Behavior
Earn a living
謀生
He looked for an opening through which he might earn a living.
他四處尋找一個可以謀生的機會。
Blank check
全權授命
The President was given a blank check by Congress to continue the war.
國會授予了總統繼續戰爭的權力。
At all costs
用盡全力
Security during the president’s visit must be maintained at all costs.
在總統參訪期間必須不惜一切代價維持警備。
Dollar for dollar
貨比三家
I think you’ll find that, dollar for dollar, this house is the better choice.
貨比三家後你會發現這間房子比較划算。
Get your money’s worth
花錢花得物超所值
He insisted on staying until the end of the show so that he could get his money’s worth.
他堅持待到表演的最後一刻，因為他認為這樣才是真正的物超所值。
Go Dutch
各付各的
I’ll go Dutch with you on the movie if you want.
如果你希望的話，電影票其實可以各付各的。
Pass the buck
推卸責任
It is no good passing the buck to the police.
把責任推給警察是不可取的。
Have money to burn
揮霍金錢
People who buy expensive cars have money to burn, and they want you to know it.
購買豪車的人多的是錢可以揮霍，而且他們希望大家都知道。
Bring home the bacon
養家糊口
He worked hard all week to bring home the bacon for his family.
他每天都辛苦工作只為了養家糊口。
Break the bank
用光所有積蓄、在賭博中大獲全勝
My husband broke the bank by buying a sports car.
我老公為了買一台跑車花光了所有積蓄。
Black out
昏倒
Look! That guy just black out, somebody helps him.
快看！ 那個人昏倒了，誰快來幫幫他。
Catch red handed
抓到做壞事的人
The kids were caught red-handed stealing chocolate bars.
那些孩子在偷巧克力棒時被逮個正著。
Roll out the red carpet
給予皇室般的待遇
When relatives come to town, my grandmother rolls out the red carpet.
親戚來我們鎮上時，奶奶總時給予他們皇室般的待遇。
To Paint The Town Red
狂歡
When a quarantine is over, I’ll take you out and we’ll paint the town red.
隔離結束時，我一定帶你去好好地狂歡一場。
To Whitewash
試圖隱藏
The money spent on that new monument in the center of town was a complete waste of time. I guarantee that the government would try to whitewash over that.
在市中心的新紀念碑上花錢完全是在浪費時間。我敢保證，政府會試圖隱藏這一點。
See red
生氣
I saw red when that guy grabbed my sister’s purse.
當我看到那傢伙偷我妹妹的錢包時，我氣炸了。
Go in one ear and out the other
左耳進右耳出、當作耳邊風
I've told my roommate many times not to wear my clothes without permission, but my words seem to go in one ear and out the other.
我跟室友說了好幾次不要沒經過我同意就穿我的衣服，但她似乎把我的話當耳邊風。
Go back to square one
(Be back to square one)
被迫從頭做起、回到起點
Our proposal was rejected by the boss, so we have to go back to square one.
我們的提案被老闆否決了，所以我們得再想過新的計畫。
Look out for number one (Look after number one)
先為自己著想、保護自身利益
It doesn’t make you a selfish person if you look out for number one from time to time.
偶爾先為自己著想並不自私。
Cast the first stone
率先指責
No one dared to cast the first stone at Oliver about breaking the window because his father is a gangster.
Oliver的爸爸是個流氓，所以沒有人敢跳出來第一個指責他打破玻璃。
Put two and two together
根據現有情況推論、綜合判斷以得出事實
The police put two and two together, and figured out who the murderer was.
警方根據現有資料推斷出兇手是誰。
Put two and two together and make five
捕風捉影
No one believes what Jenny says because she usually puts two and two together and makes five.
Jenny常常捕風捉影，所以沒有人相信她的話。
The third degree
嚴厲盤問、逼供、刑訊
Mom gave dad the third degree, so he had no choice but to tell her how much money he had hidden.
在媽媽嚴厲的盤問下，爸爸不得不告訴她自己有多少私房錢。
Five-finger discount
順手牽羊
I couldn't believe the hairband Gina gave me was by a five-finger discount.
我不敢相信Gina給我的髮箍竟然是順手牽羊來的。
Take five
稍事休息、放鬆一下
We’ve been working for six hours. Let’s take five and get some coffee.
我們已經工作六個小時了。稍微休息一下，喝杯咖啡吧。
Butter sb up
阿諛奉承、拍某人馬屁
Angela always butters the customers up to get more tips.
Angela總是藉著拍客人馬屁賺取更多小費。
Spill the beans
洩漏秘密
Harry accidentally spilled the beans about the birthday party for Emily.
Harry不小心把Emily生日派對的事洩漏出去了。
Egg someone on
慫恿、鼓動某人做某事（極有可能會招致不好的結果）
Danny shouldn’t have stolen the exam papers even though his friends egged him on to do so.
就算是被朋友慫恿的，Danny也不應該偷考卷。
Put all your eggs in one basket
孤注一擲
Monica is planning on applying to five graduate schools because she doesn’t want to put all her eggs in one basket.
Monica計畫同時申請五間研究所，因為她不想孤注一擲。
Be nuts about sth/ sb
迷戀、癡迷於
Oliver is nuts about Phoebe even though they’ve broken up for several years.
雖然Oliver跟Phoebe已經分手好幾年了，Oliver還是很迷戀Phoebe。
Use one’s noodle
動動腦筋、好好想想
This question is not difficult. Use your noodle, then you’ll figure out the answer to it.
這個題目並不難。你好好想想一定能得到答案。
Eat humble pie
認錯、道歉
I’ll prove that Pete’s idea is not practical and make him eat humble pie in the meeting.
我一定會證明Pete的點子是不可行的，讓他在會議中低頭認錯。
Take sth with a grain of salt
對某事半信半疑、有所懷疑
It’s better to take what Bella said with a grain of salt because she often lies.
對Bella所說的話有所懷疑會比較好，因為她常常說謊。
Shop till you drop
購物到筋疲力盡為止
Every time my wife and I go shopping, she shops till she drops, which makes me feel so exhausted.
每次我和太太去逛街時，她都會購物到筋疲力盡才會停止，這讓我感到非常疲憊。
Window shopping
櫥窗購物（只看商店櫥窗，不會購買商品。）
Jacob likes going window shopping. When he goes shopping, he just looks at the displays and purchases nothing.
Jacob喜歡櫥窗購物。他去逛街時，只會看看櫥窗裡的商品，不會買任何東西。
Shop around
貨比三家
My mother is very thrifty. When she goes grocery shopping, she always shops around to buy the cheapest ones.
我的媽媽非常節儉。為了買到最便宜的菜，她去買菜時總是會貨比三家。
Talk shop
和同事在工作時間外談論工作
After work, I don’t like to hang out with David since he always likes to talk shop. It’s really annoying to me.
下班之後我不喜歡和David出去， 因為他總是在談論工作。我真的很討厭他這樣。
Buy the farm
死掉
Stanley is frequently drunk driving. He should get rid of this bad habit, or he will buy the farm someday.
Stanley常常酒駕。他應該要戒掉這個壞習慣，不然他總有一天會因此喪命。
Buy a lemon
買到問題很多的物品
The car keeps breaking down. I probably bought a lemon.
這輛車一直故障，我可能買到一輛有問題的車了。
Buy-to-let
購買用以出租的房屋
Some people like to purchase buy-to-let to earn rent.
有些人喜歡買房出租賺取租金。
Pick up the tab
付帳
When I have meals with Mia, she picks up the tab all the time which makes me feel a little awkward.
每次我和Mia吃飯時，她都會幫我付錢，這讓我有點不好意思。
It’s on me
我請客
Hey Peter, you help me to cope with the difficult case. Let’s go for dinner. It’s on me.
Peter你幫我解決了這件困難的案子。走吧！我請你吃晚餐。
Cost an arm and a leg
花了一大筆錢
The computer was quite functional and light, but it cost me an arm and a leg; I spent almost all of my salary.
這台電腦有很多功能又很輕，但是它花了我一大筆錢，我幾乎花光了所有的薪水。
Let the cat out of the bag
把秘密說漏嘴
You must keep a secret from Tim. He is apt to let the cat out of the bag.
你必須要在Tim面前保守秘密。他很容易把秘密說漏嘴。
Pay one’s way
支付費用
He worked hard to pay his way during college.
為了支付大學學費，他非常努力工作。
Retail therapy
購物療法（利用購物讓自己開心）
Lily just broke up with her boyfriend yesterday. She relies on retail therapy to feel better.
Lily昨天剛和男朋友分手。她正靠著購物來讓自己開心。
Sell (sb) a pup
欺騙顧客
I bought the TV one month ago, but it broke today. I suspected the shopkeeper sold me a pup.
我一個月前才買了這台電視，但它今天就壞了，我懷疑老闆騙了我。
Sell for a song
以極低價格出售物品
George needed money urgently, thus he sold his mansion for a song.
George急需用錢，因此將他的豪宅以非常低的價格出售。
Hard sell
強迫推銷
I only intended to buy the washing machine, but the clerk gave me a hard sell on dishwashers for a long time; it was so annoying.
我只打算買洗衣機，但店員一直強迫推銷我洗碗機，真煩人。
Soft sell
友好銷售
She doesn’t want to upset customers, so she always uses a soft sell.
她不想要惹怒顧客，所以她總是用友好的方式進行銷售。
Horse around
搗亂
Children were horsing around the living room, which annoyed the guests.
小孩在客廳裡搗亂，這讓客人們感到非常困擾。
Hold one’s horses
停下來想想、稍安勿躁
Nancy, don’t make the decision so quickly, hold your horses. I suggest you should do some research first because you haven’t had investment experience before.
Nancy，妳先不要做決定，仔細考慮一下。因為妳之前從來沒有投資的經驗，我建議妳先做一些研究。
(Has the) cat got your tongue?
質問對方為何不說話、詢問對方為何變得很安靜
● Vivian, you didn’t express any opinion in the meeting. Cat got your tongue?
Vivian，妳在會議上都沒有發表任何意見。為什麼不說話？
● What’s wrong with Lauren today? She is always talkative. Cat got her tongue?
Lauren怎麼了？她平常都很健談，今天怎麼這麼安靜？
Play possum
裝死、裝睡
Don’t play possum. I knew you didn’t fall asleep.
不要裝睡了，我知道你根本沒有睡著。
Sitting duck
容易受騙或被打擊的人
The elderly are sitting ducks when direct sellers sell them products.
當直銷人員販售產品時，老人很容易受騙。
Take the bull by the horns
勇敢面對困難
You should take the bull by the horns rather than avoid the issue.
你應該要勇於面對困難而不是逃避問題。
Chicken out
因害怕而放棄
Amanda was going to take part in the national singing competition, but she chickened out.
Amanda 本來可以參加全國歌唱大賽，但她因為害怕而放棄了
Kill two birds with one stone
一石二鳥、一舉兩得
At the party, I could kill two birds with one stone. I made a lot of new friends and ate tasty snacks.
在派對上我可以一舉兩得，不僅可以交很多新朋友，也可以吃到美味的點心。
Let sleeping dogs lie
過去的事就讓它過去
Sofia has already forgotten her ex-boyfriend, so don’t refer to him again and let sleeping dogs lie.
Sofia已經忘記他的前男友了，所以不要再提起他，過去的事就讓它過去吧。
In the dog house
闖禍
Alex is in the dog house. He bumped Lizzy’s car into the tree.
Alex闖了個大禍，他把Lizzy的車撞樹了。
Crocodile tears
貓哭耗子假慈悲
Tim shed crocodile tears when he heard his colleague was fired.
Tim得知他的同事被開除時，假裝很難過的樣子。
Clam up
沉默不語
Frank clammed up suddenly when I told him the truth.
當我告訴Frank真相時，他突然沉默不語。
Jump up and down with excitement
非常高興
Jason’s wife jumped up and down with excitement after learning that Jason got promoted.
Jason的老婆得知Jason升遷以後高興極了。
To light up
感到欣喜
Julia will light up when she finds the surprise her boyfriend prepared.
Julia發現她男朋為她準備的驚喜時，一定會滿臉笑意。
To jump for joy
興高采烈
Stella finally bought the hit album and couldn’t help jumping for joy.
Stella終於買到這張熱門的專輯，他不禁開心地跳了起來。
Walk on air
興高采烈
The summer vacation is around the corner and all the kids are walking on air.
暑假即將到來，所有的孩子都興高采烈。
Grin from ear to ear
笑得合不攏嘴
When Eric knew his wife was pregnant, he grinned from ear to ear.
Eric得知他老婆懷孕了的消息時，開心極了，笑得合不攏嘴。
Have a whale of a time
度過了一段很開心的時光
When I spent the summer vacation in Korea, I had a whale of a time every day and didn’t want to go home.
我暑假去韓國渡假時，每天都玩得很開心，完全不想回家。
Have the time of one’s life
過著快樂的生活
Mr. and Mrs. Smith had the time of their life before their baby was born.
Smith夫婦在小孩子出生前度過了人生最美好的時光。
To grin like a Cheshire cat
咧嘴傻笑
Amanda just got a boyfriend. When we talked about him, she always grinned like a Cheshire cat.
Amanda最近交了男朋友，每當我們聊起他，她都會開心地傻笑。
To get a kick out of sth
享受做某事
Sandy gets a kick out of boxing. When she was down in the dumps, she always went boxing to relax.
拳擊能使Sandy獲得極大的快樂。當她鬱鬱寡歡時，她總會去打拳擊使自己放鬆。
Have a ball
盡情狂歡
We all had a ball at the party last night.
我們大家在昨晚的派對上都玩得很盡興。
To let one’s hair down
盡情享受
Last night, Samantha let her hair down at the party and enjoyed having a few drinks.
Samantha在昨晚的派對上盡情放鬆，小酌了幾杯。
To make someone’s day
使某人非常開心
My family surprised me at work on Chinese New Year and it made my day because it’s been a long time since we last met.
我的家人農曆新年在我工作的時候帶來了驚喜，使我非常開心，因為我已經很久沒見到他們了。
Bite one’s tongue
忍住不說、不要說（避免禍從口出的情況）
You had better bite your tongue and don’t tell anyone about this
你最好保持沈默，別和其他人提起這件事。
Keep one’s nose clean
不要惹事生非
If you want to hang on to your job, you had better keep your nose clean to make your boss satisfied.
如果想要保住工作的話，你最好不要再惹事生非讓老闆不開心。
Pull one’s leg
開玩笑、捉弄人
Frank is always pulling my leg and it gets annoying at times.
Frank 常常捉弄我，有時會讓人覺得很煩
Have egg on one’s face
出糗、丟臉
Jenny had egg on her face when she delivered an important speech that she had prepared for a long time today.
今天Jenny 發表準備很久的重要演講時，在台上出糗了。
Keep one’s fingers crossed
祈求好運
Take it easy! You have studied so hard and I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you.
放輕鬆！你都已經為考試很用功了，我會為你祈禱有好結果的。
Get in one’s hair
使某人覺得厭煩
Jeremy is trying to study for the exam tomorrow, but his sister is getting in his hair.
Jeremy 正為明天的考試做準備，但是他的妹妹卻在打擾他。
Be a weight off one’s shoulders
卸下重擔
To finish my essay is a huge weight off my shoulders. I can’t wait to enjoy freedom!
完成論文終於讓我卸下重擔，我真的迫不及待要享受自由了。
Keep an eye on something
注意、留意某事
You had better keep an eye on personal belongings at any time when going out.
當你外出時最好隨時注意你的個人物品。
Get something off one’s chest
將某事一吐為快
Amanda just got something off her chest and she felt great.
Amanda 剛剛把藏在心中的話說出來了，她現在覺得好極了。
Make one’s blood boil
使某人火冒三丈
Jasmine is trying to cook but her children bothered her and made her blood boil.
Jasmine 正在做飯但是她的小孩在煩她，讓她非常生氣。
Get cold feet
臨陣退縮
The bride got cold feet and ran off just before the wedding.
新娘在婚禮開始前臨陣退縮，跑掉了。
Afraid of one’s own shadow
極易受驚、杯弓蛇影
Evonne gets scared easily. She’s afraid of her own shadow.
Evonne 真的是膽子有夠小，很容易被嚇到。
Jump out of one’s skin
大吃一驚
My dad nearly jumped out of his skin when my brother opened the car door on the highway.
弟弟在高速公路打開車門時差點把爸爸嚇死。
Have kittens
心慌意亂
I nearly had kittens today when I thought I lost my credit card.
當我以為我的信用卡不見的時候，我慌了。
Shake like a leaf
（因恐懼）渾身發抖
He’s so nervous talking to his crush that he’s shaking like a leaf.
他跟暗戀對象說話時緊張到全身發抖。
Scare the (living) daylights out of someone
嚇得魂飛魄散
He scared the daylights out of me when he jumped out of the corner yesterday.
他昨天從角落跳出來時把我嚇死了。
Get your knickers in a twist
發慌、煩躁
Don’t get your knickers in a twist, it’s just a small quiz. You’ll do fine.
別發慌，這只是小考而已，你沒問題的。
Reduce sb to tears
使某人哭泣
She was reduced to tears after 10 minutes of harsh criticism from the boss.
在被老闆嚴厲批評足足10分鐘後，她流下了一行行的眼淚。
To have a lump in one’s throat
哽咽
She has a lump in her throat when bringing up her ex.
在提起前任時她說到哽咽了。
To take something hard
耿耿于懷、極度悲傷或煩惱
Lily took it pretty hard when her boyfriend broke up with her.
Lily 對於她男朋友提出分手的事耿耿於懷。
Be up in arms about something
對於某事感到不滿並抗議
及表達憤怒
They’re up in arms about the new manager.
他們對新的經理感到相當不滿。
Let off steam
發洩情緒
Come on, I’ll buy you a drink, let off some steam at work.
走吧，我請你喝一杯，發洩一下工作上的不滿。
Hot under the collar
發怒
The teacher seems pretty hot under the collar. What happened yesterday?
老師感覺真的很生氣欸，昨天到底發生甚麼事啊？
Like a red rag to a bull
産生激烈的反應
We never discuss politics when my uncle is visiting. It’s like a red flag to a bull.
叔叔來造訪時我們從不談政治，因為他總是會暴怒。
Rub someone up the wrong way
惹惱他人
I guess my joke about women driving rubbed Lisa up the wrong way.
我想我開關於女人開車的玩笑惹惱Lisa了。
See red
暴怒
I saw red when I discovered they had excluded me from their plans.
當我發現他們把我排除在計畫之外時，我非常生氣。
大發雷霆
Go ballistic
She went ballistic on her son as soon as she found out he ran her new car into a brick wall.
當她聽到她兒子將自己的新車開去撞牆時馬上對他大發雷霆。
