95組超實用英文俚語
英文慣用語就是表面上看起來的意思跟實際意思不一樣的片語。有點類似成語的概念。
慣用語隨時間發展,所以有些看似很莫名其妙,但通常帶有比喻或者暗喻的意思。
慣用語很常出現在日常英文對話,如果不好好認識他們,很有可能會聽不太懂內容。
為了回饋大家,我們整理了一篇英文俚語超級集錦!涵蓋95組各式各樣的英文慣用語及俚語,並將他們分門別類。按照分類方式去記特殊片語是一種記憶小技巧,稱作“grouping”或者”chunking“。透過這樣的主題,對大腦來說會更容易記憶。
接著我們會從大家比較熟悉、比較常見的動詞、介系詞開始介紹,接著再進入關於金錢、身體部位、食物及大自然這些主題。
Contents
- 和動詞有關的常見俚語
- 英文俚語:常見介係詞篇
- 英文俚語:錢俚語篇
- To look like a million dollars / bucks
- To be born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth
- To go from rags to riches
- To pay an arm and a leg for something
- To have sticky fingers
- To give a run for one’s money
- To pony up
- To ante up
- To break even
- To break the bank
- To be closefisted
- To go Dutch
- To shell out money / To fork over money
- Midas touch
- In the red / black
- To receive a kickback
- To be living hand to mouth
- To be loaded
- To make ends meet
- As genuine as a three-dollar bill
- 英文俚語:身體部位俚語篇
- 英文俚語:食物俚語篇
- To spice things up
- A piece of cake
- Cool as a cucumber
- A couch potato
- To bring home the bacon
- In hot water
- To compare apples and oranges
- Not one’s cup of tea
- To eat like a bird
- To eat like a horse
- Butter [someone] up
- Food for thought
- A smart cookie
- Packed like sardines
- To spill the beans
- A bad apple
- Bread and butter
- To buy a lemon
- A hard nut to crack
- To have a sweet tooth
- 英文俚語:自然俚語篇
- Under the weather
- A storm is brewing
- The calm before the storm
- To weather a storm
- When it rains, it pours
- Chasing rainbows
- Rain or shine
- Under the sun
- Once in a blue moon
- Every cloud has a silver lining
- A rising tide lifts all boats
- To get into deep water
- To pour oil on troubled waters
- To make waves
- To go with the flow
- Lost at sea
- To sail close to the wind
- To make a mountain out of a molehill
- To gain ground
- Walking on air
- Many moons ago
- Castle in the sky
- Down to earth
- Salt of the earth
- The tip of the iceberg
- To break the ice
- To bury your head in the sand
- To let the dust settle
- Clear as mud
- As cold as stone
- Between a rock and a hard place
- To nip something in the bud
- Barking up the wrong tree
- Out of the woods
- Can’t see the forest for the trees
- To hold out an olive branch
- To beat around the bush
- 那為何要學慣用語呀?
- 喔,忘了還有一件事!
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和動詞有關的常見俚語
Hit the books
字面上來看,hit the books 就是打書、揍你手上的書的意思呀?這是一個很受學生歡迎的英文慣用語,特別是美國大學生們。學業很重的狀況下,跟人家說 “hit the book” 指的就是要認真K書的意思啦!也可以是一個不錯推掉邀約的方法,只要跟朋友說你必須要 hit the books 了,大概就知道得準備重大考試!
通常期中、期末考,或者只是英文考試(因為很難)都可以用"hit the books"!
Hit the sack
跟第一個慣用語相同,如果照字面上去看的話,hit the sack 或者 beat a sack 看似指要打一個大沙包。沙包通常就是一大袋裝有麵粉、米飯或者土壤肥料的一包東西。不過這個俚語 hit the sack 意思是要去睡覺了,通常用來跟朋友、家人說你真的很累了想上床睡覺的意思。
除了hit the sack以外,也可以說 hit the hay 。
“It’s time for me to hit the sack, I’m so tired.”
Twist someone’s arm
Twist someone’s arm 看來是真的要扭轉對方的手,聽起來有點暴力!想像手臂被扭轉的感覺就很痛!不過如果你的手真的被扭轉的話,指有人很成功的說服你做一件你從來不會想去做的事。
相反的,如果你 twist someone else’s arm 就是指你成功說服某人,讓他們終於同意你希望、想要的事情。
“Jake, you should really come to the party tonight!”
“You know I can’t, I have to hit the books (study).”
“Pretty girls? Oh all right, you’ve twisted my arm, I’ll come!”
Stab someone in the back
如果真的跟字面上一樣的話,那麻煩就大囉!到底闖了甚麼禍呢?字面上說的就是拿刀或者拿某種尖銳物品插到別人的背上。
然而,這當然只是比喻,意指從”背叛“很信任的人。而這個背叛的人我們則稱呼他為 “backstabber” 。
“Did you hear that Sarah stabbed Kate in the back last week?”
“No! I thought they were best friends, what did she do?”
“She told their boss that Kate wasn’t interested in a promotion at work and Sarah got it instead.”
“Wow, that’s the ultimate betrayal! No wonder they’re not friends anymore.”
Lose one’s touch
好像指的是你無法用手感覺到任何東西,但其實 lose your touch 是指原本很在行的事情,忽然之間不知道怎卻變了調,失去那個能力的意思。
用來形容本來很在行、拿手的事情,卻忽然變調!
“I don’t understand why none of the girls here want to speak to me.”
“It looks like you’ve lost your touch with the ladies.”
“Oh no, they used to love me, what happened?”
Sit tight
坐緊?這句英文俚語乍看下有點奇怪,因為如果真的要緊緊地坐著,應該會蠻不舒服的吧?
不過要是有人跟你說要 sit tight 意思指要耐心的等候,沒有聽到下一步指示前不要輕舉妄動。
“Mrs. Carter, do you have any idea when the exam results are going to come out?”
Pitch in
這句英文俚語字面上沒有太大的意義,實際的意思就是要參與某件事、有所貢獻的意思。
所以當老爹跟你說,他希望每個人這週末都能 pitch in 幫忙整理後院,意思就是要大家都參加這個活動、一起幫忙的意思。事情才能迅速完成。
“What are you going to buy Sally for her birthday?”
“I don’t know. I don’t have much money.”
“Maybe we can all pitch in and buy her something great.”
所以說這俚語帶有“聯手”的意思,由上面的範例可以知道,如果大家聯合一起買生日禮物給Sally的話,就能買比較好、貴一點的禮物。
Go cold turkey
我有聽錯嗎?聽起來真的很怪吧!一個人要怎麼變成一隻火雞呀?特別是感恩節、聖誕節的大餐首選火雞?
這句俚語 go cold turkey 意思是指忽然戒掉某個不良習慣,例如:抽菸或者喝酒。
據說go cold turkey源自20世紀初期,指當戒除某個成癮的習慣所帶來的不適症狀。例如:毒品或者酒精成癮,戒除的過程會有許多身體發冷、不適的感覺,就像是生冷的火雞肉ㄧ樣,皮膚慘白,冒出雞皮疙瘩等等的症狀。
“Shall I get your mom a glass of wine?”
“I don’t know. A few months ago, she just announced one day she’s quitting drinking.”
Face the music
字面上來看 facing the music 就是轉身面對音樂的意思,不過如果是朋友或者家人告訴你要 “face the music” 的話,背後就有很深的寓意了。
意思就是面對現實,指無論成果好壞(通常是壞的),都該接受事實。當有不想面對的事情,或者擔心害怕結果,會造成我們不想直接面對處理的狀況。也有可能你對老師說了謊,現在東窗事發,就得 “face the music”、面對老師以及有可能需要接受懲罰的後果。
“I can’t understand why I failed math.”
Ring a bell
只看 ring a bell 字面上的意思看起來還蠻簡單的,可能只是敲打鈴聲告訴學生們該上課了,或者按電鈴的意思。
不過這句俚語實際上是指,當有人提及某件讓人感到很熟悉的事情或者人,好像以前聽過的感覺。也就是說,當朋友提到一件過去發生的事情,好像有點印象,腦袋裡好像有鈴鐺被觸動警報,努力回想到底是什麼事情或者名字,怎麼會聽起來這麼熟悉呢?
“You’ve met my friend Amy Adams, right?”
“Hmmm, I’m not sure, but that name rings a bell. Was she the one who went to Paris last year?”
Blow off steam
事實上人是不可能吹散熱蒸汽的,只有大型電子器具才能辦到(喂~)。所以到底 blow off steam 是什麼意思呢?
當你感到非常憤怒、壓力過大或者其他很劇烈的情緒時,很想擺脫內心不滿、不開心的感覺,這時候為了要 “blow off steam” 就會去做些其他事情來消除壓力。
“Why is Nick so angry and where did he go?”
“He had a fight with his brother, so he went for a run to blow off steam.”
Cut to the chase
當有人告訴你 “cut to the chase”,意思就是指你說話說太久了,講不到重點!當有人這麼說的時候,就是希望對方說快一點,趕快把重點說完,不要再浪費講一堆細節跟廢話了!不過要用這句俚語要小心說話的對象,可能就不太適當,特別是跟大學教授或者老闆之類的長輩說話,聽起來會挺沒禮貌的!
如果剛好在很多人的場合說話,像是和同事開會的時候,可以直接說 “I’m going to cut to the chase” ,意思”我廢話不囉唆囉,直接進入重點囉!“。通常在時間寶貴的狀態下,跳過一些廢話,可以快速宣布重要事項讓大家知道重點在哪。
英文俚語:常見介係詞篇
介系詞用來表達某物、或某事跟另一者的關係。接下來介紹的俚語、慣用語中,常用到的介系詞有:up、on、或者 over。
Up in the air
當我們想到 “up in the air” 就會想像某個東西飄在空中的感覺,像是飛機、氣球之類。如果有人跟你說現在狀況“up in the air”,就是指目前狀況不明、不確定,塵埃未定的意思。
“Jen, have you set a date for the wedding yet?”
On the ball
誰會想要站在、坐在一顆球上呀?是瑜伽課嗎?
當說 I’m on the ball 指的就是很快速地進入狀況、了解事情,並準備充足,反應很快的意思。
舉例來說好了,如果你正在策劃明年的婚禮,但今年已經完成大部分的準備,表示你超級 “on the ball”!因為很少有人可以這麼進度超前!
Get over something
翻過去哪裡呀?其實要翻過去某個東西也不是辦不到,get over something 字面上是越過東西的意思。翻過柵欄、越過小河好像都能用上這個片語。不過它實際上的意思卻截然不同喔!
假設你跟男、女朋友分手了,心情跌到谷底,要走出來真的很困難呀!不過當時間久了,你再也不會回想前任的任何事情時,你就已經成功的 “ gotten over him / her ”!再也不受影響,也不再擔心難過!另外一種說法,也可以形容病情康復的意思: get over an illness 。
“How’s Paula? Has she gotten over the death of her dog yet?”
“I think so. She’s already talking about getting a new one.”
英文俚語:錢俚語篇
To look like a million dollars / bucks
要是我們都能長得像一百萬美金的話該有多好?大家都是百萬富翁的感覺一定不錯!不過這個片語 “you look like a million bucks” 其實是用來形容對方看起來高貴極了、美翻了的意思!如果有人告訴你:"you look like a million bucks",真是莫大的稱讚呀!
相對來說,這個俚語較常用在女性朋友身上,但也不是隨便的場合都可以用喔!比較適合特殊場合,須要用心打扮、準備的時候比較適合。例如:特殊的晚會、婚禮等等特別的場合。
“Wow, Mary, you look like a million dollars/bucks this evening. I love your dress!”
To be born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth
和中文的說法有點類似,不過就是銀換成金,形容某人出身富貴,含著金湯匙出生的意思。
To go from rags to riches
如同字面上的意思,從窮困潦倒到財富滿滿。
To pay an arm and a leg for something
指非常貴、天價,也可以形容超級貴的東西,花掉你一隻手臂和一條腿了呢!
“The price of chocolate has doubled. I nearly paid an arm and a leg for a small candy bar.”
“Chocolate costs an arm and a leg now.”
To have sticky fingers
手腳不乾淨的意思,也就是形容作小偷的人。
“The manager fired the cashier because he had sticky fingers. He stole more than $200 in a month.”
To give a run for one’s money
費盡千辛萬苦取得勝利,或者得到某物。
“Joe really gave me a run for my money in the chess tournament. He almost beat me!”
To pony up
也就是付錢,或者解決欠債問題。
“Pony up and give me the $5 you owe me.”
“I told my roommate Jane to pony up her portion of the rent money.”
To ante up
付錢給某人,類似剛剛所說的“pony up”。
Ante up 這個俚語源自於撲克牌牌桌上,莊家發牌前玩家們就得決定下注金額。如果你覺得這個說法有點眼熟的話,那是因為ante是拉丁語的”之前”的意思。
後來時間久了,這片語變成代表任何欠債問題,不再專屬於撲克牌桌了!例如:
“You’d better ante up and give me that $10 I loaned you last week.”
後來發展成任何欠債,"人情債"也可以:
“I’m tired of doing the housework by myself. You need to ante up or find a new roommate.”
“I’m sorry. I’ll help more around the house.”
上述的例子中,可以看得出來Joe用 “You need to ante up” 來表示他已經受夠跟Thomas同住的狀況,Thomas該開始幫忙家務,否則Joe就要搬走了!
另一個類似的片語" to up the ante ",意思就是提高賭注、提高風險的意思。牌桌上當人們提高賭注,我們就可以說"That guy had just up the ante”用來表示這個玩家比上家下了更多賭注!也可以用在平常日常對話中,指某人答應某件事,或者提高賭注。
To break even
指沒有損失,也沒有獲利,也就是打平的意思。
“The trip to the beach cost me $100, but I almost broke even after winning $90 in a contest.”
To break the bank
形容非常非常非常昂貴的東西。
“Taking a week-long vacation would break the bank. There’s no way I could afford to do it.”
To be closefisted
如這個單字看起來的樣子一樣,close-fisted,把手握得很緊,意指手頭很緊的意思。
Someone who doesn’t want to spend money. Similar to being stingy.
“Carl is so closefisted, he won’t even buy snacks for the Christmas party.”
To go Dutch
大家各自付各自點的餐點的意思,也就是各付各的。
“We had a date last night and we went Dutch. I paid for my coffee and she paid for her salad.”
To shell out money / To fork over money
指付錢,通常指金額不小的款項。類似我們會說,"要是我沒有買那部新車的話,我就不必每月"吐"一千塊美金了!"
“I wish I didn’t buy that new car now that I’m shelling out $1,000 a month in payments.”
“She had to fork over a lot of money for traffic fines last month.”
Midas touch
賺錢很容易的意思,這個片語源自於希臘神話麥得斯國王的故事,麥得斯國王意外獲得點石成金的能力,並把身邊的東西都變成黃金!
“Jane really has the Midas touch. Every business she starts becomes very successful.”
In the red / black
損失超過收入的金錢,也就是負債、虧空的意思。
然而相反的,in the black 意思則是獲利,有賺的意思。
To receive a kickback
也就是收取回扣,接受賄絡的意思。
“The traffic cop receives kickbacks for not writing tickets to politicians.”
To be living hand to mouth
意思手頭沒有多餘的錢,賺只夠生活,僅供餬口的狀況。
“The family has been living hand to mouth ever since their father lost his job.”
To be loaded
很有錢的意思。
“Billy paid his Harvard Law School tuition with cash. His family is loaded.”
To make ends meet
賺只夠付帳單跟伙食費的意思,勉強度日。
As genuine as a three-dollar bill
這是一個相當常見的英文俚語,用諷刺的意味指說某個東西、或某件事是假的。
如果指某個東西是真品會說是”genuine”,不過美國從未印製過三元鈔票,所以不可能會出現"as a genuine three-dollar bill"的狀況。也就是諷刺這件事超假的!
舉例來說,蒙娜麗莎的微笑真跡收藏在巴黎羅浮宮,如果學校美術教室也有一幅蒙娜麗莎的話,應該是復刻而不是真跡。
這時就可以說: “The copy of the Mona Lisa at my school is as genuine as a three-dollar bill.”
英文俚語:身體部位俚語篇
Rule of thumb
認真想想這句俚語一點意義也沒有,不過當有人說"as a rule of thumb"意思就是指不成文規定。
所以說 rules of thumb 其實沒有甚麼科學根據,通常只是一些常理。例如說,煮義大利麵時要在水裡加上幾滴油,這樣麵條才不會黏在鍋底。這並不是甚麼科學法則,但卻是 a rule of thumb!
“As a rule of thumb you should always pay for your date’s dinner.”
“Why? There’s no rule stating that!”
“Yes, but it’s what all gentlemen do.”
Keep your chin up
你是不是最近跟好姐妹吵了一架,說老死不相往來?還是英文測驗成績考差了?還是今天團隊比賽輸了一蹋糊塗?該不會是被炒魷魚了吧?
如果以上某個情境被我們猜對的話,那你的心情現在不算太好,對吧?
這個時候,好朋友會鼓勵你要 keep your chin up!表示他們很在乎你,關心你!而這句話的意思,是希望你勇敢、振作起來,把頭抬起來,別沮喪的低著頭!也別讓這些鳥事影響到你!
“Hey, Keiren, have you had any luck finding work yet?”
“No, nothing, it’s really depressing, there’s nothing out there!”
“Don’t worry, you’ll find something soon, keep your chin up buddy and don’t stress.”
Find one’s feet
人有可能把腳搞丟嗎?不可能呀!因為雙腳就連著身體啊!所以當有人說他們在找自己的腳是甚麼意思呢?
如果剛好來到新環境,比如說搬到國外、剛開始大學新生活,你可以說"I’m still finding my feet"意思就是指還在適應環境,跟適應新生活。
“Lee, how’s your son doing in America?”
英文俚語:食物俚語篇
To spice things up
加點調味?也就是把事情弄得更刺激、更有趣一點的意思。
“Instead of just buying Sam a birthday gift, let’s spice things up by taking him out for dinner.”
A piece of cake
A piece of cake 表示工作或任務就像吃一塊蛋糕一樣,非常簡單的意思。
“I expected the English test to be difficult but it was a piece of cake.”
Cool as a cucumber
沁涼、清新都是黃瓜帶來的口感,所以當形容人 cool as a cucumber,表示對方是一個非常冷靜沉著的人,非常自在的意思。
“My friend is nervous about taking his driving test but I’m cool as a cucumber.”
A couch potato
A couch potato 顧名思義就是指在沙發上的馬鈴薯,你能想像這個畫面嗎?其實就是形容一坐上沙發打開電視就動不了的人。
“After my uncle retired from his job, he became a couch potato.”
To bring home the bacon
Bring home the bacon 帶培根回家?這是甚麼意思?代表把好料帶回家,也就是把賺的錢都拿回去養家了。
“Ever since her father was injured, she’s been working two jobs to bring home the bacon.”
In hot water
當有人in hot water身處在熱水中 ,表示他們有麻煩了,身處在困境之中。
“My brother is in hot water for failing all his college classes.”
To compare apples and oranges
蘋果和橘子是兩種非常不一樣的水果,不僅外觀不同,連味道也完全不一樣!所以要比較蘋果跟橘子的話實在是無從比較!這句英文俚語的意思就是說很難比較兩件完全不一樣的事情!
“I’m not sure which I enjoy more—pottery or dancing. It’s like comparing apples and oranges.”
Not one’s cup of tea
當某件事情不對你胃口、不合你tone調,就可以說這件事情is not your cup of tea,表示你沒興趣,不喜歡也不擅長的意思。
“Camping is really not my cup of tea so I’m going to visit my friend in New York instead.”
To eat like a bird
吃得像鳥一樣?小鳥是能吃多少啦!沒錯!Eat like a bird 就是指小鳥胃的意思,畢竟小鳥那麼小,胃一定也很小!
“Don’t trouble yourself cooking such a big meal. I eat like a bird.”
To eat like a horse
反過來看,一匹馬的食量就驚人了吧!所以你覺得馬能吃多少呢?沒錯,當形容人家食量很大,英文就會說:eat like a horse!
“My mother has to cook a lot of food when my brother comes to visit. He eats like a horse.”
Butter [someone] up
當要討好別人,希望得到別人的幫助時,我們通常會費盡心思去說好話、做些討喜的事,讓事情順利進行。這時候你就得去butter someone up!用法上可以稍做變化,例如: butter [someone] up 或 butter up [someone]。
“Everyone seems to be trying to butter up the new boss hoping to become her favorite.”
Food for thought
Food for thought 意指得要審慎考慮的事情,必須經過深思熟慮的考量。
A smart cookie
這應該算超簡單的吧!A smart cookie 就是指很聰明的人。
“It shouldn’t be hard too hard for a smart cookie like you to learn Spanish.”
Packed like sardines
當你打開沙丁魚罐頭的時候會有甚麼感覺?沒錯!就是很擠很擠的感覺,所以 packed like sardines 就是說擠得跟沙丁魚一樣!擠到一絲縫隙也沒有!通常形容人群很擠,也可以形容動物們。舉例來說,在演唱會或者運動賽事的現場都很適合形容 It’s packed like the sardines!
“Were you at the football game last night? The stadium was packed like sardines.”
To spill the beans
當不小心打翻一碗豆子就全部灑出來!想像這個畫面那你就會記得 spill the beans。指的就是不小心把不該說出去的秘密給洩漏出去!
A bad apple
想像一大籃的蘋果中有一顆壞掉的爛蘋果。這上面的圖,應該就很清楚了吧!這張照片會幫你記得 a bad apple 就是指會製造問題、搞出麻煩的老鼠屎!意思就是一群人之中有一個會破壞、帶來不好影響的人!
“Instead of focusing on college, he spends his time hanging out with bad apples.”
Bread and butter
麵包和奶油是我們很常吃的食物,而這個俚語的意思就是說,能為生活帶來最基本的三餐、能養家餬口的工作。
“Fishing is the bread and butter of the friendly people I met on the island last summer.”
To buy a lemon
不小心買到問題超多、根本就是一台破銅爛鐵的的汽車時,在英文中我們就會形容自己 bought a lemon!
“The car looked so new and shiny I had no way of knowing I was buying a lemon.”
A hard nut to crack
要敲開核桃是不是一件很難的事?不盡然吧!有時候的確很難敲開,不過用對方法還是能敲開核桃的!所以這句俚語 a hard nut to crack 就是指很難理解、相處的人,不過只是要花點時間用點方法。
“I tried to be friendly with her but I was told she’s a hard nut to crack.”
To have a sweet tooth
如果你喜歡蛋糕、糖果,還是天底下任何甜食都逃不過你的法眼?如果妳是甜食愛好者的話,那妳就絕對have a sweet tooth!
英文俚語:自然俚語篇
Under the weather
在天氣底下?我只聽過在雲底下、太陽底下、雨下…到是從來沒有聽過在”天氣”底下。
在英文裏說,”I’m feeling under the weather” 意思指妳不太舒服、今天不太像自己的感覺。不一定代表生病,可能只是過度疲勞、工作壓力太大,或者有點快要感冒的症狀。
“What’s wrong with Katy, mom?”
“She’s feeling a little under the weather so be quiet and let her rest.”
A storm is brewing
指不遠的未來可能會有很麻煩、或者很戲劇化的事情即將要發生!
The calm before the storm
指很嚴重、糟糕的事情發生前的短暫片刻的寧靜,也就是風雨前的寧靜。
To weather a storm
經歷一場颶風後生存下來,還蠻困難的吧!這句俚語用來形容渡過很危險的情況,並做出正確的緊急應變措施!有點"度過難關"的意味。
When it rains, it pours
壞事總是接二連三的來,或者一次來就來個大的!形容壞事一次就來一堆!
“First he was laid off, then his wife got into a car accident. When it rains, it pours.“
Chasing rainbows
追彩虹吧!好浪漫的感覺喔~不過彩虹遠在天際,永遠都追不到的~意指追尋夢想、但是很難實現的夢想!
Rain or shine
下雨或者出太陽?這不是一個很簡單的問題嗎?這句俚語其實就是指無論怎樣事情就是會發生!不過因為俚語用下雨或者出太陽做比喻,所以在一些戶外活動也會用上 Rain or Shine 這句俚語,就是真的字面上的意思囉!
“I’ll see you at the airport, rain or shine.”
Under the sun
意思指地球上的一切,通常用來形容世界之最,最頂級的事情或東西:
“Gili Trawangan must be one of the most beautiful islands under the sun.”
Once in a blue moon
藍色的月亮?只有聽過,完全沒有看過!意思就是指非常稀有的意思。
Every cloud has a silver lining
看看這張照片,陽光從雲朵後透出來的感覺。即使是烏雲,也有一絲陽光的機會!表示再怎麼壞的事情,仍有他好的一面。
“Don’t worry about losing your job. It’ll be okay. Every cloud has a silver lining!“
A rising tide lifts all boats
這俚語應該蠻有畫面的吧!當經濟起飛時,所有在其中的人都會受惠。
To get into deep water
深入水底,有點類似 in hot water 的意思。也就是在困境的意思。
“He got into deep water when he borrowed a lot of money from a loan shark.”
To pour oil on troubled waters
將油倒上不靜止的水域會發生甚麼事呢?似乎能夠平息一下,覆蓋過去的感覺。這句俚語意思就是平息風波,讓爭吵過後的雙方能再和平相處,調停紛爭的意思。
雖然說近幾年常發生船艦漏油影響生態環境的問題,讓這句俚語反而讓人聯想到環境議題的成份居多。不過多認識些俚語還是蠻有趣的。
To make waves
帶來莫大影響,造成災難的意思。
To go with the flow
跟著潮流走吧!意思就是說叫人著急或擔心,就看看接下來會發生甚麼事吧!
Lost at sea
形容人感到迷失,不知道該往哪個方向去的意思。
“I am lost at sea with this new system at work. I just can’t understand it.”
To sail close to the wind
意指遊走法律或社會規範邊緣,有些過於冒險的行為。
“They fired their accountant because he sailed too close to the wind.”
To make a mountain out of a molehill
指為了不重要的狀況大做文章,大驚小怪的意思。
To gain ground
指越來越進步、取得進展的意思。
Walking on air
指非常興奮跟開心的意思, “Over the moon” 、 “on cloud nine” 、 “in seventh heaven” 和 “in good spirits” 也都是可以表達快樂的英文片語。
“She’s been walking on air since she found out that she’s pregnant.”
Many moons ago
指很久很久以前。
Castle in the sky
指一個希望、一個白日夢,一個遙不可及的夢想。
Down to earth
形容人的態度實際和明智合理,作人腳踏實地的意思。
“It’s a stereotype, but Dutch people are known for being down to earth.”
Salt of the earth
指為人誠實善良。
“My father is the salt of the earth. He works hard and always helps people who are in need.”
The tip of the iceberg
如字面上的意思一樣,冰山一角!指一件事情的一小部份而已。
To break the ice
指試圖打破僵局、帶頭說話、讓場面熱絡起來的意思。
“He made a weather joke to break the ice.”
To bury your head in the sand
很有畫面吧?不想面對的事情,就把臉埋到沙坑裡吧!假裝根本沒這件事!
To let the dust settle
當混亂的時候,甚麼事情都看不清楚,因此會說等"塵埃落定",事情、局勢才會平靜下來的意思。
“You just had big news yesterday, let the dust settle and don’t make any decisions yet.”
Clear as mud
泥巴那麼髒,怎麼會清楚呢?所以這句話帶有諷刺意味,指一點也不清楚的意思!
“He’s a great scientist, but I find his explanation of bacteria and microbes as clear as mud.”
As cold as stone
形容人非常冷淡、也沒有任何情緒,就跟石頭一樣冰冷。
Between a rock and a hard place
就像圖片中的石頭一樣,夾在兩個山頭之間。表示一個很難的選擇,而且兩者都不是太好的選擇。
除了"between a rock and a hard place"以外,相近的片語還有: lesser of two evils 、 between the devil and the deep blue sea 、 between Scylla and Charybdis 、 Hobson’s choice 和 Catch-22 。
To nip something in the bud
如同字面上的意思,捏斷芽,也就是在很糟糕的狀況發生前,就阻止他的發生。
“When the kid shows the first signs of misbehaving, you should nip that bad behavior in the bud.”
Barking up the wrong tree
指用錯方法,不會達到自己想要的成果的意思。
Out of the woods
旅程路途已穿過、已經出森林的意思,也就是說情況雖然很棘手,但最"黑暗"也就是最困難的地方已經渡過了,表示情況漸入佳境。
“The surgery went very well and he just needs to recover now, so he’s officially out of the woods.”
Can’t see the forest for the trees
如果只專注在森林裡一棵一棵的樹木,就不會看見整片森林的壯麗。指太專注小細節而忽略大局的意思。
To hold out an olive branch
秀出橄欖枝?代表尋求和平、願意與敵方或者競爭者協商的意思。
To beat around the bush
類似繞圈子的意思,因為事情很難啟齒,因此花很長一段時間鋪陳才講到重點。
“I don’t have much time, so stop beating around the bush and tell me what actually happened.”
那為何要學慣用語呀?
一直都從教科書學英文的話,而不接觸真實世界的英文的話,這兩者是完全不一樣的英文世界。
這時候你需要的是更強的英文慣用語及口語表達片語詞彙!
學習英文日常慣用語的好處是更能融入各種場合。看棒球的時候、和朋友喝幾瓶啤酒的時候、或者唸書、初次約會的時候都能派上用場!
要了解英文慣用語的關鍵就是千萬不要單看字面上的意思!通常組合是沒有邏輯的,所以要看慣用語怎麼運用,才能真正了解含義!
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下次看英文電影或者電視秀的時候,可以將任何有趣、新奇的片語寫下來,之後再查查他們的意思跟原由。很多時候他們應該就是俚語。
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喔,忘了還有一件事!
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剛剛畫面中,點選”brought”,就會出現以下解釋:
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