英语常见谚语和习语

●as black as crow /raven/ sloe/ coal/ jet/ midnight / pitch/ the devil‘s nutting-bag = very black

●I want to see that agreement in black and white.=in writing or print; in written form

●His business and domestic affairs are in confusion, and everything looks to him black

ink.=very gloomy

●If you continue in this fashion, you will be in my black books.=in disfavor of someone

●Shake the black dog from your back.

=melancholy; dispondency

●These slums are black eye to our city.

=a mark of shame; dishonor

●He swore himself black in the face.

=extremely angry

The letter which he received was an attempt at black mail.

●

●=extortion of money from a person by threats of public accusation or censure

●The witches sat at a table with the black man.

=The devil

●He blacked out at the sight of blood.

=suffer temporary loss of consciousness

●When it came to war experiences, he blacked out completely.

=suffer temporary loss of memory

●Their first decision was to black out today‘s discussion.

=not allow sth. to be released

English idioms can be short or long: e.g.

T hat old man is a bear; he’s always grumbling. =a bad-tempered or bad-mannered person

W hat’s wrong with you today? You’re like a bear with a sore head. =angry

Y ou say his fiancée is also a poet? Well, birds of a feather flock together.

=people of similar tastes, characters etc. seek each other’s company

I f you invest this money you might make a fortune; but a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.=a thing which is

certain is worth more than a risk which might be profitable

Irregular and illogical structure with clear meaning: e.g.

I am good friends with him.

The angel told Mary she was with child.

Regular structure with unclear meaning: e.g.

I had butterflies in my stomach for an hour or so before I was due to make my speech.

=have a feeling of nervousness

✓All the man’s kith and kin came to his wedding.

=orig. country and kindred; later, friends and kindred; now, relations

✓He’s walking to and fro in the room. =back and forth

✓He learn s his lessons by rote.=memorize by constant repetition

✓Bob wandered hither and thither looking for a playmate. =here and there

✓She went hither and yon to search for an answer.=from here to over there, especially to a

farther place, or to a great many places

✧H e always hits the nail when he talks on financial subjects. =understand the matter

✧J ane’s father hit the nail on the head when he said that her chief fault was vanity.

=get something exactly right

✧H e packed his car and hit the road for New York. =leave, especially in a car