Instead of stressing over every detail, try to relax and go with the flow.
別擔心細節,盡量放鬆並順其自然。
I was initially worried about the changes at work, but then I decided to just go with the flow.
我原本很擔心工作上的改變,但後來我決定順其自然。
A Perfect Storm
「A perfect storm」意味著多種因素而導致更嚴重的情況或問題 =「最壞的情況」。
例:
This past year has seen a perfect storm in the hospitality industry.
過去的一年是飯店業最糟的一年。
Less water means no crops – so it’s a perfect storm.
水少了,農作物就無法生長-這是最可怕的情況。
When It Rains, It Pours
「When it rains, it pours」是描述一連串糟糕的事件或問題。當一連串不幸的事件發生時,尤其會使用這種表達方式,類似於「禍不單行」。
例:
First, my car broke down, then I lost my wallet. When it rains, it pours!
首先,我的車壞了,然後我丟了錢包。簡直禍不單行!
Just when I thought things couldn’t get any worse, I lost my job, my rent went up, and my phone died. When it rains, it pours!
就在我以為事情不會變得更糟的時候,我失業了,房租漲了,手機也壞了。真是雪上加霜!
Actions Speak Louder Than Words
「Actions speak louder than words」顯示出行動比言語更重要。換句話說,不只是言語,實際的行動或行為才能完整反映出一個人的真實感受和本性。
例:
He keeps saying he loves me, but actions speak louder than words.
他一直說他愛我,但事實勝於雄辯。
He keeps promising that she’ll finish the project next week. It’s been three weeks already and, well, actions speak louder than words.
他一直保證她下週會完成這個計畫。已經過去三週了,事實勝於雄辯。
The Kiss of Death
「The kiss of death」是用來描述某個行爲或狀況是引起致命結果、破壞可能性的主要原因。
例:
The scandal surrounding the CEO was the kiss of death for the company’s reputation, leading to a significant drop in sales.
圍繞執行長的醜聞損害了公司聲譽,導致銷售額大幅下降。
In the film industry, being labeled as difficult to work with can be the kiss of death for an actor’s career.
在電影業,被貼上「難以合作」的標籤可能會對演員的職業生涯造成致命衝擊。
The Ball is in One’s Court
「The ball is in one’s court」 意指某件事的責任或機會掌握在別人手中。它通常代表下一步的行動或決定已由其他人掌握的情況。
例:
I’ve made my offer, so now the ball is in their court. They need to decide whether to accept or decline it.
我已經提出報價,現在輪到他們了。他們必須決定要不要接受。
After presenting the proposal, the ball is in the client’s court.
提案之後,一切就由客戶決定了。
After smoking for twenty years, John decided to quit cold turkey.
吸菸二十年後,約翰決定徹底戒菸。
She had been drinking heavily for years, but one day she went cold turkey and hasn’t touched alcohol since then.
她多年來一直酗酒,但有一天她突然戒酒,從此再也沒有碰過一滴酒。
Burn Your Bridges
「Burn your bridges」是指斷絕關係/聯繫。直譯為燒毀一座橋,我們可以想像成無法回到原樣 =切斷,這樣會更好記住。
例:
By quitting without notice, he burned his bridges with his former employer.
他尚未告知就辭職,跟前雇主斷絕了關係。
Borrowing money and never repaying it burned his bridges with all his friends.
借錢不還導致他跟所有的朋友關係決裂。
What Will Be, Will Be
「What will be, will be」代表未來的事件或結果是不可避免的,我們對此無能為力。
例:
I’m nervous about the job interview tomorrow, but what will be, will be. I’ve done my best to prepare.
我對明天的面試感到緊張,但是該來的總會來。我已經盡力做好準備了。
Kate is worried about her exam results, but what will be, will be.
凱特擔心她的考試成績,但擔心是沒有意義的。
「What will be, will be」是指未來,如果要討論現在的情況是「it is what it is」,而討論過去則是「what’s done is done」。它們都是指「無可奈何」,但是根據時態的不同,意思也會有所不同,所以請根據情況選擇使用。
總結
本篇記事這次介紹了10個慣用語。有時後看電影時,我們會發現自己雖然知道每個單字,但出於某種原因卻不懂一整句台詞的意思,這通常是一個慣用語。因為它的語意不是我們看到、聽到的那樣,而是「很有趣!」,受到這樣的影響,我們反而更容易記住。所以,大家可以試著搜尋任何感興趣的表達方式。別忘記這種興奮的感覺,您會更加享受學習英文的樂趣!而且還要多練習,才能無意識地說出來!Practice makes perfect!(熟能生巧!)