gild/paint the lily 画蛇添足
lily:百合
这个习语可能源于莎翁-莎士比亚的戏剧《约翰王》,其中一句台词是这样写的“To gild refined gold,to paint the lily...is wasteful and ridiculous excess.”给金子镀金,给百合添色,真是又浪费又可笑。
For such a beauty, to use make-up would be to gild the lily.
对于这样的美人,化妆根本是多此一举。
a shrinking violet 胆怯害羞的人;畏首畏尾的人
violet:紫罗兰
紫罗兰的花型较小,在过去被视为谦逊的象征。后引申出此习语。
If you continue to be a shrinking violet, you will never be noticed by the boss.
如果你总这么爱害羞,那你永远也不会被老板注意到。
nip something in the bud 扼杀在萌芽状态;防患于未然
bud:花苞
这个短语也可表达园丁修剪花苞防止其开花,或者气候严寒阻碍花苞开花
The boy must take immediate action and nip it in the bud.
那个男孩必须立刻采取行动,防患于未然。
the pick of the bunch 出类拔萃;精选品
bunch:花束
此习语表示一束花中最好的一枝,后引申为精选的物品。
The peaches in this basket are the pick of the bunch: sweet, and delicious.
这个篮子里的桃子是这一批中最上乘的的,香甜可口。
bed of roses 愉快的工作,如意的境遇,安逸的生活
rose:玫瑰花
这个短语也常与no连用形成否定形式,no bed of roses就表示不如意的现状,工作忙碌生活不称心。
Life isn't always a bed of roses. It is always accompanied with struggle and affliction.
生活不总是舒适轻松的,它总是有奋斗和痛苦相随。
Even before he became poor, however, his life was no bed of roses.
然而,即使在贫困之前,他的生活也并不称心。
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