在美生存 常用習語

2010-11-06 23:01

·I'll buy you a lunch (a drink; a dinner). = It's on me. = My treat. 我請客

·Let's go dutch. 各付各的

·My stomach is upset. 我的胃不舒服

·diarrhea [dai r'i ] 拉肚子

·吃牛排時，waitor 會問「How would you like it ?」 就是問「要幾分熟？」的意思，可以選擇 rare，medium 或 well-done。

·I am under the weather. =I am not feeling well. 我不太舒服!

·May I take a rain check? 可不可改到下次？（例如有人請你吃飯，你不能赴約，只好請他改到下一次。）

·I am not myself today. 我今天什麼都不對勁!

·Let's get it straight. 咱們把事情弄清楚!

·What's the rush! 急什麼!

·Such a fruitcake! 神經病！

·I'll swing by later. =I'll stop by later. 待會兒，我會來轉一下。

·I got the tip straight from the horse's mouth. 這個消息是千真萬確的（tip指消息）!

·easy as pie = very easy = piece of cake 很容易。

·flunk out 被當掉。

·take french leave 不告而別。

·I don't get the picture. =I don't understand. 我不明白。

·You should give him a piece of your mind. 你應該向他表達你的不滿。

·hit the road = take off = get on one's way 離開。

·Now he is in the driver's seat =He is in control now.

·Keep a low profile (or low key). 採取低姿態。

·Kinky =bizarre =wacky =weird 古怪的。

·klutz (=clutz) =idiot 白痴、笨蛋。

·know one's way around 識途老馬。

·lion's share 大部分。

·tailgate 尾隨（尤其跟車跟得太近）。

·take a back seat. 讓步。

·take a hike =leave me alone =get lost 滾開。

·hit the hay =go to bed 睡覺。

·Can you give me a lift? =Can you give me a ride? 載我一程好嗎？

·green hand 生手、沒有經驗的人。

·moonshine = mountain dew 指私釀的烈酒（威士忌）或走私的酒。胡說八道也可用moonshine。His story is plain moonshine.

·chill out =calm down =relax（來自黑人英語）

·rip off =steal;I was ripped off. 我被偷了；rip off 也常被用為「剝奪」My right was ripped off. 權利被剝奪（來自黑人英語）。

·我們稱美國大兵為G.I. (Government Issue) or GI Joe, 德國兵或德國佬為 Fritzor Kraut，稱英國佬為John Bull，日本人為Jap.或Nip，猶太人為Jew都是 很不禮貌的稱呼。

·mess around (with)瞎混；Get to work. Don't mess around. 趕快工作，別瞎攪和。

·snob 勢利眼。

·sneak in,sneak out 偷偷溜進去，溜出來。sneakers 運動鞋。

·She is such a brown-noser. 她是個馬屁精。

·This is in way over my head. 對我而言這實在太難了。

·I am an exam jitter and I always get a cramp in my stomach. 我是個考試緊張大師，一考試胃就抽筋。

·Keep your study (work) on track. 請按進度讀書（工作）。

·Did you come up with any ideas? 有沒有想到什麼新的意見？

·Don't get uptight !Take it easy. 別緊張，慢慢來！

·Cheese ! It tastes like cardboard. Cheese吃起來味如嚼臘！

·Get one's feet wet. 與中文裡的「涉足」或「下海」，寓意相同，表示初嘗某事。I am going to try dancing for the very first time. Just to get my feet wet.

·美國總統到底是比爾·克林頓還是威廉·克林頓？吉米·卡特和詹姆斯·卡特是否同一人？根據語言學家William Safire的分析，美國多數政客都喜歡使用昵名代替他們原來的名字，如Bill就是William的昵稱，Jimmy等於James等，好造成一種平易近人的形象。