◆also
●also-ran = loser <口>（比赛，竞赛等的）失败者
★He tried for the job but was among the also-rans.
他设法得到那份工作，但失败了。
◆amends
●make amends (for) = make up (for), compensate赔罪；赔偿
★I’m sorry I’m late, but perhaps a good meal will make amends for my keeping you waiting.
对不起，我迟到了，不过也许请你吃一顿美味佳肴将可以补偿我让你的久久等候。
◆amount
●amount to = reach the total of, or signify, be equal to/develop into共计为；意味着，等于；发展[成长]为
★His failure to reply amounts to a refusal.
他不回答等于拒绝。
★What she said amounted to very little.
她说的话无关紧要。
◆angel
●guardian angel = protector(who seeks no reward)（某人或某地的）守护天使（不求报酬）
★She will not accept anything for looking after my father when he was ill; she has been a real guardian angel to him.
我父亲患病时，她无偿照料他。她是他真正的守护天使。
●like an angel=with purity and/or innocence天使般的（纯洁、善良、可爱）
★Despite his bad reputation, he behaved like an angel at the school party.
尽管他名声不佳，但在学校的聚会上他仍然表现得像个天使。
●on the side of the angels = in favor of what is correct/moral在正确的一方，在道义的一方
★In any dispute, he always comes down on the side of the angels.
在任何争执中，他总是反对正确的一方。
◆angle
●angle for = try to obtain something using hints<喻>（用暗示、手段、诡计等）猎取
★He asked me how work was going but he was really angling for information about the new machines.
他向我询问工作进展如何，但他实在是想猎取有关新机器的信息。
◆animal
●rare animal = somebody of unusual ability/talent, or with an unusual combination of abilities有与众不同的才能或奇特才能合一的人
★He’s that rare animal, a professional musician and a scientist.
他是奇特才能合一的人，既是职业音乐家又是科学家。
●behave like an animal = (of people)behave in an inhuman or very antisocial way（指人）表现得野蛮[孤僻]；行为像动物一样
★The crowd behaved like animals, pushing and fighting among themselves.
那群人野蛮无比，互相推搡又互相殴打。
●dumb animals = animals, emphasizing their non-human status and inability to speak for themselves（复）哑巴牲口（含有怜悯或轻蔑的意思）
★You mustn’t be cruel to dumb animals.
你不准对不会说话的牲口凶狠残忍。
●lower/worse than animals = (of people)inhuman or very antisocial（指人）连动物都不如
★I have no sympathy for football hooligans – they are worse than animals.
我一点也不同情足球流氓-他们连动物都不如。
◆answer
●answer back = reply cheekily<口>回嘴，顶嘴
★Be quiet! I’ve told you not to answer back.
住嘴！我已告诉你不要顶嘴。
●be answerable for = accept responsibility for对•••有责任的，应负责的
★If you don’t stop it, I won’t be answerable for my actions.
如果你不停止，我就不对我的行动负责了。
●know all the answers = be adept/well informed (possibly in a conceited way)<口>（自以为）什么都精通
★He thinks he knows all the answers, but he can’t drive a car.
他以为他样样精通，但是却不会开车。
“an old wives'tale” （くだらない話）
もっともらしく世間に知れ渡ってはいるが、信憑性のない話やウソの話、格言のことです。“it's bad luck to cut your fingernails at night.（夜爪を切ると悪いことが起きる）”というような、裏づけのない迷信などをこう言います。直訳すると、「お歳を召した主婦のおとぎ話」ということで、なるほどと思うのかどうか・・・お任せします。
“spring chicken” （青二才）
若くて、経験が足りない人のことです。歳を取った人々のことを、“He's no spring chicken（彼はもう若くはない）”とネガティブな意味でこのイディオムを使って表現することがあります。
“a new kid on the block” （新顔）
新しく何かを始めた人、組織や集団に新しく加わった人（新入社員のような）のことを指します。
●straight answer = unambiguous reply, without being devious坦率的回答，不兜圈子
★The trouble is, whatever you ask, he will never give you a straight answer.
麻烦的是，无论你问什么，他从不愿坦率的回答。
●the answer’s a lemon = a non-answer to a long involved/boring question<口>（一种无实意的俏皮答语，用于回答荒谬或难答得问题）回答是“柠檬”
★I can’t remember every detail of what you said, but I suspect the answer’s a lemon!
我记不住你所说的每一个细节，我对于你的问题无法回答。
◆apart
●apart from = aside from, or except for/besides, as well as撇开，除•••以外；且不说
★Apart from the fact that the price is too high, I doubt that we really need it.
除了价格太高外，我还怀疑我们是不是真需要它。
●tell apart = distinguish(between)区分
★The twins are so alike, it’s impossible to tell them apart.
这对双胞胎张得如此相象，无法加以区分。
发表于 2008-11-23 12:55:05
楼主