视频加载中...
Hello everyone, and welcome back to English with Lucy. Today I'm going to show you 20 idioms that you can use to sound like a native English speaker.
大家好，欢迎回到跟着Lucy学英语。今天我要跟你们展示20个能让你们听起来像母语者的习语。
This video is really going to help you improve your vocabulary.But if you want to improve your listening and pronunciation skills even further, then I highly recommend the special method of combining reading books with listening to the audiobook version on Audible.
这个视频会帮助你提升你的词汇。但是如果你想要让你的发音和听力更上一层楼，那么我强烈推荐将看书和在 Audible 上听有声书版本结合的特殊方法。
It sounds weird, reading and listening at the same time, but it's such an effective method. Let me explain, take a book that you have already read in English, or a book that you would like to read in English.
它听起来有些奇怪，读和听同时进行，但是这是一个非常有效的方法。我来解释一下，选一本你已经读过了的，或者你想要读的用英语写的书。
I've got lots of recommendations for books and audio books down below in the description box. And as you read that book, listen to the audiobook version at the same time.
我在下面的描述栏里推荐了很多。然后在阅读这本书的同时听有声书的版本。
Reading alone will not help with your pronunciation, or you're listening for that matter. English is not a strictly phonetic language, the way a word is spelt or written in English might not give you any indication as to how that word is pronounced.
只是阅读不会帮助你的发音或是你的发音。英语并不是一个音行严格一致的语言，一个单词的拼法和写法不会告诉你它的读法。
That's why pronunciation in English is so hard for my students. But if you listen to a word as you read it, your brain will start making connections.
这也是为什么我的很多学生觉得英语很难的原因。但是如果你在阅读一个单词的时候还听到了它的发音，那么你的大脑会开始产生联系。
And the next time you see that word, you'll know exactly how it's pronounced, how it's supposed to sound. And the next time you hear that word, you'll know how it's spelt, how it's written.
那么下一次你看到这个词的时候，你就知道它的读法了。并且下一次你听到那个词的时候，你就会知道它的拼法、写法了。
It's such an effective method, and the best part is, you can get one free audio book, that's a 30-day free trial on Audible. All you have to do is click on the link in the description box and sign up.
这是一个非常有有效的方法，并且最棒的是你可以得到一本免费的有声书——那就是 Audible上的 30天免费试用。你只需要点击描述栏中的链接，然后注册。
Give it a try because it really, really works. Right, let's get started with the lesson.
试一下吧，因为真的很有效。好的，我们开始上课吧。
Idiom number one is, a drop in the ocean, a drop in the ocean.I think we have a song called a Drop In The Ocean, I used to really like that when I was at school.
第一个习语，沧海一粟，沧海一粟。我想我们有首歌也叫《沧海一粟》，我上学的时候很喜欢。
A drop in the ocean means a very small, or insignificant part of something big or whole. For example, the government's pledge to increase health funding by 100 million is a drop in the ocean compared to the billions that need to be spent.
沧海一粟的意思是一个很大的东西或者整体一个非常小的，重要的一部分。比如，政府将医疗资金提高1000万的诺言相比于他们需要花费的几十亿只不过是沧海一粟。
Number two is a lovely one, I think they're all lovely actually because I chose that myself for you. Number two is, actions speak louder than words.
第二个很可爱，其实我觉得它们都很可爱，因为我是为你们精心挑选的。第二个是行动胜于雄辩。
Actions speak louder than words, this means that it's better to actually do something rather than just talk about it. For example, stop apologising to me and prove to me that I can trust you, actions speak louder than words.
行动胜于雄辩，这个习语的意思是真正地去做某事比只是谈论它要好。比如，不要再跟我道歉并且证明我能信任你了，行动胜于雄辩。
That's a good one to use in your next fight with someone who has lost your trust. Number three is, to add fuel to the fire.
下次你再跟某个已经失去你的信任的人对峙的时候可以用这个。第三个是火上浇油。
To add fuel to the fire. This simply means to make a problem worse, to exacerbate a problem.
火上浇油。它的意思就是让一个问题变得更糟糕，使问题恶化。
We learned exacerbate in another class, didn't we recently, comment down below if you remember which it was. For example, don't tell her about the delays, you'll just be adding fuel to the fire.
我们在别的课中学习过恶化这个词，好像是最近吧，如果你记得是哪一期请在下面评论。比如，别跟她说延期的事，那样只是在火上浇油。
Number four is, the ball is in your court. The ball is in your court, this means that it's your turn to make the next step or decision.
第四个是球在你那边的球场上。球在你那边的球场上的意思是轮到你进行下一步或做决定了。
For example, I've done all I can do, the ball is in your court now. Number five is, to bend over backwards.
比如，我已经尽力了，该你出场了。第五个是竭尽全力。
To bend over backwards, this means to do whatever it takes to help someone. For example, our company is bending over backwards to satisfy our customers.
竭尽全力的意思是尽一些可能帮助某人。比如，我们的公司正竭尽全力满足我们的客户。
Sometimes it can mean that you've helped too much, you've put in too much effort. Oh, I've been bending over backwards trying to solve his problems and he hasn't given me the time of day.
有时候它指的是你帮太多了，你努力过头了。哦，我一直在竭尽全力解决这个问题，但他一直没有抽时间给我。
To give someone the time of day, is to give someone the proper attention. Number six, to bite off more than you can chew.
抽时间给某人的意思是给某人适当的注意力。第六个，贪多嚼不烂。
To be bite off more than you can chew, this means to take on a task that is too big. For example, I think I've bitten off more than I can chew with this project.
贪多嚼不烂的意思是承担了过于巨大的任务。比如，我觉得我承担了这个项目过多的责任。
This is something I said all the way through my university degree. I was working, I had a YouTube channel, I was doing projects, I'd taken on extra work.
我在攻读大学学位的时候一直在说这话。我当时在工作，有一个油管频道，我还在做作业，我承担了额外的工作。
I bit off more than I could chew, and I suffered the consequences, but it was worth it. I'm okay now, actually homework here.
我有点贪多嚼不烂，而且我也尝到了苦果，不过这一切都是值得的。我现在很好，事实上这里有个家庭作业要布置。
Have you ever bitten off more than you could chew? Let me know about the situation in the comment section down below.
你有过贪多嚼不烂的经历吗？请在下面的评论区告诉我你们当时的处境。
Maybe you were studying and working at the same time, maybe you were trying to maintain a long distance relationship whilst doing an internship, I don't know, let me know. Oh, number seven is a good one.
也许你在半工半读，也许你在努力维持一个长期关系的同时还在实习，告诉我吧。哦，第七个很棒。
This is one my mom uses a lot, it's by the skin of one's teeth, by the skin of your teeth. This means to only just succeed something by a very narrow margin, by the enamel on your teeth, but we say skin, we don't normally say skin of teeth.
这个习语我妈妈经常说，那就是侥幸成功，侥幸成功。这个习语的意思是成功地很惊险，就像牙齿上的釉质那么窄，但是我们说的是皮肤，我们一般不说牙齿皮。
But for this particular saying we do. An example, I think I might have passed that exam by the skin of my teeth, only just.
但是我们只在这里这样说。一个例句，我想我考试可能低空飞过，就差那么一点。
Number eight is derived from a fable, I think, or a childhood story. It's to cry wolf, to cry wolf.
第八个脱胎于一个寓言，我想，或者是儿童故事。那就是狼来了，狼来了。
This means to call for help when you don't need it. And I think the story is, I wonder if you have this in your own country and culture.
这个习语的意思是在你不需要的时候求救。我想故事是这样的，我想知道你们的国家或文化中是否有这个故事。
A boy kept pretending that there was a wolf, so that people would come. And in the end, when a wolf did actually come, he called for help and no one came 'cause they always thought that he was crying for help when he didn't actually need it.
一个男孩假装有狼来了，然后人们就来了。然后最后当狼真的来了的时候，他求救的时候就没人来了，因为他们觉得他求救的时候并不真正需要帮助。
An example, My new flatmate is always crying wolf. Number nine is, to cut somebody some slack.
一个例句，我的新室友总是喊狼来了。第九个是放某人一马。
To cut somebody some slack, this means to give someone a break, to stop judging them so hard. For example, you need to cut the intern some slack, they are still learning.
放某人一马，这个习语的意思是给某人以喘息，不再如此严厉地评判某人。比如，你需要放实习生一马，他们还在学习。
Number 10 is, to cut to the chase. To cut to the chase this means to leave out all of the unnecessary details and just get to the point.
第十个，抓住要害。抓住要害的意思是删去所有不必要的细节并直击要点。
An example, to cut to the chase, I'm not comfortable working alongside John anymore. Number 11, to get one's head around something.
一个例句，废话少说，我不想再跟约翰一起工作了。第十一个，弄明白某事。
To get your head around something. This means to come to understand something, to work to understand something.
弄明白某事。这个习语的意思是开始理解某事，努力理解某事。
For example, I'm going to spend a night trying to get my head around this new legislation. Number 12 is, to hear on the grapevine.
比如，我准备花一晚上的时间弄明白这个新法规。第十二个是听小道消息。
To hear on the grapevine, this means to hear a rumour or an unconfirmed story. For example, I heard on the grapevine that our receptionist will be leaving us soon.
听小道消息，这个习语的意思是听一个谣言或未经证实的故事。比如，我听小道消息说我们的接待员很快就要离开我们了。
Number 13, a personal favourite, it takes two to tango. It takes two to tango.
第十三个，我个人的最爱，探戈需要两个人跳。探戈需要两个人跳。
You've got to be comfortable with the T sound to say that, it takes two to tango. This means that actions or communications need more than one person.
你得适应t的读音，探戈需要两个人跳。这个习语指的是需要超过一个人的行动或交流。
For example, don't just blame him for the affair, it takes two to tango, two parties were involved in that bad behaviour. Number 14 is, to miss the boat, to miss the boat.
比如，别因为这事怪他，一个巴掌拍不响，双方都牵涉到了那件坏事中。第十四个是错过船，错过船。
This means to miss the opportunity to do something. For example, I think you've missed the boat on that application, they've already started interviewing candidates.
这个习语的意思是错过做某事的机会。比如，我认为你错过了那个申请是错过了一个大机会，他们已经开始面试候选人了。
Number 15 is a lovely one. It is a piece of cake, a piece of cake.
第十五个很有爱。那就是小菜一碟，小菜一碟。
This means really easy. That pop quiz was a piece of cake.
这个意思很简单。那个突击测验是小菜一碟。
Number 16 is, pull yourself together. Pull yourself together.
第十六个是把自己拉在一起。把自己拉在一起。
This means calm down and act normally, it's normally said when somebody is stressing out. For example, I think you need to pull yourself together and stop stressing about the presentation.
这个习语的意思是冷静下来，正常行事，它经常在某人很经常的时候说。比如，我认为你需要重新振作，别再为那个展示而紧张了。
Number 17 is, to sit or to be on the fence. To sit on the fence, to be on the fence.
第十七个是作壁上观。作壁上观。
This means to stay neutral and to not take sides. For example, I'm sitting on the fence on this one, I don't want to offend anyone.
这个习语的意思是保持中立，不站队。比如，我对这个事情作壁上观，我不想冒犯任何人。
Number 18 is, to step up one's game, to step up your game. This means to start performing better.
第十八个是有更好的表现。这个习语的意思是开始表现得更好。
For example, if you really want to get this promotion, you'll need to step up your game. Number 19 is, to sell someone out.
比如，如果真的想得到这次晋升，那么你得表现得更好。第十九个是出卖某人。
To sell someone out, this means to snitch on someone, or to let their secret out. For example, I asked you to keep that information to yourself, I can't believe you've sold me out like that.
出卖某人的意思是告发某人，或者把他们的秘密泄露出去。比如，我要你把这个信息保密，我不敢相信你就那样出卖了我。
And number 20 is, your guess is as good as mine. Your guess is as good as mine.
第二十个是我也跟你一样不知道。我也跟你一样不知道。
This means I don't know, or I have no idea. For example, we just don't have enough data, your guess is as good as mine.
这个习语的意思是我不知道。比如，我们没有足够的信息，我跟你一样不知道。
Right, those were our 20 idioms that you can use to sound like a native speaker. I've got some more homework for you, this is the official homework.
好的， 以上就是20个让你们听起来像母语者的习语。我要给你们布置更多的作业，这是官方作业。
The other homework was just spare of the moment homework. Spare of the moment means on impulse, or without advanced planning.
另一项家庭作业，是突然想出来的家庭作业。突然想出来的意思是一时兴起的，或者是没有事先计划的。
The real homework is to write in the comment section, five sentences using five of your favourite idioms that we have talked about today. If you'd like to add some sentences with additional idioms that you've heard native speakers say, then feel free to do so and we can all learn from each other.
真正的家庭作业是在评论区用我们今天讲到的习语中你最喜欢的五个写五个句子。如果你想用其他你听母语者说过的习语造额外句子，请随意写，这样我们就可以互相学习了。
Don't forget to check out Audible, the link to claim your free audio book is in the description box. And don't forget to connect with me on all of my social media.
别忘记查看Audible，获取免费有声书的链接就在描述栏里。还有别忘记在我所有的社交媒体上联系我。
I've got my Facebook, my Instagram, and my Twitter and I shall see you soon for another lesson.
我有脸书、INS，推特，我们下节课再见。