大学英语视听说口语期中考试复习资料 谚语.docx

Proverbs and idiomatic expressionsProverbs1. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. 一鸟在手胜过二鸟在林：珍惜当下。 It means people should value the things we have alreay owned . It is better to take the things that are in front of us than the things that are far away from us.We live in a colorful world, so we often dont satisfy the current situation.As for English learning, its just the same. For example, you can have many vocabulary books, but you never try to remember the words in the books.You just buy English tapes instead of listening to them, just download a lot of English movies without watching them. In my opinion, we should make full use of the things which we have go. We should catch at least one bird in hand instead of just looking at the two in the distance.2. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. 别离情更浓：小别胜新婚。 The proverb means that people will have a better relationship after they were apart from their family，friends or lover.When we leave our parents to go to university and do something alone，we will feel lonely and miss our parents a lot.At this time，we can use it to express the feeling.3. All that glitters is not gold. 闪光的未必都是金子：人不可以貌相。 It means that just because something glitters, that does not mean it is gold.It could be some other metal that glitters similarly to gold. It is to say that things may not be as it appears to be. In real life, if someone appears to be your friend as they treat you nicely and act favorably to you, this does not necessarily mean that they are really your friend and hold your best interests at heart.You can also apply it to items or products that look or sound valuable, but can be worthless.4. Birds of a feather flock together. 物以类聚。 It refers to birds of the same kind and color because they are wearing the same type of feathers.When used to describe people, it points to the fact that people of similar hobbies tend to be attracted by each other. Therefore, people work together, and even play together just because they share the same interests and the mode of thinking. Thats why it is often said that you can check out a person by getting to know the kind of friends hekeeps. And his opponents also can give you strong evidence of his personality.5. Do not count your chickens before they are hatched. 蛋尚未孵出，不要先数鸡：不要过早打如意算盘。 It means there is no need to make a conclusion too early or being optimistic too early.Just imagine that there is a basket of eggs in front of you . Until all the eggs are hatched , you will not know exactly how many chickens you will have because We cantpredictwhat would happen in the future.We cantimaginegettinggood scoresbefore we start tostudy hard.And finally, we know the answer is going to reveal itself in the not too long future.6. Do not put all your eggs in one basket. 不要把所有鸡蛋都放在一个篮子里：不要孤注一掷。 This means you should not put all of your resources together in one place.Because you cant risk losing everything at one time.As a undergraduate student，although study is an important part of our life, it isnt the whole life.If you spend your all time on it,at last, you may just be a bookworm.If you take part in many different activities，maybe you will be good at lots of different things. So try to use your time reasonably,dont put all you time in one basket. 7. Even Homer sometimes nods. 神仙也有打盹的时候：智者千虑，必有一失。It means everyone can make a mistake.Even if the wisest man,he also cant succeed all the time.For example,a soldier is very successful in all of the battle.But in one battle,he thought that he has considerate all the questions,but he cannot accuratelyjudgewhat time will the enemy attacted.So he is likely to fail.In real life,when you do math,you might forget one important step althought you think you already do well enough.And we should forgive these small mistake.8. Every cloud has a silver lining. 黑暗中总有一线光明：车到山前必有路。 Itmeansthere is hope behind every trouble.Everythingtherewillalwaysbechanged.If Godclosesawindow,he willopenanotherdoor for you.In real life,whenweareintrouble in study,work or interpersonal relationship ,wemustbelievethereisalwaysawaytoovercomethedifficulty.Believeyourselfand never giveup easily.Onedayyouwillbesuccessful. 9. God helps those who help themselves. 自助者天助。The saying wants to tell us if we tried our best, if we made great effort,we will stay in positive. Our positive mood together with our hardwork, we might find that we are so close to success like god has helped us.10. Haste makes waste. 欲速则不达。It means that actingtooquicklymayactuallyslowthingsdown.We cant succeed without a long timeaccumulation.If one wants to be president of a country, he should first display his remarkable ability in his routine work so that his ability will be recognized and accepted by others. However, if he is impatient for success, he will never realize his goal. If a man fall in love whith a woman, he should not expect to win her heart within a day, otherwise he will never get true love.In conclusion, one should follow in order and advance step by step,otherwise he will suffer more difficults.11. Honesty is the best policy. 诚实为上策。It point to the importance of honesty. Because if you are honest to others, they will be honest to you in return. When you are sad, they will comfort you. When you are in trouble, they will help you.Honesty not only brings us honor and friendship,but also material gains. Many successful people won the material wealth by honest labour. Honesty is also regard as the traditional virtue of our Chinese nation. 12. If life gives you lemons, make lemonade. 如果生活给你柠檬，就榨柠檬汁：乐观面对逆境。It tells us we should always try to make the best of a bad situation.Lemons taste sour, but they make nice juice when you mix their juice with sugar and water. If life gives you sugar, just taste and enjoy it. If life gives you a trouble, check it out and work hard to solve the problem. Try our best to overcome the difficulties, let the life become beautiful.13. Let sleeping dogs lie. 不要招惹是非。Sleeping dogs cant bit human,so its better not disturb them.It means if a matter is settled, theres no need to bring it up again.For example,we should not force others todo what theydont want to do.We shouldnt talk about things which let other peoplemind.Everything has its own rules, so dont break it.14. Once bitten, twice shy. 一朝被蛇咬,十年怕井绳。If you had been hurt by something or someone before,even just once,you will be afraid every time you think about that thing or person.For example,If you had been bitten by a snake once,then you will be scared every time later you see something looks like snake.15. One mans meat is another mans poison. 一个人的美食,可是另一人的毒药：萝卜青菜，各有所爱。That means different people like different food materials, in other words, its very common to see that the attitudes toward one thing are quite different among those people.For example, some prefers watching sports programmes, others love TV plays.Some are called crazy fans of Michael Jackson, others will choose Lady GaGa. We think about a thing or person depends on our life styles, hobby, social experience, the scale of knowledge and the way we use our brains.As a matter of fact, you are not likely to change others opnions on something and its not necessary, too.Therefore, you should show respect to others choices, find out differences, exchange views with each other. Maybe you can explore a new world and make more friends. 16. There is no such thing as a free lunch. 世上没有免费的午餐。It tell us it is impossible to gain wealth or success without any work.Thefarmersharvestbyayearofhardwork.scientistsgainachievementsbyyearsofdevotedresearches.Iknowtherearealwayssomepeoplewhowaitfortheopportunitiesfallingonthem,theymayattributetherefailurestolackofgoodchances.Therefore,therearemanypeoplegainingnothingatlast.Seeingthewordfreeinadsusedtoexciteus，but now we know it cant be so nice as we imagine. Clevermenknowthatthemoreeffortstheymake,thebiggerchancetheywillhavetosucceed.17. There is no use crying over spilled milk. 不要为打翻的牛奶哭泣：既往不咎。It means when something happened，we could do nothing to change it but to accept it.When we are helpless,we may be told even comforted by that sentence.Sometimes before we are going to begin doing something to make up for mistakes,people around us will warn us that there is no use crying over slipped milk.We should pay more attention into future.18. Think twice, act wise. 三思而后行。It means oneshouldnotrushahead tooquicklywithouthavingcarefullyprepared.We should think more instead of acting blindly.Dont make promise when youre in joy.Dont reply when youre sad.Dontake decisions when youre angry.19. Too many cooks spoil the broth. 厨子太多煮坏汤：人多误事。The meaning of this proverb is that the more people work on a project, the worse it may turn out，or too many people or ideas may prevent from getting things done. Or you can say that too many people working together without a leader can lead to a mass chaos. So people should make a plan and follow it strictly every time they meet. Then they will never divert from the direction of making the “broth.”Whats more，it also tells us that we need to solve this problem ourselves.20. Two wrongs do not make a right. 两错相加仍是错。It means dealing with the faults of others in wrong way cant get better results.If someone had done something wrong,we shouldnt filled with thoughts of revenge.Although it was clear that someone had been wrong,you shouldnt hit him.Because punishment doesnt solve the problem.This method is wrong,too.21. You are what you eat. 人如其食。What you eat can reflect on your life and characters.There are some things which you dont care about can make people know more about how you are.For example,if you observe one s eating habit we can know where he comes from and his physical condition.From one s dress we can judge one s economic condition and style.So it points out that we should care about our normal habit and try our best give other people good impression .The other meaning is what you eat can judge if you are healthy.22. You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. 用蜜比用醋能捉到更多的苍蝇：好话比尖刻言词更管用。Honey is sweet while vinegar is not. In other words, you can win people to your side easily with gentle persuasion than by hostile actions.It is true in our daily life ,comforting someone who makes mistakes instead of critizing him,he will be greatful to you and stands on your side .Congratulating someone who succeeds instead of disdaining his success,he will be happy and make friends with you.23. You can lead a horse to water, but