英文俗语汉译解释整理

贸学长

1.After meat, mustard; after death, doctor. 雨后送伞
Explanation: this describes a situation where assistance or comfort is givenwhen it is too late.
Example: just as I had cancelled my application to go abroad, I had a promiseof money for my fare. It was a case of fter death, the doctor.

2. After praising the wine they sell us vinegar. 挂羊头卖狗肉
Explanation: to offer to give or sell something that is inferior to what youclaim it to be.
Example: that fellow completely misled us about what he was capable of doing.After praising the wine, he sold us vinegar.

3. All is over but the shouting. 大势已去
Explanation: finally decided or won; brought to the end; not able to bechanged.
Example: after Bill’s touch down, the game is all over but shouting.

4. All lay load on the willing horse. 人善被人欺，马善被人骑
Explanation: a willing horse is someone who is always doing things for others.Very often the implication is that others impose on him.
Examples: the trouble is you're too good-natured and people take advantage ofit. all lay load on the willing horse. You will have to learn to refuse peoplewho ask too much.

5.anger and haste hinder good counsel. 小不忍则乱大谋
Explanation: one can not act wisely when one is angry or in a hurry.
Example: you should calm down before you decide the next move. Anger and hastehinder good counsel.

6. As poor as a church mouse 一贫如洗
Explanation: to be exceedingly poor, having barely to live upon.
Example: he has a large family, and is poor as a church mouse.
Note: a church is one of the few buildings that contain no food.

7. A word spoken is past recalling. 一言既出，驷马难追
Explanation: the harm done by a careless word can not easily undo.
Example: for the rest of his life he regretted what he had said, but a wordspoken is past recalling and he knew he could never repair the damage of thatmoment of harshness.

8.World is but a little place, after all. 天涯原咫尺，到处可逢君
Explanation: it is used when a person meets someone he knows or is in somewayconnected with him in a place where he would never have expected to do so.
Example: Who would have thought I would bump into an old schoolmate on a trekup Mount Tai. The world is but a little placeafter all.

9. When in Rome,do as the Romans do. 入乡随俗
Explanation: conform to the manners and customs of those amongst whom you live.
Example: I know you have egg and bacon for breakfast at home, but now you areon the Continent you will do as the Romans do and take coffee and rolls.

10. What you lose on the swings you get back on the roundabouts.
失之东隅，收之桑榆
Explanation: a rough way of starting a law of average; if you have bad luck onone day you have good on another; if one venture results in loss try a freshone---it may succeed.
Example: he may always possess merits which make up for everything; if he loseson the swings, he may win on the roundabouts.

11.What are the odds so long as you are happy. 知足者常乐
Explanation: what does anything else matter if a person is happy.
Example: you complain so much, but you have a good family, parents, health, andmoney. What’s the odd so long as you’re happy.

12．Entertainan angel unawares. 有眼不识泰山
Explanation: to receive a great personage as a guest without knowing hismerits.
Example: in the course of evening someone informed her that she was ntertainingan angel unawares, in the shape of a composer of the greatest promise

13.every dog has his day . 是人皆有出头日
Explanation: fortune comes to each in turn
Example: they say that every dog has his day; but mine seems a very long timecoming.

14.every potter praises his own pot. 王婆买瓜，自卖自夸
Explanation: people are loath to refer to defects in their possessions or theirfamily members
Example: he said that his teacher considered his work brilliant, but I wouldrather hear it from his teacher’s own mouth. Every potter praises his own pot