20.英语习语和典故的翻译

一、have butterflies in one’s stomachDialogue:A: How are you today?B: I’m not very well. I don’t know why I’m having butterflies in my stomach these days.A: What’s wrong?B: I’m afraid I won’t pass this exam.A: Don’t worry.Word list:1. pass the exam 考试合格2. Don’t worry. 别担心。

have butterflies in one’s stomach 忐忑不安have butterflies in one’s stomach 的字面意思为“肚子里有几只蝴蝶”，意指“忐忑不安”或“紧张烦躁”。

二、up to one’s earsDialogue:A: Shall we go swimming this afternoon?B: I’m sorry I won’t. I have no time.A: Are you busy now?B: Yes. I’m up to my ears.Word list:busy 忙碌的up to one’s ears很忙，完全介入某件事的意思短语up to 表示“正在做着或忙于某事情”，而up to one’s ears 则表示“一直忙到耳朵根”,引申为“非常忙”。

三、three-bottle manDialogue:A: Yesterday Feng Feng was beaten by his father.B: Oh! His father is a three—bottle man.beaten: beat的过去分词打，揍得意思四、four squareDialogue:A：The boy is four square.B: He has not finish his homework.A: But he is four square. After a well, he isfinish it .finish: 完成after a well: 过了一会儿五、five-starDialogue:A: The little boy is five-star in the Class.B: Yes, he is diligent. He likes to study.He likes to help other students.diligent :勤劳的help: 帮助六、at sixes and sevensDialogue:A：On this Sunday, Jenny and her friends are playing games in Jenny’s home.B: Oh. What a mess.A: Yes. We made the room at sixes and sevens.made: 做的，导致七、In one's seventh heavenOn summer holiday, some parents bring their children to go to the beach. The children were in their seventh heaven，playing with water on the beach．in the seventh heaven: 七重天，极幸福八、A Couch PotatoDialogue:A: What do you like to do in your spare time?B: I like to play sports. My favourite sport is basketball.What do you like to do?A: I like to watch TV.B: How often do you watch TV?A: Every day. I usually watch forthree orfour hours.B: You're really a couch potato. You should do more exercise.习语注解：Word LIst: spare:（指时间）空暇的really:真正地九、A Big PotatoDialogue:John and Linda are looking at some photographs.Linda:Who is this man?John: Which man?Linda: This old man. He is sitting in the middle of the front row.John: He is the president of our company.Linda: Really? He's a big potato!习语注解：Word List: photograph：照片photo: 马铃薯，俗称土豆。

人名习语的翻译及其典故作者：钱磊来源：《英语学习》2018年第07期人的姓名当然是非常重要的。

有些姓名在一些习语和表达式中，有着很多约定俗成的意义，在翻译时不能望文生义，往往要考虑其文化语境。

1. 张三李四（every Tom， Dick and Harry）宋代王安石《拟寒山拾得》诗中云：“张三裤口窄，李四帽檐长。

”张三李四王五，这些都是假设的名字，泛指某人。

Tom、Dick、Harry在英语文化中都是极其常见的男性名字，三个名字连在一起表示“普通人，随便什么人”，和中文的“张三李四”非常契合。

比如，The drunkard told his troubles to every Tom， Dick and Harry who passed by.（不论张三李四，这个醉汉逢人就诉苦。

）此外，在英语中，用常用人名指代普通人的表达有很多。

如，Jack和Jill泛指“小伙子和姑娘”，如All shall be well， Jack shall have Jill.（有情人终成眷属。

）Every Jack has his Jill.（人各有偶。

）又如，a plain Jane指代不起眼的女人，plain是“不惹人注目的，朴素的”，而Jane 是一般女人名，plain与Jane合辙押韵。

再如，the Joneses（琼斯一家人）是社会地位、经济情况与自己相等的人们的代名词，可指“左邻右舍的人”。

2. Let George do it.（让别人伤脑筋去吧！）传说法国国王路易十二是一个不太喜欢动脑筋的人，每次遇到难题总指着当时的首相乔治（Cardinal George）说“Let George do it！”这成了他的口头禅。

现在这个 George已经不是一个特定的人物，变成了让别人去做自己本来该干的事的代名词。

3. Dear John Letter（情人写给对方的绝交信）在第二次世界大战的时候，男人们应征入伍，留下了他们的妻子或女朋友。

1.as blind as a bat2.as cool as a cucumber3.as easy as rolling off a log4. a bed of roses5.between the devil and the blue sea6.to call a spade a spade7.now or never8.to pull one’s leg9.with tongue in cheek10.much cry and little wool11.to wear one’s heart on one’s sleeve12.The leopard cannot change its spots.13.A small leak will sink a great ship.14.He that sups with the devil must have a long spoon.15.As the touchstone tries gold, so gold tries men.16.Behind the mountains there are people to be found.17.The proof of pudding is in the eating.18.One cannot make a silk purse out of sow’s ear.19.Nothing succeeds like success.20.Enough is as good as a feast.21.Do not count your chickens before they are hatched.22.Many hands make light work.23.The mills of God grind slowly.24.He laughs best who laughs last.25.Marry in haste and repent at leisure.26.Courtesy on one side lasts not long.27.Little thieves are hanged, but great ones escaped.28.Everyone for himself, the devil takes the hindmost.29.Speak of the wolf, and you will see his tail.30.It’s no use crying over spilt milk.31.Fish begins to stink at the head.32.Noting venture, nothing gain.33.Time and tide wait for no man.34.The life of the wolf is the death of the lamb.35.Speech is silver, silence is golden.36.Short accounts make long friends.37.There is no rose without a thorn.38.Better late than never.39.Many a good cow hath a bad calf.40.to play with fire41.to show one’s card42.to be armed to the teeth43.to head a wolf into the house44.as sly as a fox45.An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth46.God helps those who help themselves.47.The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.48.Birds of a feather flock together.49.Once bitten, twice shy.50.A stitch in time saves nine.51.Better be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion.52.Where there is a will, there is a way.53.to kill the goose that lays golden eggs54.Strike while the iron is hot.55.to fish in the air56.Don’t wash your dirty linen in public.57.All good things must come to an end.58.A fall in the pit, a gain in your wit.59.Hungry digs will eat dirty puddings.60.a fly on the wheel61.a bull in a china shop62.to paint the lily63.(an area) flowing with milk and honey64.by hook or crook65.to carry fire in one hand and water in the other66.Every dog has its day.67.make bricks without straw68.put one’s cards on the table69.to stick to one’s colors70.to tell the truth and shame the devil71.to thrust something down one’s throat72.After meat, mustard; after death, doctor.73.to separate the sheep from the goats74.to tread on one’s corns75.crying in the wilderness76.to pour oil on troubled waters77.Entertain an angel unawares.78.All is over but the shouting.79.All lay load on the willing horse.80.Anger and haste hinder good counsel.81.A word spoken is past recalling.82.World is but a little place, after all.83.What are the odds so long as you are happy.84.What you lose on the swings you get back on the roundabouts.85.to know the ropes86.in the same boat with87.Tit for tat.88.A friend in need is a friend indeed.89.easy come, easy go.90.First come, first served.91.Like father, like son.92.More haste, less speed.93.The greatest talkers are always least doers.94.a castle in the air95.behind the Eight-ball1.有眼无珠2.镇定自若3.易如反掌4.称心如意的境遇/安乐窝5.进退两难6.直言不讳7.机不可失；时不再来8.跟某人开玩笑/骗某人9.虚情假意地10.雷声大雨点小11.过于心直口快/过于直率12.江山易改，秉性难移13.千里之堤，溃于蚁穴14.和坏人打交道，必须提高警惕15.试金石试金，金子则考验人16.山外有山，天外有天17.实践出真知18.巧妇难为无米之炊19.一事成功，事事顺利20.知足常乐21.不要过早乐观22.人多好办事23.天网恢恢，疏而不漏24.谁笑在最后，谁笑得最好25.草率结婚后悔多26.单方面礼貌不会长久27.窃钩者诛，窃国者侯28.人不为己，天诛地灭29.说曹操，曹操到30.覆水难收31.上梁不正下梁歪32.不入虎穴，焉得虎子33.时不我待34.豺狼活，则羊羔死35.雄辩是银，沉默是金36.债务还得早，朋友交得长37.没有不带刺的玫瑰/ 没有尽善尽美的快乐38.迟到总比不到好39.好的父母未必培养出好的子女40.玩火41.摊牌42.武装到牙齿43.引狼入室44.像狐狸一样狡猾45.以血还血，以牙还牙46.自助者天助47.心有余而力不足48.物以类聚，人以群分/ 一丘之貉49.一朝被蛇咬，十年怕井绳50.小洞不补，大洞吃苦51.宁为鸡头，不为牛后52.有志者，事竟成53.杀鸡取卵54.趁热打铁55.缘木求鱼56.家丑不可外扬57.天下没有不散的筵席58.吃一堑，长一智59.饥不择食60.自以为有天大本事的人61.公牛闯进瓷器店，肆意捣乱62.为百合花上色，费力不讨好63.鱼米之乡64.不择手段65.施展两面手法66.人人皆有得意之日67.巧妇难为无米之炊68.摊牌69.坚持原则70.不顾忌别人，大胆说真话71.力图强迫别人接受意见72.雨后送伞73.区分好人与坏人74.伤害某人感情75.无人理睬的呼吁，警报或改革主张76.息事宁人77.有眼不识泰山78.大势已去79.人善被人欺，马善被人骑80.小不忍则乱大谋81.一言既出，驷马难追82.天涯原咫尺，何处不逢君83.知足者常乐84.失之东隅，收之桑榆85.内行86.与……境遇相同87.针锋相对88.患难见真情89.易得易失90.先到先招待91.有其父，必有其子92.欲速则不达93.语言的巨人总是行动的矮子94.空中楼阁95.走投无路96.。

四十个英语习语典故来源1. a wolf in sheep’s clothing此语源自<<伊索寓言>>,直译为“披着羊皮的狼”,也可表示这些意义“伪装成朋友的敌人;貌善心毒的人,伪君子”等. 该成语涉及这样一则故事:一只狼披着羊皮混到羊群里去了,欺骗了羊羔,并把羊羔吃了.又见<<新约.马太福音>>第七章有如此一说: “你们要防备假先知.他们到你们这里来,外面披着羊皮, 里面却是残暴的狼.”例句：Mrs Martin trusted the lawyer until she realized that he was a wolf in sheep’s clothing.马丁太太原来很信任那个律师，后来才认清他是个披着羊皮的狼。

Mr Black was fooled by the salesman’s manner until he showed that he was really a wolf in sheep’s clothing，by selling Mr Black a car that was falling apart.布莱克先生被推销员愚弄了，后来才发现原来推销员貌善心毒的人。

他卖给布莱克先生的是一辆要垮的小汽车。

2. a dog in the manger此成语源自<<伊索寓言>>,含贬义.该成语涉及这则故事:一只狗躺在马槽里,马或牛来吃食时,它却不让,但狗自己又不能吃.LDC认为该成语指“自己不能享用又不让别人享用的人”. 我们一般选择此译法: “占着茅坑不拉屎(的人)。

例句：I’d like to ask you to consider it again and not to be a dog in the manger .我劝你还是再考虑考虑，不要干那既损人又不利己的事。

3. to carry coals to Newcastle此语与法国谚语“运水入河”相当,可译为“多此一举”.纽卡斯尔(Newcastle)是英国的产煤基地.例句：It would be like carrying coals to Newcastle if another bank opened in this street ; there are three here now .如果再在这条街上开一家银行，那可真是多此一举，因为这条街目前已经有三家银行了。

ugh in one’s face 当面嘲笑2. Lay something to heart 把某事放在心上3.Have pity on somebody 同情某人4.Trojan horse 特洛伊木马5.Sour grapes 酸葡萄6. Sphinx’s riddle 斯芬克思之谜7. A Juda’s kiss 犹大之吻8.hang on somebody’s lips 依赖某人，听凭某人做主9.to be full of beans 精神旺盛、尽精力充沛10.bend an ear to 聚精会神地听、洗耳恭听11.a skeleton at the feast 扫兴的人或物12.bury one’s head in the sand 采取鸵鸟政策13. burn the boat 破釜沉舟14. a bolt from the blue 青天霹雳15. six of one and half a dozen of the other 半斤八两16. one’s hair stand on end 毛发倒竖17. kill two birds with one stone 一石两鸟、一箭双雕18. kill the goose that lays the golden eggs 杀鸡取卵19. In the country of the blind the one-eyed man is king. 盲人之邦，独眼称王。

20. If you run after two hares, you will catch neither. 同时追两兔，全都抓不住。

21. It is an ill wind that blows nobody good. 对人人都有害的事，天下少有。

22. Every man has a fool in his sleeve. 人人都有糊涂的时候。

23. When Greek meets Greek, then comes the tug of war. 两雄相争，其斗必烈。

习语翻译1.Wet behind the ears. 乳臭未干2.It’s no use crying over spilt milk. 覆水难收3.Beauty is only skin deep. 有福同享，有难同当4.Every dog has his day. 绣花枕头5.To handle without gloves. 人人都有出头日6.A black sheep 害群之马7.Sheep without a shepherd 乌合之众8.Love me, love my dog. 爱屋及乌9.Ivory tower 象牙塔10.Sour grapes 酸葡萄11.Crocodile tears 鳄鱼的眼泪12.Black horse 黑马13.Time and tide wait for no man 岁月不待人14.Man has but one life, grass sees but one spring 人生一世，草生一春15. A wolf in a sheep’s clothing 披着羊皮的狼16.Where there’s smoke there’s fire. 无风不起浪17.Look before you leap 三思而后行18.Strike while the iron is hot. 趁热打铁19.More haste, less speed. 欲速则不达20.Practice makes perfect. 熟能生巧21.Well begun is half done. 良好的开端是成功的一半22.Look on with folded arms. 袖手旁观23.Misfortune never comes alone. 祸不单行。

1. 铁石心肠cruel and unrelenting2. 置死地于后生a vigorous and manly exertion3. 千秋功业 a great undertaking of lasting importance4. 安居乐业live in peace and work happily5. 骨肉分离family separation6. 各得其所be properly provided for7. 众议纷纭disagree on8. 岁月不居，来日苦短Time does not stay is brief is the day.9. 夜长梦多 A long delay may mean trouble.10. 时不我与Time and tide wait for no man.11. 依时顺势keep up with the tide12. 日渐没落being pushed out of business13. 鹬蚌相争play A off against B14. 浩然之气noble spirit15. 凤毛麟角 a rarity of the rarities16. 望而生畏stand in awe before17. 敬而远之keep respectfully aloof from18. 众矢之的in the dock19. 毫无瓜葛be divorced from20. 尔虞我诈sheer cunning and falsehood21. 备受推崇be rewarded and respected22. 善有善报，恶有恶报the good inevitably is successful and the bad inevitably punished23. 其乐融融sweetness and light24. 义无反顾feel obliged to25. 物美价廉attractive in price and quality26. 源源不断keep flowing in a steady stream27. 滚滚不息pour into28. 福祉well-being29. 精华quintessence30. 阴霾specter31. 势不两立pit sth against sth32. 打折扣wear thin / water down33. 大展宏图score big points34. 重整旗鼓shock sth back to life35. 不谋而合coincide with36. 染指dip one’s finger in37. 博大精深both extensive and profound38. 源远流长long-standing and well-established39. 诸子百家the masters’ hundred schools40. 天下为公All under heaven are equal.41. 天下兴亡，匹夫有责Everybody is responsible for the fate of his country.42. 吃苦耐劳bear hardships43. 勤俭持家frugality in household management44. 尊师重教respect teachers and value education45. 当务之急highest priority46. 遭受重创take a heavy toll47. 先见之明prescient move48. 奇园古宅exotic gardens and old mansions49. 衣食住行clothing, food, shelter and transportation50. 信誓旦旦be poised to。

1. [典故+习语]--读典故学英语，够有趣--开张大吉篇PIE IN THE SKY中国人常说“天上不会掉馅饼”，美国也有类似的说法--pie in the sky，形容不可能实现的事情。

下次如果有人跟你说“如果我有500万的话......”，你就可以说，“forget it, it's a pie in the sky”。

此短语直译为『天国（上）的馅饼』，源自美国流行作曲家、世界产业工人联盟的组织者Joe Hill 于1911年所作的一首着名歌曲《传教士与奴隶》。

他在歌中写道：You will eat, bye and bye,In the glorious land above the sky!Work and pray, live on hay,You'll get PIE IN THE SKY when you die!这几句歌词是Joe Hill 从美国救世军军歌中引用过来的，意在讽刺这个宗教组织，揭露其欺骗性和虚伪性，唤醒广大被压迫的奴隶。

后来人们就用pie in the sky 比喻『渺茫的希望』和『不能保证实现的允诺』等意思。

好，这次大家就翻译一下上面那两句歌词吧-------------------------------------------------------------------------------不久你将在天上的圣地就餐。

劳动吧！祈祷吧！靠干草过活吧！死后你就会得到天国的馅饼！2. [典故+习语]--读典故学英语，够有趣--（2）今天我们学习的是个很常见的习语RAIN CATS AND DOGS可能你已经知道了rain cats and dogs 的含意为『下倾盆大雨』，但你知道这个短语是怎样衍生而来的吗？下雨就下雨，怎可能从天上掉下来猫和狗呢？下雨同猫及狗又是怎样扯上关系的呢？原来，据说这个短语最早出现于17世纪，不过关于它的起源已经无从考证。

神话故事相关的英语习语第一篇：神话故事相关的英语习语出自希腊神话的习语与典故1.Achilles… heel 惟一致命的弱点Achilles通常译为“阿喀琉斯”，是著名希腊史诗《伊里亚特》（相传为希腊诗人荷马所作）中主要的希腊英雄。

Achilles幼时被其母西蒂斯（Thetis）倒提着在冥河（Styx）水中浸过，周身刀枪不入，但其脚踵（Heel）为其手握处，没有浸着水，因而成了惟一回受伤甚至于致命的弱点。

特洛伊战争时，Achilles英勇无比，所向无敌。

然而太阳神阿波罗（Apollo）知道Achilles的弱点，并将此透露给了特洛伊王子帕里斯（Paris）。

帕里斯对准Achilles的脚踵射了一支毒箭，Achilles终因箭伤而死。

据此故事，Achilles‟Heel（直译是：阿喀琉斯的脚踵）现常常喻指“惟一致命的弱点”或“要害”。

亦作Achilles Heel 例：The girl is a good student, but pronunc iation is her Achilles… heel.这个女孩是一个好学生，但是发音是他惟一的弱点。

His Achilles… heel was his pride—he would get very angry if anyone criticized his work..他惟一的致命弱点是骄傲，谁批评他的工作，他就发火。

A misbehaving minister is regarded as a government…s Achilles heel and is expected to resign.一个行为不端的部长被视为一个政府的致命伤,故而要求他辞职.2.Horn of plenty/abundance （Amalthea…s horn / horn of plenty）丰饶角:丰饶的象征典出古希腊神话.宙斯(Zeus)出生之后,母亲瑞亚(Rhea)怕他被父亲克洛诺斯(Cronus/Cronos)所吞食,把他藏在克里特岛的一个洞穴里,并且托付给仙女阿玛尔特亚(Amalthea)抚养.阿尔玛特亚用赡养奶哺育他(一说阿尔玛特亚自己就是母山羊,她用自己的乳汁哺育了宙斯).这只山羊折断了一只角,她便在那只角里装满了鲜花和水果送给了宙斯.后来宙斯推翻了他父亲的统治,成为众神之王,把阿玛尔特亚和这只羊角带到天上.这只羊角是件宝物,谁拥有它,就能要什么有什么,它被看作是无穷无尽的财富和丰饶的象征.人们称之为―丰饶之角‖,英语horn of plenty 或horn of abundance,有时亦可作Amalthea…s horn例:Nature, very oddly, when the horn of plenty is quite empty, always fills it with babies.说也奇怪,当大自然不丰赐五谷时,却往往多降婴儿.3.Midas touch赚大钱的本领;事事处处能赚钱的本领典出古希腊传说.小亚细亚中西部有一古国叫弗里吉亚(Phrygia),国王迈达斯(Midas)贪恋财富,一心想成为世界上最富有的人.酒神狄俄尼索斯(Dionysus)感恩于迈达斯对他以前一位老师的帮助,答应满足迈达斯请求的一切.一次迈达斯祈求神赐予他点物成金的法术.他如愿以偿的得到了点金术之后,到处点金,凡他所出没的东西都变成了金子.然而,变成金子的不仅只是石块,花朵和屋内的陈设,连食物和饮料,乃至他最心爱的小女儿也都变成了金子.最后,他只好祈求神解除他的点金术.酒神便让他到帕克托洛斯(Pactolus)河里去洗澡,以此收回他的魔力,一切才恢复了原样.根据这一故事,人们便用the Midas touch喻指―赚大钱的本领，事事处处能赚钱的本领.该短语常与动词have连用。

英语习语背后的故事习语是一种语言在使用过程中形成的独特的固定表达形式，其含蓄、生动，言简意赅，充分表达了该语言使用群体的文化特征。

今天，小编为小伙伴们整理出来一些英语习语背后的故事，一起来了解一下这些英语文化吧！vent one’s spleen：发脾气在中世纪，西方人认为脾脏是一个人所有愤怒、忧愁、怨恨之源。

习语“将脾脏发泄”指的便是将一个让人身上这些负面情绪宣泄出来，也就是发脾气、发火，相当于vent one’s anger on sb。

例句：We should occasionally vent our spleen on issues in order to stay healthy mentally.（我们需要偶尔的发泄情绪，以维持心理健康。

）apple of Sodom/ Dead Sea Apple：虚有其表Sodom是约旦河、死海附近的一座罪孽之城。

据说上帝因为其罪孽而降天火焚烧了整个城市，将所有的草木都烧为灰烬。

后来，在荒芜贫瘠的土地上，生长了一棵苹果树，树上结了硕大红艳的苹果，过路人都忍不住将苹果摘下来品尝。

然而，只要苹果一被摘下，就变成了灰烬。

于是，“索多玛的苹果”以及“死海的苹果”也就用来比喻外表华而不实，令人扫兴之物。

例句：This proposal sounds perfect but it will be a Dead Sea Apple if we don’t do it exactly right. (这个计划听起来很完美，但如果我们不确实执行，一切都是一场空。

)give someone the cold shoulder：冷落某人中世纪的英国社会，由于骑士的道德情操高贵，受到人民无上的尊重。

若是有骑士到家拜访，人们通常会端上热腾腾的食物招待；相反，如果是不受欢迎的人来造访，则会端上冷菜潦草应付，即一盘凉的羊肩肉。

在这一习语中，shoulder并不是人的肩膀，而是动物的胛骨部位。