ENGLISHIDIOMS
Thosewhodonotknowidiomsarejustidiots.
Introduction
Definition:AnEnglishidiomisagroupofwordswithspecialmeaningdifferentfromthemeaningsofitsconstituentwords.
Besidessemanticopaqueness（晦涩、不透明）,manyEnglishidiomsarecharacterizedbystructuralinvariability.Theirformisoftenfixed.Afeatherinone’scap:anhonor,success,ofwhichonecanbeproud.one’anhonor,Todrawablank:抽到空签，（忙乎半天）一无所获
’ssuccesshassteppedup(提升、走近enhanced)theirsocialstatus.TomTom’
Shesangafewlinesoffthecuff(withoutpreviouspreparation).
即兴：improvise,impromptu,ad-lib,wingit,ad-libber,improvisational,Ourpolicyiscutanddried（已成定局）.Myoldmanhaskickedthebucket(死).单复数、同义词均不可随意替换。pail
2.SourceofEnglishIdiomsDailylife:
’sshirtson不发脾气,忍耐Tokeeponeone’
Togivesbthecoldshoulder冷淡对待
Tomake(both)endsmeet做到收支平衡/相抵Togotoseed结籽，退化，不修边幅起来Toleadsomeoneupthegardenpath引诱gardenpath
’shandtotheplough着手某项工作Toputoneone’
withTobeinthesameboatboatwith
Tobeindeepwaters陷入困境
Togoagainst/withthestream逆/顺潮流而动Tocrossswordswithsomeone交锋，争论
’sgun固执己见Tosticktooneone’
Rankandfile普通一兵
Tocomeunderthehammer被拍卖Totalkshop满嘴行话，三句不离本行
Toturnanhonestpenny用正当手段挣钱，做正行生意
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Tospeakbythebook说话确切有根据
Toturnoveranewleaf翻开新的一页，重新来过Toreadbetweenthelines体会言外之意Toflunkout不及格而退学
Tokeepthepotboiling谋生，维持生计Tobeinthesoup处于困境Tobutterbothsidesofone’sbread多此一举one’
Tokeeptheballrolling使正常运转，不使中断Toreachthefirstbase取得初步成功（开门红）
’slastcard打出最后王牌，作最后一击toplayoneone’
tofollowsuit效尤，学样，跟风
toturnuptrumps（揭到好牌）交好运
’shands放水（故意给好处）给某人toplayintosbsb’
TheBible:
athornintheflesh肉中刺，眼中钉
toturntheothercheek打左脸送上右脸，一味忍让，唾面自干
’seye眼中的宝贝，掌上明珠theappleofoneone’
adropinthebucket沧海一粟，九牛一毛
’sclothingwolfinsheepsheep’
Pridegoesbeforeafall骄兵必败
Alivingdogisbetterthanadeadlion.
=Abirdinthehandisworthtwointhebush.双鸟在林不如一鸟在手Doasyouwouldbedoneby(others).己所不欲勿施于人。’splays:ShakespeareShakespeare’
Toflutterthedovecotes（扰乱鸽棚）使温顺者骚动起来，TogivetheDevilhisdue公平对待，平心而论
’sheartonone’ssleeve心直口快，容易激动Towearoneone’one’
Theprimrose（樱草）path享乐之路One’ssaladdays少不更事时期One’
Fables,myths,legends:
Sourgrapes（伊索寓言？）得不到而去诋毁的事物
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Sweetlemon(mechanism)甜柠檬（作用）——一种心理补偿作用自己的孩子好
’sshareThelionlion’
TheswordofDamocles随时可能发生的危险，潜在的威胁
’heelAchillesAchilles’
laborHerculeanHerculeanlabor
ToworklikeaTrojan勤奋工作
3.ClassificationofIdioms
Semanticcriterion:（SeenotesonP296,297）1).Standardwordcombination
2).Phraseologicalunities:tocometothepoint涉及要点
3).Cast-iron（铸铁）idioms:tobeonthecarpet在被考虑（讨论）中Structuralcriterion:Phrasalidioms:（短语）
Abedofroses称心如意的境遇,安乐窝Easyontheeye悦目
Inonepiece完整，无缝，未受破坏
Clauseidioms:（Subjectless无主小句/子句）
’swords食言Eatoneone’
Catchsbred-handed现场抓住Dealsbablow打击，给……一击Sentenceidioms:（完整句）
Theproofofthepuddingisintheeating.
inchandhe’lltakeamile.得寸进尺Givesbananinchhe’A.Phraseidioms
Coldcomfort无用的安慰
1)Verbphraseidiom:
:lookup,putasidev.+adv.adv.:
v.+prep.:makefor走向,getthrough
+prep.:comeroundto改变主意，经放弃后又回头做,doawayv.+adv.adv.+away
with废掉
blow,break,bring,call,catch,come,fall,get,give,go,hold,keep,lay,
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look,make,put,run,set,stand,take,turn,work
about,across,at,away,back,by,down,for,in,into,off,on,out,over,(a)round,through,to,upworkout=figureout=calculateturndown=rejectdoawaywith=abolishstepup=提升layon=提供takeup=继续break-in闯入take-off起飞
run-through过一遍
glance-through走马观花gooff=离开，爆炸
pullthrough=recover康复smash-up=车祸collisionknockout击倒=floor
2)Nounphraseidiomhardcash现金、（硬通货）
alameduck不中用的人，竞选连任失败等别人来继任的官员thelast/finalstraw失败前所受最后一击
lightrelief令人愉快的改变，调剂，松一口气-lev-=liftredtape官样文章，繁文缛节，官僚作风
abolt（闪电）fromthesky/blue晴天霹雳，意外事件thesaltoftheearth社会中坚
3)Adjectivephraseidiom3)Adjective
allset(forsth/todosth)万事俱备
allsquare(withsb)势均力敌，不相上下，扯平（清账）ascrossasabearwithasorehead脾气暴躁asbroadasit’slong长宽相等，没有区别it’
(almost)bareofsth几乎没有easyontheeye悦目
fullofbeans精神饱满，弄错
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4)Prepositionalphraseidiom
’sstation超越自己的的身份地位，僭越aboveoneone’
attheeleventhhour在最后时刻inaword一句话，一言以蔽之
’scups喝醉了inoneone’
inthatcase如果那样
onashoestring拮据，以极少资金，小本经营
’sownsteam自力更生underoneone’ownsteamAdverbialphraseidiom:5)5)Adverbial
alltoobriefly太过简洁asstraightasanarrow笔直everso非常farfromit远非
herebelow世界上，俗世，尘世fleshandblood血肉之躯freeandeasy随便的
tossandturn辗转反侧，翻腾farandwide到处highandlowcloak-and-daggerfilm间谍片bagandbaggage带着行李fairandsquare公平地safeandsound毫发无损地hustleandbustle嘈杂纷扰
B.Clauseidioms(orSubjectlessclausepatterns)无主子句Thecriminalshouldcomeclean全盘招供.Georgewouldgetevenwith报复thegang.Thecompanywentbroke破产.
Theschedulehasgonehaywire陷于混乱、发狂.
Myunclecameacropper落马、倒台whenhishorserefusedtojumpthethelastfence.
Thepoorgirlhastobearhercross忍受痛苦、背负十字架.
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Bobhitthehay/sack上床睡觉soonaftersupper.footthebill买单
Myfatherhasplayedthegame光明磊落allhislife.Marytookpains尽心尽力overhergarden.
Hewillgetallhissumsright了解.
Herparentssethersightshigh眼界定得高.callsbnames骂某人alaughingstock笑柄
I’lldropyoualineassoonasIgetthere.
Youdidyourselfabitofnogoodbybelievinghismade-upstory.Thecompanyhassoldyouarealpup骗你上当.Dealsbaheavyblow给以沉重打击
sblikeaglove完全吻合，恰好FitFitsbYoushouldtake接受peopleasyoufindthem.Icannotmakebrickswithoutstraw作无米之炊.Alicetookeverythingseriously.认真对待；当真
thingssafe不冒险.JohnwillplayplaythingsC.Sentenceidioms
1)Proverbs:
Cowardsdiemanytimesbeforetheirdeaths.
’tcountyourchickensbeforetheyarehatched.DonDon’
Easycome,easygo.
Foolsrushinwhereangelsfeartotread踏/涉足.Nothingventured,nothinggained.Oneswallowdoesnotmakeasummer.一花独放不是春。
Thespiritiswillingbutthefleshisweak.心有余而力不足。爱莫能助。
Wherethereisawill,thereisaway.conversationalexpressions:2)TypicalTypicalconversational
Howdoyoudo!Howareyou?
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Fridayweek从现在往后数第二个周五。Dearme.
Youcansaythatagain!说得太对了。
’tsay!=Isthattrue?=you’rekidding?Youdondon’true?=you’
Andhow!的确如此。
Callitaday今天到此结束
’retellingme.你说的一点不错。你不说我都知道。YouYou’
4．Syntactic,StructuralandStylisticAnalysisofIdioms
A.Syntacticfunction
Thesyntacticfunctionofaphraseidiomusuallycorrespondswithitscentralwordand/orcomponents.
Thelaststraw终于使人不支的最后一击Thesaltoftheearth社会中坚
Agiftofthegab伶牙俐齿，口才，辩才Redtape
Onthemend好转，康复Onthenose正好击中
B.Transformationalrestrictions结构转换的限制Thepowerwentoff.Offwentthepower.Thepricescamedown.
cametheprices.DownDowncame
But:
I’llringupAlicesometimethisweek.*UpI’llringAlicesometimethisweek.’seasytofeelfor同情peopleinneed.ItIt’
*Peopleinneedtobefeltforiseasy.
Thepresenttalkfallsintothreeparts.
*Inthepresenttalk,threepartsarefalleninto.
pup.Thecarcompanysoldyouarealrealpup.
Thecarcausedyounothingbuttrouble——youweresoldarealpup.你realpup.
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被骗了。
puphasbeensoldyou.*Arealrealpup
直接宾语不能作被动转换。Joehitthesack睡觉了.ThesackwashitbyJoe.
C.Collocativerestrictions(government,ministry,board)doawaywith废除
(restriction,rule,institution,tax,surcharge,penalty)be,seem(like),comelike/asaboltfromtheblue晴天霹雳
allset
tobe,feel,get,look,seem
Shewasallsettobuyanewhouse.
’sholidays,forafineoldtime,togo,tosignadocument,toleave,foroneone’etc.
totakepains
’sgarden,overpreparingameal;toexplainsomethingclearly,overoneone’
tomaketheguestscomfortable;ingettinghisfactsright,inclearingtheroom
variabilityD.StructuralStructuralvariability
Itisnotunusualforwriterstogiveanewtwisttoanoldsaying(idiom)
effect.bymakingslightchangesforrhetoricalrhetoricaleffect.Ahorseofthesamecolor←ahorseofanothercolor完全另一回事
Heiseveryotherinchagentleman.←everyinchagentleman
Ifathingisworthdoing,itisworthdoingbadly.←Ifathingisworthdoing,itisworthdoingwell.换词replacement
Comeintoblossom/flower
Makeabolt/dashfor急忙逃往
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Taketobits/pieces拆卸Takepains/troubleoversth
Risefromthedead/grave死而复生
Putonabold/brave/goodface摆出……的样子Putonairs摆架子，摆派头，装腔作势Breakfresh/newground开垦处女地Haveasoft/weakspotfor钟爱
’sfingertoone’slipsPuta/onea/one’one’
Takesthseriously/hard/lightly
加词
Bewelloff→bevery/fairlywelloffBearone’scross→bearaterrible/heavycrossone’
Dealsomeoneablow→dealsomeoneasevere/heavyblow,dealsomeoneanotherblow
eyeonKeepananeye
→keepacareful/professional/sharp/watchfuleyeon
itsafe→playitverysafePlayPlayit
Takepains→takegreat/endlesspains略词omissionattheouts不和，意见不一atoutsattheatoutspullthewires幕后操纵pullwires
hitthe(right)nailonthehead击中要害talk(cold)turkey直率地说
E.Stylisticfeatures
with,togobroke,tobearone’scross,tofootthebill,tocatchTogetevenevenwith,one’
someonered-handed,tocallsomebodynames,todropsbaline,tosellsbapup骗人上当
Churnout大量生产，艰难做出Fullofbeans精神旺盛Accordwith符合
Addressoneselfto致力于，论述Bearwitnesstosth证明了
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Cheeseoff使感到厌倦、沮丧Kipout露宿
Somemoreidiomstoknow:
Tillthecowscomehome永远foreverTakeoff拿掉，起飞，复制Tonoavail无用Likeabreeze轻易地Raincatsanddogs
study呆想，出神Inabrownbrownstudy
Lipservice说空话，耍嘴巴皮
Burythehatchet言归于好，化干戈为玉帛，铸剑为锄Bytwosandthrees三三两两
Titfortat针尖对麦芒，针锋相对Diamondcutdiamond棋逢对手
Likecureslike一物降一物，以毒攻毒Assureaseggsiseggs准确无误
Intheraw处于自然状态，光着身子
asacucumber十分冷静Ascoolcoolas
Drawthecurtain拉下帷幕，结束Whiteelephant昂贵而不中用的东西
trust智囊团BrainBraintrust
Fleshandblood血肉之躯，实际存在Anappleofdiscord分歧的根源Jackofalltrades万事通，万金油
Flyintheointment煞风景的人，扫帚星，扫兴鬼，老鼠屎Aspoorasachurchmouse穷得叮当响
Wideof（off?）themark离目标相差太远，毫不相干Beyondthepale（表现）出格
Upintheair悬而未决，八字没一撇；发脾气Putoff延迟，推诿搪塞
with逃脱Getawayawaywith
to归因于Putdowndownto
Makeit成功，搞掂
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’snose前行，凭本能行事，跟着感觉走Followoneone’
Fallflat完全没有达到预期效果，计划失败Givesbthebag解雇
tune改变态度Singadifferentdifferenttune
Singanothersong改变调子，谦恭起来，前倨后恭Chop（风云）突变andchange变幻不定Swimagainstthestream力排众议，逆流而动Comebacktoearth回到现实
Letthedogseetherabbit不要妨碍别人做事
feedsone恩将仇报，以怨报德Bitethehandthatthatfeeds
Returnevilforgoodevilfor
kissthehandthatsmoteit以德报怨returngoodforeviltoothandnail竭尽全力innothingflat立刻，转眼
throughthickandthin不顾艰难险阻，在任何情况下Neverdothingsinhalves.
’sthetimeofday!正逢其时ThatThat’
Uponmyword!决无戏言。Allisnotgoldthatglitters.
laidthegoldenegg杀鸡取卵。killthegoosethatthatlaid
Hishairispepperandsalt花白.Tideover克服，渡过Takethehelm掌权
Killtwobirdswithonestone一石二鸟
Ifyourunaftertwohares,youwillcatchneither一心二用，一事无成Abullinachinashop莽撞惹祸的家伙
’seggsinonebasketHavealloneone’
Newbroomssweepclean
’sdirtylineninpublic家长里短，家丑外扬Washoneone’
Boildown熬浓，摘要
Jumpthebait过早咬钩，逃脱Afishoutofwater虎落平阳outof
Hitbelowthebelt用不正当手段攻击
fair公平竞争PlayPlayfair
Fairplay费厄泼赖
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Bringtopass实行Bringdownthehouse博得满堂彩downthe
Bringaround使信服，使复苏
Bringhomethebacon完成任务，维持生计Bringdown打倒，击落Bring-down刻薄话
Bringdown令人沮丧的人或事，愁眉苦脸的人Hangin(there)不放弃
Bigwheel要人，大人物，大观览车Makewaves兴风作浪，捣乱Canofworms乱麻
’sboattoburnoneone’
破釜沉舟
toaddfueltotheflames火上加油
tohangbyathread千钧一发，岌岌可危
togothroughfireandwater赴汤蹈火
togropeinthedark暗中摸索
castleintheair空中楼阁
cannotseethewoodforthetrees见树不见林
inoneearandouttheother左耳进，右耳出
tomakeamountainoutofamole-hill小题大做
asinglesparkcanstartaprairiefire星星之火，可以燎原
Misfortunenevercomesalone.祸不单行
Wallshaveears.隔墙有耳
Liveandlearn.活到老学到老
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Whohasnevertastedbitter,knowsnotwhatissweet.不吃苦，焉知甜
Ahoneytongue,aheartofgall.口蜜腹剑
Thereisnosmokewithoutfire.不风不起浪
allbeerandskittles九柱戏.Lifeisnotnotall
人生不光是吃喝玩乐★★★★★CHAPTERXI
AMERICANENGLISH1.GrowthofofAmericanAmericanAmericanEnglish
English13
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