I am all ears 洗耳恭听

Iamallears洗耳恭听Iamallears洗耳恭听 Oneday,wehiredacarpentertorepairourhouse.Idwelton(详细讲述)allthedetailsthatneededrepairingtohim.thenIaskedhim,"Areyouclear?Canyourememberallthat?""Yes!"thecarpenterreplied."Iamallears!"Ifeltpuzzledanddidnotknowwhathemeant.Latermyeldestsonexplainedtomethathemeant,"Iamlisteningattentively!". Iambroke我没钱了　我要高分 OnedaywhenIwaswalkingintheschoolcorridor,Annaranovertomeandsaid,"I"mbroke.MayI...?"Ithoughtshemighthavefallensomewhereandwasinjured,soIhurriedlysupportedherwithmyhandsandaskedher,"AreyouOK?Doyouwantmetosendyoutotheclinic?"Shefeltalittlepuzzled,butthenshesaid,"I"mok.I"mbroke.MayIborrowsomemoney?" Iassumedthatshewantedtoborrowmoneytogotohospitaltoseeadoctor,soIrespondedquickly,"Letmehelpyoutocallanambulancetothehospital." NotuntilthendidsherealizethatIhadnotunderstoodwhatshemeant.Shetoldmethat"I"mbroke"meant,"I"mpenniless."Isuddenlysawthelighttoo. Haveanaffairwith...与...有暧昧关系 Thepresidentwasforcedtoresign,forhishavinganaffairwithafilmstarwaslikeatime-bombthatwouldsoonerorlaterruinhisfame. ItwasreportedthatPresidentClintonhadanaffairwithagirlcalledMonica. 五官与英语习语 eye Theeyesareextremelyprecioustous.Thatiswhywesay“Mindyoureye(当心)!”whenweremindingsomeonetobecareful. Notonlyhumanbeingsandanimalshaveeyes,manythingsalsohave“eyes”-theeyesofaship,theeyeofaneedle,theeyeofatyphoon,andsoon. ear Theearistheorganofhearing.Apieceoflightmusiciseasyontheear.(悦耳动听).Weareusuallyallears(专心聆听)forbitnews. Whentheythinksomebodyisoverhearing,Englishpeopleuseeitherofthetwoproverbs:Wallshaveears(隔墙有耳)andPitchershaveears(壶罐有耳).Theyalsothinkthatlittlepitchershaveebigears(小孩子耳朵尖).Niceboysandgirlsrespectotherpeople.Theywillnotsecretlylistentoothers"privateconversations. nose TheEnglishphrase"facetoface(面对面)"anditsChinesecounterpart(对应)areexactlythesame.ButEnglishpeople,toexpressthesameidea,cansaynosetonoseinstead.ThereisnosuchsubstituteinChinese. Thewordnoseappearsinmanyidioms.HerearetwowhicharequitesimilartotheirChineseequivalents:leadsomebodybythenose(牵着某人的鼻子走)andturnupone"snoseatsomebodyorsomething(对某人或某物嗤之一鼻). lip Wehavetwolips:theupperlipandthelowerlip.Ifone"stwolipsareclosed,onecannotspeak.Soitgoeswithoutsayingthat"don"topenyourlips(不要开口)"means"don"tspeak". Hislipsaresealed.Arehislipsreallystucktogetherbywaxorglue?No,hislipsaresealedwhenaskedaboutsomethingthathemustkeepsecret.Sometimesatopsecretisbetrayedbecauseithasescapedsomeone"slips(脱口而出).Thentheincidentmaybecomeapieceofnewsthatisoneverybody"slips(众口相传). tongue Weallknowwecannotspeakwithoutthetongue.Sothetongueiscloselyrelatedtospeech.Toholdone"stongue(保持沉默)means"tokeepsilent".Apersonwhohastoomuchtongue(太多嘴)isdislikedbyall,forheistootalkative.Mothertongueisnotthetongueofamother:itisaperson"snativelanguage. "Don"tyouhaveamothbelowyournose(你鼻子底下不是有张嘴吗)?"TheChinesesaysotoblameapersonwhodidnotsaywhatheshouldhavesaid.ButthisnottherightwaytoexpresstheideainEnglish.Englishpeoplewouldsay,"Youhaveatongueinyourhead,haven"tyou?" aimhigh胸怀大志 Frankaimedhigh,butachievedlittle Dialogue: Sue:Youseemtobeworriedaboutsomethingthesedays Bob:Yeah.I"mrunningaroundincircles(忙得团团转)withoutachievinganything. Sue:Runningincircles?Maybeyouaimtoohighandyou"vetakenmorethanyoucanchew. Bob:Maybe.butIcan"ttoleratedoingnothing. Sue:Youmaytakeabreakbeforebucklingdownon(开始认真地干)yourtargets.It'supintheair尚未确定OnceImetanoldfriendofmineattheschool'scelebrationmeeting.Henceitwasquitenaturalthatwehadatalk."Iamgoingtobetransferredtoanotherschool,"saidmyfriend."When?"Iasked."It'supintheair,"sheanswered.Ifeltratherconfusedandwonderedwhyshesaiditwas"upintheair".FindingIlookedpuzzled,myfriendknewthatIdidnotunderstandwhatshemeant.Sosheexplainedtomewiththehelpofgestures.FinallyIgotthepointthat"It'supintheair"meant"Itisuncertain".costanarmandaleg付出过高的代价Eatingintherestaurantsinthisstreetwillcostyouanarmandaleg.BuyinganapartmentinBeijingwillcostyouanarmandalegDialogueSandra:Isay,Frank.Haveyouthoughtaboutchangingthebedsets(床上用品)？Frank:Well,I'veactuallybeenthinkingofdiscardingthem.Sandra:Andhaveyouthoughtaboutwhereweshouldgoforthenewsets?Frank:Well,IneedtoshoparoundabitbeforeIcandecide.Sandra:HowabouttheJohns'intheFifthStreet?Frank:TheJohns'?Theywillcostyouanarmandaleg.Youhavetopaythroughthenose（为买...付出过高的代价；被敲竹杠），youknow?Sandra:Buttheirqualityisfirstrate.Frank:Iknow.Andtheirpriceisfirstrate,too.keepsomeoneatarm'slength与某人保持距离Shesaidthatshecouldn'tputherfingeronwhyeveryoneinthecompanyshouldkeepheratarm'slength.她说他搞不清楚为何公司里的人都不愿已接近他。Ifyou'vekeptheratarm'slength,shewouldn'tbeabletoetholdofyourweaknessandtakeadvantageofyou.touchsomeoneontheraw.触及某人的痛处ThequestionaskedbytheJapaneseladyseemedtohavetouchedthepresidentontheraw,andithadalmostdrivenhimonthewall.那位日本妇女向总统提出个问题，这一问就好像触及了总统的痛处，并把他逼上了绝境。Whenwithfriends,peoplealwaystrytoavoidthetopicsthatwouldpossiblytouchthemontheraw.Youracidcommentmadehimlosefaceandthequestionyouraisedhadtouchedhimontheraw.Youshouldavoidoffendinghimbytouchinghimontheraw.Childlikeandchildish天真和幼稚IhadbeentoAmericaforonlyafewyears,asIdidnotunderstandtheactualmeaningsofthetwowords"childlike"and"childish".Aminormisunderstandingwastheresult,andInearlyoffendedmysupervisingprofessor.OnedayIhadachatwithsomeprofessorsandpostgraduatesintheoffice.thesubjectcametothecharacterofmysupervisor.Shewasaseniorprofessorwhowasalwaysverycheerfulandenthusiastic,interestingandfullofchildlikeinnocence.Isaidwithoutthinking,"Sheischildish."ActuallywhatImeanttosayis,"Sheischildlike."Notlongafterthat,myprofessorwastoldthatIhadsaidshewaschildish.Shewasalittleunhappytohearthat,andaskedme,"DidyousaythatIamchildish?"Ifeltatoncethatsomethingbadwouldhappentome.IhurriedlyexplainedwhatImeant,andsheforgavemyinappropriatelyusingtheword."Childlike"and"Childish"aredifferent,inthattheformerisacommendatory（褒义的）term,whichpraisesonewhoisinnocentandhascharacteristicsofachild,whilethelatteraderogatory(贬义的)term,whichdescribesanadultbehavinglikeachild.Considerableandconsiderate相当大的与考虑周到的OnceIwentonanoutingwithoneofmyAmericanfriendstogether.Onthewayhelookedaftermeverycarefully.Iwasverygratefultohiminmyheart.Besidessaying"thankyou",Ialsoadded,"You'resoconsiderable."InfactImeanttopraisehimforbeingthoughtful.However,assoonasIutteredthat,myfriend,previouslywearingabrightfacialexpression,thenquicklytookonaghastly(难看的，可怕的）look.Iimmediatelyperceivedsomethingwrong,butIdidnotknowwheremymistakelaidandIfeltveryembarrassed.Fortunately,myfriendwasreallygoodatunderstandingothers.Hehesitatedandsaid,"IthinkyouwantedtosayI'mconsiderate."Ihastenedtoaskhimaboutthedifferencesbetweenthetwowords.Itturnsoutthat"considerable"means"ratherlargeinsize,etc.orofnoticeableimportance",（andmyfriendhappenedtobeanextremelyburly（大块头的）man,whichhewassensitiveto)while"considerate"waswhatIwantedtoexpress.Itisreallytruethatanerrorinthebreadthofasinglehaircanleadyouathousandliastray（失之毫厘，差之千里）!Deadend死胡同WhenIfirstcaughtsightofthesign"DeadEnd",Iwasreallystartled.Literallyitmeanstheroadtodeath.Iwonderedwhetheritwas"adragon'spoolandatiger'sden(龙潭虎穴)--adangerspot",orminesorbombswerelaidthereandonceyoumadeyourentrancetoityouweresuretodie.Thereforeashockingsignwassetup,warningpeopleagainstgettingintotheforbiddenareawithoutauthorization.LaterIgottoknowthatthesign"DeadEnd"tellspeoplethattheroadisclosedatoneend,andthereforedoesnotleadanywhere."Black"Meatordarkmeat"黑"肉还是鸡腿肉ThisstoryhappenedwhenIjustcametoAmerica.OnedayIwenttothefried-chickenfast-foodrestaurantattachedtotheschoolformeal.Awaiteraskedme,"Whatkindofmeatwouldyoulike?"AtthattimeitoccurredtomethatIhadlearnedinmycollegeEnglishclassthat"whitemeat"referstochickenbreastwhile"darkmeat"meanschickenleg.However,whenIspoke,itwentlike,"Blackmeat,please."SuddenlyIfoundthewaiterlookingangry(forhehappenedtobeablack).ThenIrealizedthatIhadsaidsomethingwrong.AfterIexplainedtimeandagainthatIjustcametoAmericaandknewverylittleaboutslang,hebecamehappyagain.turnone'sbackon/upon...背弃...，抛弃...;对...不闻不问Werequestedthathelookintothematter,buthejustseemedtoturnhisbackonourrequest.Didshereallyturnherbackonhisproposal?她真的拒绝了他的求婚？Dialogue:Nancy:Youlookupsetthesedays.What'stroublingyou?Selma:I'verequestedtotakealeavefromworksothatIcanspendourannualholidayinSpainwithmyfamily.Butourbossturneditdownbysayingthatthecompanyisshortofhands.Nancy:Didyouexplainyoursituationandaskhimagain?Selma:Yes,Idid.Buthejustturnedhisbackonmyrequest.Nancy:Maybeyoucanchangeyourplanandputitofftilllater.bythebackdoor通过后门；用不正当的途径ItissaidthathegotmanyofthesparepartsintoChinabythebackdoor.据说他把很多备件非法偷运到中国境内。Mostgovernmentofficialsknewprettywellthatthisrubbishcameintothecountrybythebackdoor,buttheydidnotknowwhoexactlyhadgiventhesmugglersthegreenlight.Themanagerknewthatthetwonewemployeescameinbythebackdoor,buthedidn'tknowexactlywhowereattheback.总经理知道那两个人是通过后门进来的，但是他不清楚到底谁是他们的后台。bringhomethebacon养家糊口；成功，取胜Ineverycountryandregardlessoftheirsocialsystems,theremustbesomeoneinthehousewhowillhavetobringhomethebacon.Dialogue:Frank:I'mfeelingundertheweather(感到身体不舒服）.I'mnotinthemoodfordoinganythingtoday.John:Playhooky（逃学，开小差）.Iwon'tspillthebeans（泄密）.Frank:Iknow,butIcan't.I'mswampedwithwork（有一大堆工作得做）.Myjobisnopicnic（不是轻松的事）,youknow.John:Well,hanginthere.Inthelongrun,you'llbesittingpretty（处于有利的地位；过上优裕的生活）.Frank:Ihopeso.ButIhavetoworkhardandbringhomethebacon.holdthebag背黑锅Althoughthefourofthemrobbedthebankwithjoinedefforts,itwasJoewhohadbeenleftholdingthebag.Dialogue:Martha:Doyouknowwhat'shappenedtoFrank?Nancy:Notaninkling.What'shappened?Martha:Hewascaughtstealingafilefromacompany.Nancy:Sorrytohearthat.Heshouldhavemendedhissteps(注意自己的言行）.Martha:Butthejobwasengineeredbysomeoneelse.Nancy:Didthatsomeoneelsestandup?Martha:Nobodylikestofacethemusic（面对惩罚），ofcourse.Nancy:SoitwasFrankwhowasleftholdingthebag?Martha:yeah.fallasleepattheswitch玩忽职守Joewasdismissedbythebossforfallingasleepattheswitch.DialogueMark:TheBossisfurious.Theremustbesomethingthathasenragedhim.Lucy:Yeah.Someonefellasleepattheswitchandthewarehousehasbeenbrokenintolastnight.Mark:Whowasondutylastnight?Hemustbepunished.Lucy:ItwasJoe.Heisresponsibleforthelostproperty.Mark:Hewillgetthebag(被解雇）,IsupposeLucy:Notreally.Thebossonlyaskedhimtomendhissteps（注意自己的行为）andtoldhimthathewouldn'tbeluckynexttime.Mark:It'skindofthebosstodoso.Joeshouldfeelguilty.beinthebag已到手的，十拿九稳的TheGeneralManagerwasexcitedbecauseheknewhehadalreadyhadseveralmajorcontractsinthebag.Thebossstillhadthejitters(忐忑不安）,thoughheknewthattheirsuccesswasalreadyinthebag.Agoodharvestisalreadyinthebag,thoughthefarmersstillhaveashareofworries.Don'tbefooledbytheirbabbling.Can'tyouseethatthey'vehadeverythinginthebag?别听他们的胡说八道了，难道你还看不出来他们已经到处做了手脚？risetoa(the)bait.中圈套，上钩Yourtrickmightworktenyearsago.Butnowadaysfewarepronetorisetoabaitaseasilyasyouthink.你的花招在十年前也许管用，但当今人们绝不像你所想象的会轻易上钩的。Look!Afishisrisingtothebait.Bepatient!heisrisingtothebait.ballup...把...搞得一团糟，一塌糊涂Joehadballedupthebusiness,butitwasJackwhowasblamedforthemess.Dialogue:Nancy:JohndismissedJoelastweek.Selma:Whatfor?Notforhisfallingasleepattheswitchagain,Isuppose.Nancy:No.HeballedupJohn'sbusinessbydisclosinghiscompany'ssecret.Selma:Heshouldhavemendedhissteps.Nancy:Cantheleopardchangehisspots?Selma:No.Andhewillfinditveryhardtofindanotherjob.Nancy:Thatserveshimright.morebarkthanbite说得多，做得少Ithoughthislecturewouldbeveryinformative,buttomydisappointment,therewasmorebarkthanbitethroughoutthelecture:therewasnothingpracticallyimportant.ThebossthreatenedJoebysayingthathewouldkickhimoutofthecompany,butJoewascertainthattherewasmorebarkthanbiteinhisremark.Thereisgenerallymorebarkthanbiteinmostofmodernpublications,eitherinliterallyorinacademicwritings.Youdon'thavetotakeoffyourglovestoagirllikeJenny:there'smorebarkthanbiteinwhatshesays.对像杰妮这样的女孩你没有必要如此不依不饶的。她说起话来只不过是嘴厉害了点儿，可他很少伤害人。Cavein屈服，投降AtourcompanyChristmasparty,alotofwine,evenvodka,wasavailable.IknewLaoZhangandRobwereheavydrinkers,soIeggedthemon(怂恿某人做某事）inacompetitionfordrinkingvodka.Iwasthejudge.Theyreadily（欣然地）agreed.Afterafewdrinks,theirfaceswereallveryred.Robthenrefusedtodrinkmoreandsaid,"Icavein."Ididnotunderstand,soIgainafarfetched（牵强的，不着边际的）interpretationofthework"cave"andconsidereditwasequivalentto"trap"."No.NO,Nocave,"Isaid,"It'safairplay."Rob'sfacelookedevenredderandhastenedtoadd:"Igiveup.LaoZhangwins".Itturnsoutthat"cavein"hasthemeaningas"giveuporgivein".Changemydress调离我的职位Iworkedinabig,well-knownAmericanfirmmorethantwodecadesago.MybossCarolinewasayoungandbeautifulAmericangirl.Apromotionorraiseofhersubordinates（下属）byherdependedsolelyonthenumberorvalueofpresentsthattheygaveher.Asaresult,thepracticeofgivingdinnersorsendinggiftswasinavogue(盛行的，流行的）forawhile.Later,heresuperior（上级，长官）heardofitandcalledallthestaffofoursectiontogetherforaconferencetotransferCarolinefromherpost.Intheconference,Carolinekeptasking:"Whydoyouwanttochangemydress?"Hearinghersaying"changemydress",Ifeltratherconfused,wonderingwhythesuperiorwantedtochangeherdress.Later,Iunderstoodthat"changeadress"hasthemeaningof"transferfromapost".Inarrowlyescapedbeingmademyselfthelaughing-stock（笑柄）ofall.Blowyourownhorn自吹自擂XiaoZhangjustgraduatedfromuniversityandwashuntingforajob(寻找工作）.Onedayhewasdrivingacartogoonanoutingwithseveralfriends.Theywerecaughtinatrafficjamdowntown,sotheyhadtowaitpatientlyintheircar.Theybegantotalkoneafteranotherabouttheirexperiencesinlookingforajobandexchangeideasonhowtowriteacurriculumvitae.(简历)OneofhisfriendspattedXiaoZhangontheshoulderandsaid,"Youshouldblowyourownhorn!"Assoonasthatfriendfinishedspeaking,aburstofsoundsofhorn（阵阵喇叭声）washeard.Hisfriendquicklystoppedhim,"Hey,whatwillbeyoudoing?Soundingyourhornisforbiddenhere,otherwisefineswillbeimposed（施加；加于某人...）.Didyouseethesignboard'Don'thorn!'overthere?"XiaoZhangfeltwronged(被冤枉的；受委屈的)andsaid,"Didn'tyouaskmetoblowthehorn?Ithoughtyouwantedmetosoundthehorntohurrytheunmovingcarsinfront."LaterXiaoZhangfiguredout（搞清楚，弄明白）that"blowyourhorn"mean"publicizeorboast（吹嘘，自夸）one'sabilitiesorachievements.TherehisfriendmeantthatXiaoZhangshouldnotbemodesbutshowoffhisstrongpoints（长处，优势）andmerits（优点）whenwritinghisresume.