Lesson 10 IDIOMS?英文釋義

• (to) kick off:?to start something, such as a meeting or a project
• EXAMPLE: Bill Gates?kicked off?the conference by showing a demonstration of Microsoft's new search engine.
• NOTE: You will also see the phrase "kick-off meeting," meaning the first meeting to get a new project started.
• (to) need something like a hole in the head:??to have no need for something; to have no desire for something
• EXAMPLE: One of our competitors is threatening to take us to court. We?need that like a hole in the head!
• out of one's mind:?crazy; having unrealistic thoughts or ideas
• EXAMPLE: Our DSL provider is telling us that our rates will soon go up by 50 percent. Are they?out of their minds?
• (to) take a crack at something:?to try something
• EXAMPLE: It's going to be hard for us to lower our raw materials cost on this product, but we'll?take a crack at it.
• SYNONYM: to have a go at something
• (to) put one's mind to something:?to focus on a task; to try hard to do something
• EXAMPLE: Your accounting course may be difficult, but if you?put your mind to it, you'll get through it.
• (to) roll up one's sleeves:?to get ready to start something; to prepare to do something
• EXAMPLE: We've got to pack up 500 crystal vases by tomorrow morning, so let's?roll up our sleeves?and get to work.
• (to) give it one's best shot:?to make one's best effort to get something done; to try to do something, even though you're not sure if you'll be successful
• EXAMPLE: The small brewery went out of business after three unprofitable years, but at least they?gave it their best shot.
• nothing ventured, nothing gained:?If you don't try to do something, you'll never succeed.
• EXAMPLE: It's risky to spend so much money developing a new brand, but?nothing ventured, nothing gained.
• can-do attitude:?a positive way of looking at things; an optimistic perspective; a positive attitude
• EXAMPLE: Marie always says that nothing's impossible. She's got a real?can-do attitude.
• child's play:?an easy task
• EXAMPLE: Evan has been an auto mechanic for 20 years, so replacing your windshield wipers will be?child's play?for him.
• bigwig:?very important person; person in charge
• EXAMPLE: All the?bigwigs?from the company went to Hawaii for a four-day conference.
• SYNONYMS: head honcho; big cheese; VIP (very important person)
• ORIGIN: This term comes from "big wig" -- the large wigs that English men wore in the 17th and 18th centuries. Men of great importance wore the biggest wigs.
• out of touch with reality:?unrealistic; not aware of what's really going on
• EXAMPLE: The CEO believes His company's stock price will triple in a year. Most people think he's?out of touch with reality.