轻松美国谚语.EASY.AMERICAN.IDIOMS_new

美国谚语的集合,英文解释,为想提高英语水平的朋友准备

EASYAMERICANIDIOMS

HundredsofidiomaticexpressionstogiveyouanedgeinEnglish!

byRachelVarra

EditedbyChristopher

Warnasch

美国谚语的集合,英文解释,为想提高英语水平的朋友准备

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

ThankstotheLivingLanguagestaff:TomRussell,NicoleBenhabib,ChristopherWarnasch,SuzanneMcQuade,ShainaMalkin,ElhamShabahat,SophieChin,LindaSchmidt,AlisonSkrabek,CarolynRoth,andTomMarshall.

Copyright©2006byLivingLanguage,animprintofRandomHouse,Inc.LivingLanguageisamemberoftheRandomHouseInformationGroupLivingLanguageandcolophonareregisteredtrademarksofRandomHouse,Inc.Allrightsreserved.

PublishedintheUnitedStatesbyLivingLanguage,animprintofRandomHouse,Inc.

Editor:ChristopherA.WarnaschProductionEditor:CarolynRothProductionManager:TomMarshallInteriorDesign:SophieYeChinISBN:978-1-4000-0659-5

LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationDataavailableuponrequest.Thisbookisavailableatspecialdiscountsforbulkpurchasesforsalespromotionsorpremiums.Specialeditions,includingpersonalizedcovers,excerptsofexistingbooks,andcorporateimprints,canbecreatedinlargequantitiesforspecialneeds.Formoreinformation,writetoSpecialMarkets/PremiumSales,1745Broadway,MD6-2,NewYork,NewYork10019,ore-mailspecialmarkets@.PRINTEDINTHEUNITEDSTATESOFAMERICA10987654321

CONTENTS

LESSON

1MyToeIsKillingMe!42TyingtheKnot6

3That’saWeightoffMyShoulders!94

IHaveaBonetoPickwithYou!125LikePullingTeeth16

6Honey,There’sSomethingonMyMind...197NowWe’reCooking!218FitsLikeaGlove!25

9I’mUptoMyEyeballsinWork!28

10

She’sGotYouWrappedaroundHerFinger.3o11That’sPuttingtheCartbeforetheHorse.3212LikeaBatoutofHell3513It’saSteal!38

14OfftheBeatenTrack4o15TurningOveraNewLeaf4416FacetheMusic!47

17Let’sCatchaFlick,ThenGrabaBite.5o18TaketheBullbytheHorns.5219JustCheckingIn...5520

JustGowiththeFlow!58

美国谚语的集合,英文解释,为想提高英语水平的朋友准备

LESSON1

MyToeIsKillingMe!

Doctor:Sorryyouwaitedsolong,Paul;I’vebeentiedupall

afternoon.Whatseemstobetheproblemthistime?Paul:Doc,mytoe’skillingme.Ithinkit’sbroken.

Doctor:Hmm...Let’shavealook.Oh,yeah,that’sabeauty.

Youreallydidanumberonthattoe.How’dithappen?Paul:Iwashelpingmybrothermove.Idroppedadeskon

myfoot.Doctor:Well,that’sasurefirewaytobreaksomebones.Paul,

didn’tIseeyoulastyearforsomesprainedfingers?Paul:Yeah...Iwastryingtofixthetoiletandgotmyhand

stuck.Iyankeditout,andhurtmyself.I’mstilltryingtolivethatonedown.Doctor:Well,Mr.Fix-it,you’vereallyoutdoneyourselfthistime.

Youwon’tbewalkingwiththisfootforeightweeks.Paul:That’simpossible!Ihaveacampingtripscheduledfor

sixweeksfromnow.Can’titbehealedbythen?Doctor:That’satallorder,Paul...ButIsupposeit’snotoutof

thequestion.Withalotofrestnow...andintensivephysicaltherapy,youjustmaybebackinthesaddleagaininsixweeks.Butthetherapyrequiresalotofwork,andtime...andspecifically,followingthedoctor’sorders...Canyouhandlethat?Paul:Pieceofcake!

Doctor:Butlisten,evenifyouarewalkingbythen,you’vegot

totakeiteasyduringthetrip.Noclimbingtreesorjumpingacrossstreamsoranything.Youreallyneedtobabythislegforawhile!Paul:Surething.

Doctor:Well,Paul...let’sgetyoubandagedup.We’llhaveyou

hobblingoutofhereinnotime.Now...Iwantyoutokeepaneyeontheswellingintherestofthelegandfoot.AndgetintouchwithDr.Phillips...She’sthephysicaltherapist.Paul:Okay,Doc.ShouldIdropbyhereanotherday?

Doctor:Yes.We’regoingtowanttofollowuponthisinabout

twoweeks.Paul:I’llscheduleanappointmentwiththereceptionist.

Thanks.Bye,Doc.Doctor:You’rewelcome.AndPaul,takeiteasy,wouldyou?Paul:Yes,Iwill.Ipromise.

1.Tobetiedupwithsomethingorsomeone.Tobebusy.2.Tobekillingsomeone.Tobeverypainful.

3.Abeauty.Averygoodorvividexampleofsomething;inthiscase,areallygoodexampleofabadinjury.4.Todoanumberonsomething.Todamage,destroy,orhurtsomethingbadly.5.Asurefirewaytodosomething.Awaythatwilldefinitelyhaveacertainoutcomeorresult.6.Tolivesomethingdown.Tobeallowedtoforgetaboutanembarrassingsituation.Thisisusedinthenegative—toneverornotlivesomethingdown.Acommonwayyou’llhearthisexpressionisthephrase“I’llneverlivethisdown!”7.Tooutdoyourself.Todosomethingverywell.Todobetterthanyounormallydo.Notethatthisexpressionisoftenusedinasarcasticway.8.Atallorder.Anunusuallydifficultrequest.

9.Tobeoutofthequestion.Tobeimpossibletoaccomplish.10.Tobebackinthesaddle.Toreturntoyournormalactivities,

especiallyafteranillnessorinjury.Tobebackincontrolofyournormalactivities.11.Tohandlesomething.Tocopewithormanageasituation.12.Tobeapieceofcake.Tobeveryeasy.

13.Totakeiteasy.Todothingsslowlyandcarefully,withouttiring

yourself.14.Tobabysomeoneorsomething.Totreatverycarefullyandwith

greatsensitivity.15.Tokeepaneyeon.Towatchcarefully.

16.Togetintouchwith.Tocontact,totalktosomeone.17.Todropby.Tovisitsomeone.

18.Tofollowuponsomething.Toaddressorcheckonasituation

later.

美国谚语的集合,英文解释,为想提高英语水平的朋友准备

LESSON2

TyingtheKnot

Mike:Hmmm...What’sthiscard?“Joinus!Mattand

Allisonaretyingtheknot!TaketheplungewiththemSaturday,June22nd,attheirEngagement/BeachParty.There’llbenochancetogetcoldfeetatthissizzlinghotsummerparty!TakesplaceatTurtleBeach.Thispartyisnostuffyceremony,sojoininifyouwanttoseethecouplelettheirhairdownonelasttimebeforethewalkdowntheaisle!RSVPbyFriday,June15th.It’llbeablast!”Wow.MattandAllisonaregettingmarried!Didn’tseethatcoming.

Allison:Mike!You’rehere!Sogladyoucouldmakeit!Mike:Wouldn’tmissitfortheworld!Matt:Hey,buddy!Howareya?Mike:Great!Congratulations,youtwo!

MattandAllison:Thanks!

Mike:Lookslikeagoodturnout!

Matt:Yeah,we’rehappysomanypeoplecouldcome.Mike:Soyoutwoarefinallygonnagethitched.Who

poppedthequestion?Wasityou,Matt,ordidyouproposetohim,Allison?Matt:Idecidedtobetheromanticone.ItookAllisonto

theparkwherewehadourfive-yearanniversarypicnic,andaskedherthere...Shewasinabadmoodthatday...Ialmostlostmynerve—Ithoughtshewasgonnaturnmedown!Allison:He’sright...Ialmostlefthiminthepark.Ihada

terriblemigraine.Stressatwork.Andhe’dbeenactingsostrange,Iguessgettingreadyforthebigquestion.Mike:Haveyouguyssettledonadateyet?Allison:We’reclose...SometimenextJuly.You’llbe

around,won’tyou?Mike:Youcancountonit.

Allison:Oh,Ijustsawmyauntarrive.SorrytobailonyouMike,

rightwhenyougethere!Mike:No,noproblem;we’llcatchuplateron.Allison:Great.Seeyoubothinabit.Mike:Okay,canIaskyousomethingdirect?

Matt:Ha!It’snotlikeyou’veeverbeenonetobeataround

thebush.Mike:Fairenough.Giveittomestraight.Didshebullyyou

intothis?Matt:No,seriously...Ireallywantthis.

Mike:Itellya,whenIgottheinvite,itreallythrewmefora

loop.You’vedoneacomplete180.Justacouplemonthsago,youweretellingmehowyoukindofmissedplayingthefield.Matt:Iknow.Butthingshavechanged.IguessI’vesettled

down.Mike:Iguessso!Whathappened?

Matt:Well,rememberthatcaraccidentAllisonhad?WhenI

foundout,itwasarealwake-upcall.IrememberthinkingIdidn’tknowhowIwouldlivewithoutthiswoman.Ithitme—shewastheoneforme.IdecidedIshouldeithermarryherorstopseeingher.Mike:Wow.

Matt:Really,andsinceI’veproposed,everythinghasbeen

perfect.Ifeellikeamillionbucks.Itwastherightdecision.Mike:Ihavetohandittoyou.Itseemslikeyou’rereally

gettingyourlifeontrack.You’realuckyman.She’sagreatperson.Youdeserveagreatwoman.Matt:Thanks,Iappreciatethat.Butcomeon,thisis

supposedtobefun.Let’sgrababeerandjointheparty.Mike:Greatidea.

1.Totietheknot.Togetmarried.

2.Totaketheplunge.Tofollowthroughonabigorlife-changingdecision.Ontheinvitation,ithasadoublemeaning.Itrefers

美国谚语的集合,英文解释,为想提高英语水平的朋友准备

bothtoa“plunge”intowateratthebeachpartyandtothefactthatMattandAllisonwillbegettingmarried.

3.Togetcoldfeet.Tobeorbecomeafraidtodosomething.Tohavesecondthoughts.Noticethatyoucanalsosay“havecoldfeet.”4.Stuffy.Formal.Overlyconservativeinceremonyandstyle.5.Toletyourhairdown.Tocelebrateinafreeanduninhibitedway.6.Towalkdowntheaisle.Togetmarried.

7.Tonotseesomethingcoming.Tonotexpectsomething.Tobesurprisedbysomething.8.Aturnout.Thenumberofpeopleatanevent.Noticethatthere’salsotheverb“toturnout.”9.Togethitched.Togetmarried.Thesedays,thisexpressionisaninformal,humorous,andexaggeratedwaytosay“togetmarried.”10.Topopthequestion.Toproposemarriagetosomeone.11.Toloseyournerve.Tolosecourage.

12.Toturnsomeoneorsomethingdown.Tosay“no”tosomeoneor

something.13.Tosettleonsomething.Todecidesomethingafterdiscussion,

consideration,ornegotiation.14.Tocountonsomething.Todependonsomethinghappening.To

besuresomethingwillhappen.15.Tobail.Toleaveapersonorquitaprojectearlierthanexpected.

Youcanalsosay“tobailoutonsomeoneorsomething.”16.Tobeataroundthebush.Tobeindirectinapproachinorderto

avoidconfrontation.17.Togiveittosomeonestraight.Tobedirectandhonestwith

someone.18.Tobullysomeoneintosomething.Toforcesomeonetodo

something.19.Tothrowsomeoneforaloop.Tosurprisesomeone.Toconfuse

someonewithsomethingunexpected.20.Todoa180.Tochangeinadrasticway.Toturncompletely

around.21.Toplaythefield.Todatemanydifferentpeople.

22.Tosettledown.Togrowcomfortableandcontentinaroutineor

situation,especiallyinarelationshipwithanotherperson.

Often,thisimpliesgrowingolderandmoreresponsible,orlessfun-lovingandfree,dependingonhowyoulookatit!

23.Tobeawake-upcall.Tobesomethingthatchangesyourviewof

whatisimportantorpossible.24.Tobeseeingsomeone.Todatesomeoneinformally.25.Tohandittosomeone.Toacknowledgesomeone’s

achievement.

26.Togetsomethingontrack.Tomakedecisionsandtakeactions

aboutsomethingthatwillleadtoafavorableoutcome.

LESSON

3

That’saWeightoffMyShoulders!

Giovanni:Hello?

Briona:Hey,Giovanni.It’sBri.Giovanni:Hey.

Briona:Youknow,Dad’sbirthdayiscomingupinfourdays...Giovanni:Ohman,Ialmostforgot!Itreallysneakeduponme

thisyear.Briona:Yeah,Ithoughtitmighthaveslippedyourmind.So,I

waswondering—doyouwannagoinonagiftforhimwithme?Giovanni:Yeah,sure...butIdon’thaveacluewhatweshould

gethim.Briona:Meneither.Iwasthinkingwecouldgotothemalland

lookaround.Maybesomethingwillturnup.Giovanni:Whendoyouwanttogo?Briona:Fridaygood?

Giovanni:Soundslikeaplan.Seeyathen.Briona:Whataboutanewgrill?

Giovanni:Bri,I’mnotarichguy.Ican’taffordtobreakthebank

withthisgift.Briona:Okay,howaboutagiftcertificatetoabookstore?Dad

lovestoread.He’sarealbookworm.Giovanni:Yeah,wealreadythoughtofthat,andAuntLindaison

thecase.

美国谚语的集合,英文解释,为想提高英语水平的朋友准备

Briona:Fine.Neckties?

Giovanni:Canyougetanymorerun-of-the-mill?

Briona:Well,thenWHAT?!EverysuggestionImake,youtear

topieces.Atleastthrowmeabonehere!It’snothelpfulforyoutojustshootdownmyideas!Giovanni:Well,Idon’tknowwhattogethimeither.Whatdoyou

buyforthemanwhohaseverything?Briona:Oh,you’reagreathelp!Youroptimismisbeginningto

getonmynerves.I’mbeat.Maybeweshouldjustcallitaday.Giovanni:No,wait...Allright,Bri,youwantmytwocents?Briona:Finally!Yes!Whatdoyouthink?

Giovanni:It’shis50thbirthday,soweshouldgethimsomething

good....Briona:Like...?

Giovanni:Idon’tknow...Somethingthatreallyknockshissocks

off!Briona:Bighelpyouare!Youknow,youcouldatleast...Hey!

That’sit!Didn’tDadsayhewantedtostartexercising,becausehefeelslikehe’snotinshape?Giovanni:Yeah...

Briona:Well...wecouldgethimapairofrunningshoes,and

amembershiptoaclub!Giovanni:Hmmm...That’snotbad.ButhowmuchwillIhaveto

shellout?Briona:Don’tworry...Paywhatyoucan;I’llpaytherest.Giovanni:ThisishandsdownthebestideaI’veheardallday.Briona:Whataweightoffmyshoulders!

Giovanni:Minetoo!AndsinceIinspiredit,youshouldtreatme

tolunch.Briona:Don’tpushyourluck!

1.Tobecomingup.Tobeabouttooccur.Tohappeninthenearfuture.2.Tosneakuponsomebody.Tohappenorbeabouttohappenwithoutsomeone’srealizationorpreparation.Bytheway,you’llhearmanypeopleusethepastform“snuck”aswell.3.Toslipsomeone’smind.Tobeforgotten.

4.Togoinonsomethingwithsomeone.Tosharethecostorexpenseofsomethingwithsomeone.5.Tonothaveaclue.Tonotknowaboutsomethingatall.6.Tolookaround.Tomovethroughaplaceandobservewithouttheintentionoffindingsomethinginparticular.7.Toturnup.Toappearorbefound.

8.Tobreakthebank.Tospendallyourmoneyonsomething,toemptyyourbankaccounttopayforsomething,topaytoomuchforsomething.9.Bookworm.Apersonwholovestoread.

10.Tobeonthecase.Toalreadybeworkingonacertainproject,to

havebegunworkingtoachieveaparticulargoal.11.Toberun-of-the-mill.Tobeordinaryortypical.Tobe

commonplace.12.Totearsomethingtopieces.Tofindfaultwithsomethingor

harshlycriticize.Toinsult.13.Tothrowsomeoneabone.Tomakeasmallortokengestureof

supportforsomeone,ofteninapatronizingway.14.Toshootsomethingdown.Todismissorrejectsomething,such

asanideaorasuggestion.15.Togetonsomeone’snerves.Toannoyoragitatesomeone.16.Tobebeat.Tobeexhausted.

17.Tocallitaday.Todecidethataproject,event,orsituationisover.

Tostopworkingonsomethingfortheday.18.Toputinorgiveyourtwocents.Togiveyouropinionorshare

yourideasaboutsomething.19.Toknocksomeone’ssocksoff.Toshockorsurprisesomeoneina

pleasantorhappywaybyperformingbeyondexpectation.20.Tobeinshape.Tobeingoodphysicalcondition.Notethatyou

canalsosay“togetinshape,”meaning“totrainyourbodyandbecomephysicallyfit.”21.Toshellout.Topay,usuallyabitunwillingly.22.Handsdown.Withoutadoubt.

23.Tobeaweightoffyourshoulders.Tonolongerbeasourceof

worryorconcernforyou.24.Topushyourluck.Totrytogettoomuchofareward,tobe

greedy,towanttoomuch.

美国谚语的集合,英文解释,为想提高英语水平的朋友准备

LESSON4

IHaveaBonetoPickwithYou!

Andrew:Don’twegetoffhere,atthisexit?

Rob:Beatsme...Yousaidyouhadthedirectionscovered.Andrew:Yeah,butI’malsodrivingrightnow.Justlookinthe

glovecompartment.IthinkIputtheminthere.

Rob:They’renothere.

Andrew:Theyshouldbe...Letmesee...Ohman,Itookthem

outtodouble-checksomethingandforgottoputthembackin.Itmusthaveslippedmymind...

Rob:Sowe’relost?That’sgreat.

Andrew:It’snobigdeal.Wecancallorasksomeonefor

directions.

Rob:Thisistypical.Whydidyousayyou’dhandlethe

directionsifyouweren’tgoingtohandlethem?Andrew:Lookwho’stalking!TheonlyreasonIsaidI’dhandle

themisbecauseIknewyoucouldn’tbecountedon.

Rob:Me?You’vegottobekidding.You’retheonewho

doesn’tgiveadamnaboutanyonearoundyou.Andrew:Allright,let’snotflyoffthehandlehere.Wejustneed

togetdirections.There’snoreasontomakeamountainoutofamolehill.What’sthedeal?

(Silence.)

Andrew:C’mon.Ifyouhaveabonetopickwithme,don’tbeat

aroundthebush...Let’sgetitoutintheopenbeforewegettoAuntHelen’splace.

Rob:Allright,fine.Ithinkyou’vebecomeabitofaslacker

lately.Andrew:YouthinkI’maslacker?That’sabitharsh.Whywould

yousaysomethinglikethat?What’seatingyou?

Rob:Well,forinstance,lastweekyouneededtoborrowone

ofmyshirtsforworkbecauseyoudidn’tbothertoplanaheadandbuyoneyourself.Andrew:It’sjustashirt!Areyoureallythatbentoutofshape

overmyborrowingashirt?Youneedtolightenupabit,Rob.

Rob:It’snotjusttheshirt,Andrew.It’sthatyouleanon

everyoneelseandexpectthemtopickupyourslack.Youdon’ttakeresponsibility—you’realwayspassingthebuck.Andrew:That’sinsane.Ineededashirtforanewjob.IfIwere

suchaslackerIwouldn’tevenhaveajob.

Rob:Okay,let’stalkaboutthejob,then.Andrew:Whataboutit?

Rob:Well,Igotyouthatjob.Ihookedyouupwithagreat

jobataplacewhereI’veworkedforthreeyears.Andrew:AndI’vethankedyouforitlikeathousandtimes.

Rob:Yeah,butwhatyoudotherereflectsonme.Ifyou

screwupitreallygivesmeabadname.Andrew:HowamIscrewingup?Iworkmytailoffthere!

Rob:Sometimes,yeah,butyoualsositaroundtwiddling

yourthumbsalot,too.Andrew:Oh,that’sbull.

Rob:No,it’strue.Andyoualsoseemtofindalotoftimeto

chatuptheprettygirlswhowalkininsteadofdoingyourjob.Andrew:I’masalesman!I’msupposedtotalkwiththe

customers.

Rob:Butit’sthesamethingathome.You’restilllivingwith

MomandDad,andyouhardlyeverliftafingeraroundthehousetohelpout.You’re22yearsoldandyourroomlookslikeatrainwreck.Youdon’tevenpitchinwithgroceries...Andrew:That’snottrueatall!Andhowwouldyouknow?

You’renoteventhere.

Rob:Ihaveeyes,Andrew.Icansee.Youstillactlikeachild

sometimes.Andrew:Oh,youneedtogetoffyourhighhorse,Rob.You’rethe

oneactinglikeachild.You’restilltryingtoshoweveryoneup,likelittleMr.Perfect.Youwereagoody-goodyasakid,andyouhaven’tchangedsince.

Rob:Hey,whatdoyouknow...?Andrew:What?

Rob:Whilewewereateachother’sthroatsyousomehow

managedtogetustoAuntHelen’s.

美国谚语的集合,英文解释,为想提高英语水平的朋友准备

Andrew:Oh,yeah.That’sherhousethere.Prettygoodforsuch

aslacker.

Rob:Justparkthecarandgiveitarestfornow.Andrew:Gladly.Justdon’tcriticizemyparkingjob.

Rob:Ugh.Theridehomeisgoingtobelong...1.Beatsme.Idon’tknow.Ihavenoidea.

2.Tohavesomethingcovered.Toberesponsibleforsomething,tohandlesomething.3.Toslipsomeone’smind.Tobeforgottenbysomeone.

4.Lookwho’stalking!Anexpressionofdisbelieforironymeaningthatsomeoneisguiltyofsomethingheorsheisblamingsomeoneelsefor.5.Tonotgiveadamn.Tonotcare.Notethatsomepeopleconsidertheword“damn”tobeharshandimpolite,soanalternateexpressionistonotgiveadarn.6.Toflyoffthehandle.Tobecomeextremelyagitated,excited,orangry.Toreacttoostronglytoasituation.7.Tomakeamountainoutofamolehill.Toexaggerateasituation,toturnarelativelyminorsituationintosomethingmuchbiggerormoreimportantthanitshouldbe.8.Tohaveabonetopickwithsomeone.Tohaveaproblemorcomplaintaboutsomeone.9.Togetsomethingoutintheopen.Toairacomplaintoragrievance,todiscusssomethingopenly.10.Slacker.Alazyorirresponsibleperson.Thisexpressionisrelated

totheverb“toslackoff.”11.Tobeeatingsomeone.Tobother,aggravate,orfrustrate

someoneoveraperiodoftime.12.Bentoutofshape.Annoyedorbotheredbysomething.Upset.

Notethatthisexpressionsuggeststhatthereasonbehindtheemotionisinsignificantornotworthbeingupsetabout.13.Tolightenup.Totakeamorecasualorrelaxedattitude.Tonot

beoverlyupsetorangryaboutsomething.14.Toleanon.Torelyorcounton,tobedependentonsomeoneelse

insteadofbeingself-sufficient.15.Topickupsomeone’sslack.Tocompensateforsomeoneelse’s

shortcomings.

16.Topassthebuck.Toputtheblameorresponsibilityonsomeone

else.17.Tohooksomeoneupwithsomething.Toarrangeforsomeone

tohavesomething.Tohelpsomeoneobtainsomethingortogivesomeonesomething.18.Toscrewup.Tomakemistakes,toperformpoorly.19.Togivesomeoneabadname.Togivesomeoneabad

reputation.

20.Toworkyourtailoff.Toworkveryhard.Toputforthgreateffort.21.Totwiddleyourthumbs.Todonothing.Literally,tohaveyour

handsclaspedandtomoveyourthumbsincirclesaroundeachother.22.Bull.Nonsense.Somethinguntrueorunbelievable.Notethat

thisisashortened,morepoliteformofanexpression

containingafour-letterword.“Bull”onitsownisnotconsideredvulgar,though.23.Tochatsomeoneup.Totalktosomeone,toshowinterestin

someonebymakingconversation.24.Toliftafinger.Toofferhelp.Toputforthefforttodosomesort

ofphysicalwork.25.Tolooklikeatrainwreck.Tobeverymessyorinterrible

condition.Toappearasifdestroyedinsomekindofaccident.26.Topitchin.Toassist,toshareinaresponsibility,suchas

houseworkorbillpaying.27.Togetoffyourhighhorse.Tostopactingsuperiororself-righteous.28.Toshowsomeoneup.Totrytoappearbetterormorecompetent

thanotherpeople.29.Goody-goody.Anunflatteringnameforsomeonewhobehaves

verywell,isveryresponsible,andnevergetsintoanykindoftrouble.Anexpressionthatsuggeststhatsomeoneisafraidtodoanythingwrong.30.Tobeatsomeone’sthroat.Tobefightingwithsomeone.Tobe

aggressivelyattackingsomeone.31.Togivesomethingarest.Tostopdoingsomething,topauseor

takeabreakfromsomekindofactivity.

美国谚语的集合,英文解释,为想提高英语水平的朋友准备

LESSON5

LikePullingTeeth

Salena:Whatapainintheneck!It’slikepullingteethtryingto

getanythingdonewiththem!Dario:What?Who?

Salena:Thecreditcardcompanysentanotherbilltomyold

address!Dario:Notagain...

Salena:Thisisthethirdtime!Ithoughtwegotthingssquared

awayafterthelasttimeIcalled.Nowthey’resayingIhavetocoughup150dollarsinlatefees!Dario:You’regonnacallandgetthatironedout,right?Salena:Idon’tknow...I’msotiredofdealingwiththem,I

thinkImightjustbitethebulletandpaythelatefee.Dario:Don’tdothat...That’snotright...Callagainand

insistontalkingtosomeonewhocangetitoffyourrecord.Salena:Dario,it’slikefloggingadeadhorse...EverytimeIcall

Igetthesamestory.Addresschanged,everythingshouldbefine.AndifIasktospeakwithamanager,Ihavetocallbacklaterbecausenooneisthere.Dario:Soundslikethey’regivingyoutherunaround.Just

cancelthecardandrefusetopay.Salena:Well,Iwillcancelthecard,butifIdon’tpay,I’llhave

thatonmycreditrecord.Dario:IfIwereinyourshoes,I’dcallrightnow.Salena:Okay...Fine...You’llsee.

Kurtis:Hello,mynameisKurtis.HowcanIhelpyoutoday?Salena:Hi,Kurtis.IgotabillsayingthatIowelatefees,but

theproblemisthatyourcompanykeepssendingstatementstomyoldaddress,sothepaymentisalreadylatebythetimeIgetthem,and...Kurtis:Okay,letmejustpullupyouraccount.Justone

moment.Okay,thereweare.Iseethatyouraddressislistedas47MapleTerrace...

Salena:Yeah,that’smynewaddress.Butthestatementsare

stillbeingsenttotheoldone.Kurtis:Okay,letmejustputthroughachangeofaddress,and

we’ll...Salena:No,Kurtis,I’vebeendownthatroadbefore.Afew

timesinfact.Ireallyjustwanttohavetheselatefeestakencareof.Obviously,Ishouldn’thavetopaythem.Kurtis:Iunderstandma’am,butunfortunatelyIdon’tcallthe

shotsinthatarea.Salena:Okay,thenI’dliketotalktosomeonewhodoes.Kurtis:Allright,ma’am.Ifyou’lljusthold...

Salena:Kurtis,pleasedon’tputmeonhold.I’vebeentryingto

takecareofthisproblemforweeksnow,andI’mreallyatmywit’send.Ineedtospeaktosomeonerightnow.Kurtis:I’msorryma’am,butnooneisavailablerightnow.If

you’lljusthold...Salena:Kurtis,look,Idon’tmeantogetonyourcase

personally,butIfeellikeI’mjustspinningmywheelseverytimeItalktosomeoneincustomerservice.I’mverydissatisfied,andI’mveryfrustrated.I’vegotagoodmindjusttocancelmycard.Kurtis:I’mreallysorryyoufeelthatway,ma’am.Youarea

valuedcustomer,and...Salena:Kurtis,pleasedon’tfeedmethatline!IfI’msucha

valuedcustomer,whycan’tanyonetakecareofmyproblem?Itreallyisbeyondmehowyourcompanycancallmeavaluedcustomerbutcontinueto...Kurtis:Ma’am,I’mreallysorry,butmyhandsaretied.Ifyou’ll

justletmeputyouonholdorcallbacklater,I’ll...Salena:Callbacklater?Areyououtofyourmind?I...Wait,

youknowwhat,I’mnotgoingtotakeoutmy

frustrationonyou.Iknowit’snotyourfault,thatyoujustworkthere,butI’vereallyhaditwithyourcompany.I’dliketogoaheadandcancelmycard.Kurtis:Okay,ma’am.I’msorrytohearthat,butIdo

understand.I’mgoingtotransferyoutoour

CancellationsDepartment,soifyou’lljusthold...Salena:Oh,forcryingoutloud...

美国谚语的集合,英文解释,为想提高英语水平的朋友准备

1.Painintheneck.Annoyingorbothersome.2.Likepullingteeth.Verydifficultandtedious.

3.Togetsomethingsquaredaway.Totieuplooseends.Tosolvethevarioussmallerproblemsofalargertroublesomesituation.4.Toironsomethingout.Tofixaproblem,tocorrectamistakeinaprocess.5.Tobitethebullet.Toacceptadisagreeablesolutionforadifficultsituation.6.Toflogadeadhorse.Todosomethingthathasnohopeof

succeedingorbringingaboutthedesiredresult.Notethatthisidiomisoftenusedwith“beat”insteadof“flog.”7.Thesameoldstory.Thesameexplanationforasituationgivenoverandoveragain.8.Togivesomeonetherunaround.Toavoidansweringaquestionorgivingsomeonehelpbytreatingthemevasivelyorbymisleadingthem.9.Tobeinsomeone’sshoes.Tobeinsomeoneelse’spositionorsituation.10.Topullup.Toaccessafileorotherinformationonacomputer.11.Tohavebeendownthatroadbefore.Tohaveexperiencedor

triedsomethingbefore,especiallyifitwasnothelpfulorpleasant.12.Tocalltheshots.Tomaketheimportantdecisions.

13.Atyourwit’pletelyfrustratedandconfusedabout

howtosolveaproblem.14.Togetonsomeone’scase.Toaggressivelybotherornag

someoneaboutsomething.15.Tobespinningyourwheels.Tobeputtingforthaneffortthatis

havingnousefuleffect.Tobeworkinginvain.16.Tohaveagoodmindtodosomething.Tobeinclinedtodo

something.Tohaveastrongdesiretodosomething.17.Tofeedsomeonealine.Totellsomeonesomethingthatisnot

genuineortruthful.Touseatriteorclichédexpressioninsteadofthetruth.18.Tobebeyondsomeone.Tobeimpossibletounderstand,tobe

completelyunbelievable.19.Tohaveyourhandstied.Tobeunabletodoanythingtohelpa

situation.

20.Tobeoutofyourmind.Tobecrazy,tobeunreasonableor

irrational.Thisexpressionisveryoftenusedinresponsetosomeonewhoproposessomethingcompletelyunreasonable.21.Totakesomethingoutonsomeone.Todirectangeror

frustrationaboutsomethingatsomeonewhoisnotresponsibleforit.

22.Tohavehaditwithsomethingorsomeone.Tobefedupwith.To

notbeabletohandleanymoreofasituationorperson.23.Forcryingoutloud...Thisexpressescompletefrustration

aboutasituation.

LESSON

6

Honey,There’sSomethingonMyMind...

Al:Hi,sweetie!Howareyou?Don’tyounormallyworkon

Fridays?

Beth:Yeah,butIhadtotalktoyou.Itcouldn’twait.Al:Oh,sure...Um,what’sup?

Beth:Well,Ineedtogetsomethingoffmychest.Al:That’sgood,becausethere’sbeensomethingonmy

mind,too.Beth:Letmegofirst;thisisimportant.Al:Okay.

Beth:I’msorrytospringthisonyou,butIthinkweshould

breakup.Al:Wow...That’sbignews.Well,how...Imean...Well,

whydoyouwanttodumpme?Beth:Isupposeitwouldbefairofmetogiveyouareason.Al:Well,yeah!Thiscomesoutofnowhere.Areasonwould

benice.Beth:I’mbreakingupwithyoubecauseyou’vebecomea

realcouchpotato.AllyoudoiswatchTV.AndtheonlythingyouliketowatchonTViscartoons.Al:ButIthoughtyouwerecrazyaboutcartoons!

Rememberthattimewesawthemovie“ABug’sLife”?Youweresmilingduringthewholething...Andyou

美国谚语的集合,英文解释,为想提高英语水平的朋友准备

wereinseventhheavenfortherestofthenight.Didn’tyouenjoyit?

Beth:Ithoughtitwascute,butIthenImovedon!You’restill

obsessedwithcartoons.Al:Well,whatelse?

Beth:You’vereallyletyourselfgo,too!Weusedtogobiking

andplaytennis,andnowyoujustsitaroundeatingcereal,watchingyourcartoons!Al:So,Idon’tturnyouonanymore?Isn’titabitshallow

tobreakupwithsomeonejustoverlooks?Beth:Butthat’snotall.Youneverwanttogooutanddo

anything.Westayhereallthetime,andyour

apartmentisapigsty.Youneverdothedishesorthelaundry.Thereareemptypizzaboxesfromtwoweeksagoonyourkitchentable.Itreallydrivesmeupthewall!Al:Mmmm...Butwe’vebeengoingoutfortwoyears

now,andI’veneverexactlybeentidy...Whydidn’tyoubringthisupsooner?Beth:Ithoughtitwascuteatfirst...IthoughtIwouldget

ter,Ithoughtyouwouldgrowoutofit.Anyway...that’snotthepoint.Ijustdon’twanttoseeyouanymore.

(Silence)

Beth:So...yousaidyouhadsomethingyouwantedtotell

me?IsupposehowyouhatethatItrytocontrolyourlifeandchangeyou...Al:No—actually,IwantedtoaskyouifyouknewwhereI

lefttheremotecontrolfortheTV—Ihaven’tbeenabletofinditforweeks.Beth:Itfigures.

1.Togetsomethingoffyourchest.Tosaysomethingimportantthatyou’vebeenthinkingaboutalot.2.Tobeonyourmind.Tobesomethingyouthinkalotabout.3.Tospringsomethingonsomeone.Togivesomeoneunexpectednewswithnopreparationorwarning.4.Tobreakupwithsomeone.Toendaromanticrelationship.

5.Todumpsomeone.Tostopbeinginaromanticrelationshipwithsomeone.6.Tocomeoutofnowhere.Toseemtohappenwithoutanylogicalexplanationorwarning.7.Couchpotato.Apersonwhositsaroundanddoesverylittlephysicalactivity,oftenjustwatchingTV.8.Tobecrazyaboutsomething.Tolikesomethingalot.9.Tobeinseventhheaven.Tofeelwonderful,tobeveryhappy.10.Tomoveon.Tobeginsomethingelse,tostopfocusingonone

personorthingandtostarttothinkaboutsomeoneorsomethingelse.11.Toletyourselfgo.Toallowyourselftobeinbadphysical

conditionbecauseofdietorlackofexercise.12.Toturnsomeoneon.Tobeaturn-on.Tocauseanattraction,

usuallyphysical.13.Todrivesomeoneupthewall.Toannoysomeoneverymuch.14.Tobringsomethingup.Tostarttotalkaboutsomething,to

introduceatopicinconversation.15.Togetusedtosomething.Tobecomeaccustomedtoorfamiliar

withsomething.Noticethatthisexpressionissimilarto“tobeusedtosomething,”meaningtobeaccustomedtoorfamiliarwithsomething.16.Togrowoutofsomething.Tobecometoooldforsomething,to

stophavinganinterestinsomethingthatusedtobeinteresting.17.Tobethepoint.Tobethemostimportantfactorconsideration

aboutatopic.18.Itfigures.Thisexpressionisused,oftenironically,tomeanthat

someoutcomeislogical,expected,orunavoidable.

LESSON

7

NowWe’reCooking!

Host:WelcometoNowWe’reCooking!—whereeating

gourmetdoesn’thavetocostanarmandaleg.Eachweekwebreakdownculinarymasterpiecesfromworld-famouschefs,andtakeyoustepbystepfrom

美国谚语的集合,英文解释,为想提高英语水平的朋友准备

choosingtherightingredientstoservingthemup.Todaywe’vegotalasagnabyourguestchefVincentCharbellethatwillknockyoursocksoff.Imean,it’sreallyoutofthisworld.ChefCharbelleisherewithustosharehisrecipeandteachusafewtricksofthetrade.Welcome,ChefCharbelle.Thankyouforjoiningus.

ChefCharbelle:Thanksforhavingme,Brian.

Host:Thelasagnawe’llmaketodayisyourownrecipe?

ChefCharbelle:Yes.

Host:Andwe’llmakeitallfromscratch...

ChefCharbelle:Certainly,andallwithfreshingredients.That’sreally

thesecrettotop-notchcooking.

Host:Whendidyoufirstdreamupthisspeciallasagna?

ChefCharbelle:Abouteightyearsago.Iwaseatingatafriend’s

partyandrealizedhowlifelessmostpeople’s

lasagnais.Iwantedalasagnawithzip,somethingthatwouldsticktotheribs,butwouldn’tweighyoudown.SoIwenthomethatnightandbakedaboutfifteentraysofituntilIcameuponthisrecipe.

Host:Incredible!Ittooksometime,butyoureallycameup

withsomethingunique.Well,let’sgetstarted.AsusualhereonNowWe’reCooking!toprovethatevenamateurscanmakemealstodiefor,weinvitea

memberofourstudioaudiencetolendahandinthepreparationofthedish.TodaywehaveBeatricefromSanDiego.Welcome,Beatrice.Beatrice:Hello.Host:Areyouready?

Beatrice:I’mreallyaterriblecook....

Host:That’swhyyou’rehere,Beatrice...Toshowthe

worldthatyoutoocanmakeexquisitefood.Justgiveityourbestshot.Beatrice:Okay.I’lltryit.Iguesstheproofisinthepudding!Or

atleastthelasagna,inthiscase.Host:That’sright.Okay,let’stakeashortcommercial

break,andthenwe’llpickupwithourlasagnawhereweleftoff.

(Commercialbreak.)

Host:Hello,welcomebacktoNowWe’reCooking!During

thecommercialbreak,wemixedthecheesesandspices,boiledthenoodles,andmadeasaucefromhome-growntomatoes.Sonowwe’rereadytoputthisbabytogether!Beatrice:IthinkIover-boiledthenoodles.

ChefCharbelle:No,Beatrice,youdidfine...Youcaughttheminthe

nickoftime.

Host:Well,thatbringsupagoodpoint.Forlasagnas,or

anypastadishthatwillbebakedorre-heatedlater,youwanttoundercookthenoodles...Thispreventsthemfromgettingsoggywhenyoure-cookthemlater.

ChefCharbelle:Absolutely,Brian.

Host:So,let’sgettoit.

ChefCharbelle:YoumightnoticethatBeatricehaslaidoutthe

noodlesflatwhilewewerewaitingtousethem.Thisissothattheydon’tdryinweirdpositionsbeforewegetachancetoputthelasagnatogether.

Host:Great.Now,therestofthisisreallyapieceofcake.

ChefCharbelle:Yousaidit.We’rejustgonnaputdownalayerof

noodles,thensauce,thencheese,andkeeponlikethattillwefillthetray.HereBeatrice,youtry.

Beatrice:Okay.

ChefCharbelle:Nowtogivethislasagnasomekick,youwanttolace

thelasagnathroughoutwithagratedcheesethathasbite...Beatriceisusinganicerobustpecorinocheese.Lookin’good,Beatrice!

Beatrice:Thanks.

ChefCharbelle:WhileBeatricefinishesuphere,I’llshowyouatray

thatIfinishedandbakedaheadoftime.

Host:Letmehelpyou...Canourcamerasgetashotof

that?Nowthat’salasagnayoucansinkyourteethinto!Thanks,Mr.Charbelle.That’sallforourshowtoday.Folks,asalways,don’tforgetwhatwealwayssayhereatNowWe’reCooking!—Thedevil’sinthedetailsandthesecret’sinthesauce!

1.Tobecooking.Tobeontherighttrack,tobemakingverygoodprogress,tobeonarollwithideas.

美国谚语的集合,英文解释,为想提高英语水平的朋友准备

2.Tocostanarmandaleg.Tobeveryexpensive.

3.Tobreaksomethingdown.Todividesomethingintosmallerpartsinordertoexplainitorunderstanditmoreeasily.4.Stepbystep.Onepieceorpartatatime,littlebylittle.5.Outofthisworld.Outstanding,incrediblygood.

rmationthatexperiencedpeopleinafieldknowthatmakestheirworkeasierortheproductoftheirlaborofabetterquality.7.Fromscratch.Homemade,byhand,frombasicratherthanprepackagedingredients.8.Top-notch.Ofthehighestquality.9.Todreamup.Toinventorconceiveof.

10.Zip.Spiciness,flavor,tanginess.Notusuallyusedwithreference

tosweetfoods.Notethatzing,bite,andkickareallusedtomeanthesamething.11.Tosticktotheribs.Tobefilling.Tobesubstantial.

12.Toweighsomeonedown.Tomakesomeonefeelslowortired.

Saidofsomethingexperiencedasaweight—emotional,physical,psychological,etc.13.Tocomeupon.Todiscoverbyaccident.14.Tocomeupwith.Tocreatesomethingoriginal.

15.Somethingtodiefor.Somethingthatisamazingorgreat.16.Tolendahand.Tohelp.Noticethat“ahand”canbeusedto

mean“help”inotherexpressions—toofferahand,toaskforahand,toneedahand,etc.17.Togiveityourbestshot.Totrythebestthatyoucan.

18.Theproofisinthepudding.Asayingthatmeansthatthetrue

measureofhowgoodsomethingiscanonlybejudgedonceitismadeordone.19.Inthenickoftime.Justintime,withnoextratimetospare.20.Tolayout.Toarrangeinaflatposition,tospreadout.21.Somethingtosinkyourteethinto.Somethingofsubstanceor

depth.Alsousedinreferencetonon-fooditems.22.Thedevil’sinthedetails.Asayingthatmeansthatchangesin

seeminglysmallorminorelementscanmakeabigdifferenceintheoutcome.23.Thesecret’sinthesauce.Asayingthatmeansthatthesecret

thatmakessomethingspecialorvaluableishiddenornotimmediatelyvisible.

LESSON

8

FitsLikeaGlove!

Jade:I’msotiredofshopping!Tryingtofindtheperfect

clothesformeoutofthehundredsofthingswe’veseenislikelookingforaneedleinahaystack!Orlando:Oh,don’texaggerate.Wehaven’tseenthatmuch.Hey

look!Thatplacelooksnice.Let’scheckitout.

Jade:Idon’tknow...thoseclothesinthewindowaren’t

exactlymycupoftea.Plus,itlooksexpensive.We’dprobablyhavetopaythroughthenoseforanythingwefind.Orlando:Didyouwakeuponthewrongsideofthebedthis

morningorwhat?!Don’tbesuchawetblanket.You’retheonewho’salwayscomplainingaboutyourclothesbeingoutofstyle.Iletyoudragmeoutshoppingsoyoucankeepupwiththetrends,sothisisallforyou,notforme.

Jade:Okay,you’reright.We’llgiveitatry.

Orlando:Hey,lookatthisblouse.Doyouwanttotryiton?

Jade:Wow,it’sabitlow-cut,don’tyouthink?Andyoucan

seerightthroughit!Won’tleavemuchtotheimagination...Orlando:Idon’tknow,Ithinkitmightbekindofhot.

Jade:Forgetaboutit,I’mnotwearingthatinpublic.It

wouldturntoomanyheads,andyouknowyou’rethejealoustype.Orlando:Well,inprivatethen...

Jade:Justdropit!

Orlando:Okay,whataboutthesepants?

Jade:Hmm...Thosearen’tbad...Wait...Letmeseethe

price...Right...JustasIthought.Unlessyouwanttocoughup$150forapairofpants...Idon’tthinkso.Orlando:Allright...Howaboutthesejeans?Nicecut,basic,

theydon’tcostanarmandaleg...

Jade:Yeah,buttheylooklikecheapknockoffs.IfI’mgoingto

wearbargainbasementclothingIwanttobetheonlyonewhoknowsit.

美国谚语的集合,英文解释,为想提高英语水平的朋友准备

Orlando:Oh,comeon,theselookfine.Andbesides,whydoyou

giveadarnwhatotherpeoplethink?

Jade:Didn’tyoualwaysusetosaythattheclothesmakethe

man?Orlando:Well,nowI’mreformed.Ijustthrowonwhatever’s

cleanandoutthedoorIgo.

Jade:Well,Iliketomakeaniceimpression,tocomeoffas

someonewhocaresaboutthewayshelooks.Orlando:Speakingofwhich,checkoutthesepants.They’re

reallygreat.

Jade:Yeah...butthesepleats,allthesepockets,they’reabit

busy.Orlando:Ithinkthey’reunusual,reallyoneofakind.Whydon’t

youjusttrythemon?Youmightlikethem.

Jade:Oh,allright.Handthemover.I’lltrythemon.

(Pause)

Orlando:Well,let’shavealook!CanIseethemonyou?

Jade:Whatdoyouthink?Idon’tthinkthey’reme.Itoldyou

itwouldbeimpossibletofind...Orlando:Ihatetoburstyourbubble,butthosepantslookgreat

onyou...Theyfityoulikeaglove.Whyareyou

frowning?We’vefinallyfoundsomethingthatlooksgreat!

Jade:Nowwehavetofindatoptogowithit!

1.Likelookingforaneedleinahaystack.Lookingforsomethingthatisverydifficulttofind.2.Tochecksomethingout.Toseeorfindoutaboutsomething.3.Tobesomeone’scupoftea.Tobepleasingorinterestingtosomeone.Tofitsomeone’stastesorinterests.4.Topaythroughthenose.Topayalotofmoney.

5.Towakeuponthewrongsideofthebed.Tobeinabadmood.6.Wetblanket.Unenthusiasticordisagreeable,lackingtheappropriateattitudeorspiritforaparticularsituation.7.Outofstyle.Nolongerinfashionorvogue.

8.Todragsomeonesomewhere.Toconvincesomeonetogoorcomesomewheretheydon’twanttobe.

9.Tokeepupwiththetrends.Tofollownewfashionsortrendsveryclosely.10.Totrysomethingon.Towearapieceofclothingtoseeifitfits

properlyorlooksniceonaperson.Noticethatyoucanextendthisidiomto“trysomethingonforsize.”Itcanmeanthesamethingastotryanarticleofclothingon,oritcanbeusedgenerallytomeantotrysomethingandseehowitfeelsorworks.11.Low-cut.Describesclothingthatiscuttorevealskin,tocover

lessofthebodythanusual.12.Itdoesn’tleavemuchtotheimagination.Saidofclothesthat

revealalotofskin,thatareverytight,orthatarenearlysee-through.13.Hot.Physicallyattractive,sexuallyappealing.

14.Toturnheads.Tobebeautiful,tocausepeopletoturnandlook

atyou.15.Todropsomething.Toforgetsomething,ortostoptalking

aboutsomething.16.Tocoughsomethingup.Tofindthemeanstoprovide

something,especiallymoney.17.Knockoff.Acheapandlow-qualityreproductionofsomething

expensive.18.Bargainbasement.Theareaofastorewhereoldersaleitems

aredisplayedfordiscountprices.Thisexpressionisalsousedtodescribeanycheaporlow-qualityclothing.19.Theclothesmaketheman.Anexpressionmeaningthatpeople

arejudgedbytheirappearance,includingespeciallytheclothestheychoosetowear.20.Tothrowon.Toputclothesonhastilyandthoughtlessly.21.Makeaniceimpression.Togivepeopleafavorableideaofwho

youare.22.Tocomeoffas.Togiveacertainimpression,tosuggestacertain

attitudeorstyle.23.Busy.Describingsomethingthatisoverlydesigned—clothes,

patterns,wallpaper,art,etc.—orhastoomanyelements.24.Oneofakind.Unique.Unlikeanythingelse.

25.It’sveryme.It’stypicalofsomethingI’dwear,do,orsay.It’s

representativeofme.

美国谚语的集合,英文解释,为想提高英语水平的朋友准备

26.Toburstsomeone’sbubble.Todisappointsomeone.Togive

someonedisappointingnews.27.Tofitsomeonelikeaglove.Tofitsomeoneperfectly,asifthe

thingthatfitsweremadespecificallyforthatperson.28.Togowithsomething.Tomatchsomething.Tolooknice

togetherwithanotherthing.

LESSON9

I’mUptoMyEyeballsinWork!

DearMomandDad,

Howareyou?It’stheendofthesemesterandI’mreallyunderthegun.I’muptomyeyeballsinwork.Theamountofreadingmyprofessorsassignisridiculous.And,asyouknow,IthoughtI’dtrymyhandatanewsportandjoinedtheuniversity’srowingteamthissemester.Withthatdecision,ImayhavebittenoffmorethanIcanchew.Betweenschool,myjob,andthat,theonlytimeIfindtimetostudyislateatnight.I’mburningthemidnightoilsixdaysoutofseven.AndeventhoughI’vereallybuckleddownandbeguntostudy,I’mstillnotfindingthetimetogeteverythingdone.

Whatelse?Oh!Myoldcomputerfinallybitthedust.Whatapainintheneck—rightattheendofthesemester!Itreallyputsmebetweenarockandahardplace.Itrytousethecomputersinthelibrary,butit’sonlyopenuntil11p.m.Inevermakeitthereontime,soIhavetoaskmyroommateifIcanusehiscomputer.Butasyouknow,theguyisabitodd.Personally,Idon’tthinkhe’splayingwithafulldeck.Youknow,Ialwayssay,“youscratchmyback,I’llscratchyours,”butthefavorsheasksofmeareusuallyoutrageous,andhethengetsmadifIdon’tagreetothem.Theotherday,heaskedtoborrowmycarforasix-hourdrivetovisithisgirlfriendfortheday.WhenIsaidno,heblewupatme,andthenthatnight,aboutanhourafterIhadturnedinforthenight,hegotup,turnedonhismusicandstartedtodoyoga!Anyway,money’snotsogoodnowthatIhavetosaveforanewcomputer.Idon’twanttocutcornersandbuyacheapcomputer,becauseI’djusthavetoreplaceitsoonanyway.

Onamorepositivenote,I’mallaboutthisrowingthing.Iwantedtobeonthecompetitionteamnextsemester,butthoughtIdidn’thaveaprayersince,formostoftheguysonthatteam,rowingisoldhat.They’vebeenatitsincetheywerekidsandI’mstillgreen.But

CoachsaidyesterdaythatifIkeepatit,I’mashoo-inforapositiononthecompetitionteam.Thatmademyday.Well,that’sallfornow.I’llwriteagainsoon.Love,Brad

1.Tobeunderthegun.Tobeunderpressureorstress.

2.Tobeuptoone’seyeballsinsomething.Tohavealotofortoomuchofsomething.

3.Totryone’shandatsomething.Totrysomethingforthefirsttime.4.Tobiteoffmorethanyoucanchew.Tocommityourselftomorethanyoucanhandle.5.Toburnthemidnightoil.Tobeawakeanddoingsomethinglateatnight.6.Tobuckledown.Todedicateyourselftoanactivity,toworkveryhardandseriouslyatsomething.7.Tobitethedust.Tobreak.Tobenomore.Todie.

8.Tobeapainintheneck.Tobeanannoyance,adifficulty,ahindrance.9.Tobebetweenarockandahardplace.Tobeinapositionwhereyoucan’tdowhatyouwanttodobecauseyou’recaughtbetweentwooptionsthatarebothdifficultordisagreeable.10.Tonotbeplayingwithafulldeck.Tobehaveinanillogicalor

crazyway.Tobecrazy.11.Youscratchmyback,I’llscratchyours.Saidaboutasituationin

whichtwopeoplecanbenefitfromeachother’shelp.Eachwilldotheotherafavorinordertogetwhatheorshewantsfromtheotherperson.12.Toblowupatsomeone.Tosuddenlygetveryangrywith

someoneandyell.Toexplode.13.Toturnin,ortoturninforthenight.Togotobed.

14.Tocutcorners.Tofailtospendtheproperamountofmoney,

effort,ortimeonsomething.15.Onapositivenote.Totalkabouthappierissues.

16.Tobeallaboutsomething.Tobeveryinterestedoractivein

something.Tolikesomethingverymuch.17.Tonothaveaprayer.Tonothaveachanceorhope.18.Tobeoldhat.Tobesomethingsomeoneisaccustomedto.

美国谚语的集合,英文解释,为想提高英语水平的朋友准备

19.Tobeatsomething.Toengageortakepartinsomething.Notice

thatyoucanalsosay“keepat”something,meaningtocontinuetotakepartinsomething.20.Tobegreen.Tobeneworinexperienced.

21.Tobeashoo-in.Tobethebestormostlikelycandidatefor

something.22.Tomakesomeone’sday.Tocausesomeonegreathappiness,joy,

orpride.

LESSON10

She’sGotYouWrappedaroundHerFinger.

Frank:HeyaAlan!Longtimenosee!How’sitgoing?Alan:Good.Justheregettingtheol’tickerpumpin’.What

aboutyou?Frank:Sameold,sameold.

Alan:Hey—IranintoyoursonBobbytheotherday.Didhe

sayStacey’sgotoneontheway?Frank:Suredid.Aboutfourmonthsalongwiththeirsecond.

Theyhadalittlegirl’boutayearandahalfago.Apieceofwork,Itellya.Achipofftheoldblock.Alan:Yadon’tsay.Howd’yamean?

Frank:Hardheaded,justlikeBobby,andwhenshe’supto

somethin’,shegetsthatsamelookinhereyeBobbyusedtogetwhenhewasakid.It’sreallysomethingelse!Alan:Soshetakesafterherfather,huh?That’llgivehima

tasteofhisownmedicine!Allthoseyearscausingtroubleintheneighborhood!Frank:Yep—timetopaythepiper.

Alan:Irememberwhenmykidswerethatage—you’ve

reallygottobeontheball.Can’tturnyourbackforaminutebeforethey’realreadyuptosomething.Frank:Yeah.Don’tkeepupwith’emlikeIusedto.Twohours

andI’mbushed.ButItellya,I’mhavingablastbeingagrandfather.Notlikewithyourownkidsatall.

Alan:Forsure...Yougettobeapushoverwithoutanyof

theguilt!Frank:Yeah...Liketheothermorning,Iwasbaby-sitting.

Well,thegirlgotitinherheadthatshewantedicecreamat9a.m.!Shewassetonit!AtfirstIthought...No.Bobby’dhaveafit.Butthen,Ithought,hey,it’snotMYkid!SoIcavedinandgaveittoher!Ice-creamforbreakfast!Canyoubelieveit?Alan:Yeah,it’seasytobucklewhenit’syourgrandkidsand

notyourkids!Soundslikeshe’sgotyouwrappedaroundherfinger!Frank:Yeah.I’mhookedwhenitcomestothisgrandfather

business!Can’twaitforthenextone.1.Torunintosomebody.Tomeetsomebodyunexpectedly.2.Tohaveoneontheway.Tobepregnant.Tobeexpectingachild.3.Apieceofwork.Acomplicated,interesting,oramusingperson.Oftensaidironically.4.Achipofftheoldblock.Saidofchildrenwhentheygreatlyresembleoneoftheirparentsinpersonalityorbehavior.5.Youdon’tsay.Anexpressionusedtoshowmildsurprise,likesaying“really?”Thiscanalsobeasarcasticexpression,toshowthatyoudon’tfindsomethingasinterestingassomeoneelsedoes.6.Hardheaded.Stubborn.

7.Uptosomething.Involvedinsomekindofmischief.Planningsomething.8.Somethingelse.Anexpressionmeaning“something

noteworthy”or“somethinginterestingorworthdiscussion.”9.Totakeafter.Tohavethesametraitsorcharacteristicsasanotherperson.10.Tohaveatasteofone’sownmedicine.Tobeonthereceiving

endofbehaviorthatonehassubjectedothersto.11.Topaythepiper.Tosuffertheconsequencesofyouractions,

afteralongtimeofnotsufferinganyconsequences.12.Ontheball.Ready,alert,highlyprepared.

13.Toturnyourbackonsomeone.Literally,toturnawayfromor

looktheotherway.Notethatthisexpressioncanalsobeusedfiguratively,meaningtoabandonorstopcaringaboutsomeone.

美国谚语的集合,英文解释,为想提高英语水平的朋友准备

14.Tokeepupwithsomethingorsomeone.Togoatthesame

speedorpace,tobeawareofchangesorcurrentconditions.15.Tobebushed.Tobeverytired.

16.Tohaveablast.Tohavealotoffun,tohaveagreattime.17.Tobeapushover.Tobeeasilyconvincedorpersuaded.18.Setonsomething.Fixatedonsomethinganddeterminedto

haveit.19.Tohaveafit.Tohaveatempertantrum.Tolosecontrolofyour

emotions.Todisplayyouranger.20.Tocavein.Togivein.Toallowyourselftobepersuadedor

tempted.21.Tobuckle.Tobepersuaded,tochangeyourmind.

22.Tohavesomeonewrappedaroundyourfinger.Tocause

someonetobeobedienttoyou.Toinfluencesomeoneverygreatly,toexertfartoomuchinfluenceonsomeone.23.Tobehooked.Toenjoysomethingverymuch,tobeconvincedof

something.Inthecontextofdrugsoralcohol,“hooked”canalsomean“addicted.”24.Whenitcomestosomething.Regarding,withregardto,or

concerningsomething.

LESSON11

That’sPuttingtheCartbeforetheHorse.

Tobias:Hey,Sandra...Couldyoufillmeinonthemeetingthis

morning?Icouldn’tmakeit.Igotabitboggeddownwiththebudgetforecasts.Sandra:Oh...Sure.Well,Wilsonofficiallyannouncedthatthe

Plainfieldbranchwillbeclosingnextmonth,andmostofthepeopletherewillbetransferredhere.Tobias:Yeah,I’vebeenhearingaboutthatthroughthe

grapevineforawhile.So,theydidn’tgivemanypeopletheboot?Sandra:None,actually.Theyofferedearlyretirementtoallof

thepeoplewhosepositionswerebeingeliminated,andeveryoneleapedatthechance.Tobias:Gee,Iguessitwaswin-win,then.

Sandra:Right.Andofcourse,we’regoingtobetakingonallof

theaccountsthatweremanagedoutofPlainfield.Tobias:Makessense.So,what’snextforus?

Sandra:You’veprobablyheardaboutthatbigaccountthey’ve

beentryingtowin,HansonTech?Well,Wilsonhasabigprojectforus.Tobias:Abigprojectalready?What’sthat?

Sandra:Wilsonwantsustosetupsuppliersandshippingfor

Hanson.Hewantstoseeafewdifferentproposalsbynextweek.Wecangetintouchwithsomeofthepeoplewealreadyuse,but...Tobias:Whoa,holdyourhorses...Suppliersandshippingfor

anaccountwehaven’twonyet?Isn’tthatputtingthecartbeforethehorse?Sandra:Probably,butIgettheimpressionthatthisaccount

hasmajorpotential,andalotofpeopleatcorporatehavetheireyeonWilson.Ifanythinggoessouthwithit,itcan’tbehisfault.Tobias:AhIgetit.He’sjustcoveringhisback.Sandra:Yup.You’vehitthenailonthehead...

Tobias:Butitstillseemstomethatthisisallabitpremature.

Idon’twanttohavetobeswampedforaweekoversomethingthatmightnotevencomethrough.Plus,Ihavealotofworktodoforourexistingaccounts!Sandra:Well,youcouldbringthatuptoWilson,butIhavethe

feelingthatitwouldfallondeafears.Tobias:Plus,he’dprobablyjustjumpdownmythroat.Hegets

likethatwhenhe’sfeelingcornered.Sandra:Oryoucouldjustgooverhishead.Makeafewphone

callstocorporateand...Tobias:Yeah,right.Don’tholdyourbreath.IthinkI’dpreferto

keepalowprofile.Sandra:Nottomentionkeepyourjob.

Tobias:Yeah.Nopinkslipsforme,thankyouverymuch.Well,I

guessit’swritteninstone,then.Sandra:Whatis?

Tobias:Thefactthatwe’llallbestayinglateandeatingalot

oftake-outoverthenextweek.

美国谚语的集合,英文解释,为想提高英语水平的朋友准备

1.Tofillsomeoneinonsomething.Toinformsomeoneofsomethingheorshemissed.2.Tomakeittoanevent.Toattendanevent.3.Boggeddown.Busy,involvedintediousdetails.4.Tohearsomethingthroughthegrapevine.Tolearnofsomethingthroughanunofficialchannel.5.Togivesomeonetheboot.Tomakesomeoneleave,tosendsomeoneaway.Hereitisusedtomean“laysomeoneoff.”6.Toleapatthechance.Tobeeagertodosomething,tobeverywillingtoacceptanopportunity.7.Win-win,orawin-winsituation.Asituationthatisbeneficialtoeveryoneconcerned.8.Totakeonsomething.Tobecomeresponsibleforsomething.Toagreetoanewresponsibility.9.Holdyourhorses.Wait.Movemoreslowly.

10.Toputthecartbeforethehorse.Todosomethingoutoflogical

order,toperformastepbeforeitsappropriatetime.11.Tohaveyoureyeonsomeone.Towatchorexaminesomeone

closely.12.Togosouth.Togowrong.Toendorstopbecauseofproblems.13.Togetsomething.Tounderstandsomething.

14.Tocoveryourback.Totakestepsthatwillprotectyouinthe

future.Tobeveryshrewdandcautiousinprotectingyourselfagainstbeingheldresponsibleforpotentialproblems.15.Tohitthenailonthehead.Toidentifytheimportantissueor

mainpointofasituationwithprecision.16.Swamped.Verybusy.

17.Tocomethrough.Tohappen,tomaterialize,tobecomeareal

event.18.Tofallondeafears.Tobepointlesstomention,suggestingthat

thepersonyou’dliketotalktowon’tcareaboutyourcomplaint,opinion,orproblem.19.Tojumpdownsomeone’sthroat.Tooverreactandattack

someoneverbally.20.Cornered.Threatened.Feelingasifyoudon’thavemanyoptions

left.21.Togooversomeone’shead.Tonotconfrontsomeoneabouta

problem,butinsteadbringitupwithanotherpersonwhoishigherinauthority.

22.Tonotholdyourbreath.Tonotwaitforsomethingtohappen

withmuchhope.23.Tokeepalowprofile.Todonothingthatwoulddrawattention

toyouordistinguishyoufromothers.24.Pinkslip.Notificationthatyou’vebeenfired.Thefullexpression

is“togetapinkslip.”25.Writteninstone.Fixed,firm,unchangeable.

LESSON

12

LikeaBatoutofHell

Officer:So,Iseewe’vegotalittlefenderbenderhere.Mr.Randall:Youcansaythatagain.

Officer:Canyoutellmewhathappened?

Mr.Randall:Well,wewerecomingoutofthetollbooths,andthis

guycomesbarrelingoutbehindMrs.Jessuphere.Inoticedhehadbeenridinghertailformiles.Mrs.Jessup:Yeah,IhavetoadmitIwasrubberneckingalittleatthe

otheraccident,theonethathappenedrightinfrontofthetollbooths.Mr.Randall:Andtheotherguywasn’texpectingit,orhedidn’t

likeit.HespeduptogoaroundMrs.Jessup,andthenhetriedtopullinfrontofhertocutheroff.HeendedupsideswipingMrs.Jessup.AndIguesshedidn’tseemecomingupfrombehindbecauseheswervedbackintomylane.Imusthavebeeninhisblindspot.Islammedonthebrakes,butIendedupnailinghimfrombehindanyway.Mrs.JessupandIpulledoverandsodidheatfirst.Thenwegotoutofourcarstoswapinformation,buttheotherguywasgonelikeabatoutofhell.

Officer:Whataboutyou,ma’am?Canyoutellmewhat

happened?Mrs.Jessup:Thatseemstocoverit.Whathesaidisaboutright.

Officer:So,you’rebothtellingmethiswasahitandrun.Did

eitherofyoumanagetogethislicenseplatenumber?Mrs.Jessup:Idid.Hereyougo.

美国谚语的集合,英文解释,为想提高英语水平的朋友准备

Officer:Well,luckyforyouMr.Randall,becauseyoumight

havebeenchargedfordamagestothisguy’scar...butbecausehetookofffromthesceneoftheaccident,youwon’tbeheldresponsible.Mr.Randall:That’sarelief.IthoughtIwaslookingatalawsuit.

Officer:Ifyougivemeaminute,I’lljustradiothisinsowecan

trackhimdown.Mr.Randall:Whenyougethim,Iwon’thaveanyproblemsgiving

himapieceofmymind.Mrs.Jessup:AndIwon’tloseanysleepovertakinghimtothe

cleanersformycar.Itwasbrandnew.

Officer:Well,Iwouldn’tcountmychickensbeforetheyhatch,

Mrs.Jessup.Ifyouexpectcompensation,youmightbebarkingupthewrongtree.Inmanyofthesecases,theperpetratorsrunbecausetheyareusuallycaughtupinotherillegaldealingsorbecausetheydon’thaveinsurance.Mrs.Jessup:Fantastic.Hecouldhavetotaledmycar!

Officer:Well,atleastnooneishurt.Itcouldhavebeenalot

worse.Youtwosittightforamoment,andI’llhaveyourightoutofhereandbackontheroadinnotime.1.Fenderbender.Acaraccidentthatcausesminimaldamage,usuallyonlytothefrontorbackbumpers.2.Tobarreloutofsomewhere.Toleavesomewhereveryquickly,usuallywithlittleattentiontoyoursurroundings.Noticethatyoumayalsohearbarrelup,barreldown,barrelalong,barrelin,etc.3.Toridesomeone’stail.Tofollowsomeoneatanuncomfortablycloseordangerousdistance.Noticethatthisexpressiondoesn’tnecessarilyhavetobeusedfordrivingonly.4.Torubberneck.Todriveslowlypastthesceneofanaccidentwhileturningyournecktoseewhathappened.5.Tospeedup.Toaccelerate.

6.Tocutsomeoneoff.Topassinfrontofsomeoneverycloselyandpreventthemfrommovingahead.7.Tosideswipesomeone.Tohitsomeonewiththesideedgeofsomething.

8.Tocomeupfrombehind.Toapproachsomeonefrombehind.Noticethatyoucanalsosaycomeupfromtheside,comeupfrombelow,etc.9.Blindspot.Apartofsomeone’sfieldofvisionthatisobstructed,sothatthingsinthisareacannotbeseen.10.Toslamonthebrakes.Topressthebrakepedalinacarforcefully

andsuddenly.11.Tonailsomeone.Tohitordodamagetosomeone.

12.Topullover.Todriveone’scartothesideoftheroadinorderto

stop.13.Toswapinformation.Toexchangenames,phonenumbers,

licenseplatenumbers,andinsurancecompanyinformation,especiallyafteracaraccident.14.Likeabatoutofhell.Movinginafastandalmostcrazymanner.15.Hitandrun.Acaraccidentwherethepersonresponsibleforthe

accidentleavesthescenebeforethepolicearrive.16.Totakeoff.Toleavequickly.

17.Tobelookingat.Tobeinapositiontoexpectsomething.18.Totracksomeonedown.Tofindsomeonebyfollowingclues.19.Togivesomeoneapieceofyourmind.Togivesomeoneyour

uallyitisanegativeandharshlycriticalopinion.20.Tolosesleepoversomething.Toworryaboutsomething.Tofeel

upsetorguiltyaboutsomething.21.Totakesomeonetothecleaners.Tofightforeconomic

compensationuntiltheotherpersonhasnomoremoneyleft.22.Tocountyourchickensbeforetheyhatch.Todependona

beneficialorpositivefutureeventasifitwerecertain,eventhoughitmaynothappen.23.Tobarkupthewrongtree.Tobeseekingsomethingfromthe

wrongsource.Tobeaskingforsomethingfromasourcethatcannotorwillnotprovideit.24.Tobecaughtupinsomething.Tobeinvolvedinsomething

wrong,illegal,orunethical.25.Tototalacar.Toinflictdamagesthat,ifrepaired,wouldcost

morethanthevalueofthecar.26.Tosittight.Towait,tobepatient.

美国谚语的集合,英文解释,为想提高英语水平的朋友准备

LESSON13

It’saSteal!

Realtor:So,Mr.andMrs.York...you’veseentheplacethree

timesnow.Whatdoyouthink?Areyouinthemarketforsuchawonderfulhouse?Mrs.York:Itreallyislovely.ButIthinkwe’dlikeanotherweekto

mullitover.Realtor:Sure.ButIwillsay...forwhatyou’regetting,the

sceniclocation,theamenities—theplaceistrulyasteal.Youwon’tfindabetterdeal.Thevalueofthislandisgoingupdaily...inacoupleofyears,it’llgothroughtheroof.Ifyoudecidetobuy,whatyou’llpaynowisadropinthebucketcomparedtowhatyoucouldeventuallysellitfor.You’llreallycleanup.Mrs.York:We’llkeepthatinmind.Wejustdon’twanttorush

intoanything...Wewanttotakeourtimewiththisdecision...We’vebeenburnedbefore.Realtor:Ishouldmention,though,therearetwoothercouples

whoareeyeingtheplaceup.Theywouldliketoseetheplacenextweek,andarechompingatthebittobuyit.And,becausethebuyer’smarkethasneverbeenbetter,youwanttostrikewhiletheiron’shot.Mr.York:Doyouthinkwecouldhaveacoupleminutesto

ourselvestotalkthingsover?Realtor:Ofcourse.I’llmakemyselfscarceandwaitforyou

outside.Mr.York:FromwhatI’veseen,thisplaceisadreamcometrue.Mrs.York:Yes,dear...butkeepinmind,it’shisjobtotalkthe

placeup.Itdoesseemperfect—tooperfect.Ikeepthinking,“What’sthecatch?”Mr.York:Sowhataren’tyouhappywith?

Mrs.York:Nothinginparticular.IguessIalwaysgetcoldfeet

beforeanybigdecision...Mr.York:Ithoughtmaybeyouwerehunguponthekitchen...I

knowhowyoulikeyourspaceinthekitchen.Mrs.York:Oh,thekitchenissmall,butthat’snotaproblem.

Besides,I’llhaveeverythingrightatmyfingertips,right?!

Mr.York:Sowhatistheproblem?

Mrs.York:It’sjust...somuchmoney!Wecouldloseourshirts

withthis!Mr.York:Let’snotforget,dear,anytimeyoumakean

investment,it’sacrapshoot.Butweshouldrememberwhywe’redoingthis...Wewantedtosimplifyourlives,andtohaveanesteggforretirement.AndfromwhatMartintellsus,evenifweenduphatingithere,ifwemove,we’llalmostsurelymakemoney—ifnotforthehouse,thenfortheland.Mrs.York:You’reright...AndIdolovethathottuboutback....Mr.York:We’llmakeanoffer,then?

Mrs.York:Let’sfindMartin,andtellhimit’sago.

1.Tobeinthemarketforsomething.Towanttobuysomething,tobelookingtobuysomething.2.Tomullsomethingover.Tothinkaboutsomething.Toconsiderasituation.3.Tobeasteal.Tobeagreatbargain.Togetalotofvalueforyourmoney.4.Togoup.Toincrease,tobecomehigherorlarger.

5.Togothroughtheroof.Withreferencetomoney,price,value,itmeans“tobecomeveryhigh.”Tohaveanextreme,angryreaction.6.Tobeadropinthebucket.Tobesmallincomparisonto

somethingelse,tobeaverysmallportionofsomemuchlargertotal.7.Tocleanup.Tomakeaverylargeprofit,tomakealotofmoney.8.Totakeyourtimedoingsomething.Tonotrush.Todosomethingslowlyandcarefully.9.Tobeburned.Tobebetrayed,fooled,orhurt,especiallyafterexpectingapositiveoutcome.10.Toeyesomethingup.Tolookat,examine,orconsidervisually.11.Tochompatthebit.Tobeveryanxiousoreagertodo

something.12.Tostrikewhiletheiron’shot.Totakeadvantageofafavorable

opportunity.13.Totalksomethingover.Todiscusscarefullyinordertocometoa

decision.

美国谚语的集合,英文解释,为想提高英语水平的朋友准备

14.Tomakeyourselfscarce.Toleave,tomoveawayfromsomeone.

Rudewhensaidtosomeoneelse.15.Adreamcometrue.Somethingwonderful,somethingsogood

it’sasthoughitcameoutofadream.16.Tokeepinmind.Toremember.Toconsider.

17.Totalksomethingup.Topraisesomethingverbally.Tospeak

highlyofsomethingorexaggerateitsvalue.18.Acatch.Adrawbackornegativequalitythatmightnotbe

obvious.Inothercontexts,“acatch”isapersonwhowouldbegoodtodate.19.Tobehunguponsomething.Tofindfaultwithsomething,to

identifyaweaknessoradrawbackinsomething.20.Atyourfingertips.Readilyavailable.

21.Toloseyourshirt.Tobecomefinanciallyruined.Tolosealotof

money.22.Acrapshoot.Achanceorrisk,namedafterthedicegame.23.Nestegg.Asumofmoneysavedupandsetaside.

LESSON14

OfftheBeatenTrack

Jeff:Simon!Madeline!Welcome!It’sgreattoseeyouguys!Madeline:Hi,Jeff.Thanksforinvitingus.Andsorrywe’reabit

late.Simondecidedtotakethescenicroute.Simon:Well,acaptainisonlyasgoodashisnavigator.Jeff:Uh-oh.DidInotgiveyoudecentdirections?Iknowit’s

hardtofindthisplace.It’salittlebitoffthebeatentrack.Madeline:Yourdirectionswereperfect,Jeff.Wejustgotalittle

mixed-upcomingofftheinterstate,andofcourseitwillbeacolddayinhellbeforeSimonherestopsandasksfordirections,eveninthemiddleofnowhere.Simon:Yeah,butItoldyouIcouldwingitandfindmywayhere.Jeff:Andhereyoubothare.Well,comeoninandshakeoff

thedust.Youcanfreshenup,andI’llwhipupsomeofmyfamousguacamoleandadrinkortwo.Wecanrelaxontheporchandcatchupasthesungoesdown.

Madeline:Ah,afiestainthecountry!Ican’twait.Icanfeel

myselfunwindingalready.Simon:I’llsay.Nowthere’sawaytoendalongdrive...

(Abitlater...)

Simon:Ah,whatagreatwaytokickoffourweekendinthe

country.Madeline:Yeah,I’vebeenlookingforwardtosomeRandRfora

longtime.I’vereallyneededtorechargethebatteries.

Jeff:Well,I’mgladtobeabletoofferyouaweekend

getawayforabreakfromtheratrace.That’swhyIlovebeingoutheresomuch.Simon:So,howisthebigchangeworkingoutforyou?Have

youfeltmuchcultureshockmovingouttothestickslikethis?Jeff:No,notatall...Igrewupinthecountry,soinaway,

thisfeelsmorelikehometomethanthecity.Infact,sometimesIfeltlikeafishoutofwaterinthecity.Ofcourse,therearethingsImiss,butallinallI’mreallyhappytobeouthereintheboondocks.Madeline:So,you’reherefulltimenow,then?

Jeff:Well,Istillhavealittleplaceinthecity,butthisis

whereIhangmyhatfornow.Simon:Andhow’sthewritingcomingalong?

Jeff:It’sgreat...now.AtfirstIwasreallyafraidthatit

wasn’tgoingtopanout,thatI’dreallymadea

terriblemistakeleavingmyjobandmovingheretowrite.Ihadabadcaseofwriter’sblock.ButthenIsnappedoutofit,andI’veactuallyjustfinishedmymanuscript.Madeline:Hey,congratulations!Let’shaveatoasttothat!Simon:Yeah,cheers!

Madeline:Andwhataboutthelocals?Areyoumeetingnice

peoplehere?

Jeff:Oh,sure.WhenIboughttheplace,Ididn’tknow

anyone,ofcourse.IthinkIstuckoutlikeasorethumb,too,becauseeveryoneknowseveryonearoundhere.Peoplealwaysseemedtobesizingmeup,butgivingmethecoldshoulderatthesametime.Simon:Anditmusthavebeenroughstartingfromsquareone

whenitcametoasociallife,too.

本文来源：https://www.bwwdw.com/article/p8u1.html