Idiom List – III

Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V | Part VI | Part VII
image about idiom a little bird told me

點擊標題,閱讀成語的詳細說明

the writing on the wall 惡兆已現

I think we should start looking for new jobs—the writing’s on the wall here.
我覺得我們應該開始找新工作了,這裡的狀況很明顯不太樂觀。


be taken aback 感到驚訝

I was really taken aback when she remembered my birthday after all these years.
這麼多年過去了,她竟然還記得我的生日,真的讓我很驚訝。


acid test 嚴格考驗

Landing my first real job out of college was the real acid test for me.
大學畢業後找到第一份真正的工作,才是真正考驗我的時候。


to have an axe to grind 別有圖謀

I don’t really trust him—he always seems to have an axe to grind.
我其實不太信任他——他好像總是有自己的打算。


back burner 暫時擱置

Let’s put this project on the back burner until we have more time.
我們暫時先把這個專案擱一旁,等之後有多一點時間再來處理。


to beat a retreat 打退堂鼓

He wanted to join the team, but now he’s starting to beat a retreat.
他本來想加入團隊,但現在開始打退堂鼓了。


beauty and the beast 美女與野獸

Their relationship is kind of a beauty and the beast situation, but it totally works.
他們的關係有點像美女與野獸,但卻意外地很合拍。


the beginning of the end 衰敗的開端

Skipping those regular check-ups was really the beginning of the end for his health.
沒有去做那些定期健康檢查,其實就是他健康走下坡的開端。


to go berserk 抓狂暴走

If my computer crashes one more time, I’m seriously gonna go berserk.
我的電腦如果再當機一次,我真的會抓狂。


a big wig 大人物

Apparently, her uncle’s a big wig at that company, so she got the job easily.
聽說她舅舅在那家公司是個大人物,所以她很輕鬆就拿到那份工作了。


to the bitter end 撐到底

Even if things get tough, I’m sticking with you to the bitter end.
就算再怎麼困難,我也會陪你走到底。


to blackball 封殺、剔除

He got blackballed from the club after that huge argument with the manager.
他在和經理大吵一架之後,就被俱樂部排擠出去了。


to blacklist 列入黑名單

After what he did, she totally blacklisted him from all her future parties.
在他做了那件事之後,她徹底把他列入以後所有派對的黑名單。


blue blood 名門望族

Emily acts like she has blue blood, but she’s really just like everyone else.
Emily表現得好像自己很高貴,但其實她跟大家一樣普通。


blue-chip 優良、價值高

Amazon’s always been a blue-chip stock; it’s solid and holds its value.
亞馬遜一直被認為是績優股,表現穩健,價值也很有保障。


brand-new 全新的、嶄新的

I just got a brand-new phone and I can’t stop playing with it.
我剛買了一支新手機,忍不住一直在玩。


on the breadline 貧困

Ever since he lost his job, he’s really been living on the breadline.
自從他失業之後,日子過得非常辛苦。


in the cards 在預期之中

Honestly, after the way things were going, that break-up was totally in the cards.
老實說,以我們當時的情況來看,分手真的一點都不意外。


cheek by jowl 緊密相連

Those two have been working cheek by jowl ever since they joined the team.
他們兩個自從加入團隊後一直非常密切地合作。


to cry wolf 假警報

If you keep crying wolf, no one’s gonna believe you when it’s actually serious.
如果你一直說謊騙人,等到真的發生嚴重事情時,就沒有人會相信你了。


to curry favor 討好、獻殷勤

He always brings coffee for the boss to curry favor before big meetings.
每次開重要會議前,他都會幫老闆買咖啡,想討好對方。


a dark horse 黑馬、意外勝出

She was really a dark horse in the competition and totally surprised everyone by winning.
她在比賽中真的是一匹黑馬,最後贏得冠軍,讓大家都大吃一驚。


David and Goliath 以小搏大

It was a real David and Goliath moment when our tiny team beat the champions.
當我們這支小隊打敗冠軍時,真的像是小蝦米對抗大鯨魚的經典時刻。


D-day 重大日子、行動開始日

Tomorrow’s the D-day for our big project launch, and I’m honestly a little nervous.
明天就是我們重大專案的發表日了,說真的我有點緊張。


the devil to pay 後果嚴重

If you mess this up again, there’s gonna be the devil to pay, I’m serious.
如果你再搞砸一次,就真的要出大事了,我是認真的。


the die is cast 已成定局

Well, the die is cast now—there’s no turning back after that decision.
既然都已經做出決定,就沒有回頭路了。


in the doldrums 沉悶、低迷

I’ve been in the doldrums all week and just can’t seem to snap out of it.
我這禮拜心情一直很低落,怎麼樣都提不起勁。


a lame duck 跛鴨、失去影響力

Ever since the election, the mayor’s been a total lame duck around here.
自從選舉之後,市長在這裡就變成了毫無實權的人物。


to bite the dust 失敗、掛掉

My old phone finally bit the dust, so I had to get a new one.
我的舊手機終於壞了,所以我只好換了一支新的。


an eager beaver 熱心積極者

Jake’s such an eager beaver—he always volunteers for everything at work.
Jake 工作非常主動,什麼事都搶著做。


at the eleventh hour 最後關頭

He finished his essay at the eleventh hour, just before the deadline.
他在最後一刻、截止前才完成他的論文。