如果您的英语水平超过中级水平,这些丰富多彩的表达方式将非常有用。在本英语学习频道中,我们将教您 57 条常用英语谚语至今仍在使用的最流行的谚语!
我应该学习哪些谚语?
谚语是包含建议的简短而著名的谚语。母语人士经常使用谚语在较短的句子或短语中表达更大的想法。英语谚语可以教你很多关于英国人的心态、文化和历史的知识。
谚语的问题在于它们很容易被误用,而且学生经常从旧的英语教科书中学习过时的谚语。了解当今英国人和美国人实际使用的表达方式很重要。这就是为什么我们列出了我们在日常对话中使用的常见谚语列表。
最流行的常用英语谚语列表
1.A bad workman always blames his tools 拙匠总怪工具差
当有人指责他们的工具做得不好而不是自己接受指责时。
A: I wasn’t able to upload my homework as my internet connection was bad.
B: You know what they say, a bad workman blames his tools! Everybody else managed to hand it in on time.
2.A leopard can’t change its spots 江山易改,本性难移
人们无法改变他们的性格,尤其是他们更消极的特征。
Michael said he would never cheat on his girlfriend again, but you know what they say – a leopard can’t change its spots!
3.Actions speak louder than words事实胜于雄辩
比他们的言辞或承诺更重视某人的行动或行为。说你会做某事往往比实际去做要容易。
I will wait and see if he improves his test score before rewarding him, actions speak louder than words.
4.All work and no play (makes Jack a dull boy)只工作不玩耍,聪明孩子也变傻
不断工作而不花时间娱乐或“玩耍”会使人感到无聊。
A: I can’t come to the concert I’m afraid – I’ve got to do some extra work.
B: Again?! You know what they say – all work and no play…!
5.Beggars can’t be choosers 乞丐没有选择的余地
如果你处于寻求帮助的位置,你就不能挑剔,事实上,你应该接受你所提供的。
Melanie asked for a free ticket and then complained about the seat being too high up. I told her that beggars can’t be choosers!
6.Better late than never 亡羊补牢,为时不晚
迟到总比不到好。
Ah, here comes Beth ten minutes late to the meeting – better late than never though I suppose!
英语中有一些有趣的现代谚语。例如:“A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle 女人需要男人,就像鱼需要自行车一样”。这基本上意味着女性自己完全可以,没有男性。这句现代谚语是由一位著名的女权主义者创造的,她用幽默来表达她对女性独立的看法。
7.Better safe than sorry 宁求稳妥以免后悔
小心总比遗憾好
I’m glad I invested in a good waterproof (coat) for the hike now that it’s chucking it down (raining hard) – better safe than sorry!
8.Blood is thicker than water 血浓于水
家人比朋友或熟人更重要。
I would always choose my family over my friends – blood is thicker than water!
9.Cross that bridge when you come to it 船到桥头自然直
在问题出现或发生之前,不要浪费时间担心问题。这也意味着当您知道问题是什么时可以更好地处理问题,而不是试图提前猜测。
There’s no point in us trying to decide what we’ll do if they decide to close down the Post Office – we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it! We have a lot to be getting on with right now.
10.Curiosity killed the cat 好奇害死猫
这通常用于阻止某人问太多问题。这意味着问太多问题可能会导致麻烦。
I’d be careful how many questions you ask him about his time in prison. Curiosity killed the cat, you know!
11.(Don’t) bite off more than you can chew 贪多嚼不烂
这建议我们确保在处理某件事之前有足够的精力处理它。对你没有时间、技能或精力的工作说“是”。
Maria will have to postpone her doctorate while she is so busy with her job and looking after a new-born baby – it seems she has bitten off more than she can chew!
12.(Don’t) blow your own trumpet 自吹自擂
你应该尽量避免向别人炫耀你的成就。
I don’t mean to blow my own trumpet, but I’m really pleased with how good my painting is!
13.(Don’t) bury your head in the sand 不要逃避现实
拒绝接受某事的真相。
I don’t think John has really moved on after the break up – he’s just burying his head in the sand. I wish he’d start dating again.
14.Don’t count your chickens (till they are hatched) 过早地打如意算盘
鸡蛋未孵出,先别数小鸡
I wouldn’t buy the furniture until you’ve signed for the house – don’t count your chickens just yet!
15.(Don’t) cut off your nose to spite your face 死要面子活受罪
(恼怒之下)伤人害己,损人不利己
Don’t cancel your holiday to punish the kids for misbehaving, you’ll end up cutting off your nose to spite your face!
16.(Don’t) judge a book by its cover 不要以貌取人
你不应该以外表来判断一个人。
My neighbour is a heavily tattooed man who wears metal chains in his face and all black clothes, but he’s one of the nicest people I’ve ever met! It’s like they say, don’t judge a book…!
17.(Don’t) make a mountain out of a molehill 小题大做
不要把小问题变成大问题。
A: I went for a haircut and he chopped off two whole inches!
B: Oh, don’t make a mountain out of a molehill – it’ll grow back in no time!
18.Don’t put all your eggs in one basket 不要把所有的鸡蛋都放在一个篮子里
把所有的精力都集中在一件事情上或把所有的钱都投入到一件事上是不明智的。将您的努力或金钱分成多个机会以防万一失败是更明智的做法。
He invested all of his life earnings into one tip on the stock market and lost all of his money. You know what they say – don’t put all your eggs in one basket!
19.Every cloud (has a silver lining) 凡事都有好的一面
如果你愿意看的话,在每一种糟糕的情况下总能找到好东西。
I was so upset when I heard that my landlord is selling the flat, but I found an even better place that is much closer to my work and has a fantastic gym – every cloud…!
20.Give them an inch and they’ll take a mile 得寸进尺
如果您允许人们利用您一次,他们将继续这样做。
I said Ben could use my coffee machine once, now he always using it. If you give them an inch…!
21.Good things come to those who wait 苍天不负苦心人
如果你耐心地等待你想要的东西,你最终会得到它。
A: He’s been doing the lottery for more than 20 years and finally won big!
B: I guess good things come to those who wait!
22.(You can’t) have your cake and eat it too 鱼与熊掌兼得
拥有两全其美或享受不应该同时存在的两件事的优势。
Rachel is getting married to Ricardo while still having an affair with Wayne – you can’t have your cake and eat it too!
23.If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it 如果没坏,就不要修
如果某项工作正常,则无需更改或更新它。
I’ve been using the same computer for 15 years and it still does the job – as they say, if it ain’t broke…
24.If you can’t beat them, join them如果你不能打败他们,加入他们
如果你不能比你的对手做得更好,你还不如和他们合作。
I didn’t make much money as a freelance journalist so I decided to get a job with a local newspaper. If you can’t beat them, join them, right?
25.If you play with fire, you get burned 玩火者必自焚
当卷入危险或有问题的情况的人遇到麻烦时使用。
Charlene’s in the headmaster’s office after getting caught cheating on her maths exam. If you play with fire…!
26. If you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours 你敬我一尺,我还你一丈
如果你为我做点什么,我会回报你的。
If you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours. Get me an interview with your boss and I’ll lend you my Porsche next weekend.
27. Ignorance is bliss 无知是福
不知道事实你会更快乐。一个很好的例子是电影《黑客帝国》中的红色药丸。
Joan doesn’t know that her dad got her the job at M & S, she thinks she got it by herself. As they say, ignorance is bliss!
28. It never rains, but it pours 不鸣则已一鸣惊人
不雨则已,雨则倾盆
当一件坏事发生时,总是伴随着更多的坏事。
First I got caught in a storm, then I got a flat tyre and now I’ve got a parking fine on top – it never rains, but it pours!
29. It takes two to tango 一个巴掌拍不响
当两个人陷入棘手的情况时,责任应该平分。
Sally says that it was all Peter’s fault but, you know what they say, it takes two to tango!
30.It’s not over till the fat lady sings 不到最后,不见真章
在事情真正结束之前,不要假设情况的结果。
Beckham surprised us all with a goal in the ninety-third minute! No one could have predicted it. It goes to show, it’s not over till the fat lady sings!
31.Less is more 少即是多
当谈到事物的外观时,极简主义的方法通常更有效。
The website looks too busy. I think we should remove some text – less is more!
32.Let sleeping dogs lie 不要惹事生非
避免提出当前没有引起问题的问题。
I wanted to tell the neighbours that their son had a loud party last weekend while they were away, but I thought it was better to let sleeping dogs lie.
33.Money doesn’t grow on trees 钱不是容易赚的
金钱往往是通过辛勤工作获得的,因此不应浪费。
Those jeans you want would cost me a week’s wages – money doesn’t grow on trees, you know?!
34.No news is good news 没有消息就是好消息
通常用于告诉正在等待一些消息的人保持乐观。
We haven’t heard back from the doctor about the test results. No news is good news as far as I’m concerned!
35.No pain, no gain 不劳无获
如果不付出一些艰苦的努力,您将无法获得某些东西的好处。
I can’t walk properly today aften the long run I did yesterday, but no pain no gain, I guess!
36.No use crying over spilt milk 覆水难收
这意味着为已经发生的事情后悔是浪费时间。溢出的牛奶不能“不溢出”。
A: I’m so upset with myself for crashing your car!
B: Well, there’s no use crying over spilt milk – let’s go and take a look at the damage.
37.Once bitten, twice shy 一朝被蛇咬, 十年怕草绳
当您对某事/某人持谨慎态度时,因为您以前曾被它/他们伤害过。
A: Since I fell off the skateboard and cut my leg open, I’ve been scared to get back on.
B: Once bitten, twice shy, right?
38.Out of sight, out of mind 眼不见,心不烦
如果您有一段时间没有看到某人/某事,很容易忘记他们。
A: I haven’t even thought about that idiot Sandra since I saw her at the party.
B: You know what they say – out of sight, out of mind!
39.Practice makes perfect 熟能生巧
你练习的越多,你就会变得越好。
A: John’s been going to German classes for about a year and he’s finally getting the hang of it!
B: Yep, practice makes perfect.
40.Practise what you preach 言行一致
你的行为方式应该与你告诉别人的行为方式相同。
You can’t tell your kids not to lie and then lie to them yourself! You should practise what you preach if you want them to grow up right.
41.Rome wasn’t built in a day 罗马不是一天建成的
好的结果需要时间才能实现——你不应该以牺牲质量为代价匆忙工作。
I know that you want to complete this deal, but I don’t want to rush it through – Rome wasn’t built in a day, you know!
42.Strike while the iron is hot 趁热打铁
为获得最佳结果,请在机会出现时立即利用。
You should put an offer in on that house now if you want to buy it – strike while the iron is hot!
43.The early bird catches the worm 早起的鸟儿有虫吃
提前到达约会或活动可能会带来更成功的结果。
A: How did you manage to get hold of those trainers? I thought they’d sell out in ten minutes!
B: I waited outside the Nike store since 6am. Early bird catches the worm!
44.The end justifies the means 为达目的不择手段
一个好的结果证明了你得到结果的方式是正确的,即使这个方法是不公平的。
The Police officer tricked the criminal into admitting the truth – sometimes the end justifies the means!
45.The grass is always greener (on the other side) 这山望着那山高
别人所拥有的往往看起来比你所拥有的更令人向往。
A: I wish I’d chosen French over German – their class seems way more fun.
B: The grass is always greener! They’re probably thinking the same about us.
46.The proof is in the pudding 布丁好不好,吃了才知道
即使从外面看起来很棒,在您尝试之前您也无法真正知道结果。
They seem to have done a really good job on the new Mazda 300 – but as they say, the proof is in the pudding! I’m looking forward to taking it for a spin when it’s finally released next month.
47.There is no smoke without fire 无风不起浪
如果有关于某人或某事的谣言,通常是有充分理由的。
A: Have you heard that the Prime Minister has been accused of having parties during lockdown?
B: No smoke without fire, I reckon!
48.Too many cooks (spoil the broth) 人多添乱
如果有太多人在做一个项目,结果可能会很混乱,甚至是灾难性的。
There were five of us working together on the painting and the result was an absolute mess – too many cooks…
49.Two heads are better than one 人多智广
与某人一起完成一个项目比单独完成一个项目更成功。
Do you think you could give me a hand with writing my proposal for work? I’m struggling with the wording and two heads are better than one!
50.Two wrongs don’t make a right 两个错加不出一个正确来
对一个对你做错的人做错并不会让你无辜。
A: I can’t believe I’m being punished for taking her book when she stole my tablet!
B: I’m afraid two wrongs don’t make a right.
51.What goes around comes around 善有善报恶有恶报
如果你做错了,你将来会受到报应。
My boss is in trouble for not paying his taxes – what goes around comes around.
52.When in Rome (do as the Romans do)入乡随俗
您应该遵循您所访问的地方的文化。无论是国家还是社区,遵循当地习俗都是明智的。
When on holiday in France we tend to have a glass of wine with our lunch – as they say, when in Rome…!
53.Where there’s a will, there’s a way 有志者事竟成
如果你真的想做某事,即使很难,你也会想办法去做。
They told the film star he’d never make it in Hollywood, but where there’s a will there’s a way!
54.While the cat’s away, the mice will play 猫儿不在,鼠儿成精
没有负责人的监督,下属就会趁虚而入,为所欲为。
I noticed that the whole office clocked off early today as the boss is on holiday – when the cat’s away…!
55.You can have too much of a good thing 好事过头了也会变坏事
如果你有太多通常是好的或有益的东西,它可能会变得过度坏。
I’ve eaten so much birthday cake I feel sick – too much of a good thing, right?!!
56.You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink你能把马牵到水边,但是你没法强迫它喝水。
您可以向某人展示如何做某事或让他们轻松,但您不能强迫他们这样做。
The chef put some healthy recipes on the menu, but most of the pupils still opted for fries – you can lead a horse to water…!
57.You can’t teach an old dog new tricks没法让老狗学新把戏
如果一个人长期以某种方式去做,就很难改变一个人的习惯。
We bought our oldest waiter a top of the range tablet to take orders, but he still insists on using his notepad – you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, I suppose!