英语口语常用俚语Idioms 08《More Speak English...

Lesson 8 IDIOMS 英文释义

as a rule

→ usually; typically

Example: As a rule, I stop eating two hours before I exercise.

Rules are meant to be broken

→ a saying that means you should not always worry about following rules or habits strictly

Example: "You know our teacher doesn't allow eating in the classroom!" - "I know, but rules are meant to be broken. I haven't eaten anything all day."

(to) mull something over

→ to think about something

Example: "Are you going to take the new job you were offered?" - "I don't know. I'm still mulling it over."

food for thought

→ something to think about

Example: Al Gore's movie, An Inconvenient Truth, provided a lot of food for thought on the problem of global warming.

(to) eat like a bird

→ to not eat much; to have a small appetite

Example: That's all you're having for dinner - an apple and a slice of bread? You eat like a bird!

(to) drink like a fish

→ to drink a lot of alcohol

Example: Frank drank two bottles of wine at the dinner party. He drinks like a fish.

(to) have one too many

→ to drink more alcohol than one should; to get drunk

Example: We can't let Becky drive home. She's had one too many.

(to) catch up on

→ to discuss (said when you haven't talked to the other person in a while)

Example: Come over to my house early on Saturday. We've got losts to catch up on.

(to) hit the hay

→ to go to sleep

Example: You look tired. It's time for you to hit the hay!

(to) stay over

→ to sleep somewhere; to spend the night

Example: You'd better stay over at my house tonight. It's snowing too hard for you to drive home.

Note: When someone asks you to "stay over," it is sometimes, but not always, meant as a sexual invitation.

Suit yourself

→ Do what you want

Example: You don't want to go to Melissa and Brian's wedding? Suit yourself. I'll go without you!

party pooper

→ someone who doesn't want to have fun; someone who ruins the fun of others

Example: We just got to the party half an hour ago, and you want to leave already? What a party pooper!

off the top of my head

→ from memory

Example: I can't remember the name of Al's company off the top of my head, but when I'm back in my office I'll email it to you.

(to) give someone the runaround

→ to lead someone along without giving them what they want; to make it difficult for someone to do something

Example: I'm trying to get more money for my studies, but the financial aid office keeps giving me the runaround.

(to) ring a bell

→ to sound familiar

Example: "Your name rings a bell. Have we met before?" - "Yes, we were introduced at Joe's party last week."