成语什么无双至（成语之大衣柜篇）

（通过语境学习原汁原味的美国英语成语）

—Learning Western Culture Bit by Bit

“女为悦己者容”、“人靠衣装”（CIothes make the man）等说法都表明衣物对于塑造和提升人的形象气质的独特作用，而当衣、饰、鞋、帽等日常穿戴品被用到成语中时，同样会增添语言的独特魅力，有些甚至让人忍俊不禁。请细细品味Harry Collis收集的10个原汁原味的美国英语成语：

1.wet blanket( ＝dull or boring person who spoils the happiness of others） 扫兴的人

James was not invited to go on the outing with the rest of the group because he's such a wet blanket. On many previous occasions he has kept others from enjoying themselves by his pessimism and lack of enthusiasm. It's

understandable that no one wants him around.

詹姆斯没有被邀请和其他人一起去郊游，因为他太扫兴了。在以前的许多场合中，他因悲观和缺乏热情而让其他人无法尽兴。没人想让他在身边晃悠，这是可以理解的。

2.keep under one's hat(＝keep something a secret） 保守秘密

Although the contestants were most anxious to know who won the prizes in the piano competition, the judges kept the results under their hats. They kept the results a secret so that the formal announcements could be made in public at the awards ceremony

虽然参赛者最想知道谁在钢琴比赛中获奖，但评委们对结果保密。他们对结果保密是为了能在颁奖典礼上公开正式宣布结果。

3.up one's sleeve(＝concealed) 隐蔽

All right, Sara. We know that you're planning something big for Jean-Paul's birthday. Mind telling us just what you have up your sleeve?

I wanted to make his birthday a very special event.Jean-Paul has a sister living in France, and I sent her an airplane ticket so that she could be here for his birthday.

Boy! That is something special ! We kind of guessed that you had some concealed plan and were waiting for the right time to reveal it.

Well, I didn't want to say anything until I was sure she could come.

好吧 ，Sara。我们知道你正在为Jean Paul的生日策划一件大事。介意告诉我们你有什么秘密吗？

我想让他的生日过得特别一点。让·保罗有一个姐姐住在法国，我给她寄了一张机票，这样她就可以来这里过他的生日了。

天啊，真是很特别！我们这伙人就有点猜测，你有一个隐藏的计划，一直在等待一个合适的时机才公之于众。

嗯，在确定她能来这里之前，我什么都不想说。

4.dressed to kiII(＝wear one's finest clothing) 穿最好的衣服

The reception for the new Swedish ambassador at the Jennison's was quite lavish. Naturally, everybody was dressed to kill. Since it was a formal occasion, everyone was dressed in their finest, most elegant clothes.

在詹尼森家接待瑞典新任大使的招待会相当隆重。很自然，人人都是盛装打扮。因为这是一个正式的场合，每个人都穿着他们最好、最雅致的衣服。

5.give someone the sⅠip(＝make a getaway) 逃跑

The police were chasing the thief through the streets of the city, but he managed to give them the slip. No wonder. There were so many people around that the thief managed to escape by getting lost in the crowds.

警察在城市的街道上追捕小偷，但他设法帮小偷逃脱。难怪。周围那么多人，小偷竞然在人群中没了踪影，设法逃走了。

6.knock someone's socks off(＝enthuse and excite) 热情和兴奋

Hi, John. What's new?

Oh, nothing too much with me, but you ought to see Alfredo's new car. It'll knock your socks off!

So, he finally got that Italian sports car he's been dreaming about.

He sure did ! When you see all the custom features that it has, you'll get so enthused and excited you won't know what to do!

Boy,I can hardly wait to go for a ride in it !

嗨，约翰。有什么新鲜事吗？

哦，对我来说没什么，但你应该看看阿尔弗雷多的新车，一定会让你大吃一惊的！

所以，他终于得到了他梦寐以求的意大利跑车。

他确实实现了！当你看到车子拥有的所有定制功能时，你定会激动得热血沸腾，甚至不知道自己该做什么！

天啊，我等不及了，恨不得马上坐车兜风去！

7.talk through one's hat(＝make foolish statements) 胡说八道

We were discussing ethnic traditions and customs with Fred the other day, and he showed just how little he knew about other cultures.

What do you mean?

Well, he said that as far as he could tell, there wasn't much difference in behavior and temperament between the English and the Hispanics.

It's plain to see that he was talking through his hat !True, but Fred thinks he's an authority on everything.It was difficult to convince him that he was talking ignorantly. He's got a reputation for making foolish, inaccurate statements.

前几天，我们和弗雷德讨论了民族传统和习俗，他的表现显示出他对其他文化知之甚少。

你什么意思？

嗯，他说，据他所知，英国人和西班牙人在行为和气质上没有太大差异。

很明显，他是在胡说八道！没错，但弗雷德自认为他在所有事情上都是权威。很难让他相信他说的话使他自己显得无知。他一直因发表愚蠢、不准确的言辞而臭名远扬。

8.lose one's shirt(＝lose a great deal of money) 赔一大笔钱

I happened to bump into Doug at lunch yesterday afternoon.

What's new with Doug these days?

He wasn't doing so well. For one thing, he told me he lost his shirt at the races.

Doug has always liked to bet on the horses. I'm not surprised that he lost a great deal of money.

Yeah. At this rate he'll never have a penny to his name

昨天下午吃午饭时我碰巧碰见了道格。

道格最近有什么新鲜事吗？

他做得不太好。首先，他告诉我他在赛马比赛赔了一大笔钱。

道格一直喜欢赌马。他损失了一大笔钱，我一点也不奇怪。

是啊，照这样下去，他迟早会身无分文的！

9.in stitches(＝laughing very hard)捧腹大笑

Danny was hilarious at the party the other night. He had us all in stitches ! I didn't realize that he was such a comedian.

He's always been funny, but last night he outdid himself. He had us laughing so hard that it hurt our sides.

丹尼那天晚上在聚会上很搞笑。他把我们逗得捧腹大笑！我压根儿没想到他有这么高的喜剧天赋。

他一直都非常有趣，但昨晚更是超常发挥。他让我们笑声不断，简直把我们的肚子子都笑疼了。

10.dressed to the teeth(＝dressed elegantly) 穿着得体

Did you see Hilda at the party last night?

Yes, I did. She was really dressed to the teeth !

Well, she had on her finest, most elegant clothing because she was out to make a good impression on Bill.

你昨晚在聚会上见到希尔达了吗？

是的，看见了。她穿得真漂亮！

嗯，她穿上自己最好、最优雅的衣服，因为她拼命想给比尔留下好印象。

声明：本文根据Harry CoIⅠis 著《101个美国英语成语》相关章节编译。如有侵权，联系删除。欢迎阅读！感谢关注！持续推送中。

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