242——285

· the black sheep of the family有辱门楣的人

He lost everything in gabling and was called the black sheep of the family by this relatives.

· take a shine to someone一见就中意

She is an animal-lover. She takes a shine to whatever animal she meets.

· give someone the shirt off one's back为某人慷慨解囊，毫不吝啬的接济某人

He works in the charity organization and strongly believes that he who gives others the shirt off his back will be blessed by the God.

· lose one's shirt输得精光

The man didn't leave Las Vegas until he lost his shirt.

· know where the shoe pinches知道问题所在

A wise leader should be one who knows where the shoe pinches and knows what to do with it.

· a shot in the dark瞎猜

I didn't know which button was for TV. I pushed one, and TV was turned on. It was mere a shot in the dark.

· give someone the cold shoulder冷待某人

I hate going to expensive hotels. The receptionist always gives me the cold shoulder when she sees my plain clothes.

· steal the show喧宾夺主

Cinderalla stole the show in the Prince's party.

· side with someone与某人站在一起，支持某人

I'm your friend, but I'm afraid I won't side with you on that issue.

· have a memory like a sieve记性太差

I think a computer notebook will be of great help for me, since I've got a memory like a sieve.

· out of clear blue sky意料不到

Yesterday, out of a clear blue sky, My landlady gave me a one-day notice, asking me to move out.

· .make a slip of the tongue说走嘴

The class burst into laughter when the teacher made a slip of the tongue. He meant to say "Good morning" to students, but he said "Good afternoon".

· be on the sly办事狡猾

The boy was smoking in the corner when his father caught him on the sly.

· for a song以级低的价钱，廉价地

I got the rare edition of the book for a song in the flea market.

· sound someone out试探某人的意见

Have you sounded the principal out on postponing the final examination?

· call a spade a spade有什么就说什么

We are good friends. Call a spade a spade. Don't tell me in a round-about way.

· spick and span干干净净

The housewife always keeps her kitchen spick and span.

· go for a spin出去兜风

The city dwellers like going for a spin to the country on weekends.

· spine-chilling令人毛骨悚然

He likes horrible films. Those spine-chilling pictures to us are pleasant to his eyes.

· The spirit is willing; but the flesh is weak.心有余而力不足

A: How many times have you tried quitting smoking? B: It's not that the spirit is not willing, but that the flesh is weak.

· win one's spurs受到奖赏

She won her spurs as a popular writer immediately after her first book became a best-seller.

· put the squeeze on someone对某人施加压力

The new situation is putting the squeeze on all companies engaged in this business.

· stand up to someone与某人大胆对抗

The soldier stood up to the officer and was place in confinement.

· thank one's lucky stars感到万幸

I should thank your lucky stars that you missed the plane which crashed into the sea.

· get off to a flying start来了开门红

Our kindergarten got off to a flying start by having 100 children to sign up in the first month.

· go steady with someone 与异性稳步发展关系

Mary and Tim got married after going steady with each other for two years.

· watch one's step当心

You're better watch your step when you go out with John. He is a trouble-maker.

· a stick-in the-mud老古董

He is a stick=in-the-mud and will never invest his money in stock.

· be a stickler吹毛皮的人

I don't like to go to her home. She is a stickler for neatness.

· turn someone's stomach令人作呕

Her sweet voice turned my stomach.

· fall between two stools鸡飞蛋打

Tying to straddle two boats, he took up two jobs with two salaries. At last, unable to do either well.

· weather the storm度过难关

The wooden house weathered the storm.

· harp on the same old string老调重弹

He really gets on my nerves. He always harps on the same old string by promising us a paid holiday., but he never keeps it.

· have someone dancing on a string任意摆布某人

Betty is a housewife and no income. Her husband has her dancing on a string.

· pull strings for someone为某人走后门，幕后操作

In the material world, money pulls the strings.

· be stuck on someone迷恋上某人

Tom was stuck on the girl at the first meeting although it was a blind date.

· to sweet-talk someone into (out of ) doing...甜言蜜语地让某人做（不做）……

The accountant sweet-talked the boss out of checking her account.

· be in full swing达到高潮，全面展开

China has opened its door to the outside world for twenty years. Reforms in every walks of life are in full swing.

· be asleep at the switch玩忽职守

The goal-keeper was asleep at the switch and let the rival team goal at the last minute.

· suit...to a T对……再适合不过了

This new job suits me to a T.

· turn the tables扭转局势

Don't worry, your husband knows how to turn the tables and crack down on those guys.

· drink someone under the table把某人灌醉

He has a hollow leg. He can drink all of us here under the table.

· keep tabs on something/someone掌握情况,密切关注

He has subscribed ten newspapers in order to keep tabs on the new developments in market management.

· keep someone down a notch挫某人的傲气

The monitor likes to order us around. He needs to be kept down a notch.