【a cash cow】这一习语字面意为现金牛,其实是喻指非常赚钱的生意或事物,也就是汉语里所说的摇钱树。 例:The new product is our companys biggest cash cow. We are making a lot of money now.这款新产品是我们公司最大的摇钱树,我们现在一直在大把大把地赚钱。
【money for old rope】据说中世纪时绳索交易兴盛,船员们常把船上老旧的绳索拿去出售。现在这一习语用来形容容易赚的钱,例:All I have to do in my job is answering the phone occasionally--its money for old rope.我的全部工作只是偶尔接个电话,这钱赚得容易极了。
【make a killing】 这一习语原指猎人在狩猎时有所斩获,现在表示突然发大财;暴富之意。 例:They made a killing with the sale of their London house.他们通过出售位于伦敦的房子而赚了一大笔钱。
【kiss ones ass】直译过来就是:亲某人的屁股,这个短语的正确意思是:巴结某人。因此,当美国人说But you can kiss my ass.时,他/她要表达的意思就是:But you can try to curry favor with me.、You can try your best to please me.。
【Paradigm shift】If John is going to start walking to work, that is a paradigm shiftin his habits. He has never taken any exercise in his life!如果约翰开始走着去上班了,那可真是一个大变化,他从来不做任何运动的!Paradigm shift本意是指人们思维方式的改变或变革。记住了吗?
【a license to print money】 license指许可证。如果获得了一张印钞许可证,那无疑意味着你可以毫不费力地赚大钱,这一习语就用来形容这样一本万利的生意。 例:These shopping channels are a license to print money.这些购物频道能够轻而易举就赚到很多钱。