英文词语趣谈

    
I am all ears 倾听恭敬地听

O*** day, we hir*** a carpenter *** repair our house. I dwe*** on (具体叙述)all the details that ********* repair***g *** him. then I ask*** him, "Are you clear? Can you re***mber all that?" "Yes!" the carpenter rep******. "I am all ears!" I fe*** puzzl*** and did not know what he ***ant. Later my eldest son expla****** *** *** that he ***ant, "I am ***sten***g attentively!".

I am broke 我没钱了
O*** day when I was walk***g *** the school ***rrid***, Anna ran over *** *** and said, "I'm broke. May I ...?" I thought she might h**e fallen so***where and was ***jur***, so I hurri***ly supp***t*** her with my hands and ask*** her, "Are you OK? Do you want *** *** send you *** the c***n***?" She fe*** a ***ttle puzzl***, but then she said , "I'm ok. I'm broke. May I b***row so*** mo***y?"
I assu***d that she want*** *** b***row mo***y *** *** *** hospital *** see a doc***r, so I respond*** qu***kly, "Let *** help you *** call an ambulance *** the hospital."
Not until then did she rea***ze that I had not unders***od what she ***ant. She ***ld *** that "I'm broke" ***ant, "I'm penniless." I sudde***y saw the ***ght ***o.

H**e an affair with...与...有含糊联系
The president was f***c*** *** resign, f*** his h*****g an affair with a film star was ***ke a ti***-bomb that would soo***r *** later ru*** his fa***.
It was rep***t*** that President C***n***n had an affair with a girl call*** Mon***a.
5官与英语习语
eye
　　The eyes are extre***ly precious *** us. That is why we say“M***d your eye (小心)!”when we rem***d***g so***o*** *** be careful.
　　Not o***y human be***gs and animals h**e eyes, many th***gs also h**e“eyes”- the eyes of a ship, the eye of a ******le, the eye of a typhoon, and so on.

ear
　　The ear is the ***gan of hear***g. A piece of ***ght mus*** is easy on the ear. (动听悦耳). We are usually all ears (一心倾听) f*** bit ***ws.
　　When they th***k so***body is overhear***g, Eng***sh people use either of the two proverbs: Walls h**e ears (隔墙有耳) and Pitchers h**e ears (壶罐有耳). They also th***k that ***ttle pitchers h**e big ears(小孩子耳朵尖). N***e boys and girls respect other people. They will not secretly ***sten *** others' private ***nversations.

nose
　　The Eng***sh phrase "face *** face (面临面)" and its Ch***ese ***unterpart(对应)are exactly the sa***. But Eng***sh people, *** express the sa*** idea, can say nose *** nose ***stead. There is no such substitute *** Ch***ese.
　　The w***d nose appears *** many idioms. Here are two wh***h are quite similar *** their Ch***ese equivalents: lead so***body by the nose (牵着或人的鼻子走) and turn up o***'s nose at so***body *** so***th***g (对或人或某物嗤之一鼻).
***p
　　We h**e two ***ps: the upper ***p and the lower ***p. If o***'s two ***ps are clos***, o*** cannot speak. So it ***es without say***g that "don't open your ***ps (不要住口)" ***ans "don't speak".
　　His ***ps are seal***. Are his ***ps really stuck ***gether by wax *** glue? No, his ***ps are seal*** when ask*** about so***th***g that he must keep secret. So***ti***s a ***p secret is betray*** bec***se it has escap*** so***o***'s ***ps (信口开河). Then the ***cident may be****** a piece of ***ws that is on everybody's ***ps (众口相传).
***ngue
　　We all know we cannot speak without the ***ngue. So the ***ngue is closely relat*** *** speech. To hold o***'s ***ngue (坚持缄默) ***ans "*** keep silent". A person who has ***o much ***ngue (太多嘴) is dis***k*** by all, f*** he is ***o talkative. Mother ***ngue is not the ***ngue of a mother: it is a person's native language.
　　"Don't you h**e a moth below your nose (你鼻子底下不是有开口吗)?" The Ch***ese say so *** bla*** a person who did not say what he ***uld h**e said. But this not the right way *** express the idea *** Eng***sh. Eng***sh people would say, "You h**e a ***ngue *** your head, h**en't you?"
aim high 胸襟宏愿
Frank ai***d high, but achiev*** ***ttle
Dialogue:
Sue: You seem *** be w***ri*** about so***th***g these days
Bob: Yeah. I'm runn***g around *** circles (忙得团团转)without achie***ng anyth***g.
Sue: Runn***g *** circles? Maybe you aim ***o high and you've taken m***e than you can chew.
Bob: Maybe. but I can't ***lerate do***g noth***g.
Sue: You may take a break bef***e buck***ng down on (起始专注地干)your targets.
*** ape 颠三倒四的，发狂
He went ape as soon as he lear***d that he ***t the first prize.
Dialogue
Mary: Jack went ape. What's happe***d?
L***a: He made a bomb (赚大钱)*** his bus***ess.
Mary: How ******? He ***ld *** that his bus***ess had almost land*** on the rocks （不出路，没希望了）o***y a ***uple of days a***! Besides, he doesn't seem *** be cut out f*** （生成合适干...）do***g bus***ess.
L***a: Fools may h**e a f***tu***. And this is why he went ape when he make bundles(发大财).

Athens (雅典)——the city of jasm***es (茉莉花城)
　　Ber*** (伯尔尼)——the city of clocks and watches (钟表城)
　　Brazil (巴西)——the ***untry of ***ffee (咖啡豆国)
　　Canada (加拿大)——the ***untry of maple le**es (枫叶国)
　　Ecuad*** (厄瓜多尔)——the equa***rial ***untry (赤道国)
　　Ethiopia (埃塞俄比亚)——the barefoot ***untry (赤足国)
　　Egypt (埃及)——the ***untry of the pyramids (金字塔国)
　　Ghana (加纳)——the ***untry of ******a(可可国)
　　Guba (古巴)——the ***untry of sugarca*** (甘蔗国)
　　Japan (日本)——the ***untry of Cherries(樱花国)
　　Jerusalem (耶路撒冷)——the holy city (圣城)
　　Lusaka (卢莎卡)——the city of ***pper (铜城)
　　Lima (利马)——the city of drought (干旱城)
　　London (伦敦)——the city of fog (雾都)
　　Malaysia (马来西亚)——the rubber ***untry (橡胶国)
　　Mex***o (墨西哥)——the cactus ***untry (神仙掌国)
　　Mex***o City (墨西哥城)——the city of fres***es (壁画城)
　　New Y***k (纽约)——Big Apple (大苹果城)
　　Panama (巴拿马)——the butterfly ***untry(胡蝶国)
　　S***gap***e (新加坡)——the ***untry of gardens(庭院国)
　　Tunisia (突尼斯)——the o***ve ***untry (橄榄国)
　　Ven***e (威尼斯)——the city of water (水城)
　　Wash***g***n(华盛顿)——the city of snow (雪城)
　 Wel***ng***n (惠灵顿)——the city of w***d (风城)
argue so***o*** down 批驳或人
He has a g***b ***ngue. Few people can argue him down.他有3寸不烂之舌。差不多没人能把他批驳。
Frank argu*** the manager down, though he ***uld hardly be ***n***nc*** by any other people.
Most people present at the ***et***g argu*** aga***st the ***asures *** be taken by the local ***vern***nt *** dea***ng with traff*** jams.
Jack was punish***, but most of his ***lleagues argu*** fro his actions.
I am the o*** wear***g pants *** the house 我当家

O*** day we ******t*** our USAn friends, a ***uple, *** our ho***. We had a pleasant chat. Dur***g the chat, I ask*** them who was *** ***ntrol of their family's f***ance. My friend's wife answer***, "I am the o*** wear***g pants *** the house." Both my wife and I were very ***nfus***. We were wonder***g why she ***ld *** that o***y she w***e trousers *** her house when I ask*** who was *** charge of the mo***y I their family. A few po***ters (指导，表示)from my friend made us sudde***y see the ***ght. It tur***d out that what she ***ant was "I am *** charge."
It's up *** the air 还没有断定
Once I ***t an old friend of m***e at the school's celebration ***et***g. Hence it was quite natural that we had a talk.
"I am ******g *** be tran**err*** *** another school," said my friend.
"When?" I ask***.
"It's up *** the air," she answer***.
I fe*** rather ***nfus*** and wonder*** why she said it was "up *** the air".
F***d***g I look*** puzzl***, my friend k***w that I did not understand what she ***ant. So she expla****** *** *** with the help of gestures.
F***ally I ***t the po***t that "It's up *** the air" ***ant "It is uncerta***".

***st an arm and a leg 奉献太高的价值
Eat***g *** the rest***rants *** this street will ***st you an arm and a leg.
Buy***g an apart***nt *** Beij***g will ***st you an arm and a leg
Dialogue
Sandra: I say, Frank. H**e you thought about chang***g the b*** sets(床上用品)？
Frank: Well, I've actually been th***k***g of discard***g them.
Sandra: And h**e you thought about where we ***uld *** f*** the ***w sets?
Frank: Well, I ****** *** ***p around a bit bef***e I can decide.
Sandra: How about the Johns' *** the Fifth Street?
Frank: The Johns'? They will ***st you an arm and a leg. You h**e *** pay through the nose（为买...奉献太高的价值；被敲竹杠）， you know?
Sandra: But their qua***ty is first rate.
Frank: I know. And their pr***e is first rate, ***o.

keep so***o*** at arm's length与或人坚持间距

She said that she ***uldn't put her f***ger on why everyo*** *** the ***mpany ***uld keep her at arm's length. 她说他搞不清晰为什么企业里的人都不肯已亲近他。
If you've kept her at arm's length, she wouldn't be able *** et hold of your weak***ss and take advantage of you.
***uch so***o*** on the raw.涉及或人的把柄
The question ask*** by the Japa***se lady see***d *** h**e ***uch*** the president on the raw, and it had almost driven him on the wall.
那位日本女性向总统提出个疑问，这一问就似乎涉及了总统的把柄，并把他逼上了绝境。
When with friends, people always try *** **oid the ***p***s that would possibly ***uch them on the raw.
Your acid ***m***nt made him lose face and the question you rais*** had ***uch*** him on the raw.
You ***uld **oid offend***g him by ***uch***g him on the raw.

Child***ke and childish 无邪和稚嫩

I had been *** USA f*** o***y a few years, as I did not understand the actual ***an***gs of the two w***ds "child***ke" and "childish". A m****** misunderstand***g was the resu***, and I ***arly offend*** my super***s***g profess***.
O*** day I had a chat with so*** profess***s and postgraduates *** the off***e. the subject ca*** *** the character of my super***s***. She was a seni*** profess*** who was always very cheerful and enthusiast***, ***terest***g and full of child***ke ***nocence. I said without th***k***g, "She is childish." Actually what I ***ant *** say is, "She is child***ke."
Not long after that, my profess*** was ***ld that I had said she was childish. She was a ***ttle unhappy *** hear that, and ask*** ***, "Did you say that I am childish?" I fe*** at once that so***th***g bad would happen *** ***. I hurri***ly expla****** what I ***ant, and she f***g**e my ***appropriately us***g the w***d.
"Child***ke" and "Childish" are different, *** that the f******r is a ***m***nda***ry （贬义的）term, wh***h praises o*** who is ***nocent and has characterist***s of a child, while the latter a deroga***ry (褒义的)term, wh***h describes an adu*** beh*****g ***ke a child.

***nsiderable and ***nsiderate 十分大的与思索周密的

Once I went on an out***g with o*** of my USAn friends ***gether. On the way he look*** after *** very carefully. I was very grateful *** him *** my heart. Besides say***g "thank you", I also add***, "You're so ***nsiderable." In fact I ***ant *** praise him f*** be***g thoughtful. However, as soon as I utter*** that, my friend, pre***ously wear***g a bright facial expression, then qu***kly ***ok on a ghastly (丑陋的，可骇的）look. I im***diately perceiv*** so***th***g wrong, but I did not know where my mistake laid and I fe*** very embarrass***.
F***tunately, my friend was really ***od at understand***g others. He he***at*** and said, "I th***k you want*** *** say I'm ***nsiderate." I haste***d *** ask him about the differences between the two w***ds.
It turns out that "***nsiderable" ***ans" rather large *** size, etc. *** of not***eable imp***tance", （and my friend happe***d *** be an extre***ly burly （大块头的）man, wh***h he was sen***ive ***) while "***nsiderate" was what I want*** *** express.
It is really true that an err*** *** the breadth of a s***gle hair can lead you a thousand *** astray（失之毫厘，差之千里）!
Dead end 死胡同
When I first c***ght sight of the sign "Dead End", I was really startl***. Literally it ***ans the road *** death. I wonder*** whether it was " a dra***n's pool and a tiger's den (刀山火海)-- a danger spot", *** m***es *** bombs were laid there and once you made your entrance *** it you were sure *** die. Theref***e a ***ck***g sign was set up, warn***g people aga***st gett***g ****** the f***bidden area without ***th***ization. Later I ***t *** know that the sign "Dead End" tells people that the road is clos*** at o*** end, and theref***e does not lead anywhere.

"Black" Meat *** dark ***at "黑"肉仍是鸡腿肉
This s***ry happe***d when I just ca*** *** USA. O*** day I went *** the fri***-ch***ken fast-food rest***rant attach*** *** the school f*** ***al. A waiter ask*** ***, "What k***d of ***at would you ***ke?" At that ti*** it o***urr*** *** *** that I had lear***d *** my ***llege Eng***sh class that "white ***at" refers *** ch***ken breast while "dark ***at" ***ans ch***ken leg. However, when I spoke, it went ***ke, "Black ***at, please." Sudde***y I found the waiter look***g angry (f*** he happe***d *** be a black). Then I rea***z*** that I had said so***th***g wrong. After I expla****** ti*** and aga*** that I just ca*** *** USA and k***w very ***ttle about slang, he beca*** happy aga***.

turn o***'s back on/upon...背弃...，丢弃...;对...不理不睬
We request*** that he look ****** the matter, but he just see***d *** turn his back on our request.
Did she really turn her back on his proposal?她真的回绝了他的求婚？
Dialogue:
Nancy: You look upset these days. What's troub***ng you?
Selma: I've request*** *** take a le**e from w***k so that I can spend our annual ho***day *** Spa*** with my family. But our boss tur***d it down by say***g that the ***mpany is ***rt of hands.
Nancy: Did you expla*** your ***uation and ask him aga***?
Selma: Yes, I did. But he just tur***d his back on my request.
Nancy: Maybe you can change your plan and put it off till later.
by the back do*** 经由过程后门；用不合理的路子

It is said that he ***t many of the spare parts ****** Ch***a by the back do***.听说他把非常多备件不法偷运到中国境内。
Most ***vern***nt off***ials k***w pretty well that this rubbish ca*** ****** the ***untry by the back do***, but they did not know who exactly had given the smugglers the green ***ght.
The manager k***w that the two ***w employees ca*** *** by the back do***, but he didn't know exactly who were at the back. 总司理明白那双个人是经由过程后门出去的，可是他不清晰究竟谁是他们的后盾。
br***g ho*** the ba***n 养家生活；胜利，取胜
In every ***untry and regardless of their social systems, there must be so***o*** *** the house who will h**e *** br***g ho*** the ba***n.
Dialogue:
Frank: I'm fee***ng under the weather(感应躯体不舒适）. I'm not *** the mood f*** do***g anyth***g ***day.
John: Play hooky（遁学，开小差）. I won't spill the beans（保密）.
Frank: I know, but I can't. I'm swamp*** with w***k（有一大堆职务得做）. My job is no p***n***（不是轻快的事）, you know.
John: Well, hang *** there. In the long run, you'll be ***t***g pretty（处于无利的身份；过上富足的生计）.
Frank: I hope so. But I h**e *** w***k hard and br***g ho*** the ba***n.
hold the bag背黑锅
A***hough the four of them robb*** the bank with jo****** eff***ts, it was Joe who had been left hold***g the bag.
Dialogue:
Martha: Do you know what's happe***d *** Frank?
Nancy: Not an ***k***ng. What's happe***d?
Martha: He was c***ght stea***ng a file from a ***mpany.
Nancy: S***ry *** hear that. He ***uld h**e ***nd*** his steps(留意本人的言行）.
Martha: But the job was eng***eer*** by so***o*** else.
Nancy: Did that so***o*** else stand up?
Martha: Nobody ***kes *** face the mus***（面临惩处）， of ***urse.
Nancy: So it was Frank who was left hold***g the bag?
Martha: yeah.

fall asleep at the switch 玩忽职守
Joe was dismiss*** by the boss f*** fal***ng asleep at the switch.
Dialogue
Mark: The Boss is furious. There must be so***th***g that has enrag*** him.
Lucy: Yeah. So***o*** fell asleep at the switch and the warehouse has been broken ****** last night.
Mark: Who was on duty last night? He must be punish***.
Lucy: It was Joe. He is responsible f*** the lost property.
Mark: He will get the bag(被开除）, I suppose
Lucy: Not really. The boss o***y ask*** him *** ***nd his steps （留意本人的举动）and ***ld him that he wouldn't be lucky ***xt ti***.
Mark: It's k***d of the boss *** do so. Joe ***uld feel gui***y.
be *** the bag 已得手的，10拿9稳的
The Ge***ral Manager was excit*** bec***se he k***w he had already had several maj*** ***ntracts *** the bag.
The boss still had the jitters(七上八下）, though he k***w that their su***ess was already *** the bag.
A ***od harvest is already *** the bag, though the far***rs still h**e a share of w***ries.
Don't be fool*** by their babb***ng. Can't you see that they've had everyth***g *** the bag? 别听他们的乱说8道了，岂非你还看不进去他们已各处做了四肢？
rise *** a (the) bait.中陷阱，中计
Your tr***k might w***k ten years a***. But nowadays few are pro*** *** rise *** a bait as easily as you th***k.你的把戏正在10年前或许管用，但现今人们毫不像你所幻想的会容易中计的。
Look! A fish is ris***g *** the bait.
Be patient! he is ris***g *** the bait.
ball up...把...搞得一团糟，乌烟瘴气
Joe had ball*** up the bus***ess, but it was Jack who was bla***d f*** the ***ss.
Dialogue:
Nancy: John dismiss*** Joe last week.
Selma: What f***? Not f*** his fal***ng asleep at the switch aga***, I suppose.
Nancy: No. He ball*** up John's bus***ess by disclos***g his ***mpany's secret.
Selma: He ***uld h**e ***nd*** his steps.
Nancy: Can the leopard change his spots?
Selma: No. And he will f***d it very hard *** f***d another job.
Nancy: That serves him right.
m***e bark than bite 说很多，做得少
I thought his lecture would be very ***f***mative, but *** my disappo***t***nt, there was m***e bark than bite throughout the lecture: there was noth***g pract***ally imp***tant.
The boss threate***d Joe by say***g that he would k***k him out of the ***mpany, but Joe was certa*** that there was m***e bark than bite *** his remark.
There is ge***rally m***e bark than bite *** most of modern pub***cations, either *** ***terally *** *** academ*** writ***gs.
You don't h**e *** take off your gloves *** a girl ***ke Jenny: there's m***e bark than bite *** what she says.对像杰妮如许的女孩你不需要云云不依不饶的。她提及话来仅不外是嘴凶猛了点儿，可他非常少损害人。
C**e *** 屈从，屈膝投降
At our ***mpany Christmas party, a lot of w***e, even vodka, was **ailable. I k***w Lao Zhang and Rob were he**y dr***kers, so I egg*** them on (煽动或人做某事）*** a ***mpetition f*** dr***k***g vodka. I was the judge. They readily （乐意地）agre***. After a few dr***ks, their faces were all very r***. Rob then refus*** *** dr***k m***e and said, "I c**e ***." I did not understand, so I ga*** a farfetch*** （勉强的，天南地北的）***terpretation of the w***k "c**e" and ***nsider*** it was equivalent *** "trap" . "No. NO, No c**e," I said, "It's a fair play." Rob's face look*** even r***der and haste***d *** add: " I give up. Lao Zhang w***s".
It turns out that "c**e ***" has the ***an***g as "give up *** give ***".
Change my dress 调离我的工位
I w***k*** *** a big, well-known USAn firm m***e than two decades a***. My boss Caro****** was a young and be***tiful USAn girl. A promotion *** raise of her sub***d***ates （上司）by her depend*** solely on the number *** value of presents that they g**e her. As a resu***, the pract***e of gi***ng d******rs *** send***g gifts was *** a vogue (流行的，盛行的）f*** a while. Later, here superi*** （下级，主座）heard of it and call*** all the staff of our section ***gether f*** a ***nference *** tran**er Caro****** from her post. In the ***nference, Caro****** kept ask***g:
"Why do you want *** change my dress?"
Hear***g her say***g" change my dress", I fe*** rather ***nfus***, wonder***g why the superi*** want*** *** change her dress. Later, I unders***od that "change a dress" has the ***an***g of "tran**er from a post". I narrowly escap*** be***g made myself the l***gh***g-s***ck （笑柄）of all.
Blow your own h***n 大吹大擂

Xiao Zhang just graduat*** from univer***y and was hunt***g f*** a job (寻觅职务）. O*** day he was dri***ng a car *** *** on an out***g with several friends. They were c***ght *** a traff*** jam down***wn, so they had *** wait patiently *** their car. They began *** talk o*** after another about their experiences *** look***g f*** a job and exchange ideas on how *** write a curr***ulum ***tae.(简历)
O*** of his friends patt*** Xiao Zhang on the ***ulder and said, "You ***uld blow your own h***n!"
As soon as that friend f***ish*** speak***g, a burst of sounds of h***n （阵阵喇叭声） was heard. His friend qu***kly s***pp*** him, "Hey, what will be you do***g? Sound***g your h***n is f***bidden here, otherwise f***es will be impos***（施加；加于或人...）. Did you see the signboard 'Don't h***n!' over there?"
Xiao Zhang fe*** wrong***(被委屈的；受冤屈的) and said, "Didn't you ask *** *** blow the h***n? I thought you want*** *** *** sound the h***n *** hurry the unmo***ng cars *** front."
Later Xiao Zhang figur*** out （搞清晰，弄明了）that "blow your h***n" ***an "pub***cize *** boast （吹捧，自诩）o***'s abi***ties *** achieve***nts. There his friend ***ant that Xiao Zhang ***uld not be modes but ***w off his strong po***ts （优点，优点）and ***rits（好处） when writ***g his resu***.