| 美国人平时所用的许多短语，看似普通，但有的会有特別意义，究竟是俚语、口语或俗语，没有绝对的定义。其实名称不重要，最重要的是懂得意义和用法，不是吗？ |
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| 1. to have(many) irons in the fire: to have a lot of activities going on at the same time（同时有许多事，想马上全部做完，但又不知从何开始，似乎忙得不可开交) |
| Don't bother him because he has many irons in the fire. (別打扰他，他事情太多，忙得很！) |
| Some people even like to have many irons in the fire. (有些人喜欢有很多事忙忙碌碌。) |
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2. to talk over (one's) head(s): to use large or big words so that audience will not understand exact meaning
（指所谈论的内容过于专业或高深，非一般人可以理解；也指有人为了表現自己才学非凡，故意谈些高深理论或用些难字，吓唬別人） |
| Dr. Lee's lecture was so specialized that he almost talked over our heads. (李博士的演讲太专业了，几乎使我们无法理解。) |
| In order to show his profound knowledge he talks over my head. (为了表現他的学问高深，他故弄玄虚。) |
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| 3. to put (something) back into (in) its cage: to put something under control (可以控制某件事情,多半指政治,健康等) |
| We are trying to put inflation back into its cage and our economy is on the mend.(我们正在设法控制通货膨胀,同时改善我们得经济.) |
| Diplomats and politicians need to put aggression and hostility back into its cage. (外交官和政客应该收敛攻击和敌对的行为。) |
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| 4. to keep (one's) fingers crossed: to hope something good will happen (祝福某人好运或一切顺利。把食指与中指交叉，祈求好运，是老外的迷信，但在写信或正式场合，多半是用 "I wish you best (good) luck!"或 "Good (best) luck to you!") |
| He keeps his fingers crossed hoping his father will send him more money. (他盼望有好运，老爸能多寄点钱给他。) |
| Many people have been keeping their fingers crossed that we can live in a peaceful world.(许多人都在祈求好运,盼能在和平的世界里生活.) |
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| 5. to stretch (one's) legs: to relax or to take a short break (久坐后，把腿舒展一下，或稍微休息一下) |
| Let's take ten minutes to stretch our legs. （让我们先休息十分钟。） |
| May I take a break so that I can stretch my legs？ (我可以休息一会儿伸伸腿吗？) |
During the a long flight from the US to Taiwan, I normally stretch my legs every two hours.
(在从美国到台湾的长途飞行中，我通常每两个小时起身走走。) |
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6. to read between the lines：to interpret the hidden meaning or a hidden message; to discern the true fact
(从字里行间体会隐含的意义；领会言外之意或能了解其中的真正意义) |
| As you look at this poem, be sure to read between the lines. (读这首诗的时候，要从字里行间去体会它的含义。) |
After he re-read the love letter between the lines, he realized that he was dumped by his sweetheart.
(重读情书之后，他终于明白他已经被情人抛弃了。) |
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| 7. to let off steam：to give vent to one's anger （发泄、出气，像放掉蒸汽以减少压力似的。这与"to fly off the handle"意思相近，但比"to lose temper"委婉客气些 ） |
What will you do if your wife lets off steam?（假如你太太大发脾气的话，你该怎么办呢？)
(因为谈论的对象使对方的太太，所以语气要委婉客气些)。 |
| 但是谈到第三者，就可不必太委婉，可用 lose temper: |
| What will you do if one of your staff lose temper? （如果你的同事冲你发脾气你该怎么办呢？） |
| Occasionally we should be given a chance to let off steam.（我们应该不时的发泄一下情绪。） |
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| 8. to pay through the nose: to pay too much for something or excessively expensive （花费太多，代价过高，与" to cost an arm and a leg" 意义相近） |
| Don't pay through the nose when you buy the furniture. (不要花太多的钱买家具。) |
| Some women paid through the noses for their jewelry. (有些女人花大把的钱购买珠宝首饰。) |
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| 9. to take center stage：to be in the spotlight (引人注目的中心人物；以某人为公众瞩目的对象) |
| Mrs. Lin always takes center stage at a party. (林太太总能成为宴会上的焦点。) |
| President Bush takes center stage wherever he goes. (布什总统不论走到哪里，都是公众瞩目的焦点。) |
| His constant taking center stage could deprive him of his privacy. (他好出风头的毛病让他毫无隐私可言。) |
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| 10. to drag（one's）feet：to procrastinate or postpone（慢慢的拖延，行动迟缓，拖拖拉拉） |
| It is not a good idea to drag your feet when the work needs to be done. (拖延工作是不好的。) |
| No employers like for their employees to drag their feet on any project. (工作拖拖拉拉的员工总是不受欢迎的。) |
发表于 2008-2-22 14:52:55
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