English in the news–Straight from the Horse’s Mouth 根據最可靠消息
Straight from the horse’s mouth—根據最可靠消息(直接從馬嘴裡聽來), from the original or most reliable source (If you get a piece of information from the horse’s mouth, you get it directly from someone who is involved in it and knows most about it.) Examples: 1) A: “Is next Monday really a holiday?” B: “Yep. Our teacher was ahead...Continue reading
English in the News–Wear One’s Heart on One’s Sleeve 情感展露無遺
Wear one’s heart on one’s sleeve—流露情感，情感或情緒展露無遺 to display one’s feelings openly and habitually, rather than keep them private (emotionally transparent) Examples: 1) Sam always wears his heart on his sleeve, so everyone knew how he was feeling. 2) It was evident that he was in love with her. He wore his heart on his sleeve and...Continue reading
English in the news—Best Thing since Sliced Bread 最棒的事物
Best thing since sliced bread: a humorous and hyperbolic statement indicating one’s belief that something is excellent, especially something new and innovative 有史以來最棒之事物 Examples: 1) These water proof jeans are the best thing since sliced bread! I don’t have to worry about getting soaked! 2) When your program first started I thought it was the best...Continue reading
English in the News–Living Hand to Mouth 僅夠糊口，生活窮困
Living (from) hand to mouth: To be very poor, having only enough money to provide food and shelter each month 處境窮困，收入只夠負擔吃住 Example: My dad earned very little and there were 4 kids, so we lived hand to mouth. (BBC, 10/12, 2017) Tonight 120,000 children in England will spend the night in temporary accommodation. This week...Continue reading
English in the News–On a Roll 鴻運當頭,運勢正旺
On a roll: in the midst of a series of successes 正在連串成功或是勝利的時刻 Examples: 1) Don’t stop me now. I’m on a roll. 2) Once you get on a roll you feel as though you’re unbeatable. (Reuters Business News, 6/29, 2017) Reuters poll: Global stock markets still on a roll, led by Europe, Asia 路透社調查顯示全球股市在歐洲和亞洲領導下,將持續上揚 Global stock market indexes are set for more gains by...Continue reading
English in the News–Take with a Pinch of Salt 半信半疑
Take with a pinch (grain) of salt—持保留態度,半信半疑 (to consider or evaluate something, such as a statement, while keeping in mind that it may not be completely accurate, typically due to the unreliability of the source) Examples: Take whatever that paper publishes with a pinch of salt—it’s really tabloid. You have to take what he says...Continue reading
English in the News–Fly by the Seat of One’s Pants 隨機應變
Fly by the Seat of One’s Pants 隨機應變，憑感覺做事 to pilot a plane by feel and instinct rather than by instruments to proceed or work by feel or instinct without formal guidelines or experienceContinue reading
English in the News–Locked and Loaded 槍已上膛，準備好了
Locked and loaded–A command to prepare a weapon for battle 槍已上膛，準備作戰; Prepare for an imminent event, ready to go 為即將來臨的事準備好Continue reading
English in the News-Wheels Coming Off 螺絲鬆了
When the wheels fall off (come off) something, it goes wrong or fails. It’s used to say that something suddenly stops being successful. (It’s used for saying that things start to fail or go wrong, especially after a period of success.) Example: The team was leading 3–1 at half-time, but then the wheels came off and they ended up...Continue reading
English in the News—Crown Jewel 皇冠上的珠寶，最有價值之物
Crown jewel—the best or the most valuable thing that a person or place has, the most valuable or attractive thing in a collection or group 御寶，最有價值之物 Examples: Prague’s crown jewel is the old town center. These two paintings are the crown jewels of the museum’s collection. (Forbes, (2017/06/29) China took control of Hong Kong, which...Continue reading
English in the News–Dressed to the Nines 盛裝，穿戴整齊時髦
Dressed to the Nines 盛裝—dressed very stylishly with nothing overlooked, wearing very fashionable or expensive clothes Examples: She showed up at the picnic dressed to the nines. Clare is usually dressed to the nines in order to impress people. (CBS8, 2016/06/26) Demi Moore staged a family reunion at a friends’ wedding in Denver, Colorado, over...Continue reading
English in the News—Guinea Pig 白老鼠
If someone is used as a guinea pig, new ideas or products are tested on them. Often times it to discover the effect of drugs in human. Examples: 1) They’re looking for volunteers to act as guinea pigs for a new AIDS vaccine. 2) They’re looking for students to be guinea pigs in their research...Continue reading
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