idioms(English-Chinese)中国成语，中英文对照，整理

1. 一了百了 get it over and done with 2. 一无所长 have no special skill 3. 一无所获 have gained nothing 4. 一五一十in full detail

5. 一文不值of no use whatsoever 6. 一心一意 with undivided attention 7. 一目了然 leap to the eye

8. 一叶知秋The falling of one leaf heralds the autumn. 9. 一丘之貉be tarred with the same brush 10. 一帆风顺go off without a hitch(故障) 11. 一字之差the change of one word 12. 一时兴起by fits and snatches

13. 一针见血hit the right nail on the head 14. 一言为定That’s settled then.

15. 一应俱全Everything needed is there. 16. 一张一弛alternate tension with relaxation 17. 一纸空文a mere scrap of paper 18. 一事无成All have ended in smoke. 19. 一鸣惊人come as a bombshell 20. 一败涂地bite the dust

21. 一知半解have scanty knowledge 22. 一刻千金Every minute counts. 23. 一览无遗in full view 24. 一星半点a tiny bit

25. 一举两得kill two birds with one stone

26. 一语道破hit the mark with a single comment 27. 一笑置之laugh out of court 28. 一窍不通be Greek to one

29. 一诺千金as good as one’s word 30. 一清二楚as clear as crystal 31. 一落千丈go to pot 32. 一朝一夕in one day

33. 一筹莫展be at one’s wit’s end 34. 一意孤行go one’s own way 35. 一蹴而就make it at one/a stroke 36. 十万火急be in hot haste

37. 十年寒窗persevere(坚持) ten years in one’s studies in spite of hardships 38. 十全十美be perfect in every way 39. 十拿九稳have ?in bag 40. 七上八下be greatly upset 41. 七窍生烟in a great fury

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42. 七零八落go to reck(顾虑)and rain 43. 八面玲珑dance and sing all weathers 44. 人山人海a sea of faces 45. 人之常情human nature

46. 人云亦云echo one’s words

47. 人心不古 Human hearts are not what they were in the old days.

48. 人去楼空 When the master was absent, his mansion(大厦, 官邸, 公寓) was dead. 49. 人各有志Every one has his own ambition. 50. 人多智广More people means more ideas.

51. 人多嘴杂Agreements is difficult if there are too many people. 52. 人困马乏The entire force was exhausted . 53. 人言可畏Opinion rules the world.

54. 人穷志短poverty chills(使冷) ambition

55. 人定胜天Man can conquer nature.[nature前无the ] 56. 人面兽心a wolf in a sheep’s clothing 57. 人情世故the way of the world

58. 入乡随俗Do in Rome as the Romans do.

59. 入木三分give a vivid picture of cut to the quick[注：此处原为vived，而其例子却是vivid，故可见vivid( 生动的)是正确的。060619] 60. 九牛一毛a drop in the bucket

61. 九死一生have a close brush with death

62. 力不从心One’s spirit is willing ,but the flesh is weak. 63. 力挽狂澜stem(滋生, 阻止,逆行) the tide 64. 了无瓜葛have nothing to do with 65. 三番两次time after time 66. 三缄其口hold one’s peace 67. 于事无补be of little avail(效用)

68. 大刀阔斧go to the whole hog(肥(公)猪) 69. 大功告成come off with honors

70. 大同小异be much of muchness (多量, 大量) 71. 大言不惭blow one’s own trumpet 72. 大快朵颐eat one’s fill

73. 大海捞针look for a needle in a haystack 74. 大智若愚Still waters run deep. 75. 寸步不离keep?at one’s elbow 76. 口若悬河 talk nine words at once

77. 口是心非speak with one’s own tongue in one’s cheek

78. 口蜜腹剑A honey tongue ,a heart of gall(胆汁，恶毒, 怨恨, 五倍子, 苦味). 79. 千变万化The unexpected always happens. 80. 千钧一发at the critical time

81. 千载难逢It only happens once in a blue moon.

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82. 千锤百炼A good nail does not fear the hammer.

83. 久别情疏 Out of sight ,out of mind .[此句更正规解释：眼不见心不烦.] 84. 小题大做(作,但大陆习惯用“做”)fuss about trifles 85. 夫唱妇随A good Jack makes a good Jill. 86. 天衣无缝fit like a glove 87. 天经地义a matter of course 88. 天涯海角ends of the earth 89. 支离破碎torn to pieces 90. 不义之财ill-gotten money

91. 不可一世as proud/vain（自负的） as a peacock(孔雀BNIW) 92. 不可救药beyond remedy 93. 不由自主in spite of oneself 94. 不厌其烦take the trouble

95. 不自量力go beyond one’s depth 96. 不声不响as quiet as a mouse

97. 不识抬举Bring a cow to the hall（礼堂） and she will run to byre(牛栏). 98. 不择手段by hook(吊钩) or by crook(钩状物) 99. 不知死活heedless（不注意的） of consequences 100. 不知好歹don’t know chalk( 白垩) from cheese 101. 不屈不挠keep one’s chin(下巴) up 102. 不耻下问be not above asking questions 103. 不速之客a gate-crasher

104. 不偏不倚hold the scales even

105. 不假思索speak impromptu (即席地) 106. 不谋而合see eye to eye 107. 不期而遇come across

108. 不遗余力leave no avenue（大道，途径） unexplored(未调[勘]查过的) 109. 不翼而飞vanish from sight

110. 匹夫之勇courage without discipline 111. 比比皆是here and there and everywhere

112. 切肤之痛No one knows the shoes pinches like the wearer. 113. 日薄西山one’s day are numbered[人之时日无多] 114. 毛骨悚然make one’s hair stand on end 115. 化除为夷weather( 经受住) the storm 116. 斤斤计较strain at gnat(小昆虫，小烦恼) 117. 分文不值 not worth a dump

118. 分身乏术One can’t be in two places at one time. 119. 分秒必争Every minute counts. 120. 分道扬镳go separate ways

121. 六亲不认cut loose from old ties 122. 文不对题be wide of the mark

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123. 火上浇油pour oil on the flame

124. 心力交瘁cuì: burn the candle at both ends 125. 心不在焉be absent-minded 126. 心甘情愿of one’s own accord

127. 心有余悸A burned child dreads（惧怕）the fire. 128. 心灰意冷be in black despair

129. 心血来潮on the impulse of the moment 130. 心安理得have the peace of mind 131. 心花怒放one’s heart sings with joy 132. 心旷神怡feel on the top of the world 133. 心直口快frank and out-spoken

134. 心猿意马carry fire in one hand and water in the other 135. 心满意足to one’s heart’s content 136. 引以为荣plume(荣耀,羽毛)oneself on 137. 引狼入室set a fox to keep the geese

138. 以身作则set a good example for/to others 139. 以卵击石throw a straw against the wind

140. 以和为贵A bad compromise（折衷，妥协） is better than a good lawsuit. 141. 以柔克刚Willows are weak yet they bind other wood. 142. 以德报怨return good for evil

143. 水乳交融be hand and/in glove with 144. 水性杨花unstable as water 145. 水深火热be in deep water

146. 水落石出The truth will out(vi, 暴露).

147. 未老先衰decrepit (adj,衰老的，[di`krepit])before one’s age 148. 未雨绸缪lay up against a rainy day

149. 功败垂成a slip betwixt(prep.在??中间) cup and the lip 150. 甘之如饴smack(咂（嘴）) one’s lips

151. 甘拜下风play second fiddle(小提琴,干预，瞎搞)

152. 世外桃源Utopia( 莫尔著的《乌托邦》里描述的一个小岛。) 153. 本末倒置put the cart before the horse 154. 可歌可泣set one in a melting mood 155. 左右逢源Everything goes well.

156. 石沉大海sink into oblivion(n,遗忘, 湮没, 赦免[-`b-viEn]) [E5bliviEn]) 157. 平分秋色on equal terms with 158. 平白无故 without rhyme or reason 159. 平步青云make a smashing hit 160. 平易近人easy to get along with

161. 打抱不平take up the cudgel(棍棒) for another 162. 打草惊蛇wake a sleeping dog 163. 目不识丁an illiterate(n,adj)

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164. 目光短浅see no further than one’s nose 165. 目瞪口呆be tongue-tied

166. 史无前例without precedent in history 167. 四面八方in all directions

168. 四海为家here today and gone tomorrow 169. 生龙活虎alive and kicking 170. 仗势欺人pull rank on someone 171. 付之一炬commit to the flames 172. 白手起家start from scratch

173. 令人发指make one’s hair stand on end[与“毛骨悚然”相同，真的如此？] 174. 令人咋舌take one’s breath away

175. 半斤八两Tweedledum and Tweedledee.{已查，书写正确，意思正确} 176. 半信半疑half in doubt 177. 头头是道clear and logical 178. 永垂不朽eternally immortal 179. 司空见惯order of the day

180. 出人头地come to the fore( 前部，前面)

181. 出口成章One’s tongue is the pen of a ready writer. 182. 出尔反尔go back on one’s word 183. 出类拔萃tower above the rest 184. 老气横秋lacking in youthful vigor 185. 毕恭毕敬cap in hand

186. 问心无愧feel no qualms upon self-examination 187. 兴高采烈in great delight

188. 设身处地put oneself in sb. else’s position [ 本处原文用sb.一简写形式欠妥] 189. 吞吞吐吐hesitate in speech 190. 来之不易hard earned

191. 来日方长There will be ample time. 192. 来龙去脉 cause and effect

193. 快马加鞭spur on the flying horse 194. 完美无缺leave nothing to be desired 195. 识文断字be able to read

196. 学无止境 Knowledge is infinite. 197. 烂醉如泥be as drunk as a lord 198. 突飞猛进advance rapidly 199. 突如其来come all of a sudden 200. 退避三舍retreat to avoid a conflict 201. 徒劳无功work to no avail

202. 脍炙人口be on everybody’s lips 203. 狼吞虎咽gobble up

204. 浪迹天涯roaming freely all over the world

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205. 袖手旁观stand by with folder arms 206. 黄粱美梦fond dream

207. 惟利是图be bent solely on profit 208. 脱口而出blurt out

209. 望子成龙expect one’s children to be talent 210. 望文生义interpret without real understanding 211. 趁热打铁strike when the iron is hot

212. 痛不欲生grieve to the extent of wishing to die 213. 痛改前非thoroughly rectify one’s errors

214. 痛定思痛draw a lesson from a bitter experience 215.微不足道not worth mentioning

216.滥竽充数be there just to make up the member[不是number!] 217.蔚然成风become the order of the day 218.稳操胜券have full assurance of success

219.人生而平等All men are created equal.

220.人山人海a sea of faces：How many people are there in the stadium? Believe it or not, a sea of faces.

221.人之常情human nature：It's human nature for me to help those who need help. 222.人云亦云 echo others' words：Don't echo others' words. Sometimes you've got to find out the truth.

223.人去楼空 Regretful to say, when the master was absent, his mansion was dead.

224.人面兽心 a wolf in sheep's clothing：He is cruel enough to kill that girl; he's really a wolf in sheep's clothing.

225.人言可畏Opinion rules the world：Always remember what I say to you. Opinion rules the world.

226.十年风水轮流转Every dog has its day.

227.十全十美leave nothing to be desired：The show just leaves nothing to be desired. 228.十拿九稳 We have winning the game in the bag.

229.十万火急 in hot haste：I am writing in hot haste to let you know that I will be there on time.

230.了无瓜葛 have nothing to do with：That politician claimed that he had nothing to do with that scandal.

231.力不从心my spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak：A:Can you do me a favor? B:Sorry, my spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak.

232.力挽狂澜 try to stem the tide：He tried to stem the tide, but in vain. 233.入境随俗 Do in Rome as the Romans do.

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234.入木三分 It actually gave a vivid picture of cut the quick. (leave an indelible impression)

235.七上八下

to be sixes and sevens：Don't talk to me now because I am all at sixes and sevens. (with one's heart going pitapat)

236.七窍生烟

He was in a great fury (fuming with anger; in a great rage; terribly furious) and swore to get even with the opposite(跟对方报复).

237.七零八落

After the quake, the buildings went to rock and ruin.

238.八面玲珑

smooth and able to win favour on all sides.

239.三思而后行

Look before you leap.

240.三句不离本行 to talk shop

241.三个臭皮匠胜过一个诸葛亮 Two heads are better than one.

242.三番两次

This guy is at me time after time.(time and again; time and time again.)

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243.三缄其口

You'd better hold your peace, or you'll ask for trouble.

244.千钧一发

to hang by a hair thread / at the critical time

245.千锤百炼

A good nail does not fear the hammer. (steeled and tempered; gone through fire and water)

246.千载难逢

It only happens once in a blue moon. (It chances in an hour that happens not in seven years.)

247.千变万化

The unexpected always happens.

248.大刀阔斧

It's said that the new executive will go the whole hog (reform in a big way.)

249.大同小异

much of muchness：The two articles are much of muchness ( be alike with minor difference ; There's not a pin to choose between the two ) in appearance and quality.

250.大言不惭

blow your own trumpet：You really blow your own trumpet. (talk big; overshoot oneself)

251.大快朵颐

They are so delicious that I ate my fill. (gorge oneself; tuck in at; have/take one's fill.)

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252.大功告成

The big project finally came off with honors (bring home the bacon; come through with flying colors).

253.大智若愚

He who cannot play the fool is not a wise man.

254.大器晚成

Rome was not built in a day.

255.大海捞针

needle in a haystack：Finding your lost contact lens is just like looking for a needle in a haystack.

256.山穷水尽

at the end of one's resources

257.山中无老虎，猴子称大王

Among the blind the one-eyed is king./When the cat's away, the mice will play.

258.小题大做

Make a mountain out of a molehill. ( fuss about trifles; a tempest in a teapot; a storm in a teacup; break a butterfly on a wheel )

259.一视同仁

He treats everyone across the board.

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一模一样

These twins look as like as two peas.

一时兴起

He does everything on the spur of the moment.

九死一生

to have a hair-breadth escape

九牛一毛

Compared with mine, his was simply a drop in the bucket.

人生如梦

Life is but a dream.

人生自古谁无死

Death comes to all men.

人生百岁古来稀

It is seldom that a man lives to be a hundred years old.

人定胜天

Man can conquer nature.

人不可貌相

Appearances are often deceptive./ Never judge a book by its cover.

小不忍则乱大谋

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Patience is a virtue.

小洞不补，大来吃苦 A stitch in time saves nine.

工欲善其事，必先利其器 Sharp tools make good work.

己所不欲勿施于人

Do unto others as you would be done.

亡羊补牢

Better late than never./ It's never too late to mend.

上气不接下气

I got out of breath when I climbed those stairs.

寸步不离

He always keeps book at his elbow. (keep close to)

口若悬河

He always talks nine words at once. (rattle on)

仁者无敌

The benevolent have no enemy.

口是心非

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He often speaks with his tongue in his cheek. (play a double game; say one thing and mean another )

不可一世

I really don't know why she is always as proud as a peacock.

不可救药

His deep-rooted bad habits are simply beyond remedy.

不由自主

in spite of oneself：He is often absent-minded and dozed off in spite of himself in class.

不自量力

If he does so, he really goes beyond his depth. No one can beat that guy. (overrate one's abilities)

不屈不挠

Although he has failed several times, he still keeps his chin up. (as steady as a rock; firm and unyielding; fight for tooth and nail; hang on by the eyelashes; stick to one's color)

不知死活

John is really heedless of consequences. I believe some day he will ask for trouble.

不知好歹

Take my advice into consideration. Don't know chalk from cheese.

不耻下问

To improve your studies, you got to be not above asking questions.

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不假思索

He is good at speech. He often speaks impromptu.

不偏不倚

You should believe that the judge held the scales even. 不期而遇

I came across an old friend of mine in a department store. (chance to meet，bump into，come upon，meet...accidentally/unexpectedly/by chance/by accident)

不速之客

You are really a thick-skinned and gate-crasher.

不义之财

Don't be envious. Ill-gotten money comes easily and goes easily too.

不谋而合

see eye to eye：Do you see eye to eye with him on that plan?

不厌其烦

takes the trouble：The teacher often takes the trouble to instruct his pupils.

不遗余力

But the conspirators leave no avenue unexplored to re-establish contact with Britain.

不择手段

by hook or by crook：He just did the work by hook or by crook.

不翼而飞

Did you see that plane? It seems that it just vanished from sight.

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不声不响

as quiet/silent/still as a mouse：She was as quiet/silent/still as a mouse and left.

不识抬举

Bring a cow to the hall and she will run to the byre. (fail to appreciate sb's kindness/not know how to appreciate favor)

口蜜腹剑

A honey tongue, a heart of gall. ( be nasty-nice; Bees that have honey in their mouths have stings in their tails. )

久别情疏

Out of sight, out of mind. (Far from eye, far from heart. Long absent, soon forgotten. Seldom seen, soon forgotten.)

不告而别 French leave

不要不自量力

Don't put a quarter into a pint pot.

不要厚此薄彼

Don't make fish of one and flesh of another.

不畏艰难

Take the bull by the horns.

不战而屈人之兵

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The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.

不入虎穴焉得虎子

How can one obtain tiger-cubs without entering the tiger's lair.

不经一事，不长一智

Experience is the mother of wisdom.

不胜其烦

a pain in the neck：Your little brother is a pain in the neck.

心正不怕雷打

A good conscience is a soft pillow.

心甘情愿

He did all this of his own accord.

心不在焉

You look absent-minded; what's wrong?

心满意足

The little boy sat there smiling, as happy as a clam.

心力交瘁

I don't know what to do. I just burned the candle at both ends.

心灰意冷

He was in black despair when he failed in the joint examination.(down in the bushes/in the dumps/lose heart)

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心有余悸

A burned child dreads the fires. (Once bitten, twice shy.)

心安理得

No matter what he said, I have the peace of mind. (have an easy conscience)

心血来潮

He did it just on the impulse of the moment.

心花怒放

My heart sings with joy because I receive over 300 letters a week from people around the world.

少年老成

to have an old head on young shoulders

少不更事

wet behind the ears：Although she is 20, she was still wet behind the ears in some ways.

天无绝人之路

God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb. /When one door shuts another opens.

天下乌鸦一般黑

Crows are black all over the world.

天助自助者

Heaven helps those who help themselves.

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天有不测风云，人有旦夕祸福

It is the unexpected that always happens.

天衣无缝

These two ideas just fit like a glove.

天涯海角

ends of the earth：I'll find him to the ends of the earth. (out-of-the-way places; the uttermost part of the earth)

天经地义

a matter of course：It's a matter of course to respect our elders. (a universal truth; it goes without saying that...)

毛遂自荐

to recommend one's own person

火上加油

Don't bother her, or you'll pour oil on the flame.

支离破碎

The car was so seriously damaged that it was torn to pieces. (in shreds; rip apart)

匹夫之勇

Fighting with him is just courage without discipline . (brute courage)

比比皆是

This kind of mall can be found here and there and everywhere. (right and left)

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切肤之痛

No one knows where the shoe pinches like the wearer.

夫唱妇随

A good Jack makes a good Jill.

引狼入室

I know I'll set a fox to keep the geese if I take him for a good friend.

引以为荣

I am really proud of myself. (plume oneself on; pride oneself on; take pride in)

日薄西山

Now he knows that his days are numbered. (not to be long for this world; The sands are running out.)

水乳交融

That couple are really hand and (in) glove with each other. (be finger and glove with)

心直口快

John is frank and out spoken, so I prefer to remain with him.

心满意足

You can eat to your heart's content.

心猿意马

carry fire in one hand and water in the other

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心旷神怡

Standing here feel on top of the world.

化干戈为玉帛

Bury the hatchets and work for peace.

仁者无敌

The benevolent have no enemy.

今日事今日毕

Never put off till tomorrow what may be done today.

文胜于武

The pen is mightier than the sword.

文不对题

His composition is wide of the mark. ( beside the point )

六亲不认

As to the business, he often cuts loose from old ties. ( turn one's back on one's own flesh and blood )

水性杨花

They got divorced for he thinks his wife was unstable as water. (as changeable as the moon; A woman's mind and winter wind change off.)

水深火热

The rebels were in deep water and oppressed every day.

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水落石出

The police are now looking into the case, and I suppose, the truth will out soon. (be brought to light; come out in the wash; Murder is out truth lies at the bottom of a well.)

分文不值

not worth a dump：What you bought yesterday is actually not worth a dump.

分身乏术

I'm now doing my homework, so I can't be in two places at once.

分秒必争

Every minute counts.

分道扬镳

They have already gone separate ways. (part company)

化险为夷

It is John who helps me weather the storm. (escape/go/get off scot-free; bear a charmed life)

斤斤计较

Forget about it. Don't strain at gnat. He needs money lately. (look at both sides of a penny; skin a flint)

以身作则

You got to practice what one practices. ( set a good example for others)

毛骨悚然

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hair stand on end：That weird-looking person really makes my hair stand on end. (get goose bumps; make one's flesh creep)

打落水狗

to hit a person when he's down

打铁趁热

Strike while the iron is hot.(Make hay while the sun is shining.)

打抱不平

He often bullies you. I really take up the cudgel for you.

打草惊蛇

Let's stay here in order not to wake a sleeping dog. (wake a sleeping lion/woof)

犯错是人之常情，宽恕是超凡的 To err is human; to forgive divine.

平白无故

without rhyme or reason：Don't take others' money without rhyme or reason. (without provocation)

白费唇舌

to waste your breath on him

生于忧患，死于安乐

Adversity spurs vitality, while comfort breeds sloth.

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永垂不朽

The general's name will be always remembered and eternally immortal.

四大皆空 All is vanity.

四海之内皆兄弟

All are brothers within the four seas.

四面八方

These folks come from in all directions (far and wide; there and everywhere; length and breadth)

四海为家

I don't know where Jack is now; in my mind, he is a person who is here today and gone tomorrow.

未雨绸缪

take precautions before it is too late

目不识丁

not know A from B / an illiterate

失败为成功之母

Failure is the mother of success.

失之毫厘，差之千里

A miss is as good as a mile.

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只要功夫深，铁杵磨成针 Little strokes fell great oaks.

毛遂自荐

to recommend one's own person

世界末日

Don't be so depressed. It's not Doomsday.

半斤八两

Tweedledum and Tweedledee：John is no better than Peter. They are just Tweedledum and Tweedledee. (six of one and half a dozen of the other)

半信半疑

half in doubt：A: Jimmy will invite you to dinner tonight? B: No, I don't think so. I will take it half in doubt. ( take with a grain of salt)

石沉大海

I couldn't find her. It seemed that her whereabouts sank into oblivion.

左右逢源

It appears that everything goes well with him.

司空见惯

order of the day：The situation is already order of the day. (par for the course)

目瞪口呆

She was already tongue-tied, and didn't know what to do. (lose one's tongue; struck dumb; stunned and speechless)

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目光如豆

He is a person who sees no further than his nose.

出尔反尔

He is not a guy worthy of our trust. He often goes back on his word. (blow hot and cold)

出口成章

He is a learned person. His tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

平分秋色

He did quite well, but I still think his is one equal terms with her.

平步青云

What an amazing thing! He should make a smashing hit in a short time. (beat the top of the ladder; come to the top over night; hit the jackpot)

平易近人

He is a person easy to get along with. (be well disposed; have a taking way with one have the common touch)

未雨绸缪

Don't take everyting for granted. It's better for you to lay up against a rainy day. (prepare for a rainy day)

功败垂成

a slip betwixt cup and the lip：I hate to tell you that your plan is a slip betwixt cup and the lip.

可歌可泣

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His sacrifice for the country set us in a melting mood.

本末倒置

Don't put the cart before the horse.

甘拜下风

Would you like to play with me again? No, I'd rather play second fiddle.

甘之如饴

gladly endure hardship

世外桃源

Switzerland is like Utopia, which I always dream of visiting.

出人头地

Through his hard work, he finally came to the fore.

出类拔萃

John towers above the rest in math. (in a class by itself; out of the common run)

史无前例

without precedent （in history）：His excellent performance at that play is without precedent in history.

令人发指

His cruelty to animals make our hair stand on end.

令人咋舌

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took my breath away：What he did really took my breath away.

付之一炬

Because of a blast, that new house just committed to the flames.

生龙活虎

alive and kicking：Nessie says it is alive and kicking under different names By Sussy.

仗势欺人

John always pulls rank on others.

白手起家

started from scratch：He is a successful business who started from scratch.

任劳任怨

to bear hardship without complaint

自作自受

As you make your bed so you must lie on it.

自讨苦吃

to make a rod for one's own back

自力更生

to shift for oneself

自扫门前雪

After us the deluge.

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回头浪子

the return of a prodigal son

先下手为强

Offence is the best defence.

同甘共苦

to share one's joys and sorrows

因地制宜

act according to circumstances

有勇无谋

more brave than wise

有备无患

Good watch prevents misfortune.

有志者事竟成

Where there is a will, there is a way.

有钱能使鬼推磨

Money makes the world go around. /Money talks.

有其父必有其子 Like father, like son.

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江山易改本性难移

a fox may grow gray, but never good（The leopard cannot change his spots；you cannot make a crab walk straight）

三岁看老

The child is father of the man.

百无一失

Not a single miss in a hundred times.

百依百顺

She expects us to jump through hoops for her.

眼见为实

To see is to believe. (Seeing is believing.)

吃得苦中苦，方为人上人

If you wish to be the best man, you must be prepared to suffer the bitterest of the bitter.

每人一生中皆有得意之日 Every dog has its day.

色是假，美是空

Charm is deceitful, and beauty empty.

知足者富

He who feels contented is rich.

早起的鸟儿有虫吃

The early bird catches the worm.

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知足常乐

Happy is he who is content

知人知面不知心

It's easy to know men's faces, but not their hearts.

知己知彼百战百胜

Know your enemy and know yourself.

空中楼阁

castles in the air

金科玉律 the gold rule

奇装异服 a fantastic garb

明辨事非

to distinguish right from wrong

雨后春笋

like bamboo shoots after a spring shower

雨过天青

After a storm comes a calm.

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秀才不出门能知天下事

A scholar does not step outside his gate, yet he knows the happenings under the sun.

事实胜于雄辩

Facts are most convincing.

以毒攻毒

to set a thief to catch a thief

以怨报德

He is a person who bites the hand that feeds one.

以逸待劳

To wait at ease till the enemy is exhausted.

以寡敌众

to fight against longer odds

以德报怨

I think it is better for you to render/return good for evil .

以其人之道还治其人之身

to pay somebody (back) in his own coin

以子之矛，攻子之盾

to turn a person's battery against himself

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以柔克刚

Willows are weak yet they bind other wood. (Soft and fair goes far.)

以和为贵

A bad compromise is better than a good lawsuit.

以卵击石

What you do is throw a straw against the wind. (run one's head against a stone wall 1

一朝被蛇咬，十年怕草繩 Once bitten, twice shy. 一言既出，駟馬難追 A word spoken is past recalling. 一見鍾情 to fall in love at first sight

一箭雙鵰/一舉兩得 Kill two birds with one stone. 一寸光陰一寸金 Time is money.

一失足成千古恨 The error committed on impulse may turn out to be the sorrow of a whole life.

一將功名萬古枯 What millions died that Caesar might be great.

一年之計在於春，一日之計在於晨 Plan your year in spring and your day at dawn. 一人難稱百人意 You cannot please everyone. 一氣呵成 Never make two bites of a cherry.

一白遮三醜 A white complexion is powerful enough to hide seven faults. 一知半解 A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

一心一意 John is a person who always works with undivided attention.

一丘之貉 These people are cut from the same cloth./are tarred with the same brush. 一目了然 His words just leapt to the eye. Do you need me to explain it? 一帆風順 His business has gone off without a hitch.

一刻千金 You have to make good use of time. After all, every time counts. 一事無成 I am happy to know that all have ended in smoke about him. 一敗塗地 The outcome of the election just bit the dust.

一針見血 His comment on the current affairs always hits the right nail on the head.

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一清二楚 The accounts don't seem to be as clear as crystal.

一意孤行 That boy is always going her own way. He won't listen to his parents' advice. 一落千丈 My son's schoolwork has gone to pot. He really lets me down. 一鳴驚人 His performance at school really comes as a bombshell. 一諾千金 He never goes back on his word. He is as good as his word. 一時興起 Don't always do things by fits and snatches.

一蹴可及 You should know that it is impossible to make it at one stroke. 一籌莫展 I really have no idea what to do. Now I am at my wit's end.

一覽無遺 If you stand here looking down at the city. The wonderful scene will be in full view.

一竅不通 What you said is all Greek to me. 一視同仁 He treats everyone across the board. 一模一樣 These twins look as like as two peas.

一時興起 He does everything on the spur of the moment. 2

九死一生 to have a hair-breadth escape

九牛一毛 Compared with mine, his was simply a drop in the bucket. 人生如夢 Life is but a dream.

人生自古誰無死 Death comes to all men.

人生百歲古來稀 It is seldom that a man lives to be a hundred years old. 人定勝天 Man can conquer nature.

人不可貌相 Appearances are often deceptive./ Never judge a look by its cover. 人生而平等 All men are created equal.

人山人海 How many people are there in the stadium? Believe it or not, a sea of faces 人之常情 It's hamun nature for me to help those who need help.

人云亦云 Don't echo others' words. Sometimes you've got to find out the truth. 人去樓空 Regretful to say, when the master was absent, his mansion was dead. 人面獸心 He is cruel enought to kill that girl; he's really a wolf in sheep's clothing. 人言可畏 Always remember what I say to you. Opinion rules the world. (Fling dirt enought and some will stick.)

十年風水輪流轉 Every dog has its day.

十全十美 The show just leaves nothing to be desired. 十拿九穩 We have winning the game in the bag.

十萬火急 I am writing in hot haste to let you know that I will be there on time. 了無瓜葛 That politician claimed that he had nothing to do with that scandal.

力不從心 A:Can you do me a favor? B:Sorry, my spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak. 力挽狂瀾 He tried to stem the tide, but in vain. 入境隨俗 Do in Rome as the Romans do.

入木三分 It actually gave a vivid picture of cut the quick. (leave an indelible impression)

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七上八下 Don't talk to me now because I am greatly upse now. (with one's heart going pitapat)

七竅生煙 He was in a great fury (fuming with anger; in a great rage; terribly furious) and swore to get even with the opposite(跟對方報復).

七零八落 After the quake, the buildings went to rock and ruin.

八面玲瓏 In fact, she dances and sings all weathers. (her mill goes with all winds.) 3

三思而後行 Look before you leap. 三句不離本行 to talk shop

三個臭皮匠勝過一個諸葛亮 Two heads are better than one.

三番兩次 This guy is at me(找我碴) time after time.(time and again; time and time again.)

三緘其口 You'd better hold your peace, or you'll ask for trouble. 千鈞一髮 to hang by a hair thread / at the critical time

千錘百煉 A good nail does not fear the hammer. (steeled and tempered; gone through fire and water)

千載難逢 It only happens once in a blue moon. (It chances in an hour that happens not in seven years.)

千變萬化 The unexpected always happens.

大刀闊斧 It's said that the new executive will go the whole hog (reform in a big way.) 大同小異 The two articles are much of muchness ( be alike with minor difference ; There's not a pin to choose between the two ) in appearance and quality. 大言不慚 You really blow your own trumpet. (talk big; overshoot oneself)

大快朵頤 They are so delicious that I ate my fill. (gorge oneself; tuck in at; have [take] one's fill.)

大功告成 The big project finally came off with honors (bring home the bacon; come thoough with flying colors).

大智若愚 He who canot play the fool is not a wise man. 大器晚成 Rome was not built in a day.

大海撈針 Finding your lost contact lens is just like looking for a needle in a haystack. 山窮水盡 at the end of one's resources

山中無老虎，猴子稱大王 Among the blind the one-eyed is king./When the cat's away, the mice will pay.

小題大做 Make a mountain out of a molehill. ( fuss about trifles; a tempest in a teapot; a storm in a teacup; break a butterfly on a wheel ) 小洞不補，大來吃苦 A stitch in time saves nine. 小不忍則亂大謀 Patience is a virtue.

工欲善其事，必先利其器 You cannot make bricks without straw. 己所不欲勿施於人 Do unto others as you would be done. 仁者無敵 The benevolent have no enemy.

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工欲善其事必先利器 You cannot make bricks without straw. 亡羊補牢 Better late than never./ It's never too late to mend. 上氣不接下氣 I got out of breath when I climbed those stairs. 寸步不離 He always keeps book at his elbow. (keep close to) 口若懸河 He always talks nine words at once. (rattle on)

口是心非 He often speaks with his tongue in his cheek. (play a double game; say one thing and mean another )

口蜜腹劍 A honey tongue, a heart of gall. ( be nasty-nice; Bees that have honey in their mouths have stings in their tails. )

久別情疏 Out of sight, out of mind. (Far from eye, far from heart. Long absent, soon forgotten. Seldom seen, soon forgotten.) 4

不告而別 to take French leave

不要不自量力 Don't put a quarter into a pint pot.

不要厚此薄彼 Don't make fish of one and flesh of another. 不畏艱難 Take the bull by the horns.

不戰而屈人之兵 The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting. 不入虎穴焉得虎子 How can one obtain tiger-cubs without entering the tiger's lair. 不經一事，不長一智 Experience is the mother of wisdom.

不舍畫夜(24小時) Some convenience stores offer around the clock service. 不勝其煩 Your little brother is a pain in the neck.

不可一世 I really don't know why she is always as proud as a peacock. 不可救藥 His deep-rooted bad habits are simply beyond remedy.

不由自主 He is often absent-minded and dozed off in spite of himself in class.

不自量力 If he does so, he really goes beyond his depth. No one can beat that guy. (bite off more than one ches; overreach oneself;

不屈不撓 Although he has failed several times, he still keeps his chin up. (as steady as a rock; firm and unyielding; fight for tooth and nail; hang on by the eyelashes; stick to one's color)

不知死活 John is really heedless of consequences. I believe some day he will ask for trouble.

不知好歹 Take my advice into consideration. Don't know chalk from cheese. 不恥下問 To improve your studies, you got to be not above asking questions. 不假思索 He is good at speech. He often speaks impromptu. 不偏不倚 You should believe that the judge held the scales even.

不期而遇 I came across an old friend of mine in a department store. (chance to meet; bump into; come upon; meet...accidentally/unexpectedly/by chance/by accident) 不速之客 You are really a thick-skinned and gate-crasher.

不義之財 Don't be envious. Ill-gotten money comes easily and goes easily too.

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不謀而合 Do you see eye to eye with him on that plan?

不厭其煩 The teacher often takes the trouble to instruct his pupils.

不遺餘力 But the conspirators leave no avenue unexplored to re-establish contact with Britain.

不擇手段 He just did the work by hook or by crook.

不翼而飛 Did you see that plane? It seems that it just vanished from sight. 不聲不響 It's implite for one to be as quiet/silent/still as a mouse and left.

不識抬舉 Bring a cow to the hall and she will run to the byre. (Give him enough rope and he will hang himself.)

少年老成 to have an old head on young shoulders

少不更事 Although she is 20, she was still wet behind the ears in some ways. 天無絕人之路 God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb. 天下烏鴉一般黑 Crows are black all over the world.

天無絕人之路 God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb./ When one door shuts another opens.

天助自助者 Heaven helps those who help themselves.

天有不測風雲，人有旦夕禍福 It is the unexpected that always happens. 天衣無縫 These two ideas just fit like a glove.

天涯海角 I'll find him to the ends of the earth. (out-of-the-way places; the uttermost part of the earth)

天經地義 It's a matter of course to respect our elders. (a universal truth; it goes without saying that...)

毛遂自薦 to recommend one's own person

心正不怕雷打 A good conscience is a soft pillow. 心甘情願 He did all this of his own accord.

心不在焉 You look absent-minded; what's wrong?

心滿意足 The little boy sat there smiling, as happy as a clam.

心力交瘁 I don't know what to do. I just burned the candle at both ends.

心灰意冷 He was in black despair when he failed in the joint examination.(down in the bushes/in the dumps/lose heart

心有餘悸 A burned child dreads the fires. (Once bitten, twice shy)

心安理得 No matter what he said, I have the peace of mind. (have an easy conscience) 心血來潮 He did it just on the impulse of the moment.

心花怒放 My heart sings with joy because I receive over 300 letters a week from people around the world

心直口快 John is frank and out spoken, so I prefer to remain with him. 心滿意足 You can eat to your heart's content.

心猿意馬 He often carry fire in one hand and water in the other. 心曠神怡 Standing here feel on top of the world. 化干戈為玉帛 Bury the tomahwak(hatchet). 仁者無敵 The benevolent have no enemy.

今日事今日畢 Never put off till tomorrow what may be done today.

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文勝於武 The pen is mightier than the sword.

文不對題 His composition is wide of the mark. ( beside the point )

六親不認 As to the business, he often cuts loose from old ties. ( turn one's back on one's own flesh and blood )

火上加油 Don't bother her, or you'll pour oil on the flame.

支離破碎 The car was so seriously damaged that it was torn to pieces. (in shreds; rip apart)

匹夫之勇 Fighting with him is just courage without discipline . (brute courage)

比比皆是 This kind of mall can be found here and there and everywhere. (right and left) 切膚之痛 No one knows where the shoe pinches like the wearer. 夫唱婦隨 A good Jack makes a good Jill.

引狼入室 I know I'll set a fox to keep the geese if I take him for a good friend.

引以為榮 I am really proud of myself. (plume oneself on; pride oneself on; take pride in) 日薄西山 Now he knows that his days are numbered. (not to be long for this world; The sands are running out.)

水乳交融 That couple are really hand and (in) glove with each other. (be finger and glove with)

水性楊花 They got divorced for he thinks his wife was unstable as water. (as changeable as the moon; A woman's mind and winter wind change off.)

水深火熱 The rebels were in deep water and oppressed every day.

水落石出 The police are now looking into the case, and I suppose, the truth will out soon. (be brought to light; come out in the wash; Murder is out Truth lies at the bottom of a well.)

分文不值 What you bought yesterday is actually not worth a dump.

分身乏術 I'm now doing my homework, so I can't be in two places at once. 分秒必爭 Every minute counts.

分道揚標鑣 They have already gone separate ways. (part company)

化險為夷 It is John who helps me weather the storm. (escape/go/get off scot-free; bear a charmed life)

斤斤計較 Forget about it. Don't strain at gnat. He needs money lately. (look at both sides of a penny; skin a flint) 5

以身作則 You got to practice what one practices. ( set a good example for others) 以毒攻毒 to set a thief to catch a thief

以怨報德 He is a person who bites the hand that feeds one. 以逸待勞 To wait at ease till the enemy is exhausted. 以寡敵眾 to fight against longer odds

以德報怨 I think it is better for you to render/return good for evil . 以其人之道還治其人之身 Set a thief to catch a thief.

以子之矛，攻子之盾 to turn a person's battery against himself

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以柔克剛 Willows are weak yet they bind other wood. (Soft and fair goes far.) 以和為貴 A bad compromise is better than a good lawsuit.

以卵擊石 What you do is throw a straw against the wind. (run one's head against a stone wall; Whether the pitcher strikes the stone or the stone strikes the pitcher, it is bad for the pitcher.)

四大皆空 All is vanity.

四海之內皆兄弟 All are brothers within the four seas.

四面八方 These folks come from in all directions (far and wide; there and everywere; length and breadth)

四海為家 I don't know where Jack is now; in my mind, he is a person who is here today and gone tomorrow.

未雨綢繆 Keep some extra money for a fainy day. 目不識丁 not know A from B / an illiterate

失敗為成功之母 Failure is the mother of success. 失之毫釐，差之千里 A miss is as good as a mile.

只要功夫深，鐵杵磨成針 Little strokes fell great oaks. 毛遂自薦 to recommend one's own person

毛骨悚然 That weird-looking person really makes my hair stand on end. (get goose bumps; make one creep all over; make one's flesh creep) 打落水狗 to hit a person when he's down

打鐵趁熱 Strike while the iron is hot.(Make hay while the sun is shining.) 打抱不平 He often bullies you. I really take up the cudgel for you.

打草驚蛇 Let's stay here in order not to wake a sleeping dog. (wake a sleeping lion/woof) 犯錯是人之常情，寬恕是超凡的 To err is human; to forgive divine. 只要功夫深，鐵杵磨成針 Little strokes fell great oaks. 白費唇舌 to waste your breath on him

生於憂患，死於安樂 Adversity spurs vitality, while comfort breeds sloth .

永垂不朽 The general's name will be always remembered and eternally immortal. 平白無故 Don't take others' money without rhyme or reason. (without provocation) 平分秋色 He did quite well, but I still think his is one equal terms with her.

平步青雲 What an amazing thing! He should make a smashing hit in short a time. (beat the top of the ladder; come to the top over night; hit the jackpot; skyrocket to fame) 平易近人 He is a person easy to get along with. (be well disposed; free and easy; have a taking way with one have the common touch)

未雨綢繆 Don't take everyting for granted. It's better for you to lay up against a rainy day. (prepare for foul in fair weather; prepare for a rainy day)

功敗垂成 I hate to tell you that your plan is a slip betwixt cup and the lip. 可歌可泣 His sacrifice for the country set us in a melting mood. 本末倒置 Don't put the cart before the horse.

甘拜下風 Would you like to play with me again? No, I'd rather play second fiddle. 甘之如飴 He lived a plain life and smacked his lips.

世外桃源 Switzerland is like Utopia, which I always dream of visiting.

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世界末日 Don't be so depressed. It's not Doomsday.

半斤八兩 John is no better than Peter. They are just Tweedledum and Tweedledee. (be as broad as it is long; six of one and half a dozen of the other)

半信半疑 A: Jimmy will invite you to dinner tonight? B: No, I don't think so. I will take it half in doubt. ( take with a grain of salt)

石沉大海 I couldn't find her. It seemed that her whereabouts sank into oblivion. 左右逢源 It appears that everything goes well with him.

司空見慣 The situation is already order of the day. (par for the course)

目瞪口呆 She was already tongue-tied, and didn't what to do. (lose one's tongue; struck dumb; stunned and speechless)

目光如豆 He is a person who sees no further than his nose.

出爾反爾 He is not a guy worthy of our trust. He often goes back on his word. (blow hot and cold)

出口成章 He is a learned person. His tongue is the pen of a ready writer. 出人頭地 Through his hard work, he finally came to the fore.

出類拔萃 John towers above the rest in math. (in a class by itself; out of the common run) 史無前例 His excellent performance at that play is without precedent in history. 令人髮指 His cruelty to animals make our hair stand on end. 令人咋舌 What he did really took my breath away.

付之一炬 Because of a blast, that new house just committed to the flames. 生龍活虎 Nessie says it is alive and kicking under different names By Sussy. 仗勢欺人 John always pulls rank on others.

白手起家 He is a successful business who started from scratch. 6

任勞任怨 to bear hardship without complaint

自作自受 As you make your bed so you must lie on it. 自討苦吃 to make a rod for one's own back 自力更生 to shift for oneself 自掃門前雪 After us the deluge. 回頭浪子 the return of a prodigal

先下手為強 Offence is the best defence. 同甘共苦 to share one's joys and sorrows 因地制宜 act according to circumstances 有勇無謀 more brave than wise

有備無患 Good watch prevents misfortune.

有志者事竟成 Where there is a will, there is a way.

有錢能使鬼推磨 Money makes the world go around. /Money talks.

有其父必有其子 Like father, like son.

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江山易改本性難移 The child is father of the man. 江山易改本性難移 A leopard cannot change it's spots. 百無一失 Not a single miss in a hundred times.

百依百順 She expects us to jump through hoops for her. 百聞不如一見 To see is to believe. (Seeing is believing.)

吃得苦中苦，方為人上人 If you wish to be the best man, you must be prepared to suffer the bitterest of the bitter.

每人一生中皆有得意之日 Every dog has his day.

色是假，美是空 Charm is deceitful, and beauty empty.

吉人自有天相 The good are protected by Heaven. / All's wel that ends well. 如願以償 The mayor finally got his way with the city council. 如人飲水冷暖自知 Only the wearer knows where the shoes pain. 吃得苦中苦，方為人上人 No gain without pain. 早起的鳥兒有蟲吃 The early bird catches the worm. 7 8

奇裝異服 a fantastic garb

忠言逆耳 Honest advice is unpleasant to the ear 明辨是非 to distinguish right from wrong 知足常樂 Happy is he who is content 知足者富 He who feels contented is rich

知人知面不知心 It's easy to know men's faces, but not their hearts. 知己知彼百戰百勝 Know your enemy and know yourself. 空中樓閣 castles in the air 金科玉律 the gold rule 奇裝異服 a fantastic garb

明辨事非 to distinguish right fromwrong

雨後春筍 like bamboo shoots after a spring shower 雨過天青 After a storm comes a calm.

秀才不出門能知天下事 A scholor does not step outside his gate, yet he knows the happenings under the sun.

事實勝於雄辯 Facts are most convincing. 來得容易去得快 Easy come, easy go.

金玉其外敗絮其中 All that glitters is not gold.

兔子不吃窩邊草 The fox preys farthest from his hole.

若要人不知除非己莫為 If you would not be known to do anything, never do it. 沒有笑臉不出門 A man without a smiling face must not open a shop.

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虎父無虎子 Like father, like son.

往者不可諫，來者猶可追 A mill cannot grind with the water that is past. 見異思遷 Grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.

物競天擇 \物以類聚 Birds of a feather flock together.

夜以繼日 The nurse was with the patient day and night. 英雄所見略同 Great minds think alike.

於事無補 Complaining is of little(no) avail. It is better for you to take action now. 9

姻緣天註定 Marriages are made in heaven. 逆來順受 to make the best of a bad bargain 流芳百世 a niche in the temple of fame 為虎作倀 to act as guide to a tiger

孤注一擲 to put all one's egg in one basket

勇者不懼 A brave man will not shrink from dangers. 洗心革面 to turn over a new leaf 美中不足 a fly in the ointment 背道而馳 to run counter

走湯蹈火 to go through fire and water 風燭殘年 to have one foot in the grave

風聲鶴唳，草木皆兵 to apprehend danger in every sound 活到老學到老 It's never too late to learn./ Live and learn.

前事不忘後事之師 Remember the past and it will guide your future. 星星之火可以燎原 A single spark can start a prairie fire. 待人寬容如待己 Live and let live.

按部就班 Learn to walk before you run.

南轅北轍 The salesmen were working at cross purposes with their supervisor. 10

病從口入禍從口出 Illness comes in by mouth and comes out by it. 笑裏藏刀 a smile to hide one's hate

留得青山在，不怕沒柴燒 Where there's life there's hope 海底撈月 to fish in the air

海底撈針 to look for a needle in a bundle of hay 差之毫釐失之千里 A miss is as good as a mile 既往不咎 Let the dead bury their dead.

殺身成仁 to sacrifice one's life to preserve one's virtue complete

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殺雞焉用牛刀 Take not a musket to kill a butterfly 飢不擇食 A good appetite is a good sauce. 害群之馬 black sheep

家醜不可外揚 Don't wash your dirty linen in public. 恩威並濟 alternate weakness with severity

旁觀者清 The outside sees the best of the game. 時運不濟 to have a bad time

殊途同歸 All roads lead to Rome.

眾志成城/團結就是力量 Union is strenth. 疾風知勁草 Adversity reveals genius.

旁觀者清，當局者迷 Lookers-on see most of the game. 莫在太歲頭上動土 Let sleeping dogs lie.

畢恭畢敬 He always treats his boss cap in hand. 11

得意忘形 to leap out of one's skin

捷足先登 The early bird catches the worm. 欲速則不達 Haste makes waste 欲速則不達 More haste, less speed.

欲加之罪，何患無辭 Give a dog a bad/an ill name and hang him. 混水摸魚 to fish in troubled waters 貪小失大 penny-wise and poundfoolish 習慣成自然 once a use forever a custom 掛羊頭賣狗肉 cry up wine and sell vinegar 貧無立錐之地 as poor as a church mouse

雪中送炭真君子/患難見真情 A friend in need is a friend indeed. 異想天開 to give loose to one's fancy 集思廣義 Two heads are better than one. 得過且過 to live from hand to mouth 情人眼裏出西施 Love is blind.

情有獨鐘 All the girls liked Kevin, but he had eyes only for Mary. 冤家宜解不宜結 Better remove enmity than contract it. 眼不見為淨 Out of sight, out of mind.

脫口而出 A slip of the tongue can sometimes land you in trouble. 設身處地 Sometimes you have to learn to be in my shoes. 12

智者千慮，必有一失 Homer sometimes nods.

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勝不驕敗不餒 to be not elated by success nor disturbed by failure 富貴在天 Riches and honors come from heaven. 智者不惑 A wise man is free from perplexities.

無風不起浪 There is no smoke without fire. (Where there is smoke, there is fire.) 畫蛇添足 to paint the lily

趁火打劫 to fish in troubled waters

量入為出 to cut one's coat according to one's cloth/ make both ends meet 陽奉陰違 ostensible obedience

跑了和尚跑不了廟 The monk may run away, but the temple can't run with him. 萬物之靈 the lords of creation

萬事開頭難 Everything is difficult at the start 萬無一失 not a single miss in a thousand times. 落井下石 to hit a person when he's down 隔牆有耳 Pitchers have ears; walls have ears. 開夜車/挑燈夜戰 Burn the midnight oil.

開誠佈公 He always opens his heart to his spouse when he has a problem. 盜亦有道 Dog does not eat dog.

善有善報 One kindness is the price of another. 13

損人利己 to enrich oneself at others expense

置之死地而後生 Put the troops in death ground and they will live. 道高一尺魔高一丈 While the priest climbs a foot, the devil climbs ten. 預防勝於治療 Prevention is better than cure. 新官上任三把火 New brooms sweep clean.

塞翁失馬焉知非福 Misfortune might be a blessing in disguise.

路遙知馬力日久見人心 A distant journey tests the strength of a horse and a long task proves the character of a man. 滄海一栗 a drop in the bucket

蓋棺論定 Judge none blessed before his death. 歲月不饒人 Time and tide wait for no man. 經驗即良師 Experience is the teacher.

微不足道 The police crackdown on speeding is just a drop in the ocean in solving Taiwan's traffic problems.

勤能補拙 Diligence can make up for lack of intelligence. 14

壽終正寢 to die a natural death (to die in one's bed)

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寡不擊眾 There is no contending against odds. 對牛彈琴 to cast pearls before swine

禍不單行 Misfortunes never come single.

飽食終日無所事事 to eat the bread of idleness 慷他人之慨 to be free with other's money

遠親不如近鄰 Distant kinsmen mean less than close neighbors. / A near neighbor is better than a distant cousin.

種瓜得瓜種豆得豆 You must reap what you have sown. / As you sow, so shall you reap. 樂極生悲 After joy comes sadness.

說曹操到曹操就到 Talk of the devil and the devil comes. 團結就是力量 Union is strength.

需要為發明之母 Necessity is the mother of invention.

滿招損，謙受益 Haughtiness invites ruin; humility receives benefits. 15

惡有惡報 He that does evil shall find evil. 惡事傳千里 Bad news travels quickly. 熟能生巧 Practice makes perfect. 緩兵之計 a fabian policy

緣木求魚 to get water from a flint 適者生存 the survival of the fittest

窮寇莫追 A cornered animal is a dangerous foe. 16

積少成多 Every little makes a mickle. 積少成多 Every little helps.

錢可通神 Money can move even the gods.

謀事在人成事在天 Man proposes and God disposes. 學問無捷徑 There is no royal road/shortcut to learning. 機不可失 Opportunity seldo knocks twice. 17

優勝劣敗 The weakest goes to the wall. 聲東擊西 to look one way and row another 膾炙人口 in everyone's mouth 螳臂擋車 to kick against the pricks

鞠躬盡瘁 to give the last measure of devotion

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聰明反被聰明誤 to suffer for one's wisdom 舊調重談 to harp on the same string

禮尚往來 Courtesy on one side cannot last long. 禮多必詐 full of courtesy, full of craft

聲嘶力竭 He was talking at the top of his voice. 18

覆水難收 What's done cannot be undone./There is no use crying over spilt milk. 轉石不生苔 A rolling stone gathers no moss. 轉敗為勝 to convert defeat into victory 鞭長莫及 beyond one's grasp

關公門前耍大刀 There's no need to teach a fish to swim. 20

嚴以責己寬以待人 to be severe with oneself and lenient with others 21

鐵石心腸 a heart of steel 22

聽天由命 to be guided by destiny 驕者必敗 Pride goes before a fall.

-end-

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