英文慣用語第十五集12個與「動物」有關的慣用語篇(English Convention Episode 15)
慣用語往往短小精悍，富於哲理，具有較高的概括性和表達性，眾多學者、語言學家和文字工作者對其推崇備至。慣用語無處不在，其形式和意義的約定俗成和文字的風趣幽默大大增強了語言的生命力和表現力。
─摘自《英漢成語異同比較》作者 肖芬(Xiao Fen)老師，中國，中南財經政法大學外語學院副教授。
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Content of English Convention Episode 15(15 Items )：
An albatross around one's neck/A leopard can't change his spots./
A. Little Bird Told Me/Give a person the bird/Talk horse/A horse laugh /Catnap/A dog chance/Chicken out/Drink
like a fish/Goose bump＝Gooseflesh/Beat a dead horse＝Flog a dead horse＝Whipping a dead horse.
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01. An albatross around one's
neck指令人憂慮的事。
02. A leopard can't change
his spots.江山易改本性難移。
03. A. Little Bird Told Me.消息靈通人士說，有人私下告訴我。
04. give a person
the bird 發噓聲、喝倒采。
05. Talk horse 吹牛。
06. A horse laugh不信任的嘲笑。
07. Catnap 小睡
08. A dog chance 很少的一點希望。
09. chicken out 膽怯而罷手、臨陣脫逃。
10. drink like a fish 酒喝得很多；酗酒。
11. goose bump 雞皮疙瘩/gooseflesh 雞皮疙瘩
12. beat a dead horse＝flog a dead horse＝whipping a dead horse徒勞無功。
1.An albatross around one's
neck是指令人憂慮的事。
An albatross
around one's neck這個習慣用語來自18世紀英國詩人Coleridge的著名詩篇， "The
Ancient Mariner" 也就是《老漁夫》。
這詩篇講的是一個水手誤殺了一隻信天翁，這是被認為不吉利的。後來漁船擱淺，水手們強迫他把信天翁掛在脖子上，作為對他的懲罰。
『A heavy burden of guilt that becomes an obstacle to success, as in The failed real estate
scheme became an albatross around her neck, for now she could not interest
other investors in a new project. This idiom comes from Samuel Coleridge's narrative poem, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (1798), which is based on the widespread superstition that it
is unlucky to kill this large white sea bird. In the poem a sailor does kill an
albatross, and when the ship then is becalmed near the equator and runs out of
water, his shipmates blame him and force him to wear the dead bird around his
neck.』
an albatross around one's neck的例句：
01. My wife and I always dreamed of having a big house, but now that we own
one, we find it's an albatross around our necks. We have so much more to furnish,
clean and maintain that it's a strain on our time and budget. Frankly, we wish
we were back in our old home.
我和我太太一直夢想有一棟大房子。現在我們買了大房子，但是卻發現它是個很大的負擔。房子大需要很多傢具，還要做許多清潔和維修工作。這對我們的時間和預算來説都是壓力，我們寧可住在老房子裏。
02. My boss used to wonder why she ever hired Carl. He made so many mistakes
early on that he had become a considerable burden. After two months, however,
he started to make dramatic improvement and is no longer an albatross around her neck.
In fact, he's a real asset.
我的老闆以前總是弄不懂她怎麼會雇用Carl的。一開始，Carl犯了很多錯誤，成了公司一大負擔。可是兩個月後，他開始作出很大的改進，不再是個問題了。事實上，他現在成了公司的骨幹。
03. Yet it became an albatross around their presidential candidate's neck.
04. He knew that if he got caught
cheating, he would have an albatross around his neck for the
rest of his college career.
他當時知道如果他作弊被抓到的話, 他未來的大學生涯將被套上無法擺脫的苦惱。
05. Fame has become an
albatross that prevents her from leading a normal and happy life.
成名已經成為她無法擺脫的負擔, 使她無法過著正常與快活的日子。
2. A leopard can't change his spots.
江山易改本性難移。
A leopard can't
change his spots的例句：
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It is hard to change/alter one's nature.
＝A leopard cannot change its spots.
＝A leopard will never change its spots.
＝An old dog cannot alter its way of barking.
＝It is difficult to alter one's character.
＝One's nature cannot be altered.
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01. What is bred in bone will never come out of the flesh. 本性難移。
02. He was regarded as a determined prison breaker.
他是個本性難移的越獄犯。
03. Well, Anne is late for practice again. I guess a leopard can't
change its spots.唉, Anne練習又遲到了.我想是江山易改,本性難移吧。
04. A leopard can't change his stripes and neither can
a queer.
同性戀不能改變行取向就像美洲豹不能改變它身上的斑紋一樣。
05. A man can no more change
skin than a leopard won't change its
spots. 人不會改變本性,就像豹不會改變斑點一樣。
06. The leopard can never change its spots.
花豹永不能改變身上的斑點(本性難移)。
07. I'm a realist I know you can't
change people's attitudes
overnight.
我是實事求是的人——知道不可能在一夜之間改變人們的看法。
08. A cat can retract its claws, but a dog can't.
貓的爪子可以縮進去, 但狗不能。
09. You can change mountains and rivers but not a person's nature.
江山易改，本性難移。
10. The wolf changes his coat, but not his disposition.
豺狼換張皮，本性卻難移。江山易改，本性難移。
11. The fox changes his skin but not his habits.-Suetonius
江山易改，本性難移。-- Suetonius
12. What is bred in the bone will not(or never)out of the flesh.
生來的習慣不易改掉。江山易改，本性難移。
13. Sloppy! Why can't you do things right? The old saying is certainly
true It's
easier to move a mountain than change a man's character!
你總是這樣不愛收拾，屢次說你，你總不聽。真是江山易改，本性難移。
14. A dictator is unlikely to become a good leader in a democracy.
A leopard
cannot change its spots.
獨裁者不太可能成為民主制度下優秀的領導人。江山易改，本性難移。
15. Did you believe him when he said he had given up smoking?
A leopard cannot change its
spots.
他說戒煙你真的相信嗎？江山易改，本性難移啊！
16. You mean you are going to trust him again after what he did to you? A
leopard cannot change his spots, you know.
你的意思是儘管他這樣對待你，你還是信任他？你要知道：江山易改，本性難移。
17. A leopard cannot change its spots.
江山易改,本性難移。
18. It was the Sage himself who taught that it is easier to move mountains
than to change the hearts of men.
聖人說得好，江山易改，秉性難移。
19. The leopard can never change its spot.
江山易改，秉性難易。
20. The leopard cannot change his spots.
豹子無法改變其斑點(本性難移)。
21. You can't change your own nature. --Aesop
本性難移。——伊索
圖1. A leopard cannot change its spots.
22. The leopard can never change its spots.
花豹永不能改變身上的斑點（指：本性難移）。
23. A fox may grow grey, But never
good.
狐狸會變,但本性難移。
24. The wolf lose his tooth , but not
his Instinct.
狼牙雖失，本性難移。
25. A leopard can't change its spots.
Can
a zebra change its
stripes?
26. I doubt very
much that marriage will change Edward for the better.
A
leopard doesn’t change its spots.
我非常懷疑婚姻會使Edward變好。牛牽到北京還是牛。
27. It’s not
surprising that he was sentenced to five years in prison
again, because a leopard never changes its spots.
他再度被判入獄五年並不令人驚訝，因為江山易改，本性難移。
28. Did you believe him when he said
he had given up smoking ?
A leopard cannot change its spots.
他說戒煙你真的相信嗎？江山易改，本性難移啊。
03. A. Little
Bird Told Me.
據消息靈通人士稱，有人私下告訴我。
A little bird told me出自基督教聖經舊約「傳道書」（Ecclesiastes）第10章第20節：
Do not curse the king, even in your thoughts; do not curse the rich, even
in your bedroom; for a bird of the air may carry your voice, and a bird
in flight may tell the matter.
你不可咒詛君王，也不可心懷此念。在你臥房也不可詛咒富戶，因為空中的鳥，必傳揚這聲音；有翅膀的，也必述說此事。
01. How did you
know that I play chess? Let's just say I know because a little bird told me.
02. A little bird told me that the singer was set to be engaged.
據消息靈通人士稱，這歌手已準備要訂婚。
03. A little bird told me that he was going to jump ship.
有人私下告訴我，他將要跳槽。
04. A little
bird told me that they may be getting married soon.
有人低下告訴我他們快要結婚了。
05. A little
bird told me, today is your birthday.
有人告訴我,
今天是你生日。
06. A little
bird told me that you win the prize.
消息靈通人士告訴我你得了獎。
07. A little
bird told me your wife is expecting a baby.
我聽說你的妻子正在懷小孩。
08. A little
bird told me that today is your birthday.
消息靈通人士告訴我今天是你的生日。
09. A little
bird told me the news.消息靈通的人士將此消息告訴我。
10. Old ( winks ) A little bird told me.
(眨眼)是一隻小鳥告訴我的。
11. A little
bird told me that you are getting engaged next week;
is it true? 一個消息靈通人士告訴我,下周你要訂婚了,是真的嗎 ?
圖2. A. Little Bird Told Me.
12. A little bird tells me
there is gonna be a big coke deal in bay city.
聽聽這個，我一個內線告訴我說海灣城史上最大一樁白粉交易就在這兩天發生。
13. A little bird told me your wife is expecting a baby .
我聽說你的妻子正在懷小孩。
14. A little bird told me we have to work overtime tonight
有人告訴我，我們今晚必須加班。
15. Listen. a little bird told me to check the evening edition.
聽著。有只小鳥告訴我看看晚報。
16. We're looking for someone to take on this new project, and a little bird told me that you might be
interested in the job?
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17. Another advantage of the fable is that if a listener is hurt or
irritated by the story, he can't blame the teller because it is a little bird tells him.
04. give a person the bird 發噓聲、喝倒采。
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give a person the bird例句：
01. If he’d shouted at me like
that I’d have flipped him the bird.
如果他像那樣對我大發雷霆，我會對他比中指。
02. Somebody gave
the cop the bird. 有人對那位員警比中指。
除 flip/give
someone the bird 外，我們亦可用 flip someone off, give someone the finger 來表達完全相同的意思。
03. They barracked throughout the meeting. 他們在會上不斷地喝倒彩。
05. Talk horse 吹牛。
Talk horse的例句：
01. They often talk horse. 他們常常吹牛。
02. They often talk horse when they are free.
他們有空時常常在一起吹牛。
03. Nobody paid attention to his big talk.
沒有人注意聽他吹牛。
06. A horse laugh不信任的嘲笑。
a horse laugh 的例句
01. When this guy running for Congress told us how
much money he'd save us taxpayers, we all gave him the horse laugh. We knew
when he was in the state legislature he always voted for higher taxes.
當這個競選國會議員席位的人對我們說，他會為我們這些繳稅的人省多少錢的時候，我們大家都哄堂大笑．因為我們知道，在他擔任州議員的時候，他老是投票贊成提高稅收的。
02. Harry thinks he's God's gift to women, that none
of them can resist his charm. So we all gave him the horse laugh when he
asked the new girl in class to go to a movie and she told him to get lost.
Harry總是以為自己具有莫大的魅力，女人們都被他傾倒，他就像上帝恩賜給女人的禮物一樣所以，當他請班裡新來的那個女孩去看電影，而被那個女孩子毫不客氣地拒絕了的時候，我們禁不住都嘲笑他。
03. At the end of the joke she gave a horse laugh that
could be heard a street away. 在那個笑話結束時，她發出一陣狂笑，一條街外都可聽到。
04. He came out with a horse laugh that caused some
eyebrows to raise. 他出來譏諷了一番，使得好些人直皺眉頭。
05. It is
enough to make a horse laugh. 及其可笑。
06. Don ' t give your kids
horse laugh as they are doing something strange. 當你的孩子在做一些奇怪的事情的時候，不要給他們不信任的嘲笑。
07. Catnap 小睡
catnap的例句：
01. He had
cultivated the ability to catnap
at odd moments during a
day.他磨練了一副能夠在隨便什麼時候小睡片刻的本領。
02. Not even a swarm of flies disturbs a cheetah's
after dinner catnap. 一群蒼蠅正打擾這這頭獵豹的飯後小憩。
03. Now you are
allowed to take a three minutes catnap.
現在你可以休息三分鐘。
04. If I could a
little catnap, I think
I'd feel much better.
如果可以小睡片刻, 我想我就會覺得好多了。
05. Then Spats took
a catnap, and the bird
looked out for dogs.
然後Spats小睡了一會兒.小鳥為它站崗放哨,防止狗跑過來。
06. I'll meet
you at the movies right after I take a little catnap.
我先小睡片刻再到電影院和你碰面。
07. Preliminary
reconnaissance shows the policeman, suspicion is driver exhausted excuse me
sails catnap causes an accident.
交通警察初步勘測示意, 懷疑是駕駛員疲乏開駛打哈欠至使肇事。
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08. No, really, studies have shown that a quick catnap
of, say, twenty minutes, is far more effective than a two-hour nap.
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不，是真的，研究報告指出，小睡個比方說20分鐘，比兩個小時的睡眠，對你更有效。
09. This class
will be over in a moment, now let's take a nap (break, catnap). 本課時將近結束,大家可以休息一會兒。
圖3. Catnap 小睡。
圖4. Catnap 小睡。
08. A dog chance 很少的一點希望。
a dog chance例句：
01. There's not even a
dog's chance. 一丁點兒機會也沒有了。
02. I probably won't have a
dog's chance to change her mind.
或許我沒什麼機會使她回心轉意了。
03. He doesn't
have (or stand) a dog's chance. 他根本沒有機會。
04. We haven't a
dog's chance of getting a ticket at this late date.
日子這麼近，我們玩股票的機會幾乎沒有。
05. Don't give
him even a dog's chance. 一點兒機會也別給他。
06. He hasn't a
dog's chance of passing the exam.
他這次考試毫無及格的可能。
07. He doesn't
stand a dog's chance of buying a house this year because the bank has
refused to lend him any money.
今年他想都不用想買房子，因為銀行已拒絕貸給他任何款項。
08. He hasn't a
dog's chance of beating the champion.
他絲毫沒有可能打敗那位冠軍。
09. And the
society has kind words for Obama on its Web site: "Thanks, Mr. President, for
giving a second-chance dog a forever home, " it says.
而且，協會還在他們的網站上為Obama說了些好話：「謝謝總統先生，您給了一隻重獲新生的狗狗一個永遠的家。」
09. chicken out 膽怯而罷手、臨陣脫逃。
chicken out的例句：
＝Remove oneself from an obligation.
01.
Today I was sure I could work up my courage and dive off the ten-meter board at
the pool. I walked right out to the edge, but then I chickened out -- it looked like a long way down to the
water!
我原來以為今天我肯定會鼓足了勇氣從游泳池那個十米高的跳臺上跳下去。可是，當我走到跳臺邊緣的時候我害怕了。從跳臺到水面的距離看起來好遠呐。
02.
My friend Joe was planning to get married for the fourth time. But at the last
moment he chickened out because
his first three marriages ended in divorce and he was afraid to take another
chance.
我的朋友Joe原來準備要第四次結婚。可是，到了最後一分鐘他膽怯了，因為他結過三次婚，最後結局都是離婚，所以他怕這次又會不成功。
03. If I chicken out, I want to know where the exits are.
如果我待會決定臨陣退縮的話我想知道出口在哪裡。
04. If we wait too long, you ' ll chicken out. so how's Friday.
如果我們等太久的話,你會害怕的.週五如何。
05. Often she will chicken out? She will not go out
alone at night.
她總是膽小，她晚上總是不敢自己出去的。
06. Don't chicken out now. Took me 3 hours stuffing my bra.
都這時候了就不要臨陣脫逃我用了三個鐘頭墊胸罩的！
07. Why do you want to chicken out? it ' s easy , just go
take the test , after all , you really studied hard.
你為什麼要溜呢？很容易考的。去考試，畢竟你辛苦地學習了的。
08. Are you serious ! ? We drove all the way here to Yehliu to go hang
gliding and now you're going to chicken out? anyways , I already
paid the deposit.
你是認真的嗎？我們一路開到野柳來玩滑翔翼，而你現在想落跑？反正我已經付保證金了。
圖5. Chicken out。
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bow out退出＝chicken out＝back down退讓＝pull out
01. He bowed
out when he heard how much work was involved.
02. He wouldn't offer to bow out . 他並沒有退出之意。
03. I am bowing out of this scheme -- I do not approve of it.
我退出這個計畫我不同意它。
04. After thirty years in politics, he is finally bowing out.
從政三十年之後，他終於決定退了。
05. Mr. Black often quarreled with his partners , so he finally bowed
out
of the company.
Mr. black經常和同夥吵架，因此他終於退出了公司。
06. As Mr. Koizumi bowed out , Japan ' s new leader
swiftly announced his government.
在小泉先生鞠躬謝幕後，日本新任領導人迅速宣佈他新一屆政府。
07. The chairman will be bowing out next year , and one of
the younger directors will take over.
董事長明年會下臺，而其中一位年輕的董事將接任。
08. He spent one season there, then bowed out citing health reasons? Only
to then take the helm of the New York Nicks.
他只在活塞隊呆了一年，隨即宣佈由於健康原因而辭職，然而又立刻拿起了Nicks隊的教鞭。
09. After being confronted with our evidence, the other side had to back down. 面對我們的證據，另一方不得不退讓。
10. The United States had no intention of backing down in its
bitter row over farm subsidies.
美國無意就激烈爭吵的農產品補貼問題作出讓步。
11. It's too late to back down now...
現在打退堂鼓已經太晚了。
12. He had to back down on plans to backdate the
tax changes.
他不得不放棄追溯稅收調整的計畫。
13. She has backed down from the position she
took yesterday.
她已放棄了她昨天所採取的立場。
他討厭此時夾著尾巴退回來。
讓步,放棄:從某個位置、觀點或義務中撤出。
我注意到他放棄了上星期的立場。
他證明了他是正確的，而那些非難他的人不得不收起他們那一套。
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10. drink like a fish 酒喝得很多；酗酒。
drink like a
fish的例句：
01. Then my drink like a fish Who,
what to do again?
於是我大喝一聲：誰，再幹什麼？
02. Some people can drink like a
fish and handle it.
有些人既能豪飲，又能控制酒量。
03. Drink
like a fish only if you drink what a fish
drinks.
俗語常形容酒鬼喝得像魚一樣，那也該看看魚喝些甚麽。
04. Host saw,
very awkward, to wife drink like a fish Did
your man where go? 主人見了，很尷尬，便對妻子大喝道：“你男人哪裡去了？”
05. We drink like a fish, if
drinking nothing but water can be so
described. 我們像魚兒般喝個不停，假使喝水可以那麼形容的話。
06. I used to drink
like a fish and get drunk all the time.
我以前酒喝得很猛而且每次都喝醉。
07. The little girl said, "My Daddy said you drink like a fish and I
don't want to miss it!" 小女孩說：“爸爸說你像牛飲，我可不想錯過看到！”
08. I used to drink like a fish and get
drunk all the time.
我以前酒喝得很猛並且每次都喝醉。
09. My father used to drink
like a fish, but now he drinks very little to keep healthy. 我爸爸以前經常喝酒，但現在他為了健康，很少喝酒了。
10. He claims that is was the loss
of his wife that drove him to drink, but believe me, he was drinking
like a fish long before that.
他說失去妻子使他開始喝起酒來。但相信我，他早在那以前就飲酒成性了。
11. You are kidding. You usually drink
like a fish.
別開玩笑，你平時酒量很大的。
12. Tom used to drink like a fish ? Eight pints a
night was quite usual for him. Tom過去曾飲酒過度一個晚上喝8杯酒對他來說是很平常的事。
13. Mark : mother , I do not need a blind date . particularly not with
some verbally incontinent spinster who smokes like a chimney , drinks
like a fish and dresses like a mother.
Mark :媽媽，我不需要相親，尤其是和一些口不擇方言的老處女，抽起煙來就像煙囪一樣，喝起酒來就像魚一樣，衣著打扮像個媽媽級人物一樣。
圖6. drink like a fish 酒喝得很多；酗酒。
11. goose bumps 雞皮疙瘩/gooseflesh 雞皮疙瘩
goose bumps例句：
01. I had goose bumps when we watched the
fireworks.
我們看煙火的時候，我起雞皮疙瘩。
02. Sure is. During the last scene I had goose bumps all over.
可不是。結尾的場面讓我全身起雞皮疙瘩。
03. I'm goose bumps all over when I see a
snake.
我一見到蛇就渾身起雞皮疙瘩。
04. The sound of the screaming voice gave her goose bumps.
尖叫的聲音讓她起雞皮疙瘩。
05. Nancy gets goose bumps when she sees a snake.
一看見蛇，Nancy渾身就起雞皮疙瘩。
06. When the weather is
cold, will you get goose bumps?
天氣冷的時候, 你會不會起雞皮疙瘩。
07. The movie was so scary
it gave me goose bumps.
電影太恐怖了,嚇得我滿身起雞皮疙瘩。
09. Yeah, that movie really
gave me goose bumps.
哇 !那部電影讓我看了直起雞皮疙瘩呢!
10. She gives all people goose
bumps with her singing.
她唱歌唱得讓所有人起雞皮疙瘩。
11. I got goose bumps
when I walked into that house.
我走進那間房子的時候,全身起雞皮疙瘩。
12. What is it? Sherry
asked. She replied,I have goose bumps.
“怎麼回事? ” Sherry問道.“我起雞皮疙瘩,”護士回答說.
13. Why Do We Get Goose Bumps? 為什麼會起雞皮疙瘩?
14. They gave me a warm feeling inside , and no longer eeky goose
bumps. 我聽著這些歌曲,身上不再起雞皮疙瘩,而是心裡騰起一股溫暖。
15. Goose bumps formed on my skin as I sat there
watching the ball of fire. 我坐在那兒看著這個火球,雞皮疙瘩都起來了。
16. I forgot to mention
that I had goose bumps because I can feel his genuine
emotions.
我忘了說我當時全身的毛孔豎起,因為我能感受到他的真實情緒。
17. When I ride a bicycle
on a windy night, I get goose bumps.
當我在起風的夜裡騎腳踏車時, 我會起雞皮疙瘩。
18. Goose bumps
are a vestige from the days when humans were covered with hair. 雞皮疙瘩是人類全身為毛髮覆蓋時候的退化器官。
19. In response to fear, goose
bumps make an animal appear larger - hopefully scaring away enemy.
而在害怕的時候, 雞皮疙瘩能讓動物看起來大些,希望以此嚇走敵人。
20. I thought goose bumps were just my body hairs
trying to do handstands. 我覺得起雞皮疙瘩就是汗毛倒立。
21. Perhaps his hair stands on end, goose bumps arms
, or a shiver runs up his spine. 可能是他的頭髮倒豎、渾身雞皮疙瘩或者脊背發涼。
圖7. goose bumps 雞皮疙瘩。
Gooseflesh的例句：
＝reflex erection of
hairs of the skin in response to cold or emotional stress or skin irritation.
同義詞：
goosebump雞皮疙瘩
horripilation立毛狀態
gooseskin雞皮疙瘩
pilomotor reflex豎毛反射
01. The whole body
breaks out with gooseflesh. 汗毛倒豎。
02. It was so cold
I was gooseflesh all over. 凍得我直起雞皮疙瘩。
03. Factitious
what can remove gooseflesh?
人為什麼會起雞皮疙瘩？
04. What reason is
often liking to remove gooseflesh?
老喜歡起雞皮疙瘩是什麼原因啊？
05. Snape could
see the gooseflesh on him.
Snape可以看到他身上的雞皮疙瘩。
06. Why can
weather enrage gooseflesh Le
on cold body?
為什麼天氣一冷身上就會氣雞皮疙瘩呢?
07. Merely the
thought of holding a snake makes me come out in goose
flesh. 只要一想起手裡拿著一條蛇，我的身上就會起雞皮疙瘩。
08. That gave me the
goose flesh. 那使我渾身起雞皮疙瘩。
09. It gave
someone gooseflesh and he
shuddered all over.
毛骨悚然，通體寒栗。
10. Ann, put on
your sweater; you're so cold you have gooseflesh
on your arms. Ann，把毛線衫穿上，你冷了，手臂上都起雞皮疙瘩了。
11. Cucumber
feels very cold and gets gooseflesh
all over his body.
黃瓜感到很冷，全身冷得起了雞皮疙瘩。
12. I knew it
from the moment I saw him, and the memory still gives me
goose flesh.
我一看到他，我就知道就是他了，這樣的回憶總能令我起雞皮疙瘩。
13. Her goose flesh
shows that she is already of an advanced age.
一看她的雞皮就知道她年紀很大了。
14. After hearing that, I have goose flesh.聽到那消息，我全身起雞皮疙瘩。
12. Beat a dead horse＝Flog a dead horse＝Whipping a dead horse徒勞無功。
beat a dead horse的例句：
01. Again and
again, I've tried to get senators in my state to ban smoking in restaurants.
But it's been hopeless so far; they haven't listened to me. I hate to beat
a dead horse but I feel they need to pass this legislation in order to
improve public health.
我三番五次想讓我們州的參議員設法禁止在餐館裏吸煙，但至今毫無進展，他們根本不理會我。我不想白費勁兒，但是又覺得他們應該通過禁煙的法案，讓大眾健康受益。
02. My son's
room is a constant mess even though he knows he's expected to keep it tidy. My
wife and I have done everything from pleading with him to threatening him, but
it's been a waste of our time. We're simply beating a dead horse.
He'll never change.
雖然明明知道應該保持整潔，但是我兒子的房間永遠是亂糟糟的。我和我太太用盡了各種辦法，不管是説服教育還是威逼利誘，都無濟於事。他永遠都改不了。
03. A:Invest in stocks and the
chances are you'll be flogging a dead horse.
B: Not if you’re in for long-term
investment.
A:投資股票可能讓你到頭來是徒勞無功。
B:不過如果你是長期投資就不會如此。
04. Dad, are you sure we can't get a
new computer?
Son, we talked about this and the decision was 'no'. You are beating
a dead horse。
05. Quit asking him to do you a favor . you’re beating a dead horse
別再求他幫你忙了，你這是白費勁。
06. It is useless to flog
a dead horse. 鞭打死馬，徒勞無益。
07. I've already made up my mind .
there ' s no sense flogging a dead horse. 我已經下了決心，不必再白費口舌了。
08. You are beating a dead horse if
you are trying to make him change his political views. 你要想改變他的政治觀點，那是徒勞無益的。
09. He's flogging a dead horse in trying to persuade people to use
canals instead of roads.
他拼命地勸人不要使用公路而去使用運河，真是枉費口舌。
10. It is not my predilection to go beating
a dead horse. but I have little pity for a cannibal .
我沒興趣對死人出手，但是我也不會同情吃人的傢伙。
11. We discussed some incidents that
had happened long ago. It was really flogging a dead horse.
我們討論了一些很早以前發生的事，實在是“炒冷飯”，毫無意思。
12. Stop asking me. You're flogging
a dead horse. I don't want to go and I've told you that a hundred times.
別問我了。你這樣做是徒勞的。我不想去，已經告訴你一百遍了。
13. You're flogging a dead horse by
asking Jim to lend you money. He hasn't even enough money for himself.
你要Jim借錢給你，這簡直是癡心妄想，他的錢甚到不夠他自己花呢。
圖8. Beat a dead horse＝Flog a dead horse＝Whipping a dead horse徒勞無功。
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