发信人: roy_young(杨落伊)
整理人: roy_young(2001-06-08 10:23:05), 站内信件
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再談順口溜 (下)/ 懷中
15. to get (something) off the ground：意思是開始或從事某一件事，或對某事取得進展 (to begin or start something) 例如：
This grant would be used to get our project off the ground. (這筆基金將用在進行我們的計畫上)
With this handsome sum of money, I can get my business off the ground. (以這筆巨款，我可以開始經商。)
(handsome sum = big sum)
The new construction has gotten off the ground with a ten-million-dollar donation. (以這一千萬的捐款，新工程可以取得進展。)
He helped her get the dissertation off the ground. (他幫她動筆寫論文。）
但是「to get off the ground」也有字面上的意思：例如：
"Get off the ground or your clothes will get dirty." the mother told the child. (媽媽告訴孩子：不要躺在地上，免得衣服弄髒。)
16. to throw salt over (one's) own shoulder：這是指一些老外迷信，把鹽撒在肩膀上，可以趕走厄運，祝自己好運 (good luck to oneself；to get rid of evil spirit) 例如：
Some Americans throw salt over their shoulders in order to have good luck.（一些美國人迷信，為了好運在自己肩膀上撒鹽。）
I threw salt over my shoulder to bring myself good luck.
但是：「to throw rice at （someone）」又是指在婚禮上，向新婚夫婦撒米，表示慶賀祝福。例如：
At wedding we threw rice at the couple to wish them good luck. (rice 只用單數，不加 s)
也有老外在婚禮上向新婚夫婦撒 bird seeds 或五彩紙屑 (confetti) 表示祝賀。例如：
Some people throw bird seeds or confetti at the newly-wed.
假如有人運氣欠佳，別人祝他好運，他會說：
I can use all the good luck that I can get.
17. to lay a guilt trip on (someone)：意思是使人感到內疚，有罪惡感或使人難堪（to make someone feel guilty or bad）
The wife always tries to lay a guilt trip on her husband. (老婆盡想使老公感到內疚)
Don't lay your guilt trip on me.
If she tries to lay a guilt trip on you, don't take the bait. (如果她要使你感到罪惡感，別理它。)（bait 指 guilt trip)
Don't take the bait. = Don't take it.
注意：trip 這裡是指「失誤」或「錯誤」：
A trip at this point could spoil entire project. (一旦失誤 ，全局皆毀。)
但是 trip over 又是指「絆倒」：
He tripped over a bike.
18. to take the cake：意思是奇怪、稀罕或不尋常。(也可能是正面或負面) (something strange, rare or unusual)（多指行為方面）例如：
His performance has taken the cake. (他的表演很特殊)
What he has been doing really takes the cake. (他的所作所為倒很奇怪)
Mr. Smith's appearance will take the cake.
This young man's behavior really took the cake when he met her.（當他遇到她，他的行為很特殊。）
He takes the cake as an English teacher.（可能是位好老師）
19. to pound the pavement：是指為了某種目標，諸如找工作等，而徘徊街頭，四處奔走（to walk along the street for a special purpose）例如：
In order to get signatures for a petition drive, the organizer was pounding the pavement.（為了取得請願運動的簽名，發動者四處奔走。）
Mr. Chen has been pounding the pavement for weeks looking for a new job.（陳先生數週來為了找到新工作而徘徊街頭）
20. to step on（someone's）toes：意思是傷到別人的感情或使人不高興（to hurt one's feeling or to infringe of someone）例如：
Mr. A tends to step on his friend's toes. (A 先生易於傷害朋友的感情)
Be careful not to step on her toes when you talk about the subject. (當你談到主題時，小心不要使她不高興。)
Being a newcomer in this office, he has been trying not to step on anyone's toes. (做為一位辦公室新來者，他儘量設法不傷害他人感情。)
21. to be (或 become) all the rage： 意思是風靡一時的事物或時尚；指某件事情很流行。 (something very popular) (多半不指人) 例如：
Blue jeans used to be (或 are) all the rage. (牛仔褲過去或現在都很流行)
All his academic works have become all the rage. (他所有的學術著作都很風靡)
Musical bands may have become all the rage.
不過也可以說：
He is all the rage among many young people. (他在許多年輕人裡很走紅)
注意：to go into a rage 意思又是生氣或大怒。 例如：
Suddenly, Mr. Lee went into a rage.
Ever since I knew her, Mrs. Lin has never gone into a rage at me. (我認識林太太以來，她還沒有對我生過氣。)
22. to give (someone) the heave-ho： 意思是丟棄或遺棄某人(to throw someone out or to get rid of someone)。例如：
Have you ever given your friend the heave-ho? (你是否曾經遺棄過朋友？)
She gave her boyfriend the heave-ho. (她要離開她的男友。)
Some voters gave Mr. Gore the heave-ho in the last December election.
(去年十二月選舉時，有些選民不投高爾先生的票。) (就是有意「放棄」高爾。)
23. to get (one's) ducks in a row：意思是把事物安排得井井有條 (to put everything in order) 例如：
From now on he wants to get his ducks in a row. (從今以後，他要把事情安排得很有條理。)
You should get your ducks in a row before you take a trip to China. (你前往中國旅遊前，要把事情安排好。)
He got his ducks in a row before he went to his job interview. (他前往面試前，都把事情安排好。)
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