1.人山人海：有人直譯為：People mountain people sea.
這就是「中國英文」，老外很難理解。他們指「人多」時，通常只說：「There isa large crowd of people.」如果看到電*門前大排長龍，也只說：「There is (was) a long movie line.」
不過在詩詞用語 (poetic expression) 里，老外也有使用：「a (the) sea of faces」，頗有咱們「人山人?！沟奈兜?。例如：
Looking out upon the sea of faces, Mr. A delivered a touching speech.(望著一片人山人海的聽眾， A先生發(fā)表一篇動人的演說。)
Standing at his podium, President Clinton saw a sea of faces waving at him.(柯林頓總統(tǒng)站在講臺上看到人山人海的人群揮手向他致意。)
可見，說話者通常要在臺上或高處，才有「人海」的感覺。因此，可以說：I saw a sea of faces from the top of the building. 但在平地的人群中，就不說：「I saw the sea of faces.」也不說：「There is a sea of faces.」只說：「I saw a large crowd of people.」
2.家家有本難念的經(jīng)：有人譯成：Every family cooking - pot has a black spot. (意思是：每個家庭的鍋子都有黑色的污點)
這樣說法，老外恐怕不能充分了解。不過老外最常的說法是：
Many families have skeletons in the closet. (許多家庭的衣柜里都有骨骸) (骨骸就是指家丑)
或者說：
Every family has its own source of shame. (每個家庭都有自己的丑事)
說白些，就是：
Every family has its own problem.
3.天下無不散的宴席：有人直譯為：There are no feasts in the world which do not break up at last.
老外聽后，也許很難體會其中意義。如果按照美語說法，也許更易理解：
All good things come to an end.(意思是：所有好的事情，總有結(jié)束的一天。)
假如是指好友最后也有分別的一天，那么可以說：
Eventually, all bosom friends will drift apart. (bosom friend 是指知心的好友)
4.平時不燒香，臨時抱佛腳：有人照字直譯為：When times are easy, we do not burn the incense,but when the trouble comes, we embrace the feet of the Buddha.
這種說法，老外也會「一知半解」。美語里一般說法是：
Worship God every day; not just in times of adversity. (要每天敬拜神，不是只在困難時。)
對學(xué)生也可以說：
If you study hard every day, exams will not seem overwhelming.(如果你每天用功，考試就不會形成壓力。)