美國習語:臨陣而退縮，實踐長真知

美國現在流行的習語有哪些呢？今天小編給大家帶來美國習語，希望能夠幫助到大家，下面小編就和大家分享，來欣賞一下吧。

美國習語: 臨陣而退縮，實踐長真知

Peter told his wife that this time he was really going to walk in and demand a pay raise from the boss. But when he arrived at the office, he got cold feet. I really need to get my teeth fixed, but every time I start to phone the dentist, I think about the sound of that drill and right away I get cold feet. I know most of you are afraid to embarrass yourselves by trying to speak English after these first few lessons. But that's the best way to learn: when you meet an American, try a few words, jump in and get your feet wet. I want to get into politics so I'm volunteering to put up signs for one of the people running for mayor. I don't get paid for it but it's a chance to jump in and get my feet wet.

cold feet jump in and get your feet wet 一個人在充滿信心的時候往往就會無所畏懼，勇往直前。但是，當一個人對某件事感到膽怯的時候，他就會畏縮不前。我們經常可以看到一種情況：有的人對一件事開始的時候很有信心，很有把握。可是，事到臨頭就變得沒有勇氣了。在英文里有一個俗語是用來形容類似情況的，那就是 cold feet。 Cold 是冷的意思， feet 就是兩只腳。 Cold feet 并不是在雪地里走而使你的腳很冷。Cold feet 是指臨時上場感到膽怯。例如： "Peter told his wife that this time he was really going to walk in and demand a pay raise from the boss. But when he arrived at the office, he got cold feet." 這句話翻成中文的意思是："這個名字叫皮特的丈夫對自己的妻子說，這次他可一定要到他老板的辦公室去要求增加工資了。可是，他一到了辦公室就感到膽怯，不敢去見他的老板。" 這種臨陣脫逃的現象是很經常的。下面我們要舉的例子恐怕會引起許多聽眾的共鳴： "I really need to get my teeth fixed, but every time I start to phone the dentist, I think about the sound of that drill and right away I get cold feet." 這個人說："我實在應該去牙大夫那兒看牙了。但是，每當我拿起電話想和大夫預約的時候，我就好像聽到那鉆牙的聲音，一下子，我就害怕起來了。" 事到臨頭打退堂鼓，出現 cold feet 的現象也許是一個弱點，但是在美國成語里，把腳弄濕倒是一件好事。比如說，好些聽眾都在學英語。這是一種外語，許多初學的人都怕難為情不敢用英語來對話。可是，老師很可能就會勸這些學生: "Jump in and get your feet wet. " Jump in and get your feet wet 這個俗語的意思是：到實踐中去學，也可以說是跳到游泳池里學游泳。我們來舉一個老師對學生說的話： "I know most of you are afraid to embarrass yourselves by trying to speak English after these first few lessons. But that's the best way to learn: when you meet an American, try a few words, jump in and get your feet wet." 這位老師說："我知道你們大多數人感到，剛上了幾課英語，就用英語來說話很不好意思。不過，當你見到美國人時，你不妨試著說一點。到實踐中去學是最好的辦法。" 到實踐中去學對于任何事來說都是很重要的。下面說話的人就認識到例句 jump in and get your feet wet 的重要性： "I want to get into politics so I'm volunteering to put up signs for one of the people running for mayor. I don't get paid for it but it's a chance to jump in and get my feet wet." 這個人說："我希望將來能夠到政界去工作，所以我現在在幫一個競選市長的候選人張貼宣傳標語。我幫他做這些事是完全義務的，是沒有工資的。但是，這是到實踐中去得到一些經驗的好機會。" 今天我們給大家介紹了兩個習慣用語，都是和 feet 這個字有關的。第一個是 cold feet。Cold feet 是事到臨頭打退堂鼓，對原先有信心的事感到膽怯了。我們今天講的第二個習慣用語是 jump in and get your feet wet，這是指到實踐中去學習取得經驗。

美國習語:書呆子和陽光男

Today George Miller actually had the nerve to ask me to go the the Christmas dance with him. Sure, he's getting straight A's in all his classes, but look at those thick glasses, and those dull clothes he wears. I'd rather be caught dead than to go out with a nerd like him. The big surprise was seeing Bill Green. He was such a nerd 20 years ago -- too busy studying instead of having a good time like most of us. But maybe he had the right idea; he owns his own computer company and is worth 10 million bucks. You may call me a nerd, but I think it's more important to study hard than to be a jock and play football or basketball. The trouble is, though, the girls all want to go with jocks, the guys with the muscles and team sweaters. My kid sister is only six but it looks like she'll turn out to be a girl jock. Instead of staying in the house, she loves to go outside and play baseball with the boys. And you know something -- she's better at it than most of the boys.

nerd jock girl jock 今天我們要給大家介紹兩個美國學生常用的俗語。近年來，美國學生常常用一些詞匯來形容那些不太受其他學生歡迎的人。他們最常用的一個字是：nerd。這個字恐怕在有的字典上都找不到。它的意思和"書呆子"很相似。被稱為nerd的學生一般都很聰敏，對學習很嚴肅，他們大多數時間都花在學習上。他們的毛病在于他們看起來很軟弱，和其他同學的關系也很別扭。這些所謂nerd衣服也穿得比別的學生保守，在社交場合表現的不知所措。由于他們一般都比較害羞，因此和這些nerd在一起不像和其他人在一起那么有趣。讓我們來聽聽一個名字叫薩利的女學生對她的朋友說的話： "Today George Miller actually had the nerve to ask me to go the the Christmas dance with him. Sure, he's getting straight A's in all his classes, but look at those thick classes, and those dull clothes he wears. I'd rather be caught dead than to go out with a nerd like him." 薩利說："今天喬治米勒居然敢來邀我和他一起去圣誕節舞會。是啊，他每門課都得A，但是看看他那眼鏡片有多厚，還穿那些老古董衣服。我要和這么一個書呆子一起去跳舞，我寧可去死。" 下面這個例子是一個剛去參加中學同學畢業二十年聚會的人。 "The big surprise was seeing Bill Green. He was such a nerd 20 years ago -- too busy studying instead of having a good time like most of us. But maybe he had the right idea; he owns his own computer company and is worth 10 million bucks." 他說："這次聚會最驚人的是看到比爾格林。二十年前他可是個書呆子，忙于學習，沒有時間像我們那樣玩。可是，也許他當時的想法是對的，他現在自己開一個電腦公司，值一千萬美元。" 要是nerd在學校里被人看不起，那么誰受人歡迎呢?受人歡迎的是：jock。Jock就是那種身材魁梧，長得很帥，很富有男子漢氣概的運動員。下面是一個很妒忌的nerd在發表他的看法。他為什么妒忌呢?他說： "You may call me a nerd, but I think it's more important to study hard than to be a jock and play football or basketball. The trouble is, though, the girls all want to go with jocks, the guys with the muscles and team sweaters." 這個書呆子說："你可以叫我書呆子，但是我認為用功念書要比做一個漂亮男子和踢足球、打壘球更重要。可是，問題是那些女孩子都要和那些長得帥的男學生和那些身強體壯的球隊隊員出去玩。" 現在美國學校里好些女學生也積極參加各種體育運動，她們被稱為：girl jock。我們來舉個girl jock的例子吧： "My kid sister is only six but it looks like she'll turn out to be a girl jock. Instead of staying in the house, she loves to go outside and play baseball with the boys. And you know something -- she's better at it than most of the boys." 這個人說："我的小妹妹只有六歲，可是看起來她會成為一個強壯的女運動員。她不愿在家呆著，她喜歡出去和男孩一起打壘球。你要知道，她比大多數男孩都打得好。" 今天我們講了兩個美國學生常用的俗語：nerd和jock。Nerd相當于書呆子。Jock是身體很強壯,長得很漂亮的男運動員。Girl jock當然是指女孩。

美國習語:別扭場合，多余建議

At the conference I was a fish out of water. All the speeches were in French, a language I never studied. Everybody else at the party ended up in the swimming pool. But I was a fish out of water because I can't swim. My son, fresh out of college, keeps telling me how to run my business. But I've been making good money for 30 years so he's teaching a fish how to swim. The day after I got my private pilot's license, I told this man at the party all about how to fly an airplane. Later I learned he was an airline pilot who flew jumbo jets. I'd been teaching a fish how to swim.

在今天的美國習慣用語: 節目里，我們要給大家介紹幾個和魚有關的習慣用語。中國人常常用「如魚得水」來形容一個一切都很順當的環境。美國人常用的一個俗語卻剛好和「如魚得水」相反，他們說：a fish out of water。從字面上解釋就是：沒有水的魚。你肯定經歷過一種場合，當時你覺得很不自然，和周圍的人或環境格格不入。A fish out of water作為一個俗語，就是指這種感覺的，它的意思是某人和他所處的環境不融恰，使他感到很別扭、很難堪。 比如說，我的一個朋友最近去參加了一次國際會議，回來后他對我說： "At the conference I was a fish out of water. All the speeches were in French, a language I never studied." 他說："參加那個會議真叫我感到別扭。所有人發表講話時都用法文，可是我從來也沒有學過法文。" 每個人都會有感到別扭的時候，下面這個人碰到的場合又是一個例子： "Everybody else at the party ended up in the swimming pool. But I was a fish out of water because I can't swim." 這人說："參加聚會的每個人最后都到游泳池去游泳了，我真感到別扭，因為我不會游泳。" 要是誰想教魚怎么游泳的話，那簡直是班門弄斧，多余的了。下面我們要講解的一個習慣用語就是這個意思：to teach a fish how to swim。To teach a fish how to swim作為俗語的意思是指班門弄斧：給別人提出完全沒有必要的建議或勸告。你聽了下面這位父親的講話就會知道他的兒子有多可笑了： "My son, fresh out of college, keeps telling me how to run my business. But I've been making good money for 30 years so he's teaching a fish how to swim." 這位父親說："我的兒子大學剛畢業,可是他卻不斷地來告訴我應該怎么做生意。我三十年來生意做得很好，賺了不少錢。所以，他來告訴我怎么做生意簡直是多余的。" 這個兒子可能還不知道自己在做傻事。可是，有的人在事后發現自己做了類似的傻事會感到很難堪。請聽下面這個例子： "The day after I got my private pilot's license, I told this man at the party all about how to fly an airplane. Later I learned he was an airline pilot who flew jumbo jets -- I'd been teaching a fish how to swim." 這個人說："我在得到飛行員執照后的一天，在一次聚會上告訴一個人怎么駕駛飛機。后來，我聽說那個人是開大型噴氣機的飛行員。我去告訴他怎么駕駛飛機真是多余，簡直是班門弄斧。" 在這次[美國習慣用語]節目里我們給大家介紹了兩個和fish有關的習慣用語。第一個是 a fish out of water。A fish out of water是指一個人處于一種使他很難堪，很別扭的場合。我們今天講的第二個習慣用語是to teach a fish how to swim。To teach a fish how to swim是指給別人提供毫無必要，完全多余的建議或勸告。

美國習語: 飽嘗眼福，十分驚奇

The place I enjoyed most was the National Gallery of Art. I spent a whole afternoon there feasting my eyes on all their modern paintings. I'm on diet trying to lose ten pounds, so I stopped to feast my eyes on the cakes in the bakery window, but resisted the temptation to go in and buy one to eat. When my wife told me we were going to have a baby, it hit me right between the eyes. I bet I fooled around with these equations for ten minutes but then all of a sudden the right answer hit me right between the eyes.

世界各國的詩人寫了好多詩來描寫人的眼睛，有的把眼睛稱為"靈魂的窗戶"，還有的說，人們通過眼睛所表達的語言在世界各處都是共同的。這也許是確實的，因為世界各種語言中用"眼睛"這個詞表達的意思都是大同小異的。今天我們就來給大家介紹幾個和眼睛有關的習慣用語。 中文里有"飽嘗眼福"的說法。美國英語里也有類似的習慣用語。其中之一就是to feast your eyes on。Feast的意思是：宴請，舉行盛大的筵席，或使人得到享受等。宴請你的眼睛，使你的眼睛得到享受，實際上也就是"飽嘗眼福"的意思。To feast your eyes on這個說法可以應用到各個方面，比如說看到美貌的女子，欣賞自然風光，觀賞藝術作品等。舉個例子來說，一個到華盛頓來訪問的人也許會說： "The place I enjoyed most was the National Gallery of Art. I spent a whole afternoon there feasting my eyes on all their modern paintings." 這個人說："我最喜歡的地方是國家藝術館。我化了整整一個下午在那里欣賞他們的現代繪畫,真是飽嘗了眼福。" To feast your eyes on還可以用在食品方面。我們下面來舉個例子吧： "I'm on diet trying to lose ten pounds, so I stopped to feast my eyes on the cakes in the bakery window, but resisted the temptation to go in and buy one to eat." 這個人說："我正在設法減肥，想減輕我的體重十磅。為此，我只是到那些面包房去飽飽眼福，但是盡量克制自己不進去買東西吃。" 美國人一般來說是很喜歡吃蛋糕、奶油、冰淇淋等甜食。但是目前，從健康出發，很多人很注意自己的體重，因此人們對食品中的糖份很敏感，特別是體重超重的人，往往克制自己的食欲而避免吃蛋糕之類的甜食。實在克制不住的時候，吃了甜食就好像犯了什么錯誤一樣。因此，好多人乾脆不去看那些五顏六色、花色繁多的點心柜臺，免得自己饞得忍不住。 我們今天要講的第二個和eyes，也就是和"眼睛"有關的習慣用語是to hit between the eyes。To hit between the eyes聽起來是好像是很痛苦的事，但是作為一個俗語，它的意思僅僅是：十分驚奇。下面就是一個例子： "When my wife told me we were going to have a baby, it hit me right between the eyes." 這位不久就要當爸爸的人說："當我的妻子告訴我她已經懷孕了的時候，我真是驚奇萬分。" 下面一個例子是一個學生在做家庭作業，他說： "I bet I fooled around with these equations for ten minutes but then all of a sudden the right answer hit me right between the eyes." 他說："我敢打賭，我在這些方程式上花了總總十分鐘還沒有得出答案。后來，不知怎么回事，我突然想出了正確的答案。" 今天我們講的兩個習慣用語都是和眼睛，也就是和eyes有關的。第一個是to feast your eyes on。To feast your eyes on和中文里的"飽嘗眼福"這個說法是相同的意思。我們講的第二個習慣用語是to hit between the eyes。To hit between the eyes的意思是：非常突然。

美國習語:邁出第一步，累得站不動

You know that beautiful girl who sits ahead of me in English class? She keeps turning me down for dates, but I finally got a foot in the door today, she met me for coffee after class. Getting into politics is tough. But Martin got his foot in the door when he volunteered to go around town putting up posters for the Republican candidate for Congress. Honey, I've got to sit down and rest before I take you out to dinner. I'm really dead on my feet tonight. We had the big year-end sale on and I was so busy I didn't even have time for lunch. My parents took me to Constitution Avenue to see the parade. After standing there for a whole day, my mom was so dead on her feet by the time we got home that she could not even cook dinner for us.

美國的商品推銷員在不很久以前還是挨家挨戶地去推銷商品，例如吸塵機、廚房用品、百科全書和圣經等。當一位家庭主婦聽到敲門聲，把門打開的時候，精明能干的推銷員就會把一只腳先伸到門里邊，這樣可以避免在他還沒有機會介紹他的商品之前女主人就把門關上了。這種挨家挨戶訪問的推銷員現在幾乎已經消聲匿跡了，大多數推銷員現在都靠電話來招攬生意。可是，把一只腳先伸到門里邊這個說法卻成了一個人們經常用的俗語了，在英文里就是： to get a foot in the door。 To get a foot in the door 的意思就是：為了達到一個目的邁出了第一步，盡管你可能離達到目的的距離還很遠。下面這個例子是一個學生說的話： "You know that beautiful girl who sits ahead of me in English class? She keeps turning me down for dates, but I finally got a foot in the door today: she met me for coffee after class." 這個學生說："你知道英語課坐在我前面那個很漂亮的女孩子嗎?我請她出去玩，她老是拒絕我。可是，今天我算是邁出了第一步。她答應下了課和我一起去喝咖啡。" 下面我們要舉的例子是兩個人在談論一個很有政治野心的朋友。其中一個人說： "Getting into politics is tough. But Martin got his foot in the door when he volunteered to go around town putting up posters for the Republican candidate for Congress." 他說："要進入政界是很難的。可是，馬丁曾經在當地義務地幫助那些共和黨競選國會議員的候選人張貼標語，這樣他為能夠進入政界邁出了第一步。" 一整天在電線干上貼標語或招貼畫確實是很累的。馬丁回到家的時候可能會感到兩只腳累得連站都站不動了。這也有一個俗語來形容這種情景的： to be dead on one's feet。美國雖然是最先進的國家之一，但仍然有好多職業需要工作人員站著做的。售貨員就是其中之一。站了一天，到了下班的時候，他們必然會感到兩只腳很累。下面就是一個售貨員在對他的太太講話： "Honey, I've got to sit down and rest before I take you out to dinner. I'm really dead on my feet tonight: we had the big year-end sale on and I was so busy I didn't even have time for lunch." 他說："親愛的，我得坐下歇一會兒再和你一起出去吃晚飯。我今天晚上兩只腳實在累死了。我們正在舉行年底大減價，我忙的連午飯都沒有時間吃。" 下面的例子是一個孩子在跟他的同學說他們全家去看慶祝海灣戰爭游行的情況： "My parents took me to Constitution Avenue to see the parade. After standing there for a whole day, my mom was so dead on her feet that she could not even cook dinner for us by the time we got home." 這個孩子說："我爸爸媽媽帶我到憲法大街去看游行。我們在那兒站了一天，回到家的時候，我媽媽的腳累得要死，連做晚飯也做不動了。" 今天我們給大家講解了兩個和腳，也就是英文里的 foot 或者是 feet 有關的俗語。我們講的第一個俗語是：to get a foot in the door，這是指為了達到一個目的而邁出了第一步。今天我們講的第二個俗語是： to be dead on one's feet，這是指兩只腳非常累。