【初中英语语法时态】几个特殊意义的动词短语(1)美国人平时所用的许多短语,看似普通,但有的会有特別意义,究竟是俚语、口语或俗语,没有绝对的定义。其实名称不重要,最重要的是懂得意义和用法,不是吗?1.tohave(many)ironsinthefire:tohavealotofactivitiesgoingonatthesametime(同时有许多事,想马上全部做完,但又不知从何开始,似乎忙得不可开交)Don'tbotherhimbecausehehasmanyironsinthefire.(別打扰他,他事情太多,忙得很!)Somepeopleevenliketohavemanyironsinthefire.(有些人喜欢有很多事忙忙碌碌。)2.totalkover(one's)head(s):touselargeorbigwordssothataudiencewillnotunderstandexactmeaning(指所谈论的内容过于专业或高深,非一般人可以理解;也指有人为了表現自己才学非凡,故意谈些高深理论或用些难字,吓唬別人)Dr.Lee'slecturewassospecializedthathealmosttalkedoverourheads.(李博士的演讲太专业了几乎使我们无法理解。)Inordertoshowhisprofoundknowledgehetalksovermyhead.(为了表現他的学问高深,他故弄玄虚。)3.toput(something)backinto(in)itscage:toputsomethingundercontrol(可以控制某件事情,多半指政治、健康等)Wearetryingtoputinflationbackintoitscageandoureconomyisonthemend.(我们正在设法控制通货膨胀,同时改善我们得经济。)Diplomatsandpoliticiansneedtoputaggressionandhostilitybackintoitscage.(外交官和政客应该收敛攻击和敌对的行为。)4.tokeep(one's)fingerscrossed:tohopesomethinggoodwillhappen(祝福某人好运或一切顺利把食指与中指交叉,祈求好运,是老外的迷信,但在写信或正式场合,多半是用"Iwishyoubest(good)luck!"或"Good(best)lucktoyou!")Hekeepshisfingerscrossedhopinghisfatherwillsendhimmoremoney.(他盼望有好运,老爸能多寄点钱给他。)Manypeoplehavebeenkeepingtheirfingerscrossedthatwecanliveinapeacefulworld.(许多人都在祈求好运,盼能在和平的世界里生活。)5.tostretch(one's)legs:torelaxortotakeashortbreak(久坐后,把腿舒展一下,或稍微休息一下)Let'staketenminutestostretchourlegs.(让我们先休息十分钟。)MayItakeabreaksothatIcanstretchmylegs?(我可以休息一会儿伸伸腿吗?)DuringthealongflightfromtheUStoTaiwan,Inormallystretchmylegseverytwohours.(在从美国到台湾的长途飞行中,我通常每两个小时起身走走。)6.toreadbetweenthelines:tointerpretthehiddenmeaningorahiddenmessage;todiscernthetruefact(从字里行间体会隐含的意义;领会言外之意或能了解其中的真正意义)Asyoulookatthispoem,besuretoreadbetweenthelines.(读这首诗的时候,要从字里行间去体会它的含义。)Afterhere-readtheloveletterbetweenthelines,herealizedthathewasdumpedbyhissweetheart.(重读情书之后,他终于明白他已经被情人抛弃了。)7.toletoffsteam:togiveventtoone'sanger(发泄、出气,像放掉蒸汽以减少压力似的。这与"toflyoffthehandle"意思相近,但比"tolosetemper"委婉客气些)Whatwillyoudoifyourwifeletsoffsteam?(假如你太太大发脾气的话,你该怎么办呢?)(因为谈论的对象使对方的太太,所以语气要委婉客气些)。但是谈到第三者,就可不必太委婉,可用losetemper:Whatwillyoudoifoneofyourstafflosetemper?(如果你的同事冲你发脾气你该怎么办呢?)Occasionallyweshouldbegivenachancetoletoffsteam.(我们应该不时的发泄一下情绪。)8.topaythroughthenose:topaytoomuchforsomethingorexcessivelyexpensive(花费太多,代价过高,与"tocostanarmandaleg"意义相近)Don'tpaythroughthenosewhenyoubuythefurniture.(不要花太多的钱买家具。)Somewomenpaidthroughthenosesfortheirjewelry.(有些女人花大把的钱购买珠宝首饰。)9.totakecenterstage:tobeinthespotlight(引人注目的中心人物;以某人为公众瞩目的对象)Mrs.Linalwaystakescenterstageataparty.(林太太总能成为宴会上的焦点。)PresidentBushtakescenterstagewhereverhegoes.(布什总统不论走到哪里,都是公众瞩目的焦点。)Hisconstanttakingcenterstagecoulddeprivehimofhisprivacy.(他好出风头的毛病让他毫无隐私可言。)