英语口语练习小对话 地886期:久等;久候

cool one’s heels

1. 解词释义

Cool one’s heels的字面意思是“使得某人的脚后跟变凉了”，意即：让人就等了。在此，引申为“百般无奈地等待”。

该习语产生于16世纪，原指马跑了很长一段路后，马蹄变热，主人就得停下来再继续赶路，后来此语转来指人。

2. 拓展范例
e.g. Let him cool his heels in the outer office, that will teach him to be more polite.

让他在外间办公室等候着，那将可教训他以后客气点。

e.g. I was early for the appointment, so I had to cool my heels in the outer office.

我比约定的时间来得早，所以只得在外面的办公室里等着。

e.g. I'm going to let you cool your heels in jail until the chief gets back.

我要让你在监狱里多呆一会儿，直到警长回来为止。

e.g. Although I was normally quite patient, I was beginning to feel he had been left to cool his heels too long.

我虽然好耐性，却也感到坐冷板凳的滋味了。