英語成語園地-常用中文成語英譯 (1~10畫)

一不做，二不休

in for a penny, in for a pound

He was found stealing money from his landlady by her daughter. "In for a penny, in for a pound," he muttered to himself and then killed the little girl.
　

一文不名；一貧如洗

not have (or without) a penny to one's name; not have two halfpennies to rub together; (as) poor as a church mouse; not have a bean; not have (or without) a red cent

When I got married I didn't have a penny to my name.
That family never seem to have two halfpennies to rub together.
I am sorry, I can't lend you anything -- I haven't got a red cent.
　

一石二鳥；一箭雙雕；一舉兩得

kill two birds with one stone

Since Benjamin, one of my classmates in university, lives near my mother, I'll call in on him as well and kill two birds with one stone.
　

一帆風順

plain sailing

The security situation in the Taiwan Strait is far from being plain sailing.
　

一見如故

get on like a house on fire (英) / get along like a house on fire (美)

If two people get on/along like a house on fire, they like each other very much and become friends very quickly.
I was worried that they wouldn't like each other, but in fact they're getting on/along like a house on fire.
　

一文不值

not worth a damn

His promise isn't worth a damn.
　

一針見血；一語中的

hit the nail on the head

He hit he nail on the head when he mentioned casual sex as being the cause of her coming down with AIDS.
　

一言以蔽之

in a nutshell

There's a lot I could say about my boss's speech but to put it in a nutshell, it was terrible.
　

一命嗚呼

turn up one's toes

I hope to take a trip to the United States before I turn up my toes.
　

一絲不苟

dot one's/the i's and cross one's/the t's

You'd better make sure you dot your i's and cross your t's if you want to work at that company. They're very keen on details.
　

一絲不掛

in a state of nature; in the altogether; in the buff; not have a stitch on (or without a stitch on)

I had just got out of the bath and still was in the buff (or in the altogether/in a state of nature) when the maid walked in without knocking.
I had just got out of the bath when he knocked at the door and I didn't have a stitch on.
　

一模一樣

as like as two peas (in a pod)

If two brothers or two sisters are very much alike, you can say they are as like as two peas in a pod.
　

一鳴驚人；一舉成名；不同凡響

set the Thames on fire (英) / set the world on fire (美)

Mary may set the Thames on fire with her piano playing.
His great invention set the world on fire.
　

一籌莫展

up the creek (without a paddle)

He was really up the creek when his wife left him.
　

一丘之貉；物以類聚

birds of a feather (flock together); be tarred with the same brush

We all thought that he and his girlfriend were birds of a feather.
I dislike politicians of all parties because they're all tarred with the same brush.
　

一箭之遙；近在咫尺

a stone's throw

My house is only a stone's throw from the school.
　

一意孤行；我行我素；獨斷獨行

go/take one's own way

I warned him not to marry that girl, but he was determined to go his own way.
　

一知半解

a little knowledge

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. (這一句是頗有名的諺語，意為「一知半解最危險；半瓶子醋害死人」)
　

一見鍾情

fall in love (with someone) at first sight; love at first sight (這裡 "love" 為名詞)

They fell in love with each other at first sight.
They fell in love at once; it was love at first sight.
　

一清二楚

(as) clear as crystal; (as) clear as a bell

I don't know why you can't understand the instructions; they're as clear as crystal to me.
The whole thing was as clear as a bell to me. I knew what to do.
　

一竅不通

be all Greek to someone

He tried to explain how the computer worked, but it was all Greek to me.
　

一白遮三醜

A white complexion is powerful enough to hide seven faults.

A white complexion is powerful enough to hide seven faults.
　

一朝被蛇咬，十年怕草繩；上一次當，學一次乖

once bitten, twice shy

He has cheated and deceived me on one occasion, so I don't trust him. Once bitten, twice shy.

九牛一毛；滄海一粟；杯水車薪

a drop in the ocean/bucket

The money we collected for the victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster is really just a drop in the ocean.
　

入不敷出

live beyond one's means

My father always told me not to live beyond my means.
　

入境隨俗

when in Rome, do as the Romans do

A lot of people often say "when in Rome, do as the Romans do."
　

十之八九

nine times out of ten

When my wife comes home from work, nine times out of ten she buys me an evening newspaper.
　

十拿九穩；穩操勝券

be in the bag

We're sure to win. The match is in the bag.
　

力不從心；心餘力絀；心有餘而力不足

the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak (這兩句的上半句 "the spirit is willing" 和下半句 "the flesh is weak" 常被分開單獨使用)

When I asked him for help yesterday, he said "my spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak."
　

人面獸心；口蜜腹劍；笑裡藏刀 (披著羊皮的狼)

a wolf in sheep's clothing

Mary trusted Jack until one day she was cheated by him, and realized that
he was a wolf in sheep's clothing.
　

人不可貌相

appearances are often deceptive

"Appearances are often deceptive" is a commonly used idiom, meaning things are not always what they seem to be.
　

人在屋簷下，不得不低頭；情勢所逼，不得不然

needs must when the devil drives

You can say "Needs must when the devil drives" when you must act in a certain way or do a particular thing (because it cannot be avoided).
　

人在屋簷下，不得不低頭；飢不擇食

beggars can't be choosers

I asked Tom to lend me his bicycle, and he sent me this old, rusty one. But beggars can't be choosers. (我要湯姆將他的腳踏車借給我，而他卻送來這台老舊又生鏽的腳踏車。沒辦法，人在屋簷下，不得不低頭。)
Mary: Let me wear your green dress; I don't like the blue one you lent me. Alice: Beggars can't be choosers. (瑪麗：我要穿妳的綠色洋裝；我不喜歡妳借我的那件藍色的。愛麗絲：人在屋簷下，不得不低頭。)

註：Beggars can't be choosers. 有「人在屋簷下，不得不低頭」和「飢不擇食」這兩個意思，所以翻譯時端賴上下文的意思而定。

三心兩意

in two minds

My wife thinks we should go to South Korea for our holiday, but I'm still in two minds about it.
　

三番兩次

again and again; over and over (again); time and (time) again; time after time

I've told my son again and again not to run a red light. (to run a red light：闖紅燈)
　

三緘其口

hold one's peace/tongue

In spite of the fact that he made provocative remarks, I held my peace/tongue.
　

三思而後行

look before you leap

Look before you leap when doing business on the Web.
　

三句不離本行；說行話；談論工作上的事情 (這成語通常帶有貶義，暗示這些關於工作的言談讓人覺得很無聊)

(to) talk shop

They did nothing but talked shop, and I came home early because it was so boring.
　

三個臭皮匠勝過一個諸葛亮

two heads are better than one

Two heads are better than one.
　

大同小異；半斤八兩

(very) much of a muchness

The two articles are very much of a muchness.
　

大相逕庭

poles apart

They are poles apart in their political attitudes.
　

千方百計

by hook or by crook; leave no stone unturned (or no stone be left unturned)

I know this work looks difficult, but I'll finish it by hook or by crook.
The police left no stone unturned to catch Taiwan's most wanted fugitive Chang Hsi-ming (張錫銘) and they succeeded.
He promised no stone would be left unturned to get his wife back.
　

千載難逢

once in a blue moon

My wife and I rarely, if ever, eat out. So, when I told her last night "let's eat out and go to see a movie", she was very surprised and said that's really once in a blue moon.
　

寸步不離

at one's elbow

His wife was always at his elbow whenever an important decision had to be taken.
　

(像) 大海撈針

(like) looking/searching for a needle in a haystack

Trying to find a book we want in so many books is just like looking for a needle in a haystack.
　

口是心非；言不由衷

with one's tongue in one's cheek (adv.); tongue in cheek (adv.); tongue-in-check (adj.)

He described me as an excellent teacher, but he said it tongue in cheek/with his tongue in his cheek.
That's a tongue-in-cheek remark/reply.
　

大驚小怪；小題大作

make a mountain out of a molehill

Don't make a mountain out of a molehill when you know I look about ten years younger than I really am. (I look about ten years younger than I really am. 我看起來比實際年齡年輕大約10歲)
　

小題大作；殺雞用牛刀

break a butterfly on a/the wheel (「小題大作」亦可用 "make a meal out of" 和 "make a mountain out of a molehill" 來表示)

I know what I've done is wrong, but there's no need to break a butterfly on a wheel/to make a meal out of it.
　

大發雷霆

do one's nut

When I told him what she had said about him, he did his nut.
　

大獲全勝；所向披靡

sweep the board; carry (or sweep) all/everything before one

I swept the board at the casino last night.
Although I hadn't done well at high school, I carried all before me at university.
　

亡羊補牢

lock the stable door after the horse has bolted

It is never too late to lock the stable door after the horse has bolted.
　

小洞不補，大洞吃苦

a stitch in time saves nine (經常略為 "a stitch in time")

You should try and repair your car before it becomes worse. Remember, a stitch in time saves nine.

井井有條；井然有序

in apple-pie order

My wife likes to keep everything in apple-pie order.
　

少年老成；老成持重

have an old head on young shoulders

Michael has an old head on young shoulders and handles his business very well.
　

手足無措 (或窘得不知如何是好)

not know where to put oneself/one's face

When I told Linda almost everyone at her department had seen the photo of her hugging and kissing her boyfriend affectionately in the street, she was so embarrassed she didn't know where to put herself/her face.
　

日復一日 (或一連數天)

day after day; day in day out (這亦可寫成 "day in, day out")

It went on raining day after day.
If we do the same things day in day out, it isn't surprising we get bored.

附註：關於 "day after day"，其他表示時間的詞也可以這樣用，如 "year after year"，"month after month" 和 "night after night"；至於 "day in day out"，其他表示時間的詞，尤其是表示較長時間的詞，也可以這樣用，如 "year in year out" (這亦可寫成 "year in, year out"，以下亦同)，"month in month out"，"week in week out" 和 "night in night out"，但 hours, minutes 和 seconds 則不可以這樣用。
　

日以繼夜；夜以繼日

day and night; night and day

He thought of her wife day and night when she went on business trip abroad last year.
　

日薄西山 (或好景不長)

someone's days are numbered

Now he knows his days are numbered.
　

五十步笑百步

the pot calling the kettle black

She was criticizing me for not looking for a new job but that is like the pot calling the kettle black. She isn't looking for a new job either.
　

太歲頭上動土

beard the lion in his den (這裡 "beard" 為動詞)

My boss's in his office, so let's beard the lion in his den and ask for a pay raise.
　

中飽私囊

line one's (own) pocket/purse (with + money/profits)

The president's lack of oversight has allowed some of the Cabinet members to line their pockets with hundreds of millions of dollars.
　

心不在焉

here/there in body, but not in spirit; someone's heart is not in

I didn't understand very clearly what you said, because I was here in body, but not in spirit at the time.
John should try to find another job because his heart is always not in his work at all.
　

心滿意足；痛痛快快

to one's heart's content (這個字的重音在第二音節)

It's weekend, so you can sleep to your heart's content.
　

心曠神怡

feel on top of the world

If health has been a problem, don't worry. You'll feel on top of the world from now on.
　

火上加油 (或煽動情緒)

add fuel to the flames/fire; fan the flames/fire

The workers weren't satisfied with their wages, so when they were asked to work longer hours, it added fuel to the flames.
　

火中取栗 (意為替別人冒險)

pull the/someone's chestnuts out of the fire

I had pulled the chestnuts out of the fire for him on several occasions and was unwilling to do it again.
　

方柄圓鑿；格格不入

a square peg in a round hole

If you go to university, you will be a square peg in a round hole there because you just have no desire to study.
　

互相殘殺；互相傾軋

cut each other's throats

For a bag of gold coins they would cut each other's throats without hesitation.
　

天涯海角

the ends of the earth

"Oh dear, as you know, I would take you to the ends of the earth at any time."
　

天壤之別；天懸地隔

be worlds apart

Our ways of life are worlds apart.
George and Mary decided to get married even though their families were worlds apart.
　

今日事今日畢

never put off till tomorrow what you can do today (亦寫成 "never put off till tomorrow what may/can be done today"，但較少人使用)

It should be borne in mind that never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
　

不自量力 (貪多嚼不爛)

bite off more than one can chew

I told him he would be biting off more than he could chew if he tried to get 950 points in the TOEIC test.
　

不言而喻 (或不用說)；不辯自明

go without saying; speak for itself/themselves

It goes without saying that I will never love her.
The company has had a very successful year; the figures speak for themselves.
　

不念舊惡；寬大為懷

forgive and forget

We hated each other in Taiwan; we met again in the United States last year and decided to forgive and forget. Now we have become very friendly.
　

不相上下；半斤八兩；銖兩悉稱

six of one and half a dozen of the other

Voting for a DPP or a KMT candidate is a case of six of one and half a dozen of the other.
　

不動聲色；泰然自若

keep one's countenance; play it cool

Most people could hardly keep their countenance in the face of death.
They expected us to be angry, but we had decided to play it very cool.
　

不知所措；暈頭轉向

at a loss; lose one's bearings; not know whether one is (standing) on one's head or one's heels

When she asked me if I had ever divorced any women, I was at a loss for words. ( at a loss for words：無言以對)
In all this mass of details I'm afraid I've rather lost my bearings.
When his shop was very busy yesterday morning, the poor shopkeeper didn't know whether he was on his head or his heels.
　

不屈不撓

(keep one's) chin up

He's having a pretty difficult time but he seems to be keeping his chin up.
　

不合時宜；不妥當

out of joint

Don't mention his name! No one here likes him, and it would be very out of joint if you talk about him.
　

不倫不類；非驢非馬

neither fish nor fowl; neither fish nor flesh; neither fish, flesh, nor fowl

They felt he was neither fish nor fowl--not qualified to lead the department, yet not appropriate to work as a staff member either.
　

不遺餘力；竭盡全力

fall all over oneself; fall over backwards; bend over backwards

They fell all over themselves to be helpful, but only got in the way.
She fell over backwards trying to please her boss, but it got her nowhere.
　

不擇手段；千方百計

by hook or by crook; stop at nothing (to do something)

David is trying to get that promotion by hook or by crook; he even spread rumors smearing the other candidates.
The young man wanted to be rich and would stop at nothing to get more money for himself.
　

不入虎穴，焉得虎子

nothing venture, nothing gain/win/have (or "nothing ventured, nothing gained")

"Nothing venture, nothing gain", as the saying goes.

白手起家；從頭做起

from scratch; start (again) from scratch

He's a successful entrepreneur who started from scratch.
　

白紙黑字

in black and white

I don't want to hear you promise to pay me. I want your promise in black and white.
　

本末倒置

put/set the cart before the horse

You're putting the cart before the horse by buying all this furniture before you've got the house.
　

本性難移

a leopard never changes its spots; a leopard cannot change its spots

It's not surprising that he was sentenced to five years in prison again, because a leopard never changes its spots.
　

生龍活虎；生氣勃勃

alive and kicking

My father is 82 years old but he is still very much alive and kicking.
　

生殺大權

the power/right of life and/or death

The ancient kings of this country held the power of life and death over all their servants.
　

功敗垂成；功虧一簣

(there's many) a slip twixt (the) cup and (the) lip; pipped at the post

I have to tell you that your plan is a slip twixt the cup and the lip.
We thought the owner would agree to sell us the house but we were pipped at the post by a more generous offer from someone else.

附註：1. twixt 或 betwixt 是 "between" 的舊式拼法。2. 在賽馬中，一匹馬快到終點時突然被另一匹馬超越稱之為 "pipped"；現今，無論在任何比賽、競爭或選舉中，只要在最後關頭或最後一刻被擊敗或被超越時就可使用這成語來形容，如例句所言，眼看要成交時，有人卻出更高的價錢把房子買走了。
　

左右為難；進退兩難

on the horns of a dilemma

I was on the horns of a dilemma when I was offered another job because I still had/felt a great deal of loyalty to my boss.
　

左右逢源

butter both sides of one's bread

She's buttering both sides of her bread -- she works for our company during the day and has another job during the evening.
　

四面八方

on every hand; on all hands; in all directions

On every hand was a charming view of rocky buttresses and wooded heights.
　

打鐵趁熱

make hay while the sun shines

John may as well make hay while the sun shines, because he is young and healthy and able to earn a lot of money.
　

半途而廢

fall by the wayside; wither on the vine

How's that book you were working on?
-- Oh, I'm afraid it's fallen by the wayside.

My wife who was trying to lose weight had already withered on the vine by eating cream cakes.
　

失之東隅，收之桑榆 (即得失相當；損益相抵)

What you lose on the swings you gain on the roundabouts (常縮寫為 "swings and roundabouts")

It's a bit of a swings-and-roundabouts situation. (a swings-and-roundabouts situation：得失相當的情況)
　

未雨綢繆；以備不時之需

for a rainy day

You'd better save some money for a rainy day.
　

出人頭地；功成名就

make one's/its mark

After having been working for the company for more than 15 years, he finally made his mark.
　

以升容斗；以小容大；做明知辦不到的事

put a quart into a pint pot (通常用於否定句)

Many new people have moved into this small town and they have nowhere to live. You can't put a quart into a pint pot.
　

以怨報德；恩將仇報

bite the hand that feeds one

The man had worked for the company for several years. When he was caught stealing, his employer felt that he had bitten the hand that fed him.
　

以眼還眼，以牙還牙

an eye for an eye (and a tooth for a tooth)

I didn't believe in the death penalty -- an eye for an eye -- but how else can we stop this sort of thing?
　

以其人之道還治其人之身

pay someone back in their own coin

II decided to pay her back in her own coin and refuse to help her.
　

生死存亡；成敗攸關

sink or swim

He has refused to give us any more help, and has left us to sink or swim by our own efforts. (他拒絕再給我們任何幫助，讓我們自找生路)
He was left by his family to sink or swim by himself. (他遭家人遺棄，生死存亡一切得靠自己)

行將就木；奄奄一息；生命垂危

at death's door

We were very surprised to hear that our favorite teacher was at death's door.
　

老調重彈

harp on one (or the same) string

I've already told you many times that I have no money to lend you. I wish you'd stop harping on the same string.
　

多此一舉；徒勞無益

carry coals to Newcastle

To offer him money is to carry coals to Newcastle; he is very wealthy.
　

妄自尊大；自以為了不起

too big for one's boots

John is too big for his boots; that's his trouble.
　

守口如瓶

keep a quiet/still tongue (in one's head)

You'll keep a quiet tongue in your head, will you?
　

充耳不聞

stop one's ears; turn a deaf ear

He stopped his ears to bad news.
The president always turns a deaf ear to people's complaints.
　

光陰似箭；歲月易逝

time flies

Scientists prove time flies when you're busy.
　

先發制人；比...搶先一步

steal a march on (someone)

The company plans to steal a march on its competitors by offering the same computer at a lower price.
　

夸夸其談；信口開河；信口雌黃

shoot off one's mouth

It seems like every senior official in the administration is free to shoot off his mouth on any subjects at any time.
　

血濃於水

blood is thicker than water

He gave his brother a good job because blood is thicker than water.
　

百聞不如一見；眼見為憑

To see is to believe; Seeing is believing

To see is to believe? No, eyes can be easily deceived.
　

全力以赴

do one's level best; go all out; go great guns; pull out all the stops; put one's best foot forward

I did my level best to help him.
I will go great guns for the team.
Don't worry too much about the TOEFL iBT test. Just put your best foot forward and do what you can!
　

早起的鳥兒有蟲吃

the early bird catches the worm

Remember, it's the early bird catches the worm - you should try to get to it early.
　

有志者事竟成

where there is a will there is a way

In the writing test, John concluded his essay by writing "where there is a will there is a way."
　

有其父必有其子

like father/mother, like son/daughter

A good example of "like father, like son" is George Bush and George W. Bush.
　

安如磐石；十分平穩

(as) steady as a rock

As he aimed the gun, his hand was as steady as a rock.
　

安然無恙

safe and sound

All his sons returned safe and sound from the war.

附註："safe and sound" 的發音並不是一個字一個字唸，而是將 and 中的 "d" 不發音，並將 "an" 與其前面的子音 (在此為 safe 中的 "f") 連音，所以實際的讀音是 "sa - fan - sound"。英文有不少類似 "safe and sound" 這種使用兩個詞性相同的字、中間用 and 連接起來的固定搭配，它們有些有連字號，有些沒有，但不管有無連字號，它們實際的讀音大多如上述，如 "cloak-and-dagger"、"hard-and-fast"、"ins and outs"、"up and about"、"spick-and-span" 等等；當然啦，如果 "and" 前面那個字的字尾是母音，那麼就不會有這種連音的情況發生。讀者若能把握這原則，並勤加練習，對於聽力的提升也會有所助益的。這種固定搭配在英文中叫做 "binomial"。
　

名副其實

worth (or worthy of) the name

No policeman worth the name should ever let a criminal escape so easily.
　

如坐針氈；坐立不安；焦躁不安；如熱鍋上的螞蟻

like a cat on hot bricks (英) / like a cat on a hot tin roof (美); on pins and needles

She was like a cat on hot bricks before her wedding ceremony.
I was on pins and needles all day until she called me.
　

如意算盤；痴心妄想；一廂情願

wishful thinking

Their hopes of a peace settlement are nothing more than wishful thinking.
　

因小失大

spoil the ship for a ha'porth o'tar

I'm going to buy some new paint brushes -- all the old ones have gone stiff. I've paid a lot for the paint and I don't want to spoil the ship for a ha'porth o'tar.

附註：這句成語中，ha'porth = halfpennyworth，o'tar = of tar。它原來是寫成 "spoil the sheep for a ha'porth of tar"，即「不願花半便士買焦油醫治羊傷而導致羊死亡」。有些地方將 sheep 的音發成 ship。
　

自吹自擂；自我吹噓

blow one's own trumpet/horn

She's very good at blowing her own trumpet.
　

自取滅亡；自掘墳墓；咎由自取；自食其果

sign one's own death warrant; dig one's own grave; stew in one's own juice

You're just digging your own grave if you go on smoking so heavily.
　

自作自受；自食其果；自尋死路；作法自斃

cut/slit one's (own) throat; have made one's bed and must (or have to) lie in/on it; stew in one's own juice

You've made your bed and you must lie on it.
I would just be cutting my own throat if I stopped work now.
　

自討苦吃；自找麻煩

make a rod for one's own back

I've just made a rod for my own back by working for that company, because they always expect one to work many hours without pay.
　

自高自大；自命不凡

be/get/rise above oneself

Don't be getting far above yourself; you are no more than a secretary.
　

自斷後路；破釜沈舟

burn one's boats/bridges (behind one)

Now we've burned our bridges behind us and we have no option but to go forward with the project.
　

劣幣驅逐良幣

bad money drives out good

"Bad money drives out good" is a proverb and also an economic principle.

赤手空拳

(one's) bare hands

I killed the tiger with my bare hands.
　

作威作福；盛氣凌人；頤指氣使

lord it (over someone)

Since she got the highest mark in the final math exam, she has lorded it over the other students in her class as if she knew everything about math.
　

防患未然 (在萌芽時就將其消滅，或一開始時就加以制止)

nip (something) in the bud

There are a couple of things bothering me very much that I want to nip in the bud.
　

身強力壯；非常健康

(as) fit as a fiddle/flea

He was fit as a fiddle when he was at law college.
　

(尤指因缺乏社交技巧而) 局促不安；不自在的

ill at ease

He is always ill at ease at parties.
　

忍氣吞聲

swallow one's pride

I was forced to swallow my pride and apologize to my boss for his fault.
　

每況愈下

go downhill; go down the Swanee; go from bad to worse; on the slide; on the wane

I'm going to leave the country. Since the present government came into power, the whole situation of people's lives has been going down the Swanee.

附註："Swanee" 是美國一條河流的名稱，因史蒂芬˙佛斯特 (Stephen Foster, 1825-1864) 1851年的民歌 "Old Folks at Home" (家鄉老友 -- 有人譯為「老鄉親」) 而出名，歌詞開頭是 "Way down upon the Swanee River"。
　

坐失良機

miss the boat

She missed the boat when she said no to that deal. It turned out to be worth millions.
　

言出必行；言行一致；說到做到

suit/fit the action to the word

He suited the action to the word and married her last year.
　

言多必失

the less said the better

It is best to say nothing at all when you are in an unfamiliar environment because "the less said the better."
　

言歸於好 (尤指長期不和後)

bury the hatchet; make one's peace

John and his wife who went to court yesterday to fight about their marriage have decided to bury the hatchet.
　

投桃報李；禮尚往來；善有善報；好心有好報

one good turn deserves another

He fixed my bike so I let him use my computer. One good turn deserves another. (他修理我的腳踏車，所以我讓他用我的電腦。投桃報李/禮尚往來嘛!)
One good turn deserves another so we made a great effort to help those people who had helped us in the past. (善有善報! 所以我們盡了最大努力來幫助過去曾經幫助過我們的人)
　

否極泰來；苦盡甘來；雨過天晴

after a storm comes a calm; after the storm comes a calm; the calm after a storm

Don't worry again, Tom, after a storm comes a calm. All bad things are gone, and everything will get better and better. (湯姆，別再擔心了，否極泰來。所有不好的事情都已過去，未來一切將會越來越好)
John: I can't believe how peaceful the office is today, when yesterday everyone was threatening to quit. Jane: After a storm comes a calm. (約翰：我不敢相信今天辦公室會這麼平靜，昨天大家不是還揚言要辭職嗎! 珍：雨過天晴)
　

拋磚引玉；吃小虧佔大便宜；以小魚釣大魚；用小本賺大錢

(throw) a sprat to catch a mackerel/whale

The policy aims mainly to throw a sprat to catch a mackerel. (這項政策旨在拋磚引玉)
Every week I invest one hundred NT dollars on the lottery tickets. It's a sprat to catch a mackerel because one day I could win one hundred million. (我每個禮拜都花一百元買樂透彩，這完全是一種小冒險求大利的行動，因為有一天我可能會中1億元)
　

投鼠忌器；自己有過勿道他人之短

people/those who live in glass houses should not throw stones

"People who live in glass houses should not throw stones" is a saying, meaning people with faults of their own should take care not to attack the faults of others. (People who live in glass houses should not throw stones 是句諺語，意為「自己有缺點就別揭人家短處」)
Mary says that Amy is selfish, but Mary is more selfish herself. People who live in glass houses should not throw stones. (瑪麗說艾美自私自利，但她自己更自私自利。自己有同樣缺點的人最好不要說別人)
　

佛要金裝，人要衣裝

clothes make the man

Clothes make the man, dressed to the nines. (佛要金裝，人要衣裝，盛裝赴會)
Some women have used "Clothes make the woman" to mean the same thing as "Clothes make the man" because of their belief that this is gender equality. (一些女性使用 "Clothes make the woman" 來表示 "Clothes make the man" 的意思，因為她們認為這是性別平等)

金科玉律

golden rule

I have one golden rule that anyone can put into practice: eating less makes you healthier.
　

空中樓閣

castles in the air

Your plan to run for the president is merely a castle in the air.
　

知足常樂；足食猶如盛宴

enough is as good as a feast

The old proverb "enough is as good as a feast" doesn't apply to her.
　

長話短說；簡而言之

cut/make a long story short

To cut a long story short, the fact is that you are not welcome here.
　

來日方長

tomorrow is another day

After he had failed the GEPT, I told him that "Don't be too sad. Tomorrow is another day."
　

卑躬屈膝；畢恭畢敬；點頭哈腰

bow and scrape

From the way she's bowing and scraping in front of the boss, you'll know what sort of person she is.
　

事後諸葛；事後聰明

wise after the event

If we had waited another week we could have bought the car more cheaply. Well, it's easy to be wise after the event.
　

直言不諱

call a spade a spade; speak one's (own) mind

I like this guy because he always calls a spade a spade.
I'm furious about it, and I intend to speak my mind to my boss.
　

枉費心機 (或白費心機)；徒勞無功；狂犬吠月

bay (at) the moon

This company has spent a lot of money on advertising its new improved type of CD player. But it's baying at the moon. Who wants a CD player when DVD players are now cheaper?

附註：bay 在此當動詞用，意為「(獵犬) 不斷地吠叫」。
　

孤注一擲

put all one's eggs in/into one basket; put one's shirt on

When the company she had invested all her money in went bankrupt, she wished she hadn't put all her eggs in one basket.
I think I've a very good chance of getting that job, but I wouldn't put my shirt on it.
　

乳臭未乾

(still) wet behind the ears

He made a lot of mistakes, back when he was still wet behind the ears.
　

屈指可數；寥寥無幾

can (or be able to) count on one's fingers

He's too stingy, so he can count his good friends on his fingers.
　

迎頭趕上(或擺脫困境；挽回損失)

make up leeway

Despite the fact that John has poor performances in exams, the teacher has decided to give him a chance to make up leeway.
　

奄奄一息；半死不活

(to) within an inch of one's life

Her husband beat her to within an inch of her life in a domestic violence. (她丈夫對她家暴，把她打得奄奄一息/半死不活)

附註：這成語的基本型式為"within an inch of" (= very near, very close to：差一點，險些兒)，如："We came within an inch of death." (我們險些兒喪命)。
　

明珠暗投；對牛彈琴

cast pearls before swine

I tried to explain the beauty of Chinese characters to my foreign friends but it was just casting pearls before swine.
　

怏怏不樂(情緒或心情不佳)

out of humor (in a bad temper; moody)

He seems out of humor. He has been shouting at everybody all day long.
　

昂首(或抬頭)挺胸；趾高氣揚

hold one's head high; with one's head held high

I have boasted in my youth and held my head high and gone on my way careless of consequences. (Evelyn Waugh) -- 伊利文渥夫為英國作家，生前著有「一掬塵土」(A Handful of Dust) 等作品。
It is important to walk with your head held high to keep your body shape.
　

近廟欺神；親暱生狎侮；過度親密，易生侮慢之心

familiarity breeds contempt

The movie star doesn't let anyone get to know him, because he knows that familiarity breeds contempt. (這位電影明星不讓任何人跟他混得太熟，因為他知道過度親密，易生侮慢之心)
You two are going to find it difficult living and working together. Familiarity breeds contempt, you know. (你們兩人將會發現生活和工作都在一起是有困難的。親暱生狎侮嗎!)

赴湯蹈火

go through fire and water

I will go through fire and water to help my relatives and friends.
　

風平浪靜；水平如鏡

(as) calm as a millpond; like a millpond

The Dead Sea is normally as calm as a millpond./The Dead Sea is normally like a millpond.
　

既往不咎(過去的事就讓它過去吧；盡棄前嫌)

let bygones be bygones

Despite the fact that her father treats her very badly, she has decided to let bygones be bygones and take care of him when he is too old.
　

怒氣衝天；大發雷霆

go up in the air (參見「大發雷霆」-- do one's nut)

My girlfriend went up in the air because I had a date with another girl.
　

美中不足

a/the fly in the ointment

I've been offered a wonderful job, but the only fly in the ointment is that the pay is not too good.
　

洗心革面；改過自新；重新做人

turn over a new leaf

I've decided to turn over a new leaf and find a good job.
　

省吃儉用

pinch and scrape

I have to pinch and scrape in order to save enough money to visit my parents in Japan next year.
　

信口開河；胡說八道

talk through one's hat

He says he knows genetics very well, but he's talking through his hat!
　

英雄所見略同

great minds think alike

A: "I was just thinking to call you, then the phone rang and it was you calling me."
B: "Great minds think alike."

A: "This summer I've decided to take scuba diving lessons."
B: "Really? Me too. I have already paid for the course."
A: "Great minds think alike."
　

首屈一指；獨占鼇頭；出類拔萃

bear (or carry off) the palm

Students of this university bear the palm in the international landscape designing contest.
　

神色自若；泰然自若；不動聲色

not turn a hair

When someone we fear passes near, it makes our hair stand on end, no matter how much we try not to turn a hair.
　

恨之入骨

hate like poison

They hate each other like poison.
The teacher was hated like poison by all his students.
　

飛黃騰達

make it big; fly high

"Believe me! I am going to make it big myself one day."
He began flying high when he got married to his wealthy wife.
　

指名道姓(說出做壞事者或違法者的姓名)

name names

She swears she will never name names, even if she were offered a reward.
　

胡說八道

stuff and nonsense!

Stuff and nonsense! I never said that sort of thing.
　

怒目而視

look daggers at

I suddenly noticed my wife looking daggers at me and thought I'd better shut up.
　

屏息以待(或屏住呼吸)

hold one's breath

I held my breath and waited to see if my name had been called for an interview with the movie company.
The movie was so horrible that everybody held his breath.
　

厚此薄彼

make fish of one and flesh of another

Don't make fish of one and flesh of another in treating your children.
　

咬牙切齒

gnash one's teeth

The man gnashed his teeth when he saw his wife going on a date with another man.
　

咬緊牙關

grit one's teeth

One has to grit one's teeth during difficult times.
　

秘而不宣；守口如瓶

keep one's (own) counsel; play/keep/hold one's cards close to one's/the chest (參見「守口如瓶」-- keep a quiet/still tongue)

he's known to keep his counsel and not prematurely reveal his position on some sensitive issues.
With reference to the reasons for his unexpected promotion, he always plays his cards close to his chest.
　

挑三揀四；挑挑揀揀

pick and choose (注意：pick 和 choose 的順序不可對調)

There are just too many new houses in the city for us to pick and choose.
　

挑燈夜戰；開夜車

burn the midnight oil

The semester is almost over and we're all burning the midnight oil before exams.
　

為所欲為

get away with (blue) murder

Some well-placed people in Taiwan can indeed get away with blue murder!
　

活到老學到老

live and learn

"Live and learn" is an idiom meaning it's never too late to learn. (Live and learn 是句成語，意為「活到老學到老」)
I had no idea that she was as old as that. Well, you/we live and learn. (我沒想到她年紀這麼大了。真是活到老學到老)
　

若要人不知，除非己莫為

murder will out

Your extramarital affairs can't be kept secret forever, because murder will out. (你的婚外情不可能永遠保密，因為若要人不知，除非己莫為)
The President thought no one would ever discover his crime, but murder will out. (總統以為沒有人會發現他的罪行，但若要人不知，除非己莫為)

旁敲側擊；拐彎抹角

beat about/around the bush

Why should you beat around the bush when asking for higher wages? You deserve more money.
　

茶杯裡的風暴；茶壺裡的風暴；小題大作；大驚小怪

a storm in a teacup; a tempest in a teapot

Although Mr. and Mrs. Wang had an argument last night, It was just a storm in a teacup.
　

害群之馬(團體中的敗類)

a/the bad/rotten apple; black sheep (如果是 "the black sheep of the family"，則意為「家庭中的不肖子」)

Most students in the class study hard but there are a few rotten apples.
There are quite a few black sheep in the Legislative Yuan.
　

酒肉朋友

a fair-weather friend

I cannot believe that John was a fair-weather friend of mine, because he has promised to help me whenever necessary.
　

借酒澆愁

drown one's sorrows

If I fail my examinations, I'll go and drown my sorrows.
　

骨瘦如柴(瘦得皮包骨)

(as) thin as a rake/lath/stick

He had been ill for several months, and looked as thin as a stick.
　

家醜外揚

wash one's dirty linen in public

Don't wash your dirty linen in public. (家醜不可外揚)
　

海底撈針

look/search/hunt for a needle in a haystack

It's pretty much like looking for a needle in a haystack because these fish are extremely hard to find.
　

差之毫釐，失之千里

A miss is as good as a mile

I've tried to reassure him that he only failed by three percent but the way he sees it, a miss is as good as a mile.
　

留得青山在，不怕沒柴燒

while/where there's life there's hope

The company has survived previous recessions; while there's life there's hope.
　

破口大罵

swear like a trooper

"If you are going to swear like a trooper, I am going away."
　

乘人之危；落井下石

hit a man (or someone) when he's down

Never hit a man when he's down. He may get back up again.
　

栩栩如生；維妙維肖

to the life

She painted me to the life.
The portrait is drawn to the life.
　

唇槍舌劍

cut and thrust

There was a real cut and thrust between them about the game.
　

班門弄斧

teach one's grandmother to suck eggs

He is always telling the director how to run the business; that's like teaching his grandmother to suck eggs.
　

殊途同歸；條條大路通羅馬

all roads lead to Rome

Helen was criticizing the way Jill was planting the flowers. Jill said, never mind, Helen. All roads lead to Rome.
All roads lead to Rome. I believe we will find a way out.
　

挨家挨戶

(from) door to door

He sells dusters (from) door to door.
　

胸懷大志；抱負遠大

hitch one's wagon to a star (or the stars)

Allen's hitching his wagon to a star--he plans to be an entrepreneur by age thirty.
　

臭氣熏天

stink/smell to high heaven

That fish must be a couple of days old. It stinks to high heaven.
　

泰然自若

(as) cool as a cucumber

Despite the mishap Margaret was cool as a cucumber.