-
a bird in the hand is worth two
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 chip off the old block
大木头上砍下来的小木片(子肖其父)
-
a chip on one's shoulder
肩头的木片(自卑感,因为自卑而爱找别人麻烦;喜欢向人挑衅)
-
a ouch potato 躺椅上的马铃薯(懒鬼)
-
a cake walk 走去吃糕(易事)
-
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 nut 傻子,疯子
-
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 pig 猪猡
-
a shot in the dark 盲目射击(瞎猜)
-
a short fuse 引线短(脾气火爆)
-
a sinking ship 正在下沉的船
-
a slam dunk 灌篮(轻而易举的事)
-
a slap in the face 脸上挨了一耳光(公然受辱)
-
a smoke screen 烟幕
-
a social butterfly
社交蝴蝶(善于交际,会应酬的人)
-
a stick in the mud 烂泥中的树枝
-
a thick skin 厚脸皮
-
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)
-
an uphill battle 上坡作战(在逆境中求胜)
-
a weight off my shoulders 放下肩头重担
-
ace 得满分(得到完美的结果)
-
all ears 全是耳朵(洗耳恭听)
-
all thumbs 满手都是大拇指(笨手笨脚)
-
an ace up my sleeve 袖里的王牌
-
an open and shut case明显的事件
-
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)
-
beggar can't be choosers
讨饭的谈不上挑三拣四
-
bet on it 下这一注稳赢(有把握,无疑)
-
bet your life 把命赌上(绝对错了)
-
better half 我的另一半
-
between a rack and a hard place
进退维谷(前有狼后有虎)
-
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 off more than one can chew
贪多嚼不烂
-
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)
-
bologna 胡说,瞎说
-
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)
-
bright聪明,灵光
-
brown nose 讨好,谄媚
-
bug somebody 使人讨厌
-
bull in a china shop
瓷器店里的蛮牛(笨拙的人,动辄弄坏东西的人)
-
bump into 撞上(巧遇)
-
burn brides 烧桥(过河拆桥)
-
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)
-
butterfingers奶油手指(抓不稳东西的人)
-
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)
-
call it a night一日事毕,可以睡觉了
-
can't teach an old dog new
tricks老狗学不会新把戏
-
cash in my chips兑换筹码(睡觉,就寝)
-
chicken鸡(胆小鬼)
-
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 bucket倾盆大雨
-
come down in sheets整片整片地下(倾盆大雨)
-
cool your lips冷静下来
-
cost someone an arm and a
leg要花上一条胳膊一条腿(代价昂贵)
-
count on something /doing
something 这事靠得住
-
count your chickens before they
hatch 蛋还没孵化,先数小鸡
-
crock 破瓦片(无用之物,废话)
-
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)
-
cry over spilled milk
为泼了牛奶而哭(为过去的失败而懊丧)
-
cushion the blow
给垫着点儿(说话绵软一点,以免打击太重)
-
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
-
dog 狗(丑八怪)
-
domino effect 骨牌效应
-
don't hold your breath
别憋着呼吸(别期望太高)
-
don't look a gift horse in the
mouth 赠马不看牙(收人礼物别嫌好道歹)
-
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)
-
every cloud has a silver lining
乌云也有银边(祸兮福所倚,塞翁失马)
-
fall into place 落实,就绪
-
fender bender 撞弯保险杠的车祸(小车祸)
-
fight tooth and nail 爪牙并施,拚命抵抗
-
fine line 细线(微妙的差别)
-
fish out of water 如鱼离水
-
flash in the pan
淘金盆里的反光(空欢喜一场,好景不长)
-
fork in the road 岔路
-
fox 狐狸(并无贬意)
-
framed 被陷害,遭栽赃
-
full throttle 加足马力
-
get a foot in the door
一脚已经进了门里(获得立足点,占一份)
-
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)
-
get/give the green light
绿灯亮了(获准行动)
-
get up on the wrong side of the
bed 起床下错边
-
give the shirt off one's back
连衬衫都肯脱给人(慷慨成性)
-
go one step too far 多走了一步(做得太过分了)
-
go out on a limb 爬高枝(担风险)
-
go overboard 过火
-
go to hell in a hand basket
坐着吊篮下地狱(一坏不可收拾)
-
go to one's head 上头上脸,冲昏头脑
-
go under 沉没(破产)
-
goose bumps 鸡皮疙瘩
-
grasp for straws
抓稻草(绝望中的挣扎,快要淹死的人连漂浮的稻草也抓)
-
guts 胆子
-
hot 惹火
-
have one's cake and eat it too
既想留着蛋糕,又想吃(既要鱼,又要熊掌)
-
hindsight is 20/20 事后的先见之明
-
hit stride 脚步走顺了
-
hit the books 撞书(用功)
-
hit the hay 倒在稻草上(睡觉、就寝)
-
hit the jackpot 中了头彩
-
hit the road 上路
-
hold a candle to 给他拿蜡烛都不配(元不能相比)
-
hold the key to my heart 掌管我心灵的钥匙
-
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 lime light 站在聚光灯圈里(出风头)
-
in the spotlight 站在聚光灯圈里(出风头)
-
it's Greek to me 希腊文(天书)
-
in the middle of nowhere
周围什么也没有(前不见村,后不着店)
-
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)
-
just what the doctor ordered
正是大夫说的(对症下药)
-
keep an ear to the
ground 一耳贴地(注意新动向)
-
keep one's fingers crossed/cross
one's fingers 把手指交叉成十字架(暗祈上苍保佑)
-
kick the bucket 踢水桶(翘辫子)
-
kill two birds with one stone一
箭双雕,一举两得
-
kiss up to 讨好
-
kitty corner 小猫的角落(斜对角)
-
knuckle sandwich 指节骨三明治(饱以老拳)
-
landslide 山崩(压倒性的胜利)
-
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)
-
left hanging 被晾起来了(被挂起来,悬而不决)
-
let sleeping dogs lie
别惊动睡着的狗(别无事生非,过去的事不要再提)
-
let the cat out of the bag
放出袋中猫(泄密,说漏嘴)
-
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 hot cakes
象刚出炉的蛋糕(很受欢迎的东西,抢手货)
-
like looking for a needle in a
haystack 如同在稻草堆里找一根针(大海捞针)
-
like pulling hen's teeth
跟拔母鸡的牙一样(艰苦不堪)
-
like shooting fish in a barrel
桶里射鱼(瓮中捉鳖)
-
like stealing candy from a baby
娃娃手里骗糖(易事)
-
ling winded 长舌,碎嘴
-
loose cannon 松动的大炮(一触即发的脾气)
-
lose one's marbles 疯了,神智不清
-
low blow 不正当的攻击,下流手段
-
make a mountain out of a molehill
把小土堆说成大山(小题大作)
-
make him and break the mold
上帝造了他以后就把模型砸了(再没有跟他一样的人了)
-
Monday morning quarterback
星期一早晨的四分卫(马后炮)
-
monkey business 猢狲把戏(胡闹)
-
monkey on one's back
背上的猴子(难以摆脱的负担)
-
more than you can shake a finger
at 屈指难数
-
more than one way to skin a cat
剥猫皮各有巧妙不同(另有办法)
-
music to my ears 爱听的话
-
my old man 我的老头(我父亲)
-
nail in the coffin
棺材钉子(致使的一击,决定成败的最重要因素)
-
neck and neck 马脖子靠着马脖子(齐头并进,不分轩轾)
-
no sweat不出汗(没什么大不了)
-
not dealing with a full deck
脑子里少几张牌(头脑不正常)
-
nothing will leave these walls
话不传出这四堵墙之外(言不入六耳)
-
off the charts 好得没治了
-
off the deep end 暴跳如雷
-
off the fop of one's head
临时一想,随口一说
-
on a good note 尽欢而散
-
on a roll 做得很顺,势如破竹
-
on cloud nine 九霄云上
-
on fire 着火了(红火,手气旺)
-
on my nerves 惹我心烦
-
on pins and needles 如坐针毡,坐立不安
-
on tap 桶装啤酒(现成的,预备好的)
-
on the back burner 搁在靠后的炉子上(靠边站)
-
on the ball 看球看得准(做事有准备,有把握)
-
on the edge of my seat
坐在椅子前沿(专心地看和听)
-
on the rocks 触礁,搁浅;加冰块
-
on the same page 在同一页上(进度相同)
-
on the tip of my tongue 话到舌尖,呼之欲出
-
once in a blue moon 出蓝月亮的时候(稀罕,少见)
-
one foot in the grave
一脚已经入了坟(入土三尺)
-
one of a kind 独一无二
-
one step ahead of you 领先你一步
-
out of the pan and into the fire
跳出锅里,掉进火里(每况愈下)
-
out of the picture 不在画面里
-
out of this world 人世所无,只应天上有
-
pale in comparison 相形失色
-
peas in a pod一 荚之豆(好哥儿们)
-
pieces come together
拼图游戏凑成图案(诸事顺利,达成完美结果)
-
play it by ear不 用看谱(随机应变)
-
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)
-
pull oneself up by one's
bootstraps 拎着鞋带把自己提起来(凭自己的力量重新振作起来)
-
pull the rug out from underneath
someone 地毯从脚下被抽出(事出意外)
-
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)
-
put one's nose to the
grindstone 鼻子冲着磨刀石(专心工作)
-
put the cart before the
horse 车在马前(本末倒置)
-
put up the white flag 竖白旗(投降,放弃)
-
rain on your parade 游行时下雨(扫兴,浇冷水)
-
rain cats and dogs 天上下猫,天上下狗(倾盆大雨)
-
raise the bar 提高横竿(更上一层楼)
-
read someone like a book 对这个人一目了然
-
red handed 趁着手上的血还没洗净时候抓住,在犯罪现场被逮
-
red tape(扎公文的)红带子,官样文章(繁文缛节)
-
right down my alley
恰是我的路(正能者多劳的胃口)
-
rob the cradle 劫摇篮(老牛吃嫩草)
-
rock the boat晃船(无事生非,制造不安定)
-
rumple my feathers 逆指羽毛(逆批龙鳞)
-
seamless 天衣无缝
-
secret weapon 秘密武器
-
see right through someone
一眼看穿,洞烛其奸
-
shoot for the stars sick and tired
射星星(立志要高)
-
sit shotgun 厌烦
-
six one way, half a dozen the
other一 边六个,一边半打(半斤八两)
-
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
-
snowball 滚雪球,越滚越大
-
snowball's chance in hell
雪球进了地狱(希望不大)
-
spark 火星(来电)
-
spineless 没脊梁(没有骨气)
-
split hairs 细分头发(吹毛求疵)
-
stab in the back 背后插刀(遭人暗算)
-
stallion 千里驹(貌美体健的男人)
-
stand someone up 对方失约,让人空等
-
stick a fork in him, he's done
用叉子戳他一下看看,他烤熟了吧
-
stop and smell the roses
停下来闻玫瑰(享受生活)
-
straw that broke the camel's
back压断骆驼脊梁的稻草(最后致命的一击)
-
straight from the horse's mouth
听马说的(根据最可靠的消息来源)
-
strike out 三振出局
-
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)
-
take a rain check
因雨停赛时送给观众下次免费来看的票(另一次机会)
-
take off 动身
-
take one for the team
为了全队挨一下(为了集体利益,牺牲个人利益)
-
take the word right out of
someone's mouth 替我说了(你所说的正是我想要说的)
-
the ball is in someone's court
球在你那边(该你行动了)
-
the walls have ears 墙有耳朵(隔墙有耳)
-
the whole nine yards
整整九码(一举成功,美式足球的攻方一次需推进十码)
-
throw in the towel 扔毛巾(认输,放弃)
-
tie the knot 打结(结婚)
-
toe the line 循规蹈矩,沿着线走
-
tongue in cheek 闲磕牙(挖苦地)
-
too many cooks in the kitchen
厨房里厨子太多(筑室道谋,三个和尚没水渴)
-
twinkle in your mother's eye
母亲眼中的一闪灵光(未出娘胎)
-
twisted 脾气拧,别扭
-
two left feet 有两左脚(笨手笨脚)
-
under my skin 钻到我的皮下(让我极不舒服)
-
under the weather 受了风寒
-
until the cows come home
等到牛回家(空等,白等)
-
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)
-
walk in someone's shoes
穿他的鞋走走看(设身处地,经历相同)
-
walk on air(高兴得)脚不点地,飘飘然
-
washed up 像是洗过的(筋疲力尽,力气都放完了)
-
water off a duck's
back 鸭背的水珠(马耳东风)
-
water under the bridge 桥下的水(逝水,覆水)
-
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)
-
wound up 上足发条(紧张,兴奋)
-
wrapped around his/her little
finger 化为绕指柔(玩弄于股掌之间)
-
wring his neck 扭断他的脖子