英语中的习惯用语
(2007-11-28)
21、right up one’s alley 正合某人的心意或技能
A：David is good at tennis.
B：Speaking of tennis, Daniel is the best.
A：That’s for sure. All sports are right up his alley. Actually, nobody can get a better hand over him yet.
B：He’ll make a successful sportsman, I think.
甲：大卫很擅长网球。
乙：谈到网球，丹尼尔是最棒的了。
甲：那是肯定的。所有运动他都擅长。事实上，还没人能胜过他。
乙：我想他会成为一个成功的运动员的。
22、school of hard knocks 艰苦的磨练
A：My boss is such a shrewd businessman everyone admires him.
B：Which university did he graduate from?
A：He never went to high school. He was educated in the school of hard knocks.
B：That’s incredible.
甲：我的老板是个非常精明的生意人，每个人都很欣赏他。
乙：他是从哪所大学毕业的？
甲：连高中都没上过。他是受了艰苦的磨练而成长起来的。
乙：真是难以置信?
23、something the matter with 出问题
A：Hey, Richard! What’re you doing right here?
B：My recorder has something the matter with its speaker; I want to have it fixed.
A：It broke down again? You really need a new one.
甲：嘿，里查德！你在这儿干什么呢？
乙：我录音机的喇叭坏了。我想找人把它修好。
甲：又坏了？你真该买个新的了。
24、under age 未成年
A：Why not take me to the party, Mom?
B：You’re too young, dear.
A：Oh, I’m really as tall as you.
B：Oh, you’re still under age.
甲：为什么不带我去参加晚会，妈妈？
乙：你还未成年，亲爱的。
甲：不，我都快和您一般高了。
乙：但你还是没长大啊。
25、the matter 麻烦
A：Is the anything matter?
B：I’ve been watching the game on TV. One of our athletes is seriously injured.
A：My goodness! Has she been sent to hospital?
B：Yes, poor girl. She’s only your age.
甲：出什么事了吗？
乙：我一直在看电视上的比赛，我们的一个队员严重受伤了。
甲：天哪！她被送往医院了吗？
乙：送了。可怜孩子，她只有你这么大。
26、rat race 激烈的竞争
A：America is a rich country. Many people are dreaming of going there but you came back.
B：To tell you the truth, I’m very happy with my modest job here and the peaceful life.
A：New York is exciting, isn’t it?
B：Yes, but I have no desire to take part in the rat race there.
甲：美国是个富裕的国读。很多人都梦想去那儿，但你却回来了。
乙：坦白地说，我很满意自己在这里的普通工作和平静生活。
甲：纽约很令人兴奋，不是吗？
乙：是的。但我却无心卷入那种你死我活的竞争。
27、take someone’s mind off something 使某人忘记某事
A：I need a week’s vacation so that I can take my mind of my troubles.
B：Yeah, maybe things will changes for the better.
A：I am hoping so.
甲：我需要一周的假期，这样我可以忘记我的烦恼。
乙：是啊，也许事情会有转机。
甲：我正希望如此。
28、think twice about 仔细考虑
A：You’re a native of the city and you have lived here for many years. How do you like it?
B：Well, I’d have to think twice about that.
A：It’s familiar to you, isn’t it?
B：Well, I think it’s beautiful. I especially like the weather here.
甲：你是本市人，在这儿呆了很多年，你觉得这座城市怎么样？
乙：恩，我得好好想一想。
甲：你不陌生吧？
乙：恩，我想，这儿很美，我特别喜欢这儿的天气。
29、Take the turning 拐弯
A：Could you tell me how to get to the bank?
B：Let me think. Well, take the second turning on the right and it’s opposite the supermarket.
A：I see. Is it far?
B：No, not really, only a few minutes.
A：Oh, good, thank your very much.
A：请告诉去银行怎么走，好吗？
B：让我想想，恩，在第二个路口向右拐，就在超市的对面。
A：我明白了，很远吗？
B：不太远，只有几分钟的路程。
A：非常感谢。
30、search me (非正式)不知道
A：Where’s Annie?
B：In the house.
A：In the house? Where is she?
B：Search me, I don’t know where she is now.
A：安妮呢？
B：在屋里。
A：在屋里？在哪儿呢？
B：不知道，我也搞不清。