英语成语故事大全（5篇）

【导语】成语是古代语和事的⾼度凝练和浓缩，往往⽂⾔⾊彩浓厚，保留着许多古汉语词汇的痕迹，现代⼈可以借以了解当时的社会、⽂化、语⾔等⾯貌。

下⾯是整理分享的英语成语故事⼤全，欢迎阅读与借鉴，希望对你们有帮助！
1.英语成语故事：highly talented才⾼⼋⽃
tsau pi and tsau jr were sons of tsau tsau. both were very gifted writers, and tsau jr was especially quick-witted.
曹丕与曹植都是曹操的⼉⼦，⼆者均有才华，特别是曹植更具⽂采。

after tsau tsau's death, tsau pi took over the throne of the kingdom of wei. jealous of tsau jr's literary ability, and afraid that he might cause problems, tsau pi was always looking for a way to kill his brother.
在曹操死后，曹丕继任⼤统，但他嫉妒曹植的才华，同时也惧怕曹植回谋反，所以⼀直在伺机杀害曹植。

one day, tsau pi called tsau jr into see him.he ordered his brother to make up a poem within the time it took to walk seven steps, adding that if he could not, his life would be in danger.
有⼀天，曹丕要求接见曹植，他要求曹植在他七步之内作诗⼀⾸，如果做不到，就会有⽣命危险。

greatly saddened, tsau jr began to walk and to think. before he had taken the seven steps, he had already finished his poem, the meaning of which was: "brothers are of the same family, so why should the oppress each other?"
悲愤之下，曹植急中⽣智，作出七步诗，是的意思就是“本来就是亲兄弟，为什么要这样步步紧逼，伤及感情?”
tsau jr was very intelligent and loved to study. he wrote many outstanding articles which showed his artistic talent and earned him the admiration of many people. one scholar said of him: "heaven gave the world ten decalitres of talent, and tsau jr alone has eight of them."
曹植⽂采俱佳，热爱学习，他曾做过不少才华横溢的⽂赋，均令世⼈感叹不已。

曾有⼀位学者说道：“如若天下⽂采共有⼗⽃，曹植⼀⼈独占⼋⽃。

”
2.英语成语故事：a drop in the bucket九⽜⼀⽑
li ling was a great general during the time of emperor han wu-di (hàn wǔ dì汉武帝). he was a very good fighter, and he won every battle.
西汉时代有个很有名的⼤将军名叫李陵，他骁勇善战，百战百赢。

one time, however, li ling's troops were so hopelessly outnumbered by the huns that although they fought bravely, the whole army was soon taken captive.
有⼀次，虽然李陵的军队奋勇杀敌，因为兵⼒不⾜⽽战败投降。

li ling shamefully surrendered for the moment, planning to wait for an opportunity to strike back.
李陵打算暂时先忍辱投降，以便伺机等待机会反击。

but when news of the surrender reached the capital, the emperor's jealous ministers began to degrade li ling in front of the emperor.
但当李陵投降的消息传到⾸都，皇上⾝边嫉妒的⼤⾂们都开始指责李陵。

what he heard made the emperor so angry that he had li ling's wife and mother put to death.
皇上⼗分⽓愤，他将李陵的妻⼦与母亲都赐死了。

ze-ma chian, who had always respected li ling, believed that he wouldn't surrender without a reason, and urged the emperor not to believe rumors.
司马迁⼀直很敬重李陵，他不信李陵会⽆缘⽆故投降，便谏⾔皇上不要听信谣⾔。

this time, the emperor grew angry at sz-ma chian, and locking him up, punished him severely.
但就因为这样，皇上便迁怒司马迁，并将他囚禁，进⾏严惩。

sz-ma chian then wrote a long letter to a friend, saying, "i am now in the middle of writing a history book. if i die, it will be as if one ox in a group on nine were to lose a single hair. i am willing to withstand punishment in order to complete this book." sz-ma chian finally did finish his book - the very famous shr-ji.
司马迁随后写了⼀封长信给他的朋友，说道：“我现在在写⼀部历史长篇，如果我死了，就如同九⽜⼀⽑般微不⾜道，但我愿意承受住这般的惩罚，来完成这部书。

”最终，司马迁完成了这部名流千古的史学著作——《史记》。

3.英语成语故事：be afraid of one's own shadow草⽊皆兵
in ad 383, the king of former qin (秦朝), fu jian (fú jiān 苻坚), led a huge army to attack eastern jin.
公元383年，秦王苻坚率领步兵、骑兵90万，攻打江南的晋朝。

after losing the first round of fighting, fu jian looked down from a city wall, and was terrified when he saw the formidable battle array of the eastern jin army.
在⼀轮战败后，苻坚从城墙俯视周遭，当他看到势不可破的东晋部队，他感到很害怕。

and then looking at the mountains around, he mistook the grass and trees for enemy soldiers.
此时，苻坚在寿春城上望见晋军队伍严整，⼠⽓⾼昂，再北望⼋公⼭，只见⼭上⼀草⼀⽊都像晋军的⼠兵⼀样，于是更加恐慌。

as a result, when the nervous fu jian led his army into battle, it suffered a crushing defeat.
后来苻坚全军覆没，带着少数残余的队伍逃回去了。

4.英语成语故事：within an ace of winning功亏⼀篑
Once a man planned to build a terrace.
古时，有⼀个⼈要筑⼀座九仞(⼋尺=⼀仞)⾼的⼭。

He worked very hard and spent a lot of time digging and carrying earth.
他⼗分努⼒的建造这座⼭，并且花了很多时间挖⼟、搬运泥⼟。

When the mound was almost completed and only one more basket of earth was needed, the man gave up.
终于当⼭快要建成的时候，⼏乎只差最后⼀篮⼦的泥⼟就⾏了的时候，他放弃了。

The terrace was never completed.
这座⼭便永远⽆法完⼯。

5.英语成语故事：To have an image of bamboo in one's mind⼊⽊三分
Wang Xi-zhi is one of the most famous calligraphers during the Eastern Jin Dynasty of China. When he was very young, he practiced his art every day and never stopped.
王羲之是中国东晋时代⼀个很有名的书法家，他从⼩就刻苦练字，从不间断。

Later he absorbed the strong points of all the other schools of calligraphy, and developed his own unique style of writing. Because of his achievements, he has been honored as one of China's sages of calligraphy.
以后⼜吸取了各个不同书法派的优点，形成他⾃⼰独特的个性。

因为他在书法上的成就，⼈们都尊称他为中国书法界
的“圣⼈”。

One time, Wang Xi-zhi sketched in wood for an engraver to cut. Then the engraver found the ink had penetrated one centimeter into the wood.
有⼀次，王羲之在⽊板上刻字，后来刻字的⼈发现墨汁渗⼊⽊板有三尺深。

"Ru Mu San Fen" is got from this story, which means the calligraphy is penetrating.“⼊⽊三分”就是从这个故事中得出来的，⽤来形容书法有⼒。

Now it is often used to describe expressing sharp ideas or profound views.。