 Reach the end of one's tether走到絕望的地步
走投無路
如果你處在一個十分艱難的情況，不知道如何渡過，內心感到萬分絕望，你可以說：I have reached the end of my tether. |
Famously long-suffering though the Japanese people may be, it is just possible that they are reaching the end of their tether. The policies and personnel of the Liberal Democratic Party may have finally lost their charms.
雖然日本人向來都以能長期吃苦著稱，有可能他們已經走投無路，自民黨的政策和人才可能都失去了吸引力。(Apr 30, 2001-p27) |
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Deliver the goods完成別人期待的事
達成任務
如果某人不負你的期望完成任務，你可以說：He delivers the goods. |
Japan's peacekeepers in Israel are well-trained, disciplined and prepared to deliver the goods (Time, Apr 30, 2001-p28)
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Give someone the cold shoulder不理某人
冷落
如果某人故意不理你，你可以說：He has been giving me the cold shoulder. |
Appealing to a broader public may mean giving the cold shoulder to the some of the party's staunchest supporters.
訴諸更大的民意有可能會意味冷落黨內一些最忠誠的支持者。(China Post, Apr 28, 2001-p4) |
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Run out of steam 沒了氣
氣衰而竭
如果某項活動的氣勢愈來愈弱，最後不了了之，你可以說：It runs out of steam. |
An opposition-led strike aimed to force Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to call an early election ran out of steam on its third and final day on Wednesday, as police imposed tight security to prevent violence.
由反對黨所發起，目的在迫使孟加拉首相哈西那提早舉行選舉的罷工行動於星期三進入第三天，也就是最後一天時氣衰而竭，因為警方採取嚴密安全措施防止暴力發生。(China Post, Apr 26, 2001-p5) |
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Go one better勝過
猶勝一籌
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Belgium's Jean Michel Saive went one better than Legout in athleticism in their quarter-final, demolishing a scoreboard as he stampeded to the edge of court to retrieve a smash from Italy's Yang Min.
比利時選手塞夫的拼勁猶勝法國選手李高一籌，他在打八強賽時為了救意大利選手楊明的一記高壓殺球奮不顧身衝到場邊，弄壞了計分板。(China Post, Apr 28, 2001-p9) |
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Fall by the wayside事情沒做完成就放棄
半途夭折、倒地不起
如果某件事情還沒做完成，人家就不做了，你可以說：It has fallen by the wayside；如果某人在事情做到一半時就放棄努力，你可以說：He has fallen by the wayside. |
With analysts predicting that Aegis will fall by the wayside, attention has shifted to other elements of the shopping list.
由於觀察家預測神盾艦會半途夭折，大家已經把注意焦點轉移到採購清單上的其他軍購項目。(China Post, Apr 24, 2001-p4) |
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Make a beeline for something跑向、奔向
趨之若騖
如果某人毫不疑疑地直奔某個目標─譬如，一壘壘包─而去，你可以說：He makes a beeline for first base. |
Japanese travelers are also increasiogly making a beeline for luxury services at bargain prices, like foot massages in Taiwan and herbal steam spas in South Korea.
日本人對價格低廉的高級消費─如台灣的腳底按摩和南韓的蒸汽藥浴─更是趨之若騖。(Time, Apr 30, 2001-p7) |
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Go over big大受歡迎
歡迎
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Authentic Japanese cuisine, which is heavy on the raw fish, seaweed, tofu and cold turnips, would not go over big among Thais who are accustomed to some of the world's spiciest dishes.
正統日本料理以生魚片、海帶、豆腐和醃蘿蔔為主，泰國人卻吃慣了一些口味極重的食物，所以純日本料理不會受泰國人歡迎。(China Post, Apr 26, 2001-p6) |
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Drown one's sorrows/troubles喝酒澆愁
解愁
如果某人為了忘卻發生在自己身上的不如意事而大飲特飲，你可以說：He is drowning his sorrows. |
Amid the Asian economic crisis, many Thais apparently drowned their sorrows in tons of Japanese sushi, soba noodles and sake wine.
亞洲發生金融風暴時，許多泰國人顯然是用幾噸的日本壽司、拉麵和清酒解愁。(China Post, Apr 26, 2001-p6) |
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Keep one's nose out of something不要介入某事
不要插手管
如果你要某人不要管你的事，你可以說：Keep your nose out of my business. |
Japan's top government spokesman also defended Tokyo's decision and suggested Beijing keep its nose out of the matter.
日本政府的首席發言人也替東京的決定辯護，希望北京不要插手管這件事。(China Post, Apr 26, 2001-p4) |
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