get wind of – find out, hear gossip or rumors about. 听到...风声,风闻
go under the knife – have surgery. 动手术
gung ho – enthusiastic, eager. 狂热的,热情的;合作,同心协力
handy – can fix things, useful. 便利的,有用的
have a good head on one’s shoulders – be smart or sensible. 聪明;有见识;长了个聪明的脑袋
high-brow – intellectual, cultured person. 文化修养高的(人)
hold a grudge – not forgive someone for an insult or injury. 怀恨在心
hustler – person who gets money aggressively or unethically. 骗子,诈骗者
in black and white – in writing. 白纸黑字的(地),书面的(地)
jump the gun – start before you should. 过早行动,草率行事,操之过急
keep tabs on – watch, check. 密切监视,密切注意
knock-off – copy or imitation without permission. 山寨的,抄袭的
last straw – the last insult or injury that one can endure. 忍耐的极限
look up – to search for an item in an index. (从某个目录/数据库里)查找
make a dent in – make progress. 开始有了一点进展
make one’s mouth water - look or smell very good, make one want to eat or drink something one sees or smells。令人垂涎三尺的
miss a trick – fail to take advantage of every situation. 放过机会(一般会否定使用,就是不错失机会)
no picnic – not pleasant. (讽刺)并不愉快;不轻松;不好玩
off one’s rocker – crazy. 痴人说梦
on queer street – having a difficult life. (人生)困难模式。
on the rocks – breaking up, ruined. (婚姻关系)冷漠,冷淡
over a barrel – in a helpless, trapped position. 受人摆布,非常被动
peanuts – small amount of money. 塞牙缝的钱
pinch pennies – be thrifty, careful how you spend money. 花钱节省
plenty of – a lot of, abundance. 很多
put one’s foot down – object strongly, take firm preventative action. 气氛地表示反对
quack – an ignorant or fraudulent doctor. 江湖医生
red tape - excessive formalities in official business. 形式主义;繁文缛节
rub one the wrong way – annoy, bother, make angry. 得罪了某人;惹怒(或触犯)某人,使某人不痛快
see daylight – achieve or expect a favorable result. 看见曙光
sharp – smart, witty, quick thinking. 敏锐
side with – to support/ to agree with, 支持,与某人站在同一边
size up – form an opinion, assess. 估计;仔细考虑
split hairs – make trivial, unnecessary distinctions. 吹毛求疵。
stand up to someone – be brave, courageously confront someone. 勇敢得面对某人
straight from the horse’s mouth – directly from the person involved. 来源于本人;来自权威和可靠的消息
sweat bullets – be nervous, be very hot. 大汗淋漓;非常担心焦虑
take with a grain of salt – listen with skepticism. 不要轻信
throw in the towel – surrender, give up. 投降;放弃
tip someone off – warn, inform. 泄密
tourist trap – any place that is overpriced and attracts tourists. 宰客;旅客陷阱
up to one’s ears – deeply immersed in. 沉浸在某事物中;深陷于(债务等);忙得不可开交
water down – to make weaker or less effective. 掺水,兑水;削减;稀释
white as a ghost – very pale because of fear, shock, illness. 脸色苍白
wolf in sheep’s clothing – someone with hidden malicious intent pretending to be nice. 披着羊皮的狼。