“foot”,这个单词很多同学都知道,我们一般都翻译成“脚”,你知道嘛?英语中有很多和它相关的表达。
1. cold feet
cold是冰冷的,feet是foot的复数形式,别想当然的翻译成“冰冷的脚”。想象一下脚被冻僵了,动弹不得就没办法往前走。所以这个短语实际意思是“信心或勇气的丧失,胆怯”。
例句:
①I get cold feet whenever I have to in front of a crowd.
当我站在人群中的前面的时候我就紧张。
②The groom got cold feet just before the wedding and ran off. 就在婚礼开始之前,新郎退缩,溜走了。
*groom n.新郎; 美 [ɡrum, ɡrʊm]
2. think on your feet形容一个人脑子很快,能迅速做出反应
这个习惯用语六十年前就出现了。它尤其是指在举行商业会议或者记者招待会之类的情况下,一个人能够迅速应答别人提出的难以回答、或者意料之外的问题。
例句:This is a very demanding job and you have to think on your feet.这是一个艰巨的工作,你必须得反应迅速。
*demanding 美 [dɪˈmændɪŋ] adj.苛求的;要求高的;
3. fall/land on your feet特别走运;安然脱离困境;幸免于难
释义:to be lucky in finding yourself in a good situation, or in getting out of a difficult situation
例句:She lost her job last year, but she landed on her feet and found another one a week later.去年她丢了工作,特别走运的是一周后就找到新工作啦。
4. run off one's feet
按字面理解是“脚自己跑了”,那就是说明太忙碌了,忙得不可开交, 累得精疲力竭
释义:to be extremely busy; to have too many things to do
例句:I love my son and daughter, but they do run me off my feet.我喜欢我的儿子和女儿。但他们也的确把我搞得筋疲力尽。
5. get your feet wet初次涉足;开始做(新鲜的事情)
释义:to start doing sth that is new for you
例句:At that time he was a young actor, just getting his feet wet.那时他还是个年轻演员,才初出茅庐。