英语进阶 | 绕不过去的习语（二）

at a/one (single) stroke

一下子，一举 | all at once, with a single decisive or powerful action

When the economy crashed, thousands of people lost their jobs, their homes, and their pensions at a single stroke. 

I managed to please both buyer and seller at one stroke.

be out on one's ear

被撵出去，不光彩地被解雇 | dismissed, thrown out in disgrace

Why bother putting myself into this incredibly precarious occupation where I could be out on my ear within a year or two?

Anyone who creates any problems is out on his ear.

burn the candle at both ends

过度操劳，起早贪黑 | to overwork or exhaust oneself by doing too many things, especially both late at night and early in the morning

I quit my job at the law firm because I developed high blood pressure from always burning the candle at both ends. 

My son slept 34 hours straight when he got home last week. I guess he burned the candle at both ends during exam week.

get/have (all) one's ducks in a row

给鸭鸭们排排队

做好充分准备 | get well prepared or organized for something that's going to happen

I understood my prognosis[预后] was really poor when my doctor recommended I get my ducks in a row before my operation. 

Too bad you didn't have your ducks in a row before you quit your job.

hand over fist

那么“抱拳礼”又该怎么说

迅速而大量地（赚钱或花钱）| If you make or lose money hand over fist, you make or lose a lot of money very quickly.

We have no major towns or cities, no opera houses and none of the fancy areas that have been getting money hand over fist. 

However, we'd like to point out that not only are we losing money hand over fist, others really are benefiting financially from the tragedy.

make a killing

大赚一笔，发横财 | to earn a lot of money in a short time and with little effort

The chances of making a killing with the lottery are slim. 

There's a toddler who's making a killing simply playing with toys on his YouTube channel.

make no bones about

开诚布公，毫不犹豫 | to be transparent about something, without any equivocation

Sam always makes no bones about his political views with others. 

The parents are making no bones about their displeasure over online teaching during the pandemic.

on the spur of the moment

一时冲动，心血来潮 | used to say that a decision, action, etc. is sudden and done without any planning

We just jumped in a car on the spur of the moment and drove to the seaside.

You've got to stop making these spur-of-the-moment decisions about your business, or you'll end up running it into the ground!

turnkey/turn-key

看起来很像是“关键转折”

完整并可立即使用的 | related to the provision of a service or product that can be used immediately

It is in good decorative order throughout and is likely to attract interest from families looking for a spacious home in turnkey condition.

People who enjoy instant gratification will have to look to turnkey businesses where they can receive what they buy immediately upon doing so.

weigh (someone) down

压垮 | to worry or depress someone

I don't want to weigh him down with personal worries that probably won't amount to much anyways.

Financial problems have been weighing down our entire family.