常用俗語，教你說地道英語（一）
To understand English as it is spoken in real life, you have to be familiar with idioms. They are used so much in everyday English that it is important to be aware of them. You need to learn what they mean, and how to use them to become an ‘insider’.
爲了要理解實際生活中說的英語，你必須要熟悉一些俗語。它們經常在日常生活中出現，所以，懂得其意思非常重要。除此之外，你更要學着怎麼去用這些俗語，讓你成爲“內行人”。
This blog post will show you some of the most popular English idioms currently in use. Remember, knowledge is power.
這篇文章裏會有一些最流行的並且現在仍然在使用的習語。記住，知識就是力量。
1.CRUNCH TIME 關鍵時刻
the period of time just before a project has to be completed and everyone has to work hard
一個項目即將完成前、每個人都必須努力的一段時間
例：I'm not getting enough sleep these days. It’s crunch time at work.
我最近幾天不打算睡足了。現在可是工作的關鍵時刻。
2. LET YOUR FREAK FLAG FLY 放飛自我
to let others see your uniqueness
讓別人看到你的不同
例： My colleagues were surprised at the Christmas party- I let my freak flag fly and showed them a break dance routine.
我的同事都很驚訝我在聖誕舞會上的表現，因爲放飛自我，向他們展示了霹靂舞。
3. GET OUT OF HAND 失控
when you lose control of things, they get out of hand
當你是對事情失去控制了，就叫失控
例：The party got out of hand and the guests started to throw bottles at each other.
當賓客們開始朝對方互扔瓶子時，這個派隊就失去控制了。
4. GET YOUR HEAD AROUND IT 理解，相信
to understand something
知道，瞭解
例：I just can't get my head around the fact that Joe is leaving us.
我只是難以相信Joe已經離開我們這個事實罷了。
5. DIG IN YOUR HEELS / STICK TO YOUR GUNS 不理會/堅持到底
to refuse to compromise or change your mind
拒絕妥協或改變主意
例：My parents wanted me to give up writing, but I dug in my heels and went on to become a famous writer.My parents wanted me to give up writing, but I stuck to my guns and went on to become a famous writer.
我的父母都想讓我放棄寫作，但是我堅持了下來，最終成爲一個著名的作家。
6. POUND THE PAVEMENT 徘徊街頭找工作
to walk the streets looking for a job
穿梭街頭找工作
例：I'd been pounding the pavement for months before I found a job in a fast food restaurant.
我已經在街頭徘徊數月了，終於在一家快餐店找到了一份工作。
7. PULL A RABBIT OUT OF A HAT 從帽子變出個兔子
to do something unexpected that may have seemed impossible
做看起來不可能的並且無法預料到的事情
例： I thought we were going bankrupt, but my partner pulled a rabbit out of his hat and we landed a major contract.
我本來以爲我們要破產了，但是，我的合夥人出乎意料的完成了不可能的是事情，我們簽了一個大合同。
8. LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED 全力以赴/不遺餘力
to do everything you can to achieve your goal
爲了達到目標，做一切事情。
例：I'll leave no stone unturned until I find out who did this.
我一定會不遺餘力的查出誰做了這件事。
9. GET IT OUT OF YOUR SYSTEM 擺脫做某件事情的慾望
to do something you've wanted to do for a long time and don't want to postpone any longer
去做一件你早就想做的事情，並且不想再推遲了
例：I was't sure how she was going to react, but I had to get it out of my system, so I told her I had found another woman.
我不確定她會如何迴應，但是我早就想告訴她我已經找了另外一個女人。
10. STEP UP YOUR GAME 迎頭趕上
to start performing better
開始表現的更好
例：If you want to win this competition, you'll have to step up your game.
如果你想要贏得這場比賽，你得加把勁了。
11. PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER 恢復鎮靜
to calm down and behave normally
平靜下來，表現正常
例：I understand you've had a bad day, but pull yourself together and get on with your job, will you?
我知道你今天過得挺糟糕的，但是你得平靜下來，繼續你得工作，可以嗎?
12. SHAPE UP OR SHIP OUT 要麼好好幹，要麼走人
either start performing better or leave
表現好一些，否則離開
例：This is the last time I'm telling you to arrive on time. Shape up or ship out.
這是我最後一次警告你準時到達。你要麼好好幹，要麼走人！
13. CUT SOMEBODY SOME SLACK: 放某人一馬
to give somebody a break/ not to judge somebody severely
給某人一次機會/從輕發落
例：I was extremely busy last week. Cut me some slack and I'll finish the report by tomorrow morning.
我上週很忙。再給我些時間，明天早上我就完成報告。
14. BY THE SKIN OF YOUR TEETH: 勉強做成某事
When you do something by the skin of your teeth, you only just succeed/ nearly fail
你剛好一點點成功了/你差一點點就失敗了
例：I hadn't studied much, but passed the test by the skin of my teeth.
我沒有學很多，但是我低分飄過考試。
15. ONCE IN A BLUE MOON 千載難逢
when something rarely ever happens
指某事幾乎不發生
例：We used to see him all the time, but now he just visits us once in a blue moon.
我們過去常常看見他，不過，現在他幾乎不來找我們了。
16. GO DOWN IN FLAMES 毀於一旦
to end or fail suddenly and spectacularly
突然結束或者失敗
例：She'd wanted to become Managing Director, but her career went down in flames when they found out she'd been leaking information to our competitors.
她一直都想成爲總經理，但是當他們發現她泄露公司信息給對手公司，她的職業生涯就毀於一旦了。
17. TAR SOMEONE WITH THE SAME BRUSH: 一竿子打翻一船人
to believe that someone has the same bad qualities as others in a group
認爲某人有和他一組人一樣的壞品質
例：I don't think much of that band, but the singer shouldn’t be tarred with the same brush. She's got a fantastic voice.
雖然我認爲那個樂隊並沒有很好，但是也不能一竿子打翻一船人，歌手確實有很棒的嗓音。
