英語學習俚語和諺語

  

1.After meat, mustard; after death, doctor .
　　雨後送傘  

Explanation: this describes a situation where assistance or comfort is given when it is too late.  

Example: just as I had cancelled my application to go abroad, I had a promise of money for my fare. It was a case of fter death, the doctor.  

2. After praising the wine they sell us vinegar.
　掛羊頭賣狗肉  

Explanation: to offer to give or sell something that is inferior to what you claim it to be.  

Example: that fellow completely misled us about what he was capable of doing. After praising the wine, he sold us vinegar.  

3. All is over but the shouting.
　　大勢已去  

Explanation: finally decided or won; brought to the end; not able to be changed.  

Example: after Bill’s touch down, the game is all over but shouting.  

4. All lay load on the willing horse.  
　　人善被人欺，馬善被人騎  

Explanation: a willing horse is someone who is always doing things for others. Very often the implication is that others impose on him.  

Examples: the trouble is you‘re too good-natured and people take advantage of it. all lay load on the willing horse. You will have to learn to refuse people who ask too much.  

5.anger and haste hinder good counsel.
　　小不忍則亂大謀  

Explanation: one can not act wisely when one is angry or in a hurry.  

Example: you should calm down before you decide the next move. Anger and haste hinder good counsel.  

6. As poor as a church mouse  
　　一貧如洗  

Explanation: to be exceedingly poor, having barely to live upon.  

Example: he has a large family, and is poor as a church mouse.  

Note: a church is one of the few buildings that contain no food.  
 
7. A word spoken is past recalling.
　　一言既出，駟馬難追  

Explanation: the harm done by a careless word can not easily undo.  

Example: for the rest of his life he regretted what he had said, but a word spoken is past recalling and he knew he could never repair the damage of that moment of harshness.  


8. World is but a little place, after all.  
　　天涯原咫尺，到處可逢君  

Explanation: it is used when a person meets someone he knows or is in someway connected with him in a place where he would never have expected to do so.

Example: Who would have thought I would bump into an old schoolmate on a trek up Mount Tai. The world is but a little place after all.  

9. When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
　　入鄉隨俗  

Explanation: conform to the manners and customs of those amongst whom you live.  

Example: I know you have egg and bacon for breakfast at home, but now you are on the Continent you will do as the Romans do and take coffee and rolls.  

10. What you lose on the swings you get back on the roundabouts.
　　失之東隅，收之桑榆  

Explanation: a rough way of starting a law of average; if you have bad luck on one day you have good on another; if one venture results in loss try a fresh one---it may succeed.  

Example: he may always possess merits which make up for everything; if he loses on the swings, he may win on the roundabouts.  

11. What are the odds so long as you are happy.
　　知足者常樂  

Explanation: what does anything else matter if a person is happy.  

Example: you complain so much, but you have a good family, parents, health, and money. What’s the odd so long as you’re happy.  

12．Entertain an angel unawares.
　　有眼不識泰山  

Explanation: to receive a great personage as a guest without knowing his merits.  

Example: in the course of evening someone informed her that she was entertaining an angel unawares, in the shape of a composer of the greatest promise  

13. every dog has his day .
　　是人皆有出頭日  

Explanation: fortune comes to each in turn  

Example: they say that every dog has his day; but mine seems a very long time coming.  

14. every potter praises his own pot.  

　　王婆買瓜，自賣自誇  

Explanation: people are loath to refer to defects in their possessions or their family members  

Example: he said that his teacher considered his work brilliant, but I would rather hear it from his teacher’s own mouth. Every potter praises his own pot