习语｜take the cake啥意思？美语习语学起来！

美式英语习语十则

1

bury the hatchet

to forgive someone and become friends again 捐弃前嫌（重归于好）

【例】It's time to bury the hatchet and start working together. 是捐弃前嫌，开始携手工作的时候了。

2

by the skin of my teeth

(to show that someone almost failed to do something) only just （表示差点没做成）勉强，刚好，正好

【例】It was a real struggle, but we got through it by the skin of our teeth. 这确实是一件费力的事，不过我们勉强把它完成了。

3

cost/pay an arm and a leg

to cost/pay a large amount of money 花费（或支付）一大笔钱

【例】I had to pay an arm and a leg for these plane tickets. 我不得不花一大笔钱买这些机票。

4

have your cake and eat it too

to enjoy the advantages of something without its disadvantages; to have both things that are available 得其利而无其弊；两者兼得

【例】Rick thinks he can stay out late every night and still get good grades—he wants to have his cake and eat it too. 里克以为他既可以每晚在外面逍遥到很晚，又可以得高分——他想鱼与熊掌兼得。

5

jump the gun

to do something or start something too soon 过早行动；抢跑

【例】Don't jump the gun on this—make sure you get permission first. 这件事不要操之过急，一定要先得到许可。

6

no-brainer

a project, problem, question, etc. that is very easy to finish or solve 无需动脑的事；轻而易举的事；容易解决的问题

【例】The issue of whether to build a new stadium is a real no-brainer for most fans. 对于大多数球迷来说，是否建新体育馆这个问题无需费脑筋。

7

off the record

if you tell someone something off the record, it is not yet official and you do not want it to be repeated publicly （某人的话）非正式的，不得公开的

【例】She told me off the record that the school was going to be close. 她私下里告诉我说那家学校要倒闭了。

8

peter out

to finish or come to an end gradually 逐渐结束；慢慢消失

【例】The flow of water slowed down and finally petered out. 水流的速度减慢了，最后停止了。

9

take a rain check (on sth)

to refuse an invitation or offer, but say that you might accept it later （婉拒邀请或提议）改日再说，下次吧

【例】—“Are you coming for dinner?” —“Can I take a rain check? I have to get this finished tonight.” ——“你来吃晚饭吗？”——“下次吧，我今晚得把这事做完。”

10

take the cake

to be the most surprising, annoying, etc. thing that has happened or that someone has done 极其惊人；甚为讨厌

【例】He's made some silly mistakes in the past, but this one really takes the cake. 他过去曾犯过些愚蠢的错误，但是这次最甚。

（以上内容选自《牛津美式英语词典》）

《牛津美式英语词典》好像一部关于美国的百科全书。它帮助人们在学习语言的同时进一步了解美国。

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