字神帝國英語天地

Pester power is a child's ability to affect their parents' marketing decisions, often through the use of nagging, or pestering. 

♞ 1. 800-pound gorilla 因強大而無需顧忌的人或物
這個習語來自一條謎語。問：一隻800磅（約726斤）的大猩猩可以睡在哪兒？答：想睡哪兒就睡哪兒。由此可以看得出來，這句俚語常用來形容某人或某組織十分強大，行事無需顧忌。
例句：
In the software industry, Microsoft would be considered the 800-pound gorilla.
微軟就是軟體界的“800磅大猩猩”——可以為所欲為。
　　
♞ 2. goose bumps (由於寒冷、害怕或激動而起的)雞皮疙瘩
每當我們覺得身上發冷或者發麻的時候，皮膚上就會起一層雞皮疙瘩。英語裡雞皮疙瘩叫：goose bumps。Goose就是鵝，bumps就是疙瘩。至於為什麼中文說雞皮疙瘩，而外國人卻說鵝皮疙瘩就不得而知了。
例句： 
Every time I see a snake, even in a zoo, I get goose bumps all over.
每當看到蛇，我全身就會起雞皮疙瘩，哪怕是在動物園裡看到蛇也是如此。
值得注意的是，當某些事物使我們突然感到熱情洋溢，或產生敬仰心情的時候，也可以用goose bumps來形容。
Just seeing her picture in a magazine gives me goose bumps - she's such a beautiful woman.
即便在雜誌裡看到她的照片都會讓我起雞皮疙瘩——她真是太漂亮了。
　　
♞ 3. sitting duck 活靶子；易受攻擊的對象
Duck就是鴨子。我們不容易打到一隻正在飛的鴨子，不過一隻浮在水面上的鴨子卻是一個很容易擊中的目標。Sitting duck從字面上解釋就是：一隻坐著的鴨子，引申為“易被擊中的目標；易受攻擊的對象”。
例句： 
With their bullets all gone, the soldiers were sitting ducks for the enemy. 
子彈全打光了，戰士們成了敵人的活靶子。
　　
♞ 4. like a duck to water 如魚得水
做什麼事情像鴨子下水游泳一樣，馬上就適應了。注意，不能把“如魚得水”直接說成 “like a fish in water”。英語裡沒有這個表達，只能用“like a duck to water”。
例句：
She's a natural at tennis and learnt very quickly, like a duck to water.
她有打網球的天賦，學得很快，就像鴨子天生會游泳一樣。
　　
♞ 5. chicken feed 微不足道的一點錢
雞是一種很小的家禽，它的胃當然也很小，吃不了太多東西。Feed在這兒的意思就是喂雞的飼料。Chicken feed作為俗語，它的意思就是：很小數量的錢，少得像餵雞的飼料一樣。
例句： 
I turned down the job at the hamburger restaurant. They only pay chicken feed - not even enough money to pay my rent.
我沒有接受那個漢堡包店的工作。他們付的工資實在太少，還不夠我付房租呢。
　　
♞ 6. turkey farm “廢物農場”，吃閒飯的機構、部門
Turkey是火雞，farm就是農場。但是，turkey farm合在一起作為俗語卻和農場毫無關係。在每個政府機構或者私營公司裡總會有一些工作能力低或者是不願勤懇工作的人；但由於種種原因，領導又沒有辦法解雇這些人。為了使工作不受影響，這些機構的領導往往把這些人調到某一個部門，就像打入冷宮一樣。實際上也就是把他們養在那裡，而這種地方就叫turkey farm。
例句： 
The man is so incompetent we'd like to fire him. But he has good political connections so we sent him to our turkey farm out in Denver where he can't cause much damage.
那個人實在無能，我們很想解雇他。但他和一些政界人物關係很好，所以我們就把他送到丹佛那個機構裡去，那樣他就不能再起多大破壞作用了。
　　
♞ 7. when pigs fly 無稽之談
如果哪一天豬都能飛起來，那可真是怪了，所以這句話就用來表示某事根本不可能，純屬無稽之談。
例句：
He'll win a match when pigs fly. 
他要是能贏得比賽就怪了。
　　
♞ 8. serve as a guinea pig 充當試驗品
豚鼠guinea pig常常被用來做實驗，英文中如果說某個人做了guinea pig，也就是說他成了實驗物件。
例句：
Students in fifty schools are to act as guinea pigs for these new teaching methods. 
五十所學校試用了這些新式的教學方法。
　　
♞ 9. cast pearls before swine 對牛彈琴
把珍珠放在豬的面前，豬並不會知道珍珠的珍貴。這個習語有點像中文裡的“對牛彈琴”，表示浪費感情。
例句：
To sing for them is to cast pearls before swine. 
別給他們唱歌，簡直是對牛彈琴。
　　
♞ 10. white elephant 累贅、大而無用的東西
該用法源自一個故事，據說暹羅（即現在的泰國）的國王，習慣將白象作為禮物贈送給那些不受人歡迎的侍臣，以通過昂貴的飼養成本，使接受者破產。
例句：
When he planned to sell his house, his expensive furniture became white elephants.
他想要賣房的時候，那些昂貴的傢俱竟成了累贅。

👍英文名人名言佳句👍

☒ 1. Filling Your Own Glass 只倒滿自己的杯子
When drinking alcohol with Japanese friends, it's considered rude if you are only filling your own glass. In Japan, it is proper etiquette to refill everyone else's glasses and not your own. If you fill someone else's glass, they'll return the favor and fill yours too.
和日本朋友一起喝酒時，你若只盛滿自己的酒杯，是會被認作無禮的。在日本，給所有的其他人(不包括自己)添滿酒杯才合乎禮節。當你為他人滿上酒杯時，他們會返還這種禮節，也給你滿上。☚
　　
☒ 2. Taking the Back Seat 坐在後排
If you're catching a cab solo in Australia or New Zealand, remember to always take the front seat. Sitting in the back will make the cab driver think that you're a stuck up passenger.
在澳大利亞或是紐西蘭，如果你是獨自一人坐計程車，記著要坐在前排。對於計程車司機而言，坐後排的乘客自命不凡。☚
　　
☒ 3. Doing the Thumbs Up! 豎大拇指!
Doing the thumbs up is a positive gesture which means OK to most of us. But in other countries like Australia, Greece or the Middle East, it means “Up yours!” So better keep your thumbs to yourself.
對絕大多數人而言，豎大拇指表示“沒問題”，是個意義積極的手勢。然而在其他一些國家，像是澳大利亞、希臘或中東各國，豎大拇指意味著“去你的!”所以最好管好自己的手勢。☚
　　
☒ 4. Eating With Your Left Hand 用左手吃東西
If you're in the Middle East, India, or Africa, be careful not to use your left hand when eating and passing food – only use the right. The left hand is known to be unclean and used for matters done in the bathroom, so eating with it will probably give you unwanted stares from the locals who've already lost their appetites.
你要是在中東地區、印度或是非洲，小心別用左手吃東西或傳遞食物，一定要只用右手。對他們而言，如廁時用到的左手不乾淨，所以當看到你用左手吃東西時，失去食欲的當地人很可能會瞪著你，這也是你不想看到的場景。☚
　　
☒ 5. Say America! 回答說“America”!
If you're an American and you're in South America, remember to answer USA or United States when someone asks you “Where are you from?”. Saying “America” makes it look like you're only referring to the USA as the only America when there's also South America. Clear?
如果你是生活在南美洲的美國人，當別人問你“你來自哪?”時，記著回答“USA”或“United States”。你如果回答“America”，這會看起來像，明明還有南美洲，你卻只把美國人稱作美洲人。清楚了嗎?☚
　　
☒ 6. Send Even Numbers 送的東西是偶數個。
If you want to send flowers to a friend in Ukraine as a romantic or friendly gift, make sure you give an odd number of flowers. Sending an even number of flowers is only meant for funerals.
如果你想給一位烏克蘭的朋友送花以示愛意或友善，確保你送的花是奇數朵。送偶數朵鮮花只有一個含義——送喪。☚
　　
☒ 7. Showing the Peace Sign 做V字形和平手勢
If you're in the United Kingdom or Ireland and you want to indicate you want two pieces/orders/etc. of something, make sure that your palm is facing outwards when you do the V-sign. If you do the opposite way and face your palm towards you, then you're asking for trouble because that simply means “F*** off!”
在英國或愛爾蘭共和國，如果你要表達，某樣東西你想要兩片或兩份，確保在做V字手勢時手掌心朝外。如果剛好相反，你的手掌心朝向自己，那麼你是在給自己招惹麻煩，因為那個手勢表示“滾遠點!”。☚
　　
☒ 8. Showing Your Soles 給別人看你腳底板
In India, the Middle East, and other parts of Asia, displaying the soles of your feet can be considered as an insult for the locals, who see it, because the feet, especially the soles, are often perceived as unclean. So don't show those soles and remember to remove your shoes before entering someone else's house.
在印度、中東地區或是亞洲其他地區，給他人看你的腳底板在當地人看來是對他們的一種侮辱。因為腳丫，尤其是腳底板總被認為是不乾淨的。因此不要讓人家看到你的腳底板，還要記住在進到他人家裡之前脫鞋。☚
　　
☒ 9. Sticking Chopsticks in a Bowl of Rice 把筷子插到一碗米飯上
In East Asia, sticking your chopsticks vertically in a bowl of rice is considered taboo and bad luck because this is a sign of death. This is only done during funerals.
在東亞地區，將筷子豎直插到一碗米飯上是一種禁忌的行為，被認為會帶來厄運，因為它標誌著死亡。人們也只有在葬禮中才會這麼做。☚
　　
☒ 10. Giving Tips 給小費
You might get used to paying tips when you're from/in the United States but in other countries it's not expected and sometimes may be perceived as an insult, like in Japan and Korea.
你要是來自美國，可能習慣了給小費。不過在其他國家，像是日本或韓國，小費是不必要給的，有時候還可能會被看做是一種侮辱他人的行為。☚

📣這些英式客套話，你真的聽懂了嗎？📣

🚌研究警告：新車“香味”有毒！🚌

🌈心情如春天般美麗：10個“快樂”的英文表達🌈

Today we present you nineteen interesting and curious facts about dogs. If you own a dog its a must read. If not still a must read! So fact number one:
今天為您獻上19條關於狗狗的趣聞怪談。有狗無狗者必讀！讓我們看看第一條吧：
　　
❖ 1. Dogs were the first to jump off a parachute, not humans.
➙人類史上首個跳降落傘的是狗狗而不是人。

春天到了，心情也會隨著萬物的復蘇而明亮起來——正所謂“充滿了春天般的喜悅之情”（be full of the joys of spring）。更多關於“開心快樂”的英文表達，還不趕快學起來~

🐺細數那些與汪星人相關的英語表達🐺

🍱吃貨必備的英文習語🍱

👄科學家告訴你：為什麼接吻時會閉眼👄

一提到road，你可能會想到“All roads lead to Rome（條條大路通羅馬）”。
再貢獻一個：The road to Hell is paved with good intentions（光有良好願望而不行動，無法成事）。還有哪些呢？一起來看。
　　

穿著專業的運動服裝在公園裡走一圈，拍幾張自拍發朋友圈，然後就回家打遊戲。大家都以為你在揮汗如雨地鍛鍊，其實，你在家裡躺著看片。你身邊有這樣的“假裝鍛鍊族”嗎？

英文名人名言佳句

　　
ి 1. Your stomach has to produce a new layer of mucus every two weeks otherwise it will digest itself. 
為了防止把自己消化掉，你的胃不得不每隔兩週就造出一層新的粘膜。 
ి 2. Owls are the only birds that can see the color blue. 

英語中有不少單詞，其本身存在互相矛盾的兩個意思，如果不弄清楚，有時會給我們的英語閱讀帶來一定困擾。特定情況下，聯繫上下文語境即可弄清它們的具體意思。
☛ 1. sanction “制裁”&“批准”
Economic sanctions will only be lifted when the aggressor nation withdraws its troops.
只有侵略國撤回其軍隊，經濟制裁才會解除。
They tried to get official sanction for the scheme.
他們想使計畫獲得正式批准。
☛ 2. overlook “檢查;監視”&“忽視;忽略”
I am overlooking her work.
我正在檢查她的工作。
I think there is one key fact that you have overlooked.
我認為你忽略了一個重要的事實。
☛ 3. finished “完成的”&“失敗的”
Are you finished with that drill?
你的那個練習做完了嗎?
This financial crisis means that the government's economic policy is finished.
這次金融危機意味著政府的經濟政策失敗了。
☛ 4. dust “擦去……的灰塵”&“在……上撒粉末”
I was dusting the mantelpiece when I noticed a crack.
我在擦壁爐台的時候發現了一道裂紋。
Dust the top of the cake with icing sugar.
在蛋糕上撒些糖霜。
☛ 5. left “留下”&“離開”
He left the house by the back door.
他從房子的後門離開了。
His shoes left muddy marks on the floor.
他的鞋在地板上留下了泥印。
☛ 6. trim “添加，裝飾”&“修剪，剪枝”
The children are trimming up a Christmas tree with ribbons, laces.
孩子們正在往聖誕樹上掛彩帶和蕾絲。
He trimmed dead branches off a tree.
他從樹上剪掉枯枝。
☛ 7. cleave “劈開;分開”&“粘住;緊貼”
With one blow of the knight's axe, he clove the rock in twain smile 表情符號 into two pieces).
武士大斧一揮，將石頭劈成了兩半。
The ancient ivy cleaved to the ruined castle walls.
古老的常春藤緊緊攀附在破敗的城堡牆上。
注意：表“粘住;緊貼”時，cleave通常與to連用。
☛ 8. scan “細看，審視”&“粗略地看”
She anxiously scanned the faces of the men leaving the train.
她急切地盯著一張張下火車的人的臉。
I scanned through the booklet but couldn't find the address.
我很快地翻閱了一遍小冊子，但沒有找到那個地址。
☛ 9. fast “快速的”&“固定的”
Computers are getting faster all the time.
電腦一直在提速。
She made her end of the rope fast to a tree.
她把繩子的一頭牢牢地綁在樹上。
☛ 10. off“關掉 ”&“響起”
She turned off the TV.
她關掉了電視。
The alarm went off.
鬧鈴響了起來。
☛ 11. weather “經受住”&“受侵蝕”
The company weathered the recession.
這家公司挺過了經濟衰退。
The rock was weathered.
岩石風化了。
☛ 12. screen “放映;播出”&“遮掩;遮蔽”
The programme was not screened on British television.
這個節目沒有在英國電視上播出過。
She raised her hand to screen her eyes from the bright light.
她抬手遮住耀眼的亮光。
☛ 13. help “幫助”&“抑制”
How can I help you?
我如何才能幫你呢?
I couldn't help laughing.
我忍不住大笑起來。
☛ 14. clip “剪下來”&“別上去”
I clipped his picture from the newspaper.
我把他的照片從報紙上剪了下來。
He clipped his flashlight to his belt.
他把手電筒別在腰間。
☛ 15. fine “糟糕的;不合時宜的”&“優秀的;極好的”
He picked a fine time to leave us.
在那個時候扔下我們走了，他可真是會挑時間。
This building is the finest example of its type.
這幢建築是同類建築中最傑出的代表。
☛ 16. flog “鞭笞，棒打”&“推銷，出售”
Soldiers used to be flogged for disobedience.
過去士兵們常常因不守軍令而遭鞭笞。
He tried to flog his old car, but no one would buy it.
他想快點兒賣掉他的舊車，但沒人願意買。
☛ 17. ravel “使糾纏;使錯綜複雜”&“弄清;解開”
Mark's interference merely ravelled things further.
馬克的摻和只是讓情況進一步複雜化了。
It took Daisy a long time to ravel out all the wool.
黛西花了很長時間才把毛線解開。
☛ 18. mean “吝嗇的，小氣的”&“極好的，出色的”
He's too mean to buy her a ring.
他太吝嗇了，捨不得給她買一枚戒指。
She's a mean piano player.
她是個出色的鋼琴演奏家。
☛ 19. toss out “丟棄”&“提出”
She tossed out my old chair.
她把我的舊椅子扔了。
I decided to toss out the idea.
我決定提出這個想法。
注意：第二個例句在特定情況下也可以指“拋棄”那個想法，要根據上下文而定。
☛ 20. buckle “坍塌，垮掉”&“系牢”
My knees buckled with fear.
我因為害怕而膝蓋癱軟。
Buckle your seat belt.
請系好安全帶。
☛ 21. compromise“和解，讓步”&“危害，損害”
In the end I agreed to compromise.
最終我同意讓步。
The virus will compromise our immune system.
這種病毒會損害我們的免疫系統。
☛ 22. bolt“逃跑”&“鎖住”
The horse bolted at the sound of the shot.
那匹馬聽到槍聲後跑走了。
You'd better bolt your doors.
你最好鎖上門。
☛ 23. trip“旅行”&“絆倒”
The trip from York to Newcastle takes about an hour by train.
乘火車從約克到紐卡斯爾大約要花1個小時。
She had a nasty trip on the stairs.
她在樓梯上重重地絆了一跤。
☛ 24. apology“道歉，謝罪”&“辯解，解釋”
Please accept my apology.
請接受我的道歉。
The consequence of those measures will be the best apology for my conduct.
這些措施產生的後果為我的行為做了最佳詮釋。
☛ 25. consult“尋求諮詢”&“提供諮詢”
If you have any questions, consult an attorney.
你有任何問題，都可以諮詢律師。
The retired executive consults for several large companies.
這位退休高管為好幾家大公司提供諮詢。
☛ 26. custom“慣常，習慣”&“特殊的，定制的”
He left the house at nine exactly, as is his custom.
他9點準時離開了家，這是他的習慣。
Justin Bieber looks suave in his custom suit.
穿上了定制西裝的賈斯汀·比伯展現了儒雅風範。
☛ 27. first-degree“最低級”&“最高級”
first-degree burn
一度燒傷(處於燒傷級別的低級)
first-degree murder
一級謀殺(處於謀殺級別的高級)
☛ 28. enjoin“囑咐”&“禁止”
He enjoined caution.
他囑咐要謹慎行事。
The government enjoined the publication of the book.
當局禁止出版這本書。
☛ 29. bound“去往，前往”&“束縛，綁縛”
She was on a plane bound for Moscow.
她在前往莫斯科的飛機上。
We found the girl bound.
我們發現女孩被綁起來了。
☛ 30. seed“播撒種子”&“去掉種子”
He is seeding the fields with wheat.
他在地裡種小麥。
Wash, seed and cut the pepper into small pieces.
將辣椒洗淨，去籽，切成小片。
☛ 31. dollop“(固態的)一團，一塊”&“(液態的)一點，少許”
a dollop of whipped cream
一團生奶油
a dollop of whiskey
少量威士卡
☛ 32. garnish“增添配菜”&“扣錢”
Garnish the dish with parsley before serving.
這道菜端上桌之前，可以在上面配些歐芹點綴一下。
His employer garnished his wages in order to pay his debt.
雇主扣除了他的一部分工資用於支付他所欠的債務。
☛ 33. lease“(房東)出租”&“(租客)租用”
It was agreed they would lease him the flat.
按照約定他們要把公寓租給他。
He went to Toronto, where he leased an apartment.
他去了多倫多，在那兒租下一間公寓。
☛ 34. out of“在外”&“在內”
I hardly get out of the house because I work out of my home.
我幾乎不出屋，因為我在家裡辦公。
注意：第一個out of表示“在……之外”，第二個out of表示“在……之內”。
☛ 35. model“榜樣的，優於別人的”&“按原樣複製的模型”
She really is a model student.
她真是個模範學生。
There is a model of a wooden house.
這兒有一個木屋模型。
☛ 36. presently“現在”&“不久之後”
Of 200 boats, only 20 are presently operational.
200條船中，目前只有20條可用。
The room was hot and presently her eyes grew heavy and she began to feel sleepy.
屋子裡很熱，不一會兒她就覺得眼皮發沉，昏昏欲睡。
☛ 37. out“亮了”&“滅了”
It's a good thing the full moon was out when the lights went out.
熄燈之後，滿月出來了。很好。
注意：第一個out表示“出來”，第二個out表示“滅掉”。
☛ 38. resign“辭職”&“重新簽署”
She resigned as director.
她辭去了董事職務。
Athletes who renew their contracts resign with their teams.
想要續簽的運動員都與各自的隊重新簽署了合約。
注意：第二句裡的resign也可以寫作re-sign，發音不同於“辭職”的resign。
☛ 39. fight with“與……打架”&“與……並肩戰鬥”
He fought with his mother-in-law.
他和岳母吵架了。
He fought with his mother-in-law.
他和岳母並肩戰鬥。
注意：還是這句英文，意思也可以理解為“他以岳母為武器進行戰鬥”。
☛ 40. unbending“倔強的;堅定的”&“放鬆，隨意”
He has earned a reputation as a stern and unbending politician.
作為政治家，他以強硬和不妥協而聞名。
After a glass or two of wine she began unbending a little.
一兩杯酒下肚後她開始放鬆了一點兒。

Instagram account perfectly captures the plight of men in shopping malls
　　
✞ “Just one more shop!” — the dreaded words every man fears, and no man believes.
“最後再看看這家！”——男士們最怕聽到這句話，他們也知道這絕對不會是最後一家。