Lesson on Idioms 138

Have the best of both worlds

Explanation:

​Having all the benefits
两全其美

​Wash one’s dirty linen in public

Explanation:

Talking about a bad secret in public

家丑外扬

​Beggars cannot be choosers

Explanation:

​Having no choice
别无选择

​Face the music

Explanation:

​Take the blame
接受惩罚

Multiple Choice

The flood victims will have to take whatever accommodation offered to them as ____________.

• have the best of both worlds

• wash their dirty linen in public

• beggars cannot be choosers

• facing the music

In the red

Explanation:

In debt
欠钱

In the dark

Explanation:

Unaware
蒙在鼓里

​In the green

Explanation:

​Young and strong
血气方刚

​In the pink

Explanation:

Very healthy
非常健康

Multiple Choice

I was sick last week but now I'm ___________ of health.

• in the red

• in the dark

• in the green

• in the pink

​Flash in the pan

Explanation:

Living for a short while
昙花一现

​Donkey work

Explanation:

Boring job
无聊的，苦差事

​Jack of all trades

Explanation:

Someone who is good at everything
万精油

​Cock and bull story

Explanation:

Ridiculous story
荒诞的故事

Multiple Choice

I did not believe his __________ about the mistake he committed.

• flash in the pan

• donkey work

• jack of all trades

• cock and bull story

​To keep up appearances

Explanation:

To save the face
为了挽回脸面

​To pass the hat around

Explanation:

To raise funds
筹集资金

​To stand on one's own feet

Explanation:

To be independent
独立

​To see the light

Explanation:

Suddenly understand
恍然顿悟

Multiple Choice

___________, the bankrupt decided to tell his friends that he had sold off his businesses.

• To keep up appearances

• To pass the hat around

• To stand on one's own feet

• To see the light

​Sit on the fence

Explanation:

Cannot decide
犹豫不决

​Read between the lines

Explanation:

Understand what’s behind the words
听懂户外音

​Put one's foot in

Explanation:

Make people embarrassed
使人尴尬

​Cook one's goose

Explanation:

Spoil one’s plan
破坏某人的计划

Multiple Choice

In order to understand poetry, a reader has to ____________.

• sit on the fence

• read between the lines

• put his foot in

• cook one's goose

​Achilles heel

Explanation:

One’s weak point
某人的弱点

​Lip service

Explanation:

Perfunctory, not putting into action
嘴上说说，献殷勤

​Red herring

Explanation:

Redirection
转移注意力的话题

​Mare's nest

Explanation:

Imaginary stuff 

虚幻的，杂乱的东西

Multiple Choice

Her ____________ was her pride; she would get angry if anyone criticised her paintings.

• Achilles heel

• lip service

• red herring

• mare's nest

​A snake in the grass

Explanation:

Hidden danger
潜在的危险

​A white elephant

Explanation:

An expensive but useless thing
昂贵而不用的东西

​A fish out of water

Explanation:

Feeling not comfortable
感觉不自在

​An El Dorado

Multiple Choice

At the gala dinner last evening, I felt like ____________.

• a snake in the grass

• a white elephant

• a fish out of water

• an El Dorado

​A fly in the ointment

Explanation:

Something wrong in perfect
美中不足

​Jack of all trades, master of none

Explanation:

​Good at all but expert in none 

什么都会，但什么都不精

​A pig in a poke

Explanation:

Buying anything
乱购物

Multiple Choice

Jeffrey was never successful in his career because he was a _________________.

• a fly in the ointment

• jack-of-all-trades, master of none

• a pig in a poke

• a red herring

​A thorn in one’s flesh

Explanation:

A trouble in one’s mind 
肉中刺

​To knuckle under

Explanation:

Surrender
屈服

A storm in a teacup

Explanation:

Fussy 
小题大作

Multiple Choice

Mandy realised that it was all ___________ after Mark explained what had happened.

• a thorn in one's flesh

• to knuckle under

• to pass the hat around

• a storm in a teacup