20 English Idioms With Meanings And Examples

The English language is strange, breaking  a leg or getting knocked out is something  

英语很奇怪，摔断腿或被击倒是我们

most of us want to avoid, but  we use positive phrases like  

大多数人都想避免的事情，但我们使用积极的短语，如

‘break a leg’ and ‘knock yourself out’  - and these are positive instructions.

“摔断腿”和“击倒自己”——这些都是积极的指示。

Are you confused?

你困惑吗？

In today’s lesson I am going to cover 20 funny and  

在今天的课程中，我将介绍

weirdly wonderful English phrases that  are commonly used in everyday English.

日常英语中常用的 20 个有趣且奇妙的英语短语。 您可以通过

You can download the lesson notes and worksheet by  

单击下面的链接并输入您的详细信息

clicking on the link below  and entering your details.

来下载课程笔记和工作表 。

So, let’s get started.

那么，让我们开始吧。

The first phrase is “hold your horses.”

第一句话是“hold your horses”。

This phrase means ‘wait a moment’ or ‘calm down’.

这个短语的意思是“等一下”或“冷静下来”。

“I know you’re hungry but hold  your horses, I haven't finished  

“我知道你饿了，但别着急，我

dishing up yet, and you need to wash your hands.”

菜还没上完，你要洗手。”

“The best thing since sliced bread.”

“自切片面包以来最好的东西。”

This phrase means that something  is very good or innovative.

这个短语表示某事非常好或有创意。

“This new toaster is the best  thing since sliced bread,  

“这款新烤面包机是自切片面包以来最好的东西，

it makes perfect toast and can  even boil an egg at the same time.”

它可以制作完美的吐司，甚至可以同时煮鸡蛋。”

Next, we have “elephant in the room.”

接下来，我们有“房间里的大象”。

This phrase refers to a problem or issue that  everyone is aware of but no one is discussing.

这个短语指的是每个人都知道但没有人讨论的问题或问题。

Everyone is simply ignoring it or not  talking about the most obvious thing.

每个人都只是忽略它或不谈论最明显的事情。

- Hi Sarah.

- 嗨莎拉。

- Hi.

- 你好。

- Ermmm, so I… Is everything ok?

- Ermmm，所以我……一切都好吗？

- Yes, yes fine… I just wondered…

- 是的，很好......我只是想知道......

- What?

- 什么？

- I just wondered whether you had  read this letter from Mr Green?

- 我只是想知道你是否读过格林先生的这封信？

- No, no I haven’t.

- 不，不，我没有。

- Ok…errmmm, can we just address the  elephant in the room for a minute, please?

- 好吧……呃嗯嗯，我们可以对房间里的大象说一分钟吗​​？

Why are you wearing a blue  T-shirt on your head to work?”

你为什么头上戴着一件蓝色的T恤去上班？”

- Oh, this. Sorry,  

- 哦，这个。抱歉，

I should have said when I came in… I had a  little accident with the nose hair trimmers…

我进来的时候应该说……我的鼻毛修剪器出了点小意外……

Next is “couch potato.”

接下来是“沙发土豆”。

This phrase refers to someone  who is lazy and spends a lot  

这个短语指的是懒惰并且花很多

of time sitting on the couch watching TV.

时间坐在沙发上看电视的人。

“I used to be a couch potato,  

“我曾经是个宅男，

but then I got up and realised there was  a whole world outside my living room.”

但后来我站起来，发现客厅外面还有整个世界。”

“Go bananas” or “Go nuts.”

“疯狂”或“发疯”。

This phrase means to become very excited or  angry and to let loose, release all your energy.

这个短语的意思是变得非常兴奋或生气，然后放松，释放你所有的能量。

“I’ve been on hold for 25 minutes.  

“我已经等了 25 分钟。

I’m going to go bananas if they don’t pick  up soon (disconnect tone). They cut me off.”

如果他们不尽快接电话，我会发疯的（断开音）。他们打断了我。”

“Knock yourself out.”

“把自己打昏。”

Now ‘knock out’ can mean to be made unconscious,  usually through an impact like a punch.

现在'knock out' 可以表示失去知觉，通常是通过像一拳这样的冲击。

“A boxer knocks out his opponent.”

“一个拳击手击倒了他的对手。”

But if I tell you to knock yourself out  it means ‘go ahead’ or ‘do as you please’.

但是，如果我告诉你让自己精疲力竭，那意味着“继续前进”或“随心所欲”。

- Can I have some more pizza?

- 我能再吃点披萨吗？

- Yeah, knock yourself out.

- 是的，把自己打倒。

“I've got a bone to pick with you.”

“我跟你有意见。”

This phrase means ‘I have a problem or an  issue that I need to discuss with you’.

这句话的意思是“我有问题或问题需要与您讨论”。

It often suggests that you  are in some sort of trouble.

它通常表明您遇到了某种麻烦。

“Annabelle come here,  

“Annabelle 过来，

I’ve got a bone to pick with you. You ate the  last of the ice cream and didn't save me any.”

我有话要跟你说。你吃了最后一个冰淇淋，也没救我。”

“Don't give up your day job.”

“不要放弃你的日常工作。”

This phrase is used to tell someone that  they are not very good at something.

这个短语用来告诉某人他们不太擅长某事。

Be careful with this one as it  may upset the listener to hear it.

小心这个，因为它可能会让听众感到不安。

- I love singing in the shower.

- 我喜欢在淋浴时唱歌。

- Yeah, I heard you wailing  in the shower this morning.

- 是的，我听到你今天早上在淋浴时哭泣。

- Oh, sorry was I a bit loud?

- 哦，对不起，我是不是有点吵？

- Just don’t give up your day job.

- 只是不要放弃你的日常工作。

“Pardon my French.”

“抱歉我法语不好。”

This phrase is used as an  apology for using a swear word.

这句话被用作使用脏话的道歉。

“Sorry, I’m late, the traffic  was a real pain in the a**.

“抱歉，我来晚了，堵车真让人头疼。

Oh, pardon my French.”

哦，请原谅我的法语。”

“Put a sock in it.”

“一击即中。”

If you tell someone to put a sock in it then  you are asking them to be quiet or stop talking.

如果你告诉某人在里面放一只袜子，那么你就是在要求他们保持安静或停止说话。

It shouldn’t be used in formal situations.

它不应该在正式场合使用。

“Can you put a sock in it?

“你能把袜子放进去吗？

I'm trying to watch this movie.”

我想看这部电影。”

“Lights are on but no one's home.”

“灯亮着，但没人在家。”

This phrase means someone is not paying  attention or they're not fully present.

这个短语意味着某人没有注意或他们没有完全在场。

“I keep trying to explain to  my teenage boy that he needs  

“我一直试图向我十几岁的儿子解释，

to put his laundry into the laundry  basket if he wants me to wash it,  

如果他想让我洗衣服，他需要把他的衣服放进洗衣篮，

but it’s pointless, it’s like the  lights are on but no one's home.”

但这毫无意义，就像灯亮了，但没人在家。”

“Drink like a fish.”

“像鱼一样喝酒。”

This phrase means to drink a lot of alcohol.

这句话的意思是喝很多酒。

“I imagine that his liver is very unhappy, he has  a terrible diet and always drinks like a fish.”

“我想他的肝脏很不开心，他的饮食很糟糕，而且总是像鱼一样喝酒。”

Next, we have “Break a leg.”

接下来，我们有“打断一条腿”。

And this phrase is used as a way  of wishing someone good luck,  

这句话被用作祝某人好运的一种方式，

especially before a performance.

尤其是在表演之前。

“Oh, I’ll be in the front row watching you on  stage. Break a leg, you're going to be great.”

“哦，我会在前排看着你上台。打断一条腿，你会很棒的。”

“Not playing with a full deck.”

“不玩一副完整的牌组。”

This phrase means that someone is  not quite sane or not very smart.

这个短语的意思是某人不太理智或不太聪明。

“We should speak to the doctor about Dad. I  don’t think he's playing with a full deck,  

“我们应该和医生谈谈爸爸的事。我不认为他在玩一副完整的牌，

he just tried to put his shoes on his hands.”

他只是想把鞋子放在手上。”

“Keep your eyes peeled.”

“擦亮你的眼睛。”

This phrase means to be alert and  watchful, to look out for something.

这个短语的意思是警惕和警惕，注意某事。

“Right keep your eyes peeled, we're  looking for the perfect picnic spot.”

“对了，擦亮眼睛，我们正在寻找完美的野餐地点。”

“Keep your shirt on.”

“把你的衬衫穿上。”

This phrase means to stay calm and  not get too excited, in an angry way.

这句话的意思是保持冷静，不要太激动，以愤怒的方式。

- Oh, I am very angry!

- 哦，我很生气！

- Keep your shirt on, there's no need to shout.

- 穿上你的衬衫，没必要大喊大叫。

“I'll show myself out.”

“我会现身的。”

This phrase means to leave a place without waiting  for someone to show you the way or saying goodbye.

这个短语的意思是离开一个地方而不等别人给你指路或说再见。

“I’ll just see myself out. Don't worry about me.”

“我会看到自己出去。别担心我。”

“I’m sorry to say that you've run  out of cake, it was delicious.  

“很抱歉，你的蛋糕用完了，它很好吃。

Erm, I will show myself out, shall  I? Sorry, for eating all your cake.”

嗯，我会现身，好吗？对不起，把你的蛋糕都吃光了。”

“Up to my eyeballs in something.”

“我的眼球在某事上。”

This phrase means to be extremely  busy or overwhelmed with tasks.

这个短语的意思是非常忙碌或被任务压得喘不过气来。

“I'm up to my eyeballs in work. I am  practically swimming in paperwork.”

“我在工作中受到关注。我几乎在文书工作中游泳。”

“Fly off the handle.”

“按耐不住。”

This phrase means to lose your temper  or become very angry very quickly.

这个短语的意思是发脾气或很快变得非常生气。

“She flew off the handle when I told  her I’d eaten the last of her bananas,  

“当我告诉她我吃了她最后的香蕉时，她大发雷霆，

I didn't know they were her special bananas.”

我不知道那是她的特制香蕉。”

“Cheesed off.”

“干掉了。”

I love this phrase.

我喜欢这句话。

“Cheesed off.”

“干掉了。”

This phrase means to be annoyed or irritated.

这个短语的意思是生气或恼怒。

Like you're sniffing cheese.

就像你在闻奶酪一样。

“I'm really cheesed off. They cancelled the  concert and I was really looking forward to it.”

“我真的很烦。他们取消了演唱会，我真的很期待。”

“Eat someone or something for breakfast.”

“早餐吃某人或某物。”

This phrase means to easily defeat  or overpower someone or something.

这个短语的意思是轻易打败或制服某人或某物。

There’s a very funny line  in the film “Happy Gilmore”  

电影《快乐吉尔摩》中有一句非常有趣的台词，

where the bully says to the main character Happy  

恶霸对主角哈皮说：

“I eat pieces of S*** like you for breakfast.”  and Happy replies, “You eat sh** for breakfast?”

“我早餐吃的 S*** 碎片和你一样。”哈皮回答，“你早餐吃屎吗？”

“You better study for your Algebra test tomorrow.”

“你最好为明天的代数考试复习。”

“Yeah, Algebra-smalgebra, I  eat Algebra for breakfast.”

“是的，代数-smalgebra，我早餐吃代数。”

Next, we shall hear these idioms  in the context of a conversation.

接下来，我们将在对话中听到这些成语。

Idioms are important to learn if you  are hoping to become fluent in English,  

如果您希望英语流利，学习习语很重要，

as native speakers use them regularly.

因为母语人士经常使用习语。

And if fluency is a real goal for you then you  should register for my free fluency masterclass.

如果流利是您的真正目标，那么您应该注册我的免费流利大师班。

I've put a link in the description below.

我在下面的描述中放了一个链接。

- How are things with your mum and Derek?

- 你妈妈和德里克怎么样了？

- Hold your horses, I need a  cuppa before I talk about him.

- 别急，在我谈论他之前我需要喝杯茶。

- Oh, what about a coffee instead.  I have a new coffee machine and  

- 哦，换杯咖啡怎么样。我有一台新咖啡机，

it is the best thing since sliced  bread, does a gorgeous cappuccino.

这是自切片面包以来最好的东西，可以制作美味的卡布奇诺咖啡。

- “So, how's things with you and your bloke?”

- “那么，你和你的家伙怎么样了？”

- Well he’s getting on my nerves to be honest.  He’s become a bit of a couch potato these past  

- 老实说，他让我很不安。 在过去 的几个月里， 他有点像个宅男

few months. He's just been lounging around  the house watching telly all the time.

。 他一直在屋子里闲逛，一直在看电视。

- Oh, Really!?

- 哦真的吗！？

- Do you mind…can we talk  about the elephant in the room?

- 你介意……我们能谈谈房间里的大象吗？

- “Huh?”

——“嗯？”

- Julie, come on, you aren’t hiding it  very well. You’re pregnant aren’t you?

- 朱莉，拜托，你没掩饰得很好。你怀孕了是吗？

- Is it really that obvious?

- 真的那么明显吗？

- Ah, so you are pregnant. That’s so exciting.

- 啊，所以你怀孕了。太令人兴奋了。

- Ok, please don’t go bananas about  it. I’ve not got my head around it yet.  

- 好吧，请不要为此大发雷霆。我还没想好。

I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, it’s been driving  me up the wall keeping it a secret from you.

很抱歉我没有告诉你，我一直在逼迫我对你保密。

- I bet. Oh, do you mind if I  put some more milk in my coffee?

- 我敢打赌。哦，你介意我在咖啡里加点牛奶吗？

- Oh, knock yourself out.

- 哦，把自己打倒。

- I've got a bone to pick with you, remember I  asked you to keep the 3rd of March free so that  

- 我有话要跟你说，记得我让你让 3 月 3 日免费，这样

we could do a spa day? Well, your mum told me that  you are now booked to go to Wales that weekend?”

我们就可以做水疗日了吗？好吧，你妈妈告诉我你现在已经预定那个周末去威尔士了？”

- Oh no I totally forgot about your  spa day, I’m so sorry. I’ll keep my  

- 哦不，我完全忘记了你的水疗日，我很抱歉。 如果你愿意， 我会留意

eyes peeled for another spa deal, if you  like? Please don’t be cheesed off with me.

另一笔水疗交易吗？请不要跟我开玩笑。

- Don’t worry. So, what are  you planning to do in Wales?”

- 不用担心。那么，你打算在威尔士做什么？”

- It’s actually my cousin’s hen do. I am dreading  it because she drinks like a fish and well,  

- 这实际上是我表哥的母鸡做的。我害怕它，因为她喝得像鱼一样，好吧，

I won’t be drinking at all. So, I think  I will most likely be looking after her.

我根本不会喝酒。所以，我想我很可能会照顾她。

- Your cousin Jane? Wow, yes she can be a handful,  well, break a leg. Who is she getting married to?

- 你的表姐简？哇，是的，她可以是少数人，好吧，打断一条腿。她要嫁给谁？

- Young Fred from the post office, you  know the guy… lights on but no one's  

- 来自邮局的年轻弗雷德，你认识那个人……灯亮了但没人

home… Not sure if he’s playing with  a full deck… Do you know who I mean?

在家……不确定他是否在玩一副完整的牌组……你知道我的意思吗？

- Oh, FRED! Holy sh**, pardon my French…  

- 哦，弗雷德！天哪，请原谅我的法语……

He is such a pushover, your  cousin will eat him for breakfast.

他真是个好人，你的堂兄会把他当早餐吃的。

- I know, it’s crazy but they are in love so…

- 我知道，这很疯狂，但他们相爱了……

- So, my mum and Derek.

- 所以，我妈妈和德里克。

- Oh yes tell me.

- 哦，是的，告诉我。

- So, we were at a restaurant last week and my  mum was humming along to a song that was playing  

- 所以，上周我们在一家餐馆，我妈妈正在哼着一首

in the background. Derek told mum to put a sock  in it, which I thought was a bit rude, but mum  

在后台播放的歌曲。德里克告诉妈妈在里面放一只袜子，我觉得这有点粗鲁，但妈妈

just laughed and said she loved singing, to which  Derek replied, “Well, don’t give up your day job”.

只是笑着说她喜欢唱歌，德里克回答说：“好吧，不要放弃你的日常工作”。

My mum flew off the handle, like screaming  and shouting at him in front of everyone.

我妈妈气得发飙，当着所有人的面对他大喊大叫。

I told her to keep her shirt  on but she stormed off.

我让她穿上衬衫，但她气冲冲地走了。

Then I had a heart to heart with Derek  who explained that he’d been up to his  

然后我和 Derek 谈心了，他解释说他已经

eyeballs in debt and really stressed out about it.

负债累累，而且真的为此感到压力很大。

Oh, it's all a bit of a mess really.

哦，真的有点乱。

- Oh no, that’s not good.

- 哦不，那不好。

- Ahh is that the time. I’m sorry.  I’ve got to run, I’m late for work.

- 啊，是时候了。对不起。我得跑了，我上班要迟到了。

I’ll show myself out.

我会现身。

I'll catch you later.

稍后我会抓住你。

Bye.

- See ya!

再见。

- 再见！

Now it’s your turn, comment below using  one of the idioms from today’s lesson,  

现在轮到你了，使用今天课程中的一个习语在下面发表评论，

and boop the like button while you’re there.

然后在你在那里的时候按赞按钮。

Until next time, take care and goodbye.

直到下一次，保重，再见。