英语成语集锦.docx

1、英语成语集锦【英语成语集锦】英语成语-1A beggar on horseback 趾高气扬的暴发户【说明】是set a beggar on horseback and hell ride to the devil的简写 用来比喻嘴脸丑恶的暴发户【例句】Mr.He is a beggar on horseback and he shows off by giving excess tips and by constantly. 何先生是个趾高气扬的暴发户,他常常借着各种方法来炫耀自己的财富，如给侍者逾量的小费、或不断更换新汽车英语成语-2 A bird in hand is worth two

2、 in the bush 一鸟在手胜过二鸟在林【例句】If you start your own business,you may earn a lot of money, but you may also lose everything. So I suggest you stick to your present job. After all, a bird in hand is worth two in the bush. 你若自己创业做生意，可能赚大钱，也可能血本无归。我建议你保留现职，毕竟，一鸟在手胜过二鸟在林,何必冒险 英语成语-3 A bird of passage 一个居无定所

3、的人【说明】原指侯鸟，现比喻“居无定所的人” 【例句】The dancers are birds of passage. Every year they go on a world tour. 这些舞蹈演员居无定所,每年他们都随团在世界各地巡回演出【补充】以下是与bird有关的成语 1. A rare bird 稀有罕见的人或事 eg: Mr.Chen is a rare bird in the bar these days because he is always working overtime. 陈先生这些日子可谓这家酒吧的稀客，因为他总是超时工作。 2. A birds-eye vie

4、w 鸟瞰 eg: On the Peak, you can get a birds-eye view of Hong Kong.英语成语-4 A bolt from the blue 晴天霹雳【说明】the blue即“晴天”，blot即“闪电”,比喻“突如其来的恶讯” 【例句】The doctors report came as a bolt from the blue. Mr.Ye was told he had got liver cancer. 医生的报告对叶先生来说，真是晴天霹雳！因为医生说他得了肺癌。【补充】blue 可以做形容词，形容好或不好的东西 1. a blue film:

5、黄色电影 2. blue jokes 低级笑话 3. blue blood 高贵的门第和血统 4. blue ribbon:蓝带、荣誉的标志 英语成语-14 A night bird夜猫子【说明】有些雀鸟喜欢夜间活动【例句】1。Rock used to be a night bird but since he married a year ago,he has become a family man. 罗基以前是个夜猫子，但自从一年前他结婚后，就变成住家男人【补充】a jail bird 囚犯 When the boss discovered that the clerk used to be

6、 a jail bird he dismissed him at once. 上司发现那位职员以前曾是囚犯，就立即把他解雇了。 英语成语-15 A purple patch 顺境的日子a patch 本解作“补丁布”，但在这里比喻为“一段日子”；purple即紫色。古时，在国外紫色代表幸运富贵，所以a purple patch指“顺境的日子”1.The actor is now having a purple patch but he does not know how long it will last.这演员现在正走运，但他不晓得这种光景能维持多久。2.Mr. Feng had many

7、friends when he was in a purple patch but now that he has gone bankrupt,he finds himself alone and friendless.在顺境的日子里冯先生朋友很多，现在一旦破产，他发觉自己一个朋友也没有，非常孤独。 英语成语-16 A rolling stone gathers no moss 不能专心一致，难成大器Rolling stone 指在溪水中被水冲击不断滚动的小石子，moss指青苔。全句直译为“滚动的石子不会积上青苔”。比喻一些人漂浮不定，喜欢转换职业住处，永不肯停下来专心做一件事，因此难以集聚财

8、富，结得深交，打好基础，所以不会成功，变即是说“浮游不定的人难成大器”劝喻人做事需专注。Mr. Xian has had five jobs within three years.This will not get him very far.A rolling stone gathers no moss.冼先生竟在三年内换了五次工作，这样浮游不定，又怎能有成就呢！英语成语-17 A Spartan dog 嗜杀成性的人Sparton dog是一种大猎犬，本性残酷，它捉到猎物时，会把猎物扯碎，再慢慢饱餐。因此 Sparton dog比喻一个嗜杀成性的人。1.The murderer has ki

9、lled nine people during the last three years!The judge described him as a Sparton dog and sentenced him to life imprisonment yesterday.那杀人犯在过去三年内竟杀了九个人！昨天法官斥责他“嗜杀成性”，判他终身监禁。2.The suspect is a Sparton dog but he is surprisingly gentle to his little son. 那嫌疑犯嗜杀成性，但他对待自己的小儿子却异常温柔。 英语成语-18 A storm in a

10、teacup 小风波、小题大做此惯用语一般直译为“茶杯里的风波”，而谭惠珠议员也曾用“茶杯里的风波”来形容1986年10月立法局会议上的“港督擦鞋”事件。在小茶杯中又怎能产生大风波呢？所以a storm in the teacup比喻“大惊小怪”“小题大做”不必太忧虑的小风波。The couple next door are always quarrelling but it is usually a storm in a teacup.隔壁的夫妇经常吵架，但多数是小题大做。Tempest和storm都解作“风暴”，因此a storm in the teacup，也可写作 a tempest

11、in the teacup或a teacup tempest 英语成语-19 A white lie善意的谎言这惯用语直译为“白色的谎言”，白色代表纯洁，因此white lie指“不会造成伤害的谎言”。一般人说这种谎言，多出于善意，想令当事人觉得好过些或为了逃避某些损失。1.The doctor knew that James was very ill.However,to make him feel better,he told him a white lie that he would recover soon.医生知道詹姆斯的病情很严重，但为了安慰他，他撒了个小谎，说他很快便会复原。2.

12、I told my wife a white lie saying that she looked fabulous in her new clothes.我对太太撒了个善意的谎言，称赞她穿上新衣好看极了。请注意我们说tell a lie，而不是 say或speak a lie。 英语成语-20 An ace up ones sleeve 看家本领Ace是纸牌的么点牌（如红桃A）。玩纸牌的人，不管自己拿到什么牌都会不动声色，等到适当的时机，才亮出袖里的王牌，击败对方。因此，an ace up ones sleeve比喻“看家本领”。1.If Richard does not buy her t

13、he ring,Dora still has an ace up her sleeve-tears. 如果理查德不肯给她买戒指，多拉还有一张王牌就是她的眼泪。2.The competition is very keen and all the contestants have an ace up their sleeve. 这竞赛十分激烈，所有参赛者都会使出他们的看家本领。 英语成语-21 Achilles heel 弱点，致命伤希腊神话中有位全身刀枪不入的英雄，名叫Achilles 。他一出生，母亲便把他放在莫河中沐浴，但因沐浴时，她提着他的后脚跟，所以那一部分没有浸湿，成了弱点，最后在一场

14、战争中，他被敌人射中脚后跟，因而送命。因此现在用来比喻人的弱点。1.Peter should have a good chance of winning but his Achilles heel is his carelessness.彼得有很好的机会取胜，但他的致命弱点就是太粗心大意。2.Cecilia is a very good dancer but she is too short.Thats her Achilles heel.塞西莉亚跳舞跳得很好，但她的弱点就是长得太矮。 英语成语-22 Acid test 严峻的考验【说明】Acid test是硝酸试金法，用来测试金、银的纯度。

15、在实验中，金、银被放入硝酸中，如果掺有杂质，便会现出阴暗的颜色。【例句】The acid test of Vivians honesty came when she picked up a wallet filled with banknotes on the street.薇薇安在街上捡到一个塞满纸币的钱包，她的诚实受到严峻的考验。Litmus test 和acid test的意思完全一样。 Litmus test是将石蕊试纸放进液体中，若液体是酸性的，试纸便会变红，若是碱性的，便变蓝。Success and fame are often the litmus test of ones ch

16、aracter.成功和名誉往往是对一个人的人格考验。 英语成语-23 Actions speak louder than words 行动胜于空谈此成语直译为“行动比说话声大”，意思是行动(actions)比说话(words)更有影响力。这里用了拟人法(personification)：“行动”像人一般能“说话”，而且比空谈更响亮、更有力，正如香港俗语说“多讲无谓，行动最实际”。He didnt brag about his ability,but kept turning out one successful product after another,and actions speak l

17、ouder than words,now we all believe he can achieve almost anything.他并没有吹嘘自己的能力，只是不断制造出成功的产品，行动比空谈更有力，现在我们都相信他能力高超。 英语成语-24 Add salt to the wound火上浇油【说明】若将salt撒在你的wound上，是什么滋味？更为直接的说法：Pour oil on fire.【例句】Jimmy is already very upset now he knows that he has failed the test.You should not add salt to

18、the wound by teasing him. 吉米得知自己测试没及格，已经很沮丧了，你不应该火上浇油，还去取笑他。【补充】与上述成语有关的还有 Pour oil on troubled waters即把油倒在水里，比喻“平息纷争”eg:If the manager had not poured oil on troubled waters,the angry customer might have sued the salesgirl.幸亏经理平息了这场纷争，否则那位愤怒的顾客可能会控告女售货员呢。 英语成语-25An old bird is not to be caught with

19、chaff一个经验丰富的人不会轻易上当Chaff是谷物的皮壳，即糠，有时用糠来引雀鸟上钩，但一只老雀（old bird）是不会轻易上钩的。这成语比喻那些有经验的人（old bird）不会轻易受骗。The suspects tried to lie to Inspector Luo but they were seen through immediately.Inspector Luo has years of experience in the PoliceForce and an old bird is not to be caught with chaff!那些嫌疑犯企图欺骗罗督察，但罗督

20、察经验丰富，又怎会这么容易被骗过呢！英语成语-5A born Charlie Brown 面对失败，永不气馁【说明】Charlie Brown是花生漫画的主角，他被塑造成一个“典型的失败者”，但他永不气馁，因此 a born Charlie Brown 指一个人虽屡次失败，仍不断努力。【例句】1. Although Peter is not smart, he is a born Charlie Brown, If he keeps on trying, Im sure he will succeed one day. 彼得虽然不是聪明绝顶，但他面对失败，永不气馁,只要他继续努力，我深信他终有

21、成功的一天。 2. Hugo was hurt in yesterdays race but I am sure he will join next years race for a born Charlie Brown. 雨果虽然在昨天的赛事中受了伤，但我深信明年他必会卷土重来，因为他是英语成语-6A bull in a china shop 横冲直闯【说明】china shop是瓷器店，A bull in a china shop比喻笨拙迟钝、动辄闯祸，不求精细的人或情况，也可形容像公牛般乱闯乱撞。【例句】1. If he pushes me too far,sooner or later

22、,I will barge him arround like a bull in a china shop. 如果他逼人太甚，我迟早会肆意顶撞他的。 2. Father is likea bull in a china shop when he tries to help in the kitchen. 爸爸在厨房帮忙时，往往显得笨手笨脚，越帮越忙。英语成语-7A cat on hot bricks 热锅上的蚂蚁【说明】bricks是砖头，“在炽热的砖头上行走的猫”，与“热锅上的蚂蚁”不谋而合。有“非常狼狈、异常焦虑”之意。【例句】1. Pat was like a cat on hot br

23、icks, for Betty had snatched her boyfriends photo topass it around the classroom. 帕特急得像热锅上的蚂蚁，因为贝蒂抢走了她男朋友的相片给同学传看 2.The doctor is operating on Lilian and her parents are like cats on hot bricks. 医生正在替莉莲做手术，她的父母十分焦虑、坐立不安。英语成语-8A Chinese puzzle 深奥地难题【说明】Puzzle指谜语,或难答的问题。因为古中国谜语常引用很深奥地典故,比其他国家的谜语更难解答,【

24、例句】1. This Maths exam is a Chinese puzzle to me! I dont think I am going to pass. 这次数学测验极为深奥，看来我难以及格. 2.That Blind fortune-teller claims that he can solve all the chinese puzzles in mans life . 那个算命的盲人说他可以替人解答一切有关命运的难题。英语成语-9A church mouse 一贫如洗【说明】教堂生活清贫,那里的老鼠也没什么油水,所以用 church mouse 比喻赤贫的人,因为他们像教堂的老

25、鼠般常常要挨饿【例句】1.Hes a real church mouse! Even the dogs lead a better life than him. 他真的一贫如洗，生活潦倒得连狗都不如. 2.Mr. Zhang is now one of the richest men in town.Nobody could imagine that he was a church mousewhen he first came to Hong Kong.今天张先生是香港屈指可数的巨富,没有人会想到他初到香港时,只是个一无英语成语-10A dog in the manger 占着茅坑不拉屎【说

26、明】Manger 即“马厩” 这个成语源自伊索寓言，直译为“狗占马厩”。所以a dog in the manger是讽刺那些自私的人占有某些东西，却不使用，又不肯与人分享。【例句】1.Dont be such a dog in the manger!If you dont want that model plane,give it to Tony. 不要占着茅坑不拉屎！如果你不玩那架模型飞机，就送给托尼吧. 2.He borrowed a lot of books from the library but he didnt read any of them.He was really a do

27、g in the manger . 他从图书馆借了很多书，但一本也没有看过，真是损人不利己。英语成语-11A doubting Thomas不听劝告的人，疑心重的人【说明】doubt即“怀疑”，Thomas是圣经中的人物，耶稣的十二门徒之一。当耶稣复活，回去和门徒相见时，Thomas要亲手触摸耶稣身上的钉痕，才肯相信主是真的复活了，所以a doubting Thomas是比喻那些疑心重不肯接受别人意见的人。【例句】The doctor had told grandfather many times that he needed an operation,but being a doubting

28、 Thomas,he refused till it was too late.医生多次告诉祖父他需要施手术，但祖父疑心重。不肯接受，终至病逝A friend in need患难之交【说明】此惯用语是谚语“a friend in need is a friend indeed”的一部分。A friend in need是指在朋友需要帮助时伸出同情援助之手，亦即“患难之交”。【例句】1.Dont treat Bob like that. He may be stupid but when you were in difficulties,he was there to help you and

29、a friend in need is a friend indeed. 别那样对待鲍勃，他虽然笨拙，但是你有困难的时候，他总是尽力帮你，济人之难的朋友才是真朋友。 2。Edward,you are really a friend in need and Im very grateful. 爱德华，你真是我的患难之交，实在非常感激你英语成语-13A Greek gift 不怀好意的礼物【说明】Greek gift 是指希腊神话“木马屠城记”中的特洛伊木马，因此是一份施诡计的礼物。【例句】The pills that the triad member gave tony were a Greek

30、 gift;he wanted Tony to get addicted. 那个黑社会成员给托尼的药丸是一种使人上瘾的毒品他想让托尼成为瘾君子。Beat around the bush拐弯抹角，旁敲侧击Beat即“打”，而bush即“灌木丛”。Beat around the bush直译为“在灌木丛边打来打去”。中世纪英国贵族打猎时常雇佣一些人专门在灌木丛边拍打，使从中野兽惊慌奔逃而猎之，他们敲敲打打，似乎与打猎无关，但却是极有效的获得猎物的方法，所以beat around the bush现比喻“旁敲侧击”地去达到目的。He had been praising our furniture a

31、nd commenting on our painting for an hour before he stopped beating around the bush and said,May I borrow500 from you?他花了整整一个小时来赞赏我们的家具和油画，最后他终于不再拐弯抹角了，直说要向我们借五百元。Be Greek to me 一点也不明白Greek解作“希腊语”，很多人相信希腊语是很难学习的。Its all Greek to me.直译就是“这些对我来说尽是希腊语”，用来比喻“我一点也不明白这些话或事”。1.Dr. Qian is a very famous scientist but literature is all Greek to him. 钱博士是位著名的科学家，但对文学却一窍不通。2.Mr. Li has tried to explain the lesson to