生活實用俚語

英語的俚語、口語或俗語，多半在非正式場合使用。為了使對方容易了解，最好使用簡短句子和保持俚語原來的句型，不要做太大的變動。下面舉些例句，與讀者共同切磋。

（1）at someone's service：

聽某人吩咐或為某人服務。（to be ready to help or serve someone）

（動詞通常用 verb to be）

例如：

I told my professor I would be at his service.

（我告訴我的教授我會隨時為他效勞。）

In Chinese society, many people feel that children should be at their parent's services.

（在中國社會裡，許多人認為孩子應該為他們的父母效勞。）

Husband and wife are equal ; neither side needs to be at the other's service.

（夫妻是平等的；誰也不必為對方效勞。）

註：at someone's disposal由於過分「謙虛」，所以很少人使用。

（2）to blow one's mind：

使某人感到十分驚訝或震驚（to be totally sur-prised or shocked）

（動詞時態：blow, blew, blown）

例如：

Your lack of concern on this issue blew my mind.

（你對這件事漠不關心，令我驚訝。）

His new book on the best selling list may blow your mind.

（他的新書列入暢銷排行榜也許使你吃驚。）

That John divorced his wife of 40 years really has blown my mind.

（John 與攜手40年的老伴離婚，使我大惑不解。）

That Dr. A will leave here for Africa as a volun-teer/physician blew his girlfriend's mind.

（A 醫師到非洲當義工，令他的女友震驚。）

（句首用 that，是引用子句為主詞）

（3）at the bottom of the lad-der（或 heap）：

指一個單位里最低層或最資淺的人員（the low-est position or most junior job in an organization）

（ladder 本是梯子；heap指一堆；在這裡都指進階的 step ）

例如：

Right after graduating from college, Mr. B has to be-gin at the bottom of the ladder.

（B 先生剛從大學畢業，必須由最基層的工作開始。）

Having been in this company for twenty years, Mr. Wang complains he is still at the bottom of the heap.

（王先生埋怨，他在公司服務了20年，仍然是最低層人員。）

這與 low man on the tolem pole 意義相似。

Don't get depressed even though you are the low man on the tolem pole.

（即使你在最低的職位，也不必感到沮喪。）

（tolem pole 本指土人在支杆上刻著標誌或象徵物，也就是等級制）

註：反義句「at the top of the ladder」反而不常用。

（4）to beat the drum for：

意思是竭力鼓吹，或為某人某事宣揚（to praise or to publicize someone or something）

例如：

Many Chinese like to beat the drum for their chil-dren's academic achievements.

（許多華人喜歡到處宣揚兒女的學業成就。）

I don't beat the drum for anything ; I would rather keep a low profile.

（我不做任何宣揚；我寧可保持低姿態。）

Mr. Chen has been beating the drum for a stronger military force.

（陳先生一直主張強大的軍事力量。）

To beat the drum all the time for one's success seems childish.

（常常宣傳個人的成就，似乎很幼稚。）

（5）be the skin of one's teeth：

意思是剛好或勉強（very narrowly or just barely）

例如：

Mr. A avoided the car accident by the skin of his teeth.

（A 先生勉強地逃過了車禍。）

By the skin of her teeth Mrs. Wang has passed the final exam.

（王太太期末考試勉強及格。）

What might have happened if you did not escape by the skin of your teeth?

（假如你沒有及時逃開，也許會發生什麼呢？）

（6）as clear as a bell：

意思是：非常清楚，像鐘聲那麼清晰，也就是容易了解。

（easy to understand）

例如：

My teacher explained the methods as clear as a bell.

（我老師解釋的方法，非常清楚。）

This tool manual is as clear as a bell.

（這份工具手冊十分清楚，容易了解。）

Any article should be well written so that it is as clear as a bell to its readers.

（任何文章應該寫得讓讀者容易明白。）

但是 as clear as mud 則是相反的意義，也就是不清楚，令人莫名其妙。（difficult to understand or very unclear）

例如：

Your report was badly written, it was as clear as mud.

（你的報告寫得很糟，簡直看不懂。）

By trying to use big words, he made his article as clear as mud.

（他使用難字，導致文章很難了解。）

（7）dead on one's feet：

非常疲倦；累死了。（very tired = dead tired）

例如：

I am dead on my feet.

（我累死了。）

＝I am very tired.

After three hours of walking , my wife was dead on her feet.

（走了三小時的路，太座累壞了。）

Having worked at restaurants for over 13 hours a day, many workers feel dead on their feet.

（每天在餐館工作13小時以上，許多工人都累壞了。）

（8）to do one's homework：

為某事預先做必要的準備（prepare in advance for something）

例如：

In order to answer questions from the attendees, the chairperson has to do his homework.

（為了回答與會者的問題，主席要預先做些準備工作。）

It is always a good idea to do some homework before you give a speech.

（在演講前，最好要預先準備。）

Prior to an interview, you better do your homework about the organization to which you are applying.

（在面試前，你最好對你所申請機關預先有所了解。）

但也指真正的學生家庭作業，這要看上下文的意義而定。

Some students dislike to do a lot of homework after school.

（有些學生放學后，不愛做許多的家庭作業。）

（9）to do one's part：

盡自己的一份力量；盡自己的本分。（try to make some individual contribution）

例如：

Since your children are doing well and are law-abiding, you have done your part as parents.

（你的兒女一切都很不錯，也很奉公守法，你已盡到做父母的本分。）

Every citizen should do his/her part for the country.

（每一位公民對國家應該盡自己的一份力量。）

If everyone does his / her part well for our society, we will not have many difficulties.

（假如每個人都能為我們的社會盡到自己的本分，那麼我們就不會有那麼多的困難。）

（10）to beat the bushes for：

是指到處尋覓某人或某事（looking everywhere for someone or something）

（這是出自從前獵人在樹叢里（bushes）打鳥，把歉銑隼矗

例如：

Mr. A has been beating the bushes for a new house in this area.

（A先生在這裡到處找新房子。）

No one knows Mr. B's where abouts ; we need to beat the bushes for him.

（沒有人知道 B 先生的下落；我們必須到處尋找。）

Having been unemployed for several months, John is beating the bushes for a job.

（John 失業幾個月後，正四處找工作。）

至於 to beat around the bush 是指拐彎抹角，不直截了當地說。（這也是出自從前獵人在樹叢中把獵物打出來）

例如：

John, you better stop beating around the bush; just get to the point.

（John，不要拐彎抹角，把重點說出來就行了。）

（bush 只用單數）

（11）to blow one's top（或stack）：

意思是發脾氣，變得激動不能控制（to get mad ; to lose one's control）

例如：

Mr. A will blow his top if you bother him again.

（假如你再去打擾 A 先生，他就會大發雷霆。）

Since Mrs. Lin is an easygoing person, she seldom blows her top.

（林太太是位隨和的人；她很少發脾氣。）

The company president blew his stack over the premature plan leak.

（公司董事長為計畫過早被泄漏而發怒。）

（12）at close quarters：

這是指窄小而擁擠的空間（in a small and crowdedspace）

quarters 本指軍隊里的宿舍（lodgings），十分擁擠，沒有什麼移動的空間。

例如：

In a big city even at close quarters , the rent is high.

（在大城市，即使小房間房租也很貴。）

This apartment put six people at close quarters.

（這公寓住六個人很擠。）

With China's large population and limited open space, many people have to live at close quarters.

（中國人口多，空地少，許多人必須住在很小的空間。）

（13）down to the ground：

意思是徹底地，完全地（completely or thoroughly）

例如：

The repair man examined my T.V. down to the ground.

（修理工人將電視檢查得十分徹底。）

The editor has to edit any article down to the ground before its publication.

（在出刊前編者對每篇文章都會認真的審核。）

The police investigated the murder scene down to the ground.

（警察對兇殺現場做完整的調查。）

（14）to drop a bombshell：

bombshell本是炸彈。這裡是指引起轟動的宣布或出人意料的事。（to make a surprise announcement）

例如：

Mr. Wang dropped a bombshell when he told us that he would go back to China for good.

（王先生告訴我們要長期回中國，出人意料。）

A 92-year-old friend has dropped a bombshell that he will marry a 29-year-old woman.

（92歲的朋友要娶29歲的姑娘，是轟動一時的消息。）

It will really drop a bombshell if Taiwan announces its re-unification with China.

（假如台灣宣布與中國大陸統一，將是引起大轟動的消息。）

（15）down to the wire：

是指最後一刻；直到最後或最終。（to the very end or to the last minute）

這本是出自horse race。這裡的wire 是指賽馬或賽跑的終點線（finish line）

例如：

Don't rush me ; I am almost down to the wire.

（別趕我； 我快要做完了。）

This project will go down to the wire.

（這個計畫將到最後的階段。）

By April 15, most Americans will be down to the wire in filing their income tax forms.

（4月15日前，大多數美國人最後一刻都要寄出繳稅單。）

The most controversial issue in the Taiwan election right down to the wire remains re-unification or independence.

（台灣選舉，最引爭議性的，直到最後還是統獨問題。）

（16）to eat one's hat：

是指某事不是真的，或將來不會發生。（to be certain something is not true or something will not happen）

（多半跟 if 的附屬子句）

例如：

If she will marry Mr. Chen, I will eat my hat.

（我不相信她會嫁給陳先生。）

（=I don't believe she will marry Mr. Chen）

Mr. A will eat his hat if this happens.

（A先生不認為這會發生。）

（=Mr. A does not think this will happen.）

We shall be eating our hats should Mr. Bush order troop withdrawals from Iraq.

（我們不認為布希先生會從伊拉克撤軍。）

（should Mr. Bush order troop withdrawals.....= if Mr.Bush orders troop withdrawals.....）

（17）to fall （flat）on one's

face：

意思是犯錯或失敗。（to make a mistake or to fail）（動詞時態：fall, fell, fallen）

例如：

The current market analysts seemed to have fallen on their faces.

（目前市場的分析家似乎犯了大錯。）

Many people believe that Mr.Bush fell(flat) on his face by invading Iraq.

（許多人認為布希先生進攻伊拉克是絕對的錯誤。）

（flat 常被省去）

If Taiwan's leader stubbornly continues to pursue independence, he may fall on his face.

（假如台灣領導人堅持繼續追求獨立，那就犯了大錯。）

（18）to fight fire with fire：

是指以火攻火，以牙還牙，用同樣的方式對付打擊。（use the same method to fight back against attack）

例如：

Many Chinese politicians have been fighting fire with fire in their political conflicts.

（許多中國政客，因政治對立而以火攻火，以牙還牙。）

Fighting fire with fire without reconciliation and healing will never solve the problem.

（以火攻火，不能和解和癒合，絕難解決問題。）

Some people are so belligerent that to fight fire with fire seems the only way to deal with their enemies.

（一些好戰者認為以火攻火是對付敵人的唯一方法。）

(19)to go into a huddle：

是指為了某事，一群人聚在一起舉行秘密的會議。(try to get together privately in order to talk over something)

huddle是雜亂一群人的意思。這句話是出自足球隊，球員在比賽前舉行的指示聽取會，決定比賽的對策。

例如：

The committee members went into a huddle with the chairperson.

(委員會成員與主席私下碰頭開會。)

Do we have to go into a huddle in this problem？

(我們需要在這問題上秘密商量嗎?)

Having gone into a huddle several times, they finally made a decision.

(經過幾次的私下商量，他們最後做出決定。)

(20) to go into a tailspin：

意思是驚慌或失控。( to be panic or to lose control)

( tailspin本指飛機的尾旋，如果往下打轉，不易控制，就有墜毀的事故 )

例如：

Much to my surprise, Mr. B did not go into a tailspin when he failed the bar exam.

( B先生律師考試失敗並不難過失控，令我驚訝。)

After a hot argument with his wife, Mr. Chang went into a tailspin.

( 張先生與妻子激烈爭吵后失去理智。)

The project went into a tailspin and we did not meet our deadline.

( 計畫的進展很糟，我們不能照最後期限完成。)

Everything seemed to have gone into a terrible tail-spin for Mr. Chen.

( 對陳先生來說，一切事情似乎變得很糟。)

(21) to give someone the slip：

意思是設法避開某人。( try to avoid or escape someone )

( slip 本是失足或滑倒的意思 )

例如：

Mr. C was lucky to give the police the slip when he was speeding.

( C先生超速時，僥倖地逃過警察。)

His ex-wife was trying to give him the slip at the party.

( 在宴會時，他的前妻設法避開他。)

In my opinion she had no reason to have given Mr. Wang the slip.

( 依我看法，她沒有理由甩掉王先生。)

(22) from rags to riches：

就是由貧窮到富有。( from poverty to wealth )

( rag 本是破布，這裡指赤貧 )

例如：

After many years' efforts, Mr. A has gone from rags to riches.

( A先生經過多年的努力，由赤貧到巨富。)

By means of corruption, some Chinese officials jumped from rags to riches.

( 一些中國官員藉著官場的舞弊，從貧窮變富有。)

Suddenly changing from rags to riches may make the IRS suspicious. (as to where the money comes from).

( 瞬間暴發致富，可能使稅務局懷疑錢從那裡來。)

(23) to fight tooth and nail：

意思是竭盡全力。( fight very hard by all one's re-source )

例如：

Many people fight tooth and nail for money and fame.

( 許多人為名利而竭盡全力。)

Most Chinese parents will fight tooth and nail in or-der for their children to get a Ph. D

( 中國父母多半拚著老命要他們的兒女取得博士學位。)

Mr. Lee has been fighting tooth and nail for a pro-motion over the past years, but all in vain.

( 李先生多年來拚命爭取升級，但徒然無功。)

( but 的後面省去 "it is" 或 "it has been" )

(24) to go through the motions：

意思是做事馬馬虎虎，敷衍塞責，裝裝樣子。

( to do something carelessly or just pretend to do some-thing ) ( 常前後跟 just )

例如：

John did not do well at school because he just went through the motions.

( John 在校功課不好因為他只是馬馬虎虎，敷衍了事。)

He never feels remorseful for his wrongdoings ; he just goes through the motions for the jury.

( 他幹了壞事沒有悔過，只是對陪審團裝裝樣子而已。)

To earn Asian peoples' understanding, Japan should not just go through the motions about its World War Ⅱ crimes.

( 為了取得亞洲人的諒解，日本不該對二次世界大戰的罪行敷衍塞責，擺擺姿態。)

(25) to grease someone's palm：

就是向某人行賄或買通某人。( to bribe someone for a favor)

例如：

It is an unlawful act to grease an official's palm for your promotion.

( 為了你的升級向官員行賄，是違法的。)

Some people try to grease their supervisors' palms to get pay raises.

( 一些人為了加薪去向上司行賄買通。)

To stop greasing officials' palms becomes rather dif-ficult in Chinese society.

( 在中國社會裡，杜絕對官員行賄頗為困難。)

Do you think not to grease anyone's palm should be a part of law?

( 你認為不向任何人行賄買通，應該是法律的一部分嗎？)

（全文完）