on one’s back = harassed by, or bedridden(through illness or disability)<口>被折磨，卧病
She keeps nagging me, she’s always on my back.
她唠唠叨叨地责骂个我没完。她总是在折磨我。
It’s good to go for a walk again; I’ve been on my back with flu for a week.
又能去散步真是太好了，因患流行性感冒我已卧病一周了。
pat on the back = congratulate/praise(mildly)对•••表示庆贺[赞扬、鼓励]
He’s worked better than usual this week, I think he deserves some sort of pat on the back.
这星期他比平时干得好，我认为他应受到某种表扬。
stab in the back = betrayal背信弃义；伤人的暗箭
I was stabbed in the back by my assistant who got promotion in preference to me because he told them about my forthcoming divorce.
由于我的助手告诉人们我即将离婚，因此他先于我晋升，他暗害了我。
take a back seat = adopt an inconspicuous/inferior position or role处于次要地位；知趣靠边
It’s about time you took a back seat and let your son run the business.
你该退居二线了，让你儿子来经营吧。
talk through the back of one’s neck = talk nonsense胡说八道
She was talking through the back of her neck when she said I was going to resign from my job.
她在胡说八道，说我要辞职了。
through the back door = in an unofficial way, indirectly 开后门，不正当的秘密途径
They were so involved with the main issues that I was able to slip through the back door.
他们都深深地卷入了这些大争端，通过后门我才得以摆脱。
to the backbone = absolutely, unquestioningly彻底地，绝对地
He’ll never give credit to a Lancashire team – he’s a Yorkshireman to the backbone.
他从来不相信兰开郡队－他是一个地地道道的约克郡人。
turn one’s back on = abandon, deliberately ignore抛弃；否认
Although you disapprove of Mary’s behavior, you can’t turn you back on the fact that she’s still your daughter.
尽管你不赞成玛利的行为，但是你不能否认她仍然是你女儿。
when one’s back is turned = when one is not looking or absent不注意[不在]
I told you not to use the cooker, yet as soon as my back was turned you were frying eggs and bacon.
我告诉你不要用这厨灶，可是我刚一转身，你就在炒鸡蛋和咸肉了。
you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours = you do me a favor and I will do you one in return为了与己方便而给某人以方便；投之以桃，报之以李
If you give me a hand clearing the rubbish from my garden I’ll help you to paint your house - you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.
如果你帮助我把这些垃圾从我的花园中清除出去，我会帮助你粉刷房子-投桃报李嘛！
2/6
to the backbone
He is honest to the backbone
turn one's back on
He's always been kind to me. I can't just turn my back on him now because he's ill and poor.
when one’s back is turned
The boss was certain that the staff would stop working as soon as his back was turned.
老板确定他一个不注意员工就会偷懒不工作了。
you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours
The contract went to a friend of the chief accountant - you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.
合同给了总会计师的朋友，大家都方便。
background
keep/remain/stay in the background = be deliberately inconspicuous不露面
Although he finances most of the club’s events he keeps mainly in the background.
尽管他为俱乐部的很多活动筹措资金，但是他主要置身于幕后。
backward
bend/lean over backwards = take great trouble to be accommodating or helpful竭尽全力
The examination candidates were not very good but the examiner bent over backwards to let as many pass as possible.
投考者们考得很不理想，但主考官竭尽全力让尽可能多的人通过。
not backward in coming forward = attention-seeking, not shy引起注意的；不羞怯畏缩的
There she goes, making eyes at the boss, she’s certainly not backward in coming forward.
她来这一套了，向老板频频送秋波。她当然是不会羞怯萎缩的。
bad
bad blood (between people)=ill feeling（相互之间的）恶感
I’m not surprised they fought each other last night, there has always been bad blood between them.
昨晚他们打架我并不惊奇，他们之间的仇恨由来已久。
发表于 2009-2-2 16:20:59
楼主
发表于 2009-2-3 20:29:05