Lesson 8 IDIOMS 英文釋義

• back and forth on an issue: repeatedly changing one's mind about something; having trouble settling on an opinion or decision
• EXAMPLE: Should we change our company health care plan? I can't make up my mind: I go?back and forth on the issue.
• of two minds:??conflicted; having conflicting ideas about something
• EXAMPLE: Many consumers are?of two minds?about buying organic produce. On the one hand, it is often more expensive than regular produce. On the other hand, it may be healthier.
• tough call:?a difficult decision; something difficult to predict
• EXAMPLE: It was a?tough call, but the company finally decided to close its factory in South Carolina.
• wishy-washy:?ineffective; lacking will-power; indecisive; incapable of making clear decisions
• EXAMPLE: Wendy is very?wishy-washy. She changed her mind a hundred times about which packaging design to use for the new product.
• (to) bite the bullet:?to make a difficult or painful decision; to take a difficult step
• EXAMPLE: When demand was down, U.S. automakers had to?bite the bullet?and cut jobs.
• ORIGIN: This idiom comes from the military. During the Civil War in the United States, doctors sometimes ran out of whiskey for killing the pain. A bullet would be put in the wounded soldier's mouth during surgery. He would "bite the bullet" to distract him from the pain and keep him quiet so the doctor could do his work in peace.
• (to) test the waters:??to try something out before committing to it; to see what the response or outcome will be to an intended action
• EXAMPLE: Before quitting his job as a lawyer to become a chef, Chad?tested the waters?by working weekends at a restaurant.
• the best of both worlds:?a situation or product that offers two very different advantages at the same time
• EXAMPLE: BMW's new sports car offers?the best of both worlds: a reliable car that's also fun to drive.
• (to) put a stake in the ground:?to take the first step; to make a big move to get something started; to make a commitment
• EXAMPLE: Our business in California has grown steadily over the past two years. Now is the time to?put a stake in the ground?and open a regional office there.
• good call:?good decision
• EXAMPLE:?Good call?on buying Google stock. It has gone way up since you bought it.
• (to) live to regret a decision:??to feel bad later about one's decision
• EXAMPLE: The mayor agreed to allow a new dump to be built in town, but he later?lived to regret his decision.
• my gut tells me:??I have a strong feeling that; my intuition tells me
• EXAMPLE: It's true that I don't know him well, but?my gut tells me?that James is the right person for the sales director position.
• NOTE: The "gut" is both the intestines and stomach and also the innermost emotional response.