Idioms are used a lot. Almost every native English speaking person uses several idioms in the course of a conversation. Sometimes an idiom is used as a short way of expressing a more complicated idea. Idioms also help to make English a more colourful language. However, use idioms with care, and only when you are sure of their meaning. Some idioms are very colourful, but they can also express strong feelings, and it is easy to give offence without meaning to.

CONTENTS

A Creative Expression

Expressing Through Animals

Frequently Used Animal Idioms

Center Address

别具一格的谚语表达

通过动物来表达的谚语

常用的有关动物的谚语

华尔街英语各中心地址

Of course, learning idioms is not a piece of cake (very easy) but once you know them they can be a lot of fun, and anyway, because native English speakers use idioms non-stop you will be all at sea (totally confused) in most conversations until you learn the ropes (understand how things work).

英语里的谚语（俗语）应用非常广泛。几

乎每个以英语为母语的老外都会在日常对

话中使用几个谚语。它们既可以被用来表

达更为复杂的含义，也可以使语言本身变

得更加丰富有趣。不过，在使用谚语时也

要注意，要确保自己了解它们的意思。因

为有些谚语的含义非常丰富，可以表达强

烈的个人感情，因此也就容易在无意中冒

犯他人。诚然，对我们来说学习英语谚语

并非“小菜一碟”，不过一旦掌握了它们

的用法，就会发现它们其实非常有趣。不

管怎样，如果你不赶快摸清门道的话，在

与老外们的对话中听到谚语的话你可能就

要感到茫然无解了。

A Creative Expression别具一格的谚语表达

Animals have always played an important part in culture. People revere some animals, others are pets we love and view as family members, and some we gaze at from afar in their wild habitats. Because animals are so close to human’s life, they have a very strong influence on many aspects of human’s culture everywhere in the world. They play a very important role in religion, art … and especially in language.

Animal diction occupies an important place in the realm of people’s imaginations. Thanks to the use of animals, the language tends to convey a full intellectual image of the societies. Here we share with you some interesting and frequently used idioms relating to animals.

动物是我们文化中很重要的一部分：它

们中有的被人们所敬畏，有的被人们当

作爱宠、甚至家庭的一分子，而有的栖

息在野外，极少与人类近距离接触。正

因为动物与人的生活是如此地贴近，它

们才对世界各地的人类文明在诸多方面

产生了极为深刻的影响，比如信仰和艺

术，而在语言方面尤为如此。有关动物

的措辞把人类语言的想象力提升到了另

一个层面。正是由于对动物的借用，人

类语言得以更形象地表达出我们社会的

思想意识。下面我们将同你分享一些有

趣并常用的与动物相关的谚语。

皮特像一头在瓷器店里的蛮牛似的，

去拿橙子结果碰倒了几堆摆得整整齐

齐的水果。

Take the bull by the horns - To forcefully attack a difficult situation, based on the idea that holding a bull by its horns is brave and direct action.

不畏艰险-字面理解是对付公牛需要持

其牛角。这样大胆而坚决的行为被引申

为单刀直入、主动采取行动以应付艰险

的局面。

Example:

I took the bull by the horns and confronted him about his drinking.

我 单 刀 直 入 ， 直 接 跟 他 指 出 了 他 酗

酒的毛病。

2.Crocodile

鳄鱼

1.Bull

公牛

a bull is normally known as an animal that lumbers about with power and recklessness.

公牛给人的印象一般是健壮而又鲁莽。

To be like a bull in a china shop - When someone is like a bull in a china shop, they act carelessly or clumsily in the way they move or behave.

瓷器店里的公牛-当形容某人像一头在瓷

器店里的公牛时，是说他们的表现或行

为特别粗心、笨拙。

Example:

Peter felt like a bull in a china shop; reaching for an orange, he made several elaborate pyramids of fruit tumble down.

Frequently Used AnimalIdioms常用的有关动物的

谚语

Expressing Through Animals通过动物来表达的

谚语

tears while allowing the war to continue.

在支持继续进行战争的同时，这群政党

领袖流下了几滴鳄鱼的眼泪。

3.Cat & dog

猫和狗

they have made their way into our hearts and homes with their respective distinct characteristics over the past several thousand years, so it's understandable that they frequently appear in our language.

在过去的几千年里，猫和狗凭借它们截

然不同的可爱个性不仅得到了人们的宠

爱，还赢得了与我们人类共处一室的权

利。因此它们经常出现在我们的语言中

也就不足为奇了。

To be a pussy cat - A person who is very gentle.

小猫咪-用来形容非常温柔的人。

Example:

Don't worry. He looks frightening, but really he's a pussy cat.

别害怕。他只是看上去吓人而已，其实

温和得像只小猫。

A copycat - Kittens are known to copy their mothers in an almost identical fashion. The phrase is derived from this tendency and is often used to refer to the human tendency to duplicate.

模仿者-小猫会几乎分毫不差地模仿母猫

的行为。这个词就由此而来，常用来指

无主见、愿意抄袭别人的人。

Example:

He’s copied the entire article, what a copycat!

他抄袭了整篇文章。真是个抄袭大王！

Sick as a dog - Really sick, usually involving nausea and/or vomiting.

病得像狗一样-形容病得很严重，常伴有

恶心或呕吐。

Example:

Sally was as sick as a dog and couldn't go to the party.

莎莉病得起不来床了，所以没能去参加

聚会。

Let sleeping dogs lie - It means not to talk about issues in the past that might cause problems if you mention them today. This idiom comes from the fact that a sleeping dog is peaceful, but if you wake it up, it might be angry and bite you.

莫惹是非-字面含义是别惊动睡着的狗。

这句话的意思是过去的事不要再提，否

则可能会引起不必要的麻烦。这一说法

的来源是狗在睡着时会很平和，一旦把

它惊醒，它可能会发脾气甚至咬人。

Example:

His parents never referred to

a crocodile can, in fact, shed tears, when they are merrily eating their prey, not because of sadness or remorse, but only because lacrimal glands create tears that lubricate their eyes.

事实上，当鳄鱼在开心地享用它们的猎

物时是可以流眼泪的，不是因为难过或

后悔，而是因为它们的泪腺会分泌眼泪

来使眼睛保持湿润。

Crocodile tears - A false sign of sorrow, sadness or remorse.

鳄鱼的眼泪-假意的悲伤、难过或悔恨；

假慈悲。

Example:

Political leaders shed crocodile

the shoplifting incident again. I suppose they thought it best to let sleeping dogs lie.

他的父母再也没提及那次店内行窃的

事。我猜他们认为最好还是别再自寻烦

恼了。

Fight like cat and dog - The phrase originates from the long drawn enmity between cats and dogs as is used to suggest a confrontation between two people.

吵得不可开交-这句话源于猫和狗之间长

久以来的敌对关系，后被用来形容人和

人之间的争论。

Example:

They had been married for 10 years but still continued to fight like cat and dog.

他们都结婚10年了，可还是在一直不停

地争吵。

to an elephant.

一想到大象，首先映入人们脑海的

总是它那庞大的体型。

The elephant in the room - A problem or controversial issue that is too big to ignore; it is based on the idea that an elephant in a room would be impossible to overlook, but that everyone tries to avoid talking about because it is embarrassing or will cause conflict.

房间里的大象-用来形容明显且确实存

在却被人刻意回避的问题或争议。这句

话是说有些问题像房间中的大象，是绝

无可能被人忽视的，但人们却故意避而

不谈，可能因为问题过于敏感或可能引

起冲突。

Example:

We all sat sipping our tea quietly; no one wanting to bring up the elephant in the room about

Raining cats and dogs - The phrase’s origin most likely source is England’s wretched streets in the 17th and 18th centuries where canine and feline carcasses and other debris would flow along the filthy city streets during heavy rainfalls.

倾盆大雨-17、18世纪英国的一些较为偏

僻的街道在下大雨时会漂浮着无数猫狗

的尸体和其它残骸。这大概是这句俗语

最可信的来源了。

Example:

‘It’s been raining cats and dogs for the last three days

倾盆大雨已经下了3天了。

4.Elephant

大象

size is often the first thing that people think of when it comes

Maria’s divorce.

我们都静静地坐在那喝着自己的茶，尽

管大家心知肚明，但谁也不愿提及玛利

亚离婚的事。

5.Fish

鱼

the natural place for a fish to live is in the water.

鱼的生存离不开水。

Like a fish out of water - If a fish is outside the water, it would feel very uncomfortable. This idiom means appearing to be completely out of place; in a very awkward manner.

如鱼离水-离开了水的鱼一定不会感到

舒适。这个说法用来形容格格不入、

不得其所的尴尬状态。

Example:

Whenever I am with your friends,

such as police work, agriculture, entertainment, and therapy.

马和人类在很多竞技体育和非竞技类娱

乐活动中都有着紧密的互动联系，甚至

在警察巡逻、农业、娱乐和某些疗法等

工作场合中也不乏马的身影。

Hold your horses - It means don’t rush, to hold on or wait.

少安毋躁-字面解释是勒住你的马，意思

是别心急、耐心一点。

Example:

Hold your horses, you might find a better one for the same price in another shop.

少安毋躁，在其它店里你兴许能用同样

的价钱买到比这个还好的呢。

Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth - It means to criticise or belittle a gift. The phrase has a literal meaning. You can check out how old a horse is by its gum line, which recedes with age. So looking a gift horse in the mouth means you are checking the age, and thus the quality of a gift or someone’s kind gesture.

受礼勿问价-这句话的意思是不要挑剔

或看不起收到的馈赠。这句话从字面上

理解是这样的：由于一匹马的年龄可以

从它的牙龈线来判断，年龄越大，牙龈

线就越萎缩。因此看一匹作为礼物的马

的嘴意味着你要查看这匹马的年纪，也

I feel like a fish out of water. What on earth do you see in them, or me?

每次和你朋友在一起的时候，我都浑身

不自在。你到底看好他们哪点呢？还是

问题在我？

6.Horse

马

horses and humans interact closely in a wide variety of sport competitions and non-competitive recreational pursuits, as well as in working activities

就是在对礼品的质量以及他人的心意吹

毛求疵。

Example:

I know the car isn’t in great condition, but you shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth.

我知道这辆车的车况一般般，但你也不

至于对白得的东西还这么挑剔吧。

One-trick pony – It means the person has only one ability or good quality that he/she is known for, and doesn’t have any other abilities. A pony is a small horse, which is often used for shows, competitions, and exhibitions. People teach ponies “tricks” to perform at the shows. If a pony only knows one trick, then it doesn’t have a great variety of abilities.

一技之微-字面理解是“只会一招的小

马”，意指某人仅有一种显著的技能

或品质，而其它方面并不突出。Pony

是小马，常见于各种演出、竞赛以及

展览等活动。人们会为此训练小马学

习一些表演桥段。如果一匹小马只会

表演一种节目，那就可以说它并不具

备很多种技能。

Example:

“I think being a one - trick pony

is not the long game here,” my mentor says.

“我认为仅仅靠一技之微并非长久之

计”，我的老师说。

7.Lion & tiger:

狮子和老虎

they are fierce and regal animals that are feared and admired by most.

这两者都是凶猛且庄严的动物，人们对

它们是既害怕又崇拜。

Throw someone to the lions - To cause someone to be in a situation where they are criticised strongly or treated badly.

羊入狮群 - 形 容 使 他 人 遭 受 强 烈 的

职 责 或 虐 待 ； 使 他 人 处 于 危 险 的 境

地。

Example:

No one prepared me for the audience's hostility, I really felt I'd been fed to the lions.

没人跟我说过听众的抵触情绪这么激

烈。我感觉像羊入虎群一般。

The lion’s share - The biggest share of something.

最大的份额-字面理解为给狮子的那一

份。意指最大或最好的那一部分。

Example:

The lion's share of the museum's

budget goes to special exhibitions.

这家博物馆的大部分预算都会投在专题

展览上。

To have a tiger by the tail – It means to take a course of action that turns out to be incredibly

difficult, yet this course of action can no longer be easily discarded.

骑虎难下-字面意思是捉住老虎的尾巴，

用来形容形势直转急下，变得非常困难，

然而此时已没有退路。

Example:

We will have a tiger by the tail with this merger.

这次并购比预想的要困难得多。

A paper tiger - This idiom applies to people, government organisations and groups that act powerful or put on a bold face to hide their weaknesses.

纸老虎-即外强中干。这个说法适用于虚

张声势或故意展现强大外表以掩饰自己弱

点的人、组织机构或团体。

Example:

Nick is a paper tiger. He pretends

to be tough, but he’s really a gentle giant.

尼克就是只纸老虎。他假装强悍，其实

内里是个温和的大块头。

8.Monkey

猴子

some most recognised traits of a monkey are mischievous, curious, entertaining and energetic.

顽皮、好奇、有趣并充满活力是猴子给人

最普遍的印象。

Make a monkey out of someone - To make a monkey out of somebody is to make them look foolish.

使某人出丑，耍弄-字面理解为让某人看

起来像猴子一样，意思就是戏弄别人、让

人出洋相。

Example:

He made a monkey out of me

by calling me names in front of my girlfriend.

他当着我女朋友的面骂我，让我出丑。

Monkey around with somebody or something - To mess around with someone or something.

调皮捣蛋-形 容 某 人 顽 皮 ， 到 处 干 扰

别人或玩弄物品、捣乱。

Example:

You must stop monkeying around with that old computer if you want to finish the work on time.

你 要 是 想 按 时 完 成 工 作 ， 就 别 再 鼓

捣那个破电脑了。

Monkey see, monkey do - This expression is used to refer to someone who copies something that somebody does with no or limited understanding of it.

照猫画虎-这个说话用来形容一些人单纯

地看别人怎么做自己就怎么做，而对这

件事本身缺乏理解。

Example:

It is a case of monkey see, monkey do. She does everything that her sister does.

这就像是依样画葫芦，她姐姐做什么她

就跟着做什么。

9.Pig

猪

a pig has varied symbolic

meanings according to region &

culture, both good and bad. On

the surface, a pig is generally

seen by many as an animal that

is dirty, smelly and greedy (the

way they eat).

在不同的地区和文化背景下，猪被赋予

了不同的象征意义，既有正面的也有负

面的。不过从表面上来看，不少人都把

猪看作是肮脏、不爱干净且贪婪（它们

进食的方式）的动物。

To pig out - Overeat or eat immodestly.

大吃特吃-狼吞虎咽，胡吃海喝。

Example:

I really pigged out at the barbeque. I've never eaten so much.

这顿烤肉我真是吃到快爆了。我从没吃

这么多过 。

This place is a pigsty - Pigs live in a place called a pigsty; we can say that a very dirty or untidy place is a pigsty.

这地方像个猪圈-猪住的地方叫猪舍，

也叫猪圈，可以用来形容特别肮脏或

不整洁的地方。

Example:

His place is a pigsty, quite disgusting.

他住的地方就跟猪圈似的，可恶心了。

10.Rat

老鼠

there are obviously people who are fans of rats, but a rat is generally seen by many as being vicious, dirty and disease-ridden.

不可否认有些人就是喜欢老鼠这种动

物，但大多数人还是容易把老鼠与品行

不端、卑鄙和肮脏联系到一起。

To be a rat - This negative noun is used to describe a person who deserts his friends or associates, especially in times of trouble, someone who is not loyal.

卑鄙小人-这个贬义词用来形容在困难时

期背弃朋友或同伴的人；不忠诚的人。

Example:

Michael is such a rat. He left as soon as the trouble started.

迈克尔真是个卑鄙小人。遇见麻烦他

就溜了。

Smell a rat - To suspect that something is wrong, to sense that someone has caused something wrong.

事有蹊跷-怀疑有不妙之处；感觉到有人

干了什么不好的事。

Example:

Harry had something to do with this. The minute I came in, I smelled a rat.

哈利与这事有点联系。从我一进门，我

就感觉到有可疑之处。