新人教版高中英语教材中英语习语的归纳分类 和词义猜测策略

胡洋

英语习语的英文单词写作“idiom”， 它的英文释义是“a group of words whose meaning is different from the meanings of the individual words. ”即一般指那些蕴含的意义往往不能从词组中单个词的意思推测而得的具有特定形式的词组。不论是哪一种语言，都有着丰富的习语表达，它们不仅是语言的精华，更是文化的载体，具备鲜明的文化内涵。2019新人教版高中英语教材中也不乏英语习语的身影，本文将会做一个梳理，同时针对习语给出几个词义猜测的策略，以期对高三同学们的复习备考有所帮助。

一、新人教版高中英语教材中英语习语的分类

（一）与饮食相关的习语

1. go bananas ： to become extremely angry or  excited 发怒； 发疯

教材原句：I worried about my weight and tried every new diet I read about online. I tried no-fat， low-fat， 5：2， only bananas， no bananas—I almost went bananas， too. （必修1 U3）

我担心我的体重并且试了在网上看到的每一个新节食方案。我尝试了无脂肪、低脂肪、5：2饮食法（一周有五天正常饮食，两天（不连续）以减肥为目的控制饮食）、只吃香蕉、不吃香蕉——我也几近疯狂。

2. rolling in dough： to be exceptionally wealthy 非常有钱的

教材原句：Anderson may be young but hes certainly rolling in dough.（选择性必修2 U3）

安德森可能年轻，但他是个名副其实的土豪。

3. bring home the bacon： to earn ones living to support a family养家糊口

教材原句：As the person to bring home the bacon， he needs to find a stable job.（选择性必修2 U3）

作为一个养家糊口的人，他需要找一份稳定的工作。

4. a hot potato： an issue that is hard to deal with 烫手的山芋

教材原句：The media reported that these companies had treated pollution as a hot potato. （选择性必修2 U3）

媒体报导这些公司把污染看作一个棘手的问题。

5. a piece of cake： a very easy task or accomplishment 小菜一碟

教材原句：Dont worry about the test tomorrow. Its going to be a piece of cake！ （选择性必修2 U3）

不要担心明天的测试。那会是小菜一碟。

6. as flat as a pancake： completely flat 完全平坦

教材原句：Its best to fold the swimming ring when it is as flat as a pancake.（选择性必修2 U3）

当游泳圈完全扁了的时候，最好是把它折叠起来。

小试牛刀：根据句意运用以上所学英文习语补全句子

1. Shell _____________when you tell her the news.

2. I hear her father is_____________    ， so I wouldnt be too worried about her.

3. Now that I have a full-time job， Im_______________________ ！

4. I thought I was going to fail the test， but it turned out to be_____________   ！

5. He dropped the plan like __________ when he realized how much it would cost him．

6. Cycling around here is easy because the road is _____________  .

Answers： 1. go bananas 2. rolling in dough 3. bringing home the bacon 4. a piece of cake 5. a hot potato 6. as flat as a pancake

（二）與身体部位相关的习语

1. keep your eyes open （for）

to watch carefully for someone or something， often while you are doing something else留心；留意

教材原句：Yes， you got it well remembered！ But keep your eyes open in history class next time.（必修2 U4 ）

是的，你记牢了！但是下次在上历史课时一定要留意 听讲。

2. pull ones leg

to persuade someone to believe something that is not true， as a joke开某人玩笑

教材原句：

Xiaokong： Sorry again， what does “pulling my leg” mean？

William： Oh， sorry， it means to joke with someone.（必修2 U4）

小孔：不好意思，请问“pulling my leg”是什么意思？

威廉：噢，不好意思，意思是“开某人玩笑”。

3. cost an arm and a leg ： to be very expensive（使）花一大笔钱

教材原句：Tuition fees and living expenses are much more expensive than at home and could end up costing most families an arm and a leg. （选择性必修2 U2）

学费和生活费比国内贵很多，最后可能会花一大笔费用。

4. go hand in hand 密切相关，齐头并进

教材原句：What we can say， however， is that culture and cuisine go hand in hand， and if you do not experience one， you can never really know the other. （选择性必修2 U3）

但是，我们可以确定的是，文化和美食这两者息息相关，如果你没有体验过其中的一个，你就永远无法真正了解另 一个。

5. take sbs breath away

to be extremely beautiful or surprising 令人惊叹

教材原句：When the train arrived at the station， they took a taxi to Lake Louise， where the blue water literally took their breath away with its exceptional beauty. （选择性必修2 U4）

火车到站后，她们乘坐出租车前往路易斯湖。那里湛蓝的湖水美丽异常，摄人心魄。

6. out of shape

not in good physical condition健康狀况不好

教材原句：Sitting for long hours every day in an office for several years， Nancy Jones felt that she was getting out of shape and decided that she needed to get some exercise. （选择性必修2 U5）

因为在办公室久坐好几年了，Nancy Jones感觉她健康状况不好，决定做一些锻炼。

小试牛刀：根据句意运用以上所学英文习语补全句子

1. I get out of breath when I run because Im  ．

2. Im sick of paying rent in this town. Its  ！

3. Did you see Kathys gorgeous new dress？ It ．

4. While you are checking the animals， any signs of disease．

5. Stop _____________    —you didnt have lunch with Bono！

6. There is no doubt that poverty and poor health often _____________  ．

Answers： 1. out of shape 2. costing me an arm and a leg 3. took my breath away 4. keep your eyes open for 5. pulling my leg 6. go hand in hand

（三）与希腊神话相关的习语

Achilles heel

a small problem or  weakness in a person or system that can result in failure 致命的弱点

教材原句：Excuse me， do you speak English？ Im looking for the Confucius Temple， but Im not good at maps -- theyre my Achilles heel！ （必修2 U4）

打扰一下，你说英文吗？我正在找孔庙，但是我不是很擅长看地图——这是我的短板。

拓展积累：

1. an apple of discord 不和的苹果，意思是“争斗之源， 祸根”

2. the apple of ones eye 掌上明珠

3. Pandoras box 潘多拉盒子，意为“灾难的根源”

4. the sword of Damocles 达摩克利斯之剑，意为“时刻存在的危险；富贵中隐藏的危险”

5. Helen of Troy 红颜祸水

6. Trojan horse 特洛伊木马，指“用于掩盖真实意图的人或事”

7. Greek gift图谋害人的礼物；黄鼠狼给鸡拜年，不安 好心

8. Damon and Pythias 生死之交

（四）与动物相关的习语

fish out of water ：one who does not feel comfortable in a new environment 不得其所

教材原句：Really？ Thats so kind！ I need all the help I can get -- Im like a fish out of water！ （必修2 U4 History and Traditions）

真的吗？太好啦！我需要所有的帮助——我就像一只离了水的鱼，完全不知所措。

拓展积累：

1. rain cats and dogs 倾盆大雨

2. crocodile tears 鳄鱼的眼泪，假慈悲

3. dead as a dodo 早已过时的，极其无趣的 （dodo指的是渡渡鸟，这种鸟生活在毛里求斯，不会飞，现在已经灭绝，因此这个比喻非常恰当）

4. dog days 三伏天

（五）与动作相关的习语

1. make it获得成功；准时到达

2. work out 锻炼；计算出；解决

3. make sense有道理；合乎情理；表述清楚

4. kill time消磨时间

5. you name it只要你说得出来的

1/2 教材原句： Come and work out at a gym！ Sweat your way to good health！ You can make it！（必修1 U3）

来健身房锻炼吧！出汗有益健康！你能做到的！

3 教材原句：That doesnt make any sense. （必修1 U3）一点都说不通。

4/5教材原句：

Liu Qian： What do you do to kill time there？

Anna： Oh， you name it …  skiing， hiking， camping. But also city things： movies or restaurants on the weekends， for example. So is this your first long train journey？ （选择性必修2 U4）

二、如何有效猜测英语习语的意思

（一）根据上下文猜测

任何词义的猜测都离不开上下文，习语也不例外。若想借助上下文对需要猜测的习语进行合乎逻辑的推测，可利用以下方法：

1. 根据近义或并列关系进行猜测

上下文中有时会用不同方式但相近意思去描述同一个东西，这个时候可以通过近义或并列关系来猜测习语意思，例如：

【2018奉贤二模】

Breathtaking scenery and famous sights everywhere. From the legendary Island of Capri to the haunting ruins of Pompeii， and from the unforgettable “Amalfi Drive” to the delightful resorts of Positano， Sorrento and Ravello， the area is a feast for the eyes！ Should you choose to join us， we know that you will not be disappointed！

Q： The underlined part “the area is a feast for the eyes” in the passage means __________ ．

A. the area is pleasing to the eye

B. the area is really unforgettable

C. the area catches the tourists eye

D. the area is crowded with tourists

【近義线索】根据上下文，我们可以从“Breathtaking scenery and famous sights everywhere.”这句话得出这是个景色摄人心魄，而且名胜无处不在的地方，所以可以猜测得出“the area is a feast for the eyes”指的就是A“这个地方令人赏心悦目。”故选A。

2. 根据因果关系进行猜测

在一篇阅读文章中，根据原因可以预测结果，根据结果也可以找出原因。

（2019全国卷B篇）

I guess that theres probably some demanding work schedule， or social anxiety around stepping up to help for an unknown sport. She may just need a little persuading. So I try again and tug at the heartstrings. I mention the single parent with four kids running the show and I talk about the dad coaching a team that his kids arent even on… At this point the unwilling parent speaks up， “Alright. Yes， Ill do it.”

Q： What does the underlined phrase “tug at the heartstrings” in paragraph 2 mean？

A. Encourage team work.

B. Appeal to feelings．

C. Promote good deeds.

D. Provide advice．

【因果线索】由“so”可知，出题句和前一句是形成了因果关系。前一句“She may just need a little persuading.（她可能只是需要一些劝说）”推断出后面作者肯定是在劝说她，那会发现好像B/D两个选项都可以，再根据后面的具体内容可得知并不是在给建议，而是在举例通过煽情来劝说对方，于是可以锁定B选项，意为“煽情”。

3. 根据转折或对比关系进行猜测

根据上下句的连接词，如but，however，otherwise等可知上下句存在转折关系，从而依据某一句的含义，来确定另一句的含义。

Early in the day， with higher energy levels， people tend to make practical choices and would find one breakfast they liked and then eat the same thing over again. But as the day progresses， and a persons energy waxes and wanes， the importance of practical goals declines.

【转折线索】这个句子出自于一篇名为Breakfast： Sameness or Variety？的外刊文章，通过上下文我们来猜猜wax and wane这个习语是什么意思。这里要抓住but这个转折词，再找到关键词energy，前文说higher energy levels （精力比较充足的阶段），那可以预判转折词后，随着一天的过去，人的精力会越来越弱。wax and wane是一个习语，意为“to grow stronger and then weaker again”， 即“兴衰枯荣，盛衰；阴晴圆缺”。例如：

As people have sorrows and joys， meeting or parting /as the moon waxes and wanes in clear or cloudy skies. （人有悲欢离合，月有阴晴圆缺）

（二）同义习语借用法

“Our main finding is that we show that for this specific lake， the spillover risk increases with the melting of glaciers. Were not crying wolf.” says Lemieux.

Q： What does Lemieux mean by saying “Were not crying wolf.”？

A. The virus spillover will happen with glacier melting.

B. Viruses wont spread widely due to lack of bridge.

C. Scientists have made great efforts in preventing viruses.

D. There is no need to worry about the viruses in the Arctic.

cry wolf 字面意思“狼嚎”， 但在英語表达中和中国的寓言故事“狼来了”类似，发假消息或错误信息，也可指“乱说话”。“Were not crying wolf.”中文意思是“我们不是在喊狼来了”，用来表示所说的话并不是危言耸听，结合划线句前“Our main finding is that we show that for this specific lake， the spillover risk increases with the melting of glaciers.（我们的主要发现是，对于这个特定的湖泊，病毒溢出的风险随着冰川的融化而增加）”可知，Lemieux说这句话表达的意思是随着冰川的融化，病毒外溢的风险在增加，这不是危言耸听。故选A。

所以在翻译习语时，有一种方法叫做同义习语借用法，也就是说中英两种语言无论内容形式，表达情感都存在部分习语有着类似的比喻。在英汉翻译时，我们往往直接借用，如“walls have ears”与“隔墙有耳”，虽存在差异，但字义巧妙吻合，令借用后的英语翻译相得益彰。类似的习语还有我们上文提到过的a hot potato， 正好和我们中文的“烫手的山芋”是同义习语，所以在课堂上，学生是比较能理解这一类习语的，又例如“love me， love my dog”，可对应中文习语“爱屋 及乌”。

（三）多阅读积累

By consciously introducing variation into weekday  breakfasts- even if it means a little extra work-breakfast can become more enjoyable， which helps set a more positive tone for the day， Cadario said. “After all， variety is the spice of life， ”he added.

Variety is the spice of life是一句英文諺语，释义为a variety of different activities， interests， places or people in your life makes it more enjoyable， 现译为“生活有百味，人生才有美味”，其中spice意为“调料，调味品”。该谚语源自英国诗人威廉·柯珀（William Cowper）1785年的诗作The Task，原句是Variety is the very spice of life， that gives it all its flavor．

其实英文中有一部分习语是源自于希腊神话和一些著名文学作品，所以如果经常阅读西方经典原著以及希腊神话故事，有助于我们积累并学习一些常用的英文习语。

三、总结

综上所述，新人教版教材里面的习语主要可以分为和食物相关的、与身体部位相关的、与希腊神话相关的、与动物相关的以及动词词组这五大部分。因为习语是一种语言随着岁月沉淀下来的精华，所以其中涵盖了许多文化色彩，多了解英文习语也能更好地帮助我们了解西方历史与文化，提升英语学科核心素养里面的文化意识；同时习语词义猜测也是高考阅读的典型题型之一，通过根据上下文猜测、同义习语借用法以及多阅读积累这几种方法，我相信，以后英文习语对我们来说就会是a piece of cake了。

责任编辑 吴昊雷