口语进阶Lesson03 | 美国常用idioms及表达方式

　　访问学者、博士后初到美国，在沟通和交流方面往往会遇到各种问题，正如中国有各种成语谚语，美国人日常生活中也有很多常用俗语和词组搭配。提前掌握这些知识点可以让各位学者更容易理解美国人的日常对话，融入当地工作生活环境。知识人网整理相关情景对话，介绍美国人常用惯用语（idiom）及表达方式，希望能对大家有所帮助。请看Lesson 03：

　　Lesson 03

　　Expressing regrets

　　Mark is telling his coworker Steve that he doesn't want to call her ex-girlfriend Cindy.

　　Steve:   What's wrong?

　　Mark:   I'm kicking myself for telling Ron about my ex-girlfriend. He's on my case. He wants me to call her for more information.

　　Steve:What's the big deal?

　　Mark:   She's off her rocker, and I think she still has the hots for me. I don't want to open a can of worms.

　　Steve:   So she's got a few screws loose! It couldn't be that bad.

　　Mark:   It is! She's a control freak, too.

　　Steve:   If I were you, I'd just call her. Suck it up!

　　Mark:   I'm afraid it's a recipe for disaster. If I call her, she may think I want to get back together.

　　Steve:   Well, Ron is not going to let you off the hook. He wants more information.

　　Mark:   I'm in a no-win situation. If you don't call her, Ron will keep breathing down my neck. If I do call her, I'll have to talk to her.

　　IDIOMS & EXPRESSIONS

　　Kick oneself – 后悔

　　Ex: I could kick myself. I am so stupid not to notice it. 我真后悔。我笨的没注意那一部分。

　　on someone's case – 督促某人做某事

　　Ex: She was always on my case about every little thing. 我的每件小事她都要管。

　　what's the big deal? – 有什么大不了的？有什么了不起的？

　　Ex: Just forget it. It's not a big deal. 算了吧。没什么大不了的。

　　off one's rocker – 缺乏理智

　　Ex: You are off your rocker if you think I believe that. 如果你认为我相信那事，那你真是疯了。

　　have the hots for someone – 喜欢某人、迷恋某人

　　Ex: You still have the hots for him. Oh, don't deny it. I saw you. 你还对他旧情未了。别否定了，我看出来了。

　　open a can of worms - 自找麻烦；自找烦恼

　　Ex: Commenting on my wife's appearance always opens a can of worms so I never say anything anymore. 评价我妻子的外貌总是自找麻烦，所以我再也不发表任何评论了。

　　have a few screws loose – 疯了、失去理智

　　Ex: He's sort of strange. I think he's gota loose screw. He wears a heavy jacket in the middle of summer. 他有点奇怪。我觉得他是疯了吧。夏天穿着厚外套。

　　control freak – 控制欲很强的人

　　Ex: In the past, he says, he behaved 'like a control freak' someone who had to be right. 他说，过去他表现得像个“控制狂”，一个必须行事正确的人.

　　suck it up – 别抱怨了、认命

　　Ex: Can you please just suck it up and accept the fact that she left? 拜托你能不能振作起来，接受她已经离开了的这个事实？

　　recipe for disaster - 后患无穷

　　Ex: Eating too much, not exercising enough, and being under stress is a recipe for disaster. You'll end up overweight and you'll probably die young. 压力大的时候，过量饮食又不锻炼将会使自己陷入困境。将来不仅会超重，而且很可能年纪轻轻就死了。

　　get back together - 复合、重归于好

　　Ex: When this is all over, then we can always get back together. 当这一切都结束时，我们就可以一辈子在一起。

　　let someone off the hook - 让某人摆脱困境,让某人摆脱麻烦, 放过某人

　　Ex: once someone has let you off the hook in this way, you should feel no pressure to contribute. 如果有人不让你为难，你便不会感到有压力了。

　　no-win situation - 不能取胜的,取胜无望的

　　Ex: This was a no-win situation. 必败的局势。

　　breathe down someone's neck -对某人盯得特别紧

　　Ex: How can I do something without making mistakes when you constantly breathe down my neck? It's distracting! 你盯我这么紧我怎么能不犯错呢？太让人分心了！

　　PRACTICE THE IDIOMS

　　Choose the most appropriate response to each sentence.

　　1.- Nina is starting to think that her new boss has a few screws loose.

　　a) Why doesn't she like him?

　　b) Why doesn't she offer to tighten the screws?

　　c) What did her boss do to make her think that?

　　2.- Jim has the hots for Andrea.

　　a) Then he'll probably ask her out.

　　b) Then he should wait until he cools off.

　　c) Then he should stop seeing her.

　　3.- I told Karen that I was too tired to help prepare for the party, so she let me off the hook.

　　a) That's too bad.

　　b) That was nice of her.

　　c) Maybe she'll put you back on the hook later.

　　4.- I'm kicking myself for investing in Carl's company.

　　a) How much money have you lost?

　　b) How much money have you made?

　　c) How much has Carl kicked in?

　　5.- I wish my boss would stop breathing down my neck.

　　a) You should tell him you need a lot of close attention.

　　b) You should tell him, your neck is getting too warm.

　　c) How much has Carl kicked in?

　　6.- Is it true that Jessica is a control freak?

　　a) Yes, she has no control over anything.

　　b) Yes, she doesn't trust her employees to do anything on their own.

　　c) Yes, she really does behave like a freak.

　　7.- Don't repeat any gossip you hear at work. It's a recipe for disaster.

　　a) That's good advice.

　　b) You're right. It's a great idea.

　　c) I agree. It's a good recipe.

　　8.- Kevin's next door neighbor is always on his case about turning down his music.

　　a) The neighbor must enjoy listening to it.

　　b) Kevin should turn the music up.

　　c) Kevin must play it very loudly.

　　9.- I know you're not happy about having to go on a six-week business trip to Malaysia, but just suck it up.

　　a) Ok, I'll tell my company I can't go.

　　b) You're right. I'm looking forward to it.

　　c) You're right. The time will go by quickly.

　　10.- I think we've opened a can of worm by asking our employees to be more open with the management.

　　a) I agree. We're getting very valuable comments.

　　b) I agree. Now they're all complaining about their bosses.

　　c) I agree. We should close the can as soon as possible.