中英文成語意向差異眾所周知。兩種文化找到完全對應的意向十分罕見。如中文“熱鍋上的螞蟻”，英文的表述為“A cat on the hot brick”;中文“瓢潑大雨”，英文的表述為“It rains cats and Dogs”等等。所以只有諳熟中英文化才能避免理解上的尷尬。

1. At a snail’s pace 龜速前行

Meaning: Moving very slowly. 涵義，運動遲緩。（漢語中用“龜速”替代“蝸?！?。）

This idiom is pretty self-explanatory because we know that snails and slugs move very slowly. This idiom has been used for a very long time. The phrase is found in William Shakespeare’s play “Richard III,” which was written and first performed in 16th century England.

這個習語不言而喻，因為我們知道蝸牛和蛞蝓移動得非常慢。這個成語已經(jīng)使用了很長時間。這個短語出現(xiàn)在威廉·莎士比亞的戲劇《理查三世》（Richard III）中，該劇于16世紀在英國創(chuàng)作并首次演出。

Example: Traffic is moving at a snail’s pace. 例如，車輛龜速爬行。（漢語用“龜速”替代“蝸?！薄＃?/p>

2. Busy as a bee 忙得不可開交

Meaning: Extremely busy. 涵義：非常繁忙。

This idiom originated from Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales” (specifically, “The Squire’s Tale”) which was written around 1386. The English is very old, but the phrase remains popular to this day.

這個成語起源于喬叟寫于1386年左右的《坎特伯雷故事集》（特別是《鄉(xiāng)紳的故事》）。英語非常古老，但這個短語至今仍然流行。

“Lo, suche sleightes and subtilitees
In wommen be, for ay as busy as bees.”

“瞧，女人們的詭計多端和狡猾，像蜜蜂一樣忙碌?！?/p>

The above language looks very different from modern English, but the animal idiom is exactly the same. Today, the phrase is used to describe someone being very busy, but working with a purpose in a pleasant manner.

上述語言看起來與現(xiàn)代英語非常不同，但動物習語完全相同。今天，這個短語被用來形容一個人很忙，但以愉快的方式有目的地工作。

Example: My son is working on his science project. He’s been as busy as a bee all day.

例如：我兒子正在做他的科學項目。他一整天都忙得不可開交。

3. Open a can of worms 弄成一團糟（弄巧成拙）

Meaning: Create a whole new set of problems該成語含義為“弄巧成拙”。

This phrase is often used when you try to solve a problem or answer a question, but you only create more problems or more questions.

當你試圖解決一個問題或回答一個問題時，經(jīng)常使用這個短語，但你在解決問題時只會弄巧成拙。

Nobody is sure of the exact origin of this idiom, but some people believe it came from a time when fisherman bought canned worms for bait. They would bring the worms to the fishing site, but if they knocked the can over, they had a whole new problem of catching their bait.

沒有人知道這個成語的確切起源，但有些人認為它來自漁民購買罐頭蠕蟲作為誘餌的時代。他們會把蠕蟲帶到捕魚地點，但如果他們把罐子打翻了，他們就有了一個全新的問題：如何抓住魚餌。

Some also believe that “can of worms” is a modern version of the idiom, “Pandora’s box.” Pandora’s box comes from an old myth, and it also means to create a new set of problems.

一些人還認為“一盒蠕蟲”是成語“潘多拉盒子”的現(xiàn)代版本。潘多拉的盒子來自一個古老的神話，它也意味著制造一系列新的問題。

Example: You’ve opened a real can of worms here.示例：你在這里將事情弄巧成拙。

4. Wild goose chase白費力氣（竹籃打水）

Meaning: Chasing something that’s very difficult (or impossible) to catch.意思是“很難實現(xiàn)或不可能達成”。（類似漢語中“竹籃打水”）

Imagine chasing a wild goose around and trying to catch it. Geese are fast, strong and awkward animals—catching one would probably be very hard, and it would also look very silly!

想象一下，追逐一只野鵝并試圖將它抓住。鵝是快速、強壯和笨拙的動物。捕捉一只可能非常困難，而且看起來也很傻！

While many use the idiom “wild goose chase” to describe something that’s hard to catch, it’s also used to describe a chase that takes the pursuer in a lot of different directions.

雖然許多人用成語“Wild goose chase”來描述難以捕捉的東西，但它也被用來描述追逐者在不同方向上的追逐（努力）行為。

Example: You’re taking me on a wild goose chase, will you just give me an exact address where I should go?

例句：你要帶我去做一場徒勞無益的付出，你能給我一個我應該去的確切地址嗎？

5. The world is your oyster世界由你做主/你可以隨心所欲

Meaning: You have many good opportunities in front of you.涵義是“面前大把機會”。

It’s not easy to open an oyster. Finding opportunities in the world is like opening an oyster, meaning it’s not easy.

打開牡蠣不容易。在世界上尋找機會就像打開牡蠣，這意味著不容易。

Sometimes, when you open an oyster, you’ll find a pearl. When you say that “the world is your oyster,” you have a positive outlook about the opportunities in front of you. If you have an oyster in your hands, it could contain a beautiful treasure that belongs completely to you.

有時候，當你打開牡蠣，你會發(fā)現(xiàn)一顆珍珠。當你說“世界是你的牡蠣”時，你對你面前的機會有一個積極的看法。如果你手中有一只牡蠣，它可能包含一個完全屬于你的美麗寶藏。

Example: You just graduated from a wonderful university, so the world is your oyster!

你剛從一所很棒的大學畢業(yè)，所以世界就是你的了！

6. Watching like a hawk像鷹一樣盯著（像防賊一樣）

Meaning: Watching something very, very, closely仔細端詳。

Children often hear this idiom from a parent or other caregiver, “I’m watching you like a hawk.”

孩子們經(jīng)常從父母或其他看護者那里聽到這個成語，“我像老鷹一樣看管著你?！?/p>

It’s often used to make sure that someone or something doesn’t misbehave or make a mistake.

它通常用于確保某人或某事不會行為不端或犯錯誤。

Example: The boss watches us like a hawk. 例如，老板像鷹一樣看管著我們。

7. Mad as a hornet (USA)像大黃蜂一樣瘋狂（暴跳如雷）

Meaning: Very angry, or furious憤怒或狂怒 （漢語用“瘋狗”作為相對應的意向。）

A hornet is a type of wasp. When it gets angry, it can do a lot of damage, cause pain and generally be dangerous. If someone is saying that they’re as mad as a hornet, then they’re warning you to look out. While the term “mad as a hornet” is popular in the United States, other English-speaking countries and cultures often say something similar.

大黃蜂是黃蜂的一種。當它生氣時，會造成很大的傷害，它的蟄刺會引起巨痛，通常十分危險。如果有人說他們像大黃蜂一樣瘋狂，那么他們警告你要小心。雖然“瘋狂的大黃蜂”一詞在美國很流行，其他英語國家和文化也經(jīng)常說類似的話。

In the Southern region of the United States where farming was (and in some places still is) a major industry, people used to say the idiom “mad as a wet hen,” describing the anger a hen would have if you stole her eggs.

在美國南部地區(qū)，農(nóng)業(yè)曾經(jīng)是（在某些地方仍然是）主要產(chǎn)業(yè)，人們常說“瘋得像只濕母雞”，形容你如果偷了母雞孵的蛋，它會暴跳如雷。

Example: Mom was as mad as a hornet when we broke the mirror.

我們將鏡子打破了，母親暴跳如雷。

8. Dog eat dog競爭激烈或惡性競爭（容易譯成“狗咬狗”?。?/h1>

Meaning: Very competitive 競爭激烈

When you use this idiom, you’re saying that the competition is so stiff (intense) that people will do anything to get ahead, even if it means hurting someone. “Dog eat dog” may be used to describe a situation, a school, a company or an industry.

當你使用這個習語時，你是在說競爭是如此激烈，以至于人們?yōu)榱巳〉妙I先不惜一切，即使這意味著傷害他人。“dog eat dog”可以用來描述一種情況、一所學校、一家公司或一個行業(yè)。

The exact origin varies. It may have come from similar phrases used in English writings from a long time ago. For example, one similar phrase was used in a 16th century Latin proverb which says “dog does not eat dog.”

確切的起源各不相同。它可能來自很久以前英語寫作中使用的類似短語。例如，16世紀的一句拉丁諺語中使用了一個類似的短語，“狗不吃狗”。

Example: It’s a dog eat dog world out there.這是一個競爭激烈（殘酷）的世界。

9. Eagle eyes敏銳的眼光

Meaning: Have excellent vision, or watching something very closely, not missing a detail 意思是：有很好的眼光，或者非常仔細地觀察某件事，不遺漏任何細節(jié)

This animal idiom is similar to “watching like a hawk,” but when someone says “eagle eye,” they may not be referring to catching someone in the act of doing something wrong. If you have an eagle eye, it means that nothing gets past you because you are very focused on details.

這個同動物相關(guān)的習語類似于“像鷹一樣看”，但當有人說“鷹眼”時，他們可能不是指抓住某人做錯事的行為。如果你有一個鷹眼，這意味著沒有什么可以超越你，因為你非常關(guān)注細節(jié)。

Example: The teacher goes over the tests with an eagle eye.

老師用銳利的目光監(jiān)考。

10. Get your ducks in a row 井井有條（有條不紊）

Meaning: Organize things 有條理的組織事物

When baby ducks walk behind their mother, they’re often in a straight line or “in a row.”

當小鴨跟在媽媽后面走的時候，它們通常是排成一條直線或“排成一排”。

If someone is telling you to “get your ducks in a row,” it means to straighten up and it usually refers to a project or task.

如果有人告訴你“Get your ducks in a row”，這意味著要將工作等打理好，通常指的是一個項目或任務。

Example: I’ll be reviewing things to make sure you have your ducks in a row.

例句：我會回顧一下，以確保你的工作有條不紊。