Major strategies in translating idioms
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Major strategies in translating idioms1)Literal translation (original image maintained)cold warshuttle diplomacythe Trojan horsea cat has 9 livesa rolling stone gathers no moss to cry crocodile tears 冷战穿梭外交特洛伊木马猫有九命滚石不生苔鳄鱼眼泪、猫哭耗子假慈悲The government’s policy has given a green light to the development of our economy.政府的政策为经济发展开了绿灯。
My uncle Cassidy gives me money! Pigs might fly if they had wings.我的叔叔卡西迪给我钱！要是真的那猪也会长翅膀飞上天了（母猪也会上树了，太阳打西边出来了）。
I ask you before you play your last card and destroy me, to consider where you will be without me.在你们还没有摊出最后一张牌来毁我之前，我拜托你们好好想想，没有我，你们的地位会怎样。
He said so to save his face. 他那样说是为了保全/挽回面子。
Joe is as cunning as a fox. 乔像狐狸一样狡猾。
Living in an ivory tower, Sally had no understanding of policies.萨莉深处象牙塔内，对政治一点也不了解。
2)Liberal/paraphrasing translation (original image sacrificed & key message kept only)eg. Achilles’’ heel 致命的弱点He is brave, but fear of height is his Achilles’’ heel.他虽然很勇敢，但是恐高是他致命的弱点。
eg. as innocent as a lamb 清白的Don’t be fooled. He might look as innocent as a lamb, but he is a bad person.别被他骗了，他看似老实，其实不是什么好东西。
as busy as a beeto be cat’s pawslike a fish out of waterfish in waterat sixes and sevensto be out at elbowsto be born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth 忙得团团转上当、被人利用很不自在自由自在、如鱼得水乱七八糟（非七上八下）捉襟见肘生于富贵之家（含着金钥匙出生）She found herself to be a fifth wheel in the family.她感到她成了这个家里多余（可有可无）的人。
Save your breath; the boss will never give you the day off.说也无宜/省省吧/省点力气吧，老板不会准你假的。
He explained that it was not her fault, but anyhow it was carrying coals to Newcastle to talk to her so.他解释说这不是她的过错，可是不论怎样对她说这些话，都是多余（无济于事）的。
3)Loan/localization (by quoting existing Chinese idioms)If literal translation does not work when Chinese readers feel confused about the translations due to the cultural factors, it is a good idea to adopt existing Chinese idioms to convey similar messages.have a wolf by the earsat one’s wit’s enda velvet pawto find a quarrel in a strawGive a dog all ill name and hang him Love me, love my dog. 骑虎难下山穷水尽、机关算尽、黔驴技穷、无计可施、江郎才尽笑里藏刀吹毛求疵欲加之罪，何患无辞爱屋及乌a black sheep 害群之马What’s done is done. 木已成舟to gild the lily 画蛇添足to rob Peter to pay Paul 挖肉补疮I don't understand how he can think she is good-looking but beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.我不明白（搞不懂）他怎么会觉得她漂亮，不过情人眼里出西施嘛。
She is going to marry a perfect hog of a millionaire for the sake of her father, who is as poor as a church house.她父亲一贫如洗。
为了父亲，她打算嫁给一个俗不可耐的富豪。
All you can d o is to burn your boats and fight them in the hope that one day you’ll come out on top.你只有破釜沉舟跟他们拚，或许有朝一日是会出头的。
The students must be enjoying the speech, because they’re laughing their heads off.学生们笑得前仰后合，他们一定是很欣赏这个演讲。
The danger is certainly a lion in the path; you can go ahead or turn back. Which will you do?这危险当然是拦路虎，你可以勇往直前，也可以往后退缩（当缩头乌龟），你准备怎么办？None of his children have any love for the old man. They would be pleased if he kicked the bucket tomorrow.他的子女对老头子毫无感情，他们巴/恨不得他明天就翘辫子。
4. 3 don’ts1)Do not take it for grantedShe was born with a silver spoon in her mouth.误：她生下来嘴里含着一把银匙。
正：她生长在富贵之家。
He knows how to solve the problem. He was not born yesterday.误：他可不是昨天出生的。
正：他可不是乳臭未干的小孩子/三岁小孩The boss gave her the sack.误：老板给了她一个麻袋。
正：老板解雇了她。
I have seen him through.我看透了他/我帮他度过了难关。
2)No fixed translationJack owed David a dollar, so he borrowed another from Joe to pay David back. He robbed Peter to pay Paul.杰克欠戴维一美元，他于是向乔借了一美元去还戴维。
他这是借东家还西家。
Trying to study a lesson for one class during another class is like robbing Peter to pay Paul.要在这节课里学习那节课的内容是挖东墙补西墙。
I had hoped to get three weeks vacation this year. I only got one week, but I guess half a loaf is better than none.我本来指望今年有三个星期的休假，结果只有一个星期。
不过，俗话说，有一点总比没有好呀（聊胜于无）。
Alan wanted two dollars for shoveling snow from the sidewalk, but he lady would only give him a dollar. And he said that half a loaf is better than none.艾伦铲除人行道上的雪要求给两块钱，可那妇人只肯给他一块钱。
他说有一块钱总比没有钱好。
The road has been closed up for building the subway station.那条路已被封起来以修建地铁站。
The general manager has closed the door on any further negotiation.总经理已经堵死了任何进一步谈判的大门。
Helen was much hurt by what Jim said, and she closed the door on Jim’s attempt to apologize.海伦听了吉姆的话很伤心，所以她拒绝吉姆的道歉。
3)avoid overusing adaptation/domestication & foreignization/alienation, find a good balance。
