English idioms

English idioms can be learned this way1】buy a pig in a poke : to accept or buy sth. without checking if it is good 未曾过目或不问好坏地乱买东西，盲目赞同2】as cute as a bug’s ear : to be very darling 十分可爱，很招人喜欢3】knee-high to a grasshopper : not very tall , but old enough to stand and walk 很矮小的，十分幼小的，但已学会站立和行走4】work like dogs : to work very hard and long hours 拼命工作5】bug someone for something : to bother someone to get something 烦扰，缠着人要东西6】eat like horses : to eat a lot of food 吃的很多，饭量很大7】worm out of : to make excuses for not doing sth. 找借口逃避做某事8】run around like a chicken with its head cut off : to be so busy that a person has to frantically do all kinds of work in a short time 忙得团团转，忙得不可开交9】be pigheaded : to be stubborn and not follow good advice 固执己见，顽固10】monkey around : not to be serious ; to waste time 胡闹，调皮，捣蛋11】horse around : to play rough ; to be noisy and tease 胡闹，哄闹，捣蛋12】ride like bats out of hell : to move very fast and recklessly 骑车快得不顾一切，横冲直撞13】eat like pigs : to eat in such a sloppy way that people are offended 吃相似猪，惹人厌恶14】be like water rolling off a duck’s back : to have no effect in changing a person’s behavior 不起作用，毫无影响15】get one’s goose cooked : to severely punish or destroy expectations of receiving sth. good 严惩，彻底挫败某人的期望16】let sleeping dogs lie : not to make someone angry , or to make trouble if you don’t have to 不惹事生非，不自找麻烦17】take the bull by the horns : to act bravely and with determination in a very difficult situation 大胆对付困难或危险，不畏艰险18】be chicken: to be afraid 畏惧，胆小19】a black sheep in the family : a child who doesn’t follow the “good”family tradition 有辱门楣的孩子，败家子20】a wolf : a man who is insincere with women , and makes sexual advances 色狼，色鬼21】a wolf in a sheep’s clothing : a deceitful person who pretend to be honest 披着羊皮的狼，伪装友善的人22】a rat : a person who deserts a friend when help is needed at a critical time 危机时变节的小人，卑鄙小人23】a turkey : a person who doesn’t think intelligently and makes lots of mistakes 笨蛋，傻瓜24】a snake in the grass : a person who pretend to be a friend and does harm when it is least expected 伪装成朋友的阴险小人，暗藏的敌人25】get it straight from the horse’s mouth : to get information from the person who experienced what happened 直接从当事人那里打听26】be looked up to : to be admired 受尊敬，被仰慕27】be fed up : to be tired of and angry about 极度疲倦，不满28】turn up one’s nose : to refuse as not being good enough 蔑视，对······嗤之以鼻29】give a put-down : to criticize 批评，奚落30】upbeat : to be optimistic 乐观的31】look up : to look for information in a book 在书中查找，查阅32】things are looking up : the situation is improving 情况在好转33】mess up : to make a mistake 搞砸，出错34】screw up : to ruin ; to cause to fail 弄乱，搞糟35】put-down : criticism 批评36】gobble up : to eat rapidly like a hungry animal 狼吞虎咽37】turn down : to refuse to accept 拒不接受，驳回38】downer : disappearing situation 令人沮丧的情况39】put up with : to tolerate or accept 忍受，忍耐40】fix things up : to improve the situation 改善，弥合41】step down : to resign a position with duties 辞职，离任，让位42】pick up : to buy and take home 买回家43】a take-out : a restaurant that prepares food that a customer can take home to eat 外卖餐馆44】leave sth. up to sb. : to give responsibility to someone 委托，交由···负责45】the grass is greener on the other side of the fence : other people have a better quality of life than you do in your mind 这山望着那山高46】nip in the bud : to stop a bad situation when it is just beginning 把···消灭在萌芽状态，在···一开始就加以阻止47】turn over a new leaf : to start a new and better life 翻开崭新的一页，重新开始48】up a tree : to be in a situation that seems impossible to get rid of 陷入无力摆脱的困境49】bark up the wrong tree : to look for the answer in the wrong place 找错对象，找错位置50】a clinging vine : a person who is very dependent on another 依赖性很强的人51】hear through the grapevine : to get information by listening to what other people say 道听途说52】beat around the bush : not to be direct nor honest when giving facts or answers 说话拐弯抹角，旁敲侧击53】not able to see the forest for the trees : to criticize the small errors and not able to see the future benefits 只见树木不见森林54】a bed of rose : a comfortable, pleasant situation 安乐窝，称心如意的境遇55】bushed : to be tired or exhausted after working very hard 疲劳不堪，筋疲力尽56】hit the hey : to go to bed and sleep 上床睡觉，就寝57】go out on a limb : to take a risk 自愿赴汤蹈火，情愿冒险58】the last straw : a situation that makes you very angry after lots of other unpleasant events have happened (一系列打击、不快的事件等中)最终使人无法忍受的事59】take root : to be accepted and adopted 生根，（思想）深入人心60】push up daisies : to be dead and buried 死后被埋葬61】cut mother’s apron strings : to become independent, not to rely on mother’s guidance 自立，摆脱对母亲的依赖62】wear the pants in the family : to have the controlling authority and be the boss in the family 是一家之主，掌权，当家63】a feather in one’s cap : sth. to be proud of or gives honor 值得自豪的成就，荣誉的标志64】roll up one’s sleeves : to be ready to work hard 准备大干一场65】put oneself in another person’s shoes : to imagine and understand another’s feelings 设身处地地为别人着想，想象和理解另一个人的感受66】give the shirt off one’s back : to be very generous and give everything one has 倾其所有，慷慨解囊67】have eyes bigger than one’s pants : to want a lot of things that one can’t use or pay for 想要的东西多得用不了或买不起68】lose ones shirt : to lose all one’s money or possessions 丧失全部财产，丢失大量钱款69】hot under the collar : to be very angry 生气的愤怒的70】handle someone with kid gloves : to treat someone very respectfully and not to upset him 尊敬的对待某人71】keep one’s shirt on : to calm down; be patient, not to get angry 保持镇静；耐着性子，不发脾气72】get the lead out of one’s pants : to get busy; stop being lazy 加紧工作，不再懒散73】fit by the seat of one’s pants : to use intuition and basic knowledge to guess what is the right thing to do凭直觉和经验作判断74】keep sth. under one’s hat : to keep a secret 保守秘密75】get a kick in the pants : to be insulted or punished for sth. done wrong 因做错事而受到非难或惩罚76】get caught with one’s pants down : to be embarrassed because someone discovered your bad deed or inability to keep a promise 因被发现做错事或无能而窘迫77】have ants in one’s pants : to be over anxious to do sth. 焦躁不安，跃跃欲试78】work for peanuts : to earn very low wages 赚钱极少，工资极低79】out to lunch : not to think clearly 头脑不清楚80】sour grapes : an unpleasant, critical person 尖酸刻薄的人81】a lemon : a machine that doesn’t work 运转不正常的机器，劣质机器82】walk on eggshells : to act very carefully 小心翼翼，如履薄冰，提心吊胆83】in a pickle : to be in a frustrating situation 处于困境84】bring home the bacon : to earn money to support family 赚钱养家，谋生85】a smart cookie : a very intelligent, shrewd person 聪明的人，智者86】not worth a hill of beans : to have no value 毫无价值，分文不值87】go bananas : to become very upset 心烦意乱，极为生气88】a rotten egg : a dishonest person 不诚实的人89】a big cheese : the most important person 要人90】a piece of cake : sth. very easy 非常容易的事91】spill the beans : to tell secret information 泄露秘密，走漏风声92】in hot water : in big trouble 陷入极大的困难93】as cool as a cucumber : to be very calm 非常冷静的94】butter up sb. : to flatter someone hoping that he will do a favor 奉承某人，讨好某人95】the apple of one’s eye : one that is highly cherished 掌上明珠，宝贝，珍爱物96】cry over spilled milk : to be very distressed about a mistake a person made 作无益的后悔，为无可挽回的事而忧伤97】sell like hot cakes : to sell quickly or in large quantities 畅销，卖得快98】higher-ups : the supervisors or directors 要员，（机构、部门的）高层人物99】a piece of the pie : part of the benefits 部分利润100】a little bit of sugar : a little kindness 少许仁慈，点滴善良101】a peach : a kind, helpful person 善良的人，特别惹人喜爱的人102】fork out : to pay (不情愿地)付钱，付出103】keep feelings bottled up : to refrain from showing feelings 抑制感情的流露104】born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth : to be born into a rich family and get everything one wants 生在富贵人家105】dish out : to give out in large quantities 大量给予，分发106】plate is full : there is more than enough to do 有太多事情要做107】jump out of the frying pan into the fire : to go from a bad situation to a worse one 每况愈下；刚出龙潭，又入虎穴108】go to pot : to become worse to fail 衰落，毁灭，垮掉109】spoon-feed : to give all the information 填鸭式灌输110】one’s cup of tea : something that a person really enjoys doing 某人喜爱的东西，投合某人脾性的东西111】get the spoon on : to find out important information 找出重要信息112】do sth. under the table : to do sth. secretly because it is illegal or dishonest 因违法或不正当而秘密进行，私下进行交易113】open up a can of worms : to create more problems that are related to the present situation 使问题更加复杂，引发更多问题114】slave over a hot stove : to spend a lot of time cooking for other people 花大量时间为他人做饭115】feel blue : to feel sad, unhappy 觉得沮丧，情绪低落116】in the red : to be in debt 负债，亏欠，有赤字117】have a green thumb : to be good at growing plants and flowers 擅长园艺118】in the black : to have money in the bank (银行存款)有盈余，有余额119】a blue-collar worker : a person who work outdoors or in a factory and usually wears a blue uniform 蓝领工人，体力劳动者120】a white-collar worker : a person who works in an office 白领职员，脑力劳动者121】red tape : bureaucratic routine required before official actions can be taken 繁文缛节，繁琐费时的官僚手续122】roll out the red carpet : to show a person honor 隆重接待重要来访客123】be yellow : to be nervous and afraid to do sth. 胆小的，卑怯的124】be green : to be immature, to be inexperienced 不成熟的，没经验的125】out of the blue : unexpectedly 突如其来地，出乎意料地126】white lie : harmless lie 善意的谎言，无伤大雅的谎言127】turn as white as a sheet : to be so scared that a person’s face turns white 吓得脸色煞白、面无血色128】see red : to become angry 勃然大怒，火冒三丈129】be trickled pink : very happy, delighted 特别高兴，开心130】in black and white : in print, in writing 以书面形式，白纸黑字131】once in a blue moon : very rarely 极为罕见，千载难逢132】be green with envy : to be very jealous 非常嫉妒133】an old buzzard : an unpleasant, unhelpful person 令人讨厌的自私鬼134】beat a dead horse : to waste time and effort trying to do something that is impossible 枉费心机，做徒劳无益的事，浪费时间和精力做办不到的事135】a bull in a china shop : a person who speaks and behaves in an impolite way that offends others 因言行失礼而冒犯他人136】wild horses couldn’t drag someone : a person is determined not to do sth. he doesn’t want to do 无论用什么手段都不能强迫某人做其不想做的事137】not look a gift horse in the mouth : to accept a gift or sth. free without criticizing it 对礼物或免费的东西不挑剔138】come out of a cocoon : to stop avoiding people and become sociable 停止自我封闭，开始与人交往139】you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink : although you give someone lots of opportunities, you can’t force them to do sth. they don’t want to do 引马河边易，逼马饮水难；不能强迫某人做他不愿做的事140】a skunk : a hateful person 讨厌的人141】horse sense : wisdom to make good decisions without a high education 未受过较高教育，但拥有能做出正确判断的智慧；常识142】pick the wrong horse : to guess incorrectly about a person’s ability to succeed 错误估计了某人的能力，选错了人143】live high on the hog : to spend lots of money in order to have a fancy lifestyle 养尊处优，过阔绰的生活，大手大脚144】go hog wild : to behave in a very excited or excessive way 表现异常激动、放纵145】the love bug bites someone : to fall in love 陷入情网，坠入爱河146】feel like a fish out of water : to feel awkward in an unfamiliar situation 感到生疏或不适应147】hold one’s horses : to be patient and wait 少安毋躁，耐心等待148】a pussy cat : an easy-going, likeable, mild-mannered person 随和、可爱、温顺的人149】spring chicken : a woman who is young 年轻的女人150】a nest egg : money saved for retirement 退休金，储蓄金151】chicken feed : a small amount of money 一小笔钱，很少量的钱152】a chick : a young attractive woman 年轻漂亮的女子153】a good egg : a kind and helpful person 好人，乐善好施的人154】put all one’s eggs into one basket : to place all one’s hopes in a single person or thing 孤注一掷，把一切希望寄托在一个人或一件事上155】count one’s chickens before they hatch : to plan on getting a lot of money before one has it 过早的打如意算盘156】chicken out : to decide not to do sth. that one previously wanted to do 打退堂鼓，临阵退缩157】go to bed with the chickens : to go to bed very early 很早就睡158】have egg on one’s face : to be embarrassed when other people discover that you lied or did sth. foolish 因被发现说谎或做蠢事而丢脸、出丑159】rule the roost : to be the boss, to be in charge 当老板，处于支配地位，当家作主160】kill the goose that laid the golden egg : to destroy the source of wealth by being greedy 杀鸡取卵，竭泽而渔161】feather one’s nest : to get money in a questionable way and buy things to make one’s house comfortable 中饱私囊，营利自肥162】be like chickens coming home to roost : to have bad consequences for bad behavior 恶有恶报，自作自受163】lay an egg : to make a mistake, to fail to do what one tried to do 出大错，失败164】stand head and shoulders above someone : to be much better than another person 比别人高出一头165】head is screwed on backwards : unable to think clearly and make wise decisions 头脑不清醒，决断不明确166】put head in the lion’s mouth : to put oneself in a situation that is dangerous or difficult 使自己处于危险境地167】get it into one’s head to do sth. : to do sth. without a good reason 突然打算，未加思索的决定168】put one’s head in a noose : to do sth. that could harm oneself 自寻死路，自投罗网169】be in over one’s head : to be in a situation that is too complicated to deal with 情况复杂地难以对付170】lay one’s head on the block : to do sth. unwise that one could get blamed or punished for later 做可能会受到责罚或处罚的傻事171】scratch one’s head : to be confused; not to understand 迷惑不解172】have one’s head in the clouds : to be an idealist and not realize what is actually happening 想入非非，耽于空想173】go over one’s head : not to understand a concept 太高深而使某人无法理解174】bury one’s head in the sand : to ignore a problem or danger because one doesn’t want to deal with it 逃避现实，采取鸵鸟政策，不愿正视困难175】put heads together : to think and work together to solve a problem 集思广益，群策群力176】hang over one’s head : to be bothered by problems 烦恼，担心177】keep one’s head above water : to manage personal and financial problems 使自己免于负债(或失败、损失等)，勉强度日178】beat one’s head against the wall : to try hard but with no success 枉费心机，白费力气179】get sth. out of one’s head : to help someone stop believing sth. false 使某人不再以假为真180】fall head over heels in love : to feel a strong romantic love and not to care about anything else 爱的神魂颠倒，爱得不顾一切181】head is buzzing with sth. : to think about lots of interesting ideas at the same time 多种有趣的想法同时在脑海中浮现，浮想联翩182】be stuck up : to feel superior; to be snobbish 自视清高，势力183】stick up for : to defend a person who is criticized 维护受批评者，为受指责者辩护184】stick with : to remain loyal 继续忠于，继续支持185】stick it out : to endure a difficult situation 在困境中坚持到底，挺住186】a stick-up : a robbery 抢劫187】stick one’s neck out : to do sth. dangerous 冒险，自找麻烦188】stick a gun in someone’s face : to point a gun at someone’s face 将枪口对准某人的脸189】a stick-in-the-mud : an old-fashioned person who won’t change beliefs or behavior 顽固守旧者，墨守成规者190】stick to one’s guns : to refuse to change one’s opinion even when other people insist it is wrong 坚持自己的立场或观点191】stick into : to put sth. in 放入192】stick around : to stay 逗留193】sticky fingers : a person who steals things 小偷，窃贼194】stick one’s nose into another person’s business : to have impolite curiosity in what another person does 多管闲事，干涉别人的事195】be stunk in a rut : to be restricted to a bad habit 墨守成规，一成不变196】stick it to a person : to leave a person with something unpleasant 使某人觉得难堪，使某人感到羞愧197】drop dead gorgeous : to be extremely beautiful 特别漂亮的198】mouth drops open : mouth opens very wide 嘴巴大张199】drop whatever one is doing : to stop immediately what one is doing 立即停止正在做的事情200】drop by : to make a short, unplanned visit 顺便拜访201】drop off something : to deliver something 送东西202】at the drop of a hat : suddenly 立即，毫不迟疑地203】drop dead : to go away and stop bothering 走开，别再烦人204】drop over : to visit a person 顺便拜访某人205】drop problems in one’s lap : to expect a person to solve problems 期待某人把问题解决206】a drop in the bucket : a small amount that isn’t enough to accomplish anything 沧海一粟，杯水车薪，无济于事207】drop out of sight : to disappear 消失208】drop off the face of the earth : to disappear for a long time 长时间踪影皆无209】drop a line : to write and mail a note or letter 写(短)信210】drop hints : to tell a person sth. in a polite, indirect way 露口风，以礼貌和委婉方式相告211】drop out of the race : to stop trying to win 退出竞争，不再参与角逐212】drop a bomb : to give information that is very upsetting 报出令人心烦意乱的信息213】go fishing : to blindly search everywhere in order to find some information 盲目地到处寻找信息，四处打探情报214】put the bait on the hook : to make a plan to catch the criminals by giving them the opportunity to get sth.they want 下诱饵引罪犯上钩215】smell sth. fishy : to have a feeling that sth. is wrong 感觉某事可疑，觉得有问题216】take the bait : to fall into a trap 上钩，陷入圈套217】a fish story : an amazing story that isn’t true 夸张的叙述，吹牛218】swallow the hook, line and sinker : to completely believe false information 对假情报信以为真219】reel in one fish : to catch one suspect 捕抓一名嫌疑犯220】get a break : to get luck 走运221】haul in a big catch : to catch a lot of criminals 抓住大批罪犯222】clam up : to refuse to give information 拒不开口，保持沉默223】throw back the little fis h : not to bother to put the” little criminals” in jail; to let them go free 释放轻犯224】let off the hook : to set someone free; not to punish 释放，不予惩罚225】go after the big fish : to try to catch only the criminal leaders 只追捕首犯226】shoot for the stars : to have high goals and strive to attain them 努力实现远大目标227】a long shot : a poor chance of success 成功希望渺茫的尝试，胜算不大的尝试228】take a shot at : to try to do sth. well 设法把某事做好229】big shots : very important people 重要人物230】call all the shots : to be in charge and make important decisions 发号施令，作重大决定231】shoot off one’s mouth : to brag excessively about accomplishments 大肆吹嘘所取得的成就232】a shot in the arm : a source of inspiration and encouragement 兴奋剂，令人鼓舞、增强信心的力量源泉233】a shot in the dark : an attempt without much hope of success 无多大成功希望的尝试234】shoot a person down : to criticize a person with the intent of destroying his/her hopes 否决、批评某人以使其希望破灭235】shoot oneself in the foot : to harm oneself by doing sth. wrong 因做错事而自找麻烦，因失足而自毁前程236】foot the bill : to pay for all expenses 付账(尤指不情愿地为昂贵的东西付钱)237】put one’s foot down : to make a firm decision and insist that someone obey 果断行事，坚持立场238】stand on one’s own feet : to depend on oneself, not to ask anyone for help or money 自立，不要任何人的帮助和资助239】have cold feet : not to be brave enough to do sth. 临阵退缩，胆怯240】get one’s foot in the door : to get the first opportunity to work or do sth. that is important for one’s career 获得第一次工作机会，有幸加入(某组织或行业)241】get one’s feet wet : to do sth. for the first time 第一次做某事242】put one’s best foot forward : to try to make a good impression and to do one’s best 尽可能给人留下好印象，全力以赴243】drag one’s feet : to hesitate to act, or to act slowly because a person isn’t enthusiastic 做事拖拉，迟疑，因缺乏热情而行动缓慢244】be waited on hand and foot : to be served in every possible way by another person 得到周全的照顾245】get off on the wrong foot : to make a bad mistake at the beginning and cause people not to like you 一开始就铸成大错，一开始就给人不好的印象246】think on one’s feet : to make wise decisions quickly and solve problems 当机立断，迅速将问题解决247】the shoe is on the other foot : a situation in which a person experiences how another person feels 亲身体验另一个人的感受248】be on one’s toes : to be alert and ready to take action 保持警觉以备随时采取行动249】step on someone’s toes : to do or say sth. that will embarrass or offend people (尤指因涉足别人负责的范围而)得罪、触犯某人250】have one’s feet on the ground : to understand reality, to be practical and have sensible ideas 脚踏实地，注重实际。