C ontents

4 Foreword6 To The Readers9 Notation

比喻 Metaphor

22 an axe to grind22 to ambush22 to keep someone at

arm's length22 backlash23 half-baked23 to charge one's

batteries23 to beaver away24 in bed with / go to bed

with24 strange bedfellows24 to beggar25 to give a wide berth25 to bite one's bullet26 on board26 to boggle one's mind26 to breeze through27 to bring down the house 27 to bring home the bacon 27 to bristle28 to bruise one's ego28 to clear the air

28 to clear the decks29 one's true colours29 to colour29 creeping30 a rainy day30 to make / put a dent on30 out of one's depth30 at the end of the

rainbow31 to fence31 on the fence31 to mend fences32 fishing expedition32 to go down in flames32 to flex one's muscles33 last fling33 to fly33 above the fray34 green light34 to come to grips with34 to hammer sth home35 to get a handle on35 heavy lifting35 to hedge one's bets36 to hijack36 to hit one's stride36 joust37 knee-deep37 knee-jerk37 to know the ropes

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38 to knuckle under38 to labour under38 to take / make a leap of

faith38 not a leg to stand on39 new lease on life39 on a short leash39 length to which one

goes39 leverage40 to see the light40 light at the end of the

tunnel40 linchpin40 line in the sand41 litmus / acid test41 lone wolf41 lotus eater42 to massage one's ego42 to get the measure of

sb42 mecca43 meltdown43 mileage43 to mothball44 mud-slinging44 to muscle in on44 nail biter45 final nail in the coffin45 neanderthal

45 an open book46 open season46 to ratchet up46 to sail close to the wind46 to separate the wheat

from the chaff47 close shave47 to skate on thin ice47 to sour47 soft spot48 squeaky clean48 to take a stab at48 to steal the thunder48 to stew in one’s own

juice49 strut one’s stuff49 to take the wind out of

someone’s sails50 in the trenches50 to trim one’s sails

成語 Idiom

52 all and sundry52 to take sth amiss52 bane of existence53 to be over a barrel53 to batten down the

hatches53 without batting an eyelid

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54 saved by the bell54 to bend over backward54 to bite off more than

one can chew55 blessing in disguise55 mixed blessing55 to boot56 bone of contention56 to make no bones about 56 to be / stay in one’s

good books56 in cahoots with57 to call the shots57 all choked up57 cannon fodder57 to put the cart before

the horse58 to case a joint58 no room to swing a cat58 fat chance59 chapter and verse59 chest thumping59 chink in the armour60 welcome to the club60 in good company60 have a crush on61 a far cry from61 to cut to the chase61 sweetheart deal62 left to one’s devices62 talk / speak of the devil

62 dirty little secret63 to hit pay dirt63 to go the distance63 hard done by64 what’s eating sb64 at one’s wits’ end64 at the end of the day65 to reach the end of the

line65 one’s own worst enemy 65 every man for himself65 to face the music66 straight face66 to fall between two

stools66 fly-by-night67 on the fly67 a fool’s errand67 free-for-all68 to get it68 to give sb a piece of

one’s mind68 to get under one’s skin68 God willing69 with good grace69 all Greek to one69 to grin and bear it70 to ham it up70 one’s heart in the right

place70 to hem / hum and haw

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70 to hit it off71 no-holds-barred71 to hope against hope71 to flog a dead horse72 the jig / game is up72 to jump on the band-

wagon72 to jump on someone72 to do justice to sb / sth73 to kick (someone)

around73 to kick (sth) around73 to kick around73 to kick in74 for the life of me74 not on your life74 to look someone in the

eye74 I should be so lucky75 lull before the storm75 to make hay75 to make strides76 matters of the heart76 the real McCoy76 to miss the boat76 to miss the point77 in mixed company77 mixed feelings77 the Nth77 object of one’s affection78 off the beaten track

78 one day at a time78 not a patch on78 pregnant pause79 pearl(s) of wisdom79 penny for your thoughts79 promises, promises79 to rib80 right as rain80 right and left80 to rise to the occasion 80 to root for81 on the ropes81 to rule the roost81 it runs in the family81 to pull someone’s leg82 to pull strings82 if / when push comes to

shove82 would not put it past sb

to do sth82 raring to go83 to read someone like a

book83 smooth / plain sailing83 sleight of hand83 to call a spade a spade84 spoilt for choice84 spoiled rotten84 at one stroke84 from the sublime to the

ridiculous

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85 suspension of disbelief85 on the table85 on the take85 to talk turkey86 to talk past each other86 look who’s talking?86 not for all the tea in

China87 to tempt fate87 to come to terms with87 thorn in the side of

someone88 just one of those things88 to throw the bums out88 Young Turk89 that makes two of us89 take sth at face value89 on the verge of89 to wag one’s finger at90 to walk all over90 on the wane90 of the first water90 to wear one’s heart on

one’s sleeve91 to weigh in91 to weigh on91 well and truly91 whipping boy92 to whistle in the dark92 worth one’s salt92 writing on the wall

格言 Saying

94 damned if you do, damned if you don’t

94 no good deeds go unpunished

94 to err is human, (to forgive is divine)

95 fools rush in (where angels fear to tread)

95 the grass is greener (on the other side of the fence)

96 hope springs eternal96 don’t look a gift horse in

the mouth97 it’s an ill wind (that

blows nobody any good)

97 let bygones be bygones98 a little sth goes a long

way98 to live and learn98 Man proposes, God

disposes99 be thankful for small

mercies99 misery seeks company99 a miss is as good as a mile100 nothing succeeds like

success

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100 he who pays the piper calls the tune

100 penny wise, pound foolish

美式英語 Americanism

102 an ace up one's sleeve102 not about to102 plan B103 baby boomer103 checks and balances103 to bankroll103 to go to bat for104 right off the bat104 birther104 boot camp104 Bronx cheer105 spear carrier105 to carry a torch105 cheap shot105 chick-lit / chick flick106 poster child106 to clean up one's act106 clout107 collision course107 comfort zone107 good cop, bad cop108 in the dog house108 have no dog in that fight 108 to drop the ball

109 Hollywood ending109 exit strategy109 to pull a fast one110 full Monty110 friendly fire110 to go ga ga111 blame game111 goon111 GOP111 till hell freezes over112 hey112 to hit on112 hoopla112 hullubaloo113 last hurrah113 item113 Ivy League113 jam session114 jet set114 just the right ticket114 lark115 A-list115 bucket list115 legit116 silent majority116 media circus116 moxie117 Murphy's Law117 bad news117 beautiful people118 perfect storm

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118 to play the field118 in the pocket of

someone119 tipping point119 press the flesh119 to railroad120 to go off the rails120 to read someone the

Riot Act120 reality check121 R&R121 right off the bat121 shellacking121 shenanigan122 to shoot from the hip122 shoulda, coulda, woulda 122 slam dunk123 to step up the plate123 now you are talking! 123 to tank124 turkey124 ville124 WASP124 third wheel125 witch-hunt125 to work the room /

crowd125 to get up the wrong side

of the bed

外來語 Foreign words

128 bete noire128 blasé128 bonanza129 caveat129 c'est la vie129 chutzpah130 cliché130 détente130 fest131 head honcho131 idée fixe131 du jour131 kaput132 to kibitz132 laissez-faire132 maven132 meister133 non-sequitur133 par excellence133 passé134 piece de resistance134 rapport134 rare avis135 savoire faire135 simpatico135 sine qua non

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其他 Miscellaneous

138 to abort138 above board138 agnostic139 all but139 have all the answers139 anything but139 anything goes140 not any time soon140 armchair140 avowed141 as it were141 on the ball141 bark is worse than one's

bite142 too big for one's boots142 bogus142 to border on142 borderline143 breezy143 to brief someone143 open and shut case143 to rest one's case144 catholic144 -challenged144 chances are145 good time Charley145 chattering class145 cheap

145 class146 too clever by half146 closure146 czar147 day in, day out147 done deal147 defining148 delusions of grandeur148 to demonize148 in denial149 ditto149 doable149 dogged150 done for150 downside150 to downsize151 to dream on151 dust-up151 in earnest152 economical with the

truth152 embarrassment of

riches152 emcee153 escapism153 expletive153 false modesty154 feelgood154 finesse154 to fixate on

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155 flack155 nobody's fool155 control freak156 freewheeling156 friendly156 in the fullness of the

time157 gamesmanship157 to give the lie to157 eyes glaze over158 glitch158 saving grace158 granted159 guesstimate159 gutter press159 halcyon days159 half a mind160 to hang out with160 indecent haste160 ifs and buts160 incest161 incumbent upon161 jinx161 juggernaut 162 junk162 4-letter word163 lost cause163 tough love164 mafia164 man about town

165 to marginalize165 master stroke165 so minded166 mob166 moot point / question166 to multi-task167 neo167 nerd167 non-starter168 not a little168 opposite number168 object lesson168 in order169 other-worldly169 out of the picture169 out of sync170 to be out to lunch170 paper tiger170 paper trail171 what passes for sth171 to come to pass171 pep talk172 -phile172 phobia172 point-blank173 not printable173 to psych (v) sth / sb out174 psychobabble174 rat race175 read

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175 riff raff175 to ring true176 rip-off176 rookie176 rub177 runaway177 run-in177 salt of the earth178 to say the least178 to say nothing of178 serial179 signal179 signature179 simplistic views / ideas180 smooth operator180 so much for180 spoilsport181 spot on181 state of play181 streak182 such as it is182 sweetener182 teething troubles183 terminal183 it's high time to / it's

about time to

184 token184 tone deaf185 to trash185 to trump185 turf war186 unadulterated186 unabashed186 to unburden oneself187 unfazed187 unflappable187 unhinged188 unilateralism188 unimpeachable188 unrequited189 unscathed189 global village189 vintage190 whiter-than-white190 conventional wisdom190 wishy-washy191 little / small wonder191 wrap

192 Sources

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比喻Metaphor

an axe to grind (idm)有私心，另有企圖cause for complaint; to have a hidden agendaHis views are usually convincing and respected because everyone knows he has no axe to grind.他的意見總是有說服力和受人注重的，因為眾所周知，他不存有私心。

to ambush (v, n)伏擊Lit: a military surprise attack, now commonly used in social situationsUnaware of his enemies' resentment against him, the director was ambushed by a majority of board members at a meeting and was forced to resign.主席一直不察覺別人對他的怨恨，最後他受到大多數董事局成員的狙擊，被迫辭職。

to keep someone at arm's length (idm)

與某人保持距離to avoid; to keep a distance fromMy advice to you is that you should keep him at arm's length now that we have known about his reputation.現在大家已知道他的「名聲」，我建議你最好跟他保持距離。

backlash (n)反效果sudden or violent reactionIf we do not stop the unending criticism of the financial secretary, there will be a backlash of sympathy for him. Surely he has tried his best in finding a balance to suit the various sectors of the community.如果我們繼續不斷地批評財政司，反效果就是他會得到同情。無可置疑，他正努力地想辦法令社會各方面取得平衡。

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比喻 Metaphor

half-baked (adj)未經深思慮的想法Lit: not thoroughly bakedFig: usu about ideas / proposals not thoroughly thought throughI cannot sign on this project since the original concept is only half-baked.因為這項工程的構思未經深思熟慮，所以我不同意進行。

to charge one's batteries (idm)充電Fig: to replenish one's energy with rest, exercise and recreationAfter a year's hard work, every winter, he goes to the Maldives for two weeks to recharge his batteries.每年經過整年辛苦的工作，他一定在冬天到馬爾代夫度假充電。

to beaver away (v phr)埋頭苦幹to work very hard, non-stopHe may not have much imagination, but he beavers away every day at his desk doing solid work, and that's more than I can say about the rest of my staff.他的頭腦可能不太靈活，但他每天都埋頭苦幹，對其他員工的表現，我卻無話可說。

A beaver is an amphibian fur-bearing animal living in the American continent, the national symbol of Canada, with a reputation for being industrious,clever, and persistent.

水獺是兩棲動物，棲息於美洲大陸，是加拿大的國家標誌，以勤奮、精明、有毅力著名。

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in bed with / go to bed with (idm)同流合污Fig: to have a less than honourable relationship with someoneIn Hong Kong, when large projects which involve massive funding, the administration is quite ready to go to bed with the rich and powerful real estate developers. 在香港，當推行一些需要巨額資金的大型發展計劃時，政府往往偏跟各大地產商合作。

strange bedfellows (n phr)意料之外的結合（略含貶義）incompatible people one would not expect to find being close together (usu for a less than honourable purpose)Who would have thought that these/two former deadly enemies joined hands to defeat the bill. Politics, being what it is, does produce strange bedfellows sometimes.誰會預料到這兩個昔日死對頭會聯手阻撓這法案。只有政治，才能夠促成這些意料之外的結合。

to beggar (v)難以形容/想像diffcult to describe, usu beggars one's imagination; beliefs, etc, due to sth extremely odd, unusual, etcI am a seasoned traveller, but one experience I will always remember is to watch the sun set in the Greek island Mykonos. The sheer beauty beggars description.我是一個經驗豐富的旅行家，最難忘的景象就是在希臘小島欣賞日落，那美景實在難以形容。

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比喻 Metaphor

to give a wide berth (v phr)避之則吉to stay away from someone / somethingWith his business empire unraveling day by day, his friends are scrambling to give him a wide berth.他的生意王國日漸瓦解，朋友爭先恐後地對他避之則吉。

Those karaoke lounges are usually watering holes for underworld gang members. One should give those places a wide berth.那些K場通常是黑社會人士聚腳的地方。我們對這些場所最好避之則吉。

watering holes (n phr): gathering place 群集之地

to bite one's bullet (idm)硬著頭皮接受不愉快的事物to accept what seems to be a difficult or painful option in order to achieve a goalIf I really want to learn Kung Fu from the master, I guess I'll have to bite the bullet by living in a Shaolin monastery for six months.若然我真的想跟大師學功夫，我唯有硬著頭皮在少林寺定居半年。

Before the invention of anaesthetics, a wounded soldier in battlefield undergoing an operation had to bite a bullet to endure his pain so as not to break his teeth.

麻醉藥出現以前，戰場上的傷兵接受手術時要咬住子彈，強忍痛苦，以防咬碎自己的牙齒。

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