地道口语表达
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。
