有点二桃花运发布会:《應用英文》淺易的句子 「微妙」的含義(六)

要蓋新圖書館還拿不準，要等我們有經費。

The decision for hiring a new teacher was up in the air due to the budget-cut.

由於預算削減，聘請一位新教師的決定還在懸擱中。

Just keep your fingers crossed; our new plans are up in the air.

祈求好運，我們的新計劃還未決定。

to keep (one's) fingers crossed 把食指與中指交叉祈求好運。

He is not out of the woods.

to be out of the woods 指脫離險境或困難 (out of difficulty, trouble or danger )

其他造句：

During the current economic downturn, many people are not out of the woods yet.

在這經濟衰退之時，許多人尚未脫離困境。

Don't worry about your situation; you will soon be out of the woods.

別擔心你的情況，你很快就會走出困境。

If he had had more common sense in spending, he might have been out of the woods financially by now.

如果他在花錢方面多些常識，他就老早脫離經濟困難。

有時也指健康方面：

Fortunately, Mr. A has been out of the woods after his cancer treatment.

很幸運，A先生的癌症治療後，已經走出險境。

也可指真正的迷路而脫險，這要看句子的意思而定：

The boy got lost, but finally was safely out of the woods.

Put your money where your mouth is.

to put one's money where one's mouth is 照原意是說給錢就給錢；也就是說話要用行動去兌現或是用行動表現一個人的主張。(to support a person's idea with action)

其他造句：

To earn respect, he needs to put his money where his mouth is.

為了贏得尊敬，他必須言行一致。

My pet peeve is (that) Mr. B has never put his money where his mouth is.

我討厭的是B先生說話不能兌現。(pet peeve是討厭的事)

Are you sure they will put their money where their mouth is ?

你確定他們能用行動表現他們的主張嗎？

(這裡their mouth 是指每個人的mouth, 故動詞仍用is)

She is putting her money where her mouth is.

她正在兌現她的主張。

(註：句子後半部 Where one's mouth is, 通常動詞is時態不變，但前半部動詞 put的時態可以變動。)

He always throws his weight around.

To throw (one's) weight around 是炫耀自己的重要性，耀武揚威，甚至趾高氣揚，仗勢欺人(with power or authority, one acts in an arrogant way)

(有時可用about 代替around, 但不常用)

其他造句：

One will not become popular by throwing one's weight around.

趾高氣揚的人不會廣受歡迎。

Many Chinese in high positions will certainly throw their weight around whenever possible.

許多權高位重的老中，盡可能都會神氣巴拉。

(weight 仍用單數，指個別的重量級人物)

The more you have thrown your weight around, the less respect you will earn.

你越炫耀自己，越難贏得尊敬。

Having thrown his weight around, Mr. A is unlikely to get along well with his colleagues.

A先生目中無人，很難與同事相處。

May I put in (my) two cents (worth) ?

to put in (one's) two cents (worth) 是指未經邀請而表示意見或忠言；表達自己的淺見 (unasked for advice or humble opinion)

(最後的worth多半都省去) 所以上句是：我能表示一點淺見嗎？

其他造句：

I need to put in my two cents regarding your opinion.

對於你的看法，我要提出一點淺見。

(未完待續)