英语讲义【135】形容词+名词=名词惯用语

　　来自形容词＋名词的名词惯用语多且有用，谈了两期还不够，现在再把那些失之可惜的录下。这样一来，大家至少认识几十个这类名词惯用语，可以随时应用。

　　（1） A mixed blessing：忧喜参半的事

　　Working in a big city is a mixed blessing. It is so convenient and comfortable there, but noise pollution and traffic congestion are two big headaches.

　　（2） A narrow escape：九死一生

　　The residents ran out of the burning building in time, but it was a narrow escape.

　　（3） A nasty piece of work：讨厌的家伙

　　Beware of Tom! He looks nice at first sight, but finally you will find him a nasty piece of work.

　　（4） A necessary evil：讨厌但不得不做的事

　　David is tired of administrative work, but, as the chief administrator of the department, he has to regard it as a necessary evil.

　　（5） An odd man out：难以和他人相处者

　　At school, Bob was an odd man out; he seldom mingled with his peers.

　　（6） An open book：尽人皆知的事

　　Davids daily life is an open book; he is a nice person to work with.

　　（7） Plain sailing：一帆风顺

　　With the major obstacles removed, all should experience plain sailing from now on.

　　（8） A plum job：薪酬优厚的好差使

　　Teaching can be considered a plum job here, but fewer and fewer young people regard it as a good career.

　　（9） A put-up job：预先布置的勾当；骗局

　　There is much publicity on foreign investment, but it may be a put-up job.

　　（10） A safe bet：必胜的事

　　For many housewives, putting money in a good bank is a safe bet.

　　（11） Second nature：第二天性

　　Wearing a seat belt is second nature to every motorist here.

　　（12） Ones sixth sense：一个人的第六感

　　When the policeman saw a parcel near a building, his sixth sense told him that it could be a time bomb.

　　（13） Small talk：不重要的闲谈

　　As is often the case with staff meeting, it started off with small talk and then got down to business.

　　（14） A snap decision：急速的决定

　　The radical change of ruling or public housing came as a snap decision from the public housing authorities.

　　（15） A soft option：比较容易或有利的选择

　　Helen considered staying with her mother a soft option because she did not have to worry about house-keeping.

　　（16） A stepping stone：踏脚石

　　A good degree from a good university serves as a stepping stone towards a persons career.

　　（17） A sure-fire method/solution：绝对可靠的方法/解决办法

　　To link good performance with better remuneration is a sure-fire method to increase productivity.

　　（18） Teething troubles：暂时的困难

　　Shortage of experienced staff and inefficient use of office equipment are teething troubles of any new company.

　　（19） A wet blanket：扫兴者

　　Dont be a wet blanket by prohibiting people from doing this or that.

　　（20） Wishful thinking：如意算盘

　　Buying a big car? No, it is only wishful thinking, since I dont have the means to do so.