美国生活俗语一点通

高素菊

1. walking encyclopedia活百科全书，万事通

Definition: person who knows a lot of information

Scene

A: You can ask Jenny questions about anything in history and she can give you the correct answer.

B: She must be a walking encyclopedia. I studied history in school but I dont remember everything we read in the textbooks.

Analysis

若一个人的学识很广，可以把他比作“行走着的大百科全书”，类似的表达还有walking dictionary, 活字典。walking 用作定语的例子还有：walking corpse行尸走肉；walking microscope洞察力很强的人。

2. What a man (woman)!好样的！(好厉害！)

Definition: exclamation describing a person of considerable skill or beauty

Scene

A: Did you see the model in the advertisement?

B: What a woman! It would be easy for me to fall in love with

someone so beautiful.

A: I agree she looks attractive but I think she is too young. A pretty girl, not a woman.

Analysis

常用于异性之间的赞赏，往往意味着男性的阳刚之美或女性的娴静优雅。

3. You asked for it. 你自找的，自讨苦吃。

Definition: Do something that results in a punishment or other negative result.

Scene

A: I told you not to play with Moms dishes.

B: I was very careful until I dropped her favorite plate. Now its in a

dozen pieces; what do I do?

A: You asked for it when you took the dishes to your room. Unless

you can fix it before she gets home or you will be in a lot of

trouble.

Analysis

多指做了违法的事或明知会导致不良后果的事。在ask for it 中，代词it指事情的不良后果，相当于ask for trouble。

4. thousand and one ways 一千零一个办法

Definition: in every imaginable way or manner

Scene

A: You are unable to find an answer to that homework problem that

youve been working on. Have you tried everything that you can

think of?

B: Ive tried a thousand and one ways to solve it. I cant think of

anything else to try.

Analysis

“一千零一个”是一个固定说法，用来形容数量之多。“一个”意味着“外加的尝试也做了（还挂着零头）”，用以强调使用了各种方式，举不胜举。

5. step on ones toes 使某人丢面子

Definition: to insult someone or to cause another person to lose face

Scene

A: Morgan thinks he is more important than he really is. He often

makes people mad because he tries to do things that arent his

responsibility.

B: Some people might think he was being helpful.

A: When you work with a group of people and try to tell them how

to work because you think you are the boss, I call it steppingon peoples toes.

Analysis

这种“伤害”是很轻微的。同时，这里被评论的人不一定是有意使坏。

6. sour grapes 酸葡萄

Definition: unfounded criticism or animosity

Scene

A: Neville complains a lot, especially about not being promoted.

B: He is upset because Lucy was promoted and he wasnt even though he works harder than she does.

A: I suppose Nevilles complaints are just sour grapes.

Analysis

相当于汉语讲的“醋意”，英文中将这种妒意比作酸溜溜的葡萄，吃到嘴里很不是滋味。

7. in an awful mess 手忙脚乱，不知所措

Definition: going through an unpleasant experience

Scene

A: Jack, what happened to you?

B: My mother told me to stay at home because the weather is bad

but I went outside to buy a newspaper and now Im locked out of

my house.

A: Im sorry you are locked out but how did you hurt your arm?

B: I tried to push open the window when I accidentally broke it and

cut my arm. Now Im in an awful mess because I cant get inside;

there is broken glass on the floor and my arm is hurt.

Analysis

通常指由某一个或多个问题引起的被动局面。

8. live it up尽情享受一番

Definition: enjoy life

Scene

A: I have never stayed in a five star hotel. Everything is so beautiful, but also so expensive.

B: Dont worry about the cost. You have the chance to live it up. Enjoy the nice hotel room, the swimming pool and the gourmet restaurants. Its your vacation.

Analysis

相当于汉语中“过把瘾”，指人们可以在优裕、舒适的生活条件下痛痛快快的享享福。旧时的说法是：live like a lord 像君主一样生活。