1. piece of cake
大伙对这个习语很了解啦,和中文里的“小菜一碟”类似,形容很容易的事情。
The exam was a piece of cake.考试非常简单。还有一个有趣的习语easy as pie,像做馅饼一样简单,也形容比较容易,不费吹灰之力。
2. have your cake and eat it
鱼与熊掌没办法兼得,你如何可以吃掉蛋糕而又保有它呢?所以说这个习语多用于否定句。
You can't have your cake and eat it - if you want more local services, you can't expect to pay less tax.你不可以二者兼得——想获得更多的地方服务就不可以指望少付税金。Roger can't make up his mind whether to go to college or get a job. You can't eat your cake and have it, too.罗杰下不了决心是上大学还是找工作, 两者不可兼得。
3. the icing on the cake
icing指的是糖衣,这里是用蛋糕上的糖衣来比喻锦上添花之物。
I was just content to see my daughter in such a stable relationship but a grandchild, that really was the icing on the cake.看到女儿与女婿的关系非常稳定我已感到满足,后来又添了外孙,这可真是锦上添花。4. as American as apple pie
不少人想起美国会想到自由女神像,想到好莱坞,而对吃货来讲,也会想到苹果派。这个习语的意思就是“地道美国式的”。
Leather jackets are as American as apple pie and Harley-Davidsons.皮夹克具备典型的美国特点,除此之外还有哈利-戴维森摩托车。5. be in apple-pie order
这个习语形容“像苹果派一样”井然有序、整整齐齐。
Their house is always in apple-pie order.他们家一直整理得井井有条。
6. be flat as a pancake
pancake的意思是“薄煎饼”,它的特征就是又平又圆又薄。这个习语就形容很平坦,平坦如镜。
The land in that area is as flat as a pancake.剑桥周围的乡村地势平坦如砥。7. that's the way the cookie crumbles
crumble的意思是(使)粉碎;(使)成碎屑,曲奇饼成了碎屑,比喻“事已定局,无可变更”。
这和中文里的生米已成熟饭意思差不多。
We lost the game, but that’s just the way the cookie crumbles.大家输了比赛,但事以至此只能如此了。8. go/sell like hot cakes
哪个不喜欢热气腾腾的美味蛋糕呢?这个习语就是热销的意思。
The new game is apparently selling like hot cakes.显然,他新设计的电子游戏非常畅销。9. the slice/share of the cake
slice指切下的食物薄片,share是一份,份额,这非常符合中文里分一杯羹的说法。
Everyone should have a fair slice of the cake.每一个人都应公平地分到一份。10. have a sweet tooth
sweet tooth?难道牙齿还分甜咸?这个习语是“喜欢甜食”的意思哦。
Finally, even the common man could afford to satisfy his sweet tooth.最后,连平民百姓都喝得起这种饮料,以满足他们对甜食的喜欢。