常用英文习语

Common idioms

Action speaks louder than words

We can know your true intentions by what you do than what you say. A related idiom is, words are cheap.

Add insult to injury

To make a bad situation worse. It’s the same as the Chinese proverb on throwing stone at someone who has fallen into a well.

An arm and a leg

Very expensive. “The latest Apple iPhone costs me an arm and a leg.”

At the drop of a hat

Something that happens quickly or easily without much prompting or encouragement. “He quotes Confucius at the drop of a hat.”

Back to the drawing board

When your project or idea fails, you decide to start all over. Ball is in your court

The next step is up to you. “We have completed the proposal. The ball is in your court on when to proceed.”

Barking up the wrong tree

Looking in the wrong place. Accusing the wrong person

Beat around the bush

Not speaking directly about the issue. Not coming straight to the point.

Best of both worlds

To enjoy all the advantages and benefits. “If you enrol in Qingdao University, you enjoy the best of both worlds – it is near your home and you get a first-class education.”

Bite off more than you can chew

To take on a task that is too big or too difficult to complete. Blessing in disguise

Something good that you didn’t recognised at first. “Losing the match was a blessing in disguise for the team as it made them train harder.”

Burn the midnight oil

To work late into the night, to put in a lot of effort. “To do well in this exam, we have to burn the midnight oil.”

Cheaper by the dozen

Things are cheaper when you buy them in large volumes rather than piece by piece.

Cross that bridge when you come to it

Deal with a problem only when it becomes necessary.

Cry over split milk

To complain about a bad situation in the past whic h you can’t undo.

Curiosity kills the cat

To continue finding out more about something will result in an unpleasant situation for you. Related idiom is ignorance is bliss, meaning it’s sometimes better not to know something.

Cutting corners

Doing somethi ng badly to save money. “The developer cut corners when building the apartments. The pipes, for instance, are made of plastic and are starting to crack.”

Don’t count your chickens before the eggs have hatched Don’t make plans for something that might not happen. Don’t judge a book by its cover

You cannot say a person or a thing is good or bad simply by looking at it. Don’t judge from appearance alone.

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket

Do not put all your resources in one project or business. Every cloud has a silver lining

Be optimistic, even difficult times will lead to better days. Far cry from

Very different from. “The final plan is a far cry from the original proposal.”

Feeling under the weather

Feeling sick.

Give the benefit of the doubt

Beli eve someone’s statement, without asking for proof.

Hear it on the grapevine

To hear rumours about something or someone. “I heard it on the grapevine that he’s planning to divorce his wife.”

Hit the nail on the head

Do or say something exactly right