现代英语口语表示法500例(15)
· 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
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.