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Post by 溪山 on Jan 4, 2020 18:57:59 GMT -5
English Idioms 2019
Idioms About A Fresh New Start
1. To turn over a new leaf 翻篇
This idiom describes beginning something again, especially after a change or period that you might want to forget. It’s a great way of expressing making a positive change in your life, after a negative period.
For example:
“Even though he lost his job, this year Tom decided to turn over a new leaf, and look for something new.”
2. To start anew 重新开始
This idiom means to start again, in a different way. You might describe something that is done quite commonly, but in this case, it expresses that you’re approaching it in a new way altogether.
For example:
“After seeing how much weight she put on over the holidays, she decided to start her diet anew this month.”
3. Nothing ventured, nothing gained 不入虎穴 焉得虎子
Sometimes doing something new and different means taking a bit of a risk into unknown territory, and this can be quite frightening!
This idiom gives a great boost of motivation if you find yourself in that position. It means that without taking a bit of a risk or facing a challenge, you can’t expect things to change or improve.
For example:
“I decided to take horse-riding lessons, even though I’d never ridden a horse before. After all, nothing ventured, nothing gained!”
4. To break new ground 创新
This fantastic idiom expresses the feeling of newness when something revolutionary and different takes place – it means that it’s not like anything else that came before it.
For example:
“The director’s latest film really breaks new ground – it’s the first time a film has been made in this way.”
5. Out with the old and in with the new 辞旧迎新
This classic idiom is all about making a fresh new start – by getting rid of old things, and replacing them with new things instead.
It could refer to anything – from objects to attitudes!
For example:
“This year I decided to go out with the old, and in with the new! I’ve given away all clothes that I don’t wear, and I’m going to get a fantastic new wardrobe instead.”
6. When one door closes, another opens (When God Closes a Door, He Opens a Window) 天无绝人之路
This is a wonderfully inspiring idiom – and a great piece of motivational advice. It means that a setback or loss doesn’t always mean that you’ve lost all hope or opportunity for ever.
Instead, there may be a new opportunity that comes up, because of the set back you’ve suffered!
7. Winds of change 变天？
Do you have the feeling that some kind of change will happen soon – even if it hasn’t happened yet?
This idiom describes that sensation – the feeling of anticipation that something major will change or arrive.
For example:
“After the student protests were shown online, you could feel the winds of change all over the country.”
How will you be making a new start this year? Make sure you try these idioms to help you express them!
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Post by 溪山 on Jan 4, 2020 19:06:21 GMT -5
8 English Idioms to ring in a new year!
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Post by 溪山 on Jan 4, 2020 19:08:00 GMT -5
Scorpions - Wind of Change with lyrics
wiki:
“变迁之风”是1990年克勞斯.邁恩写的一首力量民谣，由德国重金属乐队蝎子乐队演唱。它发行于乐队1990年的专辑Crazy World，但直到1991年才成为一支全球热门的单曲，在德国以及全欧洲的榜单上位列榜首，在美国排名第四，英国排名第二。之后它又被收录入1995年的现场专辑Live Bites，和2000年的专缉Moment of Glory（由柏林爱乐乐团配乐），以及2001年的不插电专辑Acoustica。
歌词内容是庆祝苏联在冷战结束时的的经济改革。
蝎子乐队受到了1989年去莫斯科访问的启发写了这首歌，开头的歌词代表了莫斯科的地标：
I follow the Moskva
Down to Gorky Park
Listening to the wind of change
莫斯科河流经莫斯科的河流(城市和河流的名字在俄语中相同)，高尔基公园是莫斯科的一个游乐园。
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Post by 边 草 on Jan 6, 2020 13:08:11 GMT -5
Some one told me lately that the "rain check" has everything to do with rain. Really? It's been my question for so many years.
The phrase ‘Raincheck’ or ‘Rain Check’ is used to indicate that you cannot accept an invitation now, but that you’d like to do the same activity sometime in the future.
Origin: Baseball games were sometimes cancelled on account of rain in the days before modern ballparks. When this happened, ticket holders were given a new ticket, called a rain check, to use to attend another game in the future. The practice started in the 1880s.
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Post by 溪山 on Jan 11, 2020 13:09:56 GMT -5
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Post by 边 草 on Jan 19, 2020 23:44:26 GMT -5
"fight tooth and nail"
This idiom dates back to the 1500s and comes from the idea of fighting like a wild beast. Animals don't have weapons, so they fight with everything that they've got: their teeth and nails.
The expression has a long history and is one of the older phrases in English that is still in everyday use. The original form when referring to a 'no holds barred' fight was 'with tooth and nail' and it was used that way in the earliest example that is known in print - Sir Thomas More's In A Dialogue of Comfort and Tribulation, circa 1535:
They would fayne kepe them as long as euer they mighte, euen with tooth and nayle.
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Post by 溪山 on Jan 20, 2020 1:56:04 GMT -5
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Post by 边 草 on Jan 20, 2020 15:05:22 GMT -5
“全力拼搏”， “竭尽全力” Thank you for the translation. I thought about it but could not come up with anything with the satisfactions to myself, then gave up. |
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Post by 溪山 on Jan 22, 2020 1:40:23 GMT -5
“全力拼搏”， “竭尽全力” --- See the quotation marks? The credit goes to google and the quoted link.  The magic: simply google "fight tooth and nail 中文".  |
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Post by 边 草 on Jan 22, 2020 11:40:15 GMT -5
“全力拼搏”， “竭尽全力” --- See the quotation marks? The credit goes to google and the quoted link. The magic: simply google "fight tooth and nail 中文". Oh, my impression has been that you are very good at translating and did not think about referring google either. Anyway, I may check with google next time then. :-) |
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Post by 溪山 on Jan 24, 2020 1:04:18 GMT -5
Thank you for your kind words. I sometimes may come up with the same translation, but the chinese links often provide abundant examples. |
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Post by 边 草 on Jan 30, 2020 16:46:05 GMT -5
Here is a new one which I just heard from car radio today: "when/where the rubber hits the road" . Chinese, anyone? From Google: it refers to the point at which an abstract idea or plan is tested out in practice. For example: "The launch plan looks solid, but when the rubber hits the road it may still need some adjustments. Pop quiz! What drives on the road? Cars, of course! And yes, there are trucks, motorcycles, and bikes driving out there as well. Do you know the one thing all of these vehicles have in common? They have wheels, wheels made out of rubber. Thus, it seems highly likely that this phrase is referencing a car’s rubber wheels making contact with the road. So… John Boyd Dunlop is considered to be the first one to invent the rubber wheel in 1888. Which means this phrase must have originated sometime after that year, right? The earliest I could find this phrase (with its figurative meaning) is in the mid-20th century. For example, it makes an appearance in a 1956 newspaper called the Mt. Vernon Register News. To give some context for he following quote, the writer of the article explains that in order to be successful in advertising for radio and TV, one has to speak their language. He then he goes on to list a “collection of stylized phrases” that advertising men might use: “How much is it going to cost?: ‘Let’s get down to where the rubber meets the road.”  |
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Post by 溪山 on Jan 31, 2020 0:58:12 GMT -5
where the rubber meets the road
1. It refers to the point at which an abstract idea or plan is tested out in practice. example: "The launch plan looks solid, but when the rubber hits the road it may still need some adjustments. 烈火辨玉 / 实践见分晓? 2. The point at which someone's or something's efforts, resolve, or viability are put to the test; the point at which things become truly or meaningfully challenging. example: Their business model is sound, but drumming up continued support with the public throughout the year will be where the rubber meets the road. ----from: idioms.thefreedictionary.com/where+the+rubber+meets+the+road 关键时刻 / 成败之举（成败在此一举）?
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Post by 边 草 on Jan 31, 2020 16:54:52 GMT -5
烈火辨玉 / 实践见分晓? both are good to me, thanks.
Gee, translate back to Chinese is even harder than English. :-)
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Post by 特斯拉 on Feb 1, 2020 17:00:05 GMT -5
烈火辨玉 / 实践见分晓? both are good to me, thanks. Gee, translate back to Chinese is even harder than English. :-) Yeah, that means your Chinese is much better than English. |
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Post by 溪山 on Feb 2, 2020 18:45:56 GMT -5
That applies to me as well, though my Chinese still needs lots of improvement. 
www.lexico.com/en/definition/take_something_to_the_next_leveltake something to the next level: Further improve or develop something that is already successful. 更上层楼 ‘five years after founding my software company, I'm ready to take it to the next level’
www.yourdictionary.com/up-to-elevenUp to eleven: Beyond the maximum possible threshold. 超越极限 Origin : From a scene in the mockumentary This is Spinal Tap (1984) in which a musician shows off his guitar amplifiers. |
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Post by 边 草 on Feb 2, 2020 20:06:51 GMT -5
烈火辨玉 / 实践见分晓? both are good to me, thanks. Gee, translate back to Chinese is even harder than English. :-) Yeah, that means your Chinese is much better than English. Oh yeah, thanks for the compliment, brother T. Speaking of translating into Chinese is harder, here is another example: 一老美同事平时一直不喜欢我们d 老板。一天开会，老板总结并表扬了大家最近已经做的事情。会后这同事对我说：“he was glorifying himself.” 我一时语塞。I know what the coworker wants to say. But "glorify"? 荣耀自己？中文里不这么说的。事后查了一下，哦，中文可以是“美化”的意思。这就差不多了。 |
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Post by 边 草 on Feb 2, 2020 20:16:51 GMT -5
"Mills of God"=慢工出细活？ The proverbial expression of the mills of God grinding slowly refers to the notion of slow but certain divine retribution. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mills_of_God |
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Post by 边 草 on Feb 5, 2020 11:38:17 GMT -5
With all the political dramas played out in Washington DC lately, I picked 3 phrases associated with the word of "stone".
First, stone-cold. when temperature of dead body has been as cold as a stone, it means complete, or absolute. 找不到中文里对应有用“冰冷如石”这样来表达极端、绝对、彻底的例子。
Stonewalling: delay or block (a request, process, or person) by refusing to answer questions or by giving evasive replies, especially in politics. 这个嘛，好像由于中国的政治制度，所以不存在这种现象。要么有一种宣传口号叫“坦白从宽、抗拒从严”。要么根据司法实践，大抵上是“坦白从宽、牢底坐穿”；“抗拒从严、回家过年”。这么看来，中外一样，stonewalling的效果总是很好。:-)
And stone-face: a face that reveals no emotions. 石脸=僵硬？毫无表情。
欢迎纠错。
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Post by 溪山 on Feb 5, 2020 23:29:55 GMT -5
"Mills of God"=慢工出细活？ The proverbial expression of the mills of God grinding slowly refers to the notion of slow but certain divine retribution. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mills_of_God直译：上帝的磨坊 网译：天网恢恢疏而不漏 或者： 善有善报,恶有恶报,不是不报,时候未到,时候一到,一切都报 ？ retribution：Theology. the distribution of rewards and punishments in a future life.
慢工出细活： （google "慢工出细活 英文“ ） Rome was not built in a day. Soft fire makes sweet malt.  The Last Judgment by Michelangelo |
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Post by 溪山 on Feb 5, 2020 23:40:08 GMT -5
With all the political dramas played out in Washington DC lately, I picked 3 phrases associated with the word of "stone". First, stone-cold. when temperature of dead body has been as cold as a stone, it means complete, or absolute. 找不到中文里对应有用“冰冷如石”这样来表达极端、绝对、彻底的例子。 Stonewalling: delay or block (a request, process, or person) by refusing to answer questions or by giving evasive replies, especially in politics. 这个嘛，好像由于中国的政治制度，所以不存在这种现象。要么有一种宣传口号叫“坦白从宽、抗拒从严”。要么根据司法实践，大抵上是“坦白从宽、牢底坐穿”；“抗拒从严、回家过年”。这么看来，中外一样，stonewalling的效果总是很好。:-) And stone-face: a face that reveals no emotions. 石脸=僵硬？毫无表情。 欢迎纠错。 stone cold: Unfeeling, insensible, as in That sad story left her stone cold. This analogy was already used by Shakespeare in Henry V (2:3): “Cold as any stone.” --- 心灰意冷，灰心丧气 Stonewalling：阻碍, 抵制 “中外一样，stonewalling的效果总是很好 --- 边草“。 stone-face: a face that reveals no emotions. “石脸=僵硬？毫无表情 --- 边草” 多谢边厨分享！ |
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Post by 溪山 on Feb 5, 2020 23:59:23 GMT -5
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Post by 边 草 on Feb 7, 2020 22:16:07 GMT -5
 “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth” The earliest recorded version of this phrase is from a 1546 book on proverbs. Back then, it was not uncommon to gauge a horse’s age by the shape and condition of its teeth. Simply, this phrase means to appreciate a gift you have been given. 记得过去在小说里看到，中国古代买卖马主要是看马牙。据说伯乐相（千里）马也是通过看马的牙齿。一也是可以知道马的年龄，另一个是可以知道马的健康状况。看来古代人们都已经知道通过看马的牙齿来掌握马的好坏。 |
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Post by 边 草 on Feb 7, 2020 22:27:00 GMT -5
"Mills of God"=慢工出细活？ The proverbial expression of the mills of God grinding slowly refers to the notion of slow but certain divine retribution. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mills_of_God直译：上帝的磨坊 网译：天网恢恢疏而不漏 或者： 善有善报,恶有恶报,不是不报,时候未到,时候一到,一切都报 ？ retribution：Theology. the distribution of rewards and punishments in a future life.
慢工出细活： （google "慢工出细活 英文“ ） Rome was not built in a day. Soft fire makes sweet malt. [直译：上帝的磨坊 网译：天网恢恢疏而不漏] thanks you for your elaboration. |
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Post by 边 草 on Feb 7, 2020 22:39:57 GMT -5
Lie through your teeth
This phrase has gone through quite a change. Today, it means to lie through a smile – easily and unashamed. But its origins go back to the 14th century, when the phrase was to “lie in your teeth” referring both to the liar’s teeth, and the teeth of the person being lied to. The meaning was similar to today’s phrase of “lying in your face.”
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Post by 溪山 on Feb 8, 2020 2:41:48 GMT -5
“Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth” The earliest recorded version of this phrase is from a 1546 book on proverbs. Back then, it was not uncommon to gauge a horse’s age by the shape and condition of its teeth. Simply, this phrase means to appreciate a gift you have been given. 记得过去在小说里看到，中国古代买卖马主要是看马牙。据说伯乐相（千里）马也是通过看马的牙齿。一也是可以知道马的年龄，另一个是可以知道马的健康状况。看来古代人们都已经知道通过看马的牙齿来掌握马的好坏。 好联想。 中西智慧相通。 “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth ---- Simply, this phrase means to appreciate a gift you have been given." 礼物不论贵贱，都是一份心意。礼轻情意重。 www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/lt/2002-01/31/content_362747.htm"不要对别人送给的礼品过于挑剔" |
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Post by 溪山 on Feb 8, 2020 2:55:52 GMT -5
Lie through your teeth This phrase has gone through quite a change. Today, it means to lie through a smile – easily and unashamed. But its origins go back to the 14th century, when the phrase was to “lie in your teeth” referring both to the liar’s teeth, and the teeth of the person being lied to. The meaning was similar to today’s phrase of “lying in your face.” Lie through your teeth: 信口雌黄 lie through a smile： 比说谎不脸红段位还高 Lying is in the smile www.iol.co.za/entertainment/celebrity-news/lying-is-in-the-smile-2 |
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Post by 特斯拉 on Feb 8, 2020 20:52:34 GMT -5
www.douban.com/group/topic/44383918/牙病与我们的身体健康息息相关。中国的一句老话说：“挑马勘牙，选郎见齿”。意思是一个有经验的马夫挑选一匹好马，首先是看马的牙齿好坏。如果要判定一个人是否健康，也应该第一眼观察他的牙齿状况。一个人牙的问题，反映了身体的内在健康状况。我们的牙齿不好，不僅吃東西不方便、外表不美觀外，而且萬病源於口，居住在口腔中的細菌及微生物会左右我們的健康。据研究人的口腔含有大约500多种细菌，其中一些是有害细菌，会引起牙齿与牙龈感染发炎。但是这些大量繁殖的有毒细菌并非静静地呆在口腔不动，它们会趁机循着血流到达身体的各个部位。当它们迁移时，如果我们的免疫力不足，就会感染心脏，肾脏，关节，神经系统，大脑，眼睛，实际上可能会感染任何器官，腺体或其他组织。据研究报告可能会导致数以百计的不同疾病。
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Post by 溪山 on Feb 15, 2020 2:29:06 GMT -5
dud cheque 空头支票，跳票 a cheque (= printed form promising to pay money) that has no value because the person who has written it does not have enough money in their bank account to pay it: The offences ranged from theft and bribery to writing dud cheques. dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/dud-cheque
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Post by 边 草 on Feb 15, 2020 17:27:53 GMT -5
What does "banana republic" mean? "The term might not exist at all if William Sydney Porter hadn't been a drunk, a gambler, and an embezzler. Porter was better known by his pen name: O. Henry, the pioneering late-19th-century short-story writer. You probably read his "The Gift of the Magi" -- the heartbreaking story about a couple who each sell their most prized possessions to buy the other a Christmas gift -- in middle-school English class. "In the 1890s, Henry fled to Honduras to escape embezzlement charges. In 1904, after returning, Henry published a book called Cabbages and Kings, in which he wrote about a nation called Anchuria, based on Honduras, and described it as a "banana republic," after the single product upon which its entire economic output depended. www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/01/is-the-us-on-the-verge-of-becoming-a-banana-republic/267048/But that is not what I interpreted. For example, there are 4 procurators in DOJ retrieved their roles from Mr. Roger Stone's case a few days ago, I heard people mentioned the term of "banana republic". Which gave me the meaning of "lawless" because the AG Barr bowed to Trump's wish to intervene the 7 to 9 year sentence request. Am I wrong? Also, heard the term of “choreographer” from the same news that morning. Why does "编舞" have anything to do with politics? :-) |
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