The task is long.
The task is boring and not really worth it.
a busman's holiday
a holiday you do the same or similar thing you do at work instead of having a rest
a cock-and-bull story
无稽之谈
a feather in one's cap
值得骄傲的事
a flight of fancy
想入非非，异想天开
not even in the wildest flight of fancy could she imagine
a lump in one's throat
哽咽
Her song brought me a lump to the throat.
a mare's nest
幻想的、不存在的、骗局
as cool as a cucumber
泰然自若，处变不惊
as dead as a doornail
死透了
at close quarters
近距离
be taken aback
吃了一惊
beat about the bush
旁敲侧击
By Jove.
天啊
close as an oyster
守口如瓶
oyster: 牡蛎
come to a head
时机成熟或到了紧要关头
confound fiction with reality
混淆了想象和现实
cut no ice
无关紧要
dart a sharp glance
迅速瞥一眼
drive someone to distraction
使人心烦意乱
Early impressions die hard.
早期印象难改
Faugh! (/fo:/)
呸！
flog a dead horse
徒劳
fly off at a tangent
突然改变行径，突然离题
fullfill one's promise
履行承诺
get down to brass tacks
言归正传
get something up one's sleeves
有锦囊妙计
haul somebody over the coals
批评、责备
have a bee in one's bonnet
冥思苦想
get this bee out of your bonnet
hit the nail on the head
一针见血
in black and white
白纸黑字
He gave me assurance in black and white.
in the offing
即将发生
In the space of one short night I am converted from the creditor's despair to the tradesman's hope.
-- Lord Edgware Dies, by Agatha Christie
It's a great pleasure to make your acquaintance.
It's as plain as the nose on your face.
显而易见
join the great majority
随大流，指死了
Lao Tse
老子
lick one's lips over something
垂涎
like a dying duck in a thunderstorm
惊慌失措
like an ostrich that buries its head in the sand
自欺欺人
like wax in one's hand
唯命是从
He's like a piece of wax in her hand.
lump it
勉强忍受，将就忍受
make mincemeat of somebody
秋风扫落叶，实力碾压
She could make mincemeat of her husband on the golf course.
make one's adieux to someone
告辞
Mine is not to reason why, mine is but to do and die.
别问原因，尽管去做
More sinned against than sinning.
指受到过于严厉的惩罚
My felicitations.
祝贺
near the bone
下流，露骨
nip something in the bud
扼杀在摇篮中
no great shakes
not very good, not very impressive
No offence meant
无意冒犯
not a sausage
nothing at all
not half
very much
not in the least
毫无
on a par with
与 ... 同等；和 ... 一样
I don't think his ability is on a par with yours.
on one's hands and knees
全身伏地
on the right track
在正确的道路上
on the spur of the moment
一时冲动
on the tip of my tongue
话到嘴边、呼之欲出
over head and ears in love/debt/...
深陷
pour oil on troubled waters
息事宁人
put a flea in one's ear
对人说讽刺、斥责或不中听的话
put one's heads together
集思广益
Let's put our heads together and see how to do it.
put that in your pipe and smoke it
你好好考虑一下
queer one's pitch
打乱某人计划
red in tooth and claw
野蛮、残忍
Nature is red in tooth and claw.
rise to the bait
上钩
shock to the core
极为震惊
smell a rat
感到不妙
so done with something
受够了
spill the beans
走漏消息、露陷儿
ten to one
大概率
the cat's whiskers
优秀人物、上等货
He thinks his new pocket television set is the cat's whiskers and is always talking about it.
The fat is in the fire.
酿成大祸
the ins and outs
来龙去脉
I don't know the ins and outs of the matter.
the pros and cons
利弊
They sat for hours debating the pros and cons of setting up their own firm. weigh the pros and cons
through thick and thin
赴汤蹈火
throw one's weight about/around
倚势凌人
to and fro
来回往复
The boat was rocking gently to and fro in the water.
under the thumb of someone
在某人的控制下
up to the hilt
彻底、完全、最大限度地
when all is said and done
说到底
He is a pretty good comrade, when all is said and done.
without rhyme or reason
没来由
Bleed someone/something dry.
Drain someone or something of wealth or resources.
let sleeping dogs lie
不要多事，不要自找麻烦。
It's nothing to shout about.
没什么可大惊小怪的。
Let the dust settle. Wait for the dust to settle.
等事态平息
an old hand doing
老手
a white lie
善意的谎言
To have a good nose for something
擅长某事
down in the dumps
沮丧、气馁
just the ticket for someone
正是所需要的人（或东西、地方）
bone idle
超级懒
be barking up the wrong tree
找错对象; 攻击错了目标;
to put your money where your mouth is
to stop just talking about something and to support your words with actions
taking the mickey (out of somebody)
laugh at somebody or make fun of somebody
fishing for compliments
it means you try to make people say good things about you. You pretend to be modest about something and hope they disagree and give you praise.
Normally I wouldn t give her the time of day.
What I meant was I wouldn t normally pay attention to her.
Long ago, in Shakespeares time, the phrase 'good time of day' was a greeting often used. These days we say 'good morning. So to say that you wouldnt give someone the time of day means you wouldn't want to greet them or say hello.
So the saying means you refuse to give someone your attention.
easy tiger
Want someone to calm down, to not get over-emotional, or not to rush into something.
chew the fat
to talk in a friendly way, socially, without actually exchanging too much serious information
rub someone's nose in it
表示揭（某人）的疮疤；不断提起（某人）以前的过失
we had to jump through hoops to get out visas
克服种种障碍，越过重重关卡。
wake up and smell the coffee
you need to pay attention because you're missing something that's really obvious
we need to have a word
we need a short serious discussion about this sensitive topic.
a rabbit in the headlights
It's a phrase used to describe someone who is so nervous that they can't move or speak.
speak with a forked tongue
口是心非
crystal clear
If we say something is crystal clear, we simply mean it's absolutely clear.
kick over the traces
不受管束、不听指挥的意思。这个表达的来源与马有关，人们在让马拉车的时候，会把皮质挽绳拴在马的身上，但是如果用力过大或者马儿受惊时，马就会用脚去踢，想要挣脱。
have/hold all the aces
占绝对优势
to go the extra mile
to make more effort than usual to achieve their objectives
something has strings attached
There are hidden commitments and you should find out what they are.
The chef is snowed under with work in the kitchen to prepare dinner for us.
因工作太多而忙得不可开交。
roll out the red carpet for someone
隆重/热烈欢迎某人
I take a rain check on something.
I will not do it immediately but I would like to do it at another time.
tread on eggshells
be awkward because you don't know what to say and you don't want to offend someone.
There are plenty more fish in the sea.
天涯何处无芳草
put up your feet
It's a way of saying, relax, sit down, especially after standing up for a long time.
under one's belt
It means they have a particular experience already -- something that might help them in the future.
use your loaf
think about things before you do them otherwise you will make silly mistakes.
chew the fat
闲聊，闲谈
shoot the breeze
摆龙门阵
Rome. By all means, Rome.
-- Roman Holiday
look for a needle in a haystack
大海捞针
It’s all Greek to me
我一窍不通；对我来说是天书
Donkey's years
a very long time
I have put up with you for donkey's years. Today I will teach you a lesson.
No sweat
毫不费力，不麻烦，没问题
"Thanks for driving me to the station."
"No sweat!"
Under the table
在背地里，在私下
Excuse/ Pardon my French
对不起，我讲了粗话。
If you'll pardon my French, he's a bloody fool.
Let the cat out of the bag
无意中泄秘，说漏嘴
Backseat driver
乱指点司机的乘客；多管闲事的人
Get on your high horse
自以为是，自命不凡
have a screw loose
行为乖戾；脑不正常
The girl looked at me as if I had a screw loose.
carrot and stick
软硬兼施，恩威并重
Sometimes you just have to resort to the carrot and stick approach with your children.
call someone on the carpet
训斥或责备
When our team lost that big client, the boss called us on the carpet.
a hard/tough nut to crack
棘手的问题，难以理喻的怪人
break one's back
拼命工作
The best things in life are free. The second best are very expensive.
a house of cards
脆弱的组织；极易出问题的计划
Her plans collapsed like a house of cards when she was told she hadn't won the scholarship.
ask/cry for the moon
异想天开
beat the clock
提前完成任务
beat one's head against the wall
白费力气，徒劳无功
The world is your oyster.
世上的一切尽在你掌握之中，你可以随心所欲
like two peas in a pod
（尤指外观）非常相像
The twin brothers are like two peas in a pod.
life is just a bowl of cherries
一切都十全十美；一切都完美无缺
I've got a promotion and pay rise! Life is just a bowl of cherries these days!
have bigger fish to fry
另有要事要办
I have bigger fish to fry and have to take leave.
until you are blue in the face
任凭你磨破嘴皮
You can argue till you're blue in the face, but I won't change my mind.
have a monkey on one's back
有大难题，有无法承受的负担
It feels like having a monkey on my back that you can't get rid of.
like water off a duck's back
（把别人的批评或警诫）当作耳旁风
I keep telling my friend not to waste money but it's like water off a duck's back.
strike while the iron is hot
make hay while the sun shines
趁热打铁，勿失良机
bell the cat
冒险
Someone has to bell the cat and tell mom we wrecked her car.
a dog in the manger
占着茅坑不拉屎的人
Stop being a dog in the manger and let your brother ride your bike if you're not using it.
rock the boat
惹麻烦；惹事；捣乱
He is easy-going and won't rock the boat unless absolutely necessary.
keep a stiff upper lip
泰山崩于前而色不改
in a pickle
处于困境
Whenever I'm in a pickle, I call her for help.
salt of the earth
最高尚的人；社会精英（因为古代盐珍贵）
You are truly the salt of the earth.
nose of wax
没有主见；耳根子软
The man has a nose of wax.
a red-letter day
值得纪念的日子；有特殊意义的日子；喜庆日
The day I first met you was a red-letter day for me.
a pain in the neck
讨厌的家伙；讨厌的任务
My little brother can be a pain in the neck sometimes.
get your ducks in a row
把事情安排得井井有条
give somebody the hook
炒某人鱿鱼
I'm not going to give him the hook just because of a minor mistake.
fly-by-night
不可信任的；不可靠的
The project is totally ruined by the fly-by-night undertakers.
all bark and no bite
光吵吵不动手
Don't be afraid. He's all bark and no bite.
smoke and mirrors
障眼法
There was a big element of smoke and mirrors to the deal.
go up in smoke
化为乌有
All his plans went up in smoke when his parents returned.
for a song
非常便宜地；廉价地
He sold a goodly manor for a song.
horse sense
常识；common sense
I'm surprised you don't know that. Isn't it a horse sense?
top dog
居支配地位的，有最高权力的人
He is young, but he is the top dog in his company.
light a fire under someone
激励，鼓舞，鞭策
try to light a fire under the team.
leave someone holding the bag
让某人 收拾烂摊子
It’ s typical of him, leaving me holding the bag again.
cast pearls before swine
把珍贵的东西送给不识货者
出自圣经：do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you.
I'm not casting pearls before swine with my good advice since he won't listen anyway.
pay through the nose
花大价钱；被敲竹杠
Don’ t order wine in this restaurant or you’ ll really pay through the nose for it.
make or break
不成则败；要么成就，要么毁灭
Critics can make or break a young performer.
This game is make-or-break.
put your money where your mouth is
用行动说话
Stop talking and put your money where your mouth is!
treat sth with kid gloves
小心翼翼地对待。kid gloves不是“小孩子戴的手套”，而是“羔羊皮手套”
on the horns of a dilemma
进退两难；进退维谷
to one's heart's content
尽情地；尽兴地
I'm going to eat my favorite dishes to my heart's content.
either feast or famine
时好时坏
This month is very dry, and last month it rained almost every day. Our weather is either feast or famine.
Play it by ear
It means you aren't going to make a firm plan, but will decide what to do as you go along.
have one's back against the wall
处于绝境；走投无路
He really has his back against the wall now that creditors are coming after him for money.
Jack-of-all-trades
someone has many professional talents.
Jack of all trades, master of none.
It was used to describe people who learned how to do a lot of different things, but, they weren't able to focus on doing one thing correctly.
at sixes and sevens
乱七八糟；七上八下
The room is at sixes and sevens.
I'm really at sixes and sevens over taking the new job.
You can't squeeze blood from a turnip
you cannot get something from a person that they don't have to give you. And it's used about money.
a month of sundays
很久；遥遥无期
set in stone
板上钉钉
The agreement is not yet set in stone.
nose out of joint
暴跳如雷，鼻子都气歪了
beat the drum
大肆宣传，极力鼓吹
Some people are beating the drum online for the legislation.
wrap someone around one's little finger
玩弄于股掌之上
take a back seat
处于次要地位；退居二线
a fine kettle of fish
乱七八糟、很令人不愉快的事或局面
You made such a mess, and mum and dad could be back any minute! This is a fine kettle of fish.
take the wind out of someone's sails
使某人泄气；使某人不坚定
meat and potatoes
最重要的部分；最基本的部分
Successful negotiation is the meat and potatoes of arbitration.
be caught with one's hand in the cookie jar
当场被抓了现行
irons in the fire
同时要做的很多事情
better late than never
迟到总比不到好；亡羊补牢
He finally bought a house when he was over fifty, but it was better late than never.
on a shoestring
靠着极少量的资金
answer a call of nature
上厕所
pull the wool over one's eyes
蒙骗
put someone in the picture
告知某人有关情况
pass the hat round
凑钱；募捐
Everyone passed the hat round to help her pay for the cost of herson's treatment.
He who pays the piper calls the tune.
谁出钱谁做主
beat a path to someone's door
急切地想从某人处购买（或获得）某物
He was a successful lawyer and had clients beating a path to his door.
a straw in the wind
苗头；迹象
can't hold a candle to
远远不如……；对……望尘莫及
have a tiger by the tail
骑虎难下
Now that I have to work closely with the boss on this project, I feel like I have a tiger by the tail.
pay lip service to
光说不做；口头敷衍
He claims to be in favour of training, but so far he's only paid lip service to the idea.
a baptism by fire
初次的痛苦经历或考验
She felt like she was undergoing a baptism by fire when she was given a big project to manage in her first month.
loaded for bear
作好充分准备，以对付最棘手的问题
He went into the examination room loaded for bear.
hit between the eyes
使（某人）大为震惊；使（某人）大受影响
News of their breaking up hit me right between the eyes.
the writing on the wall
不祥之兆；凶兆
The increase in oil price is the writing on the wall for some small businesses.
a fifth wheel
多余的人；不受欢迎的人
Since my girlfriend didn't come, I was a fifth wheel at the party.
spin one's wheels
白费力气；浪费时间
After realizing we were just spinning our wheels, we quitted the project.
the die is cast
这里的 die 不是“死亡”，而是作名词意为“骰子”，相当于 dice。短语意思是“大局已定，木已成舟”。
From the moment she closed the door behind her, the die was cast and a divorce was inevitable.
a shot in the arm
刺激因素；兴奋剂
The reform will provide a shot in the arm for thousands of small businesses.
whistle in the dark
给自己壮胆；虚张声势；强装镇定
To claim this as such a glorious record is whistling in the dark.
put on the dog
摆排场；装腔作势；充门面
He borrowed a new suit to put on the dog for his girlfriend.
out of the window
完全消失，不再存在
When people start drinking, sense goes out of the window.
two left feet
形容手脚不协调、笨手笨脚的人
When they danced together, she discovered he had two left feet.
Hobson's choice
只有一个选项、别无他选。据说这个短语来源于17世纪一位马厩主人，他从来不给他的客户提供选择的余地。客户向他租马时，他总是只把离门最近的那一匹马给他们，不容挑拣。
It's a case of Hobson's choice, because if Idon't accept this salary, I'll lose this job.
hem and haw
哼哼呃呃;犹豫不决
We hemmed and hawed for months before actually deciding to buy the car.
out of the frying pan into the fire
每况愈下；刚刚走出一个困境，却又陷入另一个更加艰难的困境
He thought his old job was stressful, but his new one is 10 times worse. It's like going out of the frying pan and into the fire.
right as rain
完全康复，十分健康。在英国，雨水是最丰富充沛、担保不会短缺的东西，而相对于难得一见的晴天，下雨反倒是一种正常的状态了。
He just needs a goodnight's sleep, and then he'll be right as rain again.
in a nutshell
一言以蔽之；简而言之。据说著名的史诗著作《伊利亚特》曾被抄写在羊皮纸上，收藏在坚果壳里
He had put the whole situation in a nutshell.
full steam ahead
全力以赴；奋勇前行
The government was determined to go full steam ahead with its economic reform.
be like music to one's ears
佳音；好消息
The news that I got the offer of the company was like music to my ears.
not bat an eyelid
面不改色，连眼皮都不眨一下
He didn't bat an eyelid when they told him he'd lost his job.
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