There’s more than one way to skin a cat.

達到同樣目的的辦法多的是;解決問題或辦事情有很多方法。

註:這成語的字面意思為「要剥一隻貓的皮,不只一種方法而已」。

例句:

  • Our first approach didn’t work, but we’ll figure out some other way. There’s more than one way to skin a cat. (我們的第一個方法行不通,但我們會想出其他辦法。達到同樣目的的辦法多的是)
  • John: How will we fix the sink without a wrench? Mary: There’s more than one way to skin a cat. (約翰:沒有活動扳手,我們要怎麼修理洗碗槽呢?瑪麗:解決問題的辦法又不是只有一種而已)

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the elephant in the room

目前存在或顯而易見、但不被承認或被忽視的棘手問題;目前存在或顯而易見、但人們不願提及或討論或者故意裝作不知道的棘手問題。

例句:

  • The youngest son of our boss had broken one of the windows in our office. However, we had been too embarrassed to mention it to our boss. Two days later He decided to address the elephant in the room by admitting that his son had indeed broken the window. (老闆的么兒打破了我們辦公室一個窗戶。但我們都不好意思跟老闆提這件事。兩天後,他承認的確是他兒子打破了窗戶,因而解決了這個大家都不願提及的棘手問題)
  • There was an elephant in the living room this morning when our boss held a meeting with a black eye, but did not say anything about what had happened. (今天早上當我們老闆帶著黑眼圈主持會議,但又隻字未提發生什麼事時,大家也裝作什麼事都沒發生) - 員工裝傻,可能的原因之一是,他們心知肚明,老闆昨晚肯定又遭到他那位母老虎老婆飽以一頓老拳。

註:有時亦用 the elephant in the living room 來表示。大家對這樣的問題裝作不知道、視若無睹,不願去碰觸,最大的原因當然是怕惹禍上身或招來不必要的麻煩。

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kill the fatted calf

設宴款待某人。

例句:

  • When John left the army, his parents killed the fatted calf and threw a great party. (當約翰退伍時,他的父母盛宴款待並舉辦一場盛大的派對)
  • Sorry this meal isn’t much, Mary. We didn’t have time to kill the fatted calf. (瑪麗,抱歉,這一餐並不豐盛。我們沒有時間設宴款待妳)

註:這成語源自聖經中浪子回頭的故事。浪子回家時,父親不但原諒他還盛宴款待:「把那頭小肥牛牽來宰了」。

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make a monkey/fool (out) of someone

愚弄 (某人);使 (某人) 出醜。

例句:

  • Jack made a monkey out of himself while trying to make a fool out of Paul. (傑克想要捉弄保羅,反而讓自己出醜了)
  • Her husband’s always getting drunk and making a fool of himself at parties. (她先生老是在宴會上喝醉而使自己出醜)

本文亦刊載在下列網址:
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live high off/on the hog

過舒適奢華的生活。

例句:

  • After they discovered oil on their land, they lived pretty high off the hog. (在他們的土地被發現石油後,他們就過著相當舒適奢華的生活)
  • He was a billionaire who lived high on the hog at all times. (他以前是億萬富豪,一直過著舒適奢華的生活)

本文亦刊載在下列網址:
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(as) slippery as an eel

(指人) 滑頭的;不可信賴的。

例句:

  • You’d be mad to go into business with Tony. He’s as slippery as an eel. (你一定是瘋了才跟東尼做生意。他不可信賴)
  • I advise you not to do business with Jack. He’s as slippery as an eel. (我勸你別和傑克做生意。他滑頭得很)

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live like a fighting cock

(像鬥雞一樣) 吃最好的東西;過奢華的生活;養尊處優;吃得好,睡得跑。

註:這成語原指鬥雞受到主人精心照料,吃得很好。

例句:
My aunt is a very good cook, and I live like a fighting cock whenever I stay with her. (我姑媽很會做菜,在她家做客的日子我總是吃得很好,過得舒服極了)

本文亦刊載在下列網址:
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