英语短语总结
小品词构成的动词短语(1)
小品词构成的动词短语(2)
介词in, on和at表示时间,地点和状态的常用短语
人体部位和英语习语
一些短语的由来
成对的英语短语
小品词构成的动词短语(1)
在英语中，有动词和小品词（up, down, in, out, on, off, over, away）构成的动词短语很多，有时很难猜出它们的意义，笔者收集了常见的动词短语, 通过分析小品词的意义，对这一类的短语进行分类，找出它们的规律，以便更好地掌握它们, 注意有些短语意义很接近, 这要结合例句和上下文掌握它们的用法。
1. up
1) 向上（toward or into a higher position）
lift ~ 举起 climb ~ 爬上 come ~ 上升 get ~ 起来 stand ~ 站起来 pick ~ 检起 draw ~ 升起
grow ~ 长大 hand ~ 拖起 put ~ 举起 send ~ 使上升 rise ~ 升起 look ~ 抬起头 zip ~ 拉上
hold ~ 举起 pile ~ 堆起 dig ~ 挖出 take ~ 拿起 build ~ 树立 set ~ 建立
2) 完成，结束(expressing completeness and finality)
finish ~ 完成 drink ~ 喝干 eat ~ 吃光 burn ~ 烧光 wash ~ 洗净 use ~ 用光 fill ~ 装满
pay ~ 付清 settle ~ 解决 lick ~ 甜净 sum ~ 总结， open ~ 透露 end ~
结束 let ~ 中止, 减少
draw ~ 停止 close ~ 停止，关闭 swallow ~ 吞没 beat ~ 痛打 cover ~ 掩盖 break ~ 结束，分解
wind ~ 结束
3) 离开，消灭(expressing separation and destroy)
break ~ 拆开，驱散cut ~ 切碎 split ~ 分裂 divide ~ 分割 smash ~ 捣毁 blow ~ 炸毁 wither ~ 枯死
tear ~ 撕碎 give ~ 放弃 fold ~ 垮台 dry ~ 枯竭，干涸crack ~ 撞坏 clutter ~ 使散乱 litter ~ 乱丢杂物
4) 增加，变强(to a state of greater activity, force, strength, power and degree.
(1). mount ~ 增加pick ~ 振作，加快pluck ~ 振作 turn ~ 开打，开大, 出现 shake ~ 震惊 steam ~ 使发怒
stir ~ 激起，搅起ease ~ 放松 warm ~ 兴奋 speak ~ 大声说 heat ~ 变热 total ~ 加总 tense ~ 紧张
gather ~ 收集 speed ~ 加速 screw ~ 振作 build ~ 增大 show ~ 显现 cheer ~ 振作起来stir ~ 刺激
work ~ 激动，刺激
(2). 用在带"-en"后缀的动词后（used after the verbs with suffix of -en）
brighten ~ 发亮 fatten ~ 发胖 freshen ~使新鲜 harden ~变硬 sharpen ~ 变快 smarten ~ 变精明
strengthen ~ 加强sweeten ~ 变甜 tighten ~ 使紧密 toughen ~ 使强壮soften ~ 变软
5). 变好，改善( as to be better and proper)bring ~ 抚育 check ~ 核
对 clear ~ 清理，晴天clean ~ 整理
do ~ 整理 patch ~ 修理 polish ~ 擦亮, 改进light ~ 点亮 tune ~ 调整 tidy ~ 整理 rub ~ 擦亮
train ~ 训练，培养 make ~ 化装, 和解, 弥补buy ~ 囤积 figure ~ 计算 fix ~ 修理,整理 take ~ 从事
6) 关住，锁紧，固定住(firmly, tightly and closely)
shut ~ 关闭 lock ~ 锁住 tie ~ 栓住 chain ~ 锁住 nail ~ 钉住 fasten ~ 系住 pin ~ 钉住 bind ~ 装订
bar ~ 关住 block ~ 堵塞 choke ~ 堵塞 save ~ 存起来 store ~ 贮藏 stock ~ 储存 cover ~ 掩盖 wrap ~ 包住
lay ~ 储存 hold ~ 延误 keep ~ 坚持
7) 向说话人的方向（to the place where the speaker is） go ~ run ~ rush ~ drive ~ walk ~ catch ~ swim ~ march ~ come ~
2. down
1) 向下的位置（to or into a lower position）
cast ~ 扔下 cut ~砍倒 get ~ 下来 hand ~ 传下来 knock ~ 撞倒 lay ~ 放下 let ~ 放下 pour ~ 倾盆而下
pull ~ 拉下 set ~ 放下 sit ~ 坐下 step ~ 走下来 throw ~ 扔下 turn ~ 拆下 take ~ 取下 blow ~ 吹倒
bring ~ 打倒 hang ~ 垂下 sink ~ 沉落 slip ~ 失足 squat ~ 蹲下 swallow ~ 吞下 stoop ~ 伏身
splash ~ 飞溅而下 touch ~ 降落 bend ~ 弯下 bow ~ 鞠躬 kneel ~ 跪下 lie ~ 躺下 strip ~ 脱下
2) 减少（强度，量和体积）(a decrease in intensity, amount, bulk)
dwindle ~ 减少 die ~ 变弱，逐渐停止go ~ 平静下来 mark ~ 削减 hold ~ 压低 burn ~ (火)减弱, 烧坏
slow ~ 慢下来 burn ~ 烧掉 wash ~ 冲淡 clean ~ 弄干净 rub ~ 擦干净 bring ~ 降低 keep ~ 缩减
trim ~ 裁减 water ~ 冲淡 thin ~ 减少 run ~ 用光衰弱 wear ~ 削减，磨损come ~ 下跌 knock ~ 降价
3) 停止，减弱(to a state of less activity, force, strength and power)
close ~ 关闭 drop ~ 突然停止 break ~ 坏了，中止run ~ 停止 settle ~ 平静下来 cool ~ 冷静下来
turn ~ 拒绝 die ~ 停止 lay ~ 失望 put ~ 镇压 4) 紧紧地，牢牢地(firmly, tightly) fasten ~ 系牢
chain ~ 链住，栓住clamp ~ 夹住 nail ~ 钉住 pin ~ 扣牢 hammer ~ 钉上 tie ~ 栓住 bind ~ 捆绑
draw ~ 停下来 5) 写下，记下(on paper or in writing) write ~ 写下 copy ~ 抄下 note ~ 记下
take ~ 记下 put ~ 记下 get ~ 记下 have ~ 写下
3 on 1) 继续(continuously)
carry ~ drive ~ fight ~ hold ~ keep ~ live ~ sleep ~ sing ~ walk ~ go ~ hurry ~ move ~
read ~ follow ~ struggle ~ insist ~ 坚持
2) 连上，固定住，(in or into a state of being connected)
act ~ 对…起作用catch ~ 抓牢 come ~ 跟随 count ~ 依赖 draw ~ 带上，穿上fasten ~ 纠缠，抓牢
fit ~ 固定 get ~ 接近 paste ~ 粘住 turn ~ 打开 switch ~ 打开 pin ~ 钉住 put ~ 穿上 try ~ 试穿
pull ~ 穿上 hang ~ 不挂断 build ~ 建立于 leave ~ 留住 take ~ 穿下 rely ~ 依靠 depend ~ 依靠
3) 向前，向上(forward, onward)
add ~ 加上 mark ~ 标上 paint ~ 漆上 press ~ 向前 pass ~ 传递 send ~ 转送 stamp ~ 盖章于
get ~ 上车 hand ~ 传送
4) 开始某活动(in or into an active operation)
work ~ 从事 fall ~ 攻击 hit ~ 突然向起 bring ~ 引起 get ~ 取得进展 look ~ 旁观, 观看call ~ 拜访
figure ~ 打算,希望 fix ~ 决心 get ~ 进步, 友好相处pick ~ 批评 plan ~ 打算 decide ~ 决定
reflect ~ 思考, 反思remark ~ 评论，议论settle ~ 决定 spur ~ 鼓励 urge ~ 督促
4. off
1) 离开(indicating departure)blow ~ 吹掉 drive ~ 击退 get ~ 下车，动身lift ~ 离开地面 make ~ 逃走
move ~ 离去 pack ~ 打发走 see ~ 送行 ship ~ 运往 start ~ 动身 send ~ 送行，解雇call ~ 叫走
let ~ 放出 take ~ 起飞 touch ~ 发射 give ~ 发出 clear ~ 走开 carry
~ 夺走
2) 去掉，断开(indicating removal or disconnection)
cut ~ 切断 tear ~ 扯掉 take ~ 拿走 chip ~ 切下 come ~ 脱落 cross ~ 除去 drop ~ 跌落 fall ~ 脱落
flick ~ 弹掉 peel ~ 剥掉 pull ~ 撕开 rub ~ 擦掉 scrape ~ 挂去 shave ~ 剃去 wash ~ 洗掉
shake ~ 抖落 throw ~ 扔开 rip ~ 扯开 turn ~ 关掉 strip ~ 脱去 switch ~ 关掉 take ~ 脱掉
shut ~ 关掉 wear ~ 磨损 go ~ 爆炸 break ~ 中断
3) 完成，停止(indicating completion)
finish ~ 结束 pay ~ 付清 break ~ 停止，中断send ~ 结束 leave ~ 停止 pass ~ 终止，停止
sign ~ 停止播音 wear ~ 消失， write ~ 注销，购销bring ~ 完成 call ~ 取消 lay ~ 停止, 解雇
4) 着地(down to the ground)
fall ~ 落下 jump ~ 跳下 knock ~ 击倒 slip ~ 滑倒
5. in
1) 进入，向里(into, inside, indoors)
barge ~ 闯入 beat ~ 打进 break ~ 闯入,插嘴breathe ~ 吸入 burst ~ 闯入，打断drop ~ 偶然拜访
fall ~ 跌入 get ~ 插入，收进 knock ~ 打入 lead ~ 导入 let ~ 进入，嵌入 move ~ 迁入 step ~ 走进
settle ~ 迁入 smuggle ~ 偷偷运进cut ~ 插嘴 call ~ 来访 draw ~ （火车）进站intervene ~ 介入
involve ~ 卷入
2) 包围，关闭(to be surrounded, or enclosed)
close ~ 包围，封闭lock ~ 禁闭 shut ~ 关进 wall ~ 围住
3) 加入，记入(to be added, or included)
book ~ 登记 check ~ 签到 count ~ 记入 fill ~ 填入 hand ~ 交上 take ~ 吸收 send ~ 呈交
6. out
1) 向外（away from the inside, outside）
keep ~ 使在外 take ~ 拿出 put ~ 放出，伸出come ~ 长出， bring ~拿出 bar ~关在外 breathe ~ 呼吸出
eat ~ 出去吃 get ~ 弄出 go ~ 出去 lay ~ 摆开，展示lock ~ 关在外面 look ~ 向外看 move ~ 搬出
point ~指出 pour ~ 诉说 pull ~ 拉出 ship ~ 运出 stick ~伸出 spit ~ 吐出 beat ~ 敲出 knock ~ 敲出
dine ~ 外出吃饭 drive ~ 驾车外出 leak ~ 漏出 draw ~ 拉出 see ~ 送出门去 draw ~ 出站 let ~ 放出, 释放
2) 结束，消失，取消(to or at an end, not to be there or not to exist)
burn ~ 烧尽，烧断clear ~ 清除 dust ~ 清除 fade ~ 消失 put ~ 扑灭 run ~ 用完 use ~ 耗尽
give ~ 耗尽 comb ~ 淘汰 kick ~ 逐出 wipe ~ 消灭 die ~ 灭绝 rub ~ 擦掉 blot ~ 除去
blow ~ 吹熄 bleach ~ 漂白 carry ~ 完成，执行leave ~ 省去 see ~ 完成 go ~ 熄灭
come ~ 罢工，结果cut ~ 删去，停止hold ~ 坚持到底 sell ~ 买完 tire ~ 筋疲力尽 wear ~ 磨损
3) 大声（in a loud voice, aloud）
sing ~ cry ~ shout ~ call ~ ，喊，申斥 spell ~ speak ~ scream ~ read ~ yell ~ sob ~ burst ~ 咆哮
4) 分发，传开(to a number of people or in all directions)
give ~ 分发 spread ~ 传开 set ~ 出发 hand ~ 分发 share ~ 分配 divide ~ 分配 call ~ 出动
start ~ 出发 send ~ 发送 break ~ 爆发，逃脱serve ~ 分发口粮 drop ~ 离开,退出
5) 搞清，弄明白(in or into notice and clearness)
find ~ 找出 figure ~ 算出，解决make ~ 弄清 count ~ 点清 come ~ 出版，出现catch ~ 看出 carry ~ 完成，
bear ~ 证明 bring ~ 发表，说出fill ~ 使完全, 添满write ~ 写出
7. over
1) 向下(downwards from an upright position)
knock ~ 撞倒 turn ~ 翻转 fall ~ 脸朝下跌倒trip ~ 拌倒 bend ~ 伏身 look ~ 从…上面看
2) 自始至终，通过, 重复(from beginning to end, through, again and again)
look ~ 调查 think ~ 考虑 see ~ 查看 run ~ 匆匆看 talk ~ 商量 call ~ 点名 read ~ 读一遍
go ~ 复习 do ~ 重复 glance ~ 浏览 skip ~ 略过 ponder ~ 思考
3) 向上，向外，(indicating motion upwards or outwards) run ~ 溢出 spill ~ 溢出 boil ~ 因沸溢出 throw ~ 呕吐
小品词构成的动词短语(2)
4) 经过(from one side to the other, across a space or distance) jump ~ climb ~ come ~ go ~ swim ~ pass ~ walk ~ move ~ fly ~ run ~
5) 结束，完成(finished, at an end)
get ~ 结束，熬过 stand ~ 延期 stop ~ 逗留 hang ~ 延期 throw ~ 抛弃 go ~ 看完 leave ~ 剩下
6) 转变，改变(indicating transference and change)
hand ~ 移交 take ~ 接管 buy ~ 收买 come ~ 过来 get ~ 战胜，克服 gain ~ 争取过来 win ~ 争取过来
switch ~ 转交 turn ~ 变动，交付 make ~ 移交
7)由于 (because of)
cry ~ 因…哭 laugh ~ 笑… fuss ~ 因…着急
8. away
1) 离开(to a distance, to another place)
go ~ 走开 run ~ 跑开 walk ~ 走开 ride ~ 开走 move ~ 移开 take ~ 拿走 carry ~ 运走 clear ~ 收走
draw ~ 拉走 get ~ 逃走，离开 put ~ 收起来 break ~ 逃脱 come ~ 离开 keep ~ 不准接近
2) 减少，减弱(indicating loss, lessening, weakening)
burn ~ 烧尽 brush ~ 刷掉 die ~ 消失 drain ~ 流走 melt ~ 融化 pass ~ 消失 rub ~ 擦掉 wash ~ 冲走
wipe ~ 擦掉 boil ~ 汽化
3) ( indicating separation, apart)
cut ~ 切掉 give ~ 赠送 put ~ 抛弃，收起
介词in, on 和at表示时间，地点和状态的常用短语
在英语中介词的使用频率比较高，而介词in, on和at 又是介词中使用频率比较高的词，笔者收集了介词in, on 和at表示
时间，地点和状态的常见的短语, 请注意一些短语用不同的介词，意义不同，有些区别不大。
意义
介词
常用短语
时间time
in
in 1999, in 20 century, in a flash(瞬时), in a lucky hour(在幸运时刻), in a minute, in a second, in a short time, in a while, in a wink(一瞬间) in advance(预先), in an emergency(在紧急地时候), in an evil hour(在不幸地时刻), in an instant, in ancient times, in broad day(在大白天), in course of, (在…期间), in December, in due course(及时地), in future, in good season(及时地), in no time(马上), in one's childhood, in one's spare time, in one's teens, in one's youth, in recent years, in season(适时), in seconds(在很短的时间), in some cases(有时候), in spring, in the afternoon, in the beginning, in the daytime, in the end, in the evening, in the future, in the long run(最后), in the meantime, in the morning, in the nick of time(在紧急关头), in the night, in the past, in the thick of (在最激烈的时刻), in the thick of(在最激烈的时刻), in this period, in those days, in time of war, in time，
on
on a certain day, on a sudden(突然), on a winter morning, on Christmas Day, on night shift, on one's birthday, on schedule(按时), on Sunday, on that date, on the eve of, on the following day, on the instant(马
上), on the moment(立刻), on the Monday morning, on the New Year's Eve, on the next morning, on the point of(正在…时候), on the spur of the moment(立刻) on this day, on this occasion, on time,
at
at a time(在某时), at a wedding(婚礼), at all times(一直), at any moment, at any time, at Christmas, at dark (天黑时), at dawn(在黎明), at daybreak, at dinner-time, at dusk(在黄昏), at Easter, at first sight,(一见到), at first, at last, at midnight, at night, at nightfall, at noon, at present, at six clock, at sunrise, at sunset, at that moment, at that time, at the age of, at the beginning of , at the correct time, at the end of, at the last minute, at the moment, at the present stage at the same time, at the stage(眼下) at the start, at the time being, at the time of, at the very start, at this point(此时), at this season, at this time of day, at times(有时）
地点place
in
in a car, in a queue, in advance of (在…前面), in all the direction, in appearance, in corners(在角落里) in doors, in front (of), in good light(在光线好的地方), in heaven, in place(position)(在适当地位置), in places(处处), in port(在港内), in public places, in shore(靠岸), in society, in the air(在空中) in the bank, in the book(书的内容里), in the centre(在中央), in the countryside, in the distance(在远处那边), in the east of(在…东部) in the east, in the fields, in the film, in the front rank(在前列), in the front row, in the lab, in the letter(信的内容), in the middle of, in the moonlight, in the
newspaper(报纸的内容里), in the open air(在户外), in the open(在野
外), in the picture, in the rain, in the room, in the shade of, in the sky, in the suburbs of, in the sunshine, in the tree, in the universe, in the vicinity of(在附近), in the warm(在暖和的地方) in the world, in(on) the bus, in(on) the street,
on
on board (在船上) on camera(出现在电视上), on campus, on deck(在甲板上), on earth, on high(在高处), on land, on the bank, on the beach, on the borders, on the ceiling, on the coast, on the committee, on the corner(在拐角处), on the east of(在…的东面) on the farm, on the first floor, on the football field, on the (play)ground, on the horizon, on the island, on the left/right,. on the market, on the page 12, on the railway line, on the river, on the road, on the roof, on the sea, on the shore, on the side of, on the team, on the track(在轨道上), on the water(在水面上), on top of, on(in) the wall,
at
at a bookshop, at a distance(在远处), at that place, at the airport, at the back of, at the base of, at the bottom of, at the centre (of)(在中心), at the corner, at the crossroads, at the desk(在书桌旁), at the door, at the edge of, at the end of, at the foot of, at the front, at the gate, at the head of, at the meeting, at the mine(在矿山), at the party, at the place, at the pub, at the rear of, at the seaside, at the station, at the stop, at the top of, at the window, at(in) the cinema, at(in) the library, at(in) the office, at(in) the village, at(on) the weekend
状态state
in
in progress(在进行中), in a dilemma(处于进退两难的境地), in a hurry, in a tight corner(处于困难中), in action(在行动中), in an emergency, (处于紧急情况中), in anxiety, in astonishment, in bad mood(心情不好), in bad temper(心情不好，生气), in bed, in blossom(bloom) (在开花 ), in bonds(在拘留中), in chains(在囚禁中), in charge(看管), in church, in class, in collision(在冲突中), in commission (在服役), in condition(健康情况良好), in confusion (在混乱中), in control (of), in court(出庭), in custody(拘留), in danger, in debt(负债), in deep water(s)(处于困境), in demand(有需求) in despair, in difficult, in dispute(在争论), in doubt, in employment, in exile(在流放), in fear and trembling(提心吊胆), in flight(飞行), in flood, in full
blossom(开着花), in good condition, in good health, in high spirits, in horror, in hospital, in isolation. in love, in motion, in need (of) in operation(在运转), in order(状态良好), in panic, in peace(平安)(at peace和平), in peril(处于危险), in place, in power, in practice(在实践中), in preparation, in process(在进行中), in production, in progress(前进，进行中), in pursuit(在追赶中), in question(正被讨论), in rehearsal(在彩排), in retirement(退休), in retreat(在撤退) in sail(张着帆) in secret, in service, in session(在会议中), in short supply, in silence, in sorrow, in stock(有库存) in store(储藏着) in succession, in surprise, in suspension(悬浮中) in tears(流着泪) in the field(在作战), in the press(在印刷), in the red(负债), in the same boat(处境相同), in the works(在计划中), in thought, in trade, in triumph, in trouble, in use, in view(被考虑), in wonder, in work(有工作), in work, in(at) college, in(at) school, in(at) university,
on
on a diet(在节食), on a picnic, on a trip, on a vacation trip, on a visit, on a voyage, on a walk, on approval, on bended knees(跪着) on
business, on call (待命) on credit(赊帐), on display, on drill(在训练), on duty, on exhibition, on fire, on foot, on good terms(友好), on guard, on hire(出租) on holiday, on leave, on loan(出借), on offer(出售中), on one's day(在最兴旺的日子), on one's guard(警惕) on one's honeymoon, on one's knees, on one's mind(惦念), on one's own time(在非工作时间), on one's round(出诊) on order(已订购), on
parade(在游行), on patrol(巡逻) on sale(待售) on sale, on show, on stream(在生产中) on the air(在广播), on the alert(提防), on the ebb(在退潮), on the feed(在进食), on the fly(在飞行中), on the increase/decrease(在增长/下降中), on the job(工作着) on the
listen(在注意听), on the lurk(暗中行动), on the march(行军中), on the move(在活动中) on the phone(在打电话) on the quiet(秘密地) on the rise(在上涨), on the run(跑这), on the spot(在危险中，当场), on the strike, on the turn(在转变中) on the watch(守侯着), on the way(在途中), on the way, on tour, on trial, on vacation, on view(展览着), on watch(值班),
at
at a disadvantage(处不利地位), at a lecture, at a run(跑着), at breakfast, at call(随叫随到), at church, at dinner, at ease(悠闲自得), at feed, at gaze, at grass， at graze,(在吃草) at hand(在手边), at high/low(处于高潮/低潮中), at issue(在争论中), at large(未被捕), at leisure (空闲着), at meals, at peace, at play, at rest, at school, at stake(处在危险中), at study, at table(在吃饭), at the bar(受到公开审问), at the meeting, at the piano, at the wheel(在驾车), at war, at work，
本文发表在《英语考试向导》杂志上。
人体部位和英语习语
摘选、注释
1. Head
The head is thought to be the most important part of the human body. So a leader is often compared to a head (首脑). Thus we have Head of State or the head of a delegation.
The head is where the brain is located. It is naturally associated with ideas and intelligence. Very often, we need
other people's ideas and opinions when we want to do something well. The is because two heads are better
than one (三个臭皮匠顶个诸葛亮).
2. Eye
The eyes are extremely precious to us. That is why we say" Mind your eye (当心)! when we reminding someone to be careful.
Not only human beings and animals have eyes, many things also have" eyes"- the eyes of a ship, the eye of a needle, the eye of a typhoon, and so on.
3. Ear
The ear is the organ of hearing. A piece of light music is easy on the ear. (悦耳动听). We are usually all ears (专心聆听) for bit news. When they think somebody is overhearing, English people use either of the two proverbs: Walls have ears (隔墙有耳) and Pitchers have ears (壶罐有耳). They also think that little pitchers have big ears（小孩子耳朵尖）. Nice boys and girls respect other
people. They will not secretly listen to others' private
conversations.
4. Nose
The English phrase "face to face (面对面)" and its Chinese counterpart（对应） are exactly the same. But English people, to express
the same idea, can say nose to nose instead. There is no such substitute in Chinese.
The word nose appears in many idioms. Here are two which are quite similar to their Chinese equivalents: lead somebody by the nose (牵着某人的鼻子走) and turn up one's nose at somebody or something (对某人或某物嗤之一鼻）.
English people can say as plain as the nose in one's face (一清二楚) to mean "very obvious". May be to them, the nose is
the most conspicuous part of the face.
5. Lip
We have two lips: the upper lip and the lower lip. If one's two lips are closed, one cannot speak. So it goes without saying that "don't open your lips (不要开口)" means " don't speak".
His lips are sealed. Are his lips really stuck together by wax or glue? No, his lips are sealed when asked about something
that he must keep secret. Sometimes a top secret is betrayed because it has escaped someone's lips (脱口而出). Then the
incident may become a piece of news that is on everybody's lips (众口相传).
6. Tongue
We all know we cannot speak without the tongue. So the tongue is closely related to speech. To hold one's tongue (保持沉默)
means "to keep silent". A person who has too much tongue (太多嘴) is disliked by all, for he is too talkative. Mother tongue is not the tongue of a
mother: it is a person's native language.
"Don't you have a moth below your nose (你鼻子底下不是有张嘴吗)?" The Chinese say so to blame a person who did not say
what he should have said. But this not the right way to express the idea in English. English people would say, "You have a tongue in your head, haven't you?"
7. Face
Face has to do with the idea of respect and dignity both in Chinese and English. You lose your face (丢面子) if you fail again and
again, but a decisive victory will save your face (挽回面子) after all your failures.
When you feel unhappy, you pull a long face (拉长脸). The idea is conveyed in Chinese in the same way. But "about face (向后转)" does
not refer to the face. It is a military order to turn round and face
in the opposite direction. It is the exact equivalent of " about turn".
8. Shoulder
The shoulders can bear heavy things. Your father has a great responsibility for the family on his shoulder. When faced with
difficulty, the family should stand shoulder to shoulder (肩并肩) to overcome it. You should not turn a cold shoulder (不理睬) to your
family members. Nor should you give your friends the cold shoulder (冷落朋友). Both expressions mean treating others coldly.
9. Back
A good host is hospitable to his guests. But, if guest is tiresome, the host is glad to see his back (他离开).
If your friend has done something really well, you may give him a pat on the back (轻轻拍背部) to show your appreciation.
If you turn your back on somebody (不理睬他人), you mean you do not like making friends with that person.
10. Heart
The heart is an extremely important organ inside the chest. It usually stands for something important or the centre of
something, for example, the heart of the matter (问题的核心) or the heart of mystery.
Many other expressions make use of the word heart. A lover can be called a sweet heart (情人). The Purple Heart
(紫心徽章) is a medal given as an honor to American soldiers wounded in battle.
If your friend is in trouble, you may encourage him by saying "Don't lose heart (不要灰心)."
11. Stomach
The stomach is naturally related to one's appetite. If you dislike heavy food, you have no stomach for it (反胃). The word is also related to one's interests or likings. If you find something boring or vulgar, you have no stomach for it, either. Bad food turns your stomach. Similarly, your stomach turns at a bad joke.
Stomach can also be a verb. Look at this example: "How could you stomach (忍受) such rude words?" Apparently,
stomach here can be replaced by "tolerate".
12. Arm
Every person has two arms: the right arm and the left arm. The right arm is usually stronger, so we call a good
helper the right arm (得力助手).
We all know an arm is not very long. But when you keep someone at arm's length (保持距离), the distance is long
enough. For that means you don not like that person and you try your best to avoid him or her. We should indeed
keep the bad friends at arm's length.
13. Hand
Quite a number of phrases formed form the word hand are very similar to their Chinese counterparts. Here are
some obvious examples: a fresh hand (新手), short of hands (人手短缺), hand in hand (手拉手) and wash one's hands
of something (洗手不干了). But do not always take this for granted. Study these examples and you will understand.
He lives from hand to mouth (He has just enough money to live on). We gave them a big hand (We gave them lots of applause).
14. Finger
How many fingers does each of your hands have? Now let's name them in English from the smallest: the little finger, the ring finger
, the middle finger, the index finger and thumb.
Each finger has its own part to play. If your fingers are all thumbs (笨拙), that is too bad. That means you are very clumsy.
15. Thumb
Chinese people turn up their thumbs to express appreciation. English people do so to express not only appreciation
but also approval. Chinese people never turn their thumbs down to mean anything. But English people do. They do
so to show depreciation disapproval. Thus in English you can say, "We turn thumbs up (赞成) to Jack's suggestion but they turn thumbs down (不赞成) to it."
Similarly, you can warmly praise someone by saying "Thumbs up (真棒)!" and show your dissatisfaction by saying "Thumbs down (差劲)!"
16. Skin
Most people will only think of the hair on our head when the word hair is mentioned. In fact, some animals and plants also have hair.
A horrible scene may make a person's hair stand on end (毛骨悚然). But a courageous person will not turn a hair (不畏惧) even though he is in face of danger.
Sometimes, a friend of yours may be so angry that he may act foolishly. Then you had better give him this advice:
"Keep your hair on (别发脾气)".
Selected from the book The Human Body by Huang Juanhua 一些短语的由来
摘选 注释
1. What does the Rx on doctor's prescriptions mean? Two things about prescriptions(处方) haven't changed since your great-grandparent's day: the handwriting is almost
impossible to read and there's always that mysterious "Rx" at the top. We don't know why doctors are unable to
master penmanship (书法)after all those years of education. But we do know something about that cryptic( 神秘的)Rx.
There are two schools of thought. One has it that Rx is short for the Latin word for recipe, since druggists used to make medicines from raw ingredients(成分). The other answer is that Rx was
a corruption(讹误) either of the astrological( 占星的) sign for Jupiter of the sign for the ancient Egyptian god Horus, calling on those gods for healing. Now if there was only an
ancient god for penmanship.
2. Why is the abbreviation for pound "lb.?"
If everything in the world were logical, this abbreviation would probably be "po." or "pd." But then "post office" and "paid" would have to find new abbreviations. Actually, the
abbreviation "lb." for pound isn't illogical, it just isn't English.
In ancient Rome, things were measured or weighed against standardized units. To weigh something, you put it in a
pan on a balancing scale(天平) and placed objects called "pondos" (from which we get the word "pounds") in the other
pan until everything balanced. The abbreviation "lb." comes not from the pondos used to calculate the weight, but from the scale itself. The scale's Latin name is "libra", easily abbreviated "lb".
3. Why is kidding someone "pulling their leg?"
The expression originated a hundred years ago in Scotland, where it had the harsher(生硬的 )meaning of making a
complete fool of someone. The connection to pulling a person's leg is that it would throw them off balance and trip
them up, making them look bumbling(装模作样的), awkward, and foolish. Over time the meaning softened, becoming
more good-natured. But don't do it too much to anyone or, as another saying goes, you could leave them without a
leg to stand on.
4. Where do we get the expression, "go to town?"
In the nineteenth century, most people lived in the country. They went to town to have fun, get some culture, maybe
take care of business, go to church, socialize, or go shopping. It's what many of them did right after their once-a-week bath. So the expression "go to town" came to mean something special, done in a big way, with lots of enthusiasm
and excitement, pulling out all the stops and sparing no expense.
5. Where do we get the expression, "dead as a doornail?"
In the past you didn't push anything to announce yourself: you pounded(敲打). Doors back then were thick and visitors used a knocker (门环)to bang on a metal plate on the door to get attention. Doornails held this target in place. If you were popular and had a lot of callers--hopefully not all bill collectors--the doornails would take their share of abuse(滥用). Eventually they got pretty mashed(磨坏的), giving rise to the expression, "dead as a . . ." Well, you know.
6. Why are those computer users called "hackers"?
Use of the word "hacker"(黑客)to describe a computer programmer (程序员)comes from the sports world, where it means "an athlete who enthusiastically pursues a sport." Though most people use the word in reference to programmers who
wreak(发泄) technical havoc(大破坏) or gain illegal entry to computer systems, now it refers to anyone with an understanding of computers can be called hacker. "Cracker(解密高手)," they say, is the correct word for malicious (怀恶意的)programmers.
7. Why is a dismissed employee said to be "sacked"?
In the 17th century, craftsmen and artisans(工匠) brought their own tools to work, storing them in a sack. If the boss wanted to dismiss
one of these workers, he would often give him his sack. The implication being that he should put his tools in the sack and leave the shop.
Today, you don't have to be an artisan or a craftsman to "get the sack." Even the boss can be "sacked."
8. What does S O S stand for?
Believe it or not, S O S, the international distress(遇难) signal, doesn't stand for anything. Some people think that it stands for
"Save Our Ship" or "Save Our Souls," but it's just not true. Those famous three letters don't stand for a thing. In fact, they were only chosen to indicate distress because they're easy to communicate in Morse code: three dots, three
dashes, three dots.
9.Why do we bother to abbreviate "at" with @?
Email has made a celebrity(出名) out of this little symbol that looks like an "a" figure skating. But why abbreviate something as
short as "at?" Blame the medieval(中世纪) monks(道士). Inscribing(写) everything by hand on scarce parchment(羊皮纸), they took every short cut they could. But long after words like "ye" got dumped(倒) into the linguistic(语言学的) dustbin, @ just kept on going
. Its continued existence was insured when several early typewriter manufacturers trying to impress commercial clients, added it as a shift
-key character. Then, in 1971, when a programmer needed a character to separate names from addresses on early email, there it was.
10.Why do we call police officers cops or coppers? Cop comes from the Latin, capere, meaning "to take". Cop, which entered English in the Middle Ages, meant to grab, capture, or snatch
something. A criminal can "cop" (swipe, steal) an object from a store, and the police can also grab, or cop him. This is also how we get the
phrase, "to cop a plea," to avoid a long sentence by taking advantage, or grabbing at, the chance to plead guilty to a lesser offense.
11.How did that military vehicle get to be called a tank?
Did you ever stop to think of how strange it is that we call that formidable fighting machine on treads, with its canon, machine guns and
armor, a "tank," as if it were filled with water? That's an amazingly benign name for such a powerful weapon. As it turns out, the name
was meant to sound incongruous( 不协调的)with the thing itself. It was used by the British as a code name for their new armored vehicles in World War I. They wanted to preserve the element of surprise, and so they referred to it by this
innocuous(无害的) name, which surprisingly took hold and has lasted through the present.
From DICTIONARY OF WORD AND PHRASE ORIGINS
成对的英语短语
在英语当中两个近义和相对的词用and或or连接构成成对的英语短语，它们经常出现在一起，因此它们的位置固定下来，
有些同汉语的位置相同，有些同汉语不同，意义上有的和汉语相同，少量的同汉语有些差别，下面是笔者收集的一些此
类的短语。
1. 同汉语位置相同的短语
aches and pains痛苦 affable and kind和善
ancient and modern古今 arts and science文理
bag and baggage提包和行李 black and white黑白
bucket and spade 桶和锹 brothers and sisters兄妹
bow and arrow弓和箭， bread and butter面包和黄油
crack and roar咆哮 cup and saucer杯子碟子
drunk and sober酒汉与清醒者 fair and square公正
far and away远离 far and near远近
fire and sword火与箭 first and foremost首先
first and last先后 fish and chips炸鱼和薯条
free and easy轻松自在 friend and foe朋友和敌人
forward and backward 前后 fun and pleasure娱乐
wife and children妻子和儿童 good or ill好歹(善恶)
great and small大小 hale and hearty健壮
ham and egg火腿鸡蛋 hammer and sickle锤子与镰刀 hand an foot手脚 head and shoulder头与肩 heart and soul心灵 heaven and earth天地
heavy and light重轻 high and low高低
hill and dale山谷 home and abroad 国内外 horse and cart马车 house and home家居
hue and cry喊叫 husband and wife夫妻
hustle and bustle熙熙攘攘， ifs and buts假设和转折 in and out进出 whole and all全体
import and export进出口 internal and external内外 judge and jury法官与陪审团, king and queen国王与皇后 ladies and gentlemen女士与先生 knife and pork刀叉 kith and kin亲戚 land and sea陆海
law and order治安 lean and lanky瘦长
leaps and bounds跳跃 light and shade光阴 long and short长短 lord and lady贵族与小姐 male and female男女 man and beast人与兽
man and woman男女 meek and mild温和
sweet and sour糖醋 more or less或多或少
mother and child母子 null and void无效
odds and ends零碎 officers and soldiers官与兵 old and trial久经考验 Oxford and Cambridge牛津剑桥 out and away出走 past and present过去与现在 weight and measures重量与尺寸 pick and choose选择 pots and pans坛坛罐罐 puffing and blowing吐烟吹气气 profit and loss盈亏 pros and cons正反
rack and ruin损坏 right and wrong正误
rough and tumble杂乱 rules and regulations规章制度 true or false真假 safe and sound安全
short and sweet少而精 skin and bone皮包骨 slow and sure慢而准 sooner and later早晚
sports and games运动与游戏 stocks and shares股票 stuff and nonsense胡说八道 tea and coffee清茶和咖啡 then and there当时当地 thick and thin厚薄 this and that这那 thunder and light雷电 time and tide岁月 to and fro来回
town and country乡村 twists and turns曲折 up and down上下 ups and downs盛衰
vice and virtue罪恶与美德 ways and means方法 wear and tear磨损 wind and weather风与天 come and go 来去 poems and essays 诗文
2. 同汉语的位置不相同的短语
back and forth前后 bed and breakfast食宿 cap and gown(coat)衣帽 fire and water水火 flesh and blood骨肉 heat and cold冷热 heavy and light轻重 iron and steel钢铁 land and water水陆 love and money金钱与爱情 might and main主力 night and day白昼 north and south南北 off and on开关
old and grey苍老 old and new新旧
one and only唯一 pen and paper纸和笔 rain or shine阴晴 rich and poor,穷富 right and left左右 sword and shield剑与盾 twos and threes三三两两 you and I你我 young and old老少 pin and needle针毯
part and parcel重要部分 give and take合作与让步 mock and satire 讽刺嘲笑 rain and wind 风雨