English the American way语言笔记
we bet you were ready for that.
我要去商场I’m headed to the mall.
huge sale
The meeting got off track=off the subject
They couldn’t make any progress at the meeting because the boss had a one-track mind and could only talk about his golf game that afternoon.
Don’t go on a bad hair day. You’ll be stuck with that license photo for a long time.
If you like your meat very lightly cooked, order it rare.
代驾designated driver
You’ll need to have gear for hot weather and cold, for rain and sunshine.
•gear: equipment; stuff you need
Our camping trip was sure a surprise.
Tips/gratuity could be a hidden extra!
A room will usually have either one king-sized bed or two queen-sized.
•travel light: pack very few things when you travel
a last resort: a last choice
You still have a grace period before you get slapped with a late fee
I want to make sure my credit rating/score is good
grace period: a time period after the due date when you can pay a bill without a penalty
•late fee: money the company charges if you don’t pay on time
slapped with: charged for
bring down the house: have an audience become very excited
It was a good concert from the beginning, but when the band played its biggest hit,
they brought down the house
get a good picture:understand clearly
•the picture of health: in excellent health
Now he looks well rested and the picture of health
comfy: comfortable
freebie: something special you get without paying
•sink your teeth into something: do something in an excited way
This is a well-written book about an interesting subject. I can really sink my teeth into it
.by the skin of your teeth: just barely manage to escape a big problem
Wow, that was close! I missed crashing my bike into that car by the skin of my teeth.
•like pulling teeth: do something with a lot of difficulty
It was like pulling teeth when the woman tried to get her cell phone company to discuss a cheaper rate.
•a sight for sore eyes: something that is wonderful to see
Lin hadn’t seen James for months. When he came home, he was a sight for sore eyes.
•not see eye to eye: disagree
They couldn’t see eye to eye on their vacation plans. He wanted to go to the beach, and she wanted to go to the mountains.
•going to the dogs: getting bad
His lunch business started going to the dogs when the stores next to him closed.
up in the air: uncertain; not sure
Her plans to go to the movies were up in the air until she knew if she had to work late
over my head: too complicated to understand
I couldn’t understand their conversation about the mathematics of space and the planets; it was way over my head.\
out of the loop: not knowing what’s going on
Mary Ellen’s entire family was planning a vacation, but Mary Ellen was so busy with her work project that she felt completely out of the loop.
•take your pick: choose any one
She was first on line for the special sale, so she got to take her pick of the best dresses.
Half-price tickets are often called two-fers. Can you guess why? They’re priced so that you can buy two fer (for) the price of one!
•for a song: for a very low price
The shop at the beach was closing for the winter, so she was able to buy a swimsuit for a song.
•face the music: handle consequences of an action
She was unprepared for the meeting, so she had to face the music when her boss asked for a report.
Don’t forget: you must be 21 to buy alcohol in the United States. Most
places will card you.
(VERB) 要求…出示证明文件(表明达到买酒或饮酒的年龄等) If you are carded, someone in authority asks you to show a document to prove that you are old enough to do something, for example, to buy or drink alcohol.
catch a movie: going to a movie (can also be used in other contexts, such as, catching a baseball game, catching a show)
date can be the event and the person! Confused? That’s English for you!)
•on the rocks: when a relationship starts to have problems
I think our neighbors’ marriage is on the rocks. All I do is hear them fighting.
can’t stand the sight of: hate something
nerve-racking (can also be spelled nerve-wracking): very stressful
•秃顶的另一种表达方式
smooth as a baby’s bottom: completely smooth; often used to talk about a man’s head
Steven started losing his hair at age 30. By the time he was 50, his head was smooth as a baby’s bottom
冷知识
死胡同cul-de-sac: a short street that is closed at one end
cream of the crop: the best of the best
Our company only interviews the cream of the crop from the top universities.
•work like a dog: work very hard
He wanted to make a good impression on his boss, so he worked like a dog to finish the report early.
