有趣的英语习语 / 俚语

Interesting slangs and idioms

Posted by Will on September 6, 2021

维基百科写道:

Slang is vocabulary (words, phrases, and linguistic usages) of an informal register, common in spoken conversation but avoided in formal writing. It also sometimes refers to the language generally exclusive to the members of particular in-groups in order to establish group identity, exclude outsiders, or both. The word itself came about in the 18th century and has been defined in multiple ways since its conception.

An idiom is a phrase or expression that typically presents a figurative, non-literal meaning attached to the phrase; but some phrases become figurative idioms while retaining the literal meaning of the phrase. Categorized as formulaic language, an idiom’s figurative meaning is different from the literal meaning. Idioms occur frequently in all languages; in English alone there are an estimated twenty-five thousand idiomatic expressions.

和博大精深的汉语相比,英语显得精简和朴素了许多。但是英语中也有很多有趣又实用的习语或俚语,我们来总结一下。

Slang

  1. Too many cookie-cutter condos were built with no attention to consumer needs.

    If you describe something as having a cookie-cutter approach or style, you mean that the same approach or style is always used and not enough attention is paid to individual differences.

  2. The mobile phone business was actually his bread and butter.

    Something that is the bread and butter of a person or organization is the activity or work that provides the main part of their income.

  3. He was relieved his time in jail was over and regarded it as water under the bridge.

    Something has happened and cannot now be changed, so there is no point in worrying about it any more.

  4. The relationship has to operate as a two-way street.

    an arrangement or a situation involving reciprocal obligation or mutual action

  5. The government were dragged willy-nilly into the confrontation.

    If something happens to you willy-nilly, it happens whether you like it or not.

  6. He really gets down to the nitty-gritty of coaching.

    If people get down to the nitty-gritty of a matter, situation or activity, they discuss the most important, basic parts of it or facts about it.

  7. Before we get to the meat of the matter, I’d like to assure each of you that your jobs are secure.

    The most important, basic or fundamental elements of a problem

  8. From the get-go, there was no question about his ability.

    If something happens or is true from the get-go, it happens or is true from the beginning of a process or activity.

  9. He’s more concerned about the nuts and bolts of location work.

    If you talk about the nuts and bolts of a subject or an activity, you are referring to the detailed practical aspects of it rather than abstract ideas about it.

  10. In the past year, the civil conflict has reached fever pitch.

    To become very intense and exciting, or very desperate

  11. Unfortunately, things cannot be as cut and dried as many people would like.

    If you say that a situation or solution is cut and dried, you mean that it is clear and definite.

  12. Foliate is a simple yet modern and feature-rich ebook reader for users who don’t require the bells and whistles of Calibre.

    Bells and whistles are additional features or accessories which are nonessential but very attractive.