发信人: roy_young(金陵二胡)
整理人: roy_young(2001-10-17 14:05:17), 站内信件
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美國人平時所用的許多「不規則」 片語，會有特別意義，究竟是俚語、口語或俗語，沒有絕對的定義。其實名稱不重要，最重要的是懂得意義和用法，不是嗎？
1. to have (many) irons in the fire: 意思是同時有許多事，真想馬上全部做完，但又不知從何開始，似乎忙得不可開交(have a lot of activities going on at the same time) 例如：
Don't bother him because he has many irons in the fire. (別打擾他，因為他事情太多，忙得很！)
I am reluctant to ask him to volunteer when he has too many irons in the fire. (當他事情太多時，我不願請他當義工。)
Some people even like to have many irons in the fire. (有些人甚至喜歡有很多事忙忙碌碌）
2. to talk over (one's) head(s): 指所談的過於專門或困難，非一般人可以瞭解；也指有人為了表現自己才學非凡，故意談些高深理論或用些難字，嚇唬別人(using large or big words so that audience will not understand exact meaning）例如：
Dr. Lee's lecture was so specialized that he almost talked over our heads. (李博士的演講太專門了，幾乎使我們無法瞭解。)
In order to show his profound knowledge, he tends to talk over my head. (為了表現他的學問高深，他想嚇唬我。)
Some professors like to talk over their students' heads.
3. to put (something) back into (in) its cage: 意思是可以控制某件事情 (to contain or put something under control) (多半指經濟、健康等事項) 例如：
We are trying to put inflation back into its cage and our economy is on the mend. (我們正在設法控制通貨膨脹，同時改善我們的經濟。)
(on the mend 意思是 improve)
Diplomats and politicians need to put aggression and hostility back into its cage. (外交官和政客應該控制攻擊和敵對的行為)
但是也可指真正把wild animals關進鐵籠。例如：
After the circus performance, the tigers were put back into their cages. (馬戲團表演後，老虎被關進鐵籠。)
4. to keep (one's) fingers crossed: 意思是祝福某人好運或一切順利 (hope something good will happen) (把食指與中指交叉，祈求好運，是老外的迷信，但在寫信或正式場合，多半是用：“I wish you best (good) luck!”或“Good (best) luck to you!”例如：
He keeps his fingers crossed hoping his father will send him more money. (他盼望有好運，老爸能寄較多錢給他。)
Many people have been keeping their fingers crossed that we can live in a peaceful world. (許多人都在祈求好運，盼能在和平的世界裡生活。)
I'll keep my fingers crossed for you！ (我為您祝福)
5. to hold (someone) in low regard: 意思是不重視，或不敬重某人。(to disrespect someone) 例如：
He complained that his boss did not understand his role and held him in low regard. (他埋怨他老闆不了解他的角色而不重視他。)
There is a great deal of snobbery that the educational personnel are held in lower regard. (許多勢利眼的人對教育人員不太重視。) (薪水少？)
反之，對某人很重視，很敬重，就是“to hold someone in high regard.”例如：
I have been holding Mrs. Lin in high regard.
He is held in the highest regard by his students. (他享有學生崇高的尊敬。)
6. to step on the crack: 這是一種美國人視為「運氣不好」的迷信，只使用在孩子身上。（a juvenile superstition for small children）希望孩子走路小心，手足都能配合得很好，不會跌倒。（for hand and feet coordination）例如：
Some children think stepping on the crack is bad luck. (一些小孩認為踩到路上的裂縫是表示運氣不好。)
American parents tell their young children that “step on the crack, break your mother's back”(美國父母告訴他們的小孩說：「踩到裂縫，你媽背痛」。)
7. to stretch (one's) legs: 意思是坐久後，把腿舒展一下，或稍為休息或散步。(to relax or to take a short break) 例如：
Let's take ten minutes to stretch our legs (and we will reconvene after ten minutes). (讓我們休息十分鐘) (十分鐘後再聚集)
(reconvene = to meet again)
May I take a break so that I can stretch my legs？ (我可以休息一會伸伸腳嗎？)
During a long flight to Taiwan, I normally stretch my legs every two hours. (在到台灣的長途飛行中，我每兩個鐘頭起身走走。)
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