Blog posts from the team at International Community Radio Taipei, Taiwan's only English radio station.
English in the News
English in the News--On Pins and Needles 如坐針氈,坐立不安

English in the News–On Pins and Needles 如坐針氈,坐立不安

On pins and needles: 如坐針氈,坐立不安。Anxious and tense; to be nervously waiting to find out what is going to happen Examples: 1) I’ve been on pins and needles all day, waiting for the doctor’s test results. 1) With the merger, we’re all on pins and needles because we don’t know who will be laid off (資遣)....Continue reading
English in the News—To Win Hands Down 輕而易舉獲勝

English in the News—To Win Hands Down 輕而易舉獲勝

  To win hands down: to win something easily or decisively輕易獲勝,贏得決定性的勝利。(也可以說to beat someone hands down) Examples: We were unprepared for our last game, and the other team won hands down. The Palace Hotel wins hands down for both comfort and location. He said he would beat me hands down. He didn’t. (the Local, 2016/7/14) ‘If...Continue reading
English in the News—Lie through One’s Teeth睜眼說瞎話,當面撒謊

English in the News—Lie through One’s Teeth睜眼說瞎話,當面撒謊

To lie through one’s teeth: 當面撒謊,睜眼說瞎話。To lie brazenly and unabashedly Examples: Stop lying through your teeth—we saw you there last night with our own eyes. I knew she was lying through her teeth but I didn’t want to say so at the time. (Fox News, 2019/10/02) Joe Scarborough accuses Mike Pompeo of being a “common...Continue reading
English in the News--Let Sleeping Dogs Lie 別多事

English in the News–Let Sleeping Dogs Lie 別多事

Let sleeping dogs lie: (informal) to leave a situation alone; not to interrupt or trouble a person, situation, etc. when this is likely to cause problems or disorder勿惹事生非,不要多事 Example: Remember, don’t mention that fight they had months ago—let sleeping dogs lie! (Tampa Bay Times, 2019/11/03) A St. Petersburg man couldn’t let sleeping dogs lie during...Continue reading
English in the News--Get a Kick Out of 覺得好笑,有趣

English in the News–Get a Kick Out of 覺得好笑,有趣

Get a kick out of: 覺得好笑,有趣 To get a sense of enjoyment, amusement or excitement from something. (If you get a kick out of something, you enjoy it very much.)  Examples: Even as an adult, I still get a kick out of building sand castles at the beach. She really gets a kick out of...Continue reading
English in the News--All Hands on Deck 全體出動,總動員

English in the News–All Hands on Deck 全體出動,總動員

All hands on deck: 全體出動,總動員(特別是指緊急情況) it’s used to say that everyone is needed in a particular situation (A call for all members of a ship’s crew to come to the deck, usually in a time of crisis. By extension, everyone available to help with a problem, or a call for those people to help) Examples:...Continue reading
English in the News--the Pot Calling the Kettle Black 五十步笑百步

English in the News–the Pot Calling the Kettle Black 五十步笑百步

The pot calling the kettle black: 五十步笑百步,鱉笑龜無尾 (鍋子說茶壺黑) It refers to the fact that both cast-iron pots’ and kettles’ bottoms turn equally black when hung over a fire, and thus the pot is accusing the kettle of a fault it shares. Example: You are judging me for wearing revealing clothing to a party? That’s the pot calling the kettle black,...Continue reading
English in the News—Hold One’s Feet to the Fire 施壓,逼迫

English in the News—Hold One’s Feet to the Fire 施壓,逼迫

Hold one’s feet to the fire—施壓,逼迫,究責 to pressure someone to consent to or undertake something (to maintain pressure on someone in order to induce him/her to comply with one’s desires, to make someone feet pressure or stress, to cause pain) (Or, to hold someone accountable for his/her actions) Examples: The only way you’ll get him...Continue reading
English in the News--Preach to the Choir 不必多費唇舌

English in the News–Preach to the Choir 不必多費唇舌

Preach to the choir: To convince people that are already convinced; to make one’s case primarily to one’s supporters (preach 傳道,傳教, choir 唱詩班) 白費唇舌 Examples: 1) Honestly, you’re preaching to the choir, but I just don’t have enough money now to donate. 2) Don’t waste your time telling us about the problem. That’s preaching to...Continue reading
English in the News--Tit for Tat 以牙還牙,一報還一報

English in the News–Tit for Tat 以牙還牙,一報還一報

  Tit for tat: (n.) an equivalent given in return (as for an injury); retaliation in kind; something bad that you do to someone because they have done something bad to you 以牙還牙;同等報復 A tit-for-tat action (Adj.用法) is one where someone takes revenge on another person for what they have done by doing something similar to them. 以相似手法回敬別人,一報還一報 Examples: 1) He...Continue reading
English in the News--Move the Goalposts 朝令夕改,改變規則

English in the News–Move the Goalposts 朝令夕改,改變規則

To move the goalposts: to unfairly change the rules or conditions of a procedure during its course 朝令夕改,改變規則 Examples: 1) A: I can’t believe the sales target has been changed again! B: Neither can I. It’s totally unfair! They keep moving the goalposts. 2) Many companies have, in recent years, moved the goalposts so that those...Continue reading
English in the News--Razzle Dazzle 炫目花招

English in the News–Razzle Dazzle 炫目花招

razzle dazzle:  1) noisy and noticeable activity or very colorful appearance, intended to attract attention 熱鬧鋪張,華麗誇耀的活動 Amid all the razzle-dazzle of the political party convention, it’s easy to forget what the real issues are. 2) elaborate action or maneuvers designed to deceive or confuse an opponent, as in a sports contest 炫技花招 It’s a team...Continue reading