汉语习语英译 趁热打铁 to strike while the iron is hot 浑水摸鱼 to fish in the troubled water 如坐针毡 to sit on pins and needles 雷鸣般的掌声 a thunder of applause 一迅雷不及掩耳之势 at lightning speed 他泪如雨下 His eyes were raining tears. 天壤之别 Great difference as between heaven and earth (英语中类似的比喻是all difference in the world) 杞人忧天 To entertain groundless fears or unnecessary worries (be more frightened than hurt) 水中捞月 To catch the moon in the water To make an impractical attempt (fish in the air Cry for the moon Plough the sands A wild goose chase) 知人知面不知心 You can know a man’s face but not his heart. Appearances certainly are deceptive. 胸有成竹 Before an artist can draw a bamboo, he must have the image in his mind. To have a well-thought-out plan before doing something 雨后春笋 To spring up like bamboo shoots after a spring rain Of new things emerging rapidly in large numbers. Every family is said to have at least one skeleton in the cupboard. 俗话说,衣柜里面藏骷髅,见不得人得事家家有。 瓜熟蒂落 When a melon is ripe, it falls off its stem. 水到渠成 When water flows, a channel is formed. 三心二意 in / of two minds 一五一十 In great detail 不管三七二十一 Regardless of the consequences 三令五申 To have repeatedly issued orders and given warnings 三头六臂 A person of inexhaustible resources 三长两短 Unexpected misfortune or accident 粗枝大叶 Thick branches and large leaves (in doing things) do not take due care; careless or carelessly 闻所未闻 Hearing what has never been heard before; seldom heard of
