一些常用俚语

1.In the nick of time

Meaning： At the last moment， just before something bad happens

意思：正是时候

例句：

（1） The accident victim was near death， but the ambulance arrived in the nick of time and the paramedic saved her.

这个伤者已经奄奄一息了，但是救护车在最后一刻赶到了！护理人员终于救了她。

（2） We ran as fast as we could toward the bus stop and got there just as the bus was pulling to a stop. We got there in the nick of time.

我们以最快速度朝汽车站跑去，当我们到了车站时，汽车正好停了下来，我们到的正是时候。

Tips： ①这个俚语常用在情况非常紧急的时候。

②“nick”与“name”可构成合成词“nickname”，意思是“绰号”。

2.Take a hike

Meaning：used for rudely telling someone to go away

意思是：哪儿凉快哪儿歇着去吧

例句：

（1） please take a hike while I'm drawing， dont interrupt me！

我画画的时候请走开，不要打扰我！

（2） Our teacher told Jack that if he didnt learn to be quiet in class， he could take a hike .

我们老师告诉杰克，如果他不学着在课堂上安静下来，他就只能出去了。

3. Jack of all trades

Meaning：a person who knows a little about a lot of different subjects or activities， but not a lot about any one of them

意思：雜而不精的人，万事通。

例句：

（1） Walt is good at so many things： he can fix the plumbing and wiring in his house； he fixed his roof when it leaked； he installed his washer and dryer， and he paints the house when it needs it. Hes really a jack of all trades.

沃尔特擅长做那么多事情：修理家里的管道和电线、修漏水的屋顶。他也会安装洗衣机和烘干机，甚至他可以自己粉刷新房子，他真是一个万事通！

（2） The position in the company required someone who knew everything about a very narrow subject. They werent looking for a jack of all trades.

公司里的这个位置需要那种对一个学科有所专研的人，而不是一个杂而不精的人。

Tips：

①trade：本意是“行业”“贸易”。

②Jack：这个人名在这里是虚指某人。其他人名类似用法，还有“Uncle Sam”和美国的缩写都是US 因此就被用来指“美国政府”；“Jane Doe”指“无名氏（女）”。

4.Break a leg

Meaning：used for wishing sb. good luck

意思是：祝你好运

例句：

（1） I understand you have a job interview tomorrow. Break a leg！

我知道你明天上午有个面试，祝你好运！

（2） Break a leg in your test today.

祝你今天考试顺利。

Tips：

①本意为演出成功后，演员行屈膝礼向观众致谢时，腿“折叠”起来的动作。

②和五官相关的俚语：

run off at the mouth 信口开河

5.Keyed up

Meaning：Full of nervous anticipation； anxious； tense

意思是：紧张不安的；焦躁的

例句：

（1） Stop pacing the floor. Relax. Why are you so keyed up？

不要来回走了，放松！你为什么如此不安？

（2） Charles was so keyed up waiting for the wedding to begin that when it finally did， he dropped the wedding ring.

Charles在婚礼开始前太激动了，以致在婚礼开始时，他把结婚戒指弄掉了！

6.Dont have a cow.

Meaning： dont make a fuss.

意思是：不要大惊小怪

例句：

（1） Dont have a cow！ its just a small bug.

別大惊小怪的，这只是一个小臭虫。

（2） Dont have a cow， man. Ill buy you another one later.

别大惊小怪，老兄。我等会买一个还给你就是了。

Tips：

①make a fuss：大惊小怪。 “fuss”是小题大做的意思，既可以做动词，也可以做名词使用。

②make a fuss of/over sb：过分的爱护某人。

7.Dutch uncle

Meaning：someone who advises or criticizes a younger person in a severe way

意思是：喋喋不休教训别人的人

例句：

（1） Stop talking to me like a Dutch uncle about my duty to my family.

在有关我的家庭责任感这个问题上，别老是教训我。

（2） Dont be a Dutch uncle. Try to become a kind person.

不要做一个吹毛求疵的人，试着做一个善良的人。

8.Take French leave

Meaning：To take time away from your job without asking for permission

意思是：不辞而别

例句：

（1） Everyone who takes French leave can be received punish severely.

任何擅离职守的人都要受到严惩。

（2） Im sure I saw you at the party last night， but you were nowhere to be found when I wanted to talk to you. Why did you take French leave？

我肯定昨晚在聚会上看到你的，但后来要找你说话的时候却不见人了。你怎么不辞而别啊？

Tips：

来源：在18世纪，法国人性格随便，性情浪漫，在参加宴会等一切社交聚会时，养成了不向主人告别就擅自离去的习惯。

9.an eye for an eye

Meaning：the idea that someone who has harmed another person should be punished by having the same thing done to himself

意思是：以牙还牙

例句：

（1） “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. ” — Gandhi

“以眼还眼会使全世界都看不见。”——甘地

（2） I hear he has been speaking ill of you. You should make an eye for an eye.

我听说他一直在讲你的坏话，你应该报复他，以眼还眼。

Tips：

这句谚语在《圣经》中多次出现。摩西受上帝之命，成为在埃及做奴隶的以色列人的领袖。他发布法令：

“The punishment is to be a life for a life， an eye for an eye， a tooth for a tooth， a hand for a hand and a foot for a foot.”

“要以命偿命，以眼还眼，以牙还牙，以手还手，以脚还脚。”汉语中“以眼还眼”“以牙还牙”即源于此，表示“以其人之道还治其人之身”。

10.Let the cat out of the bag

Meaning：To reveal a secret

意思是：真相大白

例句：

（1） When Rachel decided she was going to quit her job， she told her best friend but she didnt want to let the cat out of the bag. So Rachel told her friend not to tell anyone.

当瑞秋决定辞职的时候，她告诉了她最好的朋友。瑞秋又不想泄露这个秘密，因而她告诉朋友不要告诉任何人这件事情。

（2） The children put their money together to buy their mother a birthday present， but the youngest child became excited and couldnt keep from telling his mother what they had bought. His brothers and sisters told him he shouldnt have let the cat out of the bag.

孩子们把他们的钱凑在一起为妈妈买了一个生日礼物。但是最小的孩子太兴奋结果说漏嘴了，他的哥哥姐姐曾经告诉过他不准把这件事说出去。

Tips：

和“cat”有关的俚语：

a cat nap 打个盹儿

fat cat 有钱有势的人

cat in the pan 叛徒