1. 一根筋兒 one track-minded
別跟他較勁了。他一根筋兒，你還不知道？
Stop reasoning with him. Don’t you know he is one track-minded?
Example:
You feel chocked to work with those who are one track-minded.
A one track-minded person will not understand what you intend.
2.敗家子 a black sheep
這個敗家子，他幾乎毀了他爸爸的產(chǎn)業(yè)
This black sheep almost ruined his father’s business.
Example:
Joe is the black sheep of his family. He splashed nearly a hundred thousand U. S. dollar in a few year.
Dick is a black sheep, always bringing trouble to his family.
Jimmy is the black sheep of his family.Apart from playing hookey, he is also shoplifing a lot.
3.他那號人 people of his sort, people of his kind
你怎么知道我會變卦？我可不是那號人，整天喜怒無常，說變就變。
How could he think I would go back on my words? I am not his sort, who is fickle and always blowing hot and cold.
我可不是你那號人，整天嘮嘮叨叨，總愛挑人的不是?！ ?BR> I am not your sort, who is always keeping harping on things and trying to find fault with others.
干嗎懷疑她？她可不是你那號人，辦事總是偷偷摸摸的?！?BR> Why should you suspect her? She is not your sort, who is always doing things on the sly.
我可不是你那號人，老愛占別人的便宜?！?BR> I’m not your sort, who always wants to get the best of others.
Dialogue:
Mary: I can’t believe I’m down and out. I have to pinch pennies.
John: You can turn to me when the chips are down.
Mary: I know... but...
John: Come on, Mary. I know you can always get out from under. But I’m always glad to help.
Mary: Thank you all the same, John. But I think I can work things out and stand on my own feet again.
4. 難對付的人 a tartar / a hard nut to crack
Want him to follow your order? No way! He’s a tartar -- a hard nut to crack.
Dialogue
John: I’d like you to meet my friend, Linda. She’s a very nice girl to know.
Mary: I ran into her the other day at the fruit market.
John: How did you like her?
Mary: She’s indeed swell. (她確實很棒）
John: That’s why we hit it off.(hit it off: easy to get along)
Mary: But I don’t like he boyfriend. He really turns me off.
John: You mean Jack?
Mary: Yeah. He’s a tartar. Each time I met him he would jump down my throat. I can’t understand why Linda should lovman like him.
John: That’s what things are like. A nice girl usually married herself off to a man whom other people dislike . I hope you wouldn’t marry a tartar like Jack.
5.大人物 a bigwig/ a bigshot
Mr. Li is one of the bigwigs in this district. Nobody dares to take his offense.
6. 令人掃興的人 a wet blanket
She’s a real a wet blanket. She started quarreling with Li Ling when everyone of us was in high spirits.
7.馬*精 an apple-polisher
她真是個馬匹精，整天圍著老板眉來眼去的。
She’s a real apple-polisher for the way she’s crawling around the boss and making eyes at him.
8.鄉(xiāng)巴佬 a hayseed
She insisted that she would not marry herself off to a hayseed, no matter how rich he was.
9.當(dāng)二把手 play second fiddle
I feel it worth playing second fiddle to Mr. Wang. He’s so capable.
10.嘴甜的人 be honey-lipped
她的嘴特別甜，可會見什么人說什么話了?！?BR> She’s so honey-lipped that she knows how to tailor her words to please the ears of different people.
不能翻譯成：sweet-mouthed
11. 老古董 a stick-in-the-mud
You may regard my husband as a stick-in-the-mud, but on my part I like his personality of that kind.
12. 掃帚星 a jinx
She’s said to be a jinx, who would bring bad luck to whoever she marries.
13. 外粗內(nèi)秀的人 a rough diamond
She’s a rough diamond. Although she seems to be careless, she does everything tip-top.
14.海量 have a hollow leg
你想罐醉他？他可是海量，從來沒醉過?！ ?BR> Want to drink him under the table? Well... you can never do. He’s got a hollow leg, you know.
15. 不分上下 be neck and neck
The two teams have been playing for two hours, and yet, they are still neck and neck in their scores.
16. 絞盡腦汁 to rack one’s brain
He had racked his brain, but hadn’t been able to work out the answer to the problem.
17. 真了不起 really something
他真了不起，竟然一個人對付了那么多的對手。
He overwelmed so many of his opponents alone. He’s really something.
18.曇花一現(xiàn) a flash in the pan
那個歌星也只是曇花一現(xiàn)，出了幾張唱片就銷聲匿跡了。
That singer was only a flash in the pan. He disappeared into the air after having made one or two records.
Dialogue:
Tom: People said that the singer was a knowout. She was pretty and her performance brought the house down.
Sue: But the hit was only a flash in the pan. Her fame as a good singer didn’t last long.
Tom: Why was that?
Sue: There are many one-day stars like her. They all disppear into thin air.
Tom: But that shouldn’t be the case with her. She seems to have all the making for a star.
Sue：That’s the way of life.
19.一竅不通 not know beans about something
How can you let him into the business of selling life insurance? He doesn’t know beans about insurance business at all.
Example:
這是他第一次到中國來。他對中國的文化和風(fēng)土人情一竅不通?！ ?BR> This is his first visit in China. He doesn’t know beans about Chinese culture and their way of life.
20.寡不敵眾 be outnumbered
她很勇敢，但終因寡不敵眾，被那幫人打暈過去。
The girl was brave enough, but as being ournumbered, she was finally knocked into the middle of next week by the gang.
21. 單槍匹馬 play a lone hand
When investing in a business, he always likes to play a lone hand.
22. 吃得開 have a big drag with
You may ask him to help. He has a big drag with those guys.
23. 出師不利 get off on the wrong foot
His idea was good, but he got off on the wrong foot when he started doing it.
Example:
We seemed to have got off on the wrong foot when we started to market out new products, due to our ignorance of the actual market needs.
24. 還嫩點兒 still wet behind the ears
想陷害我？你還嫩點兒。
Attempt to do me in? You are still wet behind the ears.
25.You are really impossible. 你真讓人受不了。
26. 當(dāng)家 wear the pants in the family
看得出來，在你們家是你老婆當(dāng)家。
It’s obvious that it is your wife who wears the pants in your family.
這個我做不了主，你得問問我妻子，她是當(dāng)家的。
I’ve no say on this matter. You’ve have to ask my wife. She wears the pants in my family.
我可不想當(dāng)家。這個家還是由你來管吧?！?BR> I don’t want to wear the pants in this family. The authority is yours on this house.
在中國，很多當(dāng)家的都是女人。
In China, those who wear the pants in the family are mostly women.
27. 痛失良機(jī) Let something slip through one’s fingers.
你真蠢! 這樣一個發(fā)大財?shù)臋C(jī)會千載難逢，你怎能眼睜睜地讓它跑掉呢？
You can’t be more stupid! How could you let such a golden opportunity to make big money slip through your fingers? It was an opportunity that comes once in a blue moon.
28. 有資格 be in a position
對這樣的問題，我們沒有資格做出決定
On such an important issue, we’re not in a position to give the final decision.
29.頭腦有點不正常 have a few buttons missing
Anyone who says that must have a few buttons missing.
30. 站不住腳 not hold water
Whatever you may think, such a theory of yours does not hold water.
31. 唆使 put somebody up to
肯定有人唆使他去干那件事。
There must be be someone who had put him up to that.
Example:
Do you know who had put him up to that deal?
Why should you ask me to hold the bag? Wasn’t it you who had put me up to that?
32.心有余而力不足 The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
33.盲從 follow like sheep
They actually know nothing about what fashion is. They are only following others like sheep.
34. 聽其自然 let things slide
事到如今，我們]也只好聽其自然了?！ ?BR> With things as such, we’ll have to let things slide.
別跟他較勁了。他一根筋兒，你還不知道？
Stop reasoning with him. Don’t you know he is one track-minded?
Example:
You feel chocked to work with those who are one track-minded.
A one track-minded person will not understand what you intend.
2.敗家子 a black sheep
這個敗家子，他幾乎毀了他爸爸的產(chǎn)業(yè)
This black sheep almost ruined his father’s business.
Example:
Joe is the black sheep of his family. He splashed nearly a hundred thousand U. S. dollar in a few year.
Dick is a black sheep, always bringing trouble to his family.
Jimmy is the black sheep of his family.Apart from playing hookey, he is also shoplifing a lot.
3.他那號人 people of his sort, people of his kind
你怎么知道我會變卦？我可不是那號人，整天喜怒無常，說變就變。
How could he think I would go back on my words? I am not his sort, who is fickle and always blowing hot and cold.
我可不是你那號人，整天嘮嘮叨叨，總愛挑人的不是?！ ?BR> I am not your sort, who is always keeping harping on things and trying to find fault with others.
干嗎懷疑她？她可不是你那號人，辦事總是偷偷摸摸的?！?BR> Why should you suspect her? She is not your sort, who is always doing things on the sly.
我可不是你那號人，老愛占別人的便宜?！?BR> I’m not your sort, who always wants to get the best of others.
Dialogue:
Mary: I can’t believe I’m down and out. I have to pinch pennies.
John: You can turn to me when the chips are down.
Mary: I know... but...
John: Come on, Mary. I know you can always get out from under. But I’m always glad to help.
Mary: Thank you all the same, John. But I think I can work things out and stand on my own feet again.
4. 難對付的人 a tartar / a hard nut to crack
Want him to follow your order? No way! He’s a tartar -- a hard nut to crack.
Dialogue
John: I’d like you to meet my friend, Linda. She’s a very nice girl to know.
Mary: I ran into her the other day at the fruit market.
John: How did you like her?
Mary: She’s indeed swell. (她確實很棒）
John: That’s why we hit it off.(hit it off: easy to get along)
Mary: But I don’t like he boyfriend. He really turns me off.
John: You mean Jack?
Mary: Yeah. He’s a tartar. Each time I met him he would jump down my throat. I can’t understand why Linda should lovman like him.
John: That’s what things are like. A nice girl usually married herself off to a man whom other people dislike . I hope you wouldn’t marry a tartar like Jack.
5.大人物 a bigwig/ a bigshot
Mr. Li is one of the bigwigs in this district. Nobody dares to take his offense.
6. 令人掃興的人 a wet blanket
She’s a real a wet blanket. She started quarreling with Li Ling when everyone of us was in high spirits.
7.馬*精 an apple-polisher
她真是個馬匹精，整天圍著老板眉來眼去的。
She’s a real apple-polisher for the way she’s crawling around the boss and making eyes at him.
8.鄉(xiāng)巴佬 a hayseed
She insisted that she would not marry herself off to a hayseed, no matter how rich he was.
9.當(dāng)二把手 play second fiddle
I feel it worth playing second fiddle to Mr. Wang. He’s so capable.
10.嘴甜的人 be honey-lipped
她的嘴特別甜，可會見什么人說什么話了?！?BR> She’s so honey-lipped that she knows how to tailor her words to please the ears of different people.
不能翻譯成：sweet-mouthed
11. 老古董 a stick-in-the-mud
You may regard my husband as a stick-in-the-mud, but on my part I like his personality of that kind.
12. 掃帚星 a jinx
She’s said to be a jinx, who would bring bad luck to whoever she marries.
13. 外粗內(nèi)秀的人 a rough diamond
She’s a rough diamond. Although she seems to be careless, she does everything tip-top.
14.海量 have a hollow leg
你想罐醉他？他可是海量，從來沒醉過?！ ?BR> Want to drink him under the table? Well... you can never do. He’s got a hollow leg, you know.
15. 不分上下 be neck and neck
The two teams have been playing for two hours, and yet, they are still neck and neck in their scores.
16. 絞盡腦汁 to rack one’s brain
He had racked his brain, but hadn’t been able to work out the answer to the problem.
17. 真了不起 really something
他真了不起，竟然一個人對付了那么多的對手。
He overwelmed so many of his opponents alone. He’s really something.
18.曇花一現(xiàn) a flash in the pan
那個歌星也只是曇花一現(xiàn)，出了幾張唱片就銷聲匿跡了。
That singer was only a flash in the pan. He disappeared into the air after having made one or two records.
Dialogue:
Tom: People said that the singer was a knowout. She was pretty and her performance brought the house down.
Sue: But the hit was only a flash in the pan. Her fame as a good singer didn’t last long.
Tom: Why was that?
Sue: There are many one-day stars like her. They all disppear into thin air.
Tom: But that shouldn’t be the case with her. She seems to have all the making for a star.
Sue：That’s the way of life.
19.一竅不通 not know beans about something
How can you let him into the business of selling life insurance? He doesn’t know beans about insurance business at all.
Example:
這是他第一次到中國來。他對中國的文化和風(fēng)土人情一竅不通?！ ?BR> This is his first visit in China. He doesn’t know beans about Chinese culture and their way of life.
20.寡不敵眾 be outnumbered
她很勇敢，但終因寡不敵眾，被那幫人打暈過去。
The girl was brave enough, but as being ournumbered, she was finally knocked into the middle of next week by the gang.
21. 單槍匹馬 play a lone hand
When investing in a business, he always likes to play a lone hand.
22. 吃得開 have a big drag with
You may ask him to help. He has a big drag with those guys.
23. 出師不利 get off on the wrong foot
His idea was good, but he got off on the wrong foot when he started doing it.
Example:
We seemed to have got off on the wrong foot when we started to market out new products, due to our ignorance of the actual market needs.
24. 還嫩點兒 still wet behind the ears
想陷害我？你還嫩點兒。
Attempt to do me in? You are still wet behind the ears.
25.You are really impossible. 你真讓人受不了。
26. 當(dāng)家 wear the pants in the family
看得出來，在你們家是你老婆當(dāng)家。
It’s obvious that it is your wife who wears the pants in your family.
這個我做不了主，你得問問我妻子，她是當(dāng)家的。
I’ve no say on this matter. You’ve have to ask my wife. She wears the pants in my family.
我可不想當(dāng)家。這個家還是由你來管吧?！?BR> I don’t want to wear the pants in this family. The authority is yours on this house.
在中國，很多當(dāng)家的都是女人。
In China, those who wear the pants in the family are mostly women.
27. 痛失良機(jī) Let something slip through one’s fingers.
你真蠢! 這樣一個發(fā)大財?shù)臋C(jī)會千載難逢，你怎能眼睜睜地讓它跑掉呢？
You can’t be more stupid! How could you let such a golden opportunity to make big money slip through your fingers? It was an opportunity that comes once in a blue moon.
28. 有資格 be in a position
對這樣的問題，我們沒有資格做出決定
On such an important issue, we’re not in a position to give the final decision.
29.頭腦有點不正常 have a few buttons missing
Anyone who says that must have a few buttons missing.
30. 站不住腳 not hold water
Whatever you may think, such a theory of yours does not hold water.
31. 唆使 put somebody up to
肯定有人唆使他去干那件事。
There must be be someone who had put him up to that.
Example:
Do you know who had put him up to that deal?
Why should you ask me to hold the bag? Wasn’t it you who had put me up to that?
32.心有余而力不足 The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
33.盲從 follow like sheep
They actually know nothing about what fashion is. They are only following others like sheep.
34. 聽其自然 let things slide
事到如今，我們]也只好聽其自然了?！ ?BR> With things as such, we’ll have to let things slide.