有趣英文探讨(3) 江铭辉 五梦网
11. a stick in the mud (老古板)
英文意思：a dull , conservative person (呆滞的、保守的人)
Stick是钉住、木棍，手杖，stick in the mud是说陷在泥浆中，动弹不得，a stick in the mud是木棍插在泥浆中，用来比喻墨守成规，不懂得求新、求变的人是老古板或老古董。
例如：
A motorcycle had become stuck in the mud.
(一辆摩托车陷在泥淖中。)
The bus stuck in the mud.
(公共汽车陷在泥里了。)
The wheels are stuck in the mud. The car won 't move.
(轮胎卡在泥巴里了，车子动不了。)
My car ' s stuck in the mud , and it won ' t budge
我的车陷入泥中，一动也不动。
You ' re such a stick in the mud
你真老古板，脑袋不开窍！
You may regard my husband as a stick-in-the-mud, But on my part I like his personality .
你可以说我的丈夫是个老古董,但是我倒很喜欢他的这种性格。
Uncle George is a real stick-in-the-mud. He made a rule that every child be home by 10 o'clock every day.
乔治叔叔思想落伍,他规定所有的孩子每天十点钟以前回到家。
12.to recharge one’s batteries (休息再充电)
英文意思： to rest and regain one’s energy(休息，恢复某人的精力)
股票市场有一句名言：休息是为走更长的路，某人在股票市场，投资老是失利，这时就不要继续在股票市场混了，应暂时退出，重新检讨，充实自己，然后再出发，一个人长期工作耗尽他的精力，每隔一阵子总得休息休息，恢复体力，就如同蓄电池用久了，电力用光了，须用充电器再充电，充实电力。
例如：
When you take a break , you give your brain a much needed chance to relax , and you allow yourself time to recharge your batteries.
(当你放松时，你不仅给大脑一个非常必要的机会松弛一下，也给你自己重新充电的时间。)
Dora : you need to get away from this farm and take a vacation to recharge your batteries.
多拉：你真的需要离开这个农场，去渡个假充充电了。
“Mike likes to recharge his batteries with some beers and a football game.”
(迈克喜欢通过喝些啤酒和踢足球来放松自己。)
“Work has been really hectic lately. I need to take a vacation and recharge my batteries.”
(最近工作很繁忙，我需要一段假期休息调整以重获精力。)
“Watching a movie at home is a good way to recharge your batteries after a busy week.”
(经过一周的忙碌，在家看一场电影是一个不错的选择。)
13. strut one’s stuff(臭屁、爱现)
英文意思：to act proud or show off (表现骄傲或吹牛)
Strut是趾高气扬，昂首阔步的高傲姿态，strut one’s stuff就是把一个人的仅有材料眩耀出来，自觉了不起。
例如；
A：Why don’t people like him?
A：为什么大家不喜欢他。
B：He’s always strutting stuff around the office.
因为他在办公室很臭屁、爱现。
When you strut your stuff, you’re not being a show-off.
当你高视阔步的时候，你并不是在炫耀。
14. Show someone the ropes(教人诀窍)
英文意思：to teach someone a new job.(教某人新工作)
这里的”ropes”指的是帆船上，让新手的水手手忙脚乱的无数根绳子，Show someone the ropes是形容老水手指引新水手，如何使用绳子，引申职场上的老手引导新人熟悉工作的环境。
图：老鸟水手正对菜鸟水手讲如何使用绳子的诀窍。
The new secretary started today so I spent most of the morning showing her the ropes.
新来的秘书今天开始工作，所以我花了一上午时间来教她熟悉工作。
A: I’m really nervous about my new job.
A:我对我的新工作感到很紧张。
B: Don’t worry , I’ll show you the ropes.
B:别担心，我会教你怎么做。
15. dog eat dog(狗咬狗)
英文意思：a ruthlessly competitive situation(一个无情的竞争环境)
英文用「狗咬狗」来形容非常剧烈的竞争，为了自己的利益，不择手段，彼此互咬，毫不留情。
例如：
The only rule of the market place was dog-eat-dog.
(市场上的唯一准则是狗咬狗，无情的竞争。)
With shrinking markets , it's dog eat dog for every company in this field.
(由于市场的萎缩，这些公司展开了你死我活的竞争。)