have the ball at one’s feet = be in a position to make the next move有希望一蹴而就；有机会获得成功
We’ll have to wait and see what Sheila has to say, the ball’s at her feet.
我们得等着瞧希拉要说什么，她有希望一蹴而就。
keep one’s eye on the ball = be alert, continue to pay attention to something保持警觉
The work passes through this office so quickly that you have to keep your eye on the ball to make sure nothing get missed.
这个办公室这么快完成了这一工作，因此必须保持警觉，以确保毫无遗漏。
have the ball in one’s court = have to make the next move有待某人做出反应[采取行动]
The ball’s in his court and we can only wait for him to give a decision.
轮到他采取行动，而我们只能等他做出决定。
keep/set/start the ball rolling = continue/begin doing something开始某种活动，是•••继续下去
I shall be a bit late for the party so would you please keep the ball rolling until I arrive.
我将稍迟赴宴，因此我人未到请不要结束。
new ballgame = totally different set of (competitive) circumstances新情况
They have asked us to change the specification, but then it would be a completely new ballgame.
他们要求我们改变规格，不过情况也将完全改变。
on the ball = alert, well informed 机警的，留心的
Jane will probably know, she’s always on the ball.
简也许会知道，她是始终留意着的。
play ball with somebody = cooperate with somebody<口>与某人合作
He is very helpful and it is easy to play ball with him.
他非常肯帮忙，与他合作很容易。
balloon
(when) the balloon goes/went up = moment of crisis/trouble<口>出乱子（时），发生大吵大闹（时）；发生危机（时）
Wait till she finds out-then watch the balloon go up.
等她查明真相-然后就有好戏看了。
The balloon will go up when the manager gets to know that.
经理知道了那件事将大发脾气。
banana
banana republic = small unstable and underdeveloped nation<贬>香蕉共和国（指只靠出口诸如香蕉等单一经济作物且受外资控制的拉丁美洲小国），不稳定的发展中的小国家
There’s no point in putting in a big export effort just to sell a few goods to some remote banana republic.
花很大的精力只将一些货物出口销售到遥远的不稳定的发展中的小国家，实在毫无意义。
be/go bananas = lose one’s temper发狂
He went bananas when he saw the damage to his wife’s car.
当他看到妻子的汽车受到损坏时，他大发雷霆。
slip on a banana skin = make a gaffe失礼
The Foreign Secretary slipped on a banana skin when he accidentally referred to foreigners as wogs.
当外交大臣无意中把外国人称为外国佬时，他失言了。
band
beat the band = be extreme (in some respect)<美俚>大大地（在某些方面）
His lawnmower makes enough noise to beat the band.
他的割草机嘈杂极了。
one-man band = work by oneself(with no helpers)单干（没人帮助）
It’s amazing how many items he makes in a day considering he’s only a one-man band.
考虑到他单干，一天内他能完成了这么多项目实在令人惊奇。
bandit
one-armed bandit = fruit machine(gambling)吃角子老虎（一种投币式赌博机）
I won six pounds on the pub’s one-armed bandit.
我在酒店的吃角子老虎机上赢了6英镑。
楼主
发表于 2009-2-26 19:27:03