每日一句
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贴子字数超过最大限制，另开新贴 ，新贴地址： 词霸每日一句(2)
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The work is well afoot.
[工作进行得很顺利。 ][2007-03-24]
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afoot:a./ad. 用徒步, 在准备中, 在进行中
例句：
If there is any mischief afoot, he is sure to be in at it.
要有什么调皮捣蛋的事，肯定有他的份。
I set a project afoot. 我开始执行计划。
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It is as large again as that.
[这比那个大一倍。 ][2007-03-23]
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as large again as 是…的两倍，比…大一倍
例句：
My house is large, but his is as large again.
我的房子大，可是他的房子有我房子的两倍大。
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Soon afterward they left.
[他们不久以后就离开了。][2007-03-22]
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Soon afterward: 不久之后
例句：She had her supper and went out soon afterwards.
他吃过晚饭不久以后就出去了
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She is really the salt of the earth.
[她没有一点坏心眼。][2007-03-21]
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古人认为，盐是珍贵的天赐之物，可以防止腐烂。固定搭配the salt of the earth就用来形容那些没有坏心的人。
例句：I admit that he is not so capable. But he is the salt of the earth.
我承认他不是很有能力，可他是个没有坏心的人。
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I can't afford a holiday this summer.
[今年夏天我无法度假。][2007-03-20]
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afford:，这个词经常用到的有两个主要含义：
1）（经济上、时间上）供应得起，负担得起；
2）提供
例句：
These trees afford a pleasant shade. 这些树提供了荫凉。
I'd love to go on holiday but I can't afford the time. 我倒想去度假, 可是抽不出时间来。
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He is on his high horse these days.
[他最近几天很嚣张。][2007-03-19]
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词组 be on one's high horse 指的是趾高气扬、目空一切、盛气凌人的那种状态，用中文的“嚣张”来表达比较贴切。
例句：Joe seems to be on his high horse these days. This is "When the cat's away, the mice will play".
乔这几天很不可一世，正应了那句“猫不在家，耗子成精”（“山中无老虎，猴子称大王”）。
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That's why we hit it off.
[那就是我们合得来的原因。][2007-03-18]
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词组 hit it off 的意思是两个人彼此适合，很要好，很合得来。
例句：He is indeed swell, we hit it off. 他的确和棒，我们很要好。
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Put your cards on the table!
[有什么话直说！ 2007-03-17]
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这个短语也写作lay one's cards on the table，意思是"Be open and honest, reveal one's position or intentions, to be completely straightforward and open; conceal nothing"，和汉语中经常使用的“摊牌”非常相似。
例句：John laid his cards on the table and told her how much they could afford.
约翰亮了底牌，告诉了她，他们付得起多少钱。
资料来源：《越狱》精讲之十一(
http://sl.iciba.com/html/2007/0313/09/245582_1.htm)
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All I can do is to play it by ear.
[我只能骑驴看帐本走着瞧了。][2007-03-16]
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这个词汇的来源和音乐有关系。它原来指的是那些会弹钢琴或某种乐器，但是却不会看五线谱的人。每当他们要弹奏某个曲调时，他们只能凭着上一回听到的记忆来弹。可是play it by ear现在已经成为日常用语了，意思是做一件事不是事先有计划的，而是走着瞧，临时决定，与汉语中的那句歇后语“骑驴看帐本——走着瞧”有一些相似。
例如，你被请到某处去讲话，可是又没有时间准备。你就可以对听众说：
"I haven't had a chance to prepare any notes so all I can do is start talking and play it by ear."
资料来源：《美国习惯用语第三讲》(
http://sl.iciba.com/html/2007/0313/08/245534_1.htm)
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We are really anxious for peace.
[我们确实渴望和平。][2007-03-15]
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词组anxious for，渴望(盼望)
例句：Parents are anxious for the welfare of their children. 父母都渴望他们的孩子们平安幸福。
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There is another matter to consider.
[另外，还有一件事要考虑][2007-03-14]
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another matter: 另一件事
例句：That's quite another matter. 那完全是另一回事。
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You left the light on.
[你一直没关灯啊。 ][2007-03-13]
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left (leave)是“保持某种样子”、“保持某种状态”的意思，表达“电灯一直开着”、“发动机一直开着”、“窗户一直开着”也可以用这种句型。
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Let's fold up the futon.
[把被子叠好][2007-03-12]
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fold意为“折叠”，fold up意为“叠好”、“叠整齐”。
futon原本是日文，现在英文中也逐渐使用，意为“被子”。
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Would you turn off the alarm clock?
[能帮我关掉闹钟吗? ][2007-03-11]
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词组turn off的原意是“关”，多用于收音机、电视、照明等类的东西。虽然现在有许多东西无需用按钮开关，但一般也用turn off表示。
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He can't take a joke.
[他开不起玩笑。 ][2007-03-10]
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名词joke是“玩笑”的意思。take在这里表示“承受，接受”。
例句：joke with sb. 与某人开玩笑 He is only joking. 他只不过是开玩笑。
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Don't lose your head.
[不要惊慌失措。][2007-03-09]
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词组lose one's head是“不知所措”的意思。相反，a cool head 则是指冷静、不易激动。
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Clothes make the man.
[人要衣装][2007-03-08]
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动词make的原意是“做”，在口语中有“成为”的意思。
例句：If you work hard, you will make a good athlete. 如果你肯努力, 你将成为一个好运动员。
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You did fairly well!
[你干得相当不错！][2007-03-07]
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副词fairly有“相当”的意思。
例句：a fairly good dinner. 相当好的一顿晚宴。
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What's your trouble?
[你哪儿不舒服？][2007-03-06]
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trouble作为动词的两个主要含义：
1、使不便；烦扰：May I trouble you to close the window? 能麻烦您关下窗吗?
2、费苦心：They trouble over every detail. 他们为每个细节煞费苦心。
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Time is running out.
[没时间了。][2007-03-05]
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run out 有“用光，用完”的意思。
例句：
1、用完；耗尽：Our supplies finally ran out. 我们的供给终于耗尽了。
2、逐出；强使离去；驱逐：We ran him out of town.. 我们把他驱逐出镇子。
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How's the business? The business is slow.
[生意好吗? 生意状况不太好。 ][2007-03-04]
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生意不太好时可以说The business is slow；生意活络时，则说The trade is brisk，或者 The Market is brisk。
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He is a bold thinker, with lots of original ideas.
[他敢于思考，富有创新观点。 ][2007-03-03]
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original ideas: 新颖的意见，原创的看法
例句：The speaker seems to have no original ideas; his speech was full of platitudes.
演讲人似乎没有什么独到的见解，他的讲话充满了陈词滥调。
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The road bridge is now open to traffic.
[这座公路桥现在开放通行。][2007-03-02]
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be open to traffic 通车
例句：The new road will soon be opened to traffic. 这条新马路不久就可通车。
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Fish cannot breathe out of water.
[鱼离开水就不能呼吸。][2007-03-01]
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例句：They walked through the forest breathing the scent of pines.
他们步行穿过森林，呼吸着松树的芳香。
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He earned his bread by writing novels.
[他靠写小说维生。][2007-02-28]
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earn one's bread (or living): 谋生活
例句：I earn my daily bread by working in a supermarket. 我在超级市场工作以维持生计。
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She gave him a box on his ears.
[她打了他一耳光。][2007-02-27]
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give sb. a box on the ear: 打某人一耳光
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It's bound to rain soon.
[过一会儿肯定会下雨。][2007-02-26]
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bound to: vt. 必然(不得不,必须,束缚于)，
例句：
I am bound to say I disagree with you on this point. 我必须声明不同意你这一点。
You are not legally bound to answer these questions. 在法律上，你没有义务非回答这些问题。
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They sent the enemy ship to the bottom of the sea.
[他们把敌舰击沉。 ][2007-02-25]
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send to the bottom: v. 弄沉(打沉)
例句：There's a pub at the bottom of the road. 路的尽头有一家酒馆。
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He is both a soldier and a poet.
[他既是个战士，又是个诗人。][2007-02-24]
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例句：Proper diet and exercise are both important for health.
适当的饮食和运动对身体健康都很重要。
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I lost a white handkerchief with a blue border.
[我丢了一块带蓝色花边的白手绢。][2007-02-23]
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border: n. 边缘v. 作...之疆界, 加边
例句：How many countries border Switzerland? 有多少国家与瑞士接壤?
France borders Germany along parts of the Rhine. 法国沿莱茵河部分河段与德国接壤。
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I help him to lace up his boots.
[我帮他系好靴子的鞋带。 ][2007-02-22]
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lace up: vt. 用带系紧
例句： The little boy can lace up his shoes. 这个小男孩会系鞋带。
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He broke a bone in his leg.
[他摔断了一根腿骨。 ][2007-02-21(中间几天没有，今天重新开始。)]
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break a bone: 骨折，
例句：He've broken a bone in my arm. 我的臂部骨折了。
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The oceans are large bodies of water.
[海洋是广大的水域。][200702-18,大年初一,新年好！]
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Large bodies of water, eg lakes or seas大片水域（如湖泊或海洋）
例句：Along the east coasts of our country are large bodies of water.
我国东部沿海是一片浩瀚的水域。
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I'm boarding with a friend.
[我在一朋友处寄膳宿。 ][2007-02-17]
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boarding:a. 供膳的,供膳宿的 n. 伙食
例句：He had paid out good money to educate his daughter at a boarding school. 他花了很多钱让他的女儿在寄宿学校受教育。
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Mary is a workers' representative on the Board.
[玛丽是理事会的工人代表。][2007-02-16]
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representative:n. 代表，典型，
例句 Is a questionnaire answeredby 500 people truly representative of national opinion?
一份调查问卷有500人作答, 是否能真正代表全国人民的意见?
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It was a great blow to her when her mother died.
[母亲去世对她是个沉重的打击。 ][2007-02-15]
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blow 作为名词，可以是“殴打，突然的打击”的意思。
再如，He felled his three attackers at a single blow. 他一下子撩倒了三个袭击他的人.
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Her daughter is blossoming into a beautiful girl.
[她女儿出落成一个漂亮的女孩。][2007-02-14]
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blossoming: 开花，再如The apple trees are blossoming. 苹果树正在开花。
Our hopes are blossoming out. 我们的希望正在实现。
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She is just one track-minded, not to be harmful.
[她只是一根筋，但并无恶意。][2007-02-13]
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one track-minded，汉语直译为“单轨思维”，大多指那些说大脑不灵活，缺乏灵活的思维能力的人。和这种人说话和共事都很累。
例句： Stop reasoning with him! Don't you know he is one track-minded？别跟他较劲了。他一根筋儿，你还不知道？
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Speak of the devil and he appears.
[说曹操，曹操到。][2007-02-12]
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词组speak of，谈及，说到。字面意思是，谈论着魔鬼，魔鬼就出现了。可以直接翻译成汉语中的那句习语：说曹操，曹操到。在口语中，还可以简单地说成Speaking of the devil。
英文中还有一个类似的表达：To mention the wolf's name is to see the same.
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You are in for a treat !
[你一定会满意的！][2007-02-11]
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treat作为名词的意思是，宴请，款待。be in for a treat的英文解释就是，you'll like it。
例句：
There are a great deal wonderful dishes at this reastaurant. You are in for a treat!
这个餐馆有许多好菜，你一定会饱餐一顿！
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I'd like to take it with a grain of salt.
[我对此有怀疑。][2007-02-10]
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词组take something with a grain of salt原来表示的是，一些食物，不加盐就不能吃。它的转义即是，有些话，不加分析就不能轻易相信。
例句：
You must always take what he says with a grain of salt. He's born liar.
他说的话你可不能全信。他是个说谎不带脸红的人。
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Do you have matches?
[你需要帮忙吗？][2007-02-09]
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名词match本意是“火柴”，这里用的就是词的本意。但问这句话的人也可能在询问你是否需要帮助。火柴是很小的一样东西，如果你手负重物，可能连小小的火柴也拿不出来呢。
可以设想一下场景：当你一手拿着一杯酒，两只手都占着，忽然一个人问你“You have matches?”，你就要想一想，人家是真的要抽烟所以向你借火柴，还是只是开玩笑地问你是不是需要帮忙。这是口语中经常听到的一句话，如果别人是想帮忙，你可千万别误以为人家真的是向你要火柴。
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He is wearing two hats.
[他身兼两职。][2007-02-08]
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hat，本意是“帽子”。“他戴了两顶帽子”，类似汉语中“他顶了两个头衔”，异曲同工。
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He turned the table.
[他扭转了局面。][2007-02-07]
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要理解这个句子，关键是理解固定短语turn the tables on somebody的意思。对此，英文的解释是，to suddenly take a position of strength or advantage that was formerly held by someone else，即，对……人反败为胜，转弱为强。在某些场景中，还有“与……互换座次”的意思。
例句：She played badly in the first set, but then she turned the tables on her opponent and won the match
在第一局她打得很糟，但她后来反败为胜并最终赢得了比赛。
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The more wit, the less courage.
[初生牛犊不怕虎。][2007-02-06]
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“the + 比较级”表示“越……就会……”。句子的原意是越有智慧有经验的人，越不会贸然行事，即“智慧越多，勇气越少”。这里的中文翻译实际上表示的是另一半意思：越没有智慧越缺乏经验的人越无所顾忌，敢于做任何事。
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There is a skeleton in the cupboard.
[家丑不外扬。 ][2007-02-05]
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句子的原意是，壁橱中有架骷髅
据说，当年这个习语产生的时候，指的是那些有钱人家谋杀了一个人，把骸骨暗藏在壁橱中，不让外人知道。从此 skeleton in the closet 就成了那家人的秘密。后来这个短语用来指不可或不愿外扬的家丑，简称作family skeleton。现在，这个句子还有个转义：家家有本难念的经。
例如：Many old families have a number of skeletons in their closets which they are loath to discuss.
许多古老的家族中有很多秘密，他们不愿谈及这些话题。
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He is an easy-going person, but goes with the flow.
[他很随和,但是爱随大流。 ][2007-02-04]
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flow的意思是“水流”，go with the flow的意思即是“跟随主流，随从大家的意见”，或者，用个成语来解释，随波逐流。
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He has let good manners go by the board long ago.
[他早就把好举止抛到九霄云外了。][2007-02-03]
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这个习语起源于帆船时代。Board指的是船舷。在狂风暴雨的时候，桅杆突然断了，船长就要作出决策，是立即抢修还是跟着船舷落入海中。前者尚有生存的希望，后者只有船毁人亡了。后来，人们用这一习语表示安排落空，计划失败等意思。
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He jumped down my throat at the mention of his wife.
[一提他妻子他就暴跳如雷。 ][2007-02-02]
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throat的意思是咽喉，jump down one's throat整个词组就有了“突然粗暴地回答、突然打断某人的话，说话带火药味”等意思。
例句：He is a tartar, each time I met him he would jump down my throat.
他是个刺头（他是个难对付的人），我每次遇到他，他都那么火气十足。
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We intend to have a ball at the amusement parkt．
[我们打算到游乐场玩个痛快][2007-02-01]
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have a ball的意思是“寻乐；痛快地玩”。作为名字，ball有“舞会”的意思，这句话中“玩个痛快”就是“舞会”这个意思的引申。
例句：Did you have a ball last weekend? 上周末你参加舞会了么？/上周末你玩得痛快吗？
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Everybody's business is nobody's business.
[众人负责等于无人负责 ][2007-01-31]
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集体行动的逻辑，所有人都负责一个项目，实际上没有人能够承担责任。
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There's no sense flogging a dead horse.
[不要再做无用功了。][2007-01-30]
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flog a dead horse，字面意思是，鞭打死去的马，驱使死马，引申意即为“白费力气，做无用功”。
例句：I've already made up my mind．There's no sense flogging a dead horse.
我已下定决心，不必再白费口舌了。
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This is a fine kettle of fish！
[真糟糕！][2007-01-29]
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a fine kettle of fish是“状况或情况一团糟”的表达方式之一，比“shit”之类要文雅许多。
例句：This is a fine kettle of fish！I forgot to bring my cheque．
真糟糕！我忘了带支票。
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Drinking yoghourt before lunch was all the go.
[午餐前喝酸奶曾经一度流行。][2007-01-28]
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all the go在这里是“流行”的意思。 例句：For a while rock'n'roll was all the go；then it was replaced by R & B． 摇滚乐曾经一度流行，但很快就被蓝调音乐取代。
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He is all at sea as to what to do next．
[他惘然若失，不知下一步该怎么办。][2007-01-27]
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all at sea，原意是“在海上”，引申意为“迷茫，不知所措”。
例句：There's so much materials to be prepared that she's all at sea to fix out.
有太多的材料需要准备，以致她茫然无措，不知如何下手。
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Your question is another cup of tea．
[你的问题完全是另一回事。][2007-01-26]
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another cup of tea，原意是“另一杯茶”，引申为“另一回事”。
例句：Even if you read French easily，you'll find it's another cup of tea to make conversation in French．
即使你觉得阅读法语不难，你也会发现用法语对话完全是另一回事。
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Don't play games with me.
[别跟我捣鬼。][2007-01-25]
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play games，捣鬼。
例句：Don't play games with me，Jane．I'm on to your tricks and manipulations．
简，别跟我捣鬼，我对你的诡计和手段一清二楚。
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She's just letting off steam．
[她只是发泄一下而已。 ][2007-01-24]
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let off steam，字面意思是让蒸汽蒸发，引申为“发泄强烈的感情，发脾气”等。
例句：Don't take what she says too much to heart，she's just letting off steam．
别把她的话往心里去，她只是发泄一下而已。
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He turns a deaf ear to the criticism from media.
[他对媒体的批评充耳不闻][2007-01-23]
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turn a deaf ear to表示对某件事情的发生、对某人说的话置若罔闻，装聋作哑。当告诫听者要认真听讲的时候，最常用的一句应用即是：Don't turn a deaf ear.
从听者的角度讲，听不进别人的话可能有以下的影响因素：偏见(Prejudice)，疏忽(Inattention)，多话(Excessive Talking)，先入之见(Assumption)，选择性聆听(Selective Listening)，缺乏移情(Lack of Empathy)等等。
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Diamond cut diamond.
[针锋相对，棋逢对手，针尖对麦芒 ][2007-01-22]
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钻石是最坚硬的物质，按照字面意思理解，“钻石对钻石”即“硬碰硬”，经常用来形容双方实力相当，互不相让。
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The press give the new film the thumbs down.
[报纸对这部新电影评价很低][2007-01-21]
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观看角斗士在竞技场生死拼杀是古罗马的娱乐项目之一。比武结束后，由观众裁判如何处置被击败的角斗士。如果观众的大拇指向上(thumbs up)就释放失败者；如果观众拇指向下(thumbs down)就处死失败者。如今，人们用thumbs up表示赞成，用thumbs down表示反对。
例句：The government's plan has got the thumbs up from the public.
政府的计划得到了公众的赞许。
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One boy is a boy，two boys half a boy．
[一个和尚挑水喝，两个和尚抬水喝][2007-01-20]
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这是一句典型的中英套译，完整的表达是，One boy is a boy，two boys half a boy, three boys no boy. 即，一个和尚挑水喝，两个和尚抬水喝，三个和尚没水喝。表达的意思是，不能齐心合力，人越多越难以办成。
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Lover's quarrels are soon mended.
[夫妻没有隔夜仇][2007-01-19]
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mend，修补，改善。字面意思是，恋人间的争吵好得快。用一句地道得中文来表达就是，夫妻没有隔夜仇。
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本帖最后由 99love 于 2007-3-25 14:30 编辑 ]
