（通过语境学习原汁原味的美国英语成语）
—Learning Western Culture Bit by Bit
世界之大，无奇不有。生活中的奇闻异事，不可避免会在语言中得到反应。Harry ColIis 收集的14个美国英语成语，生动形象地反应了美国人生活中五花八门的奇人怪事，如若望文生义，容易造成误解，甚至贻笑大方。请看：
1.On ice(＝set aside for future use)搁置，暂缓
We've been working on this sales report for some time now.I am kind of hungry. Let's put the report on ice a while and get something to eat.
Fine. I'd be happy to stop working on it and set it aside until we get some food.
这份销售报告我们已经写了有一段时间了。我有点饿了。让我们把报告暂缓一会儿，吃点东西。
好的，我很乐意停止工作，先把报告搁置一边，弄点吃的再说。
2.shoot the breezn ( ＝chat informally)非正式聊天
Why don't you come over to my place? We can listen to some records and shoot the breeze.
That sounds OK to me. I'd like to relax listening to music and visit and chat informally until my folks get back from shopping.
你为什么不到我家来？我们可以听听唱片，吹牛聊天。
这主意听起来不错。在我的家人购物回来之前，我喜欢听听音乐放松，串串门，谈天论地的瞎聊。
3.bite the dust(＝go down in defeat) 一败涂地
Andy did exceptionally well in all of the track events,but he bit the dust in the high jump competition. Much to the disappointment of his fans, he went down in defeat, losing to a competitor from the visiting team.
安迪在所有田径项目上都表现非常出色，但在跳高比赛中却一败涂地。令粉丝们失望的是，他输给了客队的一名对手。
4.bend over backwards(＝try very hard) 非常努力
When Joan first started teaching she was afraid that
she would have a lot of trouble getting used to the kids and to the faculty. Her fears turned out to be unfounded,since everybody bent over backwards to help her.Everyone tried very hard to help her feel comfortable and adjust to the school.
琼刚开始教书时，她担心
她很难适应孩子和老师。她的担心被证明是毫无根据的，因为每个人都竭尽全力帮助她。每个人都非常努力地帮助她，以便她能感到舒适并适应学校工作。
5.hit the hay(＝go to bed) 上床睡觉
Listen, Kim. We've got to get an early start tomorrow.
We'll need all the rest we can get.What do you say we hit the hay now?
Agreed. Let's go to bed and get a good night's sleep. It's going to be a long day.
听着，金姆。我们明天得早点动身。
我们今晚需要尽可能多的休息。我们现在就上床睡觉怎么样？
同意。我们去睡觉吧！睡个好觉。明天将会是很漫长的一天。
6.cough up(＝give unwillingly) 勉强付款
Say, Greg. Did you finally get that computer that you wanted so much?
Not yet. It would have taken me forever to raise the money needed， but dad said he'd cough up the money I need since I'm going to be using the computer for my school work.
Maybe it was difficult for your dad to give you the money—but then, he knows that it's for a good cause.
喂，格雷格。你最终得到了你非常想要的那台电脑吗？
还没有。我要花很长时间才能筹到所需的钱，但爸爸说他想法给我出钱，因为我将来做功课要用电脑。
也许你爸爸很难拿出这笔钱，但他也知道花钱的理由正当。
7. jump the gun(＝to be hasty) 迅速行动
Denise was planning on telling her grandparents that the doctor said she was going to have twins, but when her dad found out he jumped the gun and told them before Denise could say a word. He was so excited that he became hasty and revealed the news before Denise had a chance to tell them.
丹尼斯正计划告诉她的祖父母，医生说她要生双胞胎，但当她的父亲发现后，他迫不及待地在丹尼斯开口之前告诉了他们。他太激动了，在丹尼斯有机会告诉他们之前赶紧透露了这个消息。
8.scratch someone's back(＝return a favor) 还人情，投桃报李
Hey, Bea. I need some help stacking these boxes. Would you please give me a hand?
OK. And I need some help tidying up the house. How about your helping me out after that?
OK. If you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours.
I know you don't like doing housework, but I'll help you with the boxes if you promise to return the favor.
No problem. I'll even do the windows.
嘿，Bea。我需要人帮忙堆放这些箱子。你能帮我一下吗？
好啊。我也需要人帮忙收拾房间。之后你帮我怎么样？
好的。如果你帮了我，我会还你人情。
我知道你不喜欢做家务，但如果你答应还我人情，我还会帮你搬箱子的。
没问题。我甚至会帮你打扫窗户。
9.hit the ceiIing(＝become very angry）变得非常生气
Don's father hit the ceiling when he was informed that his son had been detained by the police for disorderly conduct. He became violently angry, since he had often warned his son not to keep company with that group of boys.
当唐的父亲得知他的儿子因扰乱治安被警方拘留时，他大发雷霆。他变得如此愤怒，因为他经常警告儿子不要和那群男孩交往。
10.fork over(＝hand over, give) 移交，支付
Hey, Dan. How come you're looking so sad?
It's nothing, really. I unexpectedly bumped into Ralph and he asked me to fork over the ten bucks I owed him.
Did he expect you to pay him back right then and there ?
Yes, he did. It was all the money I had, and I had to hand it over to him.
嘿，Dan。你怎么看起来这么郁闷？
没什么，真的。我意外地碰到拉尔夫，他让我把欠他的十块钱还给他。
他是不是希望你当场还他钱？
是的，他是那么做的。我就这么点钱，但必须全部还给他。
11.turn someone off(＝disgust someone) 让某人反感
How was your date with Marty last night?
Well, it started off OK, but he really turned me off when we went for a snack after the movies.
Did he say or do something to annoy you?
Frankly, he disgusted me when he tried to talk with his mouth full.
你昨晚和马蒂的约会怎么样？
嗯，一开始还行，但当我们看完电影去吃点心时，他真的让我很反感。
他说了什么或做了什么让你生气的事吗？
坦白地说，他试图满嘴食物跟我说话时，真是讨厌死了。
12.go fⅠy a kite(＝go away ！) 滚开！
For the past three hours Jerry had been trying to convince Linda to go to the art exhibition with him. She had been refusing all along and finally in desperation she told him, "Go fly a kite!" Jerry didn't like to be told to go away in such a forceful manner. Nevertheless,he finally stopped trying to get Linda to attend the exhibition.
在过去的三个小时里，杰瑞一直试图说服琳达和他一起去看艺术展。琳达一直在拒绝，最后绝望地告诉他：“滚开！” 杰瑞不喜欢被人这样凶狠地叫他走开。尽管如此，他最终还是放弃了让琳达去看艺术展的努力。
13.kick the bucket（＝die） 死亡
It's been said that the old man knew of a buried treasure, but he kicked the bucket before telling anyone where it was. If the treasure exists, the old man unfortunately took the secret of its location with him when he died.
据说这位老人知道一件埋藏的宝藏，但他还没来得及告诉任何人宝藏在哪里之前就两腿一蹬离开了人世。如果真有宝藏存在，不幸的是，老人的死永远带走了宝藏埋藏位置的秘密。
14.raise a stink(＝protest strongly) 强烈抗议
Listen! Don't try to use any of your sister' s clothes without asking her first. She's liable to raise a stink if she finds something missing.
She's borrowed some of my things before, and I've never said anything. I really doubt that she will protest very strongly.
听着，没事先问过你姐，不要试图穿她的衣服。如果她发现什么东西不见了，肯定会大发雷霆的。
她以前也借过我的东西，可我什么也没说。我真的不相信她会对此强烈抗议。
声明：本文根据Harry CoIⅠis 著《101个美国英语成语》相关章节编译。如有侵权，联系删除。欢迎阅读！感谢关注！持续推送中。
