现代英语口语表示法500例（16）

· On the tip of someone’s tongue就早嘴边上
A man in black came to ask about my son’s whereabouts. My words were on the tip of someone’s tongue when I found the man had a gun inside his pocket.

· Hold one’s tongue保持沉默
I can no longer hold my tongue when I see so many wild animals have become extinct.

· Keep a civil tongue in one’s head说话有礼貌
A child is taught to keep a civil tongue in his head when he is small.

· Blow one’s top勃然大怒
My neighbor blew his top when he saw his hedges were cut by someone.

· Carry a torch for someone单方想念某人
Though Jane has been engaged with Mr. Hall, Jimmy still carries a torch for her.

· Have the Midas touch有生财的运气，手气好
You’d better find Rogers as you stock broker¹. He has the Midas touch.

· Be touch and go万分危险
The patient is out of danger now, but it was touch and go for a while.

· Throw in the towel认输
She tried to save their marriage by talking her husband out of taking drugs. But she finally threw in the towel.

· Have the inside track for something处于有利的地位
I’m an Art student. I don’t have the inside track for applying for that job.

· Keep track of someone/something掌握……的情况
He is keeping track of all my old friends.

· Be on a gravy² train走运，有赚钱的机会
You will be on a gravy train if you can get that antique. It is worth more money than it is offered.

· Have a mind like a steel trap头脑特别快
He has a mind like a steel trap. He can remember a new word even if he meets it once.

· Bark up the wrong tree弄错目标
The detective has been following the man for a week. But it turns out that he has barked up the wrong tree.

· Be too quick on the trigger操之过急，行动过于仓促
You are always too quick on the trigger. You jump into his throat before he can explain.

· Ask for trouble自找麻烦
Are you asking for trouble by challenging the emphasis on qualities education. You are asking for trouble if you cheat in the exam.

316——330

· blow one’s own trumpet³自吹自擂
If you want to sell more, you should learn to blow your own trumpet.

· Not give someone a tumble不理睬某人
Though Jackson has asked May to marry him for many times, she just won’t give him a tumble.

· Talk turkey打开天窗说亮话
Let’s talk turkey, see if you agree. I’ll get 55%of the share, and you’ll get the rest.

· Not say uncle拒不认错，不服输
I don’t know when he has ever said uncle to anyone.

· Take a dim view of…对……抱悲观态度；不赞同
Teachers in middle schools usually take a dim view of students’ talking up too many after-class activities.

· Walk all over someone任意欺负某人
My neighbor walked all over me. He left rubbish in my door, stamped on my grass and wax my windows. I decided⁴ to fight back.

· Drive someone to the wall把某人逼得走投无路
He hates learning foreign languages. But the challenging situation drives him to the wall. He decides to go to an evening class.

· Drive someone up the wall把某人搞得心烦意乱
Would you please turn down that Rap music? It has driven me up the wall.

· Be in hot water陷入困境
I’m sorry I can’t lend you money. I myself am in hot water.

· Like water off a duck’s back满不在乎，不起作用
I can do nothing about him. Criticism rolls off like water off a duck’s back. It goes into his one ear and comes out of the other.

· Meet one’s Waterloo惨败
The famous lawyer met his Waterloo at the hands of a fledgling lawyer.

· Fish in troubled waters浑水摸鱼
Don’t tell him that we need that material badly, He is good at fishing in troubled waters and will take advantage of it.

· Make waves兴风作浪
Everything went smoothly⁵ in her wedding ceremony, when her formal boyfriend came to make waves by drinking the bridegroom under the table.

· Have a way with something/someone有应付……的办法
She will make a good teacher. She seems to have a way with even the most disobedient boy.

· Pave the way for…为……铺平道路
Donation from every walks of life has paved the way for the Hope Project to proceed.