1.sow one's wild oats 放荡
例如:
After sowing his wild oats for a couple of years, he settled down and got married.
他过了两三年放荡生活之后,安顿下来成家立室了。
2.blow hot and cold 反覆无常,犹豫不决
例如:
He keeps blowing hot and cold about emigrating to Canada.
他对移居加拿大一事始终拿不定主意。
3.rain check 换票券
例如:
The game had to be cancelled because of the rain, but we have got rain checks on it.
由于下雨,那场比赛得取消了;不过,我们都取得了换票券。
4.holier than thou 伪善
例如:
What I find most abominable in our politicians is that, even when their hands are stained with blood, they invariably adopt a holier-than-thou attitude.
我想,我们那些政客最讨厌的就是纵使双手血迹斑斑,还是千篇一律的摆出一副道貌岸然的嘴脸。
5.throw in the towel 认输放弃
例如:
Isn't it too early to throw in the towel? We may still be able to finish it in time.
现在就放弃,不是太早了么?我们或者还可以及时做完这件事的。
6.Back to square one 问题回到原态
例如:
The attempt failed and we had to go back to square one.
尝试失败了,因此我们得重新开始。
7.At the drop of a hat 一有信号可以马上行动
例如:
Tom Atkins is usually a good-hearted, friendly guy. But he has one problem--a hot temper. Say something he doesn't agree with, and he'll start a loud argument at the drop of a hat.
汤姆·阿特金斯一般来说是一个心地善良,很友好的人。但是,他有一个毛病,那就是脾气太坏。要是你说些什么他不同意的话,他可以马上和你大声争辩。
8.grapevine 小道消息
例如:
They were told to desist from spreading grapevine news.
已告诉他们停止散布小道消息。
9.A fish out of water 某人和他所处的环境不融恰而感到别扭
例如:
At the conference I was a fish out of water. All the speeches were in French, a language I never studied.
参加那个会议真叫我感到别扭。所有人发表讲话时都用法文,可是我从来也没有学过法文。
10.to kick up one's heels 形容人们到外面去寻欢作乐
例如:
How about coming out with us Wednesday night? We're all going to take Bill Glover out to dinner. Then later we'll drop into a few night spots. It's Bill's last chance to kick up his heels, you know--he's getting married the next morning.
星期三晚上跟我们一起出去玩,怎么样?我们大家一起请比尔格洛弗出去吃晚饭。然后,我们再到几个像夜总会那样的地方去玩。这是比尔到外面去寻欢作乐的最后一次机会了,你知道,他第二天上午就要结婚了。