“成语”是中文特有的表达方式,短短四个字包含着丰富的文化内涵和历史典故。英语中有没有对应的语言现象呢?
有的,那就是俚语(slang)和习语(idiom)。俚语和习语同样含有大量文化信息,是西方语言和历史的结晶。
有很多英文习语我们是不能光靠字面猜意思,其字面意思和真实含义可能还相差甚远!一起来看看还有哪些有趣的英文习语是容易中招的吧!
1
Miss the boat
错失良机
They'll miss the boat if they don't hurry.
如果他们不快点儿,就会错过机会了。
2
Kill two birds with one stone
一箭双雕
We always emphasize to kill two birds with one stone when we learn new thing.
我们在学习新知识时经常强调一举两得的方法。
3
Add insult to injury
雪上加霜
Further work by Seiffert's team appears to add insult to injury.
塞弗特团队的进一步研究更是雪上加霜。
4
Best of both worlds
两全其美
Some approaches allow you to get the best of both worlds.
有些方法可以帮你取得两全其美的结果。
5
Cat nap
打瞌睡
I had a cat nap after lunch.
午饭后我小憩了一会儿。
6
Bark up the wrong tree
攻击错了目标
I think the police are barking up the wrong tree.
我认为警察弄错了目标。
7
Bed of roses
称心如意的生活
Without financial security, married life is no bed of roses.
没有经济基础作保障,婚后生活不会幸福。
8
A bitter pill
不能不做的苦事
That's going to be a bitter pill for her to swallow.
这对她来说一定很难接受。
9
Bite off more than one can chew
心有余而力不足
Don't bite off more than you can chew and keep your goal a manageable one.
不要制定要求过高的计划,使你的目标可付诸实践。
10
Curiosity killed the cat
好奇害死猫
Try not to mind other people's business and remember curiosity killed the cat.
不要多管别人的事,记住多管闲事容易卷入是非。
11
Hit the road
开始,出发
We finally hit the road the following day
次日,我们终于又上路了。
12
Off the hook
摆脱困境
A bouquet of flowers or some other last minute gift would probably get you off the hook.
一束鲜花或一些最后一刻的礼物肯定不错,也许还能让你摆脱困境。
13
A piece of cake
小菜一碟
A friend might tell you that his new job was "a piece of cake".
一个朋友可能会告诉你他的新工作简直就是小菜一碟。
14
Actions speak louder than words
事实胜于雄辩
Here, as in many aspects of life, actions speak louder than words.
众所周知,在生活中的很多方面,行动比语言更有力量。
15
Spill the beans
泄露秘密
They spilled the beans to at least one other person.
她们向至少一个人泄露了秘密。
16
A dime a dozen
不稀罕,便宜
Apples are a dime a dozen there.
在那里,苹果多到不值钱。
17
He/She's a big fish
大人物
She is a big fish, and everyone thinks she is very important.
她是一个大人物,大家都觉得她非常重要。
18
Call it a day
收工
It's hard to ever call it a day and enjoy your free time.
你几乎无法收工去享受自由时间。
19
Can't judge a book by its cover
人不可貌相
You can't judge a book by its cover.
你不能根据封面来评价一本书的好坏。
20
Couch potato
极为懒惰的人
Some researchers have been looking at novel ways to increase the level of activity among those with "couch potato" lifestyles.
一些研究人员一直在寻找让那些懒惰的人多活动身体的办法。
21
Picture paints a thousand words
百闻不如一见
A picture paints a thousand words - so I will let the picture above speak for itself.
一图胜千言--所以我让图片自己说明一切。
22
Don't put all your eggs in one basket
不要孤注一掷
Don't give up on him totally, but don't put all your eggs in one basket either.
不要彻底放弃他,但也不要孤注一掷。
23
Have a blast
玩得很尽兴
After the initial phase when you’re getting used to exercise, you will have a blast.
在经过了最初的适应阶段后,你会开始玩得尽兴。
24
Hit the sack / sheets / hay
上床睡觉
Keep the TV turned off for the last two hours before you hit the sack.
睡觉前两小时就关掉电视。
25
It takes two to tango
一个巴掌拍不响
A conflict is not the fault of just one person or the other, because it takes two to tango.
矛盾不能只归咎于一方,因为一个巴掌拍不响。
26
Hold Your Horses
耐心点
Hold your horses. Don't leave without finishing your report first.
慢着,别忘了先把你的报告写完再走。
学习英语不能只记单词,还要记住常用的习语以及它的含义。光靠猜字面意思,分分钟会掉到陷阱里头哦!