Useful Idioms

　　1. to have(many) irons in the fire： to have a lot of activities going on at the same time(同時有許多事，想馬上全部做完，但又不知從何開始，似乎忙得不可開交)

　　Don't bother him because he has many irons in the fire. (別打擾他，他事情太多，忙得很！)

　　Some people even like to have many irons in the fire. (有些人喜歡有很多事忙忙碌碌。)

　　2. to talk over (one's) head(s)： to use large or big words so that audience will not understand exact meaning(指所談論的內容過於專業或高深，非一般人可以理解；也指有人為了表現自己才學非凡，故意談些高深理論或用些難字，嚇唬別人)

　　Dr. Lee's lecture was so specialized that he almost talked over our heads. (李博士的演講太專業了，幾乎使我們無法理解。)

　　In order to show his profound knowledge he talks over my head. (為了表現他的學問高深，他故弄玄虛。)

　　3. to put (something) back into (in) its cage： to put something under control (可以控製某件事情，多半指政治、健康等)

　　We are trying to put inflation back into its cage and our economy is on the mend. (我們正在設法控製通貨膨脹，同時改善我們得經濟。)

　　Diplomats and politicians need to put aggression and hostility back into its cage. (外交官和政客應該收斂攻擊和敵對的行為。)

　　4. to keep (one's) fingers crossed： to hope something good will happen (祝福某人好運或一切順利。把食指與中指交叉，祈求好運，是老外的迷信，但在寫信或正式場合，多半是用“I wish you best (good) luck！”或“Good (best) luck to you！”)

　　He keeps his fingers crossed hoping his father will send him more money. (他盼望有好運，老爸能多寄點錢給他。)

　　Many people have been keeping their fingers crossed that we can live in a peaceful world. (許多人都在祈求好運，盼能在和平的世界裏生活。)

　　5. to stretch (one's) legs： to relax or to take a short break (久坐後，把腿舒展一下，或稍微休息一下)

　　Let's take ten minutes to stretch our legs.(讓我們先休息十分鍾。)

　　May I take a break so that I can stretch my legs？(我可以休息一會兒伸伸腿嗎？)

　　During the a long flight from the US to Taiwan， I normally stretch my legs every two hours. (在從美國到台灣的長途飛行中，我通常每兩個小時起身走走。)

　　6. to read between the lines：to interpret the hidden meaning or a hidden message； to discern the true fact (從字裏行間體會隱含的意義；領會言外之意或能了解其中的真正意義)

　　As you look at this poem， be sure to read between the lines. (讀這首詩的時候，要從字裏行間去體會它的含義。)

　　After he re-read the love letter between the lines， he realized that he was dumped by his sweetheart. (重讀情書之後，他終於明白他已經被情人拋棄了。)

　　7. to let off steam：to give vent to one's anger(發泄、出氣，像放掉蒸汽以減少壓力似的。這與“to fly off the handle”意思相近，但比“to lose temper”委婉客氣些)

　　What will you do if your wife lets off steam？(假如你太太大發脾氣的話，你該怎麽辦呢？) (因為談論的對象使對方的太太，所以語氣要委婉客氣些)。

　　但是談到第三者，就可不必太委婉，可用lose temper：What will you do if one of your staff lose temper？(如果你的同事衝你發脾氣你該怎麽辦呢？)

　　Occasionally we should be given a chance to let off steam.(我們應該不時的發泄一下情緒。)

　　8. to pay through the nose： to pay too much for something or excessively expensive(花費太多，代價過高，與“ to cost an arm and a leg”意義相近)

　　Don't pay through the nose when you buy the furniture. (不要花太多的錢買家具。)

　　Some women paid through the noses for their jewelry. (有些女人花大把的錢購買珠寶首飾。)

　　9. to take center stage：to be in the spotlight (引人注目的中心人物；以某人為公眾矚目的對象)

　　Mrs. Lin always takes center stage at a party. (林太太總能成為宴會上的焦點。)

　　President Bush takes center stage wherever he goes. (布什總統不論走到哪裏，都是公眾矚目的焦點。)

　　His constant taking center stage could deprive him of his privacy. (他好出風頭的毛病讓他毫無隱私可言。)

　　10. to drag(one's)feet：to procrastinate or postpone(慢慢的拖延，行動遲緩，拖拖拉拉)

　　It is not a good idea to drag your feet when the work needs to be done. (拖延工作是不好的。)

　　No employers like for their employees to drag their feet on any project. (工作拖拖拉拉的員工總是不受歡迎的。)

　　11. to paint(someone or oneself)into a corner：to trap oneself or someone； to be in trouble(使自己或某人陷入困境，應該注意的是即使主語是複數形式，corner仍然用單數)

　　Don't try to paint yourself into a corner. (不要讓自己身陷困境，無法脫身。)

　　After a heated debate with his boss， Mr. Chen has painted himself into a corner. (和老板激烈的爭辯之後，陳先生處境十分不妙。)

　　12. to ask (someone) for (one's) hand： to ask girl's parents for marriage approval(指男人請求女方家長應允將女兒嫁給他，這裏的“someone”是指女方的家長，“one”則是指要求婚的對象，hand隻能用單數形式)

　　Mr. Su asked me for my daughter's hand. (蘇先生到我家來向我女兒提親。)

　　He has asked her parents for their daughter's hand. (他請求她的父母應允他們的婚事。)

　　13. to move onward and upward：to be promoted； from good to better situation(情況得以改善，或往更好的情況發展)

　　He hopes to move onward and upward with his current company. (他希望能在現在就職的公司裏順利發展，步步高升。)

　　Many young couples try to move onward and upward during their marriage. (許多年輕夫婦都希望能夠婚姻美滿幸福。)

　　14. to call a spade a spade： to be honest， blunt or frank(直言不諱，有啥說啥)

　　My wife always calls a spade a spade about her work situation. (我妻子對別人談起她的工作時，總是直言不諱。)

　　Calling a spade a spade on foreign affairs sometimes seems difficult for diplomats. (外交官在處理外交事務的時候很難做到直言不諱。)

　　15. to play cat and mouse：to play games with aggressive and passive attitude(玩貓戲老鼠的把戲，欲擒故縱)

　　In business negotiations， there are always cat-and-mouse games. (在商業談判中，常會有一些貓戲老鼠的把戲。)

　　The police have played cat and mouse with the murderer. (警察對凶犯采用的是欲擒故縱的策略。)

　　16. to go on the dole：(of the unemployed) to live on public welfare(失業人員依靠政府救濟金生活。)

　　Thousands of Americans are out of jobs and may go on the dole. (美國成千上萬的失業者靠領取政局救濟金生活。)

　　Some people have gone on the dole for years. (有些人多年來就是靠政府救濟生活的。)

　　17. to be in the hot seat：to be under lots of pressure or in a difficult position(處於困境，麵對很多壓力)

　　He has resigned from his job because he has been in the hot seat for years. (由於不堪多年的工作壓力，他終於辭職了。)

　　When testifies before Congress， he will be in the hot seat. (在國會作證的時候，他將麵臨巨大的壓力。)

　　18. to make waves：to make trouble(惹是生非，與“rock the boat”意思相近)

　　Many politicians like to make waves in order to be kept in the media. (許多政客為了能在媒體上路臉兒而不惜嘩眾取寵。)

　　Teenagers tend to make waves with their parents and teachers. (一些青少年總是會給父母和老師惹麻煩。)

　　19. to keep (one's) nose clean：to keep away from trouble(遠離是非，少惹麻煩)

　　The newly released inmates are trying to keep their noses clean. (剛剛獲釋的犯人總是盡量少惹是非。)

　　A law-abiding person needs to keep his (her) nose clean. (奉公守法的人應該避免製造麻煩。)

　　20. to drive (someone) up the wall：to annoy or upset someone(惹人生氣或者不高興)

　　The boy is driving his mother up the wall because of his ill behavior. (這個不聽話的孩子讓他媽媽大為頭痛。)

　　If you ask too many questions， you may drive your boss up the wall. (假如你的問題太多也會讓你的老板很反感。)

　　21. to write(someone or something)off：to throw away or to discard(拋棄或者丟棄)；to deduct a business loss(在經商失敗時，也用於報銷、注銷或扣除損失的數額中)

　　After a hot argument， she wrote off her boyfriend. (她和男朋友大吵了一架之後，就把他甩了。)

　　He will write off the charitable contributions from his income taxes. (他從所得稅中扣除了慈善募捐的金額。)

　　22. to take up with (someone)：to date someone or to fall in love with someone(對某人產生興趣，或與某人開始親密交往)

　　After he met her at the ba r， he took up with her. (自從在酒吧見過一麵之後，他對她產生了興趣。)

　　As she is such a pretty woman， many men would like to take up with her. (像她這麽漂亮的女人，許多男人都對她有興趣。)

　　24. to pave the way to (or for)：to make the path or to lay a groundwork of something(為……鋪平道路或為……做好準備)

　　A good education will pave the way to finding a decent job.(好的教育是好的工作的基礎。)

　　Early space exploration has paved the way for the current space station.(早期的太空探索為如今的太空站建設奠定了基礎。)

　　25. to paint the town red：to enjoy oneself； to have a good time(盡情享受)

　　He is going out tonight to paint the town red.(他今天晚上要玩個痛快。)

　　Miss Chen really painted the town red last week with her friends.(陳小姐上周和朋友玩得很盡興。)

 

寫作必備35句

一、~~~ the + ~ est + 名詞 + (that) + 主詞 + have ever + seen ( known/heard/had/read, etc)
~~~ the most + 形容詞 + 名詞 + (that) + 主詞 + have ever + seen ( known/heard/had/read, etc) 例句：Helen is the most beautiful girl that I have ever seen.
海倫是我所看過最美麗的女孩。
Mr. Chang is the kindest teacher that I have ever had.
張老師是我曾經遇到最仁慈的教師。

二、Nothing is + ~~~ er than to + V Nothing is + more + 形容詞 + than to + V
例句：Nothing is more important than to receive education.
沒有比接受教育更重要的事。

三、~~~ cannot emphasize the importance of ~~~ too much.（再怎麽強調...的重要性也不為過。）
 例句：We cannot emphasize the importance of protecting our eyes too much.
我們再怎麽強調保護眼睛的重要性也不為過。

四、There is no denying that + S + V ...（不可否認的...）
例句：There is no denying that the qualities of our living have gone from bad to worse.
不可否認的，我們的生活品質已經每況愈下。

五、It is universally acknowledged that + 句子~~ （全世界都知道...）
例句：It is universally acknowledged that trees are indispensable to us.
全世界都知道樹木對我們是不可或缺的。

六、There is no doubt that + 句子~~ （毫無疑問的...）
例句：There is no doubt that our educational system leaves something to be desired.
毫無疑問的我們的教育製度令人不滿意。

七、An advantage of ~~~ is that + 句子 （...的優點是...）
例句：An advantage of using the solar energy is that it won't create (produce) any pollution.
使用太陽能的優點是它不會製造任何汙染。

八、The reason why + 句子 ~~~ is that + 句子 （...的原因是...）
例句：The reason why we have to grow trees is that they can provide us with fresh air./ The reason why we have to grow trees is that they can supply fresh air for us.
我們必須種樹的原因是它們能供應我們新鮮的空氣。

九、So + 形容詞 + be + 主詞 + that + 句子 （如此...以致於...）
例句：So precious is time that we can't afford to waste it. 時間是如此珍貴，我們經不起浪費它。

十、Adj + as + Subject（主詞）+ be, S + V~~~ （雖然...）
例句：Rich as our country is, the qualities of our living are by no means satisfactory. {by no means = in no way = on no account 一點也不}
雖然我們的國家富有，我們的生活品質絕對令人不滿意。

十一、The　+　~er　+　S　+　V,　~~~　the　+　~er　+　S　+　V　~~~　
The　+　more　+　Adj　+　S　+　V,　~~~　the　+　more　+　Adj　+　S　+　V　~~~（愈...愈...）　
例句：The　harder　you　work,　the　more　progress　you　make.　
你愈努力，你愈進步。　
The　more　books　we　read,　the　more　learned　we　become.　
我們書讀愈多，我們愈有學問。　

十二、By　+Ving,　~~　can　~~　（借著...，..能夠..）　
例句：By　taking　exercise,　we　can　always　stay　healthy.　
借著做運動，我們能夠始終保持健康。　

十三、~~~　enable　+　Object（受詞）+　to　+　V　（..使..能夠..）　
例句：Listening　to　music　enable　us　to　feel　relaxed.　
聽音樂使我們能夠感覺輕鬆。　

十四、On　no　account　can　we　　+　V　~~~　（我們絕對不能...）　
例句：On　no　account　can　we　ignore　the　value　of　knowledge.　
我們絕對不能忽略知識的價值。　

十五、It　is　time　+　S　+　過去式　（該是...的時候了）　
例句：It　is　time　the　authorities　concerned　took　proper　steps　to　solve　the　traffic　problems.　
該是有關當局采取適當的措施來解決交通問題的時候了。　

十六、Those　who　~~~　（...的人...）　
例句：Those　who　violate　traffic　regulations　should　be　punished.　
違反交通規定的人應該受處罰。　

十七、There　is　no　one　but　~~~　（沒有人不...）　
例句：There　is　no　one　but　longs　to　go　to　college.　
沒有人不渴望上大學。　

十八、be　+　forced/compelled/obliged　+　to　+　V　（不得不...）　
例句：Since　the　examination　is　around　the　corner,　I　am　compelled　to　give　up　doing　sports.　
既然考試迫在眉睫，我不得不放棄做運動。　

十九、It is　conceivable　that　+　句子　（可想而知的）　
It　is　obvious　that　+　句子　（明顯的）　
It　is　apparent　that　+　句子　（顯然的）　
例句：It　is　conceivable　that　knowledge　plays　an　important　role　in　our　life.　
可想而知，知識在我們的一生中扮演一個重要的角色。　

二十、That　is　the　reason　why　~~~　（那就是...的原因）　
例句：Summer　is　sultry.　That　is　the　reason　why　I　don't　like　it.　
夏天很燠熱。那就是我不喜歡它的原因。　

二十一、For　the　past　　+　時間，S　+　現在完成式...（過去...年來，...一直...）　
例句：For　the　past　two　years,　I　have　been　busy　preparing　for　the　examination.　
過去兩年來，我一直忙著準備考試。　

二十二、Since　+　S　+　過去式，S　+　現在完成式。　
例句：Since　he　went　to　senior　high　school,　he　has　worked　very　hard.　
自從他上高中，他一直很用功。

二十三、It　pays　to　+　V　~~~　（...是值得的。）　
例句：It　pays　to　help　others.　
幫助別人是值得的。　

二十四、be　based　on　（以...為基礎）　
例句：The　progress　of　thee　society　is　based　on　harmony.　
社會的進步是以和諧為基礎的。　

二十五、Spare　no　effort　to　+　V　（不遺餘力的）　
例句：We　should　spare　no　effort　to　beautify　our　environment.　
我們應該不遺餘力的美化我們的環境。　

二十六、bring　home　to　+　人　+　事　（讓...明白...事）　
例句：We　should　bring　home　to　people　the　value　of　working　hard.　
我們應該讓人們明白努力的價值。　

二十七、be　closely　related　to　~~　（與...息息相關）　
例句：Taking　exercise　is　closely　related　to　health.　
做運動與健康息息相關。　

二十八、Get　into　the　habit　of　+　Ving　
=　make　it　a　rule　to　+　V　（養成...的習慣）　
We　should　get　into　the　habit　of　keeping　good　hours.　
我們應該養成早睡早起的習慣。　

二十九、Due　to/Owing　to/Thanks　to　+　N/Ving,　~~~　（因為...）　
例句：Thanks　to　his　encouragement,　I　finally　realized　my　dream.　
因為他的鼓勵，我終於實現我的夢想。　

三十、What　a　+　Adj　+　N　+　S　+　V!
=　How　+　Adj　+　a　+　N　+　V!（多麽...！）　
例句：What　an　important　thing　it　is　to　keep　our　promise!　
How　important　a　thing　it　is　to　keep　our　promise!　
遵守諾言是多麽重要的事！　

三十一、Leave　much　to　be　desired　（令人不滿意）　
例句：The　condition　of　our　traffic　leaves　much　to　be　desired.　
我們的交通狀況令人不滿意。　

三十二、Have　a　great　influence　on　~~~　（對...有很大的影響）　
例句：Smoking　has　a　great　influence　on　our　health.　
抽煙對我們的健康有很大的影響。　

三十三、do　good　to　（對...有益），do　harm　to　（對...有害）　
例句：Reading　does　good　to　our　mind.讀書對心靈有益。　
Overwork　does　harm　to　health.工作過度對健康有害。　

三十四、Pose　a　great　threat　to　~~　（對...造成一大威脅）　
例句：Pollution　poses　a　great　threat　to　our　existence.　
汙染對我們的生存造成一大威脅。　

三十五、do　one's　utmost　to　+　V　=　do　one's　best　（盡全力去...）　
例句：We　should　do　our　utmost　to　achieve　our　goal　in　life.　
我們應盡全力去達成我們的人生目標。