英语常见谚语和习语

●as black as crow /raven/ sloe/ coal/ jet/ midnight / pitch/ the devil‘s nutting-bag = very black●I want to see that agreement in black and white.=in writing or print; in written form●His business and domestic affairs are in confusion, and everything looks to him blackink.=very gloomy●If you continue in this fashion, you will be in my black books.=in disfavor of someone●Shake the black dog from your back.=melancholy; dispondency●These slums are black eye to our city.=a mark of shame; dishonor●He swore himself black in the face.=extremely angryThe letter which he received was an attempt at black mail.●●=extortion of money from a person by threats of public accusation or censure●The witches sat at a table with the black man.=The devil●He blacked out at the sight of blood.=suffer temporary loss of consciousness●When it came to war experiences, he blacked out completely.=suffer temporary loss of memory●Their first decision was to black out today‘s discussion.=not allow sth. to be releasedEnglish idioms can be short or long: e.g.T hat old man is a bear; he’s always grumbling. =a bad-tempered or bad-mannered personW hat’s wrong with you today? You’re like a bear with a sore head. =angryY ou say his fiancée is also a poet? Well, birds of a feather flock together.=people of similar tastes, characters etc. seek each other’s companyI f you invest this money you might make a fortune; but a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.=a thing which iscertain is worth more than a risk which might be profitableIrregular and illogical structure with clear meaning: e.g.I am good friends with him.The angel told Mary she was with child.Regular structure with unclear meaning: e.g.I had butterflies in my stomach for an hour or so before I was due to make my speech.=have a feeling of nervousness✓All the man’s kith and kin came to his wedding.=orig. country and kindred; later, friends and kindred; now, relations✓He’s walking to and fro in the room. =back and forth✓He learn s his lessons by rote.=memorize by constant repetition✓Bob wandered hither and thither looking for a playmate. =here and there✓She went hither and yon to search for an answer.=from here to over there, especially to afarther place, or to a great many places✧H e always hits the nail when he talks on financial subjects. =understand the matter✧J ane’s father hit the nail on the head when he said that her chief fault was vanity.=get something exactly right✧H e packed his car and hit the road for New York. =leave, especially in a car✧S he was struck by a hit-and-run driver.=one who leaves the scene of an accident without stopping to identifyhimself or assist the injured●First and foremost they needed food. =as the most important thing (alliteration)●The sailors hauled in the rope with might and main.=with all one’s strength(alliteration)●This pair of shoes can withstand the wear and tear of a couple of years. =loss by use(rhyme)●Plenty of all the requisites for “a rough and round dinner”…were always at Duncan of Knock”s command.=simple but bumper(alliteration)●Couldn’t you get somebody better about you than a blundering young rough-and-tough boy like me? = troublesome(rhyme)●He has become rich little by little. =gradually, slowly by degrees (repetition)●Mary was hurt through and through by Betty’s remarks.●=completely, thoroughly(repetition)●A stitch in time saves nine.=Slight repairs made in season will save great ones afterwards.(euphony)●The rule in the restaurant is First come, first served.=The people who come first will have their turn first.(euphony)His death at the age of 31 was a bolt from the blue. =something completely unexpectedHis father and grandfather were Conservatives, and he too is a true blue.=a loyal member of a political party, especially the British Conservative PartyI am in the pink, and hope you are too.=be very well in healthSales began to drop and the company was soon in the red.=owe money, especially to a bankH e blacked out at the sight of blood.= suffering temporary loss of consciousnessD uring the war we had to make sure windows were carefully blacked out completely.=make invisible from air at nightW ithin seconds of going on the air, London Weekend Television was blacked out.=bring television transmission to a halt by striking actionH e went on holiday to Monte Carlo and blued all his money. =spend recklessly✓He gave me such a black look that I decided not to mention the subject again.✓=look angrily at someone✓If you’re feeling blue, a couple of drinks may cheer you up=sad✓Her sister has been given a wristwatch and she is green with envy. =be very envious✓I didn’t want to offend him, so I told a white l ie and said I didn’t know.✓=a lie which is regarded as harmless and excusable✓The shop detective caught him red-handed as he was slipping a packet of cigarettes into his pocket. =catch someone in the act of committing a crime✓The police played cat and mouse with the gang in the hope of catching them at once.=leave someone in a position of uncertainty before taking action✓Their engagement was to be a secret but the ring on her finger l et the cat out of the bag.✓=give away a secret✓They have led a cat-and-dog life ever since they were married.✓= (of a husband and wife) a life full of quarrels✓Since his wife left him, he has gone to the dogs and spends his time in dirty b ars.✓= (of people) become morally, mentally or physically bad✓Be fore his marriage he was tied to his mother’s apron-strings, and after it to his wife’s.✓=be under someone’s control✓We all got the boo t when the firm was taken over by a big company.✓=be dismissed from a job✓He asked me, cap in hand, if I could help him out of his financial difficulties. =respectfully✓Several members of the party turned their coats and joined the opposition.✓= change sides in a dispute or in war; change one’s opinion✓One of the secretaries was getting married, so we passed the hat round for her.✓=make a collection of moneySeveral lines in the new play were blue-penciled. =censorHe’s still rather green, but a couple of years in the army will make him wiser.=inexperiencedThe company was bled white by her foreign rulers. = Deprived of wealthI was about to invest money in the company but I saw the red light when their annual report was published.=realize thatdanger is nearHe is at the top of the tree.A. In a difficult positionB. The oldest man of the familyC. The highest man in his professionKey: CHe took the leaf out of his brother’s book. HeA. did what he didB. read what he readC. copied what he wroteD. said what he saidKey: AA bread-and-butter letter is sentA. by a guest to his hostB. by an employee to his bossC. by a shop-keeper to his customerD. by a bank-manager to his clientKey: AHe knows which side his bread is buttered. He knowsA. his own interestsB. what is good for himC. how to make sandwichesD. where he can ear a lot of moneyKey: AHe has gone the way of all flesh. He hasA. fallen illB. grown oldC. grown fatD. diedKey: DA brain-wave is A. an illness of the brainB. a sudden good ideaC. a fit of passionD. a stupid mistakeKey: BA grass widow is a womanA. whose husband gardens too muchB. whose husband is newly buriedC. whose husband is awayD. whose husband plays too much cricketKey: CShe sees everything through rose-colored spectacles. SheA. is sentimentalB. thinks only of her gardenC. is color-blindD. is optimisticKey: DHe has some good ideas, but he doesn’t know how to put them into practice. He hasA. his nose in the airB. his head in the cloudsC. his heart in the right placeD. his head above waterKey: BHe said it with his tongue in his cheek. He said itA. indistinctlyB. while eatingC. seriouslyD. jokinglyKey: DExamples of Proverbs1. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.A thing which is certain is worth more than a risk which might be profitable.2. Birds of a feather flock together.People of similar tastes, characters etc. seek each other‘s company3. Kill two birds with one stone.Achieve two aims at once.4. A cat may look at a king.Even the most humble person may criticize his superiors.5. Count one‘s chickens before they are hatched.Be over-confident of success.6. Love me, love my dog.If you want me to be your friend, you must accept my friends as well.7. Let sleeping dogs lie.Not disturb someone or something which may give trouble; not look for trouble8. Neither fish, flash nor good red herringOf an uncertain nature, neither one thing nor the other.9. What‘s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.What is fair for one person is fair for the other.10. Pigs might fly.The impossible might happen.11. One swallow does not make a summer.Something which starts well may not continue to go well.12. If the cap fits, wear it.If someone thinks that an accusation is true, he should admit it.13. Make hay while the sun shines.Take opportunities as soon as they appear.14. There is no rose without a thorn.Complete happiness, perfection etc. cannot be found.15. Too many cooks spoil the broth.Too much help only hinders16. Teach one‘s grandmother to suck eggs.Give advice to someone who is more experienced.19. Put all one‘s eggs in one basket.risk everything, put all one‘s money, spend all one‘s time etc. on only one thing20. It‘s no use crying over spi lt milk.It is no use regretting or complaining about a mistake that has been made and cannot be corrected.21. The pot calls the kettle black.The person who accuses another of a fault has the same fault himself.22. There‘s no accounting for tastes.It is impossible to explain why different people like different things.23. Blood is thicker than water.Family ties are strong.24. An eye for an eye.Punishment similar to the crime; retaliation; revenge25. Two heads are better than one.Two people are better than one at giving advice, solving problems etc.26. A square peg in round hole.A person who is not suited to the situation in which he finds himself27. Every dog has its day.Everyone has good luck, success etc. at some time.28. Where there is will, there‘s a way.Anything is possible if it is desired strongly enough.29. More haste, less speed.The more you hurry, the less real progress you are likely to make.30. Once bitten, twice shy.A person who has been tricked will be more careful in the future.31. Out of sight, out of mind.It is easy to forget someone or something not seen regularly.32. Easy come, easy go.What we get without difficulty is quickly lost.33. Easier said than done.It is harder to do than to talk about.34. Better late than never,It is better to do something late than not to do it at all.1.No man is content. 知足的人世上无。