#英语丰富多彩的习语#
在英语学习过程中熟词生义一直是困扰大家的一个特殊存在，很多短语都没有它们字面所表达的意思；即使有字面的意思，也还有可能有其他的寓意，基本上可以用防不胜防来形容，这就需要日积月累，才不至于望文生义或空穴来风。
现在例举几个短语来说明这个现象，如 kick the bucket，kick the habit，in the pipeline 和 in the bag 等等，其中 kick the bucket ，in the pipeline 和 in the bag 的字面意思合理，但它们还有其他寓意，而 kick the habit 的字面意思”踢习惯“不符合常理，它被用来比喻戒掉（坏）习惯，例如：
1. kick the bucket 死掉，坏掉（用于非正式场合）
Is the printer jammed again, or has it kicked the bucket this time?
是打印机又卡住了，还是这次坏了？
He got married for the first time when he was 75 and a week later he kicked the bucket.
他75岁时第一次结婚，一周后他就完蛋了。
2. kick the habit 戒掉习惯
She used to be a heavy smoker but she kicked the habit last year.
她过去抽烟很厉害，但去年戒了。
I've really been trying to kick my habit of compulsive shopping lately, but it's a lot harder than I thought it would be.
我最近真的在努力改掉强迫购物的习惯，但这比我想象的要困难得多。
3. in the pipeline 在筹备中
The theater company has several new productions in the pipeline for next season.
这家剧院公司正在为下一季的演出准备几部新的作品。
We have an interesting new database program in the pipeline. It should be on sale early next year.
我们正在开发一个有趣的新数据库程序。它应该在明年初上市。
4. in the bag 稳操胜券，十拿九稳
When the score got to 8 to 2 we knew the game was in the bag.
当比分达到8比2时，我们就知道这场比赛已经是稳操胜券了。
The election is in the bag unless the voters find out about my past.
除非选民们知道我的过去，否则选举就十拿九稳了。
就像 take heart (from sth)，我们不要把它理解为”拿走心“，有点相反地的是，它用来比喻重新振作起来或增强信心，相当于 pull oneself together，例如：
take heart (from sth):
As a teacher, you should take heart from your class’s better average performance this year.
作为一名教师，你应该为你班今年的平均成绩提高而感到振奋。
I take heart from the positive medical test results. I’ve been worried dead ever since the feverish symptoms started showing.
我从阳性的体检结果中振作起来。自从发烧症状开始显现，我就一直担心死了。
Take heart. You'll be done soon, and you won't have to think about this paper ever again.
振作起来。你很快就会做完的，然后再也不用考虑这篇论文了。
pull oneself together:
Stop crying and pull yourself together!
别哭了，振作起来！
I know you're stressed out, but you need to pull yourself together and get this report done!
我知道你压力很大，但你需要振作起来，完成这份报告！
I hope she pulls herself together soon. We need her to be focused.
我希望她很快就振作起来。我们需要她集中注意力。
英语中还有类似的数不胜数的短语表达多种多样的意思，平时要多积累学习，才能融会贯通，才不会望文生义。
词或词组辨析：
1. compulsive [kəmˈpʌlsɪv] 意为“难以控制的，禁不住的”等
2. feverish [ˈfiːvərɪʃ] 意为“激动的，焦虑不安；发烧的”
关注外语行天下，后期会更精彩。
,
