Improve your English with the ICRT News Team! Here you will find useful expressions and vocabulary from the news to help you better understand what's happening around the world, and speak like a pro.
English in the News--Bite the Bullet 咬緊牙關
To get something unpleasant over with because it is necessary to do so. (To bite the bullet in a scenario is to perform the task regardless of its impact). 因為必須做,所以就咬牙做了,不論有多困難多不想做。
7/21/2022 • 11 minutes
English in the News--Bite the Bullet 咬緊牙關,硬著頭皮
To get something unpleasant over with because it is necessary to do so. (To bite the bullet in a scenario is to perform the task regardless of its impact). 咬牙決心去做某件事,不論它有多困難或是影響有多大,因為必須做。
7/21/2022 • 11 minutes
English in the News--Steal One's Thunder 搶了別人鋒頭(風采)
If someone steals your thunder, they do something that stops you from getting attention or praise, often by doing something better or more exciting than you, or by doing what you had intended to do before you can do it. 若是有人搶了你的鋒頭,意思是害你得不到原先想要的注意或是讚賞,因為別人做的事比你更精采。
9/24/2021 • 11 minutes, 36 seconds
English in the News--Come Hell or High Water 不論天崩地裂
不論天崩地裂,無論發生何事
This is used to say that something will definitely happen or be done even though other events or situation might make it difficult. It means one is determined to get it done no matter what.
9/8/2021 • 11 minutes, 43 seconds
English in the News--Throw a Curve Ball 扔一記曲球; 突然給人難題
扔一記曲球; 突然給人難題 to surprise someone with something that’s difficult or unpleasant to deal with
8/13/2021 • 12 minutes
English in the News--Roll with the Punches 安然渡過難關
Roll with the punches: to be able to deal well with a series of difficulties 安然渡過連串困難; to accept the consequences of a choice 接受自己不智選擇的結果
8/6/2021 • 11 minutes, 12 seconds
English in the News--Play it by Ear見機行事
to improvise or to do something without preparation; to decide how to deal with a situation as it develops, rather than acting according to plans made earlier
見機行事,到時候看狀況再作道理,而不是按照規則,事先計畫或是預先準備
8/1/2021 • 11 minutes, 17 seconds
English in the News--Under one's thumb 受某人支配,受某人掌控
Under one's thumb--under someone’s control or management; continually forced to submit to another’s will 在某人的支配或是控制之下
7/9/2021 • 14 minutes, 38 seconds
English in the News--Fly on the Wall 隱密觀察
One who is able to observe something closely but invisibly and without interfering in the situation.
躲在毫不引人注意的地方觀察,好似牆上的蒼蠅。
6/25/2021 • 7 minutes, 39 seconds
English in the News--Step Up to the Plate 準備上場,著手行動
1) To move into batting position, to move next to the home plate in order to bat
進入打擊位置,走到本壘板旁邊準備打擊
2) To come forward and take responsibility for something; to take action when something needs to be done, even though it’s difficult
挺身而出,接受責任; 需要有行動的時候,就算很困難,仍然開始行動
4/13/2021 • 6 minutes, 49 seconds
Have one's back against (to) the wall--陷入困境
To be in a bad or high-pressure situation in which one's choice or ability to act is limited; to have very serious problems that limit the ways in which you can act 面臨糟糕的情境,可以採取的對應措施極少(背抵著牆,沒有退路。)
7/24/2020 • 8 minutes, 37 seconds
English in the News--Hit the nail on the head-- 一語中的,一語道破
To describe exactly what is causing a situation or problem; to identify something exactly; to arrive at exactly the right answer
7/8/2020 • 8 minutes, 54 seconds
English in the News podcast -- Blow someone/something out of water-- 粉碎,擊潰
Meaning: to show something is totally false or someone is totally wrong; to defeat completely
6/1/2020 • 7 minutes, 2 seconds
English in the News podcast - Cloak and Dagger-- 神秘離奇,詭秘陰謀
Meaning: involving secrecy, deception, espionage and plotting, when people behave in a very secretive way
“What is up with all this cloak and daggertalk? Is there something going on I don’t know about?”
你們在進行甚麼神祕難解的對話?發生了甚麼我不知道的事嗎?
2/4/2020 • 11 minutes, 52 seconds
English in the News podcast - On Pins and Needles-- 如坐針氈,坐立不安
Meaning : Anxious and tense, waiting nervously for something to happen
e.g. I’ve been on pins and needles all day, waiting for the doctor’s test results. 我今天一整天都如坐針氈地等著醫生通知我檢查結果。
1/31/2020 • 8 minutes, 2 seconds
English in the News podcast - To Win Hands Down-- 輕而易舉獲勝
Meaning: To win something easily or decisively
We were unprepared for our last game, and the other team won hands down.
我們在上一場比賽沒有做好賽前準備,使得敵隊輕易地獲勝。
12/19/2019 • 6 minutes, 19 seconds
English in the News podcast--Lie through One's Teeth-- 睜眼說瞎話,當面撒謊
Meaning: To tell someone something that you know is completely false
I knew she was lying through her teeth but I didn’t want to say so at the time.
我知道她在說謊,但我當時並不想拆穿她。
11/20/2019 • 8 minutes, 27 seconds
English in the News podcast--Let Sleeping Dogs Lie-- 別多事
Meaning: To leave a situation alone
e.g. Remember, don’t mention that fight they had months ago—let sleeping dogs lie! 記得不要提起他們數月前的大吵,別多事!
11/5/2019 • 5 minutes, 20 seconds
English in the News podcast--In the (Somebody's) Crosshairs
Meaning: to be in a position to be attacked or criticized
8/27/2019 • 6 minutes, 44 seconds
English in the News podcast--Get a Kick Out Of-- 覺得好笑,有趣
Meaning: To get a sense of enjoyment, amusement or excitement from something
e.g. I get a kick out of Janene—she's really hilarious.
5/30/2019 • 8 minutes, 20 seconds
English in the News podcast--All Hands on Deck!-- 全體出動,總動員
English in the News Discuss -- It's used to say that everyone is needed in a particular situation
e.g.The deadline is only 2 weeks away, so it’s an all hands on deck situation! 再兩周就要交件了,我們現在必須全員出動,全力以赴!
3/25/2019 • 7 minutes, 6 seconds
English in the News podcast--the Pot Calling the Kettle Black-- 五十步笑百步
Meaning - A situation in which a person accuses someone of something that they themselves are guilty of
e.g.You are judging me for wearing revealing clothing to a party? That’s the pot calling the kettle black, don’t you think? 你覺得我在派對上穿得太暴露?不覺得有點五十步笑百步嗎?
2/25/2019 • 6 minutes, 44 seconds
English in the News podcast--Hold One\'s Feet to the Fire--施壓、逼迫
Meaning--To pressure someone to consent to or undertake something; to hold someone accountable
e.g.The only way you’ll get him to agree is to hold his feet to the fire. 逼迫他是唯一能讓他點頭的方式。