1. Everybody's business is nobody's business.

众人负责等于无人负责

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　　集体行动的逻辑，所有人都负责一个项目，实际上没有人能够承担责任。

　　一个英文寓言和绕口令，就是关于everybody, somebody, anybody和nobody的故事。最后的结果可想而知：everybody blamed somebody when nobody did what anybody could have done. 每个人都在指责某些人，任何人都能完成的事情反而没有人做。

There're 4 people named everybody, somebody, anybody and nobody.There was an important job to be done, and everybody was asked to do it. Everybody was sure that somebody would do it. Anybody could've done it, but nobody did it. Somebody got angry that because it was everybody's job. Everybody thought anybody could do it, but nobody realized that everybody wouldn't do it. It ended up that everybody blamed somebody when nobody did what anybody could have done.



2. There's no sense flogging a dead horse.

不要再做无用功了。

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　　flog a dead horse，字面意思是，鞭打死去的马，驱使死马，引申意即为“白费力气，做无用功”。

例句：I've already made up my mind．There's no sense flogging a dead horse.

我已下定决心，不必再白费口舌了。



3. This is a fine kettle of fish！

真糟糕！

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　　a fine kettle of fish是“状况或情况一团糟”的表达方式之一，比“shit”之类要文雅许多。

例句：This is a fine kettle of fish！I forgot to bring my cheque．

真糟糕！我忘了带支票。



4. Drinking yoghourt before lunch was all the go.

午餐前喝酸奶曾经一度流行。

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all the go在这里是“流行”的意思。 例句：For a while rock'n'roll was all the go；then it was replaced by R & B．　　摇滚乐曾经一度流行，但很快就被蓝调音乐取代。



5. He is all at sea as to what to do next．

他惘然若失，不知下一步该怎么办。

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　　all at sea，原意是“在海上”，引申意为“迷茫，不知所措”。

例句：There's so much materials to be prepared that she's all at sea to fix out.

有太多的材料需要准备，以致她茫然无措，不知如何下手。



6. Your question is another cup of tea．

你的问题完全是另一回事。

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　　another cup of tea，原意是“另一杯茶”，引申为“另一回事”。

例句：Even if you read French easily，you'll find it's another cup of tea to make conversation in French．

即使你觉得阅读法语不难，你也会发现用法语对话完全是另一回事。



7. Don't play games with me.

别跟我捣鬼。

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　　play games，捣鬼。

例句：Don't play games with me，Jane．I'm on to your tricks and manipulations．

简，别跟我捣鬼，我对你的诡计和手段一清二楚。



8. She's just letting off steam．

她只是发泄一下而已。

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　　let off steam，字面意思是让蒸汽蒸发，引申为“发泄强烈的感情，发脾气”等。

例句：Don't take what she says too much to heart，she's just letting off steam．

别把她的话往心里去，她只是发泄一下而已。



9. He turns a deaf ear to the criticism from media.

他对媒体的批评充耳不闻

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　　turn a deaf ear to表示对某件事情的发生、对某人说的话置若罔闻，装聋作哑。当告诫听者要认真听讲的时候，最常用的一句应用即是：Don't turn a deaf ear.

从听者的角度讲，听不进别人的话可能有以下的影响因素：偏见（Prejudice），疏忽（Inattention），多话（Excessive Talking），先入之见（Assumption），选择性聆听（Selective Listening），缺乏移情（Lack of Empathy）等等。



10. Diamond cut diamond.

针锋相对，棋逢对手，针尖对麦芒

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　　钻石是最坚硬的物质，按照字面意思理解，“钻石对钻石”即“硬碰硬”，经常用来形容双方实力相当，互不相让。

There's no sense flogging a dead horse.
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