Lesson 14 IDIOMS?英文釋義

• (to) push the envelope:?to go beyond what is normally done; to stretch the boundaries
• EXAMPLE: The design team?pushed the envelope?by creating a car powered entirely by the sun.
• (to) pull something off:??to accomplish a difficult task; to successfully do something difficult
• EXAMPLE: We need to prepare and mail out 50,000 media kits by tomorrow. I don't know how we're going to?pull it off!
• SYNONYM: to carry something off
• (to) burn the midnight oil:?to stay up late working or studying
• EXAMPLE: The bank needs our financial statements completed by 9 a.m. tomorrow. We're going to need to?burn the midnight oil?tonight to finish on time.
• ORIGIN: This expression dates back to the days before electricity, when oil lamps were used for lighting. People went to sleep earlier back then, so if you were still burning the oil at midnight, you were staying up late.
• (to) work one's tail off：?to work very hard
• EXAMPLE: The software developers?worked their tails off?to get the new software package released before Christmas.
• (to) keep one's eye on the prize:?to stay focused on the end result; to not let small problems get in the way of good results
• EXAMPLE: I know it's difficult going to class after work, but just?keep your eye on the prize. At the end of next year, you'll have your MBA.
• NOTE: You will also see the variation: keep one's eves on the prize.
• (to) hunker down:??to focus on work; to get ready to work hard, often involving a long period of time
• EXAMPLE: If you're going to finish that report by Monday morning, you'd better?hunker down?over the weekend.
• NOTE: This phrase also means to stay indoors or to take shelter when the weather turns bad. Example: There's going to be a blizzard tonight. We'd better just hunker down.
• around the clock:?non-stop; 24 hours a day
• EXAMPLE: When the company website went down, the IT department worked?around the clock?to fix it.
• NOTE: You may also hear the variation: round the clock.
• team player:?somebody willing to help out for the benefit of the group
• EXAMPLE: Aaron is great at working with others, and he always contributes a lot to projects. Everybody knows he's a?team player!
• (to) pitch in:?to help; to contribute
• EXAMPLE: If we're going to get these 3,000 crystal vases packaged and shipped by tomorrow morning, everybody's going to need to?pitch in.
• a pat on the back：credit; recognition; praise
• EXAMPLE: "Team, give yourselves?a pat on the back. Our results are in and we just had our most successful quarter ever!"
• all in a day's work:?this is just part of the job; this is nothing unusual
• EXAMPLE: "You've come up with a plan to double our sales next quarter?" — "Yes,?all in a day's work."
• (to) come with the territory:?to be part of the job
• EXAMPLE: Samantha doesn't like firing people, but as a vice president, she knows that?comes with the territory.
• R&R:?rest and relaxation
• EXAMPLE: Brad and Melanie got plenty of?R&R?during their two-week vacation in the Caribbean.