齐齐哈尔白酒批发:美国习惯用语(122-185)

第一百八十五讲(2007.12.18)

1.      full of beans 形容一个人很活泼，精力旺盛，情绪很好

   Getting married seems to be good for our friend Joseph. He's sure full of beans these days. He works a lot harder in the office and looks like he's enjoying life a lot more.

   Sarah has been donating money and time for the Salvation Army. Though she's in her 70's, she's always full of beans. Last year, she was in charge of the fashion show and raised ten thousand dollars to help the poor.

2.      Not worth a hill of beans 一钱不值

   I'm glad my sister didn't marry that guy. He's good-looking, but he's lazy, drinks too much and can't hold a job more than six months. The truth is, the man's not worth a hill of beans.

   My wife recommended I read that book about computers, that I could learn a lot from it. But to tell the truth, it was not worth a hill of beans. I even found some really bad mistakes.

第一百八十四讲(2007.12.17)

1.      hippie 不管是男是女头发都留得长长的，绑着头带，脖子上还带着长长短短的珠子项链的人

   I remember when I was a hippie, wearing my beads and Indian headband, marching for peace in Vietnam. I guess every generation wants to change the world, and, you know, who can blame them!

   Look at the way you dress! There are so many pretty outfits in the stores that would fit you well and show off your nice figure. Why do you have to dress like a hippie out of the 60's!

2.      to shoot from the hip一个人在没有仔细思考以前就说话，或采取行动

   I'm afraid we need to look for a new press spokesman. Pete gets too upset at reporters' questions, then he starts shooting from the hip with his answers. This can get us into trouble.

   My two sisters have very different personalities. Mary is always very cautious about what she says, but Carol shoots from the hip all the time. And you can guess who gets into trouble more.

第一百八十三讲(2007.12.16)

1.      under the gun 一个人为了在限定的时间内完成一项任务，或者是解决一个问题而受到很大的压力，几乎就好像有人拿着枪逼着他把事情干完一样

   I'd planned to go to the beach this weekend but I had to cancel my reservation. The boss has me under the gun to finish the company's annual program report by next Monday.

   I can't afford any time before Christmas for parties because I'm under the gun to get ready for term exams. If I fail any of the courses I won't be accepted into medical school next year.

2.      gunshy一个人由于以往不太愉快的经历而在面临某种情况的时候感到很迟疑和不安

   All his friends kept telling my brother Bill he ought to get married again. But he's gunshy about having another wife after his first marriage turned out so badly.

   John used to travel by plane at least once a month on business. But since he survived that plane crash last year, he's become gunshy about boarding a plane. He'd rather drive whenever possible.

第一百八十二讲(2007.12.15)

1.      to give somebody a piece of one’s mind带有指责的直言不讳，或者是很愤怒地把某人痛骂一顿

   I'm going to wait for Mary to come home even if I have to stay up all night! And when she comes in that door, I am going to give her a piece of my mind she'll never forget!

   I couldn't believe how much that mechanic charged me for fixing my car! I knew he was cheating me so I gave him a piece of my mind and told him I'd never bring the car back there again.

2. mind-boggling 某一件事情、或某样东西在智力或感情方面具有强大的力量而使人感到难以控制自己

   I remember how mind-boggling it was when I took astronomy in school and discovered our sun was just one of trillions of stars in a universe so big it was impossible for me even to imagine!

   Everyone finds it mind-boggling that the young mother actually killed her two sons. I saw the boys on TV and they looked so sweet and innocent. Well, I guess we can't say anymore that all mothers love their children.

第一百八十一讲(2007.12.14)

1.      one track mind 独行其事，除了自己的想法外容不得其它的观点

   I'm afraid my brother Johnny has a real one track mind. All he ever seems to think about is getting all dressed up and going out to chase the girls.

   I told Jack not to pour all his money into one single stock. But having a one track mind, he didn't even pay attention to what I said. Now he has suffered a heavy loss because the price of the stock he bought has dropped.

2.      track record 一个人在事业方面如何表现的记录，特别是有些什么成就

   We're lucky. This year we have two people with good track records running for Congress. It's hard to make up my mind, but I think I'll vote for Ms. Green because her track record is a little more impressive.

   Barry had been D.C.'s mayor for 12 years before he was put into prison for involvement with drugs in 1990. This time he was elected again. I just don't understand why people voted for him. He simply doesn't have a good track record.

第一百八十讲(2007.12.13)

1．Brain drain人才外流

   The brain drain to Europe and America has been a serious problem for developing countries. But the situation is changing for countries which have managed a high rate of economic growth -- more of their professionals living abroad are going back home these days.

   There used to be a brain drain in Taiwan when most overseas students from there wanted to stay in America after graduation. But now it's different. The majority of them prefer to go back to Taiwan.

2. brain trust  一个组织的领导人在他手下工作人员之外请一些人来给他出主意，做顾问

   The president of our company is a young man who likes to hear fresh ideas. So he's organized a brain trust of the professors he had in college who meet once a month to give him advice.

   The director of our institute makes us feel useless because he only listens to his own brain trust. He totally ignores the ideas from those who work for him in the institute.

第一百七十九讲(2007.12.12)

1.      to beat one’s brains out 绞尽脑汁

   Please, could you give me a little help on these algebra problems? I've been beating my brains out all weekend trying to figure them out, but I'm still not sure I understand them.

   This VCR is too complicated for me! Okay, you've tried to teach me twice how to run it, but I beat my brains out again yesterday trying to tape a show and I still couldn't make it work.

2.      brainwash 洗脑

   Kids all over America watch cartoons on TV every Saturday morning. Almost every day I hear parents complain that the commercials they see over and over again brainwash the kids into buying stuff they don't really need.

  Several of her friends brainwashed my sister Mary into believing that her best friend Carol was saying nasty things about her behind her back. Mary was as sorry as she could be when she found out it wasn't true.

第一百七十八讲(2007.12.11)

1.      to jump the gun过早地开始一个行动，或者是过于匆忙地做某件事

   We certainly jumped the gun when we packed our winter clothes away the first warm day in March. Two days later it turned cold and six inches of snow fell. We had to get the clothes out again.

   My wife saw me in a restaurant having lunch with a female client. Not knowing who my client was, she jumped the gun and accused me of having an affair. I had a hard time convincing her it was purely business.

2.      to stick to one’s guns在日常生活中不管压力多大，一个人要能坚持自己的计划

   Business is so terrible my partner wants to close up shop, but I told him we should stick to our guns and not give up -- business is bound to pick up this winter if we can keep our doors open.

   Most students take four courses each semester, but not Mike. He always takes one more course than others. He stuck to his guns even when he had to work at two labs last semester.

第一百七十七讲(2007.12.10)

1.      to hit the ceiling一个人生气得暴跳如雷，甚至都撞到了屋顶

   The only real damage was a bent fender, but I knew Dad would hit the ceiling when he saw it. Sure enough, he was so angry that he made me pay for the repairs myself.

   Mary's been always very slow in her work. Her boss has warned her several times. Yesterday, when she again missed the deadline for a report, he hit the ceiling and fired her on the spot.

2.      to blow one’s top 把某人的头顶都炸开了

   I'm sorry I yelled at you kids this afternoon when I came home and saw the mess you'd made in the kitchen. Sure, I had a hard day at work, but I really shouldn't blow my top that way!

   Every time Bill and I make plans to see each other, he's always late and keeps me waiting at least twenty minutes. This morning I waited for almost an hour and I practically blew my top when I saw him.

第一百七十六讲(2007.12.9)

1．            to make one’s blood boil火冒三丈

   It happened three years ago, but it still makes my blood boil every time I think about how my girlfriend ran out on me and married some other guy without even telling me goodbye.

   I went to a Chinese restaurant last week with a friend. The waitress was so rude we ended up yelling at each other. Then she refused to serve us. It still makes my blood boil just to think about it.

2. to make one’s blood run cold 害怕得发抖

   As I walked into this old haunted house, I heard this terrible scream and my blood ran cold when I saw this figure in white rushing straight at me!

   While I was walking toward my car in the parking lot, two men in ski masks suddenly appeared in front of me, guns in hand. I was so scared that my blood ran cold. But they left in a hurry when they saw a police car coming.

第一百七十五讲(2007.12.8)

1.      in one’s blood 指一种某人似乎生来就有的兴趣或技巧

   I've played all sorts of sports -- baseball, golf, basketball. But I love tennis best. In fact you could say tennis is in my blood -- I've played ever since I was old enough to pick up a racket.

   Jack, I do envy your ability to learn Chinese so fast. Everybody knows that Chinese is a very hard language to learn. But it seems you don't need any effort to pick it up -- it must be in your blood.

2.      fresh blood新鲜血液(新成员)

   For twenty years I've voted for Congressman White. But this time I think I'll vote for that young fellow who's running against him. We need fresh blood in the Congress, people who understand how much the world is changing.

   When our company's sales began to decline three years ago, our president immediately recruited（招募） a number of young people. This fresh blood made a lot of difference -- now our sales have doubled.

第一百七十四讲(2007.12.7)

1.      all in the same boat几个处境相同、面对同样困难或危险的人，他们的命运也会相同的

   When the steel plant shut down, the town's people were all in the same boat. The workers had no jobs, and this meant the shops had no business. It was really tough all around.

   True, Jack's the guy who kicked the ball and hit the window. But we were all in the game so we're all in the same boat. Let's all go together to apologize.

2.      to miss the boat 失去了一个好机会

   We found exactly the house we wanted, but we waited to buy it in the hope the price would go down. But we missed the boat; when we called the agent back, he'd just sold it to another family.

   It has always been my dream to visit China. Finally, our company decided to send me to Beijing last month to open an office, but one day before the trip I fell sick and was hospitalized for surgery. So once again I missed the boat.

第一百七十三讲(2007.12.6)

1.      to keep one’s cool 保持镇静

   It's hard to be polite to some people who come into our store. But our manager always manages to keep his cool when dealing with the kind of rude, nasty customers who would make most of us blow our top.

   Some of our classmates always talk or make trouble in class. Most teachers get angry and end up yelling at them. But our chemistry teacher somehow always keeps his cool and quiets them down.

2.      to be cool as a cucumber 当一个人碰到困难和麻烦时很冷静、很放松

Last week Dad was in this auto accident and the other driver was so mad he was yelling and screaming. But Dad stayed cool as a cucumber and got the other guy cooled off too, once he saw there wasn't any real damage to either car.

While Mike and I were waiting for our food, this clumsy waiter spilled a bowl of piping hot soup on Mike's back. I was furious, but Mike was as cool as a cucumber. He even told the waiter not to worry about it.

第一百七十二讲(2007.12.5)

1.      for crying out loud 不耐烦地、或者是厌烦地表示惊讶

For crying out loud, son! When are you going to do what I've told you and clean up your room! I just looked in there again and it's so messy I had to look twice to make sure your bed was still there under all that junk.

For crying out loud! Jack took my tennis racket again. How many times have I told him I don't mind letting him use it, but he at least has to ask first in case I need it myself!

2.      to cool it冷静一点儿，别发那么大的火

   You kids cool it and stop fighting right now! Not one single day goes by without fighting between the two of you. Can't you be more friendly to each other like Mike and Linda next door?

   Cool it, honey! I've checked the car -- it's not as serious as you thought. Besides, their insurance company is going to pay for the repair.

第一百七十一讲(2007.12.4)

1.      to whistle a different tune一个人改变了主意，跟他以前说的不一样了

   Tom always said he didn't want any children, but he's whistling a different tune since his wife gave birth to a son. He's so proud of the baby he can't stop talking about the kid.

   Kathy liked Mary's silk blouse so much she begged me to find one for her. After I searched all over town and bought one for her, she started to whistle a different tune. Now she tells me it's too much trouble to iron it every time she washes it.

2.      pipe dream做白日梦

   My friend Johnny has this pipe dream about becoming a famous movie star. But it won't ever happen. He doesn't have any talent, and he has this high, squeaky voice people don't like to hear.

   Just because I don't speak good English, don't you guys laugh behind my back and say it's just a pipe dream for me to learn Chinese. Well, give me a couple of years and I'll show you how fluent I can be.

第一百七十讲(2007.12.3)

1.      far cry 很远

   You'd be surprised how nice people treat me now when they hear my rich uncle died and left me twenty million dollars. It's a far cry from the days when I was just a clerk in a supermarket and nobody paid me any attention.

   Mike is only 24, but he's already president of our company. He looks very capable and full of confidence. It's a far cry from when he first joined the firm as a mail clerk. In those days he was very timid and shy.

2.      crying towel 擦眼泪的毛巾

   Pete, one of these days we'll have to get you a crying towel! You complain about everything twice as much as anybody else who works in our office. Don't be such a crybaby!

   My sister Joan's boyfriend is a real crybaby. He whines and complains about everything -- his boss, his friends, even his cat. I told Joan to drop him unless she wants to supply him with crying towels the rest of her life. Who needs a husband like that!

第一百六十九讲(2007.12.2)

1.      nothing special没有什么特别，一般，马马虎虎

Mister Simpson is nothing special as a boss, but I can tell you I've worked for people a lot worse. He's lazy and not too smart, but at least he's easy to get along with.

That party I went to last night was nothing special. The food was okay, but there wasn't enough of it. I didn't know many people, but I met a former classmate whom I haven't seen for some time!

2.      so-so一般，马马虎虎

   That movie we saw last night was just so-so. It wasn't too bad -- it was pretty funny in spots. And the action was okay. But it wasn't really worth paying seven dollars for a ticket.

   Mom, in the Mall yesterday I saw a silk blouse for only 15 dollars. It's 50% off the regular price and I liked the color. But my friend Mary said it looked just so-so on me, so I didn't buy it.

第一百六十八讲(2007.12.1)

1. whistle in the dark 给自己壮胆

   Dick is dating a football player 's girl, and claims he's not afraid what the player will do when he finds out. But Dick is just whistling in the dark -- the football player is as big as a grizzly bear and twice as mean.

   John says he'll drive to Baltimore by himself to be interviewed by the school he applied for. He's just whistling in the dark. As a matter of fact, he's never driven on that big 8-lane highway and he's a very nervous, inexperienced driver.

2. to blow the whistle为了阻止骗局或不正当的事情继续下去而把它揭发出来

   Mister Green did us taxpayers a favor. When he discovered his boss was taking bribes, he blew the whistle and wrote his congressman about it. They investigated, the boss got fired and he may end up in jail.

   Our company manager had tried to sexually harass several female employees, but nobody dared say a word. Last week, Mary finally blew the whistle on him and the company investigated him and decided to fire the man.

第一百六十七讲(2007.11.30)

1.      out the window 突然失去，或是浪费了某样东西，或者是某人的辛勤劳力

   My husband and I saved for ten years to open our own restaurant. And we worked six months to get it ready. Then the day after we opened, we had a big fire and all our money and hard work went out the window.

   I've spent all weekend getting ready for my party -- shopping, cleaning and cooking. But my guests called at the last minute to say they couldn't come. Well, all my efforts went out the window. Let me tell you, I won't invite them again.

2.      out of this world 某些东西非常好，特别是音乐、电影、吃饭、有时也能指人

   Say, I see that Gone with the Wind is on TV tonight. I've seen it ten times already but I'll watch it again. I think it's out of this world -- maybe the best movie ever made!

   Donna took me to lunch at a restaurant in a shady woods just outside of town. We sat outdoors and the food tasted great. The place is so pretty and relaxed that it's really out of this world!

第一百六十六讲(2007.11.29)

1.      out of the woods 摆脱了前途不明或危险的处境

    Our business has been terrible all year and I was afraid we might have to give up and close  the shop. But  the  last  two  months we've made a profit and I think we're out of the woods at last.

  Michael drank too much at a party last night and smashed his car up on the way home. He ended up in the hospital and was in a coma all night. But he's awake today and feeling much better.  Thank God he seems to be out of the woods now!

2.      out of the picture 一个人已经不再出现在某个局面，或者参与某个项目或计划了

   Thank God the old man is out of the picture at last -- he should have retired ten years ago! Now we can make the changes we need to get the company a lot more business.

   When I lived with my parents they had too many rules. These days I live by myself and can do as I please since they're now out of the picture. But  I  do  miss them, so I visit them almost every weekend.

第一百六十五讲(2007.11.28)

1.      over a barrel 一个人出于某种无奈，只能听凭别人摆布，别人让他怎么干他就得怎么干

   My partner wants to buy out my share but he's only offering half what it's worth. Of course, he  has  me  over  a  barrel  because I'm anxious to retire and go to Florida and I can't find anybody else who wants to buy.

   That old lady has no children of her own, and she's too sick now to take  care of herself.  She has to depend on her niece for help. Of course her niece has her over a barrel -- she made the old lady transfer most of her savings to her own account.

2.      over one’s dead body 想方设法阻止某一计划的实现

   You  mean  you want to marry this man twice your age who's been divorced two times already? You'll only do it over my dead body!

  The school board wants to close our grade school and bus our kids to another school ten miles away. I went to the school board meeting and told them they do that over my dead body!

第一百六十四讲(2007.11.27)

1.      over one’s head 一门学科、一个问题太复杂，太难懂

   Last  semester  I signed up to take calculus, but I dropped out of class after two weeks -- that kind of math is just too far over my head.

 I bought a personal computer a month ago and spent a lot time reading the manual.But operating this machine is over my head. I may have to sell it if I can't find anyone to help me.

2.      over the hump 渡过了一项工程、一个计划最困难的阶段

 My friend was so sick that we were afraid he'd never leave the hospital alive. But the doctors say he's over the hump now, getting stronger every day, and he can go home next week.

   Arthur practically disappeared from the scene for a couple of years as he was concentrating on his second novel.Yesterday he finally agreed to attend a party next week as he has completed the draft and is now over the hump.

第一百六十三讲(2007.11.26)

1.      cold shoulder 故意对人冷淡,表现出轻视和讨厌的态度

I always thought Mary and I were friends.But when I saw her at the supermarket today and said ’hello,’ she gave me the cold shoulder -- she looked right past me like I wasn’t even there.

   It was the first time  I got invited to that fancy club. People at the party were polite to me, but one of the waiters gave me the cold shoulder when I asked for a drink. Let me tell you, I’ll never go to a place like that again.

2.      Hot air 夸夸其谈,吹牛

  Most candidates make promises during a campaign to win voters’ support. But many promises are nothing but hot air.  After the candidates get elected, they tend to forget most of the things they promised to achieve.

  That man at the party yesterday didn’t have any idea what he was talking about. He blew a lot of hot air about health and nutrition. He  didn’t  know  that both of us have been practicing  medicine for more than thirty years.

第一百六十二讲(2007.11.25)

1．to get it in the neck 受到惩罚,或受到损失

   Oh, oh! I was supposed to be at home for dinner at six and it's already seven-thirty.  I've got to go right now or  I'll  get it in the neck from my wife -- and she's cooking my favorite dish, a nice, big pot roast.

   That vase is my mother's favorite. She liked it so much that she brought it back all the way back from China last year.I'll get it in the neck, I'm sure, when my mom finds out that I broke it.

2. to stick out one’s neck 枪打出头鸟

   You know I admire you for not being afraid to stick your neck out for your old friend who's running for mayor. But  it  would  be  a mistake to stick it out too far -- your friend has no chance at all to win and helping him won' make you popular with the new mayor.

   Nobody in our project likes Jack because he's too selfish. Most of us would like to kick him out of the project, but nobody wants to offend him. They urged me to take the action. Well, I'm not about to stick out my neck.

第一百六十一讲(2007.11.24)

1.      up to one’s neck 某个人要做的工作实在太多,简直无法应付了

   I'm sorry but I won't be able to fix your TV for two weeks. I’m up to my neck in work right now. But I’ll try to have it ready for you in time for the start of the football season.

  Apart from my regular work this week, I have to give a speech on Wednesday and teach a course on Thursday. And my aunt is coming from New York for a visit on Friday. With so  much to do,  I’m really up to my neck.

2.      to break one’s neck 一个人拼命地去完成一项工作,或者是尽快地赶到某一个地方去

  I was really up to my neck in work today, I couldn't get away from the office till six-thirty. So I had to break my neck to get to my sister's engagement party at seven o'clock.

   My parents agreed to pay my trip to Europe this summer only if I complete all my course work before the end of the semester. So now I’m breaking my neck to finish all the papers I have to write.

第一百六十讲(2007.11.23)

1.      to shape up or ship out要就改进,否则就离开这里

 Jones, you are without a doubt the worst soldier in the whole company! Your uniform looks like you slept in it! Your rifle is always dirty, and you can’t follow a simple order! I’m telling  you, soldier -- either shape up or ship out, you hear me!

   Mary, you often come late in the morning and leave early in the evening, and you are always on the phone talking to your friends. This is not acceptable here. I’m  now  giving you a last chance, either shape up or ship out.

2.      to rock the boat 找麻烦,或是破坏某个计划

 Sure, I agree Smith isn't worth the big salary he gets, but I wouldn't tell the boss if I were you. Smith  is  one of his favorites, and he'll think you're just rocking the boat and making  trouble.

  After much discussion, five of us in the class have finally decided to go to Europe for three weeks. Preparation  is already underway. Please don't rock the boat by telling mother, because I’m sure she wouldn't agree.

第一百五十九讲(2007.11.22)

1.      lick 攻击对方,或者是设法克服某种困难

The young athlete appears to have great potential. Although he was defeated in the end,  he got in quite a few good licks during the match.Maybe one day he will emerge as one of the best.

The young boxer got a good licking yesterday.

"I've had this horrible head cold for weeks and I’ve taken all kinds of medicine to try to  lick it. Then I stayed in bed for a couple of days and that finally licked it for good.

2.      lickety split 跑得非常快

   Last week I went on a hunting trip in the north woods with two friends. Joe left our camp to get some more wood for the fire. Ten  minutes later we heard  all this yelling, and  here came Joe, running lickety split with a big, angry bear about three feet behind him!

  Jack applied to several universities after he graduated from high school, but his number one choice is Harvard. Last week when he was in the swimming pool,his brother went to tell him that a letter from Harvard had arrived. He ran home lickety split.

第一百五十八讲(2007.11.21)

1.        to have a feeling in one’s bones 某人有一种感觉,好像什么事情要发生,但是又讲不出道理

   I  just  came  back from Sally and Joe’s wedding. It was beautiful, and they both looked so happy.  But you know something? I hope I’m wrong but I have this feeling in my bones that this marriage won't last a year!

   Bill and I have been partners for years and we have practically become friends. He’s honest and straightforward and has never cheated me. But he never talks about his family life,  and I have a feeling in my bones that he’s thinking of a divorce.

2.        to have a bone to pick 有理由提出抱怨或争论

 Honey, I have a bone to pick with you. I don’t mind you getting into the bathroom first in the morning, but do you have to be in there so long? You know, I have to get to work on time, too.

   Sally always criticizes me no matter what I wear. Last week, I put on the red dress I bought at Macy’s. Everyone said I looked great in that dress.  The only person who had a bone to pick with me was Sally. She said the dress was too tight on me. That’s ridiculous!

第一百五十七讲(2007.11.20)

1．Out of one’s skull 以不完全认真的态度说某人大概是不正常,或是有点疯了

  Honey, you'd have to be out of your skull to lend that no-good brother of yours any more money. He already owes you over two thousand dollars and he has never paid back a penny!

 Shirley, you’d have to be out of your skull to quit this high-paid job and become a housewife! You’d not only cut your total income by two thirds, but you may not be able to find a job this good for the rest of your life.

2. skull session 一些人坐在一起动脑筋,解决问题,或是增加自己在某一方面的知识

   Okay, men, I  want you back in the locker room at eight o’clock for a special skull session. We’ll look at films of the team we play for the championship and talk over the new plays we’ve been practicing all week.

   I’m afraid some of you students have forgotten  what I taught you last week when we studied complex fractions. If  you  had  trouble  today with the problems I assigned, better stay after class and we’ll have a skull session on this.

第一百五十六讲(2007.11.19)

1．Loose lips 说话很随便,不谨慎

 All right, men, don’t talk about the raid to anybody outside this room, not even another cop. This gang is dangerous, so the raid has to be a complete surprise. Loose lips can get somebody killed. And you don’t want it to be you!

   I  did  confide in my sister Mary that I might consider a divorce. Who would expect that she started to tell everybody I've already filed a divorce. My wife got  really mad when she heard about this. Loose lips really can cause trouble.

2．At loose ends 感到没事干,很无聊

   I’m  afraid  I'll be at loose ends this weekend. My finance is going on a fishing trip with his buddies, and  all  my  girl friends are away on vacation. Nothing for me to do but stay at home, wash my hair and maybe watch a little TV.

I don’t know about you, Charlie, but my life has always been so busy. I work nearly fifty hours a week. On weekends, I go to movies or take short trips with my friends. I never feel bored or at loose ends.

第一百五十五讲(2007.11.18)

1.      tight-lipped 说话很少的人,或在某个问题上守口如瓶

    My father fought in World War Two. And he must have been a real hero -- he has a whole box full of medals. But he’s a tight-lipped man who never talks about what he did to earn them.

  Mary is very open with me about almost everything. Every day she tells me all sorts of things that happens at school. But lately she’s been so tight-lipped about her boyfriend Jack.If I ask too many questions she gets angry.

2.      tight with someone 和某人关系密切

   Look, if you want to buy a computer cheap, let me talk to my older brother. He’s tight with this guy who manages an electronics store in Washington and he can probably get you 30 percent off the regular price.

  So you’ve missed your interview and they’re not interested in you anymore. I don’t blame them. But since you’re my son, I’m  going  to  talk  to the president of that company and ask him to give you another chance. I happen to be quite tight with him.

第一百五十四讲(2007.11.17)

1. to run a tight ship 指一个单位的纪律严明

   I like to run a tight ship around here. That means that you’d better be here at 8:30 and you don’t get off work until 5:30. No coming late or going home early! And you don’t take more than 30 minutes for lunch. Do you understand?

   I’m trying very hard to run a tight ship here, but that guy who was hired two months ago has been late almost every morning and one day took more than two hours for lunch.  He has left me with no choice but to fire him.

2. to sit tight 观望,不采取行动

 No, just be smart and sit tight. You offered a good price and I’ll bet if you sit tight, he’ll call up tomorrow and agree to take it.

   When the stock price dropped drastically in 1987, some investors lost millions of dollars.  But the majority of investors were sitting tight waiting for the stock market to bounce back.

第一百五十三讲(2007.11.16)

1．To knock off停止工作,不许出声,降低价格,不顾质量地匆忙写文章,以及谋杀

  Say, Charlie, do you know it’s already six o’clock? Time to knock off（停工）. We can finish painting this room tomorrow.

  Sally, let me tell you, I  got  a  great  bargain on my new Ford Escort! I bought it from my brother-in-law so he knocked fifteen percent off(打了百分之十五的折扣) the dealer list price.

 All right, men! Knock off(不许出声) all the noise and turn the lights out right now! Any more noise out of you and you’ll be scrubbing latrines(打扫厕所) this weekend!

   I'd  love  to go to the movies with you, but tonight I have to stay home and knock off(不顾质量地匆忙写文章) a term paper for my English class. I won’t spend much time on it but I need  to turn in something tomorrow to make sure I pass the course.

    Louie, we’ve got to do something quick about these guys from Chicago coming in here to sell dope in our territory. What do you think --how about we knock off(谋杀) one of these guys as an example and scare the rest out of town?

第一百五十二讲(2007.11.15)

1．Street smarts 在一些不安全的街道上懂得如何应付的能力和本领

   I never got a chance to go to college. My dad died when I was fourteen, and I had to go to  work selling hotdogs out of a pushcart on a streetcorner. But this taught me lots  of  street smarts, and today I own a chain of fast-food restaurants in sixteen different cities.

   I learned a lot of street smarts during the years when I had to walk through Times Square to my office everyday. I walked with confidence, was aware of people around me and held on to my  purse real tight.

2. two-way street 人和人相互帮助和关心的关系,而不是单方面做出努力

   Pete, can you loan me a thousand bucks? We’ve been friends a long time, so you know that if you ever need money in a hurry, I’ll be glad to help you out. Like I always say, friendship is a two-way street.

   People always asked us what makes our marriage so successful. In fact, we sometimes get mad at each other too. But both of us know when to make concessions. It’s a two-way street. One-way street won’t work.

第一百五十一讲(2007.11.14)

1．Easy street 由于财源丰富而生活得很舒服

  Joe is an example of what hard work can do. He worked seven days a week for five years to make his restaurant the best in town. Now the money is rolling in and he’s living on easy street.

 John has no siblings. So when his parents passed away, he inherited everything from the family -- properties, bank savings, stocks and a big house. He’s really living on easy street.

2. out on the street 生活艰难

  I really wish I could find a way to help my brother Bill. He lost his job over a year ago when the company he worked for went bankrupt and he’s been out on the street ever since.

 I work very hard to provide you with a good education. I don’t expect you to be a billionaire, but it’s up to you whether you want to live on easy street or to be out on the street in  the  future.

第一百五十讲(2007.11.13)

1.      to kiss someone or something goodbye拒绝或放弃某人或某样东西

   Jones, when are you going to have that bid ready for the big airport construction contract? I 'm telling you right now, if you don't have our bid ready in time, you can kiss your job goodbye!

   I used to like that restaurant when the food was good and the price reasonable. But since it moved to the place close to where I live, the food has become lousy and the prices have gone so high. So I've decided to kiss it goodbye.

2.      kiss of death 让某件事失败的因素

   One candidate I won't support is Joseph Blow. Sure, he may be a good speaker and all that,  but he's been involved in some shady business deals. Once the newspapers start digging that up, it would be the kiss of death for our whole list of candidates for the city council.

   Go talk to Dad for me please. You know Mom always goes along with Dad's decisions. If  she  approaches Dad on my behalf that would be the kiss of death to my trip.

第一百四十九讲(2007.11.12)

1．everything from soup to nuts 指各式各样的东西很多

   You ought to go and look around in that  big  new  department store that just opened at the shopping mall.  I've  never  seen  so many different things to buy in all my life -- they sell everything from soup to nuts.

   My friend Jean had been posted in a number of  countries  when she worked as a secretary in overseas embassies.  Over the years, she collected so many beautiful things,  and her home has practically(几乎, 简直) everything from soup to nuts.

2. everything but the kitchen sink 指很多，几乎包括所有的东西

   It was really tough over the target area today. The Germans threw everything but the kitchen sink at us -- rockets, anti-aircraft cannon, machine-gun fire. We were lucky they didn't send  up their fighter planes, or we would have lost some of our bombers.

  Gee, honey, do you really need all that stuff for a three-day holiday -- it looks like you've brought along everything but the kitchen sink.

第一百四十八讲(2007.11.11)

1.      under the thumb 控制某人，或被人控制

  My friend Pete Green is certainly under his wife's thumb. She handles all the money, buys his clothes, won't let him go out at night -- he's almost afraid to breathe without her permission.

  It's really sad that my brother Jack's son was arrested for selling drugs. I told Jack he had to place his son under his thumb before it's too late. But he didn't believe me.

2.      to stick out like a sore thumb 由于某种情况使一个人很不合群，显得很突出

 I really felt sorry for my roommate Dora at the party last night.She wore her very best dress, but her boyfriend came wearing blue jeans and a tee-shirt.   He stuck out like a  sore  thumb  because all the other men were in coats and ties.

   Sarah went to the ball alone thinking she'd find someone to dance with.  But everyone had a partner so she was all alone most of the time. She  stuck  out like  a sore thumb and was very embarrassed.

第一百四十七讲(2007.11.10)

1.      green thumb很会种花养草的人

   I sure  wish I  had a green thumb like Mister Jones next door. Every year he grows the best tomatos and sweet corn in our whole neighborhood. And his roses are absolutely beautiful!

  All my friends said that I have a green thumb. They keep on asking me what I do to the plants at home as they look so shining and healthy.  To  tell  you  the truth, the only thing I do is watering them once a week.

2.      all thumbs 笨手笨脚

   It's funny how Doctor Brown can do delicate brain surgery in the operating room, yet his wife Mabel says he's all thumbs at home when he tries to change a light bulb or hammer a nail in the wall to hang up a picture.

  It's amazing you can knit so fast and finish a sweater in a week. Have you seen the way Julie knits? She's all thumbs, I'm afriad it's going to take her years to finish a sweater.

第一百四十六讲(2007.11.09)

1.      wheeler-dealer 指那些精明能干，善于利用他们跟重要人物的关系来做成大笔生意的人

   Be  careful  if  you do business with Mr. Green. He's a real wheeler-dealer full of big talk and promises. He knows lots of important people, but he takes some chances with the laws.  The best thing you can say about him is that so far he's stayed out of jail.

   Some  people  call  my  brother a wheeler-dealer because he's made so much money buying and selling real estate.  But the truth is he's just smarter than the people he does business with, and I can't see anything wrong with that.

2.      fifth wheel 多余的，没有必要的，甚至是不受欢迎的人

   Have you noticed that group of seniors who always sit at that big table in the dining room?  They think they're better than the rest of us. If you sit down at that table, they  don't even say hello -- they make you feel like a fifth wheel.

   My  son asked me to come help at his school track meet but I felt like a fifth wheel when I got there: they already had enough people to help so I just stood there feeling useless.

第一百四十五讲(2007.11.08)

1.      set of wheels 汽车

  Hey Pete, come on over and take a look at my new set of wheels. Fire-engine red, real leather upholstery -- I tell you, the girls will go crazy over it!

    I'm too old to worry about impressing the girls. All I want is a cheap set of wheels I can count on to get me to work every day and that doesn't cost a lot to keep running.

2.      free-wheeler 那些不愿意按一个公司或一个机构的所定之规来行事的人，他们一般喜欢怎么做就怎么做

   Joe got fired from that big company because they thought he was too much of a free-wheeler: he wouldn't fit into the system. Now he's working as a used-car salesman.

    Other Congressmen call Mr. Blank a free-wheeler because he doesn't always vote the way the party wants. But in our district we like a man who votes his honest convictions.

第一百四十四讲(2007.11.07)

1. to crash the gate 没有门票偷偷溜进电影院或体育馆去看电影或看球赛

   When I was a kid, I'd crash the gate at baseball games. But  I  stopped for good when I got caught one day and the police called Dad, and he gave me the only whipping of my life.

2. to crash the party 没有被邀请而混进去参加聚会

I have this friend who is an expert at crashing parties at foreign embassies. He wears his best clothes and walks in the door like he's somebody important. If they ask to see his  invitation card, he feels around his pockets and says he must have left it at home.

3. crash course 短期训练班

   I'm  busy  taking  a crash course in German because my company is sending me to Berlin next month to open a branch office. It's hard work--four hours a day with my tutor and another four or five hours of study at home listening to tapes.

   When  that  young man was elected to congress, he went to Washington a month early to get a crash course from a retiring congressman on the important issues he'd have to vote on.

第一百四十三讲(2007.11.06)

1．one of a kind 指一个非常突出的人和物，他们非常出众以致到了独一无二的程度

   Normally I don't care much for classical music -- U-2 is more my style. But I can listen to Mozart all day long. Just imagine: he died at thirty-five and he wrote six hundred  pieces of  music. He was certainly one of a kind.

   I've seen all the great fighters in the last thirty years. And I think the best was Muhammed Ali. He was one of a kind -- he could move faster and hit quicker than anybody else I ever saw.

2. top-notch 非常出众的，拔尖的

   Our firm is paying our new executive vice president two hundred thousand a year.But it takes a lot of money to hire a top-notch man these days.

   When I'm in New York I always stay in this hotel. Everything here is top-notch: the rooms,  the restaurants,  the service. And it's close to most of the places I want to go.

第一百四十二讲(2007.11.05)

1．to skin someone alive 把某人活活地剥皮

  I've warned my son Jack repeatedly not to have anything to do with drugs. Last night, however, he was caught by the police for selling drugs on the street. Wait until he comes home,I'll skin him alive.

   Mary promised two weeks ago that she would stop seeing Bill.  Today, my sister saw her with Bill in a restaurant kissing and hugging. I am going to skin her alive this time.

2. skin game 以不正当的手法通过赌博来骗取别人的钱

   In a bar in Chicago last week these three guys invited me to a friendly poker game. They let me win the first couple of hands and then upped the stakes. Do you know, I'd lost five thousand bucks by the time I realized I'd been caught in a skin game?

   Since  I  joined  the majong team last summer, I've won only once for just $20. It suddenly dawned on me last week that I've been cheated by the other three in a skin game.

第一百四十一讲(2007.11.04)

1.      to jump right out of one’s skin 指吓一跳，它可以是由于高兴而感到惊喜，也可能是因为危险或其他不幸的事而感到震惊

   When the door opened, I almost jumped right out of my skin. There was my brother, arms loaded with Christmas presents. He lives all the way out in California, but he'd decided to surprise  me by flying to Washington for Christmas.

 When it started to rain,I ran toward a big tree for shelter.But there was a flash of lightning and I jumped right out of my skin -- the lightning hit the tree just before I reached it.

2.      all skin and bones 皮包骨

Have you seen Henry lately?  For two months he's been on this special diet to lose weight.  Well, he's taken off forty pounds and now he's all skin and bones.

There's nothing sadder to see than a picture of children who are all skin and bones because they live someplace where most people don't get enough to eat.

第一百四十讲(2007.11.03)

1.      spinning one’s wheel 花了精力而没有成果

  I've got to get out of this place and find another job somewhere. I'm just spinning my wheels here -- there's no chance to get a pay raise, much less a promotion.

   How many times have I told you that you've got to let us know where you are and get back at the time you promised. But I feel I am just spinning my wheels here, as you always do whatever you want and worry us sick over you.

2.      reinvent the wheel 指某人自以为想出了好方法，但是实际上这个方法别人早已在用了

 Look, don't try to design your own computer system for handling our accounts. There are plenty of good systems already on the market, so let's not reinvent the wheel!

   I  thought  I  had finally worked out a good system to file these papers according to their different categories and under specific labels, but  it turned out I was reinventing the wheel as most people have been doing it this way for a long time.

第一百三十九讲(2007.11.02)

1．at the wheel 开车，也可以指负责或领导一个大型的组织(其中wheel指方向盘steering wheel)

   You not only came back home after midnight last night, but you also wrecked my car. Let me ask you something: How many people were in the car and who was at the wheel on your way home?

   "You want to know what my career plan is? I'll tell you honestly -- My ambition is to be at the wheel of a big corporation by the time I reach forty!

2. hell on wheels 工作努力，有效率；脾气暴燥，对人苛刻和粗暴

   Mary  is sure hell on wheels when it comes to good hard work -- She gets twice as much done in eight hours as anybody else in the office.

   Jane's  dad  is certainly  hell on wheels with her and her brother. Nothing they do pleases him. He scolds them for this and that every day. He won't let them go out on weekends and takes away their allowances on the slightest excuse. I really feel sorry for them.

第一百三十八讲(2007.11.01)

1．no skin off my nose 对某件事不在乎，不会受到损害

   Hey, it's no skin off my nose if Susie's going out now with that guy! I don't care what she does -- I broke up with her a month ago, when I met Karen. Karen's a lot more my style.

    Look, it's no skin off my nose if you want to get tattooed(纹身) all over,  kid.  But it's stupid to begin with, and besides Mother and Dad will be very upset when they see what you've  done.

2. to save one’s skin 某人从一个大危机中被解救出来，或者是逃脱了一个危险的情况，没有受到伤害

   My  son  was  in  a bad auto accident last week. The other car went through a red light and smashed into him. It wrecked his car, but he was wearing his seat belt and that saved his skin -- he walked away without a scratch.

   I  was  in  real trouble last night: I had to type up a term paper to turn in to my English  teacher  this  morning  and  my  typewriter broke down. But the girl next door loaned  me  her typewriter; she really saved my skin.