Idioms

Idioms Lecture 9

At sixes and sevens • On the day before wedding, the whole house was at sixes and sevens.

At the eleventh hour • The child was saved from the kidnappers at the eleventh hour.

Bark up the wrong tree • 认错目标，错怪了人 • They were looking for a tall thin man, but were barking up the wrong tree; the thief was short and fat.

Be on the carpet • 挨骂，受申斥 • His boss had had him on the carpet for arriving late at work.

Beat about the bush • 旁敲侧击，拐弯抹角 • If you’d got bad news, don’t beat about the bush; come straight to the point.

Behind the eight ball • 受挫，处境不妙 • Not having a car puts Bill behind the eight ball; he cannot get to work.

Between the devil and the deep blue sea • 进退两难 • I was between the devil and the deep blue sea and didn’t know what to do next.

Bite (on) the bullet • 咬紧牙关，顶住 • Bite on the bullet, old man, and don’t let them think you are afraid.

Blow hot and cold • 摇摆不定，反复无常 • He blows hot and cold on the plan so that I don’t know whether he will eventually help us or not.

Can not hold a candle to someone • 远不如某人 • Marina can’t hold a candle to her mother as far as cooking is concerned.

Carry/take coals to Newcastle • 多此一举 • Taking her flowers is taking coals to Newcastle.

Cook someone’s goose • 挫败某人的计划 • He knew his goose was cooked when he read the story.

Cool one’s heels • 久等 • I had to kick my heels for nearly two hours before I could see the boss.

The die is cast • 事已定局，木已成舟 • I’m not sure that I want to leave the job after all but the die is cast – I’ve handed in my resignation.

Draw/pull in one’s horns • 退缩，节制 • He said he could beat any man there single-handed, but he pulled in his horns when Tom came forward.

Eat humble pie • 忍辱含垢，认错道歉 • I proved that he had cheated me and made him eat humble pie.

Face the music • 面对麻烦，接受处罚 • Mary broke a dining-room window and had to face the music when her father got home.

Follow one’s nose • 凭直觉行事 • Oh, I don’t know just where I want to go. I’ll just follow my nose and see what happens.

Get cold feet • 畏缩，害怕 • After weeks of preparations he suddenly got cold feet on the day of departure.