1) take a rain check 改天吧

　　Model: [1998.8.北美(29)]

　　-- Can you come over for dinner tonight? (今天晚上来吃饭好吗？)

　　-- I'm up to my ears in work, so I'll have to take a rain check.(我工作很忙，改日吧。

　　2) lost count 弄不清楚

　　Model: [2000.1.(21)]

　　-- Ever since your girlfriend moved to Bridgeport, you are always driving there. How many trips a week do you make anyway?(自从你的女友搬到Bridgeport，你老是开车去看她。一周去几次啊？)

　　--I have lost count, but I can do it with my eyes closed.(搞不清楚了，但我闭着眼也能摸过去。)

　　3) be in another world 精神恍惚；魂不守舍

　　Model: [1996.5.(25)]

　　-- Pete's really out of it these days.(Pete 这几天有点心不在焉。)

　　-- Yeah, I know. Ever since he met Ann, he's been in another world.(我同意。自从他遇见Ann, 他就魂不守舍了。)

　　4) make yourself at home 随意，随便
　　Model: [1999.8.(7)]

　　-- Do you mind if I take off my jacket?(你介意我脱下夹克吗？)

　　-- Of course not, make yourself at home.(当然不介意，随意一点！)

　　5) save your breath 省口气吧；别白费口舌了

　　Model: [1995.10.(14)]

　　-- Hey? John! John!(嘿，John! John!)

　　-- Save your breath. He"s out of earshot.(省口气吧。他已经听不到了。)

　　6) make sense 有意义，理解

　　Model: [1999.1.(29)]

　　-- The plot of that movie is hard to follow.(那部电影的情节很难跟得上。)

　　-- It makes more sense the second time.(再看一遍就理解了。)

　　7) cost sb. an arm and a leg 非常昂贵

　　Model: [1999。1。(4)]

　　--Did you see the diamond ring Bill gave to Linda?(你看到Bill送给Linda的钻戒了吗？)

　　--I sure did. It must have cost him an arm and a leg.(当然了。那一定很昂贵。)

　　8) burn a hole in one's pocket 很快地被花光

　　Model: [1997.10 ]

　　--Have you saved enough to buy that new printer for your computer yet? (你攒足钱给你的电脑买一台新打印机了吗？)

　　--You know money seems to be burning a hole in my pocket lately . Maybe next month. (这几个月我花钱如流水。也许下个月吧。)

　　9)fill one's shoes 很好地顶替；令人满意地替代

　　Model: [1997.8.]

　　--Have you heard that Professor Jones is retiring? (你听说Jones教授要退休了吗？)

　　--Yes. The faculty won't find anyone to fill her shoes. (是的。学校将很难找到合适的人来代替她。)

　　10)is ice cold 表示理所当然

　　Model: [1995.10.]

　　--Does Prof. Ford always come to class? (Ford教授总是来上课吗？)

　　--Is ice cold? (当然了。)

　　11)like apples and oranges 用来表示无法相比的事物

　　Model: [1997.1.]

　　--Which game do you think is more difficult to learn, chess or bridge? (你认为桥牌和象棋哪个更难学?)

　　--They are like apples and oranges. (它俩没法比较。)

　　12)look for a needle in a hay stack 大海捞针

　　Model: [1990.1.]

　　--We are supposed to meet John here at the train station. (我们要在火车站接John。)

　　--That's like looking for a needle in a hay stack . (那可真是大海捞针。)

　　13)lose one's train of 忘记

　　Model: [1995.1.]

　　--When you interrupted me, you made me lose my train of thought. (你打断了我的思考，我忘记我在想什么了。)

　　14)meet each other half way 相互妥协，让步

　　Model: [1992.8.]

　　--My chemistry project is in trouble because my partner and I had totally different ideas about how to proceed. (我的化学课题出问题了。在进展问题上，我与我的合作者意见完全不同。)

　　--You should try to meet each other half way. (你们应该相互妥协。)

　　15)on the dot 准时；正点

　　Model: [1992.8.]

　　--Did you and Amanda really meet exactly five minutes to two in front of the theatre? (你和Amanda确实在差5分两点的时候到达剧院门口了吗？)

　　--Yes, we were both there on the dot. (是的，我俩都准点到达。)

　　16)once and for all 最后一次；干脆

　　Model: [1996.1.]

　　--I am going to tell that neighbor of mine to turn down that music once and for all.(我要最后一次告诉我那个邻居把音乐声关小。)

　　--I see why you are angry. But I've always found that the polite route is the most effective. (我明白你为什么恼火。但我总觉得礼貌的方式是最有效的。)

　　17)out of earshot 不在听力所及范围

　　Model: [1995.10.]

　　--Hey? John! John! (嗨! John! John! )

　　--Save your breath. He's out of earshot. (省口气吧，他听不见。)

　　18)out of this world 非常好

　　Model: [1995.10.]

　　--Have you tried Susan's apple pie? (你试过Susan的苹果派吗？)

　　--I got the last piece. And it was out of this world. (我拿到最后一块。好吃极了。)

　　19)play by ear 随机应变，视情形而定

　　Model: [1989.8.]

　　--Marty, are you doing anything special for your presentation in political science tomorrow? (Marty，你在为明天的政治学演讲准备与众不同的材料吗？)

　　--Not really, because the class so often turns into a discussion, I've decided to play it by ear. (不。那门课常常最后变成讨论。我决定视情形而定。)

　　20) ring a bell 令人想起某件事；听起来耳熟

　　Model: [1992.10.]

　　--That name just doesn't ring a bell with me. (那个名字我一点也不熟。)

　　21)share a common outlook 有共同的观点

　　Model: [1991.1.]

　　--Jeff and Alan share a common outlook on life. (Jeff 和Alan对于生活有共同的观点。)

　　22)six of one and half-a-dozen of the other 半斤八两；没什么区别

　　Model: [1989.1.]

　　--I can't decide whether to take anthropology or geology this term. (我决定不了这学期是选人类学还是地理课。)

　　--It's six of one and half-a-dozen of the other. (两门无甚差别。)

　　23)stick around 在附近逗留或等待

　　Model: [1995.5.]

　　--Leaving the party so soon? We're just getting ready to cut the cake. (这么早就要走？我们刚准备要切蛋糕。)

　　--Sorry, I can't stick around. (对不起，我不能继续待在这儿了。)

　　24)stick with 继续做，坚持

　　Model: [1996.8.]

　　--I wonder what this new flavor of ice cream tastes like? (我想知道这种新的冰激凌是什么味道？)

　　--I tried it last week. If I were you, I would stick with an old favorite. (上周我吃过，若我是你，我会继续吃以前爱吃的那种。)

　　25)straighten out 扯平；结清

　　Model: [1996.1.]

　　--I almost forgot. I still owe you ten dollars from the other night. Do you have change for a twenty? (我差点忘了。不久前的一个晚上我借了你10块钱，到现在还没还呢，你现在能找开20元的吗？)

　　--Oh, not at the moment. Let's just straighten it out some other time. (哦，现在不能。以后再结清吧。)

　　26)toss and turn (身体)翻来覆去(通常表示难以入睡)

　　Model: [1993.1.]

　　--Last night I tossed and turned in bed, too exhausted to sleep. (昨晚我辗转反侧，怎么也睡不着)

　　27)turn one's back (在别人遇到困难时)不愿帮助

　　Model: [1990.10.]

　　--He'll turn his back on me if I ask for money. (我若向他借钱，他就会不理我。)

　　28)under the weather 身体不适，生病

　　Model: [1996.10.(26)]

　　--It's good to see you, Mary. How have you been? (看见你真高兴，Mary。你好吗？)

　　--Actually I have been feeling under the weather recently. (其实这两天我身子不大舒服。)

      29)bite off more than one can chew 贪多嚼不烂；心有余而力不足；不自量力；力不从心

　　Model:

　　--I hear you've been taking an advanced physics course this semester. How's it going? (我听说这学期你在上高等物理课。这门课怎么样？)

　　--I think I've bitten off more than I can chew. (我是心有余而力不足啊。)

　　30)break new ground 创新

　　Model:

　　--His architectural design broke new ground in the field. (他的建筑设计是这个领域里的创新。)

　　31)do the trick 做成功；达到理想的结果

　　Model:

　　--I've been trying to get the furnace started, but I can't find the right switch. (我尽力想让炉子燃起来，可不知道该按哪个键。)

　　--Here, I believe this one in the back will do the trick. (这里，我相信后面按这个键，可以让炉子燃起来。)

　　32)drag one's feet 行动缓慢；磨磨蹭蹭不情愿

　　Model:

　　--How's Bob coming along on his dissertation proposal? (Bob的论文计划进展地怎么样了？)

　　--He's really been dragging his feet. (他很磨蹭的。)

　　33)draw the line 拒绝，拒不容忍

　　Model:

　　--Paul expects me to clean the room every week. (Paul想让我每周打扫房间。)

　　--That's where I draw the line. (可是我绝对不会答应的。

　　34)feel down in the dumps 心情不好；情绪低落

　　Model:

　　--Kate was really feeling down in the dumps about her latest chemistry assignment. (Kate为最近的化学作业成绩感到很沮丧。)

　　35)few and far between 不多；少而分散的；不常碰到或发现的；稀少的

　　Model:

　　--Steve is really a terrific guy. (Steve真是不简单。)

　　--He sure is. Ones like him are few and far between. (当然。像他那样的人可不多见。)

　　36)fit as a fiddle 身体很健康

　　Model:

　　-- Harry! How have you been? I haven't seen you in ages. (Harry，你好吗？好久没看见你了。)

　　--I'm fit as a fiddle. This exercise program I'm following is terrific. (我身体好极了。我正进行的这个锻炼计划太棒了。)

　　37)grin and bear 任劳任怨；毫无怨言地忍受

　　Model:

　　--Carla,I can't take this job any longer. (Carla，我不能再做这份工作了。)

　　--If you need the money, you'll just have to grin and bear it. ( 如果你需要钱，你就得忍耐。) 38)hit the spot (特指吃了食物，喝了饮料之后)精神完全恢复过来或感到满足；恢复精力；提精神

　　Model:

　　--This Lemonade sure hits the spot.(柠檬汁太提神了。)

　　--And how! (当然了！)

　　39)keep between the two of us 不让第三者知道，保密

　　Model:

　　--What I'm going to say is rather personal, so let's keep between the two of us. (我要讲的纯属私事，所以希望你能保密。)

　　40)know a thing or two about 略知一二

　　Model:

　　--Do you think Andy could help us plan the camping trip to West Virginia? (你认为Andy会帮我们计划去西弗吉尼亚州野营吗？)

　　--Well, since he spends every summer there, he might know a thing or two about it. (可能吧。他每个夏天都去那儿，应该知道一些事儿。)

　　41)leave no stone unturned 不遗余力；全力以赴

　　Model:

　　--Lynn left no stone unturned in her research, and handed in an excellent paper. (Lynn全力以赴做她的研究，交了一篇优秀的论文。)

　　42)on cloud nine 沉浸在幸福之中；非常高兴

　　Model:

　　--Marcia looks like she's on cloud nine. Do you know what made her so happy? (Marcia好象沉浸在幸福之中。你知道她为什么这么高兴吗？)

　　--She just had a paper accepted for publication. (她有一篇文章要发表了。)

　　43)on the tip of one's tongue 一时想不起来，话到嘴边又忘记

　　Model:

　　--Are you sure you can't remember the name of that record? (你肯定记不起来那张唱片的名字吗？)

　　--It's just on the tip of my tongue! (我就是一时想不起来了。

　　44)reach the bottom of the barrel 用完，弹尽粮绝

　　Model:

　　--Don't you have any other clean shirts? (你还有其它干净衬衫吗？)

　　--I guess I've reached the bottom of the barrel. (我想我已经用完了。)

　　45)rub sb. the wrong way 使(某人)有点恼火；惹怒；引起反感；烦扰，打搅

　　Model:

　　--What do you think of our new economics instructor? (你觉得新经济学老师怎么样？)

　　--I don't know. Something about him rubs me the wrong way. (不知怎么的，他有点让我反感。)

　　46)scratch the surface 只懂皮毛，很不了解(通常和限制性副词如only, hardly等词连用)

　　Model:

　　--You've certainly done a lot of research for your project. (你显然对你的课题做了不少研究。)

　　--It seems like a lot, but actually I've only scratched the surface. (看上去不少，但事实上我只懂一些毛皮。)

　　47)up in the air 尚未决定的；捉摸不定的；悬而未决的

　　Model:

　　--Her plans for the weekend are still up in the air. (她尚未决定如何度过这个周末。)

　　48)wear and tear 磨损；消耗

　　Model:

　　--Why do you always put on slippers when you go into your apartment? (为什么你老是一进公寓就穿上拖鞋？)

　　--It saves wear and tear on the carpet. (拖鞋不磨损地毯。)

　　49)with flying colors 大获全胜；胜利地

　　Model:

　　--How did Ellen do on her Ancient History exam? (Ellen古代史考得怎么样？)

　　--She passed with flying colors. (她考得好极了。)

　　50)get off on the wrong foot 开始就不顺利；一开始就犯了个错误

　　Model: [1995.5.]

　　--I hate to get off on the wrong foot. (我讨厌一开始就犯错误。)

　　51)get on someone's nerves 使人不安，使人心烦

　　Model: [1996.8.]

　　　 　--Why did you come to the meeting late? I left a message with your roommate about the time change. (为什么你开会迟到？我让你的同屋告诉你改时间的事了。)

　　--She has a very short memory and it really gets on my nerves sometimes. (她记性不好，有时真让我心烦。)

　　52)give someone a break 不要去管，饶了某人吧

　　Model: [1994.5.]

　　--Give me a break. I'm nervous enough as it is. (不要管我，我已经够紧张了。)

　　53)head and shoulders above (在…方面)强于某人

　　Model: [1991.10.]

　　--In computer programming, Susan is head and shoulders above the rest of us.(在计算机编程上，Susan比我们强。)

　　54)in the red 赤字，负债

　　Model: [1996.5.]

　　--So far the clubs are about three hundred dollars in the red, and we still have four months to go before membership renewal. ( 到目前为止，俱乐部有300元赤字，然而还有4个月才到交会员费的时间。)

　　--Well, we may have to raise our dues.(那么，我们必须提高会员费了。)

　　55)in the dark 一无所知；不了解情况

　　Model: [1994.1.]

　　--Do you have any idea what this notice is about? (你知道这通知讲的是什么吗？)

　　--I'm as in the dark as you are. (我也跟你一样不了解情况。)