- allow onself to be completely controlled by something, especially passions or impulses.
- 完全屈服于……;陷入……
Example: Tom tried and tried but failed again and again. Finally, he abandoned himself to despair.
2. Abase oneself
- make oneself humble.
- 降低自己的身分
Example: In ancient times, people of low social status often abased themselves in the presence of an influential or powerful person.
3. Abide by something
- observe or follow something.
- 遵守某事
Example: When you play a game, you must abide by the rules and regulations concerned.
4. Back a/the wrong horse
- put one's faith in someone who later loses or something which fails.
- 下错了赌注;支持输家
Example: The manager backed a wrong horse by giving the much-coveted job to Jack, who turned out to have a criminal record.
5. Back away (from doing something)
- move away (from doing something) because of dislike or fear.
- 因害怕或厌恶而后退
Examples: 1. The cat backed away as the stranger raised his hand to hit it. 2. In the face of strong opposition, the government has backed away from increasing taxes.
6. Call forth/out something
- cause something to be seen or used.
- 使某事物出现;引出某事物
Examples: 1. Lily's outward appearance was so attractive that it called forth admiration from every man in the office. 2. Difficulties in life may call out a person's good qualities not easily seen in good life.
7. Call in someone/something
- ask someone to come.
- 请某人来
Example: Please call in my family doctor.
- request the return of something.
- 下令收回某物
Examples: 1. The banks have called in all the old one-dollar notes. 2. A Japanese car maker has called in some cars with engine faults.
8. Dab hand at (doing) something, a
- clever at (doing) something.
- (做)某事的能手
Example: As Susan is a dab hand at interior design, let her decorate the new apartment for you.
9. Dabble in something
- play with water by moving one's hands and feet about.
- 涉水
Example: The children enjoyed dabbling in the river water after the rain.
- do things in a half-serious manner.
- 涉猎;浅尝辄止
Example: Sean does not like stamp-collection but only dabbles in it at his leisure.
10. Had better
- it would be wise to.
- 最好
Example: You had better go home before rain comes.
11. Haggle over/about something
- argue in an attempt to fix a price on something.
- 讨价还价
Examples: 1.Mrs Li haggled with the storekeeper over the goods she was buying. 2. I seldom haggled about the food price when I found it reasonable.
Example: You may think that John should be offered the job, but I beg to differ. John has no practical experience and is not highly motivated.
2. I/You bet
- I am/ you are sure.
- 我敢肯定;你可确信
Examples: 1.The weather is fine. I bet it won't rain.
2. You bet I'll arrive at the airport before everyone else.
3. Jack-in-the-box, a
- a person who fidgets or does not sit still.
- 盒中的玩偶;比喻一个人静不下来
Example: “Boy! Sit properly! Don't jump up and down like a jack-in-the-box.”
4. Jack of all trades is master of none, a
- person who can do many different kinds of work may not be good at any of them.
- 博而不精的人
Example: This chap repaired the television and installed the air-conditioner all in one day, but none of the work he did seemed reliable. Isn't he a jack of all trades master of none?
5. Oblivious of/to something
- unaware of something; not noticing something.
- 未觉察某事;不注意某事
Example: What is wrong with James? He seems completely oblivious of what has happened here.
6. Odd man/one out, an
- a person or thing different from a group or left out of it.
- 与众不同的人或物
Examples: 1. You had better learn to use a computer if you don't want to be an odd man out. 2. Look at the watch on the dining table! It is an odd one out.
7. Pack of lies, a
- something that is completely untrue.
- 一派胡言
Example: Don't listen to him! His story is a pack of lies.
8. Pack someone off (to some place)
- send someone away, usually quickly and without wasting time.
- 迅速打发某人
Example: The mother could not allow the children to sleep late, so she packed them off to bed at about 10p.m.
9. Qualify as someone/for something
- show that one is suitable for a profession, reaches a a standard, etc.
- 具……的资格;合格于……
Examples: 1. After years of hard work, Judie has qualified as a dentist.
2. Our school is sure to qualify for the regional English debating competition.
10. Quarrel with one's bread and butter
- dislike the work by which one earns one's living.
- 和自己的生计过不去
Example: If you are against the authorities, you are quarrelling with your bread and butter and your family will be in trouble.
11. Race against time/a race against time
- hurry to do something before a certain time.
- 尽快工作,按时完成
Examples: 1. Being late, you have to race against time to finish the work by 5 p.m.
2. I try to get this assignment done by Monday, but it will be a race against time.
Example: If you insist on going to such a dangerous place, no other person but you have to abide by the consequences.
2. Able to/can take something
- (often in the negative) able to face something sad, etc. without being weakened; able to endure something
- 能承受不好的事
Examples: ① Don't mind about rugged life there. I am able to take it. ② Please stop speaking so loudly! I am not able to take it any more. ③ Go ahead hitting him. He can take it. ④ I don't think Nancy can take any more bad news.
3. Abound in/with something
- have plenty of something
- 有很多……
Examples: ① Our neighbouring countries abound in natural resources. ② That dirty man's hair seems to have abounded with fleas.
4. Back down
- retract; withdraw charges, claims, etc.
- 放弃对某事的要求等
Example: For the sake of national unity, even those who have good reasons to complain have decided to back down.
5. Back on to something
- have the back next to something, especially with reference to a house
- 背向
Example: The rich man's bungalow backs on to a hill while facing a beautiful lake.
6. Call it a day
- stop work or cease activities
- 停止工作或活动
Example: It is quite late now. Let's call it a day and go home.
7. Call off something
- cancel something
- 取消某事
Example: They called off the soccer match because of heavy rain.
- stop something
- 停止某事
Example: As there was no hope of finding the escaped prisoner, the police decided to call off the search until some time later.
8. Dally about
- be slow and waste time
- 慢而浪费时间
Example: Don't go on dallying about or we will be late for the film show.
9. Dally with something
- think about something in an idle manner
- 不认真考虑某事
Example: The shy young man has been dallying with the idea of asking June to marry him.
10. Dam up something
- control something; hold back something
- 抑制某事
Example: Listening to the sad story, many girls were touched but they tried to dam up their tears.
11. Hail-fellow-well-met with someone
- overfriendly with someone
- 对人十分友好
Example: David is always hail-fellow-well-met with every person he knows. No wonder he has many nodding acquaintances