英语专八考试汉译英难词集锦

两面派 two-faced

我知道怎样对付两面派，而且一眼就能看出谁是一贯两面讨好的人。
I know how to handle two-faced people and can even tell at the first glance who are in the habit of running with the hare and hunting with the hounds.(注：run with the hare and hunt with the hounds 指人两面讨好，不得罪任何一方的做法。) 

受气包 doormat

她天生就是个受气包，什么事都不敢说个不字。
She’s born doormat ,afraid of going against anything. 

扫帚星 a jinx

有人说那个女人是个扫帚星，谁跟她结婚谁倒霉。 
She’s said to be a jinx, who would bring bad luck to whoever she marries.

略胜一筹 be a notch above

论油画，张先生比刘先生画得好。但是，谈到水彩画，刘先生可就比张先生略胜一筹了。
In oil painting, Mr.Zhang paints better than Mr.Li.But when it comes to water colors,Mr.Liu appears to be a notch above Mr.Zhang.

有头脑 be a brain

他可是个有头脑的人，决不会相信你的那一套。
He’s a brain, who wouldn’t be fooled into believing your babbling.

很能干 to have a lot on the ball

我知道李明很能干，但我怀疑他是否真的愿意到我们这儿来工作。
I know Li Ming has a lot on the ball. But I’m not sure if he likes to work here.

有名无实 a poor apology

你刚才提到的那个作家不过是个有名无实的人。他的作品太没意思了。
The man you’ve just mentioned is but a poor apology for a writer. His writings are tedious.

绞尽脑汁 to rack one’s brain

他已经绞尽脑汁了，可是仍未找到问题的答案。
He had racked his brain, but hadn’t been able to work out the answer to the problem.

没骨气 have no guts

真没想到小高那么没骨气，竟然嫁给了坑害过她父亲的人。
I’m surprised to learn that XiaoGao had married the man who had once done her father in. She rally has no guts.

真了不起 really something

他真了不起，竟然一个人对付了那么多的对手。
He overwhelmed so many of his opponents alone. He’s really something.

昙花一现 a flash in the pan

那个歌星也只是昙花一现，出了几张唱片就销声匿迹了。
That singer was only a flash in the pan. He disappeared into the air after having made one or two records.

寡不敌众 be outnumbered

她很勇敢，但终因寡不敌众，被那帮人打晕过去
The girl was brave enough, but as being outnumbered, she was finally knocked into the middle of next week by the gang. 

单枪匹马 play a lone hand

在投资时，他总喜欢单枪匹马的去干
When investing in a business, he always likes to play a lone hand.

出师不利 get off one the wrong foot

他的主意不错，可一开始就出师不利。
His idea was good, but he got off on the wrong foot when he started doing it.

嘴硬 never say uncle 

那个孩子的嘴特别硬，打死他都不肯认错
That boy never says uncle. He wouldn’t admit he’s wrong for the life of him.

有门道 have the means of

在挣钱方面，张先生可有门道了。
Mr.Zhang has always had the means of making money.

找到窍门get the hang of

我已经找到学习英语动词的窍门了。
I’ve now got the hang of learning English verbs.

占上风 gain the upper hand

比赛一开始，我们队占上风。可到最后却失利了
At the beginning of the game our team gained the upper hand. But by and by, we lost our strength.

有资格 be in a position

你没有资格对他那样讲话，他是那儿的老板
You’re not in a position to talk to him like that; He’s the boss there.

见机行事 play to the score

到那儿，你要见机行事，千万不要由性子来。
When you are there with them, play to the score. Never act on impulse.