1. toss and turn 辗转难眠、翻来覆去
Steven often tosses and turns at night if he has an interview or important exam the next day.
史蒂芬如果隔天有面试或重要考试,他前一晚都会辗转难眠。
My mom was tossing and turning all night because my dad didn’t come home from work last night.
我妈整晚都翻来覆去睡不好,因为我爸昨晚没有从公司回家。
2. hustle and bustle 熙来攘往、喧嚣的 (城市等)
hustle 这个字当动词时有「推挤;喧闹」的意思,它的名词就是「忙碌」,也可以指「汲汲营营、力争上游」。很多成功人士被问到自己成功秘诀或辛酸时,也很常拿 hustle 来形容自己工作非常认真,无时无刻拼命工作的样子。 bustle 当动词时有「匆忙」之意,或当名词表示「热闹的活动」。而 hustle and bustle 组合就是固定用来形容城市里的喧嚣、很热闹的样子。
Mr. Bai quit his job and went back to his hometown to teach because he’s done with the hustle and bustle of the city.
白先生辞掉工作,回到他的家乡教书,因为他受够了城市中的纷纷扰扰。
3. flora and fauna (某一地的) 动植物群
flora 是指在同一空间或时间里的「植物群」,而 fauna 则是「动物群」。除了讲 animals and plants 之外,用 flora and fauna 有押韵、字数一致,看起来也会比较和谐喔!
When my brother travelled to Indonesia, he spent some time studying the local flora and fauna in order to do his master degree research.
我哥去印尼旅行时,花了一些时间研究当地的动植物群,因为他要做硕士班的研究。
The “Pandora: World of Avatar” theme at the Disney resort brings the splendid and fictional flora and fauna from the movie Avatar into reality.
迪士尼度假村里的主题乐园之一「潘朵拉星:阿凡达世界」将电影《阿凡达》中华丽、虚构的动植物群带入现实世界中。
4. rant and rave 大吵大闹
rant 和 rave 两字都是动词「怒气冲冲的大吼大叫」的意思。
A: Why is it so noisy out there? Are people fighting?
A: 外面怎么这么吵?有人在吵架吗?
B: Oh, it’s our neighbours Mr. Huang and Mrs. Chen again. They are always ranting and raving about their store problems.
B: 噢,又是我们的邻居黄先生和陈太太了。他们永远都在为了店的问题大吵大闹。
5. dribs and drabs 一点一滴地
dribs 和 drabs 都是复数名词,且两字通常不会单独使用,所以要表达某件事一次一点点的进行,例如某件事一点一点的被揭露,可以在句尾加上 in dribs and drabs.
The truth of this whole murder mystery was revealed to the public in dribs and drabs from the police investigation.
透过警方的调查,整起凶杀悬疑案才一点一滴地知道真相。
Doreen works really hard and payed back the money she owed her friend in dribs and drabs.
多琳认真的工作并一点一点地还清他和朋友借的钱。
6. flotsam and jetsam (没价值的) 零碎杂物、残骸碎片、杂事
flotsam 和 jetsam 同义,都是指海上或沙滩上的「碎木、漂流物或零碎杂物」,可引申为「不受重视的人」或「无价值的东西」。另外,形容一天中的「杂事」也可以用 flotsam and jetsam (of the day).
We were shocked when we found out the beautiful beach we used to go is now covered with flotsam and jetsam.
我们发现之前常去的海滩现在充满零碎垃圾时,都吓了一跳。
A: Did you find something important in that box?
A: 那个箱子里有什么重要的东西吗?
B: No, just some broken toys and stuff, nothing more than flotsam and jetsam.
B: 没有耶,就是一些坏掉玩具之类的杂物,没什么有价值的。
7. movers and shakers 有影响力的人、有权势者
movers and shakers 字面上的意思可以看出是「有行动力的人」或是「可以动摇别人」的人,因此组合起来就是「有影响力的人物;主宰人物;实力派」等的意思。
Amy seems freaked out because she’s going to give a speech in front of hundreds of people, many of whom are movers and shakers in the same business.
艾咪看起来快吓坏了,因为她等等要在一百多人面前演讲,其中有很多是同业中有影响力的大人物。