英语单词多种用途

　　在美国英语里，有许多常用俚语是由身体部位字眼构成。

英语单词多种用途

　　Session I: The Body Has Many Uses(身体的多种用途）

　　1. Get in Someone's Hair = bother someone

　　可以用 get in someone's hair来表达麻烦某人意思，就象钻到某人的头发里，让人厌烦一样。

　　范例对话:

　　A: Children! Would you please stop making so much noise! And for heaven's sake, pick up your clothes and toys! It's hard enough trying to keep this house clean without your throwing your things all over the place!

　　B: Clara, I know that the children get in your hair, but you should try not to let it upset you so much.

　　A: Listen, Jim. I can't help it. The children bother me and make me very angry when they're so noisy and messy.

　　2. Tongue-In-Cheek = not serious

　　舌头没有放正，表示某人不是认真的。

　　范例对话:

　　A: Why were you teasing Sonia about her new hairdo? She really took offense at what you said.

　　B: I didn't mean to offend her. I was simply making a tongue-in-cheek remark when I said that it was too elaborate for a girl of her young, tender age.

　　A: Well, she thought you were serious. She had no idea that you were just saying that as a joke.

　　B: I'm really sorry. I suppose I owe her an apology.

　　3. Pull Someone's Leg = fool someone

　　完全没有中文抱大腿、溜须拍马或扯后腿的意思，本短语在美语里是愚弄某人的意思。

　　范例对话:

　　A: Hey, Al.I was invited to be a judge for the Miss America Beauty Pageant!

　　B: Oh, really? Come on, you're pulling my leg!

　　A: No, honestly. Do you really think that I'm trying to fool you with a ridiculous story?

　　B: Well, you've told me foolish stories before.

　　A: I can assure you that this one is for real.

　　4. Stick Out One's Neck = take a risk

　　把脖子伸出去，在美语中是去冒险的意思。

　　范例对话:

　　A: How come they're asking me to act as their guide through the jungle?

　　B: Evidently they think you're the only one who can lead them to the lost temple.

　　A: That jungle has danger lurking around every corner. Why should I stick my neck out for them? They didn't pay me for my services.

　　B: They know that you would be taking a great risk and could possibly get hurt, but you're the only one with enough knowledge to take them to their destination. I'm sure you'll be amply rewarded.

　　5. Get Off Someone's Back = stop bothering someone

　　从某人的背上下来，表示停止麻烦某人。

　　范例对话:

　　A: Hey, John. I'm bored. Come on, let's go out and do something.

　　B: Sorry, I'm right in the middle of studying for a physics exam. I won't be able to make it tonight.

　　A: You've been studying for a long time. Why don't you take a break? Come on! Let's go! Forget studying for a while!

　　B: Look! Get off my back!I can't go anywhere!

　　A: OK. I'll stop bothering you only if you promise to let me know the minute you're finished.

　　人靠衣装

　　SessionII : Clothes Make the Man(and Women)(人靠衣装）

　　1. Dress to Kill = wear one's finest clothing

　　衣服漂亮得电死人。

　　范例短文:

　　The reception for the new Swedish ambassador at the Jennison's was quite lavish. Naturally, everybody was dressed to kill. Since it was a formal occasion, everyone was dressed in their finiest, most elegant clothes.

　　2. Knock Someone's Socks Off = enthuse and excite

　　让人兴奋得连袜子都掉了。

　　范例对话:

　　A:Hi, John. What's new?

　　B: Oh, nothing too much with me, but you ought to see Alfredo's new car. It'll knock your socks off!

　　A: So, he finally got that Italian sports car he's been dreaming about.

　　B: He sure did! When you see all the custom features that it has, you'll get so enthused and excited you won't know what to do!

　　A: Boy, I can hardly wait to go for a ride in it!

　　3. Lose One's Shirt = lose a great deal of money

　　连衬衫都输掉了，表示输了很多钱。

　　范例对话:

　　A: I happened to bump into Doug at lunch yesterday afternoon.

　　B: What's new with Doug these days?

　　A: He wasn't doing so well. For one thing, he told me he lost his shirt at the races.

　　B: Doug has always liked to bet on the horses. I'm not surprised that he lost a great deal of money.

　　A: Yeah. At this rate he'll never have a penny to his name!

　　4. Wet Blanket = dull or boring person who spoils the happiness of others

　　盖湿毯子当然不舒服，象湿毯子一样的人，一定是令人厌烦、倒人胃口的人。

　　范例短文:

　　James was not invited to go on the outing with the rest of the group because he's such a web blanket. On many previous occasions he has kept others from enjoying themselves by his pessimism and lack of enthusiasm. It's understandable that no one wants him around.

　　5. Dress to the Teeth = dressed elegantly

　　跟中国成语武装到牙齿有异曲同工之妙，表示某人费尽心机着装打扮。

　　范例对话:

　　A: Did you see Hilda at the party last night?

　　B: Yes, I did. She was really dressed to the teeth!

　　A: Well, she had on her finest, most elegant clothing because she was out to make a good impression on Bill.

　　人会做很奇怪的事

　　Session III: People Do the Strangest Things(人会做很奇怪的事）

　　1. Shoot the Breeze = chat informally

　　美国人把无目的的闲聊比作是向微风射击，打风。

　　范例对话:

　　A: What are you going to be doing this afternoon?

　　B: Oh, I don't have anything in particular in mind.

　　A: Why don't you come over to my place? We can listen to some records and shoot the breeze.

　　B: That sounds OK to me. I'd like to relax listening to music and visit and chat informally until my folks get back from shopping.

　　2. Bite the Dust = go down in defeat

　　美国人把输了比作是头朝下啃泥土。

　　范例短文:

　　Andy did exceptionally well in all of the track events, but bit the dust in the high jump competition. Much to the disappointment of his fans, he went down in defeat, losing to a competitor from the visiting team.

　　3. Bend Over Backward = try very hard

　　美国人认为向后倾是要花很大力气才能做到的事。Bend over backward 表示非常努力去做某事。

　　范例短文:

　　When Joan first started teaching she was afraid that she would have a lot of trouble getting used to the kids and to the faculty. Her fears turned out to be unfounded. Since everybody bent over backwards to help her. Everyone tried very hard to help her feel comfortable and adjust to the school.

　　4. Scratch Someone's Back = return a favor

　　美国人认为帮别人挠背就是还礼，对别人恩惠地交换。

　　范例对话:

　　A: Hey, Bea. I need some help stacking these boxes. Would you please give me a hand?

　　B: OK. And I need some help tidying up the house. How about your helping me out after that?

　　A: OK. If you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours.

　　B: I know you don't like doing housework, but I'll help you with the boxes if you promise to return the favor.

　　A: No problem. I'll even do the windows.

　　5. Turn Someone Off = disgust someone

　　turn off 表示把电源断掉。Turn someone off 表示让别人一下子没了兴趣。

　　范例对话:

　　A: How was your date with Marty last night?

　　B: Well, it started off OK, but he really turned me off when we went for a snack after the movies.

　　A: Did he say or do something to annoy you?

　　B: Frankly, he disgusted me when he tried to talk with his mouth full.

　　A: I don't blame you. That would have really bothered me too.

　　6. Kick the Bucket = die

　　死跷跷了。

　　范例短文:

　　It's been said that the old man knew of a buried treasure, but he kicked the bucketbefore telling anyone where it was. If the treasure exists, the old man unfortunately took the secret of its location with him when he died.

　　真不够哥们

　　来看看美国人认为做哪些事是不地道的，令人生厌的。

　　Session V: That's Not Nice(真不够哥们）

　　1. Drive Someone Up a Wall = annoy someone greatly

　　可以用 drive someone up a wall 来表达惹恼某人，就象把某人赶上墙一样。

　　范例对话:

　　A: Wow! What a great set of drums!

　　B: Yeah, they're great, but I can't play on them when my folks are at home. They say I drive them up a wall with all the loud banging.

　　A: I get the same thing at home. My folks tell me that I annoy them and get them really angry whenever I turn up the volume on my stereo.

　　2. String Someone Along = lead someone on dishonestly

　　带欺骗性质地引诱某人，就像用绳钓鱼一样。。

　　范例短文:

　　Liz had high hopes of marrying Dean. When he ran off with another woman, she realized that he was just string her along. She had felt very strongly about him and was really hurt to see that he was deceiving her and had no intentions of ever marrying her.

　　3. Sell Someone Down the River = betray someone

　　出卖某人给警察。

　　范例对话:

　　A: I heard that poor Jud Landed up in jaid.

　　B: Yeah. His so-called girlfriend sold him down the river and claimed the reward on him.

　　A: I can't understand that. I thought she was devoted to him.

　　B: She couldn't have been very devoted to him if she betrayed him and informed the police about his hiding place.

　　A: That just goes to show you what people will do for money.

　　4. Leave Someone High and Dry = abandon someone

　　把某人丢在一边不管。

　　范例对话:

　　A: Say, Jill. I thought that John was going to help you do the dishes tonight.

　　B: So did I. But he left me high and dry.

　　A: Where did he go?

　　B: Well, he got a call from some of his pals at work to go bowling, and he left me alone to do all this work without any help at all!

　　5. Spill the Beans = reveal a secret

　　泄密。

　　范例对话:

　　A: Did you know that Harry was going to take Kathy on a Caribbean cruise?

　　B: Yes, I did. He was planning on surprising her with the tickets for their anniversary, but someone spilled the beans.

　　A: What a shame! That was supposed to have been a surprise.

　　B: Yes, it's too bad that someone told her about the trip beforehand and ruined Harry's surprise.

　　A: That's OK. Her enthusiasm was not dampened in the least!

　　真象个动物园

　　在美国英语里，有许多常用俚语是由动物字眼构成的，相当的生动、形象。掌握它们，会你的口语和作文更地道，更生色！

　　Session IV: It's a Zoo Out There(真象个动物园）

　　1. Smell a Rat = feel that something is wrong

　　可以用 I smell a rat 来表达自己感觉什么事情不正常、奇怪、不对头的意思，就象闻到死老鼠的味道一样。

　　范例对话:

　　A: How come the front door is open? Didn't you close it before we went shopping?

　　B: I'm sure I did. I can't understand it.

　　A: Frankly, I smell a rat.

　　B: Me, too. I'm convinced that something is definitely wrong here.

　　A: We'd better call the police.

　　2. Fishy = strange and suspicious

　　同 smell a rat 意思相近，也表示感觉奇怪和怀疑，就象闻到鱼的腥臭味一样。

　　范例短文:

　　When the security guard（保安）saw a light in the store after closing hours, it seemed to him that there was something fishy going on. He called the central office and explained to his superior（上级） that he thought something strange and suspicious（令人怀疑的.） was occuring.

　　3. Take the Bull by the Horns = take decisive action in a difficult situation

　　在困难的条件下作出决定性的动作，或不计安危，勇敢面对，直接面对，就象擒牛从牛角入手的方法。

　　范例短文:

　　Julie has always felt that she was missing out on a lot of fun because of her clumsiness（笨拙） on the dance floor. She had been putting off taking lessions, but she finally took the bull by the horns and went to a professional dance studio for help. She was tired of feeling left out and acted decisively to correct the situation.

　　4. For the Birds = uninteresting， meaningless, boring and silly

　　无聊、无趣，愚蠢的，只是为鸟儿们准备的。

　　范例短文:

　　They went to a poetry reading, but they got bored and restless. As far as they were concerned, it was for the birds! They left during an intermission（中间休息） because they found the reading totally uninteresting and meaningless.

　　5. Straight From the Horse's Mouth = from a reliable source

　　说话者本人的原话，或从可靠、权威人士处得来的信息。美国人在这里把说话的人比作大马了。

　　范例对话:

　　A: How did you find out that Jill was engaged?

　　B: I got the information from a very reliable source.

　　A: You mean Jill told you so herself?

　　B: That's right. I got it straight from the horse's mouth!

　　英语俚语中的动物

　　动物是人类的朋友，它们都和人类共同生活在地球上，所以在人类语言中有很多是动物有关的，请你们看一看这些有趣的句子吧！

　　1. What a stupid man（驴）!

　　真是个傻瓜！

　　2. Kate is busy as a bee（蜜蜂）.