She was racking her brain to get to that position.

3.在这个问题上他们已经绞尽脑汁，你不应该再催他们。

They have racked their brains on that problem. You should not press them

anymore.

[没骨气]have no guts

真没想到小高那么没骨气，竟然嫁给了坑害过她父亲的人。

I'm surprised to learn that Xiao Gao had married the man who had once done

her father in. She really has no guts.

我们中国人所说的“骨气”相当于英美人所讲的guts.比如，当我们说对某人恨之入骨时，英美人就说hate to the guts,而不说hate to the bones. guts是内脏的意思，以后人们将其引伸喻指勇气、毅力或力量等。

Dialogue

John: Someone seized the opportunity and was trying to sow discord between

Ted and his wife.

Mary: You mean they are not on their best of terms?

John: his wife doesn't seem to be on his side.

Mary: She has no guts. If I were her, I wouldn't straddle the fence.

John: But she is apparently on the side of other people.

注：to sow 在……之间挑拨离间；teething trouble指办事一开始的难处

[真了不起] really something

他真了不起，竟然一个人对付了那么多的对手。

He overwhelmed so many of his opponents alone. He's really something.

汉语口语中“真了不起”之说在英语中有很多的表示方法，比如incredible和tip-top,都是“很棒”或“十分出色”的意思。在口语中，还可以用really something来表示。在下面的对话中，用really something.表示“真了不起”的概念显然要比用其它的更合适。

Dialogue

Mary: It's too bad that Henry's political opponents resorted to

mudslinging. I hate to see someone rake over the coals.

Jack: They really put him through the wringer. They had no scruples about

hitting below the belt.

Mary: He won't take it lying down. Henry will go down swinging.

Jack: I think so. If I were him, I wouldn't say "uncle", either.

Mary: But he has to paddle his own canoe. The other guys have decided to

gang up on him.

Jack: He's really something!