Language Café

Keep tabs on 跟踪 追踪 监视The maid got the feeling her employers were keeping tabs on her after she found a hidden camera.I like to keep tabs on my bank account so I don't overspend.The ambassador suspected that his people were keeping tabs on his movements.Definition: To watch a person or a situation carefully so that you always know what they are doing.Etymology: This expression uses the word tab in the sense of "an account." ******跟踪 追踪 监视Nowadays cameras are being installed to keep tabs on housemaids. 现在有人装摄像头监视保姆.Only recently did she realize that her old flame has been secretly keeping tabs on her for years since they split up. She wonders whether it's a blessing or not. 最近她才意识到自从分手后,她的老相好一直在悄悄地跟踪她.她不知道这是不是件好事.He is a fan of Taylor Swift and he keeps tabs on all her concerts. 他是Taylor Swift的粉丝,他追踪她所有的音乐会.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxVicious cycle 恶性循环Greece is in a vicious cycle with high consumption, leading to buying credit, leading to insufficient domestic savings, leading to laying off government employees.The restaurant is in a vicious cycle after a rat was spotted, fewer customers came, which leads to passersby seeing empty tablesThe farms were in a vicious cycle, after the drought caused intensified land use, and not enough time for crop rotation.Definition: It refers to complex chains of events which reinforce themselves through a feedback loop. A virtuous circle has favorable results, while a vicious circle has detrimental results.Etymology: Vicious is negative. Cycle pertains to a loop. ******恶性循环Over protection of children is a vicious cycle. The more parents protect their children the less secure the children will become. 过度保护孩子会导致恶性循环.家长保护的越多,孩子的安全感越少.Bad loans are going to become a vicious cycle. If banks keep borrowing to fill the gaps, the gaps will become larger and larger. 坏账将会导致恶性循环.如果银行继续靠借钱来堵窟窿,这些窟窿会越变越大.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxPhone it in 三心二意 敷衍 做事不认真Although many expected to be impressed by the singer's concert, she was just phoning it in as far as I could tell.The radio host never phones it in.I can't stand the TV series Homeland, because that one actor doesn't act, he just phones it in.Definition: To perform an act with minimal effort, as if it didn't matter.Etymology: Derived from phoning someone to your errand, instead of taking care of it in person.******三心二意 敷衍 做事不认真No wonder he will never reach that high! He is smart. But he phones it in whenever possible in the office. 难怪他达不到那个高度!他虽然人很聪明,但在办公室做事他总是能敷衍就敷衍.Forced by her parents to choose accounting as major, she phoned it in when studying in college and later when working in a company. 会计专业是父母强逼她学的,这使得她后来在校学习和工作都三心二意,并不尽心.

Play the field 脚踏多只船,不专一Dylan decided to play the field and apply to many jobs.Victor played the field and did not make a firm commitment to any of his 3 girlfriends.Even though they were married, Allison suspected that her husband was still playing the field.Definition: Date more than one person; avoid an exclusive commitment. Can be used for other areas.Etymology: This term originated in British horse racing, where it meant "to bet on every horse in a race except the favorite." It was transferred to other activities about 1930.******脚踏多只船,不专一He is multi-talented. He has always been playing the field in his career. 他多才多艺,职业上一直脚踏多只船.Everything else about him is impeccable! Only one thing bothers girls who want to date him. He plays the field and can never settle down with one woman. 别的他都无可挑剔,只有一件事让想和他约会的女孩子们烦恼,那就是:他同时交往很多女朋友,脚踏好些只船,永远不能和任何一个女人固定下来. xxxxxxxxxxxxxjump shipEdmund decided to jump ship to the half marathon after he discovered the full marathon was too hard.Another advertising company offered Don a $10,000 wage to jump ship.The TV star jumped ship after the first season when a better TV series casted him.Definition: If you jump ship, you suddenly leave a job or activity before it is finished, especially to go and work for someone else. Or when there is difficulty.Etymology: It is based on the literal meaning of jumping ship, which is to leave a ship without permission while it is temporarily in a port in the middle of a trip.******跳槽 中途放弃Year end is the time when we see many people jump ship for better job offers. 年底跳槽的人特别多.Seeing there is little hope in gaining benefits from this daunting project, the selfish and pragmatic professor decided to jump ship. 眼看获利希望不大,这位自私又实际的教授中途放弃了这个项目.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxtake a leaf out of someone's bookPerhaps other countries can take a leaf out of Japan's book in preserving cultural heritage, since their trick is to make traditional culture Cool and Hip.It is good for the young radio host to take a leaf out of the more experienced radio host's book.I should take a leaf out of Greg's book and do sit ups every night to get abs.Definition: To copy something that someone else does because it will bring you advantages. Etymology: The word leaf here refers to a page from a book. Therefore, when you take a leaf from someone's book, you are copying what the individual has written.******学习 模仿 借鉴New graduates should take a leaf out of senior employees' book and learn about his trade as soon as possible. 毕业生新入职应该多向老员工学习,以尽快了解行业.China needs to explore its own mode of development. But this does not mean that it must avoid taking a leaf out of another country's book of development. 中国应该探索自己的发展道路,但这并不表示我们不能借鉴别国的发展经验.

Decked out 装饰 打扮Sally decked all her children out with reindeer sweaters for the holiday party.The fanboy decked out his room with posters of Taylor Swift.After Barry spent a year in China, he returned to America and decked out his room with Chinese paintings and trinkets.Definition: To decorate someone or something with something.Etymology: Originates from "decorating" something.******装饰 打扮For the single's mixer, all the girls and boys are fully decked out. Hopefully they will meet their Mr or Mrs Right. 相亲晚会上,男男女女都打扮的非常光鲜,希望有人找到对象.The lady loves her dog so much. Every time she walks her, she decks her out and proudly shows her off to people. 她特别爱她的小狗,每天遛狗,她都会把小狗打扮好,非常自豪地显摆一下.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxHoly Grail 渴望 梦寐以求 Going into the eye of a tornado is the Holy Grail of storm chasers.Discovering a new and large animal species is the Holy Grail of zoologists.Becoming the Queen Bee at the prep school is the holy grail for some girls.Definition: The term simply means" the ultimate find" in whatever area you're in.Etymology: A holy grail first appears in Perceval le Gallois, an unfinished romance by Chrétien de Troyes. It is a processional salver used to serve at a feast. Chrétien's story attracted many continuators, translators and interpreters in the later 12th and early 13th centuries, Later it became intertwined with the Christian Last Supper, despite there being no mention of an important grail until the 1100s.******渴望 梦寐以求 Producing a radio drama is the Holy Grail for a group of die-hard radio personalities. 对一群铁杆广播人来讲,录广播剧是他们梦寐以求的.She has always been described as being pleasantly plump. Getting rid of the attribute plump has been her Holy Grail since she was very young. 人们经常用丰满来形容她,她从小就渴望别人不用这个词来形容她.

Take it in stride (从容)接受Despite losing a family member, the family took it in stride and were able to migrate West.Despite getting laid off, Sarah took it in stride and got a job interview the next day.Despite being rejected, Johnny Bravo took it in stride and continued to pursue other girls.Definition: To accept setbacks as the normal course of events.Etymology: This idiom alludes to a horse clearing an obstacle without slowing its stride.******(从容)接受Her husband died in a car crush. Being an interpretor for top ranking officials, she took it in stride and didn't show her pain. 他丈夫车祸去世,她是一名高翻,从容接受了这一事实,没有表现出悲伤.The husband got injured in factory and the family took his disability in stride, trying very hard to adjust to the new situation. 丈夫工伤致残,一家人接受这一现实,努力调整适应新情况.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxPull one's weight (团队里)尽力The leader of the new settlement ordered all members to pull their weight or face being exiled.The boss hated it when people did not pull their weight on the team.We all need to pull our weight in order to resolve this conflict.Definition: To work as hard as other people in a group.Etymology: From pulling a cart.******(团队里)尽力Team spirit is so important. At critical moments, we simply can't afford someone not pulling his or her weight to fulfill the task. 团队精神很重要,关键时刻如果有人不尽力,后果不堪设想.To protect our environment, everyone of us needs to pull our weight in contributing to the effort. 保护环境,人人应该尽责.

Hung out to dry 牺牲 顶罪The President hung one of his generals out to dry after a scandal.The bosses hung out a low level staff member out to dry even though everyone was at fault.Molly hung her husband out to dry during the divorce settlement.Definition: Abandon someone to danger, to get someone into trouble, especially by making them take the blame for a bad situation.Etymology: This expression alludes to hanging wet laundry on a clothesline.******牺牲 顶罪His little brother was always the one hung out to dry whenever Tom had trouble in school. 只要在学校惹事,汤姆就让弟弟顶罪.The husband was hung out to dry after the wife took the bribe, ran away with another man and settled down in a foreign country. 妻子牺牲了丈夫,带着受贿的钱与人私奔,并在国外定居.XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXBetween a rock and a hard place  左右为难 (进退)两难The crew of Apollo 13 were caught between a rock and a hard place.After angering both his boss and his girlfriend, Alex was caught between a rock and a hard place.The country was caught between a rock and a hard place when a foreign nation threatened to invade, unless they promised to sell their entire foodstuff.Definition: When you are between two unpleasant options. It is very similar to the idiom "Out of the fire and into the frying pan."Etymology: The rock and hard place version is the newest of these synonymous phrases, dating from the early 1900s, and alludes to being caught or crushed between two rocks. The oldest is Scylla and Charybdis, which in Homer's Odyssey signified a monster on a rock (Scylla) and a fatal whirlpool (Charybdis), between which Odysseus had to sail through a narrow passage.******左右为难 (进退)两难For generations, Chinese men are caught between a rock and a hard place when asked by their wives, "Whom you are going to save, me or your mother, when both of us are drowning. 每当女人问这个愚蠢的问题:我和你妈都掉河里了,你会救谁,中国男人就会左右为难.When the financial crisis hit, he was caught between a rock and a hard place. He had to sell all his properties and face a divorce from his wife. 金融危机时,他进退两难,不得不变卖房产,与妻子离婚.

Lock horns  冲突 较劲Abigail wanted to settle the dispute peacefully, and didn't want her room mates locking horns.Nathan locked horns with his uncle on the issue of gun control.Maria locked horns with Kelly on what the company's advertisement should contain.Definition: Get into an argument with someone.Etymology: This expression alludes to how stags and bulls use their horns to fight one another.******冲突 较劲The most scary thing for a child to watch is to see his or her parents locking horns over trivial things. 孩子最害怕看到父母因琐事冲突.Instead of locking horns, the two scientists decided to forget about their old scars and cooperate on a new project. 两位科学家不再较劲,决定忘掉过去,在新的项目上进行合作.xxxxxxxxxChickens come home to roost 遭报应 Sara did the bare minimum for her pilot training program since she expected her father to pull strings for her. However the chickens came home to roost when she flunked out. The chickens came home to roost for the boy who cried wolfThe chickens came home to roost for the board members of Enron who shut off California power plants on the hottest days to increase the price of energy.Definition: You have to face the consequences of your mistakes or bad deeds.Etymology: The fact that chickens usually come home to rest and sleep has long been known, but the idea was used figuratively only in 1809. It began when Robert Southey wrote, "Curses are like young chickens, they always come home to roost."******遭报应 How I wish the chickens will come home to roost for those evil people who commit so many crimes!我希望那些罪犯遭报应.The chickens finally came home to roost when the murderer was recognized by people at a public venue in a foreign country. He was arrested 20 years after he killed his best friend for money.20年后杀人犯遭报应,在国外被认出,为了钱财他杀了他最好的朋友.

To twist someone's arm.  强拉Peter didn't want to go with them to the bar, but in the end, Louis twisted his arm. She won't go to the prom with you, but if you twisted her arm, she just might do it. Stop trying to twist my arm; I'm not going to eat durian. Definitions: Pressurize someone into doing something that they are reluctant todo. Etymology: The phrase originates in the 1900s and refers to physically coercing someone into doing something that they don't want to do.******强拉 I hate sports and exercises but if someone twists my arm, I'd probably go.我不喜欢体育和锻炼,但如果有人强拉我我可能会去的.There is a Chinese saying: 强扭的瓜不甜.Forcefully picked fruit(not ripe on the vine or tree) is not sweet, i.e. Arranged or forced relationships can't last. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxNot my cup of tea  不是我的菜You can watch the new Ghostbusters film, but it's not my cup of tea. "Oh, you like a Justin Bieber, that's not really my cup of tea. Some people quite enjoy hot pot, but that's not really my cup of tea.Definition: Something or someone that one finds pleasing or enjoyable. Etymology: In the early 20th century, a 'cup of tea' was such a synonym for acceptability that it became the name given to a favored friend, especially one with a boisterous, life-enhancing nature. Someone that is a bit of an acquired taste.******不是我的菜Action, horror,crime, thriller movies are simply not my cup of tea. 动作,恐怖,犯罪,惊悚,这类电影都不是我的菜.Some people love malatang so much. But hot spicy dip( in the soup) is not my cup of tea! 有人特别喜欢麻辣烫,但它从来就不是我的菜.

Queen Bee 女神Amber the Queen Bee sets all the style trends in school.Although all the girls say they love Mandy, they secretly plot to take her down as the Queen Bee.Margot the Queen Bee demanded to be let off the plane before everyone else.Definition: A girl who, is the "leader of the pack." she doesn't always have to be the prettiest, but she is extremely confident, and because she thinks she's hot, others do too. This girl will know all of the "important" gossip, and people emulate her style. If the Queen Bee wears something new and different, others will wear it the next day. She always has the hottest boyfriend, and is at all the parties. Everyone always talks behind her back about how much they hate her, even though everyone secretly wishes they were her friend.Etymology: From how in a bee hive everything revolves around the queen bee, who gets all the attention since she is the only female.******女神Nowadays, people are using this Queen Bee title abusively on anyone they want to please or flatter. 现在,人们滥用这个词,想讨好谁就叫谁女神.Better relax and come down from the altar. Being the Queen Bee arouses jealousy from people and it's a unique kind of hardship to always have to hold yourself up to these standards. 放松些,别当女神了!当女神容易遭嫉妒,而且端着特别受累.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxAlpha Male 男神Liam the Alpha Male intimidated other men.Mack the Alpha Male was popular among the women.Ellis the alpha male defended his little cousin who was being questioned by the police.Definition: Zoologists and related scientists typically use the term to describe top-ranking male animals. But people also apply it to human beings, typically referring to adult men rather than boys. The alpha-male is usually an excellent leader who is well-respected or feared, and who receives social privileges, such as better access to food or more attention from potential mates.Etymology: Alpha from the first in the Greek alphabet******男神His voice is deep and magnetic. He has great personality. He is tall and handsome. What's more he always comes up with creative ideas for show. He definitely is the Alpha Male in the radio. 他声音低沉有磁性,性格好,又高又帅,尤其是他做节目时有创意,绝对是电台的男神.Is there anyone who calls Jack Ma an Alpha Male? If not what do we call him? 有人叫马云男神吗? 如果没有,我们叫他什么?

Get whipped 受女方管制 跪搓板 妻管严Simon is getting whipped by his girlfriend and has no control over his social media.You can hear through the walls that Frank is getting whipped by his wife.James is getting whipped by his girlfriend and can no longer hang out with his friends.Definition: Refers to being completely controlled by your girlfriend.Etymology: Derived from how a Slave master whipped their slaves and denied them any free will.******受女方管制 跪搓板 妻管严All ambitious men should be willing to get whipped by their girlfriends or wives, since to please his woman is going to be a life long achievement. 有野心的男人应该愿意受女人的管制,因为讨好他的女人将成为他终身奋斗的成就. How do we distinguish family men from those who get whipped? Family men are those henpecked and those henpecked are those who get whipped? 暖男和跪搓板族有什么区别吗? 暖男肯定得妻管严啊,得了妻管严就得跪搓板啊!xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxDuke it out 一决高下 决斗 比拼Don't get involved, let them duke it out.Eric told Jacob to meet him in the alley to duke it out.In order to apologize to Wesley, Fred suggested they go to a boxing ring and duke it out.Definition: To compete against someone or something. It is often used in newspaper writing to describe a competition between political candidatesEtymology: To hit or thrash with the fist. Derived from French******一决高下 决斗 比拼It's the most naive thing for two men to duke it out over one woman. But some men are such animals and some women simply enjoy the attention of two snarling beasts. What a strange world! 男人为女人决斗最天真了!不过有些男人就是这样的动物,有些女人很享受成为他们争夺的猎物.The management is still hesitating in assigning which team for the tough and important program. Why not let them duke it out and see which team is more qualified? 管理层还在犹豫让哪个团队接受这份艰巨而重要的项目,为什么不让他们一决高下?

Slippery slope 无底洞 得寸进尺 不可收拾The governor vetoed a bill that would have allowed R-rated movies in cinemas, citing a slippery slope.Vincent did not want his family lending money to their poor neighbors, saying it would lead to a slippery slope where they would be dependent.Lawmakers in America were uncomfortable with legalizing the gateway drug marijuana, since they thought it would lead to a slippery slope.Definition: A slippery slope argument states that a relatively small first step leads to a chain of related events culminating in some significant effect. Etymology: Refers to how an object given a small push over the edge of a slope slides all the way to the bottom.******无底洞 得寸进尺 不可收拾The young couple has agreed not to allow their pet dog to enter the bedroom. However one day, the husband broke the rule and allowed the dog in bed for a little while. This is a slippery slope, now the dog wants to get in their bed every night. 狗狗不准入卧室,一旦让它进,哪怕是一小会儿,就会得寸进尺天天要和主人睡.You can't help lazy people by giving them food and cash. It's a slippery slope and they will expect more from you and become even lazier. The best thing is to give them skills and they can earn a living from that.不要给贫困的人食品和现金,那是无底洞,他们会期待更多,变得更懒,最好的帮助是教他们一些谋生技巧.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxDial it back 回调 回拨 收心Nathan was told to dial back his flamboyant personality when he went to a religious ceremony.When Greg got angry his friend told him to dial it back.It was hot in my home, so I dialed back the heating system.Definition: To reduce in strength or intensity.Etymology: Refers to temperature dials.******回调 回拨 收心Summer vacation is over. Children, you need to dial it back and start to focus on studying. 暑假结束了!孩子们,收收心,要开始好好学习了!One thing is true about raising or improving one's living standard: once it has been raised, it's hard to dial back. 关于改善生活水平有一点是真理,一旦上去回调就很难.