2010年商务英语之流行美语 1

导读：BEC流行美语：be on a gravy train、be on cloud nine、be on pins and needles、be over the hump、be saddled with. 　　1.be on a gravy train 走运，有赚钱的机会
　　gravy在美国口语中有"容易赚得的利润"的意思，gravy train意即"轻易发大财的工作".该习语直译为"在一辆容易赚钱的火车上",所以引申为"走运，有赚钱的机会".
　　A: John seems to be on the gravy train these days. 约翰最近看起来很走运。
　　B: Yeah. He got a chance of going abroad to arrange an exhibition. 是啊。他得到了一个出国去办展览的机会。
　　A: I don't know why the sun is not shining on me. 我不明白为什么我的运气总是不佳。
　　B: Don't worry. You'll be in the chips sooner or later. 别着急，总有一天你也会很富裕的。
　　2.be on cloud nine 高兴得飘飘然
　　该习语原为美国气象用语。该习语的流行据说应归功于50年代播放的一个名叫《约翰尼·多拉尔》的广播节目。Be on cloud nine的字面意思是"坐早九重云霄之上",引申为"高兴得不得了"或"飘飘然".例如：He was on cloud nine after winning the competition. （他在比赛胜利后欣喜若狂。）
　　A: You seem to be on cloud nine these days. How is your restaurant business? 你近来有些高兴得飘飘然。餐馆的生意怎么样？
　　B: How is my business? It's none of your business! 我的生意怎么样？这不关你的事。
　　A: It's rude of you to talk to me like this. 你这样跟我说话太粗鲁了。
　　B: I was only teasing you. You see, we have our clients eating out of our hands now. Both Mark and I are feeling on the top of the world. 我只是在逗你玩儿。你看，我们现在已经有了许多回头客了。马克和我都感到非常高兴。
　　3.be on pins and needles 坐立不安
　　pins指"大头针",needles指"针",be on pins and needles的字面意思是"如坐在大头针和针上",喻为"坐卧不安"或"如坐针毡".
　　A: It seems you're on pins and needles today. Anything troubling you? 你今天似乎坐立不安。有什么事吗？
　　B: Yeah. I don't know why bad things keep happening to me. You see, my car was stolen and the warehouse had been broken into. I can't put my finger on the causes of this damned thing. 是的。我不知道坏事为什么总是找上我。你看，我的汽车被偷了，货仓也被盗了。我弄不明白怎么会发生这些倒霉事。
　　A: There must be someone who had planned that. He threatened to show you the color when you refused to give him a promotion. 也许这是有人精心策划的。因为你没有提升他，他要给你点颜色看看。
　　4.be over the hump 已度过难关
　　hump的本义是"小丘，山脉",over the hump直译为"越过山脉",引申为"度过难关".
　　A: The Asian financial crises have almost paralyzed Asian economy. 亚洲金融危机几乎使亚洲经济瘫痪。
　　B: Your company must be influenced by it deeply. 你们的公司肯定也很受影响吧
　　A: Yeah. But we are over the hump now. 是的。但我们现在我们已经渡过了难关。
　　5.be saddled with 把任务或责任强加在某人身上
　　saddle在这儿作动词，意为"使负担，强加",saddle sb. with sth. 意为"为某人负重担",因此该习语意为"把任务强加予某人".例如：I can't be saddled with any more responsibilities.（我再也不能承担更多的任务了。）
　　A: How is George recently? 最近乔治怎么样？
　　B: Not very good. I hear that he is saddled with debts of his company. 不太好。我听说他的公司现在债务缠身。
　　A: What happened? 怎么回事？
　　B: It's said that he was cheated by his partner. 据说是他的合伙人把他给骗啦。