美国人挂在嘴边的句子
作者: Jerry Cat
时间: 2006/07/09
链接:
http://www.cppblog.com/jerysun0818/archive/2006/07/09/9611.html
1-----You can't argue with success
Though you may tell someone they are doing something in a wrong way, you have to stop criticizing them if their method works.
2-----Nothing succeeds like success
Like
money in a savings account, success seems to compound itself. A person
who has a small success expects it to be followed by a bigger one.
3-----The end justifies the means
It
does not matter how you succeed. Any method is all right if it works
for you. This proverb is not always accepted. Often one hears the
opposite, " the end doesn't justifies the means."
4-----If you can't beat them, join them
If
you cannot compete successfully with a person or a group, stop
competing and go join them. Then you can share in their success.
5-----Always a day late and a dollar short
A
criticism of a person who never succeeds. The failures may not be
drastic but the pattern of small failures is annoying to others,
especially in two areas that Americans value as highly as time and
money.
6-----One thing at a time
Concentration leads to success. The person who tires to do too many things at once may fail at all of them.
7-----We'll cross that bridge when we come to it
We will not discuss or worry about a future problem. If and when the problem becomes urgent, we will deal with it.
8-----Don't put the cart before the hourse
Do
things in a sensible order. For example, do something to impress your
boss before you ask for a raise in pay. Don't ask for the raise first.
9-----All's fair in love and war
Do
not trust a rival or an enemy at all. His or her desire to succeed will
overrule everything else. Such a people may lie, cheat, attack or do
many other things far more terrible than he or she would normally do.
10-----When in Rome do as the romans do
Flexibility
leads to success in unfamiliar circumstances. People may changes their
normal way of doing things in order to fit in better with those they
are visiting.
11------Easy does it
Some things require gentleness for success. One should not push too hard. Force may cause damage
12-----The bigger they are, the harder they fall
Do
not be discouraged by the size of your problem or the fame of your
competitor. (the saying is traced to a boxer preparing to fight an
opponent much larger than he was.)
13-----All is well that ends well
If we can come to a successful conclusion, let us forget about the pain and mistakes along the way.
14-----Go for it
Go
ahead and try to achieve your goal. Don't worry about failing. Similar
to this proverb--God provides food to every bird, but he won't cast to
its nest, you got to earn it.
15-----Every little bit helps
If
someone apologizes for giving only a small gift, the recipient may
encourage the giver by quoting this proverb. This is especially true if
there is a huge job to do or a huge amount of money to be raised from
many people.
16-----Look before you leap
Don't jump into a situation carelessly. You may land in difficulty.
17-----All that glitters is not gold
Do not be fooled by worthless things that seem valuable or look attractive.
"Fool's gold " is the popular name for a kind of stone that glitters like gold but contains no gold at all.
18------Curiosity killed the cat
Do
not ask too many questions or become too curious about things. You may
get yourself into trouble like a cat that does not see the danger in a
new situation.
19-----Don't put all your eggs in one basket
Do
not risk everything in one place or on one project. Divide your sources
that one failure will not ruin you. Similar to this proverb---Do not
use both feet to test the depth of the river.
20-----Don't bite off more than you can chew
Do not attempt something too large for you to handle.
21-----Too good to be ture
This is often used to warn about advertising. An offer looks good but turns out to be misleading.
22-----Flattery will get you nowhere
If
flattery (insincere praise) is recognized, it will not succeed. One
sometimes hears the opposite, Flattery will get you everywhere.
23-----There is no such thing as a free lunch
If
someone you do not know offers you a free lunch or other gift, watch
out. The gift may be a method of getting something from you.
24------Pride goes before a fall
Do not be over-confident and careless. Your circumstances may change quickly and the emptiness of your bragging will be exposed.
25------Better safe than sorry
It is better not to take a risk than to take a risk foolishly.
26-----Winning isn't everything
One
may enjoy the process of playing a game whether one wins or not. This
traditional proverb is now often heard in the opposite form, Winning
isn't everything. It's the only thing!
27------Time will tell
Wait and see how something will work out. Don't trust a person or thing too much right now.
28-----The burned child shuns fire
Some
of life's lessons are learned the hard way. The person who has had to
pay for a mistake will be careful not to make that mistake again.
29-----There are other fish in the sea
There
are opportunities! For example, this may be used to encourage someone
who has just broken off a relationship with a sweetheart.
30-----Don't count your chickens before they are hatched
Do not become too confident of success before you can see that progress is happening.
31-----Rome wasn't built in a day
Do not be discouraged if your goal still seems far away. On a big project, success takes time!
32-----There is more here than meets the eye
Be careful. People are hiding something in order to protect themselves or take advantage of you.
33-----The customer is always right
Businesses
instruct their clerks not to do anything that might threaten a
customer's self-esteem, no matter how unreasonable the customer is. Any
complaint of any customer must be carefully and politely heard by any
employee. The customer must not be made to feel ignorant.
34-----Be true to yourself
Do
not compromise yourself or your beliefs in order to please other people
or fit in with a system. Know who you are. Let other people know what
you stand for. Do not give in to pressure to conform or to do things
you do not agree with.
35-----Once bitten, twice shy
This
may be used to explain the behavior of a person who is overly cautious
about something. The wise person makes mistakes but does not usually
make the same mistake twice.
36-----It isn't over till the fat lady sings
I
refuse to admit defeat yet. Though right now it looks like I may fall,
there is still time for things to change. (The "fat lady" is an
insulting reference to an opera soloist, opera often end with a female
solo.)
37-----To each his own
Each
individual should be allowed to have his or her own preferences. people
will naturally choose different activities, goals, life-s, etc.
38-----Looking out for number one
Looking
out for one's own personal welfare more than anything else. This is
sometimes used to criticize a person who has abused or taken advantage
of someone else, "All he was doing was looking out for number one." Or
it may be used to defend himself or herself, "There is nothing wrong
with what I did. I was just looking out for number one."
39-----When the going gets tough, the tough get going
When situation is difficult, only the determined people can handle it. They don't give up!
40-----Times flies when you are having fun
A day seems shot when it is full of enjoyable things but it seems like an eternity if one is idle or stuck with a boring job.
41-----If it feels good, do it
Live according to your desires at the moment. Forget about rules, regulations or consequences. Just have fun.
42-----Live and let live
Do not be judgmental. Do not try to control or punish other people.
You live as you like and let others live as they like.
43-----Variety is the spice of life
Variety is what makes life pleasureable. Boredom is seen as a threat and monotony is the surest route to boredom.
44------Money talks
Wealth
has influence. People who make big contributions to political
candidates are "talking" to the candidates and expecting them to
listen.
45-----All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
This is used to criticize someone who takes work too seriously. It affirms that play is as an essential part of human life.
46-----The more the merrier
This is a way of welcoming someone to participate. It means, the bigger the group, the bigger the party.
47------A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
A thing you already have is worth twice as much as a thing you might get in the future.
48-----You can't have your cake and eat it too
Make up your mind. Sometimes one must choose between two very desirable things, giving up one thing in order to enjoy the other.
49-----There is more than one way to skin a cat
Any
of several methods may bring about the desired result. Each person may
choose the method that best suits her. If one method does not work,
choose a different one and try again.
50-----One man's meat is another man's poison
Since
the same thing may affect different people in different ways, each
person must choose the things that will work in his or her particular
case.
51-----Love finds a way
Love
is considered one of the most powerful and determined forces in the
world. Two people in love will "find a way" to get together.
52-----Absence makes the heart grow fonder
When lovers are separated, they may think about each other constantly. their love may deepen.
53-----Out of sight, out of mind
This
is said of someone not considered important or worthy of loyalty. One
forgets about that person as soon as he or she is out of sight.
54------Love makes the world go around
Love
is the driving force in all of life. Love makes life worth living. If
you understand love,you understand everything about life.
55-----Marry in haste and repent at leisure
Do
not rush into any long-term commitment. In the past this meant, "take
your time before you commit yourself to a marriage partner." Now it
means, "Do not commit yourself to anyone you will be sorry." or it may
mean, "Live with a person for a while before marrying him or her." It
may also apply to any long-term partnership, such as a joint business
venture.
56------Talk is cheap
Talking
is not doing, It is easy to talk about a plan, but this gets little
respect untill one takes a risk and puts the plan into action.
57-----Love is blind
When people are in love, they do not see each other's faults.
58-----Time is money
Time
can be converted to money, that is, wages are often paid per hour of
work. Managers want employees to do things quickly because "time is
money." If employees waste time, the company loses money.
59-----If you're so smart, why ain't you rich
This
question implies that intelligence, like time, can be converted into
money. It is used to cut down an ordinary person (not a rich one) who
has expressed an opinion as if it is the final word on the subject.
60-----Beggars can't be choosers
Beggars
have to accept whatever they get. A poor person has very few choices in
life. This harsh reply may be used if people complain about the size or
quality of a gift.
61-----The love of money is the root of all evil
Greed
will lead a person into many other evils such as cheating, oppression
and violence. (one also hears, money is the root of all evil, which
places the blame more on money than on greed.)
62-----A fool and his money are soon parted
Folly
will always show up in the way a fool handles money. Wise people are
the ones smart enough to guard money once they have it.
63-----It isn't whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game
Playing
well and fairly is more important than succeeding. This saying is
sometimes used to console someone who has lost a game. The ideas is
that in spite of losing, one may still feel like a success if one has
played as well as possible.
64-----Money can't buy happiness
There
are some things money just can't buy. This reminds people that money is
not an ultimate value although it often is treated as one. The saying
may be used as a comment when a wealthy but lonely and wretched person
commits suicide.
65-----Nice guys finish last
Success
is valued more highly than kindness and politeness. If unkindness and
impoliteness contribute to one's success, they are sometimes excused as
"toughness" or "what it takes." This is more often applied to men than
woman.
66-----The one who dies with the most toys wins
This recent, cynical saying makes fun of three common American desires-- competing, accumulating property, and having fun.
67-----Just do it
This
proverb is actually a recently invented advertising slogan for the Nike
Shoe company. It may also be the best three-word summary of American
cultural values. It means, "quit being indecisive, Don't bother
consulting a lot of people. Don't waste much times on planning. Just do
it and do it now.
68-----You only go around once in life
Enjoy life, do what you want to do, experience everything you can.
69-----Put your money where your mouth is
Get
serious about what you are saying. When you have spoken in favor of
something, prove that you mean it by risking some money on it in a bet
or an investment.
70-----The best defense is a good offense
Be pro-active and goal-oriented, not timid or conservative. Aim to conquer, not merely to protect yourself.
71-----The road to hell is paved with good intentions
Like talking, intending is not doing. Actions matter far more than intentions. Actions determine where a person ends up.
72-----Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today
Doing is better than waiting. If you wait, you might lose your opportunity
73-----Action speak louder than words
To know people's hearts, pay more attention to what they do than what they say.
74-----Idle hands are the devil's workshop
When
people have nothing constructive to do, they get into mischief. The
child who is bored may pick up a crayon and color on the wall,
something that would not happen if the child were happily occupied in
some other activity.
75-----You've got to take the bull by the horns
Grab directly and fearlessly for the toughnest part of a problem. Don't look for an easy way out.
76-----Money doesn't grow on trees
You have to work for things. Success does not come on its own.
77-----Easy come, easy go
If
you have received something without working for it, it may soon be
gone. You will not be as careful with it as you will be with something
you earned.
78-----Too many cooks spoil the broth
Individual
action or action by the smallest group possible is better than
consulting a lot of people. Too much consultation will waste time and
create problems.
79-----Stand on your own two feet
Grow
up; act like an adult. Don't ask me to do something for you. This may
be said to a young or immature person who depends too much on others.
It is like a cow kicking a grown calf that wants to suckle.
80------If you want something done right, do it yourself
This
discourages people from trusting anyone except themselves. It maybe
said to someone who ask another person to do a job for him/her and then
complains about it was done.
81------Necessity is the mother of invention
When
a person really needs something, he or she figures out some new way to
get it. This creative initiative to change one's situation is
considered much better than giving up and accepting things as they are.
82------First come, first served.
This
saying is used when there is a limited supply of something such as
tickets to an event or food at a picnic. The idea is that no matter
what your status, if you want some of what is being given away or sold,
you must present yourself in person and in good time.
83-----No pain no gain
one
must put forth an effort in order to succeed. This saying comes from
physical fitness instructors. They say that if you do not exercise hard
enough to make your muscles hurt, the exercise is not doing you much
good.
84-----Give him an inch and he'll take a mile
Be
careful of presumptuous people who take more initiative than they
should. If you do someone a small favor or delegate a little permission
or a little power, he or she may take advantage of you.
85-----If it isn't broke, don't fix it
Do
not bother trying to improve something if it is already working
satisfactorily. That is a waste of time and you run the risk of
breaking the thing while you are trying to improve it.
86-----There is no harm in trying
A person expects to be respected for making an effort even if it does not succeed.
87-----The cure is worse than the disease
While trying to solve one problem, we create an even bigger problem. We would have been better off if we had done nothing.
88-----Count to ten before you lose your temper
Do not instantly let your feelings control your actions. Slow down. Think before you react.
89-----All things come to him who waits
Sometimes patience is better than initiative.
90-----There is many a slip between the cup and the lip
This
refers to a plan that has gone wrong. When one is drinking from a cup,
one intends to get all the drink into the mouth, but this does not
always happen. The plan is good but it can still fail.
91-----Boys will be boys
People
will act according to their nature, including some mischief. This is
sometimes used to describe irresponsible but not too seriously wrong
behavior by men. In other words, grown men will sometimes act like
little boys.
92------One bad apple can spoil the whole barrel
Do not associate with bad people. They may spoil you as a rotting apple spoils the apples next to it in the barrel.
93-----Better the devil you know than the devil you don't
People
are generally not trustworthy. It is therefore better to deal with a
familiar person or situation than an unknown one. That way you know
what to watch out for and you can protect yourself better.
94-----Nobody is perfect
Everyone has shortcomings. This is used as an excuse for a minor Mistake that has been made.
95------The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence
People are never satisfied with what they have. They always want what someone else has.
96-----A man is only as old as he feels
A person's energy level is more important than age.
97-----A man's home is his castle
At home a man is like a king, completely free to do as he wishes.
98-----Clothes make the man
The
way a man dresses will affect the way he sees himself and the way other
people see him. The implication is that if you want to succeed, dress
for success.
99-----Two heads are better than one
Two people are more likely to succeed than one working or thinking alone. It is better to consult than to act alone.
100-----Beauty is only skin deep
One should admire a person, particularly a woman, for her deep, inner character and not simply for her superficial beauty.
101-----Many hands make light work
Cooperation makes a job much easier.
102-----There is safety in numbers
Do not take large risks all by yourself. Do not walk alone on a dangerous street at night.
103-----Charity begins at home
One should be kind to close relatives before doing good to the community in general.
104-----There is no place like home
Home is the best place in the world. The most relaxing and enjoyable place.
105-----Silence is consent
Do
not stay silent when you see a problem or an injustice. Speak out
against it. Say, "Enough is enough." or people will think you do not
mind the situation.
106-----What goes around comes around
What
you do to others, especially if it is bad, will eventually be done to
you. As you seek your own success, do not treat other people badly.
They may take revenge and spoil your success.
107-----Honesty is the best policy
When
one is tempted to cheat, this proverb serves as a reminder of the
importance of good character. Honesty brings trust and trust leads to
success.
108-----If the shoe fits, wear it
If an accusation is true, accept the blame. This saying can also mean, " if a suitable opportunity comes to you, take it!"
109-----You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink
Even when given an opportunity, some people will not use it. In that case the blame is all on him.
110-----You made the bed, you lie in it
You created a certain situation so you are now responsible to take the consequences.
111-----The pot calling the kettle black
Since
the pot and the kettle are equally black from the cooking fire, the pot
has not right to criticize the kettle. This might be used if someone
known to be a gossip criticizes someone else for gossiping.
112-----Don't get mad, get even
When someone treats you badly, do not just get angry, express your anger in action.
113-----Get a life
Do not be so unreasonably critical about tiny things. Find something better to do with your time.
114-----My country, right or wrong
I am absolutely loyal to my country whether or not I agree with its policy in a certain area.
115------There are two sides to everything
Never assume that all the blame for a conflict lies on one side, especially if you have heard only one side of the story.
116-----Forgive and forget
Conflicts should be resolved and ended, not left alone to cause years of regret, bitterness and pain.
117------Business and pleasure don't mix
When you work, work. When you play, play. It is inefficient and therefore unwise to try to mix the two.
118-----Let a sleeping dog lie
Do not meddle in something that will cause you no trouble if you leave it alone. If you wake up the "dog," it may bite you.
119------No man can serve two masters
Divided loyalty will break down sooner or later.
120-----Make it short and sweet
Speak briefly and to the point. We don't have time for the details
121-----What will be will be
Some things cannot be changed or avoided.
122-----A friend in need is a friend indeed
My true friend is the one who show loyalty to me by helping me when I am in need.
123-----People who live in glass house should not throw stones
Do not attact anyone if you have no way to defend yourself when they attact you in the same way.
124-----Opposites attract
As
positive and negative magnets attract each other, so people of very
different types attract each other. For example, a quiet woman marries
a very outgoing man. These differences have a mixed effect on the
couple, partly making them interested in each other but also leading to
miscommunication and conflict.
125-----The early bird catches the worm
Punctuality
is important. If you want to succeed, arrive early, like the bird that
hunts worms at dawn before they go into hiding for the day.
126-----Blood is thicker than water
Blood
relationship is stronger than voluntarily chosen friendship. Brothers
will stick up for each other against their own friends if they have to.
This proverb is not quoted much anymore because kinship is not as
highly valued as it used to be.
127-----You can't teach an old dog new tricks
Once habits are learned, it is very hard to change them.
128-----To err is human
It is normal for humans to make mistakes and it is godly (or God-like) to forgive them.
129-----Haste makes waste
Through
acting quickly is generally a good thing, acting too quickly may cause
troulbe. This proverb is used when someone has done a job carelessly
and wrongly. For example, a carpenter in a hurry may cut a board too
short and have to throw it away.
130-----Make hay while the sun shines
If you do not seize the opportunity, rain may come and spoil the hay before you get into the barn.
131-----If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen
Withdraw from an activity if you don't like the conflict and criticism it brings. Let other people do it without you.
132-----Everyone puts their pants on one leg at a time
This is to tell us that we are all equal.
133-----Life is a pie
It's
dished out in large and small pieces and when's gone, it's gone. If we
ask for more than our share, we're just begging to be disappointed.
134-----Making every minute count
Doing something productive all the time, not letting any time "slip away."
135-----A pen is mightier than the sword
A conflict maybe resolved more deeply and effectively by writing the truth than by resorting to violence.
136-----A new broom sweeps clean
A new person in power will change many things and improve the situation. change is better than leaving things as they are.
137-----Tomorrow is another day (or, Tomorrow is a new day.)
No matter how bad things are right now, a person may hope for better prospects in the morning. New opportunities will come.
138-----Opportunity only knocks once
Opportunity
is like an unexpected stranger passing by. It knocks on someone's door.
If the person fails to answer the door, opportunity goes away and
knocks on someone else's door. It does not return to the same person.
139-----Business is business
Do business with strangers as if they were brothers and with brothers as if they were strangers.
140-----History repeats itself
There
are patterns in history. Nations rise and fall for similar reasons.
Nations do not change their ways or learn from the mistakes of others.
They repeat them.
141-----People are people
Their human nature is predictable. They respond to stimulus and incentives.
142-----Keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer
A man without enemy is a man without quality. Think not? Even Jesus Christ had many, many enemies.
143-----Better late than never
Though being on time is better than being late, doing something late is better than giving up or doing nothing.
144-----Punish one, teach a hundred
People
problems sometimes must be dealt with harshly. When you make an example
of someone, make sure that everyone knows what the lesson is.
145-----Attitude is everything
A pessimist sees a glass half-empty, An optimist sees it half-full.
146-----Like father, like son
A
son will be like his father. This may be quoted whenever the son has
done something that reminds people of the father. Whether it is good or
bad.
147-----When the cat's away the mice will play
People
will take advantage of a situation if they can. Employees will get lazy
if the supervisor is not keeping an eye on them. A teenage son or
daughter might hold a wild party at home during a weekend when the
parents have gone out of town.
148-----Praise when praise is due (sometimes even when it isn't)
Do not criticise beyond necessity and seldom in public. And always precede criticism with a few words of praise.
149-----Turnabout is fair play
If
a person is taking advantage of someone else, the situation may change.
The one on top may end up on the bottom. Then the one who has turned
the tables will say, "I am only doing to you what you did to me.
150-----Here today, gone tomorrow
Things
may change quickly. This is said as a criticism of a person who changes
quickly for no good reason. It may also be said of a thing or situation
which does not last. Change is not good when it indicates unreliability.
posted on 2006-08-25 16:15
Martin 阅读(571)
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