1. wet blanket煞风景的事情；对别人泼冷水的人
注解：湿毯子原是用来灭火的，引申指败兴的人或事物。例：That woman is a wet blanket, for whenever we try to have a little fun she always talks about her ailment. (那个
女人真让人扫兴，每当我们想轻松一下，她总是讲她的病痛)。
A: Is everything OK?
B: Foods, drinks and other things have been ready.
A: Good. Your work is great and quick. The invitation had been sent out?
B: Not yet.
A: Don’t ask Tom to the party. He’s such a wet blanket, always talking about rising prices and unemployment.
A：事情都准备好了？
B：食物、饮料和其他的东西都准备好了。
A：很好。你们的
工作干得不错，又好又快。请柬都发出去了吗？
B：还没有呢。
A：不要请汤姆来参加聚会。他这个败兴的人，只会谈物价上涨和失业。
2. what one loses on the swings, one gets back on the roundabouts 失之东隅，收之桑榆
注解：此语的意思是have losses and profits which are about equal它以秋千（swing）和旋转木马（roundabouts）设喻。此语亦作lose on the swings what you make on the roundabouts.
A: I want to hear your ideas about the production.
B: I think that if it’s a wet summer the firm making mackintoshes will find good markets.
A: But if there is a heat wave?
B: There will be a special demand for bathing suits.
A: So?
B: If we have shares in both we need not feel unduly anxious about the weather, for what we lose on the swings we shall get back on the roundabouts.
A: Let’s think it over.
A：我想听听你有关产品的建议。
B：要是夏天多雨，做雨衣的厂商就大有销路。
A：那要是热气袭人呢？
B：游泳衣便特别吃香。
A：所以？
B：如果我们两头都有
股票，那就不用为天气担心了，因为失之东隅，可以收之桑榆嘛。
A：我们会考虑你的建议的。
3.what with...and (what with)由于，因为
注解：在此为副词，此语也可表示“考虑到”。
如：The house wasn’t hard to find, what with all the flowers banked around it. （那房子四周都是鲜花，所以并不难找。）
A: What with the scorching sun and the strong wind,our sailing was rather unpleasant.
B: What day was it when you set out?
A: August 21st.
B: That day has been the hottest up to now.
A: So that's how it was!
A：由于太阳烤人，风又大，对我们的航行相当不利。
B：你们是哪天出发的？
A：8月21日。
B：那是至今最热的一天。
A：原来如此。
4.when someone’s ship comes in / home 事业发达时，期望实现时
注解：这个引喻是指满载贵重货物的船到达港口，从而货主可以获得高额利润。这个引喻多用于表示期望。例：“And I’ll buy you all a present,”said the child,“when my ship comes in.”(小孩说：“待我发财时就给你们每人买一份礼物。”)
A: Never swell with pride when your ship comes home, my child.
B: I know, father, I will remember it forever.
A: That’s right. Life is a fight, in some way, so we have no qualification to be proud or feel something like that.
B: I will try my best to win the fight and your words I will put them in my heart.
A: Great! This is my son indeed.
A：事业发达时不要沾沾自喜。
B：父亲，我记住了。
A：这就对了。
人生犹如战场，我们永没有资格去骄傲或去感受这种情绪。
B：我会尽自己最大努力去赢得这场战争，您的话我也会永记心间。
A：这才是我的儿子。
5.where the shoe pinches 症结所在；痛苦所在
注解：英国作品中最早用此来描写一个男子的婚后
生活并不愉快，他却假装高兴，就像鞋子紧得脚疼却装作若无其事的样子。
A: That you have given up your job?
B: Yeah, because...
A: I think it seems all right.
B: Oh, thank you, only you can understand me.
A: You know, only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches.
B: But the people around me don’t think so as you.
A：你把工作辞了？
B：是，因为……
A：我想你这样做是对的。
B：谢谢你，唯有你了解我。
A：只有当事人知道症结所在嘛。
B：但我周围就没有人像你这么想。
6.whirligig of time 时代的变迁；命运的改变
注解：此语出自于莎士比亚的剧本《第十二夜》第5幕第1场，小丑说：“And thus the whirligig of time brings in his revenges.”(60年风水轮流转，您也遭到报应了。) Whirligig(陀螺) 在1440年是一种旋转玩具，后来的旋转木马和走马灯就是从陀螺得到启发而发明的。
A: What is life?
B: Don’t ask such question. You know it has no certain answer. Everyone knows it in his heart.
A: Then do you think that the life is arranged by something above us?
B: Maybe, the whirligig of time, who knows?
A: Right.
A：什么是生活？
B：别问这样的问题。没有固定的答案。每个人在内心里都会有个答案。
A：那你说人生是不是由什么高于我们的东西安排的？
B：或许吧，命运的改变，谁知道？
A：就是。
7.white about/in the gills有病容的；受惊的样子
注解：gills(鳃)是鱼的呼吸器官。鱼离开水时，不再呼吸，影响血液流通，鳃的颜色就改变。在17世纪初，gills指人的两腮，故此语喻指人有病或受惊吓时的脸色。如表示有病容或呕吐的有：green about the gills,此外派生的还有：rosy/red about the gills(发怒，喝酒后脸红)。
A: How is he?
B: Not very well. He was white about the gills.
A: Did he see the doctor?
B: Yeah, but he refused to take the medicine.
A: Why?
B: I don’t know the reason.
A：他身体怎么样？
B：不好。他脸色苍白。
A：他看过医生了吗？
B：看过了。可是他拒绝吃药。
A：为什么？
B：我不清楚原因。
