英语语法练习:美语常用固定用法（1）

 美国人平时所用的许多短语，看似普通，但有的会有特別意义，究竟是俚语、口语或俗语，没有绝对的定义。其实名称不重要，最重要的是懂得意义和用法，不是吗？

　　1. to have(many) irons in the fire: to have a lot of activities going on at the

　　same time（同时有许多事，想马上全部做完，但又不知从何开始，似乎忙得不可开交)

　　Don't bother him because he has many irons in the fire.

　　(別打扰他，他事情太多，忙得很！)

　　Some people even like to have many irons in the fire.

　　(有些人喜欢有很多事忙忙碌碌。)

　　2. to talk over (one's) head(s): to use large or big words so that audience will

　　not understand exact

　　meaning（指所谈论的内容过于专业或高深，非一般人可以理解；也指有人为了表現自己才学非凡，故意谈些高深理论或用些难字，吓唬別人）

　　Dr. Lee's lecture was so specialized¹ that he almost talked over our heads.

　　(李博士的演讲太专业了，几乎使我们无法理解。)

　　In order to show his profound knowledge he talks over my head.

　　(为了表現他的学问高深，他故弄玄虚。)

　　3. to put (something) back into (in) its cage: to put something under control

　　(可以控制某件事情，多半指政治、健康等)

　　We are trying to put inflation back into its cage and our economy is on the

　　mend. (我们正在设法控制通货膨胀，同时改善我们得经济。)

　　Diplomats² and politicians need to put aggression³ and hostility⁴ back into its

　　cage. (外交官和政客应该收敛攻击和敌对的行为。)

　　4. to keep (one's) fingers crossed: to hope something good will happen

　　(祝福某人好运或一切顺利。把食指与中指交叉，祈求好运，是老外的迷信，但在写信或正式场合，多半是用

　　"I wish you best (good) luck!"或 "Good (best) luck to you!")

　　He keeps his fingers crossed hoping his father will send him more money.

　　(他盼望有好运，老爸能多寄点钱给他。)

　　Many people have been keeping their fingers crossed that we can live in a

　　peaceful world. (许多人都在祈求好运，盼能在和平的世界里生活。)

　　5. to stretch (one's) legs: to relax or to take a short break

　　(久坐后，把腿舒展一下，或稍微休息一下)

　　Let's take ten minutes to stretch our legs. （让我们先休息十分钟。）

　　May I take a break so that I can stretch my legs？ (我可以休息一会儿伸伸腿吗？)

　　During the a long flight from the US to Taiwan, I normally stretch my legs every

　　two hours. (在从美国到台湾的长途飞行中，我通常每两个小时起身走走。)

　　6. to read between the lines：to interpret the hidden meaning or a hidden

　　message; to discern the true fact

　　(从字里行间体会隐含的意义；领会言外之意或能了解其中的真正意义)

　　As you look at this poem, be sure to read between the lines.

　　(读这首诗的时候，要从字里行间去体会它的含义。)

　　After he re-read the love letter between the lines, he realized that he was

　　dumped by his sweetheart. (重读情书之后，他终于明白他已经被情人抛弃了。)

1 specialized   

adj.专门的，专业化的

参考例句：

• There are many specialized agencies in the United Nations.联合国有许多专门机构。
• These tools are very specialized.这些是专用工具。

2 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 aggression   

n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害

参考例句：

• So long as we are firmly united, we need fear no aggression.只要我们紧密地团结，就不必惧怕外来侵略。
• Her view is that aggression is part of human nature.她认为攻击性是人类本性的一部份。

4 hostility   

n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争

参考例句：

• There is open hostility between the two leaders.两位领导人表现出公开的敌意。
• His hostility to your plan is well known.他对你的计划所持的敌意是众所周知的。