一些实用的英语表达.doc

一些实用的英语表达(1)英语笔记 2007-01-04 20:23:09 阅读68 评论0 字号：大中小订阅 1.from A to Z(从最初到最末)全部因为在英语字母表中,A是最初的字母, Z是最后的字母, 所以从A到Z意为自始至终,彻头彻尾,完全.Ive read all of Shakespeares works from A to Z.莎士比亚的作品,我全部都读过了.Steven Knows Chinese history from A to Z.史蒂文对中国的历史了解得很透彻.Hes mastered his field from A to Z.他精通自己的专业.I dont suppose he read a book from years end to years end. But he was no fool. He knew his work from A to Z.我看他一年到头没有读一本书,可是他决不是傻瓜,他完全熟悉自己的工作.2.Be about to即将.的这个句式在口语中用来表示将做(打算做,将从事)某事.We were about to leave when the snow began.我们正要离开的时候,下起雪来了.I havent gone yet, but Im about to.我还没有去,但我正要去.My father is about to retire.我父亲就要退休了.The film was about to start.电影就要开始了.As I was about to say, you interrupted me.我正要说的时候,你打断了我.3.Benot about to完全没有去做.的意思这一条不单单是be about to do something的否定形式. 肯定形式 I 的意思是现在马上去做.,否定形式的意思并不是现在不马上去做., 而是表达强达强烈反对的意志: 完全没有去做.的意图.Im not about to go out shopping in all this rain.老这样下雨,我根本不打算出去买东西.Im not about to admit defeat.我还不想认输.Im not about to tell you the answer to that.我完全没有回答你那个问题的打算.Im not about to sit around the house doing nothing when I have the chance to go skiing.既然有机会去滑雪,我可不算在家里闲呆着.Im not about to lend you any more money.我再也不想借钱给你了.4.have a nodding acquaintance点头之交, 不大熟悉have a nodding acquaintance一般后接with someone. 另外,a nodding acquaintance 也指有点头之交的人. 其次, 也有在have a nodding acquaintance 后不接with someone 而接with something 的情况, 来表示不大熟悉, 不大会 日意思.I dont know her very well. We have only a nodding acquaintance.我对她不很了解, 我们只是点头之交.I have more than a nodding acquaintance with him.我与他不是泛泛之交.Hes a nodding acquaintance, but I dont know where he lives.他与我有点头之交, 但是我不知道他住在哪里.The old doctor has only a nodding acquaintace with most recent discoveries in medicine.这位老医生对大多数医学上的新发现不太熟悉.Even after ten years in America he appears to have little more than a nodding acquaintance with English.他虽然在美国已经呆了十年, 但是看起来不大会英语.5.Add up to 总计为.;意味着, 等于是按照字面的意思就是总数合计为.,在中语中,引申为(把说话, 事实等种种因素都考虑在内)结果是.,否意味着., 为了加强语气, 常添加all.All that this adds up to is that you dont want to help.总而言之, 你不想帮忙.The bill added up to 12 dollars.这个帐单总计有12美元.She gave many excuses, but what they added up to was that she did not wish to be troubled.她摆出了许多借口, 然而这些借口都意味着她不愿意别人去麻烦她.No matter how you slice it, his story adds up to a pack of lies.不管你怎样分析, 他所讲的话毕竟是一堆谎言.It all adds up to the fact that weve been cheated.总而言之就是这样一个事实-我们受骗了.6.Im afraid抱歉,对不起; 恐怕这是一种较为礼貌, 委婉的拒绝, 或对已发生或将要发生的不幸之事表示惋惜的用语.也说Im afraid to say(恐怕我得说.)Im afraid I dont agree with you there.对不起,在这点上我不同意你的看法.Im afraid(that) Iwill be late.我恐怕要迟到了.Im afraidIm going to have to ask you to leave.很抱歉, 我恐怕得请你离开了.Have we missed the train? Im afraid so.我们误了火车了吗? 很遗憾, 是误了.7.agree with(食物, 气候, 生活等)适合于.agree一般是意见相和的意思, Do you agree with me?你同意我的意见吗?但在这里则是对.适合的意思.The climate in Hawaii agrees with me.夏威夷的气候对我很合适.A dry climate will agree with the patient.干燥的气候适宜于病人恢复健康.Canadas harsh winters dont agree with me.不适应加拿大的严冬.Life in the city has never agreed with him.都市生活从来都不适合他的性情.The fish i had for supper hasnt agreed with me.晚餐吃的那种鱼不合我的胃口.8.vanish into thin air.(忽然)消失这一惯用语语多用来表示感到莫名其妙, 到底是怎么回事? 的疑问心情. 为了加强语气, 往往增加just 或simply.I saw the man I was chasing run into a side street, but when I reached there, he had vanished into thin air.我明明看到我追的那个人钻进了一条胡同, 可当我赶到那儿的时候, 他竟然无影无踪了.The magician waved his wand and the rabbit suddenly vanished into the air.魔术师把他手里小棒一挥, 兔子就突然不见了.Where in the world is my wallet? They couldnt have just simply vanished into the air.我的钱包到底哪儿去?它总不能一下子就无影无踪了吧.I havent seen Kate for over two weeks. She seems to have just vanished into thin air.我有两个星期没见到凯特了, 她好像一下子就消失了一样.9. put on airs.装模作样put on是做出.的样子, 假装, air 在这里是气氛, 心情的意思, 直译为装出某气氛. give oneself airs.也表示相同的意思, 但比put on airs.显得生硬一些.No sooner had she become friends with the bosss wife than she began to put on airs.她刚刚跟老板的夫人交上朋友, 就神气活现起来了.I dont like Jane. Shes always putting on airs.我不喜欢简, 她总是装腔作势.Dont put on airs with me.别在我面前摆什么臭架子.As soon as Smiths acquired some money, they began to put on airs.史密斯一家捞到一些钱之后, 马上就开始神气十足了.He was in great demand. Consequently, he gave himself airs.到处都需要他, 因此, 他自以为了不起.10.and all that诸如此类的东西, 事情后面常接Jazz, rubbish, nonsense, tripe, stuff, kind , sort of thing 等等, 以避免重复前面已提到的东西, 事情等.He used to take drugs and all that when he was young.他年轻的时候曾经服用过毒品之类的东西.My grandmother is very keen on good manners: brushing your teeth, keeping your back straight and all that jazz.我奶奶可讲究好习惯了,什么要刷牙啦, 背要直啦那一套.By cereals we mean wheat, oats, rye, barley, and all that kind.我们说的谷类是指小麦, 燕麦, 黑麦, 大麦以及诸如此类的东西.Poverty compelled him to sell his house, clothes, and all that.贫困迫使他卖掉了房子, 衣服以及其他东西.11.of all在所有的.中偏偏.;最应该.,最不应该.of all.表示对所说的人, 被要求做的事, 所要去的地方等的不理解.惊讶, 愤慨, 不满和讨厌. 意为: 给什么不行, 偏偏.; 干什么不行, 偏偏.; 谁不行,偏偏.; 去哪儿不行, 偏偏. 此外,还表示许多事情, 人, 地方中, 某人, 某地最应该.或最不应该.Why ask him to go , of all people?为什么不叫别人偏叫他去?Of all things, we were givenhot soup on a warm summer day.大热的天儿, 喝点儿什么不行, 偏偏给我们喝热汤.Why go to Iceland, of all places?那么多地方, 为什么偏要去冰岛?Of all people, you should be able to trust me!所有人之中, 你最应该信任我!Surely of all places, if you ask me, you should go to visit Tibet.当然, 如果你问我的话, 上哪儿都不如上西藏去看看!Lose ones tongue 说不出话；开不了口 The man would always lose his tongue when he was introduced to new people. 那个人在被介绍给陌生人时，总是窘迫得说不出话来。 The strangers question surprised me so, that i temporarily lost my tongue. 这陌生人问的问题使我吃惊，一时之间连话都说不出来了。 I asked you wht you did with the money,Surely u havent lost your tongue. 我是问你用那钱干什么了？你怎么哑巴了？ The child lost his tongue in the presence of strangers。 那孩子在生人面前不敢作声。 So youve lost your tongue all at onece,have you?Perhaps you think it wiser to say nothing. 你怎么突然不说话了？也许你认为保持沉默要明智些吧。 On top of. 除.之外 On top of borrowing 50pounds,he asked me to lend him my car. 他向我借了五十英镑，此外还向我借汽车。 He came home late and on top of that,he was very rude to me. 他很晚回家还不说，而且对我特别无礼。 She Lost her purse, and on top of that,broke the vase shewas carrying. 她丢了钱包，除此之外，还把手里的花瓶打碎了。 He gets commission on top of his salary. 他除了薪水之外还得到佣金。 He lost his job and on top of that his wife left him. 他失了业，不仅如此，他妻子也离开他了。 Nov.24 did sb a good turn 做有利于某人的事；做好事 do someone a good turn的反义语是do some one a bad turn She did me a good turn by lending me that money. 她借给我那笔钱，帮了我一把。 Thank you for helping me.I hope Ill be able to do you a good turn someday. 谢谢你帮助我，希望将来有一天能报答你。 Ive done that guy several good turns,but he never seems to remember it when I need his help. 我帮过那小子好几次，但当我需要他帮忙的时候，他似乎一点也记不得我的对他的帮助。 He has done me many a good turn. 他曾帮过我很多忙。 speak out of turn 说话太过火了 Dick loses friends by speaking out of turn. 狄克说话轻率，因而失去了一些朋友。 Im sorry I spoke out of turn today,professor.I should have controlled my temper. 教授，真对不起，昨天我说话太过火了，我应该控制我的情绪。 The boss is still angry with you for speaking out of turn at last weeks meeting. 你在上个星期的会议中发言失当，老板还在生你的气呢。 You spoke out of turn when you criticized Proffessor Willams methods of teaching. 你批评威谦教授的教学方法，实在太过份了。 Perhaps Im speaking out of turn,But there are some facts of which you seem unaware. 也许我的发言太冒昧了，但是有些事实你似乎还不了解。 Nov.25 up a tree 非常难办；进退两难；处于困境 The banks refusal to lend us any more money has left us up a tree 银行拒绝再向我们贷款，使我们陷入极大的困难。 Im up a tree.Ive got a date to take Mary to a concet tonight,but Ive lost the tickets. 我现在陷入窘境了。今天晚上我约好带玛丽去听音乐会，但是我把票丢了。 Were up a tree.The guest speaker for tonights meeting just called to say hes sick and cant make it. 我们现在进退两难。今晚上会议的特邀演讲人刚刚来电话，说他有病不能出席了。 Having had so many medical bills to pay,Joe is now up a tree financially. 乔有那么多医药费要付，因此他在经济上很困难。 They are really up a tree to find a way out. 他们确实处境困难，找不到出路。 drown ones trouble in drink 借酒消愁 有时用wine,whiskey,brandy等酒类的具体名称代替drink,也有把in drink部分省略的情况。也可用sorrows,woes等代替trouble. Ive found its a great mistake to try to drown your troubles in wine.Ive got a terrible hangover this morning. 我发觉借酒消愁是一个很大的错误，今天早晨我头疼恶心得厉害。 Im fed up with everything. I think Ill go out and drown my troubles tonight. 我对一切事情都厌烦透了。我想今天晚上出去借酒消愁。 When his wife was killed in an auto accident,Mr.Green tried to drown his sorrows in whiskey. 自格林先生的妻子死于车祸后，他就以威士忌酒来消愁。 Theres not enough whiskey in the whole world to drown all my troubles. 要消除我的一切烦恼，全世界的威士忌都不够。 Nov.26 make oneself scarce 走开；溜走；不露面 Hes in a bad mood,so Ill make myself scarce. 他情绪不好，我得躲着点。 Oh, here comes Jack,and I havent got the money I promised Id pay him back today.Excuse me,I think Ill make myself scarce. 唉呀，杰克来。我答应今天还他钱，可是我还没弄到钱。对不起，我还是溜走为好。 When there are people around,youd better make yourself a little scarce. 附近有人时，你最好避开一点。 Tom, make yourself scarce and be off to bed. 汤姆，你去吧，去睡觉吧。 I think Ill make myself scarce at tonights meeting. 我不打算参加今天的会议。 make a scene 大吵大闹 动词用make时最多，有时也用create a scene. scene的前边可以加big,great,tremendous之类的形容词。 Im ashamed of you,making a scene in the restaurant like that! 我为你们感到羞耻，竟在餐馆里当当从大吵大闹。 I could understand why he would be angry. But I didnt think he had to make a scene about it.It was embarrassing. 他为什么发起怒来，我本来能理解的，但是我认为他不一定要为此闹起来。这真使人难堪。 My girl got angry at me and made a big scene in the restaurant last night. 我的女朋友对我发火了，昨天晚上在餐厅里就大嚷大叫起来。 Dont make such a scene.If you want to quarrel,lets go home and do it. 不要当着别人的面那么吵乱闹。如果你想吵架的话，咱们回家去吵。 I know youre unhappy,but stop crying.Youre making a scene. 我知道你心里不好受，不过，别哭了。当着别人的面，太有失体统了。Nov.28 it depends 看情况再说；看情况而定 What will you do about this?I dont know, it all depends. “这事你怎么办？”“我不知道，看情况再说吧。” Do you always go on your holiday together with your sister?It depends.If I have my holiday at the same time as she,then we go together. 你总是和你姐姐一起去度假吗？”“那要看情况，如果我们两人正好同时休假，我们就一起去。” I may go there,but that depends. 我可能去那儿，不过要看情况。 Can I come?That depends:there might not be room in the car. “我能来吗？”“那要看情况，汽车里可能没有空座了。” It depends how you tackle the problem. 那取决于你如何解决这个问题。 Leaving someone to oneself 听其自便；对某人不加干涉 亦作leave someone to his own devices Im fed up with the way he keeps changing his mind.From now on Im leaving him to him self 他的心思一日三变，我已经烦透了。从今以后，随他自已去吧。 The children were left very much to themselves. 在假期里，孩子们可以自由活动。 He left us to ourselves;he didnt mind how the work was done as long as it was finished when wed promised. 他不干涉我们，不管工作怎样做，只要我们在约定的时间内完成就行了。 You cant leave the students to themselves.Every time you take your eyes off them,order declines. 你不能对学生们放任不管。只要眼睛一离开，秩序就乱了。 Left to my own devices,I would have signedthe contract right away. 如果按照我的意思，我马上就签合同了。Nov.29 fits someone like a glove 完全相合；恰如其分 That must be Ned that youre talking about. The description fits him like a glove. 你们所谈的人一定是内德，你的描述恰恰与他吻合。 Her new dress fits her like a glove. 她的新衣服非常合身。 Cautiousis a description that certainly fits the new president like a glove. 用谨小慎微来形容新会长很恰当。 When he tried it, he found the environment fit him like a glove. 他试一段时间之后，发现那个环境对他是非常适宜的。 I dont see why he should object to being called a fool.The appellation fits him like a glove. 我真不明白他为什么反对别人管他叫混蛋，这个名称对他是再合适不过了。 hadle someone with kid gloves 小心谨慎地对待 Youd better handle the boss with kid gloves today.He got out of bed on the wrong side this morning. 今天你对老板可要小心一些。 从早上起，他就不顺气。 My grandfather is extremely temperamental.You have to handle him with kid gloves. 我的祖父性情暴躁，你对他可要小心谨慎。 She is very sensitive about the subject.You will have to handle her with kid gloves. 她对那个问题委敏感，你对她一定要谨慎。 This mate is very explosive.It has to be handled with kid gloves. 这种原料极容易爆炸，对它可要万分小心。 The situation between the two countries is extremely delicates.It could explode into war if it is not handled with kid gloves. 两国之间的情况极其微妙，如果不谨慎从事，就可能爆发战争。Nov.30 Save your breath 保持沉默；不必白费唇舌 You can save your breath:youll never persuade her. 别白费口舌了，你决说服不了她。 Save your breath;the boss will never give you the day off. 你别费口舌了，老板决不会给你休息日的。 I soon saw that he wasnt going to change his mind,so i decided to save my breath. 我跟他谈了几句，就看出他决不打算改变自已的主意，所以我就不再说什么了。 take ones breath away 使某人大吃一惊；使某人高兴得说不出话来 也可以用take away someones breath的形式。还可以把take和breath用连接起来作形容词breath-taking. His sheer rudeness took my breath away. 他如此无礼，使我吃惊得目瞪口呆。 The appetite with which he consumed,during these next few days,really took my breath away. 打那以后的几天里，他吃东西的胃口真使我吃惊。 Mr.Smiths charm and easy flow of words practically took my breath away. 史密斯先生的魅力和对答如流的口才实在使我为之倾倒。 She was so beautiful,it took away my breath. 她漂亮极了，使我惊叹不已。 Dec.01 there is not much fear of 不大可能；不会 There is not much fear of that happening. 那事不大可能发生。 Theres not much fear of losing his way. 他不会迷路。 Theres not much fear of him leaving the film-he is too well paid to do that. 他不太可能高开那家公司-他的薪水那么高，他不会的。 Theres not much fear of the President visiting the stricken area at this moment. 在这种时刻总统不会访问灾区的。 Theres not much fear of an enemy attack taking place. 敌人不可能发动进攻。 you could have knocked me down with a feather 大吃一惊 也可以说You could have knocked me over with a feather You could have knocked me down with a feather when he told me that I had won the jackpot. 当他说我中了头奖时，我简直惊呆了。 How did you feel when the Prime Minister called to ask your opinion?You could have knocked me down with a feather. 当首相打电话来征求你的意见时，你是什么心情？”“我简直大吃一惊。” You could knocked me down with a feather when the dooman casually mentioned that he had a degree in astrophysics. 当看门人随便说起他有天体物理学学位时，真让我大吃一惊。 When we saw the Wiltons whom we imagined to be in Brazil, enter the ballroom,you could have knocked me down wiht a feather. 当我们原以为到巴西去了的韦尔登夫妇进入舞厅时，我们大吃一惊。 fed up with 厌倦；厌烦；不愉快；沮丧 在加强语气时，常添加completely Im rather fed up with your complaints. 我听够了你的牢骚。 Im fed up of waiting for him-Im going home! 我等他都等烦了-我这就回家了！ Im fed up with this weather.We havent seen the sun for over a week now. 这个天气真是烦透了，我们现在已经一个多星期没见过太阳了。 People get fed up wiht anyone who brags all the time. 人们讨厌老是自吹自擂的人。 Shell be a bit of fed up that you didnt telephone. 你没有给她打电话，她会不高兴的。 Why the long face,Frank?Ive never seen you look so fed up. 弗兰克，为什么板着脸？我从没有看到你这样不高兴。 feel free 随便做某事 允许别做某事，让他不要感受到拘束时的用语。 Please feel free to make suggestions. 请随便提点意见。 Just feel free to come and go when you like. 您来去自由，请别拘束。 May I use your bathroom?Feel free. 我可以用您的卫生间吗？“随便用吧。” May I use your phone?Feel free. “我可以用你的电话吗？”“随便用吧。” Please feel free to call on us whenever you like. 只要你愿意，随时可以来。Dec.03 bite the bullet 忍受痛苦；下定决心 在英国英语中，bite the bullet仅仅是“忍受痛苦，忍气吞声”的意思。在美国英语中，这一表达法适用于“不管是多么讨厌，多么辛苦的事情，只要非干不可，就拿出勇气去干”的声场合，多用bite the bullet and do something的形式。 After pussyfooting around for several months,Hal decided to bite the bullet and ask his boss for a raise. 哈尔经过几过几个月的犹豫不决之后，终于决心去请求老板给他提高工资。 The president called the people to bite the bullet and make personal sacrifices. 这们总统号召人民忍受巨大痛苦，作出个人牺牲。 I hear youre getting married.When did you decide to bite the bullet? 听说你要结婚了。你什么时候下定决心的啊？ The nation cannot overcome inflation unless Congress bites the bullet and slashes welfare spending. 除非议会下定决心大幅度削福利开支，国家是无法克服通货膨胀的。 nip sth in the bud 将某事消灭于萌芽中；防患于未然 She wanted to be an actress,but her father soon nipped that idea in the bud. 她想当演员，但她父亲很快打消了她这个念头. She plans to go to bed with a book were nipped in the bud when visitors arrived unexpectedly. 有客人突然来访，使她上床看书的计划落空了。 A bad habit in a child should be nipped in the bud. 应该尽早将小小孩的坏习惯改过来。 The teacher nipped the disorder in the bud. 老师在秩序一开始混乱时就加以制止了。 Through a tip from an informant,the police were able to nip the planned bank robbery in the bud. 由于情报员的秘密通报，警方得以粉碎了枪劫银行的阴谋计划。 burns someone up 发怒，激怒；（使）烦躁 有时用be burned up 或者get burned up的形式 It burns me up the way people throw trash on the street. 人们往大街上仍东西，真叫我生气。 He burns up at the slightest provocation. 他为了一点小事就会大发脾气。 The breakdown of his new car burned Mr.Jones up. 新车抛锚，使琼先生烦躁不已。 The boys laziness and rudeness burned his teacher up. 这男孩的懒惰和无礼，使得老师大为恼火。 That was a terrible thing for him to do.I get burned up every time I think about it. 他竟然做出那样无法无天的事情，我一想起来就怒不可遏。 beat around the bush 说话转弯抹角 有时，特别是在英国英语中，用about代替around. I wish youd stop beating about the bush and tell me that you really want. 我希望你不要转弯抹角，快告诉我你到底想要什么。 lets not beat around the bush any longer.Cant we decide now? 我们别再迟迟不作决定了，难道我们不能现在就定下来吗？ Stop beating around the bush and tell us who won. 别再东拉西扯了，告诉我们是谁赢了。 meant business 是当真的；不是开玩笑的 This time he wasnt fooling,he meant business. 这次他可不是闹着玩的，是当真的。 When he said he would do it,he meant business. 他要是说了要做这件事情，那就是真的要做。 Before,Ive let you off with simply a warning,but this time I mean business! 以前，我只是警告一下就放过了你，但是这一次我可动真格的啦！ He means business:he really will shoot us if we try to escape. 他不是说着玩的，我们要是逃，他真会开枪。 buy 相信；理解；接受 No one will buy that excuse. 没有人会相信那个借口。 Im sorry,but Im afraid I just cant buy that explanation. 很抱歉，我对那种解释怎么也理解不了。 The court refused to by Tonys story about self-defense. 法院拒绝接受托尼的正当防卫的说法。 You dont really expect me to buy that cock-and-bull story, do you? 你不会真的以为我会相信那种无稽之谈吧？ I know hes your friend and you want me t