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最新美语流行语手册(4)

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36.in full swing的意思是“活跃”。该习语的意思即引申为“处于(工作的)全面展开、进行阶段”。例如:The building project is in full swing.(这个建筑工程正处在全力进行之中。)

A: I hear your company in expanding its business. 我听说你们公司正在扩展生意。
B: Yeah. We’re setting up a new factory now and the work on it is in full swing. The project will be completed in three months. 是的,我们正在新建一个工厂。工程正处于全面施工阶段,三个月内就可以完工了。

37.be in high gear 全力进行

gear指“齿轮,传动装置”,high gear的意思是汽车的“高速档”。该习语字面意思为“机器正处在高速档(快速运转)”,实际指“事物正处在全力进行当中”。

A: By the way, how is your business going? Is it proceeding smoothly? 哎,你的生意最近如何?进展还顺利吗?
B: Yes, it’s in high gear. 一切都在全力进行。

38.be itching for a chance to do 很想找个机会试一试

形容词itching的意思是“渴望的”,be itching to do意为“渴望做某事”;for a chance指“找机会”,因此整个习语的意思即为“渴望得到机会试做某事”。

A: I am itching for a chance to cooperate with Mike. I hear he’s a very competent person. 我很想找机会和迈克合作一次。听说他特别能干。
B: Everyone who has worked with him will have a deep impression on that point. 是的。每个和他一起工作的人都对此深有体会。

39.be of one mind 意见一致,看法相同

mind可指“头脑,心神”。该习语直译为“一个脑子想出的问题”,由此可以引申为“意见统一、看法相同”的意思。

A: What do the board think about this plan? 董事会对这项计划怎么看?
B: They are of one mind in passing it. 他们一致通过。
A: Good news. 太好啦。

40.be of two minds 拿不定主意

be of two minds和be in two minds的意思基本相同,均表示“左右摇摆”或“拿不定主意,下不了决心”。例如:Don’t depend on him to decide. He always seems to be of two minds on important matters.(别指望他能做出决定。在重要事情上他好像总拿不定主意。)

A: Are you ready to take the plunge and pound the pavements for new one? 你是否准备大胆采取措施,排除障碍,重新再来?
B: I’m still of two minds. But I do seem to like to quit my present job. 我依然犹疑不决。我确实想放弃现在的工作。
A: What kind of job are you aiming at? I mean, do you have a particular job in mind? 你想做什么样的工作? 我的意思是说,在你脑子里有没有特别的选择?
B: I have a good mind to go into business. I think I can be equally successful as most other women in business. 我想进军商海。我想我会得到与商海里其他女性同样的成功。


41.be on a gravy train 走运,有赚钱的机会

gravy在美国口语中有“容易赚得的利润”的意思,gravy train意即“轻易发大财的工作”。该习语直译为“在一辆容易赚钱的火车上”,所以引申为“走运,有赚钱的机会”。

A: John seems to be on the gravy train these days. 约翰最近看起来很走运。
B: Yeah. He got a chance of going abroad to arrange an exhibition. 是啊。他得到了一个出国去办展览的机会。
A: I don’t know why the sun is not shining on me. 我不明白为什么我的运气总是不佳。
B: Don’t worry. You’ll be in the chips sooner or later. 别着急,总有一天你也会很富裕的。

42.be on cloud nine 高兴得飘飘然

该习语原为美国气象用语。该习语的流行据说应归功于50年代播放的一个名叫《约翰尼•多拉尔》的广播节目。Be on cloud nine的字面意思是“坐早九重云霄之上”,引申为“高兴得不得了”或“飘飘然”。例如:He was on cloud nine after winning the competition. (他在比赛胜利后欣喜若狂。)

A: You seem to be on cloud nine these days. How is your restaurant business? 你近来有些高兴得飘飘然。餐馆的生意怎么样?
B: How is my business? It’s none of your business! 我的生意怎么样?这不关你的事。
A: It’s rude of you to talk to me like this. 你这样跟我说话太粗鲁了。
B: I was only teasing you. You see, we have our clients eating out of our hands now. Both Mark and I are feeling on the top of the world. 我只是在逗你玩儿。你看,我们现在已经有了许多回头客了。马克和我都感到非常高兴。

43.be on pins and needles 坐立不安

pins指“大头针”,needles指“针”,be on pins and needles的字面意思是“如坐在大头针和针上”,喻为“坐卧不安”或“如坐针毡”。

A: It seems you’re on pins and needles today. Anything troubling you? 你今天似乎坐立不安。有什么事吗?
B: Yeah. I don’t know why bad things keep happening to me. You see, my car was stolen and the warehouse had been broken into. I can’t put my finger on the causes of this damned thing. 是的。我不知道坏事为什么总是找上我。你看,我的汽车被偷了,货仓也被盗了。我弄不明白怎么会发生这些倒霉事。
A: There must be someone who had planned that. He threatened to show you the color when you refused to give him a promotion. 也许这是有人精心策划的。因为你没有提升他,他要给你点颜色看看。

44.be over the hump 已度过难关

hump的本义是“小丘,山脉”,over the hump直译为“越过山脉”,引申为“度过难关”。

A: The Asian financial crises have almost paralyzed Asian economy. 亚洲金融危机几乎使亚洲经济瘫痪。
B: Your company must be influenced by it deeply. 你们的公司肯定也很受影响吧
A: Yeah. But we are over the hump now. 是的。但我们现在我们已经渡过了难关。

45.be saddled with 把任务或责任强加在某人身上

saddle在这儿作动词,意为“使负担,强加”,saddle sb. with sth. 意为“为某人负重担”,因此该习语意为“把任务强加予某人”。例如:I can’t be saddled with any more responsibilities.(我再也不能承担更多的任务了。)

A: How is George recently? 最近乔治怎么样?
B: Not very good. I hear that he is saddled with debts of his company. 不太好。我听说他的公司现在债务缠身。
A: What happened? 怎么回事?
B: It’s said that he was cheated by his partner. 据说是他的合伙人把他给骗啦。

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