Arm' and 'leg' are used as examples of items that no one would consider selling even at an enormous price. It costs an arm and a leg is used to describe the price of something that is very expensive compared to what you expected.'臂'和'腿'被用来作为例子,无论出价多少相信没有人会考虑出售其'臂'和'腿',It costs an arm and a leg 通常用于描述某物品的价值远远超出你的预期。
Examples 例子
I went to the dentist today to check my teeth and I need to do some dental work, but it costs an arm and a leg.
我今天去看牙医,我的牙齿需要整治一下,但那简直是天价。
Originally we planned to have our vacation in Europe, but a two-week vacation in Europe costs an arm and a leg, so we are going to have our vacation in Thailand.
原本我们打算到欧洲度假,但是泡在欧洲半个月花销太恐怖了,我们只能改道泰国。
I can’t afford to buy a new iPod because it costs an arm and a leg.
买一台iPod对我来说就是大放血,负担不起。
You are "burning the midnight oil" when you are working hard late into the night. Example: "I could see the light in your window last night. It looks like you have been burning the midnight oil." Before they had electric lamps, people used oil-burning lamps to read or work in the darkness at night. When you are working very hard until late at night you are "burning the midnight oil." "Has your son been working hard to prepare for his final exams?" Reply: "He sure has. He's been up each night burning the midnight oil".
Burning the midnight oil 的意思就是挑灯夜读,也就是我们平常所说的熬夜,开夜车。在英文中,这个用法也由来已久了,可以追溯到人们最初开始使用油灯的时候。如果在午夜时分燃烧灯油,那也就意味着熬夜苦读、看书了。例如:I have a big test tomorrow morning, so I plan to burn the midnight oil tonight.(因为明天我有一个重要的考试,所以我计划挑灯夜读了。)
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush means that it is better to keep what you have than to give it up and try to get something better. Example: "Dan has asked me to go to a party with him. What if my boyfriend finds out? I don't know if I should go." Reply: "Don't go. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush." The thing that you already have is a bird in the hand; the things you want but don't have are two (birds) in the bush. You should not risk losing what you have by trying to get something that you don't have. Example: "I've been offered $250 for my stereo. Should I take it, or wait for a better offer?" Reply: "Take the $250. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush." A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush means that we should be happy with what we have and not risk losing it by being greedy and trying to get more.
我们人生路途上常常遇到类似问题,一个人应否辞去现时工作而去找一份新工作,一位女仕是否应离开现时不满意的男朋友去另找一个,你曾遇过这些问题吗? 请告诉我们。
A girl at Italki, the other day, posted a message on her blackboard "I will never trust men again". That girl must have had some bad experience with men. This reminded me of the subject provert "One bitten, twice shy". It means that someone who has been hurt or who has had something go wrong will be far more careful next time. In Chinese there is a similar saying 一朝被蛇咬,十年怕井绳. Shy here means "frightened". Do you have some personal experience which this proverb applies? Please write about it.
日前我在爱拓奇看到一位女会员在她的黑板写上"我以后再不信男人",那女孩一定跟认识男人有一些不愉快的经验,这令我想起英文以上一句谚语比喻遭过一次挫折或伤害下次就变得小心,中国有类似比喻,一朝被蛇咬,十年怕井绳。你有类似个人经验吗?请告诉我们。