1. piece of cake
大家對這個習語很熟悉啦,和中文里的“小菜一碟”類似,形容非常容易的事情。
The exam was a piece of cake.
考試很簡單。
還有一個有趣的習語easy as pie,像做餡餅一樣簡單,也形容很容易,不費吹灰之力。
2. have your cake and eat it (too)
魚與熊掌無法兼得,你怎么能吃掉蛋糕而又保有它呢?所以說這個習語多用于否定句。
You can't have your cake and eat it - if you want more local services, you can't expect to pay less tax.
你不能二者兼得——想獲得更多的地方服務就不能指望少付稅金。
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.
羅杰下不了決心是上大學還是找工作, 兩者不可兼得。
3. the icing on the cake
icing指的是(糕餅表層的)糖衣,這里是用蛋糕上的糖衣來比喻錦上添花之物。
I was just content to see my daughter in such a stable relationship but a grandchild, that really was the icing on the cake.
看到女兒與女婿的關系很穩(wěn)定我已感到滿足,后來又添了外孫,這可真是錦上添花。
4. as American as apple pie
很多人想起美國會想到自由女神像,想到好萊塢,而對吃貨來說,也會想到蘋果派。這個習語的意思就是“地道美國式的”。
Leather jackets are as American as apple pie and Harley-Davidsons.
皮夾克具有典型的美國特色,此外還有哈利-戴維森摩托車。
5. be in apple-pie order
這個習語形容“像蘋果派一樣”井然有序、整整齊齊。
Their house is always in apple-pie order.
他們家總是收拾得井井有條。
6. be (as) flat as a pancake
pancake的意思是“薄煎餅”,它的特點就是又平又圓又薄。這個習語就形容非常平坦,平坦如鏡。
The land in that area is as flat as a pancake.
劍橋周圍的鄉(xiāng)村地勢平坦如砥。
7. that's the way the cookie crumbles
crumble的意思是(使)粉碎;(使)成碎屑,曲奇餅成了碎屑,比喻“事已定局,無可變更”。
這和中文里的生米已成熟飯意思差不多。
We lost the game, but that’s just the way the cookie crumbles.
我們輸了比賽,但是事以至此只能這樣了。
8. go/sell like hot cakes
誰不愛熱氣騰騰的美味蛋糕呢?這個習語就是熱銷的意思。
The new game is apparently selling like hot cakes.
顯然,他新設計的電子游戲很暢銷。
9. the slice/share of the cake
slice指切下的食物薄片,share是一份,份額,這很符合中文里分一杯羹的說法。
Everyone should have a fair slice of the cake.
每個人都應公平地分到一份。
10. have a sweet tooth
sweet tooth?難道牙齒還分甜咸?這個習語是“喜歡甜食”的意思哦。
Finally, even the common man could afford to satisfy his sweet tooth.
最后,連平民百姓都喝得起這種飲料,以滿足他們對甜食的喜愛。