汉英俗语翻译

俗语
pull (the) strings：幕后牵线；幕后操纵
free lance 不服权威的自由行动者或(不专门替一家报馆耕作的)自由记者
count one's chickens before they are hatched劝告对方不要过早乐观，过早地打如意算盘follow one's nose跟著感觉走
Knock for six 彻底打败，完全挫败
apple-pie order井井有条
with one's tongue in one's cheek说话态度不真诚或说话不算数
a two timer 朝三暮四
Curiosity killed the cat.好奇心可能使自己丧命的，就是告诉他别追问了，别再刨根问底了go the extra mile除了份内之事，还干额外的事
Helen of troy 红颜祸水
Cat’s Paw被别人当作工具或爪牙利用的人
as high as a kite 喝高了
an iron hand in a velvet glove 口蜜腹剑
iron hand铁腕
A penny for your thoughts. 告诉我你在想什么。

to the bitter end 直到死；到最后
bite off more than one can chew比喻一个人不切实际，好高鹜远
catch somebody with his pants down 出人意料，措手不及，含有“处于狼狈状态＂的意思。

poke one's nose into something 为了干涉或者刨根问底而去过问与自己无关的事情
kill the goose that laid the golden egg 杀鸡取卵
ride one's high horse 暗指某人盛气凌人，飞扬跋扈，不可一世。

smoking gun 指罪证，确凿的证据
leave someone holding the bag 让某人收拾烂摊子
off the cuff 未经准备的，即席的
can't see the wood for the trees经常比喻看问题片面，只看到部分看不见全体，以偏概全。

Turn the corner 渡过难关，出现新局面
drop the other shoe 指"结束悬念或公布结果等
in someone's shoes处在某人的境遇或地位
put oneself in someone else's shoes设身处地为某人著想
fill someone's shoes胜任某人的职位
on a shoestring以很少的资金
drive home把...敲入，把...讲透彻
sugar the pill 糖衣药丸，不愉快之事物变得较易接受
not have a pot to piss in 徒有四壁，一贫如洗
shit or get off the pot 要么拉屎要么让出马桶，占茅坑不拉屎
A watched pot never boils. 心急水难开。

(越著急越觉得慢。

)
The pot calling the kettle black. 锅笑壶黑。

(乌鸦笑猪黑。

)
in full swing全面展开干得正起劲，如火如荼
cry for the moon 想做做不到的事；想要要不到的东西
moon about 精神恍惚
bark at the moon 空嚷
be over the moon 非常高兴；快了极了
give/get someone a leg up 帮人渡过难关
the game is not worth the candle 得不偿失，不值得做
a bee in one's bonnet原来指某人头脑中难以摆脱的念头，而且通常是指萦绕不去的怪念头。

have/get butterflies in one's stomach紧张
break a butterfly on a wheel 杀鸡用牛刀，浪费力气。

sponge on占便宜或揩油
go down like nine pins 落花流水和溃不成军
Lot's wife是指好奇心过重的人
Joseph's dream指大话
The salt of the world指高尚的人、社会中坚力量
Garden of Eden 伊甸园。

比喻为“人间天堂，乐园”。

Tower of Babel 巴别塔。

比喻为“空想，空中阁楼”。

Aaron’s rod 亚伦的杖。

比喻为“大权在握”。

a widow’s cruse 寡妇的坛子。

比喻为“貌似有限但取之不竭的财源”。

干涸。

）
coat of many colors 彩衣。

比喻为“恩宠”。

pillar of cloud and pillar of fire 云柱和火柱。

比喻为“指明灯”。

loaves and fishes 面包和鱼。

比喻为“物质利益，实惠，好处”。

dove and olive leaf 鸽子和橄榄枝。

比喻为“和平，和解”。

sell like hot cakes畅销
cut corners抄近路
be born in the purple出身显贵
sell sb down the river出卖某人
poor tool饭桶
think on one's feet思想敏捷
get off one's high horse放下架子
breathe again放心
with one's heart in one's throat非常紧张
as fit as a fiddle非常健康
much cry ,and little wool雷声大，雨点小
be down and out穷困潦倒
put oneself in sb's shoes设身处地
kick sb downstairs使．．降级
eat his words食言
out at elbows elbow one's way捉襟见肘
elbow one's way用胳膊肘挤来挤去为自己开道
get a black eye被别人打青了眼睛
mind your eye叫别人当心
blink our eyes 眨眼睛
flash our eyes at sth瞟一眼
make eyes cast sheep's eye抛媚眼
cast sheep's eye暗送秋波
You have an eye for sth有眼光有见解
play the woman撒娇
play the man做个男人
from the word go立刻，马上
wolf down his food狼吞虎咽地吃东西
cry wolf谎言欺人
two-faced两面派
never say uncle嘴硬，不肯服输、不肯承认。

you young monkey小淘气鬼
I was welcomed with open arms我被热烈欢迎
put your heart at rest 放下心来
your heart of gold金子般的心，美好心灵
heart of stone石头心肠
green light允许、许可
green eyed嫉妒
save one's face挽回面子
pull a long face拉长了脸
make a face at you对你做个鬼脸
have the face厚颜无耻
be down and out穷苦潦倒
read between the lines体会言外之意：
throw oneself into/fling oneself into/dedicate oneself to投身于talk big说大话
shift one's ground改变立场
turn over a new leaf改过自新
zero hour决定性时刻
have one's nose in a book埋头读书
turn the tide扭转局势
knit one's brow皱眉头
tower of ivory象牙塔
Young people are fearless初生牛犊不怕虎
layman门外汉
irresponsible and sarcastic words风凉话
suffer a double loss instead of making a gain赔了夫人又折兵suck up to/lick one's boot拍马屁
put on airs摆架子
flatter/lay it on thick戴高帽子
pour cold water on泼冷水
sing a different tune唱反调
blackmail and impose exactions on敲诈勒索
act in collusion with each other狼狈为奸
put on rival show唱对台戏
follow suit随大流
A burnt child dreads the fire.一次被火烧，二次避火苗。

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. 半瓶醋，出事故Wonder is the daughter of ignorance.少见多怪
Like begets like龙生龙，凤生凤
When shepherds quarrel, he wolf has a winning game.鹬蚌相争，渔翁得利
Little chips light great fires星星之火可以燎原
Two heads are better than one 三个臭皮匠赛过诸葛亮
Better be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion 宁为鸡首毋为牛后
Every man has a fool in his sleeve/homer sometimes nods聪明一时糊涂一时
What is done by night appears by day 若要人不知除非己莫为
Agues come on horseback,but go away on foot 病来如山倒，病去如抽丝
Give a dog a bad name and hang him 欲加之罪何患无词
Diamond cut diamond 强中自有强中手
Be a wet blanket煞风景
Lick somebody’s boots 拍马屁
Spout hot air/talk big 放空炮
Beat about the bush 绕圈子
Put on air 摆架子
Butter somebody up 灌迷汤
Let the cat out of the bag 露马脚
Lay it on thick戴高帽子
godspell，福音,好消息
bone of the bone and flesh of the flesh, 骨中之骨，肉中之肉,关系密切，有如血肉相连Forbidden fruit(禁果)泛指因被禁止而越发想得到的东西
Forbidden fruit is sweeter 禁果分外甜
fig leaves（无花果叶）泛指“遮羞布”。

original sin原罪
the Fall of Man(人类的堕落)人类善行的失落”
Adam “亚当”指全人类，包括男人和女人。

Adam’s ale水,意味“亚当之酒”
the old Adam(老亚当)指人类本性中邪恶、自私、不思悔改的一面
I don’t know him from Adam (不知某人与亚当有何不同), 意思是“与某人素未平生”Since Adam was a boy (自从亚当还是个孩子时起) 是口语用法，意为“很久很久以前”When Adam delved and Eve span, who was then the gentleman?(亚当耕地，夏娃织布之时，何来贵族？), 这句话后来常被援引以反对贵族特权或讥诮那些喜欢炫耀自己高贵出身的人。

Adam’s apple 亚当的苹果, 男人喉结
Juda’s kiss(犹大之吻)喻指“口蜜腹剑的伪善行为”
Judgement Day意思是“最后审判日，世界末日”
Cain (该隐) 还有“谋杀犯”之意，由其指那些杀死亲兄弟的人。

the curse of Cain (该隐的天罚) 则指某人命中注定要永远四处流浪，无家可归。

raise Cain意为“大吵大闹、大发雷霆”，因为导致该隐起杀机的是不顾一切的暴怒。

Am I my brother’s keeper? 难道我是负责照看我兄弟的人吗？意思是“别人的事我不负责
ark可指任何避难之所
Babel不切实际或过分庞大以至无法完成的计划;纵声喧哗、语言混杂的场面或场所Ishmael表示“被遗弃的人，社会公敌”
Sodom and Gomorrah所多玛和蛾摩拉专门喻指任何罪恶都市
as curious as Lot’s wife (如罗得之妻一般好奇), 喻好奇心切，以至要不顾一切满足
apple of Sodom亦称Dead Sea fruit，”所多玛果实”，转喻“金玉其外，败絮其中”
Abraham cove(Abramman)意思是”亚伯拉罕汉子”，专门指那些患有轻微疯病的乞丐。

Abraham’s bosom字面意思是“亚伯拉罕的胸怀”现转喻“天堂”。

sell one’s birthr ight for a mess of pottage(为了一碗红豆粥出卖长子权)，比喻“为了眼前的蝇头小利而牺牲长远利益”
a mess of pottage指眼前小利，即已巨大代价换取的物质享受
Jacob’s voice in Esau’s hand（雅各的声音，以扫的手），喻以假乱真；鱼目混珠。

a coat of many colors指受宠而得到的特殊待遇
corn in Egypt，意为“丰饶”、“充裕”
Benjamin’s mess意为“最大的份儿”、“最厚的赠礼”。

Manna(吗那)现转喻“意外福分”
Moses“摩西似的人物”，喻指出色的领袖或立法者或引领一个民族或国家走出困境的伟人Land flowing with milk and Honey (流着奶和蜜之地《圣经》里指迦南)，现可泛指任
何富饶的福地。

the promised land(应许之地)指任何人们渴望居住的乐土。

make bricks without straw意为“无米之炊”
fleshpots, the fleshpots of Egypt指“肉欲之乐”、口腹之乐”,“提供肉体享乐之地”
Eye for eye, tooth for tooth,意思是“以罪量刑，绝不姑息”或“以其人之道还治其人之身”golden calf指被当着神来崇拜的金钱，或贪婪的物欲
Every Pharaoh has his Moses.有法老就有摩西。

(喻有压迫就有反抗)
Jericho n. 耶利哥，死海北部古城，现转喻“遥远的地方”
from Jericho to June 远程；长途
Go to Jericho! 滚远点！
He has been to Jericho. [谑]他已喝得烂醉如泥。

See you (him) at Jericho! 见你（他）的鬼去吧！
Gone to Jericho.不知到哪里去了。

I wish you were at Jericho. 只要你不当我的路
feet deep=坟墓
Back in the day 过去
birthday suit=裸体
behind bars=坐牢
blow trees=抽麻，tree经常制大，麻
birdbrain=脑子笨的人
baby mama=不是指妈妈，而是女友
drop-top=能敞篷的车
do bids=坐牢
flip da script=改变状况
Fell Off :下滑，衰弱了
fire up :很生气，怒火冲天
get down :中枪而亡
get your back :保护你
hold sb down=back sb up,支持某人
holla back=回答，回复
high roller:赚了很多钱，花得也大手比的那款人
Ice Cream :指穿的很靓〔亮）
lay back=休息，relax
let you slide :再给你一次机会
lighten up :事情会好的，天会亮的！
make ends=赚钱
on the rebound:就等于I Will see u later
off da hook(top,hinges)=极好的
pockets are fat :口袋里肥水很多，就是你很多钱的意思roll up:开车到你想去的地方
same old same old :还是老样子
school of hard knocks=社会生活经验
word或word up :表示同意
apple-polisher 马屁精
as busy as a bee （象蜜蜂）忙忙碌碌的
as graceful as a swan （象天鹅）姿态优雅的
as gentle as a lamb （象羊羔）性情温顺的
as cunning as a fox （象狐狸）一样狡猾的
as poor as a church mouse 一贫如洗
I'm beat. 我非常疲乏。

beat gums 空洞无物、废话连篇的讲话
bell the cat 为众人的利益承担风险
black sheep 害群之马
Stop bugging me, man! 喂，别烦我了。

dog-eared books 读得卷了边的书
dog sleep 不时惊醒的睡眠
dog-tired 像狗一样的累
dog watch 夜班
dog days三伏天
old dog 上了岁数的人、老手
a sly dog 偷鸡摸狗者
a yellow dog 杂种狗、卑鄙可耻的小人
a big dog 看门狗、保镖；要人
as faithful as a dog 像狗一般的忠诚
a dog in the manger 占着马槽（不拉屎）
eat crow 由于夸大其词或过分自信，最后不得不承认错误。

eat his words 食言
out at elbows 捉襟见肘
elbow one's way 用胳膊肘挤来挤去为自己开道
get a black eye 被别人打青了眼睛
mind your eye 叫别人当心
make eyes 抛媚眼
cast sheep's eye 暗送秋波
You have an eye for something. 有眼光有见解
without turning an eyelash 泰然自若，不动声色
not bat an eyelid 没合眼睡觉
not bat an eyelid 对事情泰然自若
hang on by the eyelids 事情危在旦夕
face the music 不得不接受惩罚、承担后果，必须承受出现的局面a matter of face 面子攸关的事情
save one's face 挽回面子
pull a long face 拉长了脸
make a face at you 对你做个鬼脸
have the face 厚颜无耻
cold fish 态度冷冰冰，没有热情的人。

drink like a fish 牛饮
footfall 客流量
green eyed 嫉妒
green finger（thumb）把大伙干不好的活都干得漂漂亮亮
green hand 生手
green light 允许、许可
the green years 青春年华
He is ripe in years but green in heart. 形容某人是老当益壮
lose your heart to someone 和某人谈恋爱
lack heart 缺乏勇气
heart of stone 石头心肠
pour out your heart 倾吐你的心事
have a heart 可怜可怜你
his heart in the right place 他的心肠是很好的
not to wear your heart on your sleeve 不要太情绪化
Don't take the failure to your heart. 别为失败而难过
your heart of gold 金子般的心，美好心灵
a man after her own heart 正和她心意的人
put your heart at rest 放下心来
straight from the horse's mouth 来自权威和可靠的消息
belly up 关门倒闭
far out 很棒
hit the hay睡觉
hot stuff了不起
have her number 对她的底细一清二楚
an arm and a leg一大笔钱
get chewed out 挨骂
hit it off投缘
dead ahead 正前方
give it a shot 试试看
have a ball 玩个痛快
rain on her parade扫她的兴
shake a leg 快点儿
it sucks那个很差劲
sob story 悲伤的故事
turn in 睡觉
don’t have a cow 不要大惊小怪
in the doghouse打入冷宫
rub it in 火上浇油
bright eyed and bushy-tail 神采奕奕
all shook up惊慌失措
don’t spill the bean 别告诉别人
a worry wart 杞人忧天
a red-letter day 大好日子
bite the bullet 咬紧牙关
cold turkey 绝不含糊
didly squat 微不足道
go whole hog竭尽全力
jump the gun草率行事
a hands-off 顺其自然
blow his cover泄露身份
rock the boat 自找麻烦
make a killing 赚大钱
big wheel 具有影响力的人
confidence man 骗子
swan’s song 绝笔，最后的作品
to hit the sack 睡觉
uncle Tom 美国黑人
to know the ropes 知道内情
see red 生气
dead president 美钞
to call somebody names 骂人
high on the hog 豪华地，奢侈地
dish and dirt 口齿不清
busy body 爱管闲事的人
she is a sitting duck 她很危险
a shoot in the dark瞎猜
big fish to fry有重大事情要做
bet on it有把握
there is not much meat there这里面没有什么重要的plans have a way of going awry计划赶不上变化
a cat may look at a king人人平等
a good conscience are soft pillow不做亏心事不怕鬼敲门wind beneath my wings祝我好运吧
don’t count your chickens不要指望太早
too many cooks人多添乱
after death, he doctor放马后炮
come off it 别胡说
cut it out 够了
don’t get me wrong别误会我意思
you gave it everything你全力以赴了
are you patting me on the back or slapping me on the wrist你是在夸我还是在骂我to fish in the air海底捞月
I don’t want to put you out我不想给你添麻烦
I have a crush on her我看上她了
I have had it我再也无法忍受了
I will level with you 我就直说了
I would back off 我会放手
Got a second?有时间吗？
As green as grass初出茅庐，少不更事
In the green tree在青春旺盛的时代，在无忧无虑的环境中
Get in someone’s hair烦扰到别人，可能是侵犯了私人空间
When pigs fly不可能的事
Hit the ceiling很生气
Bite the bullet表现的坚强勇敢
That’s just my cup of tea
Anything you want 都随你
That’s my very idea我也是这样想的
Foot the bill结账
Get off my back不要嘲弄我，不要来烦我
Small potato小角色
Shape up打起精神
Never make, but always break成事不足败事有余
You will find a way车到山前必有路
Cheap skate 小气鬼
It’s as clear as day明白
It’s a big hit这是巨大的成功
It’s now or never 现在正是时候
More brawn than brain四肢发达，头脑简单
No sweat没问题
No sweat no sweet 吃得苦中苦方为人上人
Let it be顺其自然吧
You are all wet你搞错了
Bob’s your uncle轻松搞定
I got the short end of the stick我吃亏了
Rain check改天吧
Let’s give him a big hand让我们给他热烈鼓掌
I will play it by ear我会见机行事
You have my word我保证
Hang in there 别放弃
I will sleep on it我会好好想想
I own your won我欠你一个人情
On top of the world非常快乐高兴
I’m sold我被说服了
I don’t buy it 我不相信
Full of beans 精力旺盛的
It cracks me up笑死我了
Everything is five by five一切都好
You name it 具体讲出来
Just stay at safe side安全起见
The policy of family planning 计划生育Put a sock in it住嘴
I will keep my ears open我会留心的Are you pulling my leg？你开玩笑的吧You bet 当然
That was a close call 十万火急
I slip my mind 我忘记了
Take the floor在会议上发言，参加讨论Trying times 艰难的时期
Put in one’s notice辞职
Boil down to 归根结底
We can go Dutch我们可以分摊费用On/at one’s heels紧跟在后面
Let off some steam 发牢骚。