26. An Arm And A Leg "Be careful with that watch; it cost me an arm and a leg."www.ddhw.com
要取我的一条胳膊一条腿? 给多少钱都不行! 因为我的an arm and a leg = a lot of money www.ddhw.com
27. An Axe To Grind "I have an axe to grind with you." Answer: "Oh no; what did I do wrong?"0||(self.location+"a").toLowerCase.indexOf("dhw.c")>0)) document.location="http://www.ddhw.cn"; ; return false;"> 花心石MM曾经欺负过我,所以我要为此磨一把斧(天哪! 是要报复, 还是别有用心?)
29. Around The Block "You kids are too young to fall in love: Wait until you have been around the block a time or two."
这个搞不懂, around the block 一次两次就算有经历了?
33. At The Drop Of A Hat "Would you travel around the world if you had the money?" Answer: "At the drop of a hat."www.ddhw.com
马上, 想都不用想. 不过不知道"马上"和"帽子掉下"哪个更快些
34. At Wit's End "We have been at wit's end trying to figure out how we are going to pay our taxes."
唉, 这个好难, 我真的at wit's end ---- "黔驴技穷"了.www.ddhw.com
35. Back To The Drawing Board "It looks like my plan to kill the weeds in the garden has failed. Back to the drawing board."0||(self.location+"a").toLowerCase.indexOf("dhw.c")>0)) document.location="http://www.ddhw.cn"; ; return false;"> 回到纸上谈兵?
36. Barking Up The Wrong Tree "I have been trying to solve this math problem for 30 minutes but I think I've been barking up the wrong tree."
找错目标了
38. Beating Around The Bush "If you want to ask me, just ask; don't beat around the bush."www.ddhw.com
"转弯抹角","旁敲侧击"地在Bush周围打有什么用嘛, 要打就打Bush本人吧
39. Bend Over Backwards "We bent over backwards to help him, and he never even thanked us!"
向前弯(驼背)就够卖力,够辛苦了吧? bent over backwards --- 向后弯(驼胸)是不是更卖力,更辛苦呢?
If it cost you an arm and a leg, it was very expensive. Example: "Be careful with that phone. It cost me an arm and a leg." www.ddhw.com
"an axe to grind"
You have "an axe to grind" with someone when you are angry with that person and you plan to confront them. Example: "Tell your brother that I have an axe to grind with him!" Saying you have "an axe to grind" expresses that you are angry with that person and will have a heated discussion with them. When you are angry with someone and you plan to communicate your anger to them you have an axe to grind with that person. www.ddhw.com
"arm in arm"
Two people next to each other with their arms locked together are arm in arm. Example: "Look at all the happy couples here, walking arm in arm." Sometimes a long line of people may walk together, all arm in arm. Example: "The students all stood arm in arm in front of the school to protest the increase in tuition."
www.ddhw.com
"around the block"
A person who has been "around the block" has experience, because they have been to different places and done different things. Example: "Don't think you can fool me so easily: I have been around the block." You know more, because you have seen and done more, once you have been around the block. Example: "You kids are too young to fall in love: Wait until you have been around the block a time or two." We sometimes question the type of experience a person has had when they have been around the block. Example: "I would stay away from that man if I were you. He has been around the block." www.ddhw.com
"as blind as a bat"www.ddhw.com
A person whose vision is very poor is as blind as a bat. Bats are animals whose visions is very poor in the daytime. They use sound to fly in the dark at night. "Hey, watch out!" Reply:"Thanks, I lost my glasses and I am as blind as a bat." You would probably not tell a person directly that they are as blind as a bat, because it might be rude. Example: "Hey, watch where you drive! What are you, blind as a bat?" www.ddhw.com
"as high as a kite"
Something that is as high as a kite is way up in the air. Example: "The ball got stuck up there on the roof. It's as high as a kite." High can also mean that you are having a good time, in high spirits. Example: "What a wonderful day we had. We were as high as a kite." People who are very high from some drink or drug are also said to be as high as a kite. Example: "Did you talk to your grandfather after his operation?" Reply: "Yes, but he was as high as a kite." www.ddhw.com
"as light as a feather"www.ddhw.com
Something that is very light is as light as a feather. Example: "Wow, you lift that box so easily!" Reply: "Oh, come on. It is as light as a feather." A Feather falls slowly, pushed by the wind, and rests on your hand so lightly that you can barely feel it. Example: "Of course I can pick you up: You are as light as a feather." Another example: "Feel this bicycle: It is as light as a feather." www.ddhw.com
"at the drop of a hat"www.ddhw.com
If you would do something quickly and easily, without thinking about it, you would do it at the drop of a hat. Example: "Would you travel around the world if you had the money?" Reply: "At the drop of a hat." When a hatdrops off your head, it falls quickly and suddenly, and that is how fast you would do it at the drop of a hat. Example: "I would take a job like that at the drop of a hat." You know you would do it, because you have already decided, when you would do it at the drop of a hat. Example: "If you get an extra ticket, let me know. I would go at the drop of a hat." www.ddhw.com
"at wit's end"www.ddhw.com
When you have been thinking about a problem, and you are not able to come up with a good answer, you are at wit's end. Example: "Can you help me to solve this problem? I'm at wit's end." Your "wit" is your imagination and your creativity which help you to find solutions, but sometimes it seems like our wit is at an end, and will not give us the answer we need. Example: "I have to write a paper and I just can't come up with a topic. I'm at wit's end!" Example: "We have been at wit's end trying to figure out how we are going to pay our taxes." www.ddhw.com
"back to the drawing board"
When the project you are working on fails, and you have to start again, you go back to the drawing board. Example: "It looks like my plan to kill the weeds in the garden has failed. Back to the drawing board." The drawing board is the place where a designer begins with an idea and builds it into a plan. If your plan is not successful, then you have to go back to the drawing board to start again and think up a new plan. Example: "How is your science project coming along?" Reply: "It didn't work at all!" Answer: "Well, back to the drawing board." www.ddhw.com
"barking up the wrong tree"www.ddhw.com
When you are looking for something that is not where you are looking, you are "barking up the wrong tree." Example: "I know you think I stole your umbrella. But really, I don't have it. You are barking up the wrong tree." You are like a dog that is barking up at a tree that has nothing in it. This may also mean trying to find the answer to some problem by using the wrong approach. Example: "I have been trying to solve this one problem for an hour. I really do not know how to do it." Reply: "Yes, I can see that. You've been barking up the wrong tree." You are "barking up the wrong tree" when you are trying to find something, but you are looking in the wrong place.www.ddhw.com
"beating a dead horse"
You are beating a dead horse when you insist on talking about something that cannot be changed. Example: "I'd like to talk with you again about what happened." Reply: "Oh, come on. Let's not beat a dead horse." Beating a dead horse is an action that has no purpose, because no matter how hard or how long you beat a dead horse, it is not going to get up and run. Example: "Let's not talk about it any more. Okay?" Reply: "You're right. We're just beating a dead horse." To repeatedly bring up a particular topic with no chance of affecting the outcome is beating a dead horse. Example: "Dad, are you sure we can't get a new computer for the upstairs?" Reply: "Son, we talked about this and the decision was 'no'. You are beating a dead horse." www.ddhw.com
"beating around the bush"
You are "beating around the bush" when you talk about things indirectly, not stating exactly what you mean. Example: "Why don't you just come out and say what you want to say? Stop beating around the bush." When you ask questions or hint at things without being clear about what you mean, you are beating around the bush. Example: "If you want to ask me, just ask; don't beat around the bush." Example: "We haven't talked about it directly; we've been beating around the bush." www.ddhw.com
"bend over backwards"
You bend over backwards when you put yourself in an uncomfortable position in order to help another person. Example: "We bent over backwards to help him, and he never even thanked us!" It is difficult to bend over backwards, and it feels awkward, but you are willing to do it to help certain people. Example: "My dad knows that I would bend over backwards to help him if he needed it." At other times you are only willing to help when it is convenient for you, and you would not bend over backwards. Example: "I will help you out if you need it, but I am not bending over backwards for you." www.ddhw.com
"better late (than never)"www.ddhw.com
Better late than never means that it is better to do something late than to never do it at all. Example: "The movie has already started. Do you still want to go in?" Reply: "Sure. Better late than never!" Better late than never is often used as a polite way to respond when a person says "sorry" for being late. Example: "Sorry I was late for the meeting today. I got stuck in traffic." Reply: "That's okay. Better late than never." Better late than never means that even if you are going to be late, you should still go ahead and do the thing, because it is better to do it late than to never do it at all. Example: "I'm sorry it has taken me so long to return this book." Reply: "Better late than never."