中学生辅导
1. make waves （尤指因抱怨而）制造麻烦
I'm tempted to complain, but I don't want to make waves.
我本打算投诉，但我不想惹麻烦。
2. close to home （话语或讨论的话题）因点中要害而使人局促不安（或尴尬）
Her remarks about me were embarrassingly close to home.
她说我的那些话使我尴尬不已。
3. carry the can 替别人承担责任；代人受过；背黑锅
He made the error, but she was left to carry the can.
他犯了错，却留她来承担责任。
4. keep one’s finger on the pulse 紧跟最新动态
I just keep my finger on the pulse of fashion through window shopping or watching fashion shows.
我通常都是通过逛街或看服装秀来了解最新潮流。
5. That’s the spirit! 这才对嘛！
- A: I’m going to finish this project by tonight, no matter what.
- B: Excellent! That’s the spirit!
A：我今晚无论如何都要完成这个项目。
B：太棒了！这样才对嘛！
6. no dice 没门儿
"Did you get that job?" "No dice."
“你得到那份工作了吗？” “没门儿啊。”
7. on the dot 准时
She arrived at 3 o'clock on the dot. = She arrived on the dot of 3. [=she arrived exactly at 3 o'clock]
她3点钟准时到达。
8. go Dutch AA制
I'll go Dutch with you on the movie if you want.
如果你愿意的话，看电影我们各买各的票。
9. burn the midnight oil 熬夜
The students have been burning the midnight oil as they prepare for their final exams.
学生们一直在挑灯夜战准备期末考试。
10. hit the books 好好学习
I've got to hit the books all weekend if I'm going to pass this test.
要想通过这次考试，整个周末我都得用功学习。
11. pull one’s socks up 加油，加紧努力
Danny: Mom, this is my school report card for this semester.
Mother: Well, it looks like you’d better pull your socks up.
丹尼：妈妈，这是我这学期的成绩单。
母亲：嗯，看来你最好加紧努力了。
12. at the eleventh hour 在最后关头
The killer's life was spared at the eleventh hour. [=at the last minute]
杀人者在最后一刻被免于死刑。
13. move heaven and earth 竭尽全力
He vowed that he would move heaven and earth to finish the project on schedule.
他发誓要竭尽全力按时完工。
14. answer the call of nature 解手
There were no toilets, and the pupils went to the fields to answer the call of nature.
学校里没有厕所，同学们要是内急，也只能去田野里解决。
15. throw in the towel 认输，放弃
He couldn't seem to win, but he wasn't ready to throw in the towel.
他似乎赢不了，但是并不准备认输。
16. bite the bullet 硬着头皮做，咬紧牙关应付（不愉快或痛苦的事）
We need to bite the bullet and make some budget cuts.
我们必须咬紧牙关，削减预算。
17. on top of the world 高兴至极
I had just gotten married and felt like I was on top of the world.
我刚刚结了婚，感到非常幸福。
18. play one’s ace 使出绝招
It’s time we played our ace, or we will lose the game.
我们该使出绝招了，否则就要输了。
19. be wise after the event 事后诸葛亮
It doesn’t help to be wise after the event.
事后聪明是没用的。
20. as fresh as a daisy 精神饱满
I managed to sleep on the plane and arrived feeling as fresh as a daisy.
我总算在飞机上睡了觉，到达时精神焕发。
21. let your hair down 放松
We work hard all week, so when Friday comes we like to let our hair down a little and have some fun.
我们辛苦工作了一周，所以周五时大家都想放松一下，找点乐子。
22. a bad hair day 倒霉的一天
I just hoped that my computer would work right and not have a bad hair day.
我只希望电脑运转正常，不要出岔子。
23. as easy as pie 小菜一碟
Getting the permit turned out to be as easy as pie.
获得许可证原来是如此容易。
24. (as) fit as a fiddle 非常健康
After his daily morning run, he feels as fit as a fiddle.
每日晨跑之后，他觉得身体格外强健。
25. Let’s call it a day. 收工，到此为止
We've done enough work for now: let's call it a day.
我们目前已经干得够多了，今天到此为止吧。
26. hold all the cards 能控制局势；有决定权
It's your decision. You're holding all the cards.
决定权在你。你说了算。
27. wet blanket 扫兴之人
I can’t decide whether I should invite my girlfriend’s brother Tom to the party. But he’s such a wet blanket that I’m afraid he’ll spoil the party for all my other guests.
我决定不了要不要请我女朋友的哥哥汤姆来参加聚会。但汤姆是个令人扫兴的家伙，我怕他会让其他客人都很扫兴。
28. haste makes waste 欲速则不达
You know, haste makes waste. If you do something too fast, it often results in mistakes.
你懂的，欲速则不达。匆忙做事情反而会出错。
29. jump the gun 过早行动；提前行动
Several racers jumped the gun. [=started to race before the starting gun was fired]
发令枪未响几个赛跑选手就开跑了。
30. build castles in the air 白日做梦
Be realistic! It is too risky to build castles in the air.
务实一点吧！建造空中楼阁是危险的。
31. in deep water 在困境中；在危难中
I thought I could handle the work, but I soon found myself in deep water.
我原以为能做好这项工作，但我很快就发现自己身陷困境。
32. on the same page 意见一致
Make sure everyone is on the same page before you give your final answer.
在你给出最后答案之前，要保证所有人都意见一致。
33. on pins and needles 如坐针毡
Everyone was on pins and needles waiting to hear the jury's verdict.
大家坐立不安地等待着陪审团的裁决。
34. keep up with the Joneses 攀比；比阔气；比富有
In our neighborhood, everyone seems to be trying to keep up with the Joneses by buying bigger houses and more expensive cars.
在我们社区，每个人似乎都在通过买更大的房子和更贵的车来跟邻居攀比。
35. jump ship 跳槽
She jumped ship when the competition offered her a better job.
当公司竞争对手提出给她一个更好的工作机会时，她跳槽了。
36. one’s hands are tied 无能为力
My hands are tied. I can’t do anything about it.
我束手无策，对此无能为力。
37. fall by the wayside 半途而废
He had big dreams, but they all fell by the wayside when he faced real-life challenges.
他曾有过远大的梦想，但面对现实生活的挑战时，它们都未能实现了。
38. back to square one 从头再来
If this suggestion isn't accepted, we'll be back to square one.
如果这个建议得不到采纳，我们就得从头再来了。
39. up in the air 悬而未决
Our vacation plans are still up in the air.
我们的度假计划现在仍未敲定。
40. (as) pleased as punch 非常高兴，非常满意
We were pleased as punch that he decided to visit.
他决定来访，我们都非常高兴。
41. fly off the handle 情绪失控；暴怒
He tends to fly off the handle when people disagree with him.
如果别人不同意他的意见，他就会暴怒。
42. written in the stars 命中注定
Their love is written in the stars.
他们的爱情是命中注定的。
43. spill the beans 透露；泄密
I tried to get him to tell me what he knew, but he refused to spill the beans.
我想方设法让他把所知道的都告诉我，可他却守口如瓶。
44. rock the boat 破坏现状；捣乱
Don't rock the boat.
别捣乱。
The system isn't perfect, but it's been this way for a long time and nobody wants to rock the boat.
这个体制并非十全十美，但它已然这样很久了，没人愿意去改变它。
45. rain check 改天
“Would you like to go to lunch with me?” “I'm afraid I can't today. Can I take a rain check?” [=can I go to lunch with you another day?]
“你愿意和我共进午餐吗？”“今天恐怕不行，下次好吗？”
46. drop the ball 失职
I think the mayor dropped the ball by not hiring more police officers.
我认为没有雇用更多警力是市长的失职。
47. Take your time. 慢慢来。
There's no need to hurry. Take your time. [=take all the time you need]
不着急，慢慢来。
48. Break a leg! 祝你成功！
Hey, Sarah! You’re about to go on stage. Break a leg! I’m sure you’ll do great!
嘿，莎拉！你就要上台了。祝你好运！我相信你会很棒的！
49. Keep your chin up. 别灰心。
He's still keeping his chin up despite all his health problems.
尽管他的健康出现了问题，但他依然很乐观。
(Keep your) chin up! Everything will work out for the best.
振作起来！事情都会圆满解决的。
50. I’m all ears. 我洗耳恭听。
"Do you know what he said?" "Go on—I'm all ears."
“你知道他说什么了吗？” “讲吧，我洗耳恭听。”
