作者：孙文龙
1 have one’s ear to the ground 关心时事，注意各种动向
注解：旧时北美平原居民常把丝围巾放在地上，然后把耳朵贴在上面，这样就可以听到远处的马蹄声和人的脚步声。Have一语原意即为“以耳贴地”，后来被用来比喻“密切留心周围发生的事”“注意各种动向”“保持高度警惕”等意。此语始见于1900年的美国国会议事录，亦作keep / hold one’s ear to the ground和with an /one’s ear to the ground.
A: Julie, change the TV channel, it’s time for news.
B: Please don’t, it is the crucial moment of the TV playseries.
A: But you can see it again tomorrow.
B: I’ve got no interest in news.
A: A real man should have his ear to the ground.
B: News just is a trick played by politicians.
A：茱丽，换电视频道，该看新闻了。
B：别，这部电视剧刚到关键处。
A：明天看重播吧。
B：对新闻我没什么兴趣。
A：一个男人应时刻关心时事。
B：新闻只不过是政客们的把戏而已。
2 have one’s eye on 看上、留意；想要
注解：注意该语的介词搭配“on”，其后可跟人、物。原意为“留意看一眼”，亦可作get one’s eye on，引申为试图占有或想得到。此语中的one’s可用其他形容词来代替，诸如have (cast) an evil eye on someone(不怀好意地看人)。
A: Pawl, I’ll be back from Shanghai next Monday. Do you want something?
B: You, a lucky guy, are always on the business trip. payattention to your health during this week.
A: How about that min-video? I know you have beenhaving your eye on it for long.
B: Great, just you know what I want. I think it will be cheaper in Shanghai.
A: OK, that’s settled then.
B: Thanks. Call me when you’re back.
A：保罗，我下星期一从上海回来，你要带些什么吗？
B：你这个幸运的家伙老出差，注意一下身体。
A：那个小VCD机怎么样？我知道你看上它好久了。
B：好呀，还是你了解我。上海那边可能便宜些。
A：一言为定。
B：谢谢啦。回来后给我打电话。
3. have to the last laugh 获得最后胜利
注解：此语意为“看上去是失败，最后获得胜利，最后证明是正确的”。此语亦作 get the last laugh.
A: You have the last laugh. Congratulations on your success!
B: Thank you.
A: I’m sorry for what I said before.
B: You shouldn’t. It was your words that encouraged me to work harder.
A: Do everything must have courage, right?
B: Yeah. I still remember you said I was mad when I started work on this invention.
A：你获得了最后的胜利。我对你的成功表示祝贺。
B：谢谢你。
A：我对以前说过的话表示歉意。
B：不必，正是你的话激励我更加努力地工作。
A：做任何事都要勇气，是吗？
B：是呀。我还记得当我开始搞这项发明时，你曾说我疯了。
4. heat wave 热浪，酷暑
注解：此语指一年中最热的一段时间，且持续的时间较长。如：During the heat wave of 1988, the compilation work went on without cease.（1988年的酷暑，编撰
工作仍在继续进行。）
A: Summer is coming again.
B: It’s good news. I like it. We can put on beautiful, colorful skirts again.
A: But I don’t like it.
B: Why? You can go shopping, go swimming, a nice season, and right?
A: Yeah. Did you forget the heat wave of last summer? I was almost burned by the sun.
B: It was abnormal. I think it won’t happen again.
A：夏天又来了。
B：真是个好消息。我喜欢夏天，又可以穿漂亮的花裙了。
A：我可不喜欢。
B：为什么？你可以去逛街、去游泳，难道不是一个很好的季节么？
A：不是。你忘记了去年的酷暑了吗？我差点被太阳烤焦了。
B：去年的天气是不正常的，我想今年不会再那样了。
5. hedge about with 感情受到限制；感到不自由
注解：“hedge”一词最基本的含义指“篱笆、树篱”，引申指“限制、障碍”等。在这里用作动词，字面含义为make a hedge around an area of land(用树篱或其他
障碍物围住或隔开)。此词亦作hedge in/around/round with。转喻指感情时，则指“感情受到限制，感到不自由”。
A: I hear you’re going to start your own business.
B: Yeah. I’ve prepared for a whole year.
A: But you’ll be hedged about with lots of rules and regulations.
B: I know there will be various kinds of troublemakers.
A: I wish you good luck!
B: Thanks. I’m fully prepared, as long as our laws in effect.
A：我听说你开始自己干了。
B：对。我为此已准备一年了。
A：但你会受到条条框框的限制。
B：我知道会受到各种各样人的骚扰。
A：祝你好运！
B：谢谢。我已经做好充分准备，只要我们的法律有效就行。
6. hem and haw嗯嗯呃呃，支支吾吾
注解：hem为拟声词，指清嗓子时发出的轻咳声，haw则指踌躇、支吾时所发的“呃”声。此语亦作hum andhaw, um and aah.莎士比亚还曾用过hem and hawk,hem and ha, hum and ha等形式，都表示说话踌躇不决。
A: Why do you talk with me hem and haw?
B: I just don’t know how to say it.
A: Oh, I see. Tell me the truth, ok?
B: Right.
A：你怎么和我说话支支吾吾的?
B：我就是不知该怎么说。
A：噢，我明白了。告诉我真相，好吗？
B：好吧。
7.hide one’s light under a bushel不露锋芒；过分谦逊
注解：bushel是英美用来计量谷物、水果、蔬菜等的容量单位，也指容量为一蒲式耳的木制或泥制容器。此语出自《圣经•新约》《马太福音》第5章第14~15节耶稣在山上对门徒的训示即山上宝训（the Sermonon the Mount）中的一段话：“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.”(你们是世上的光。城造在
山上是不能隐藏的。人点灯，不放在斗底下，而放在灯台上，就能照亮一家的人)。此语亦作hide one’scandle under a bushel。
A: The new clerk was a clever mathematician but was content to hide his light under a bushel.
B: There are few people like him in this world now.
A: Yeah, a lot of people believe that show themselves in every aspect is the truth of life.
B: They think they will get the entire thing they want to in such way.
A: But things always don’t go on as what we expected.
A：这个新职员是个聪明的数学家，但他喜欢不露锋芒。
B：这样的人现在太少了。
A：对呀，大多数人都相信尽量展现自己的各个方面才是生活的真谛。
B：他们觉得唯有这样才能得到自己想要的一切。
A：但是事情往往并不像我们想的那样发展。
8. hit below the belt暗箭中伤
注解：hit below the belt源于拳击运动。根据“昆斯伯里侯爵规则”（the Marquis of Queensbury Rules）：打击对手腰部以下部位即为犯规行动。Hit below the belt便喻指“犯规，暗箭伤人；玩卑鄙手段”。
A: Why do you think of him that way?
B: Because I have been conned by him several times.
A: You mean he hit you below the belt?
B: Yeah. He badmouthed me and stole the show.
A：你为什么会那么想他?
B：因为我吃过他几次亏了。
A：你是说他暗箭伤人?
B：是的。他说我的坏话，还排挤我以表现自己。