现代英语口语表示法500例

hung

1——60
· One’s brain child某人的主意，某人想出来的
等同于one’s original idea
one’ brain children（复数）
The new ways of teaching which have been proved very effective are brain children of all teaching staff of our department.
· Have a chip on one’s shoulder叫阵，叫板
He is not popular among his peers. He always seems to have a chip on his shoulder.
此外该语还有“不满”，“对抗”的意思
Mary has got a chip on her shoulder about not having obtained the scholarship.
· Clam up守口如瓶，拒不开口，沉默不语
I don’t understand why my students are quite talkative during the break but all clam up in class.
· Take someone to the cleaners使人囊中如洗，一贫如洗
Don’t ask me to play in a crap game. I don’t want to be the cleaners.
· A cliff-hanger扣人心玄的事情
Peter was nearly involved in a car accident. He called it a narrow escape. But it was really a cliff-hanger.
· Fight the clock争分夺秒，与时间赛跑
等同于work against the clock
If you don’t fight the clock to enrich yourself, you will surely be lagged behind soon.
· A clotheshorse讲究穿戴的人
Princess Diana was a real clotheshorse. It’s hard to imagine how much she had spent on clothes.
· Get hot under the collar发怒，怒气冲天
Make someone hot under the collar
He got hot under the collar when he found his bicycle was missing.
· Come through with flying colors干得出色，大获成功
In the 13th Asian Games, Chinese athletic team came through with flying colors
· Show (reveal) one’s true colors原形毕露
He always appears polite and gentle. But his quarrelling with others in dirty words show his true colors.
· Come up with找出，想出，弄出，提出
等同于to produce, to find out, to think out
After three days’of deep thinking, the manager came up with an idea of promoting the products.
· Jump to conclusions仓促的下结论
Being a teacher, he shouldn’t jump to conclusions that a student is not worth teaching simply because he fails one exam.
· To one’s heart’s content心满意足
Today is weekend. The lights won’t go off after 11 o’clock. We can chat to our heart’s content.
此外该语还有“随心所欲”的意思
Mary loves keeping diary. She can express her emotion to her heart’s content.
· Lose one’s cool沉不住气
反义词keep one’s cool
In the boxing match. Tyson lost his cool and bit Hollyfield’s ear.
· Play it cool不露声色，沉着冷静
Sampras, the No. 1 tennis player in the world, always plays it cool when he wins in the match.
· e rotten to the core坏透了、烂透了
Keep away from that boy. He is rotten to the core.
· cut corners偷工减料、走捷径、图省事、节约
Student is a serious thing. You can't expect to cut corners.
cut corners并不是都是贬义的，还表示节约，节省
With only $100 left, he had to cut corners to make his journey back home.
· have a crush on someone迷恋某人
Some teenager girls got a crush on the film star
· be a far cry from...与……相差甚远（一般用来表示水平或程度等的差距）
Though Dick has tried hard, it is still a far cry from what his father expects of him.
· chew the cud好好琢磨琢磨
I don't want to jump to conclusions, I have to chew the cud on it for a few days.
· be cut out for...天生适合于……（用于否定句中）

king_lam

thank you for sharing.

shimmy

THANKS FOR SHARING!

hung

You are always too quick on the trigger. You jump into his throat before he can explain.
· Ask for trouble自找麻烦
Are you asking for trouble by challenging the emphasis on qualities education. You are asking for trouble if you cheat in the exam.
316——330
· blow one’s own trumpet自吹自擂
If you want to sell more, you should learn to blow your own trumpet.
· Not give someone a tumble不理睬某人
Though Jackson has asked May to marry him for many times, she just won’t give him a tumble.
· Talk turkey打开天窗说亮话
Let’s talk turkey, see if you agree. I’ll get 55%of the share, and you’ll get the rest.
· Not say uncle拒不认错，不服输
I don’t know when he has ever said uncle to anyone.
· Take a dim view of…对……抱悲观态度；不赞同
Teachers in middle schools usually take a dim view of students’ talking up too many after-class activities.
· Walk all over someone任意欺负某人
My neighbor walked all over me. He left rubbish in my door, stamped on my grass and wax my windows. I decided to fight back.
· Drive someone to the wall把某人逼得走投无路
He hates learning foreign languages. But the challenging situation drives him to the wall. He decides to go to an evening class.
· Drive someone up the wall把某人搞得心烦意乱
Would you please turn down that Rap music? It has driven me up the wall.
· Be in hot water陷入困境
I’m sorry I can’t lend you money. I myself am in hot water.
· Like water off a duck’s back满不在乎，不起作用
I can do nothing about him. Criticism rolls off like water off a duck’s back. It goes into his one ear and comes out of the other.
· Meet one’s Waterloo惨败
The famous lawyer met his Waterloo at the hands of a fledgling lawyer.
· Fish in troubled waters浑水摸鱼
Don’t tell him that we need that material badly, He is good at fishing in troubled waters and will take advantage of it.
· Make waves兴风作浪
Everything went smoothly in her wedding ceremony, when her formal boyfriend came to make waves by drinking the bridegroom under the table.
· Have a way with something/someone有应付……的办法
She will make a good teacher. She seems to have a way with even the most disobedient boy.
· Pave the way for…为……铺平道路
Donation from every walks of life has paved the way for the Hope Project to proceed.

hung

Once I went to a famous university. But the untidy campus left a bad taste in my mouth.
· Crocodile tears假惺惺的眼泪
Some of my business partners came to comfort me when I lost almost everything in one bad deal.
· Lose one’s temper发脾气
You don’t have to lose your temper about trifle things.
· Through thick and thin有甘也有苦
The couple have gone through thick and thin for many years.
· Have another think coming大错特错
If you think I’m easily taken in, you are having another think coming.
· Thin-skinned神经过敏
She is so thin-skinned that, whenever we talk about something in a low voice, she will think we are referring to her.
· Jump down someone’s throat严厉训斥某人
The boy saved a girl from the river and went back home. Seeing him all through, his mother jumped down his throat.
· Stick out like a sore thumb特别扎眼
I hate my big nose. It sticks out like a sore thumb.
· Be all thumbs笨手笨脚
I just learned to type. I was all thumbs.
· Turn thumbs down on…不赞成……，反对……
The boss turned thumbs down on the new on promotion scheme.
· Twiddle one’s thumbs无所事事
Why do we have to work overtime while people in PR department are twiddling their thumbs?
· Beat someone’s time with someone勾引别人的女朋友
He is strange. He doesn't go steady with any girl, but enjoys beating others’ time with their girlfriend.
301——315
· On the tip of someone’s tongue就早嘴边上
A man in black came to ask about my son’s whereabouts. My words were on the tip of someone’s tongue when I found the man had a gun inside his pocket.
· Hold one’s tongue保持沉默
I can no longer hold my tongue when I see so many wild animals have become extinct.
· Keep a civil tongue in one’s head说话有礼貌
A child is taught to keep a civil tongue in his head when he is small.
· Blow one’s top勃然大怒
My neighbor blew his top when he saw his hedges were cut by someone.
· Carry a torch for someone单方想念某人
Though Jane has been engaged with Mr. Hall, Jimmy still carries a torch for her.
· Have the Midas touch有生财的运气，手气好
You’d better find Rogers as you stock broker. He has the Midas touch.
· Be touch and go万分危险
The patient is out of danger now, but it was touch and go for a while.
· Throw in the towel认输
She tried to save their marriage by talking her husband out of taking drugs. But she finally threw in the towel.
· Have the inside track for something处于有利的地位
I’m an Art student. I don’t have the inside track for applying for that job.
· Keep track of someone/something掌握……的情况
He is keeping track of all my old friends.
· Be on a gravy train走运，有赚钱的机会
You will be on a gravy train if you can get that antique. It is worth more money than it is offered.
· Have a mind like a steel trap头脑特别快
He has a mind like a steel trap. He can remember a new word even if he meets it once.
· Bark up the wrong tree弄错目标
The detective has been following the man for a week. But it turns out that he has barked up the wrong tree.
· Be too quick on the trigger操之过急，行动过于仓促

hung

She won her spurs as a popular writer immediately after her first book became a best-seller.
· put the squeeze on someone对某人施加压力
The new situation is putting the squeeze on all companies engaged in this business.
· stand up to someone与某人大胆对抗
The soldier stood up to the officer and was place in confinement.
· thank one's lucky stars感到万幸
I should thank your lucky stars that you missed the plane which crashed into the sea.
· get off to a flying start来了开门红
Our kindergarten got off to a flying start by having 100 children to sign up in the first month.
· go steady with someone 与异性稳步发展关系
Mary and Tim got married after going steady with each other for two years.
· watch one's step当心
You're better watch your step when you go out with John. He is a trouble-maker.
· a stick-in the-mud老古董
He is a stick=in-the-mud and will never invest his money in stock.
· be a stickler吹毛皮的人
I don't like to go to her home. She is a stickler for neatness.
· turn someone's stomach令人作呕
Her sweet voice turned my stomach.
· fall between two stools鸡飞蛋打
Tying to straddle two boats, he took up two jobs with two salaries. At last, unable to do either well.
· weather the storm度过难关
The wooden house weathered the storm.
· harp on the same old string老调重弹
He really gets on my nerves. He always harps on the same old string by promising us a paid holiday., but he never keeps it.
· have someone dancing on a string任意摆布某人
Betty is a housewife and no income. Her husband has her dancing on a string.
· pull strings for someone为某人走后门，幕后操作
In the material world, money pulls the strings.
· be stuck on someone迷恋上某人
Tom was stuck on the girl at the first meeting although it was a blind date.
· to sweet-talk someone into (out of ) doing...甜言蜜语地让某人做（不做）……
The accountant sweet-talked the boss out of checking her account.
· be in full swing达到高潮，全面展开
China has opened its door to the outside world for twenty years. Reforms in every walks of life are in full swing.
· be asleep at the switch玩忽职守
The goal-keeper was asleep at the switch and let the rival team goal at the last minute.
· suit...to a T对……再适合不过了
This new job suits me to a T.
· turn the tables扭转局势
Don't worry, your husband knows how to turn the tables and crack down on those guys.
· drink someone under the table把某人灌醉
He has a hollow leg. He can drink all of us here under the table.
· keep tabs on something/someone掌握情况,密切关注
He has subscribed ten newspapers in order to keep tabs on the new developments in market management.
· keep someone down a notch挫某人的傲气
The monitor likes to order us around. He needs to be kept down a notch.
286——300
· Take it out on someone拿别人出气
The boy was reprimanded by his father. He took it out on his ball.
· An old wives’ tale无稽之谈
Do you think the existence of life on Mars is an old wives’tale?
· Be the talk of the town满城风雨
The death of the Princess Diana has been the talk of the town.
· Leave a bad taste in someone’s mouth给人留下坏印象

hung

In the boxing ring, the two sides were evenly matched. But the short break seemed to tip the scales in favor of the boxer in red.
· throw someone off the scent转移某人的视线
The murder wrote a last letter for the victim and left it in the site, hoping to throw the police off the scent.
· start from scratch从零开始，白手起家
There are so many spelling mistakes. I have to write it again from scratch.
· talk sense into someone开导某人
I've tired to talk sense into him, but he still chose to work in the countryside.
· an open sesame法宝，秘诀，关键
Having connections with VIPs is not an open sesame to success.
· the lion's share最大的一份，绝大多数
He designed the most important part of the machine. So he deserves the lion's share of the award.
242——285

· the black sheep of the family有辱门楣的人
He lost everything in gabling and was called the black sheep of the family by this relatives.
· take a shine to someone一见就中意
She is an animal-lover. She takes a shine to whatever animal she meets.
· give someone the shirt off one's back为某人慷慨解囊，毫不吝啬的接济某人
He works in the charity organization and strongly believes that he who gives others the shirt off his back will be blessed by the God.
· lose one's shirt输得精光
The man didn't leave Las Vegas until he lost his shirt.
· know where the shoe pinches知道问题所在
A wise leader should be one who knows where the shoe pinches and knows what to do with it.
· a shot in the dark瞎猜
I didn't know which button was for TV. I pushed one, and TV was turned on. It was mere a shot in the dark.
· give someone the cold shoulder冷待某人
I hate going to expensive hotels. The receptionist always gives me the cold shoulder when she sees my plain clothes.
· steal the show喧宾夺主
Cinderalla stole the show in the Prince's party.
· side with someone与某人站在一起，支持某人
I'm your friend, but I'm afraid I won't side with you on that issue.
· have a memory like a sieve记性太差
I think a computer notebook will be of great help for me, since I've got a memory like a sieve.
· out of clear blue sky意料不到
Yesterday, out of a clear blue sky, My landlady gave me a one-day notice, asking me to move out.
· .make a slip of the tongue说走嘴
The class burst into laughter when the teacher made a slip of the tongue. He meant to say "Good morning" to students, but he said "Good afternoon".
· be on the sly办事狡猾
The boy was smoking in the corner when his father caught him on the sly.
· for a song以级低的价钱，廉价地
I got the rare edition of the book for a song in the flea market.
· sound someone out试探某人的意见
Have you sounded the principal out on postponing the final examination?
· call a spade a spade有什么就说什么
We are good friends. Call a spade a spade. Don't tell me in a round-about way.
· spick and span干干净净
The housewife always keeps her kitchen spick and span.
· go for a spin出去兜风
The city dwellers like going for a spin to the country on weekends.
· spine-chilling令人毛骨悚然
He likes horrible films. Those spine-chilling pictures to us are pleasant to his eyes.
· The spirit is willing; but the flesh is weak.心有余而力不足
A: How many times have you tried quitting smoking? B: It's not that the spirit is not willing, but that the flesh is weak.
· win one's spurs受到奖赏

hung

The high official kept mum about his scandal.
· face the music承担责任，甘受责备
You are caught stealing. You have to face the music.
· hit the nail on the head说到点子上
I like to discuss with Helen. She always hits the nail on the head.
· call someone names辱骂某人
The neighbors keep dropping litter in front of her door. She couldn't bear it any more and call them names.
· be neck and neck不分上下
The two workshops are neck and neck in monthly output.
· get up the nerve to...鼓起勇气去……
The patient got up the nerve to ask the doctor how long he could live in the world.
· get on someone's nerves使某人心烦
There is an airport in the vicinity. The noise gets on my nerves.
· a nobody无名小辈
He is somebody in the small town, but he is a nobody in the capital city.
· lead someone around by the nose牵着别人的鼻子走
All nations should exercise their own judgment. They shouldn't be led around by some big countries.
· poke one's nose into something乱打听别人的私事
I hate those journalists who poke their nose into people's private life.
· be a notch above someone略胜一筹
In study, we are neck and neck; but in sports, he is a notch above me.
· sit up and take notice of something/someone对……刮目相看
He used to know nothing about chemistry. Now he talks like a chemist, I have to sit up and take notice of him...
· have someone's number知道某人的底细
Don't waste your tongues with him. I've got his number. What he is trying to do now is to set a trap and let us jump into it.
· be quick to take offense特别爱生气
I don't think he is a quality leader. He is too quick to take offense.
· have one too many喝多了
The bridegroom had one too many at the wedding ceremony and was shooting cats.
· be on the outs with someone与……失和
For some reason, the two countries have been on outs for a long time.
· a pain in the neck使人讨厌的事
Working for VIPs was an honor for me, but now it has become a pain in the neck. I don't know how to balance the relationships.
· grease someone's palm贿赂，给某人好处
It is reported that Sydney has greased the palms of someone members of IOC for the right to hold 2000 Olympic Games.
· get peanuts微不足道的钱
He gets paid peanuts although he often works extra hours.
· cast pearls before swine对牛弹琴，明珠暗投
My boss is an idiot. Working for him is just like casting pearls before swine.
· feel like a square peg in a round hole感到格格不入，不适合
After graduation, I remained as a teacher in college. Whenever our former classmates have a get-together, I always feel like a square peg in a round hole. All they talk about are ways to make money, expensive hotels, luxurious entertainment, things I have no experiences to share with them.
· pinch pennies节俭
Though he is a tycoon, he pinches pennies in daily life.
· rob Peter to pay Paul拆东墙，补西墙
You borrow money from me to pay the bank loan. It is like robbing Peter to pay Paul.
· be no picnic不是件轻松的事
To learn one foreign language is possible. But to be a bilingual is no picnic.
· sugar the pill给人一点甜头安慰一下
Sonia didn't want to work extra hours quite often, but the manager sugared the pill by promising her a trip abroad at the end of the year.
· be on pins and needles坐立不安
He is a very modest man. When others praise him, he feel on pins and needles.
· put that in your pipe and smoke it你好好考虑考虑吧
此句常用于祈使句

hung

You are sure to be lagged behind if you rest on your laurels.
· turn over a new leaf洗心革面
The juvenile delinquent promised that he would turn over a new leaf if he could be given lenient punishment.
· have a hollow leg（喝酒）海量
The best man has a hollow leg. He drinks a lot instead of the bridegroom.
· pull someone's leg开某人的玩笑
Never ever pull his leg. He is a man without a sense of humor. He takes everything seriously.
· keep someone at arm's length与某人保持距离
My boss is my uncle. In order to avoid unnecessary misunderstanding, I'd better keep him at arm's length in company.
· let someone down使某人失望
Joe really let me down by having broken his promises for several times.
· can't for the life of one怎么……也不行
I thought I could recite my speech backwards, but when I stood in front of the audience, I couldn't for the life of me remember what to say.
· air one's linen in public家丑外扬
The wife was often beaten by her husband, but she never told others. She didn't want to air her linen in public.
· keep a stiff upper lip意志坚定，坚强不屈
One failure means nothing. You've got to keep a stiff upper lip.
· be at loggerheads with...互不相让
The two parties were at loggerheads with each other over the new tax policy.
· a born loser一事无成者
Nobody is a born loser. All you need is perseverance.
· louse up something把某事搞得一团糟
He let the cat out of the bag, which loused up the whole deal.
· not do...for love or money死也不会……
Stop trying. I won't betray my friend for love or money.
· feel a lump in one's throat心里感到很难受
I felt a lump in my throat on hearing her story of fighting with the deadly disease.
· make do with...用……凑合
We are too tired to cook. We can make do with two bags of instant noodles.
· the man in the street普通的人，老百姓
The interview with the man in the street shows that 90% of them are satisfied with the TV fro grams.
· be one's own man不受他人支配，自己管自己
Our monitor is not easy to cope with. He is much his own man.
· steal a march on someone抢在他人前面，暗渡陈仓
We stole a march on our rivals by reducing 5% of our price and got back our market.
meat and drink精神寄托
To some old people, raising pets is their meat and drink.
· be at the mercy of受……支配
When you get this kind of disease, your life is at the mercy of God.
· blow someone's mind把某人搞得晕晕乎乎
Readers had rather high opinion of his new book, which blew his mind.
· have a good mind to do something很想去干某事
When I see young and robust men elbow their way onto the bus, I have a good mind to smack them.
· have a one-track mind死脑筋，一根筋
Mark has a one-track mind. All he cares is earning money.
· mind one's own affairs少管闲事
You are nothing but an old gossip! Can't you only mind your own affair?
· weigh on someone's mind心事重重
The failure of signing the contract has been weighing on his mind. He couldn't sleep at night.
· be of two minds拿不定主意
Jill was of two minds as whether to spend the money on books or on clothes.
· have money to burn有花不完的钱
The new rich has money to burn.
· once in a blue moon千载难逢
Our boss is a miser. He gives us a treat only once in a blue moon.
182——241
· be down in the mouth垂头丧气
Sandra was down in the mouth because she didn't make the appointment.
· keep mum about something对某事保持沉默

hung

Every day, salesmen come to my door. I can't concentrate on studied. They do get in my hair.
· let one's hair down无拘无束
Our supervisor is a stone-faced young lady. In front of her, you can't let your hair down and do what you desire.
· without turning a hair保持冷静的态度，不动声色
The president talked about the international situation without turning a hair.
· a half-wit弱智者
Do you think it is a good idea to send a half-wit to a normal school?
· bite the hand that feeds one恩将仇报
Sorry, I can tell you nothing about my master. Otherwise, I will be biting the hand that feeds me.
· gain the upper hand占上风
In strength, their team gain the upper hand; but in skill, we can have a chip on our shoulder.

· have someone eating out of one's hand使人完全服从某人的摆布
Money can let him eating out of your hand.
· live from hand to mouth勉强糊口
With three children to support, the window had to live from hand to mouth.
· overplay one's hand做的过火了，做得过头了
We may have overplayed our hand by urging him to give us an early reply.
· tip one's hand无意中亮底
Our rival was drunk. He tipped his hand by murmuring that his company will cut down the price of its products.
· try one's hand at...试着干……
Michael Jordan is a great basketball player, and he has ever tried his hand at baseball.
· fly off the handle大发雷霆
It's no use flying off the handle. You can reason with us.
· play into someone's hand正中某人下怀
Think it over. If we reduce the price, I'm sure we're playing into his hand.
· wash one's hands off something洗手不干某事
Mr. Butcher, with a long family history of gambling, decided to wash his hand off gambling.
· get the hang of something掌握某事的窍门
I've got the hang of the new computer system pretty soon.
· go haywire乱了套
The computer opposes me. Everything goes haywire when I use it.
· bury one's head in the sand逃避现实
The environmental pollution is getting worse and worse. We can't bury our head in the sand, or the nature will punish us.
· make neither head nor tail of...对……摸不着头脑
Tim scribbled a note to me during the lecture. But I couldn't make head or tail of it.
· have one's head in the clouds满脑子幻想
I know you have been dreaming of becoming a professor. But you shouldn't have you head in the clouds all the time. Settle down and do something.
· turn one's head使某人满意
Sara is a successful woman, but she never allows her achievements to turn her head.
122——181
· have one's heart set on...一心想要……
Once he had his heart set on something, he'll accept no turning-back.
· one's heart in one's mouth吓得要命
My heart was in my mouth when I heart someone tapping on my window one raining night.
have one's heart in one's mouth; with one's heart in one's mouth
· not have the heart to do something不忍心去做
How can you have the heart to kill my pet?
· take something to heart往心里去/认真接受意见等
Tom decided to take his father's words to heart and wash his hands off smoking.
· be in the seventh heaven高心极了
Mary was in seventh heaven when she finally came to Paris, the center of fashion.
· move heaven and earth想尽一切办法
Believe me. I promise to move heaven and earth to help you.
· cool one's heels等的双脚发凉，久等