1.Clear the air: 消除误会(或猜疑)
They held a meeting to clear the air.
他们召开了一次会议来消除误解.

2.keep somebody at arm's lengt: 与某人保持距离;不亲近某人
He keeps all his clients at arm's length. 他不与任何委托人过分亲密.




3.be in the bag: 十拿九稳;稳操胜券
We've got the match in the bag. 这次比赛我们已稳操胜券.

4.in the balance: 悬而未决
The long-term future of the space programme hangs in the balance. 航天计划的长远前景尚未明朗.




5.drive/strike a hard bargain: 狠狠地杀价

6.ring a bell: 听起来耳熟
His name rings a bell but I can't think where we met. 他的名字听着很熟,但我想不起我们在哪里见过.




7. tighten your belt: 勒紧腰带(省吃俭用)
If you have less money than usual, you may have to tighten your belt. 如果你手头很紧,那你就要勒紧裤腰带节衣缩食啦.

8. get to the bottom of something: 找到起因;挖出祸根
The police is eager to get to the bottom of this mystery. 警方急切地想弄清这一神秘事件的真相.




9. a tight spot/corner: 困境;险境
She'll always help if you're in a tight spot. 你有困难,她总会帮忙的.

10. a sore point: a subject that makes you feel angry or upset when it is mentioned 心病;疼处;伤心事
It's a sore point with Sue's parents that the children have not been baptized yet. 孩子们至今未受洗礼,这是休的父母的一件伤心事.




11. in the dark (about something):(对某事)全然不知
Workers were kept in the dark about the plans to sell the company. 工人们全然不知出售公司的计划.
She arrived at the meeting as much in the dark as everyone else. 她到会时与其他人一样毫不知情.

12. fall on deaf ears: 不被理睬;不被注意;被置若罔闻
Her advice fell on deaf ears. 她的忠告没有受到重视.




13. have an eye for something: 对…有鉴赏力(或识别力、眼力)
I've never had much of an eye for fashion. 我对时装从来没多少鉴赏力.
She has an eye for a bargain. 她善识便宜货.

14. have your eye on somebody: 看中;看上
He's got his eye on the new girl in your class. 他看中了你们班上新来的那个女孩.




15. on hold: 推迟;中断
She put her career on hold to have a baby. 她中断了事业以便生孩子.
The project is on hold until more money is available. 这项工程暂停,等到有更多的钱时再进行.

16. on your mind: 挂在心上;惦念
You've been on my mind all day. 我一整天都在为你担心.
Don't bother your father tonight─he's got a lot on his mind. 今晚就别打扰你父亲了-他的烦心事儿已经够多了.




17. take your mind off something: 转移一下注意力;暂时将某事忘记
Painting helped take her mind off her troubles. 绘画使她暂时忘掉了烦恼.

18. tell on somebody: 打某人小报告
Promise not to tell on me! 答应我,别告发我!




19. pick somebody up on something: 提到某人的错误;挑毛病;算旧账
I knew he would pick me up on that slip sooner or later. 我知道他迟早会提起我那个小过失的.

20. turn over a new leaf: 改恶从善;重新做人
After losing his money gambling, Ron promised to turn over a new leaf. 隆恩赌博把钱输光之后,他决定改头换面,重新做人.