第二部分：从汉语到英语
打碎玻璃天花板（2）

    talk something over指的是discuss，比如：

    Tom talked his plan over with his father before he bought the car.

    （在买车之前，汤姆认真地同父亲谈了他的计划。）

    on time指的是not before or late of the time arranged，比如说：

    The train left on time.

    （列车正点开走了。）

    till one is blue in the face不是说某个人的脸发紫了，而是说，until one can say no more in trying to convincing someone of something，比如：

    Jane argued with Bill until she was blue in the face.

    （简和比尔争了起来，直到她气急败坏，无话可说。）

    in time to指的是be at a place at the right time to do something; soon enough，比如：

    We got to Washington in time for the cherry blossoms.

    （我们赶到华盛顿的时候，正值樱桃开花。）

    out of the question指的是impossible; beyond consideration; unthinkable，比如说：

    Your suggestion that we go swimming is out of the question; it’s much too cold today.

    （你建议我们今天去游泳，这是不可能的，天太冷了。）

    waste one’s breath 指的是 speak uselessly, to no purpose：

    If you tell Jack not to go, you’ll just be wasting your breath; he’ll go anyway.

    （如果你告诉杰克不要去，那完全是白费口舌，他无论如何都要去的。）

    我想，要记住并且能熟练地应用成语，关键在于勤学苦练，加强记忆。最主要的还是在于积累，通过大量的阅读和其他形式的学习，比如进行读和写的训练，把英语成语逐渐地变成自己的成语。要做到这点，就要在学习中把遇到的每一个成语的意思弄明白，只有理解了，才能记得牢。下面的一些成语并不难，我很喜欢，在给朋友写信或者打电话时，顺便说几句也很有意思，比如：

    I know the answer, but I can't put my finger on it.

    （我知道答案，可我说不确切了。）

    I don't believe Sally's pregnant. It's just coffee talk, just gossip.

    （我不相信萨莉怀孕了，那只不过是瞎扯。）

    I’m a little ahead of time, I know, but it would be better to wait here rather than miss the train.

    （我想我来得稍早了一点，不过，就是在这儿等，也比赶不上火车好。）

    Kathy never has time to be bored. She’s as busy as a bee from morning to night.

    （凯西从没有时间烦恼。她从早到晚像蜜蜂一样忙个不停。）

    I like to live here because people here call a spade a spade, and they have a sense of humor.

    （我喜欢住在这儿，因为这儿的人有什么说什么，他们也有幽默感。）

    Carol James had done her homework before the tour started, and she knew where to go.

    （卡罗尔·詹姆斯在旅行开始前就已经作了充分的准备，她知道要去哪儿。）

    A silver-tongued salesman sold me this car, but I can't drive!

    （一个能说会道的推销员卖给我这辆车，可我不会开车！）

    You’d better get your things together. There’s no time to lose.

    （你最好把东西收拾一下，没有多少时间了。）

    The movie stars always wanted to be in the spotlight.

    (电影明星总想成为人们瞩目的中心。)

    He sailed through his examinations and graduated at the top of his class.

    （他一帆风顺地通过了考试，以全班第一名的成绩毕业。）

    He talked my ear off all afternoon but didn’t really say a thing.

    （他整整一下午把我的耳朵都说出茧子来了，可实际上一句有用的话也没说。）

    He doesn’t know what he’s talking about—why, he’s all wet about the issue.