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1、习语背后的故事国国 文：译：国国 1、Push the envelope (超越潜力，革新) Meaning: To approach or exceed known performance boundaries. Origin: 此表达来自于20世纪40年代的一项美国空军飞行员测试项目。 它指飞行员的驾驶达到或超过了预先设想的极限。 e.g.He is pushing the envelope, and he keeps on working three days without rest. 2、A wing and a prayer (有一定希望，但成功率不高) Meaning:Hopef
2、ul but unlikely to succeed. Origin:此表达出自于第一次世界大战时期。一个美国飞行员驾驶一架机翼严重受损的飞机安全着陆。他说：“我自始至终都在祈祷”。 e.g.With scarcely any funding and a staff of six, they operate on a wing and a prayer. 3、Pass the buck (推卸责任) Meaning:Pass off responsibility to someone else. Origin:在纸牌游戏中有一种被称为“buck”的记分器，用来记录当前玩家中的发牌者。当“buc
3、k”传递给下一位玩家的时候，此发牌者的职责就结束了。 e.g.Parents often try to pass the buck to teachers when children misbehave in school. 4、The buck stops (here) (承担责任) Meaning:To take responsibility for something. Origin:与“推卸责任”的意思相反。 e.g.The police authorized the raid and they must accept that the buck stops with them. 5、
4、Ducks in a row (把事情安排得井井有条) Meaning:To have things in order. Origin:此表达来源于鸭子的一种习性。池塘里的小鸭子们总是游成一条直线，跟在妈妈身后。 e.g.The government talks about tax changes but they wont fix a date or an amount they just cant get their ducks in a row. 6、Face the music (接受现实) Meaning:To accept the truth. Origin:此表达来自于英国军队里
5、的一项习俗当某人被军事法庭押走时，军队里将会奏乐击鼓，而被押走的人也就只能face the music了。 e.g.When the missing money was noticed, he chose to disappear rather than face the music. 7、Egg on your face (困窘不堪) Meaning:To be embarrassed. Origin:如果你吃完鸡蛋后不擦嘴，鸡蛋黄就会清清楚楚地沾在你的脸上，除非你是一个对此视而不见的“厚脸皮”，否则一定会感到尴尬不已。 e.g.Youll be the one who has egg on
6、 your face if it goes wrong. 8、Crocodile tears (鳄鱼的眼泪) Meaning:Phony(虚假的) tears, usually shed to manipulate or exploit. Origin:通常情况下，鳄鱼们喜欢张着大嘴曝晒于阳光之下，这一行为致使其泪腺被压迫而流下眼泪。大家认为这是虚假的眼泪，并认为这种眼泪是为了促进鳄鱼的消化，而不是来自其情感反应。 e.g.Don誸 weep crocodile tears with his misfortune. I know you have always detested him and
7、 are only too happy to see him get into trouble. 9、A flash in the pan (昙花一现) Meaning:A thing of great promise that doesn誸 live up to expectations. Origin:此表达来自于19世纪中期美国的Gold Rush days(“淘金热时期”)。指某一成功来得快也去得快，就像昙花一现。 e.g.Were hoping that this is a long-term opportunity, and not just a flash in the pan. 10、When the chips are down (郁闷无助的时候) Meaning:Bleak times. Origin:此表达来自于赌博用语。筹码在赌博中通常代表金钱假如你赢了，你就会拥有很多筹码；如果输了，你将失去它们。这时对你来说就是“when the chips are down”，十分郁闷。 e.g.When the chips are down, you need people around you that you can depend on.
