1.Clear the air 消除误会
To settle a dispute and restore good relations
Example: We had a meeting with the workers, and I think we’vecleared the air now。
2.Be in the air 将要发生的事情
The feeling or idea that something new is about to happen or isgoing to change。
Example: From the arguments going on at the meeting, it seemsthat a change in policy is in the air。
3.A bad egg 缺乏道德的人
Somebody who has no moral principles and should be avoided
Example: You mustn’t lend Tim money, he’s a bad egg. You’llnever see him or your money again!
4.Cost an arm and a leg 极其昂贵
To be very expensive
Example: I love that fur coat. However, I don’t think I’m goingto buy it because it costs an arm and a leg。
5.In the balance 未知的，不可预测的
Said when the outcome of a situation is unknown orunpredictable
Example: His career as a pilot is in the balance, as hiseyesight does not seem good enough。
6.In the Bag 稳操胜券
Said of an achievement which is secure
Example: We have the deal in the bag. The client came in thismorning to sign the agreement。
7.Drive a hard bargain 极力讨价还价
To have the negotiating strength and skills to get the mostadvantageous price and conditions
Example: Amanda is negotiating the best price from thesuppliers. She drives a hard bargain。
8.Ring a bell 看上去或听起来非常熟悉
To look, sound or seem familiar
Example: That face rings a bell, where have I seen himbefore?
9.Tighten one’s belt 节衣缩食
To cut down on spending because there is less income thanbefore
Example: Now you are out of work, you’ll have to tighten yourbelt and give up buying new clothes and going out so often。
10.Kill two birds with one stone 一石二鸟
To complete two tasks together, with less effort than doing themseparately
Example: Since I’d gone to the store to buy some bread, Ithought ofkilling two birds with one stone and invited Mr. Biggs tothe party。
11.Be in a black mood 情绪极差
To be so negative about everything that it is impossible foranyone to reason with him/her
Example: My father has been in a black mood for days, we darenot say anything to him。
12.Feeling blue 感到无精打采
Feeling sad or depressed
Example: She’s feeling blue, because the man she loves is faraway。
13.New blood 新成员
New people brought into an organization to introduce differentand original ideas
Example: It was decided to bring new blood into the school byemploying teachers with the latest training。
14.Get to the bottom of something 弄清真相
To find out the truth about something
Example: I’m trying to get to the bottom of why David leftwithout saying goodbye。
15.A piece of cake 轻松的事
Something which is very easy to do
Example: Here…let me put the batteries in for you. It’s a pieceof cake。
16.Pay a call 拜访
To visit somebody
Example: As we’re in this neighborhood, we might as well pay theJacksons a call, we haven’t seen them for ages。
17.Round the clock 夜以继日的
To do something continuously, without a break or pause
Example: The ambulance services worked round the clock haulingpeople trapped in the building to safety。
18.By chance 偶然，意外的
Unexpectedly; with no prior planning
Example: By chance, I bumped into my wife in the shoppingmall
19.Keep one’s cool 保持冷静
To stay calm in a difficult situation
Example: If the traffic is jamed, the only thing to do is keepyour cool, or get out of the car and walk!
20.In a tight corner 处于困境
In an extremely difficult situation
Example: Whenever I get into a tight corner, I try to rely onquick thinking to get out of it。
21.Fall on deaf ears 不加理睬的，不听取
Not to take any notice of what is said
Example: The city council’s order that garbage should be put inthebins fell on deaf ears; the sidewalks are still littered withtrash!
22.Keep in the dark 隐瞒
To keep something secret
Example: We know my brother has a new girlfriend, but he'skeeping her name in the dark。
23.Take things easy 放轻松
To relax
Example: It's better for our health to take things easy than toworry about problems all the time。
24.Catch one’s eye 吸引某人注意
To attract somebody’s attention
Example: A movement behind the curtain caught my eye I thoughtit was a burglar and rushed out of the room!
25.Eat like a horse 吃得很多
To eat a lot; to have a very big appetite
Example: Fred eats like a horse. When I was a growing lad likehim, I used to eat a lot, too。
26.Turn a blind eye 。熟视无睹
To ignore an action, even though one should do something aboutit
Example: Parents will spoil their children if they constantlyturn a blind eye to their bad behavior。
27.Have an eye for something 对某事(某物体)了解得非常清楚
To be very good at doing something, or have a greatunderstanding of something。
Example: As a botanist, he has to describe and draw plantsaccurately, so he must have an eye for detail。
28.Keep an eye on 照看， 密切注视
To watch carefully; to look after
Example: Keep an eye on my purse I'm just going to thebathroom。
29.Lose face 丢脸
To have one's reputation spoiled; to be embarrassed
Example: The large drug houses have lost face, because smallercompanies are selling similar products at a cheaper price!
30.Lead the field 处于领头地位
To be the most successful person or group in an activity
Example: For decades, the House of Dior led the field in elegantfashion design
31.Get out of hand 失去控制
To be out of control
Example: The problem of suicide bombings is getting out of hand;there seems to be no way to stop them。
32.Give a hand 提供帮助
To help somebody with something
Example: Please give me a hand and hold this board while I paintit。
33.Learn by heart 牢记
To memorize something; to have learned something word for wordor very precisely。
Example: At school we often learned Shakespeare’s sonnets byheart and recited them in front of the class。
34.On hold 尚未办理的事情
Something set aside and waiting to be dealt with
Example: Our vacation plans are on hold right now; because myDad’s just been admitted to hospital with a stomach ulcer。
35.A dark horse 出乎意料的嬴家
An unexpected winner。
Example: A dark horse in this year’s basketball cup wasJapan!
36.The bottom line 本质内容
The most essential part of something
Example: We’ve talked a lot about taxation and immigration, butthe bottom line is that we have to create more jobs。
37.Live it up 狂欢一场
To enjoy a high standard of living and lead a carefree life
Example: The neighbors having been living it up ever since theywon the sweepstakes。
38.Bear in mind 记住
To remember something which can be of help in the future。
Example: Before you start your perspective drawing, bear in mindyou should first establish a vanishing point。
39.Look forward to 期待着
To relish some future prospect; to eagerly await meetingsomebody。
Example: You can tell Jake is looking forward to his vacationhekeeps telling us how many days there are left until hefinishescollege。
40.Have a mind to 想做某事， 计划做某事
To be decided on ; to intend to
Example: The service in our hotel was terrible. I have a mind towrite a letter of complaint。
41.Be in the mood 想要做某事
To feel like doing something
Example: She is not in the mood for playing cards and says sheshould really be preparing her lecture notes。
42.Over the moon 欣喜若狂
Extremely happy
Example: She’s over the moon about her promotion she reallywasn’t expecting it。
43.Over and above 除…这外， 额外的
In addition to
Example: Over and above our salary, we are getting a largebonus, because business has been very profitable this year。
44.Get a move on 赶快
To hurry up
Example: Get a move on! The train is about to leave。
45.Get the picture 了解某事
To understand something, to grasp some meaning
Example: When they started cutting back and laying people off atwork, I got the picture and starting looking for another job。
46.Keep somebody posted 传达消息
To regularly give somebody up-to-date information or details ofthe progress being made。
Example: I phoned in at the end of each working day to keep myboss posted about developments at the trade conference。
47.Be out of pocket 花光了钱的
To be without money
Example: He’s complaining because he spent all of his money onslot machines and now he’s out of pocket。
48.Lose track of 失去消息,失去线索
To lose contact with somebody to not know where something is
Example: I lost track of Fran when she moved to Boston. I’veeven tried to locate her on the Internet。
49.On a shoestring 生活拮据
In a thrifty manner; with costs or spending down to a bareminimum
Example: She lives on a shoestring she gets a tiny pension andhas to budget very tightly。
50.In the long run 最终，最后
Over a long period of time, once a process has matured
Example: The grocery store is making a loss right now. In thelong run,however, we hope to achieve a situation of stableprofit
