动物及鱼类成语.docx

1、动物及鱼类成语Animal and Fish Idioms 动物及鱼类成语美国英语和澳大利亚英语常用鲸(whale)来比喻非常大或非常好，如：A whale of a bill（数额很高的账单）；A whale of a difference（很大的区别）；A whale of a job（很好的一份工作）。比喻人的脾气倔强，汉语用驴子，而英语用骡子。说某人特别能喝，汉语常用牛来比喻；而英语则用鱼来比喻。英语中的drink可以指喝水，也可以指喝酒。在比喻本末倒置的概念时，英语用颠倒马和马车的位置来比喻。英语有Pigs might fly（变体：Pigs may fly）的说法，比如男朋友对女朋

2、友说等我以后有了钱我给你买一辆奔驰车，女朋友幽默地回答：Yeah, pigs might fly. 她说的是一句反话，字面意思是或许猪能飞起来，实际含义却是那是根本不可能的事。有时, Pigs may fly也有可能性非常小的含义，如：他中大奖的可能性非常小。但这也难说（Pigs might fly）。本单元的英语成语跟海洋动物和陆地动物有关。关键词包括： crocodile fish herring horse hare lion monkey mouse mule pig puppy rat swine turtle whale wolf1. Crocodile tears字面意思：鳄鱼的

3、眼泪。解释 Insincere tears or sorrow.假悲哀；不是真心悲哀而流眼泪；猫哭耗子假慈悲。例句 She dropped a few crocodile tears over her husbands death then got his insurance money and married again two weeks later. 2. A pretty kettle of fish字面意思：一壶鱼。解释 A state of confusion, disorder or trouble.混乱无秩序的局面；一团糟。变体：A fine kettle of fish. 说

4、明：在野外，大家七手八脚，抢吃煮好的鱼，比喻混乱的场面。例句 His six-year-old daughter played with her fathers computer. The father worried that it might be a pretty kettle of fish if he lost his documents.3. Drink like a fish字面意思：像鱼一样能喝。解释 Drink a lot of alcohol regularly.经常喝酒，而且喝的很多。说明：此处的drink多指喝酒。例句 He drinks like a fish, sm

5、okes like a chimney and eats like a pig; I can not stand him any more.4. Fish for compliments字面意思：勾引赞美的话。解释 Look for praise.寻求别人的夸奖。说明：Fish作动词用，指钓鱼。这条成语类似汉语的沽名钓誉，但一般来说fish for compliments只是表示希望得到别人的口头赞许或认可而已。Compliment 也可用单数。 例句 When he showed me his third new mobile phone, I could tell that he was

6、looking for a compliment.5. Have other fish to fry字面意思：还有其它鱼要炸（煎）。解释 Have other more important things to do.有其它更重要的事情要做。例句 Dont ask me to do this and that. I have other fish to fry.6. Neither fish, flesh nor fowl字面意思：非鱼，非肉，也非家禽。解释 Of an uncertain nature, neither one thing nor the other.特点不明确；不伦不类；非驴

7、非马；四不像。变体：Neither fish, flesh nor good red herring（好的红鲱鱼）。 例句 The building has a strange design, its neither fish, flesh nor fowl.7. Teach fish how to swim字面意思：教鱼如何游泳。解释 Tell other more experienced and better qualified experts what to do.教更有经验的专家如何做业内的事。教关云长如何耍大刀。例句 Dont teach fish how to swim, beca

8、use he has been using a computer for more than 20 years. 8. Throw in a red herring字面意思：扔进来一条红鲱鱼。解释 Brought up something to distract peoples attention in an argument; introduce a subject which has nothing to do with what is being discussed.转移别人注意力的话题或行为；提出与正题无关的话题。例句 He is not really interested in wh

9、at we are discussing, and several times he tried to upset our discussion by throwing in a red herring.9. Eat like a horse字面意思：像马一样能吃。解释 Eat a lot.（指人）特别能吃，饭量大。无贬义。另一条成语Eat like a pig有贬义，吃的特别多，而且显得贪婪、令人恶心。字面意思是像猪一样能吃。 例句 He eats like a horse, but he is not fat. The secret is not to go to sleep immedi

10、ately after each meal. 10. Lock the stable when the horse is stolen字面意思：马被偷走以后才给马厩上锁。解释 Take careful precautions to do the right thing after it is too late. 不好的事情发生后才采取防范措施，但为时已晚。亡羊补牢有点晚。这条成语有两个变体：Lock the stable door after the horse has bolted. Lock the barn door after the horse is out. 字面意思：马脱缰之后才

11、锁马厩。例句 Your new bike has been stolen. Why do you want to buy this expensive lock now? Thats locking the stable door after the horse has bolted. You should spend less money and buy a cheap second hand bike.11. Look a gift horse in the mouth字面意思：往礼品马的嘴里看。解释 Not contented with something received as a g

12、ift.瞧不起别人送的礼物，觉得不满意。说明：看一匹马的牙齿可得知马的年龄，养马的人都知道这一点。送你一匹马，你不要抱怨马有点老。 例句 I think your birthday present is very nice, so dont look a gift horse in the mouth!12. Put the cart before the horse字面意思：把马车放在马的前边。解释 Put or say things in the wrong order.说话办事的次序颠倒；本末倒置。例句 You should first send your resume to the c

13、ompany before having an interview. Dont put the cart before the horse.13. Ride the high horse字面意思：骑高头大马。解释 self-important; show off.自大；炫耀。例句 When the postgraduate visited his hometown in the remote province, he rode the high horse among the local people. 14. Hold your horses字面意思：让你的马停下来。解释 stop and

14、wait for a minute; be reasonable.不要着急，耐心一点。例句 Dont get so angry, John. Just hold your horses and I will see what I can do for you.15. Hunt with the hounds and run with the hare字面意思：带着猎犬去打猎，同时又跟着野兔去逃命。解释 Try to support two opposing sides at the same time; take a middle course.同时支持相对立的两派；脚踩两只船。例句 Whic

15、h team are you going to support? Make up your mind now. You cant hunt with the hounds and run with the hare.16. Beard the lion in his den字面意思：在雄狮的巢穴里捋它的胡须。解释 Show no fear and dare to carry out extremely dangerous tasks.表现无所畏惧，敢于做极其危险的事；敢摸老虎的屁股。例句 She was annoyed because she was not given a flat. So

16、she bearded the lion in his den by arguing with the school principal.17. The lions share字面意思：雄狮的份额。解释 The biggest share of something.（与人分东西时）相对来说最大份额。说明：出自伊索寓言。例句 When his father died, the daughter has got the lions share of the familys property.18. Make a monkey out of someone字面意思：把某人弄成一只猴子。解释 Make

17、 someone seem foolish or stupid.捉弄，戏弄。例句 As far as the knowledge of the computer is concerned, the little boy makes a monkey out of me all the time.19. Monkey with something字面意思：像猴子一样胡乱触摸。解释 Interfere with, meddle with; play mischievously with.瞎弄，乱搞。胡乱折腾某物。比如不懂电脑，随便去按键盘玩。例句 Did you monkey with my co

18、mputer? It does not work properly now.20. As quiet as a mouse字面意思：像老鼠一样悄无声音。解释 Very quiet, silent.不说话；一句话也没有。例句 He sat at the corner as quiet as a mouse and listened to my story.21. As stubborn as a mule字面意思：像骡子一样倔。解释 Obstinate, very stubborn.脾气倔，固执。例句 You cant change his mind; he is as stubborn as

19、a mule.22. Buy a pig in a poke字面意思：买猪崽只是捅一下。解释 Buy something without seeing it or without knowing its value. 上当之货；冲动购买的东西；未经过目而购进的货没有见到货就付款；或不知道商品的真实价值就购买。说明：买猪崽的时候不打开袋子看，只是把袋子里的东西它捅一下，也许里面只是一只用来骗人的猫。小猪值钱，猫没人要。例句 Youll have to show me the bike; I dont intend to buy a pig in a poke.23. Puppy-love字面意思

20、：小狗的爱情。解释 Young or inexperienced love.纯纯的爱情；没经验的爱情。变体：calf-love（小牛犊的爱情）。例句 The two fifteen-year-old students rang each other every night. They thought they really were in love, but the parents knew it was puppy-love.24. Rat race字面意思：耗子赛跑。解释 Ruthless competition for greater wealth, fame, power, socia

21、l status, etc.残酷竞争（争夺名利、钱财或社会地位的）。例句 I am quite happy with my job as a teacher and I have no desire to take part in the rat race of business.25. Rats abandoning a sinking ship字面意思：耗子逃离正在沉没的船。解释 Disloyal people who desert an institution or stop working for or supporting somebody.不忠诚的人离开某个组织；停止支持某人；树倒

22、猢狲散。例句 Just like rats abandoning a sinking ship, the so called loyal supporters switched to the other side candidate when theirs began to lose.26. Smell a rat字面意思：闻到耗子味儿。解释 Suspect that something is wrong.怀疑有问题。例句 He said so many nice things about the washing powder, but I smelt a rat and refused to

23、 buy the product.27. Cast pearls before swine字面意思：把珍珠扔在猪面前。解释 Show genuine things to people who are unable to recognize them.把真东西拿给人看，但这些人不识货。跟对牛弹琴的意思不完全相同。跟明珠暗投意思相近。源于圣经。例句 The teacher taught the weakest class at school; but it was all useless, for the students ignored her. She really was casting p

24、earls before swine.28. Turn turtle字面意思：海龟翻个肚皮朝天。解释 (ship) Turn upside down, capsize.专指翻船。例句 The little boat nearly turned turtle in the strong wind.29. A whale of a time字面意思：鲸鱼一样宽裕的时间。解释 A very enjoyable time.一段玩得非常开心的时间。常跟have连用。例句 We went out to a disco last night and we had a whale of a time.30.

25、A wolf in sheeps clothing字面意思：披着羊皮的狼。解释 A person who seems to be a friend but is really an enemy; a person who disguises his real intention.伪装成朋友的敌人；或将自己的企图伪装起来的人。说明：出自伊索寓言。例句 Dont trust him; he is a wolf in sheeps clothing.31. Cry wolf字面意思：喊狼（来了）。解释 Give false alarm.发假警报，谎报军情。说明：出自伊索寓言。例句 The girl

26、just wanted to attract attention from her parents. So she pretended to be sick at the time. She was just crying wolf.32. Keep the wolf from the door字面意思：将狼拒之于门外。解释 Keep from starvation; avoid hunger and poverty.免受饥饿或贫穷。例句 In those days, my father had three jobs to keep the wolf from the door.操练成语I.

27、多项选择练习。1. Dont buy a pig in a poke.A. Dont buy things that you do not need.B. Dont go shopping without money.C. Dont buy things if you do not know their value.1. He smelt a rat.A. He did not like the atmosphere.B. He thought the food was awful.C. He suspected that something was wrong.2. Dont look a

28、gift horse in the mouth.A. You should be contented with what you have received.B. You should not spend so much money gambling.C. You should not take bribes.4. The daughter has got the lions share.A. The daughter has got no money.B. The daughter has bought a lot shares.C. The daughter has got the mos

29、t assets.5. We had a whale of a time.A. We went fishing.B. We were caught in a storm.C. We had a very enjoyable time.6. He made a monkey out of me.A. He laughed at me.B. He cheered me up.C. He made me look stupid.7. We tried hard to keep the wolf from the door.A. We tried hard to keep up with the Jo

30、neses.B. We tried hard to get enough food to eat.C. We tried hard to keep the ball rolling.8. She bearded the lion in his den.A. She faced the threat without fear.B. She treated the lion with kid gloves.C. She worked for a circus. 9. The ship turned turtle.A. The ship sailed out of the harbor.B. The

31、 Ship returned to the harbor.C. The ship capsized.10. She is fishing for compliments. A. She is fishing for pleasure.B. She is looking for praise.C. She is looking for a job.II. 填单词完成下列成语。1. beard the _ in his den.2. _ a rat.3. cast _ before swine.4. keep the wolf from the _.5. hunt with the _ and run wi