成语中英文对照

一不做，二不休
in for a penny, in for a pound
He was found stealing money from his landlady by her daughter. "In for a penny, in for a pound," he muttered to himself and then killed the little girl.
一文不名；一贫如洗
not have (or without) a penny to one's name; not have two halfpennies to rub together; (as) poor as a church mouse; not have a bean; not have (or without) a red cent
When I got married I didn't have a penny to my name.
That family never seem to have two halfpennies to rub together.
I am sorry, I can't lend you anything -- I haven't got a red cent.
一石二鸟；一箭双雕；一举两得
kill two birds with one stone
Since Benjamin, one of my classmates in university, lives near my mother, I'll call in on him as well and kill two birds with one stone.
一帆风顺
plain sailing
The security situation in the Taiwan Strait is far from being plain sailing.
一见如故
get on like a house on fire (英) / get along like a house on fire (美)
If two people get on/along like a house on fire, they like each other very much and become
friends very quickly.
I was worried that they wouldn't like each other, but in fact they're getting on/along like a house on fire.
一文不值
not worth a damn
His promise isn't worth a damn.
一针见血；一语中的
hit the nail on the head
He hit he nail on the head when he mentioned casual sex as being the cause of her coming down with AIDS.
一言以蔽之
in a nutshell
There's a lot I could say about my boss's speech but to put it in a nutshell, it was terrible.
一命呜呼
turn up one's toes
I hope to take a trip to the United States before I turn up my toes.
一丝不苟
dot one's/the i's and cross one's/the t's
You'd better make sure you dot your i's and cross your t's if you want to work at that company. They're very keen on details.
一丝不挂
in a state of nature; in the altogether; in the buff; not have a stitch on (or without a stitch on) I had just got out of the bath and still was in the buff (or in the altogether/in a state of nature) when the maid walked in without knocking.
I had just got out of the bath when he knocked at the door and I didn't have a stitch on.
一模一样
as like as two peas (in a pod)
If two brothers or two sisters are very much alike, you can say they are as like as two peas in a pod.
一鸣惊人；一举成名；不同凡响
set the Thames on fire (英) / set the world on fire (美)
Mary may set the Thames on fire with her piano playing.
His great invention set the world on fire.
一筹莫展
up the creek (without a paddle)
He was really up the creek when his wife left him.
一丘之貉；物以类聚
birds of a feather (flock together); be tarred with the same brush
We all thought that he and his girlfriend were birds of a feather.
I dislike politicians of all parties because they're all tarred with the same brush.
一箭之遥；近在咫尺
a stone's throw
My house is only a stone's throw from the school.
一意孤行；我行我素；独断独行
go/take one's own way
I warned him not to marry that girl, but he was determined to go his own way.
一知半解
a little knowledge
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. (这一句是颇有名的谚语，意为「一知半解最危险；半瓶子醋害死人」)
一见钟情
fall in love (with someone) at first sight; love at first sight(这里"love" 为名词)
They fell in love with each other at first sight.
They fell in love at once; it was love at first sight.
一清二楚
(as) clear as crystal; (as) clear as a bell
I don't know why you can't understand the instructions; they're as clear as crystal to me. The whole thing was as clear as a bell to me. I knew what to do.
一窍不通
be all Greek to someone
He tried to explain how the computer worked, but it was all Greek to me.
一白遮三丑
A white complexion is powerful enough to hide seven faults.
A white complexion is powerful enough to hide seven faults.
一朝被蛇咬，十年怕草绳；上一次当，学一次乖
once bitten, twice shy
He has cheated and deceived me on one occasion, so I don't trust him. Once bitten, twice shy.
九牛一毛；沧海一粟；杯水车薪
a drop in the ocean/bucket
The money we collected for the victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster is really just a drop in the ocean.
入不敷出
live beyond one's means
My father always told me not to live beyond my means.
入乡随俗
when in Rome, do as the Romans do
A lot of people often say "when in Rome, do as the Romans do."
十之八九
nine times out of ten
When my wife comes home from work, nine times out of ten she buys me an evening newspaper.
十拿九稳；稳操胜券
be in the bag
We're sure to win. The match is in the bag.
力不从心；心余力绌；心有余而力不足
the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak (这两句的上半句"the spirit is willing" 和下半句"the flesh is weak" 常被分开单独使用)
When I asked him for help yesterday, he said "my spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak." 人面兽心；口蜜腹剑；笑里藏刀(披着羊皮的狼)
a wolf in sheep's clothing
Mary trusted Jack until one day she was cheated by him, and realized that
he was a wolf in sheep's clothing.
人不可貌相
appearances are often deceptive
"Appearances are often deceptive" is a commonly used idiom, meaning things are not always what they seem to be.
三心两意
in two minds
My wife thinks we should go to South Korea for our holiday, but I'm still in two minds about it.
三番两次
again and again; over and over (again); time and (time) again; time after time
I've told my son again and again not to run a red light. (to run a red light：闯红灯)
三缄其口
hold one's peace/tongue
In spite of the fact that he made provocative remarks, I held my peace/tongue.
三思而后行
look before you leap
Look before you leap when doing business on the Web.
三句不离本行；说行话；谈论工作上的事情(这成语通常带有贬义，暗示这些关于工作的言谈让人觉得很无聊)
(to) talk shop
They did nothing but talked shop, and I came home early because it was so boring.
三个臭皮匠顶个诸葛亮
two heads are better than one
Two heads are better than one.
大同小异；半斤八两
(very) much of a muchness
The two articles are very much of a muchness.
大相径庭
poles apart
They are poles apart in their political attitudes.
千方百计
by hook or by crook; leave no stone unturned (or no stone be left unturned)
I know this work looks difficult, but I'll finish it by hook or by crook.
The police left no stone unturned to catch Taiwan's most wanted fugitive Chang Hsi-ming (张锡铭) and they succeeded.
He promised no stone would be left unturned to get his wife back.
千载难逢
once in a blue moon
My wife and I rarely, if ever, eat out. So, when I told her last night "let's eat out and go to see a movie", she was very surprised and said that's really once in a blue moon.
寸步不离
at one's elbow
His wife was always at his elbow whenever an important decision had to be taken.
大海捞针
(like) looking/searching for a needle in a haystack
Trying to find a book we want in so many books is just like looking for a needle in a haystack.
口是心非；言不由衷
with one's tongue in one's cheek (adv.); tongue in cheek (adv.); tongue-in-check (adj.) He described me as an excellent teacher, but he said it tongue in cheek/with his tongue in
his cheek.
That's a tongue-in-cheek remark/reply.
大惊小怪；小题大作
make a mountain out of a molehill
Don't make a mountain out of a molehill when you know I look about ten years younger than I really am. (I look about ten years younger than I really am. 我看起来比实际年龄年轻大约10岁)
小题大作；杀鸡用牛刀
break a butterfly on a/the wheel (「小题大作」亦可用"make a meal out of" 和"make a mountain out of a molehill" 来表示)
I know what I've done is wrong, but there's no need to break a butterfly on a wheel/to make a meal out of it.
大发雷霆
do one's nut
When I told him what she had said about him, he did his nut.
大获全胜；所向披靡
sweep the board; carry (or sweep)all/everything before one
I swept the board at the casino last night.
Although I hadn't done well at high school, I carried all before me at university.
亡羊补牢
lock the stable door after the horse has bolted
It is never too late to lock the stable door after the horse has bolted.
小洞不补，大洞吃苦
a stitch in time saves nine (经常略为"a stitch in time")
You should try and repair your car before it becomes worse. Remember, a stitch in time saves nine.
井井有条；井然有序
in apple-pie order
My wife likes to keep everything in apple-pie order.
少年老成；老成持重
have an old head on young shoulders
Michael has an old head on young shoulders and handles his business very well.
手足无措
not know where to put oneself/one's face
When I told Linda almost everyone at her department had seen the photo of her hugging and kissing her boyfriend affectionately in the street, she was so embarrassed she didn't
know where to put herself/her face.
日复一日(或一连数天)
day after day; day in day out (这亦可写成"day in, day out")
It went on raining day after day.
If we do the same things day in day out, it isn't surprising we get bored.
附注：关于"day after day"，其他表示时间的词也可以这样用，如"year after year"，"month after month" 和"night after night"；至于"day in day out"，其他表示时间的词，尤其是表示较长时间的词，也可以这样用，如"year in year out" (这亦可写成"year in, year out"，以下亦同)，"month in month out"，"week in week out" 和"night in night out"，但hours, minutes 和seconds 则不可以这样用。

日以继夜；夜以继日
day and night; night and day
He thought of her wife day and night when she went on business trip abroad last year.
日薄西山(或好景不长)
someone's days are numbered
Now he knows his days are numbered.
五十步笑百步
the pot calling the kettle black
She was criticizing me for not looking for a new job but that is like the pot calling the kettle black. She isn't looking for a new job either.
太岁头上动土
beard the lion in his den (这里"beard" 为动词)
My boss's in his office, so let's beard the lion in his den and ask for a pay raise.
中饱私囊
line one's (own) pocket/purse (with + money/profits)
The president's lack of oversight has allowed some of the Cabinet members to line their pockets with hundreds of millions of dollars.
心不在焉
here/there in body, but not in spirit; someone's heart is not in
I didn't understand very clearly what you said, because I was here in body, but not in spirit at the time.
John should try to find another job because his heart is always not in his work at all.
心满意足；痛痛快快
to one's heart's content (这个字的重音在第二音节)
It's weekend, so you can sleep to your heart's content.
心旷神怡
feel on top of the world
If health has been a problem, don't worry. You'll feel on top of the world from now on.
火上加油(或煽动情绪)
add fuel to the flames/fire; fan the flames/fire
The workers weren't satisfied with their wages, so when they were asked to work longer hours, it added fuel to the flames.
火中取栗(意为替别人冒险)
pull the/someone's chestnuts out of the fire
I had pulled the chestnuts out of the fire for him on several occasions and was unwilling to do it again.
方柄圆凿；格格不入
a square peg in a round hole
If you go to university, you will be a square peg in a round hole there because you just have no desire to study.
互相残杀；互相倾轧
cut each other's throats
For a bag of gold coins they would cut each other's throats without hesitation.
天涯海角
the ends of the earth
"Oh dear, as you know, I would take you to the ends of the earth at any time."
天壤之别；天悬地隔
be worlds apart
Our ways of life are worlds apart.
George and Mary decided to get married even though their families were worlds apart.
今日事今日毕
never put off till tomorrow what you can do today (亦写成"never put off till tomorrow what may/can be done today"，但较少人使用)
It should be borne in mind that never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
不自量力(贪多嚼不烂)
bite off more than one can chew
I told him he would be biting off more than he could chew if he tried to get 950 points in the TOEIC test.
不言而喻(或不用说)；不辩自明
go without saying; speak for itself/themselves
It goes without saying that I will never love her.
The company has had a very successful year; the figures speak for themselves.
不念旧恶；宽大为怀
forgive and forget
We hated each other in Taiwan; we met again in the United States last year and decided to forgive and forget. Now we have become very friendly.
不相上下；半斤八两；铢两悉称
six of one and half a dozen of the other
Voting for a DPP or a KMT candidate is a case of six of one and half a dozen of the other.
不动声色；泰然自若
keep one's countenance; play it cool
Most people could hardly keep their countenance in the face of death.
They expected us to be angry, but we had decided to play it very cool.
不知所措；晕头转向
at a loss; lose one's bearings; not know whether one is (standing) on one's head or one's heels
When she asked me if I had ever divorced any women, I was at a loss for words. ( at a loss for words：无言以对)
In all this mass of details I'm afraid I've rather lost my bearings.
When his shop was very busy yesterday morning, the poor shopkeeper didn't know whether he was on his head or his heels.
不屈不挠
(keep one's) chin up
He's having a pretty difficult time but he seems to be keeping his chin up.
不择手段；千方百计
by hook or by crook; stop at nothing (to do something)
David is trying to get that promotion by hook or by crook; he even spread rumors smearing the other candidates.
The young man wanted to be rich and would stop at nothing to get more money for himself.
不入虎穴，焉得虎子
nothing venture, nothing gain/win/have (or "nothing ventured, nothing gained")
"Nothing venture, nothing gain", as the saying goes.
白手起家；从头做起
from scratch; start (again) from scratch
He's a successful entrepreneur who started from scratch.
白纸黑字
in black and white
I don't want to hear you promise to pay me. I want your promise in black and white.
本末倒置
put/set the cart before the horse
You're putting the cart before the horse by buying all this furniture before you've got the house.
本性难移
a leopard never changes its spots; a leopard cannot change its spots
It's not surprising that he was sentenced to five years in prison again, because a leopard never changes its spots.
生龙活虎；生气勃勃
alive and kicking
My father is 82 years old but he is still very much alive and kicking.
生杀大权
the power/right of life and/or death
The ancient kings of this country held the power of life and death over all their servants.
功败垂成；功亏一篑
(there's many) a slip twixt (the) cup and (the) lip; pipped at the post
I have to tell you that your plan is a slip twixt the cup and the lip.
We thought the owner would agree to sell us the house but we were pipped at the post by a more generous offer from someone else.
附注：1. twixt 或betwixt 是"between" 的旧式拼法。

2. 在赛马中，一匹马快到终点时突然被另一匹马超越称之为"pipped"；现今，无论在任何比赛、竞争或选举中，只要在最后关头或最后一刻被击败或被超越时就可使用这成语来形容，如例句所言，眼看要成交时，有人却出更高的价钱把房子买走了。

左右为难；进退两难
on the horns of a dilemma
I was on the horns of a dilemma when I was offered another job because I still had/felt a great deal of loyalty to my boss.
左右逢源
butter both sides of one's bread
She's buttering both sides of her bread -- she works for our company during the day and has another job during the evening.
四面八方
on every hand; on all hands; in all directions
On every hand was a charming view of rocky buttresses and wooded heights.
打铁趁热
make hay while the sun shines
John may as well make hay while the sun shines, because he is young and healthy and able to earn a lot of money.
半途而废
fall by the wayside; wither on the vine
How's that book you were working on?
-- Oh, I'm afraid it's fallen by the wayside.
My wife who was trying to lose weight had already withered on the vine by eating cream cakes.
失之东隅，收之桑榆(即得失相当；损益相抵)
What you lose on the swings you gain on the roundabouts (常缩写为"swings and roundabouts")
It's a bit of a swings-and-roundabouts situation. (a swings-and-roundabouts situation：得失相当的情况)
未雨绸缪；以备不时之需
for a rainy day
You'd better save some money for a rainy day.
出人头地；功成名就
make one's/its mark
After having been working for the company for more than 15 years, he finally made his mark.
以升容斗；以小容大；做明知办不到的事
put a quart into a pint pot (通常用于否定句)
Many new people have moved into this small town and they have nowhere to live. You can't put a quart into a pint pot.
以怨报德；恩将仇报
bite the hand that feeds one
The man had worked for the company for several years. When he was caught stealing, his employer felt that he had bitten the hand that fed him.
以眼还眼，以牙还牙
an eye for an eye (and a tooth for a tooth)
I didn't believe in the death penalty -- an eye for an eye -- but how else can we stop this
sort of thing?
以其人之道还治其人之身
pay someone back in their own coin
II decided to pay her back in her own coin and refuse to help her.
行将就木；奄奄一息；生命垂危
at death's door
We were very surprised to hear that our favorite teacher was at death's door.
老调重弹
harp on one (or the same) string
I've already told you many times that I have no money to lend you. I wish you'd stop harping on the same string.
多此一举；徒劳无益
carry coals to Newcastle
To offer him money is to carry coals to Newcastle; he is very wealthy.
妄自尊大；自以为了不起
too big for one's boots
John is too big for his boots; that's his trouble.
守口如瓶
keep a quiet/still tongue (in one's head)
You'll keep a quiet tongue in your head, will you?
充耳不闻
stop one's ears; turn a deaf ear
He stopped his ears to bad news.
The president always turns a deaf ear to people's complaints.
光阴似箭；岁月易逝
time flies
Scientists prove time flies when you're busy.
先发制人；比...抢先一步
steal a march on (someone)
The company plans to steal a march on its competitors by offering the same computer at a lower price.
夸夸其谈；信口开河；信口雌黄
shoot off one's mouth
It seems like every senior official in the administration is free to shoot off his mouth on any
subjects at any time.
血浓于水
blood is thicker than water
He gave his brother a good job because blood is thicker than water.
百闻不如一见；眼见为凭
To see is to believe; Seeing is believing
To see is to believe? No, eyes can be easily deceived.
全力以赴
do one's level best; go all out; go great guns; pull out all the stops; put one's best foot forward
I did my level best to help him.
I will go great guns for the team.
Don't worry too much about the TOEFL iBT test. Just put your best foot forward and do what you can!
早起的鸟儿有虫吃
the early bird catches the worm
Remember, it's the early bird catches the worm - you should try to get to it early.
有志者事竟成
where there is a will there is a way
In the writing test, John concluded his essay by writing "where there is a will there is a way."
有其父必有其子
like father/mother, like son/daughter
A good example of "like father, like son" is George Bush and George W. Bush.
安如盘石；十分平稳
(as) steady as a rock
As he aimed the gun, his hand was as steady as a rock.
安然无恙
safe and sound
All his sons returned safe and sound from the war.
附注："safe and sound" 的发音并不是一个字一个字念，而是将and 中的"d" 不发音，并将"an" 与其前面的子音(在此为safe 中的"f") 连音，所以实际的读音是"sa - fan - sound"。

英文有不少类似"safe and sound" 这种使用两个词性相同的字、中间用and 连接起来的固定搭配，它们有些有连字符，有些没有，但不管有无连字符，它们实际的读音大多如上述，如"cloak-and-dagger"、"hard-and-fast"、"ins and outs"、"up and about"、
"spick-and-span" 等等；当然啦，如果"and" 前面那个字的字尾是元音，那么就不会有这种连音的情况发生。

读者若能把握这原则，并勤加练习，对于听力的提升也会有所帮助的。

这种固定搭配在英文中叫做"binomial"。

名副其实
worth (or worthy of) the name
No policeman worth the name should ever let a criminal escape so easily.
如坐针毡；坐立不安；焦躁不安；如热锅上的蚂蚁
like a cat on hot bricks (英) / like a cat on a hot tin roof (美); on pins and needles
She was like a cat on hot bricks before her wedding ceremony.
I was on pins and needles all day until she called me.
如意算盘；痴心妄想；一厢情愿
wishful thinking
Their hopes of a peace settlement are nothing more than wishful thinking.
因小失大
spoil the ship for a ha'porth o'tar
I'm going to buy some new paint brushes -- all the old ones have gone stiff. I've paid a lot for the paint and I don't want to spoil the ship for a ha'porth o'tar.
附注：这句成语中，ha'porth = halfpennyworth，o'tar = of tar。

它原来是写成"spoil the sheep for a ha'porth of tar"，即「不愿花半便士买焦油医治羊伤而导致羊死亡」。

有些地方将sheep 的音发成ship。

自吹自擂；自我吹嘘
blow one's own trumpet/horn
She's very good at blowing her own trumpet.
自取灭亡；自掘坟墓；咎由自取；自食其果
sign one's own death warrant; dig one's own grave; stew in one's own juice
You're just digging your own grave if you go on smoking so heavily.
自作自受；自食其果；自寻死路；作法自毙
cut/slit one's (own) throat; have made one's bed and must (or have to) lie in/on it; stew in one's own juice
You've made your bed and you must lie on it.
I would just be cutting my own throat if I stopped work now.
自讨苦吃；自找麻烦
make a rod for one's own back
I've just made a rod for my own back by working for that company, because they always expect one to work many hours without pay.
自高自大；自命不凡
be/get/rise above oneself
Don't be getting far above yourself; you are no more than a secretary.
自断后路；破釜沈舟
burn one's boats/bridges (behind one)
Now we've burned our bridges behind us and we have no option but to go forward with the project.
劣币驱逐良币
bad money drives out good
"Bad money drives out good" is a proverb and also an economic principle.
赤手空拳
(one's) bare hands
I killed the tiger with my bare hands.
作威作福；盛气凌人；颐指气使
lord it (over someone)
Since she got the highest mark in the final math exam, she has lorded it over the other students in her class as if she knew everything about math.
防患未然(在萌芽时就将其消灭，或一开始时就加以制止)
nip (something) in the bud
There are a couple of things bothering me very much that I want to nip in the bud.
身强力壮；非常健康
(as) fit as a fiddle/flea
He was fit as a fiddle when he was at law college.
(尤指因缺乏社交技巧而) 局促不安；不自在的
ill at ease
He is always ill at ease at parties.
忍气吞声
swallow one's pride
I was forced to swallow my pride and apologize to my boss for his fault.
每况愈下
go downhill; go down the Swanee; go from bad to worse; on the slide; on the wane
I'm going to leave the country. Since the present government came into power, the whole situation of people's lives has been going down the Swanee.
附注："Swanee" 是美国一条河流的名称，因史蒂芬˙佛斯特(Stephen Foster, 1825-1864) 1851年的民歌"Old Folks at Home" (家乡老友-- 有人译为「老乡亲」) 而出名，歌词开头是"Way down upon the Swanee River"。

坐失良机
miss the boat
She missed the boat when she said no to that deal. It turned out to be worth millions.
言出必行；言行一致；说到做到
suit/fit the action to the word
He suited the action to the word and married her last year.
言多必失
the less said the better
It is best to say nothing at all when you are in an unfamiliar environment because "the less said the better."
言归于好(尤指长期不和后)
bury the hatchet; make one's peace
John and his wife who went to court yesterday to fight about their marriage have decided to bury the hatchet.
金科玉律
golden rule
I have one golden rule that anyone can put into practice: eating less makes you healthier.
空中楼阁
castles in the air
Your plan to run for the president is merely a castle in the air.
知足常乐；足食犹如盛宴
enough is as good as a feast
The old proverb "enough is as good as a feast" doesn't apply to her.
长话短说；简而言之
cut/make a long story short
To cut a long story short, the fact is that you are not welcome here.
来日方长
tomorrow is another day
After he had failed the GEPT, I told him that "Don't be too sad. Tomorrow is another day."
卑躬屈膝；毕恭毕敬；点头哈腰
bow and scrape
From the way she's bowing and scraping in front of the boss, you'll know what sort of person she is.
事后诸葛；事后聪明
wise after the event
If we had waited another week we could have bought the car more cheaply. Well, it's easy to be wise after the event.
直言不讳
call a spade a spade; speak one's (own) mind
I like this guy because he always calls a spade a spade.
I'm furious about it, and I intend to speak my mind to my boss.
枉费心机(或白费心机)；徒劳无功；狂犬吠月
bay (at) the moon
This company has spent a lot of money on advertising its new improved type of CD player. But it's baying at the moon. Who wants a CD player when DVD players are now cheaper? 附注：bay 在此当动词用，意为「(猎犬) 不断地吠叫」。

孤注一掷
put all one's eggs in/into one basket; put one's shirt on
When the company she had invested all her money in went bankrupt, she wished she
hadn't put all her eggs in one basket.
I think I've a very good chance of getting that job, but I wouldn't put my shirt on it.
乳臭未干
(still) wet behind the ears
He made a lot of mistakes, back when he was still wet behind the ears.
屈指可数；寥寥无几
can (or be able to) count on one's fingers
He's too stingy, so he can count his good friends on his fingers.
迎头赶上(或摆脱困境；挽回损失)
make up leeway
Despite the fact that John has poor performances in exams, the teacher has decided to give him a chance to make up leeway.
奄奄一息；半死不活
(to) within an inch of one's life
Her husband beat her to within an inch of her life in a domestic violence. (她丈夫对她家暴，把她打得奄奄一息/半死不活)
附注：这成语的基本型式为"within an inch of" (= very near, very close to：差一点，险些儿)，如："We came within an inch of death." (我们险些儿丧命)。

明珠暗投；对牛弹琴
cast pearls before swine
I tried to explain the beauty of Chinese characters to my foreign friends but it was just casting pearls before swine.
怏怏不乐(情绪或心情不佳)
out of humor (in a bad temper; moody)
He seems out of humor. He has been shouting at everybody all day long.
昂首(或抬头)挺胸；趾高气扬
hold one's head high; with one's head held high
I have boasted in my youth and held my head high and gone on my way careless of consequences. (Evelyn Waugh) -- 伊利文渥夫为英国作家，生前着有「一掬尘土」(A Handful of Dust) 等作品。

It is important to walk with your head held high to keep your body shape.
赴汤蹈火
go through fire and water
I will go through fire and water to help my relatives and friends.
风平浪静；水平如镜
(as) calm as a millpond; like a millpond
The Dead Sea is normally as calm as a millpond./The Dead Sea is normally like a millpond.
既往不咎(过去的事就让它过去吧；尽弃前嫌)
let bygones be bygones
Despite the fact that her father treats her very badly, she has decided to let bygones be bygones and take care of him when he is too old.
怒气冲天；大发雷霆
go up in the air (参见「大发雷霆」-- do one's nut)
My girlfriend went up in the air because I had a date with another girl.
美中不足
a/the fly in the ointment
I've been offered a wonderful job, but the only fly in the ointment is that the pay is not too good.
洗心革面；改过自新；重新做人
turn over a new leaf
I've decided to turn over a new leaf and find a good job.
省吃俭用
pinch and scrape
I have to pinch and scrape in order to save enough money to visit my parents in Japan next year.
信口开河；胡说八道
talk through one's hat
He says he knows genetics very well, but he's talking through his hat!
英雄所见略同
great minds think alike
A: "I was just thinking to call you, then the phone rang and it was you calling me."
B: "Great minds think alike."
A: "This summer I've decided to take scuba diving lessons."
B: "Really? Me too. I have already paid for the course."
A: "Great minds think alike."
首屈一指；独占鳌头；出类拔萃
bear (or carry off) the palm
Students of this university bear the palm in the international landscape designing contest.
神色自若；泰然自若；不动声色。