知识加油站－词汇天地

051parrot







parrot fashion 
If a child learns something parrot fashion, they learn it by repeating it many times, but they do not really understand what it means. This expression is used in British English.

Under the old system pupils often had to stand to attention and repeat lessons parrot fashion.

There are no books, pens or chairs here, just a blackboard and a dirt floor where 150 dusty sit in rows, learning their words parrot-fashion.

052part







look the part1
If someone looks the part, they dress or behave in the way that is characteristic of a particular kind of person.

You look the part of an English gentleman, so he is half ready to believe you as soon as you meet.

He won't say which army but friends suspect it may have been the Foreign Legion. He certainly looks the part: his hair is crew cut and he has a raw gash above his left eye.

look the part2   
If you want to say that someone or something seems impressive, you can say that they look the part. This expression is used mainly in British English.

Strachan believes that Cantona has always had the hallmark that distinguishes world-class players from the rest. `When I played for Scotland in France, Eric scored against us, and even then I thought he looked the part,' he says.

The Alpha 5 CD certainly looks the part with a stylish slimline design, moulded front panel and finely-textured paint finish.

part and parcel
If one thing is part and parcel of another, it is involved or included in it and cannot be separated from it.

It was a house healthy -- and noisy -- with political argument and dissent; strong views and humour were part and parcel of home life.

There comes a time during every player's season when his form dips and the goals don't go in. It's part and parcel of being a professional.

He said it's all part and parcel, just a day's work really, you know, it's nothing serious.

take someone's part   
If you take someone's part, you support them or defend them, especially in a dispute with other people. This is an old-fashioned expression, which is used in British English.

It seemed to me that she should have taken my part, should somehow have defended me from my father.

China, which in the past had taken North Korea's part, abstained.

take something in good part
If someone takes something such as criticism in good part, they are not offended or upset by it. This expression is used in British English.

I tried to eliminate from the critical comments the casual, the superficial and the trivial, but I nevertheless agonized over having to pass on to Pasternak even the sort of objections with which I could not myself agree. But he took it all, however unusual, in good part.

053pat







a pat on the back 
pat someone on the back
If you give someone a pat on the back, you congratulate them or show your appreciation for something they have done. If you give yourself a pat on the back, you feel pleased about something you have done.

Any mail order shop that gives such rapid response to a customer's complaint deserves a pat on the back.

The industry can give itself a little pat on the back for the constructive moves it has made to help towards its own recovery.

You can also say that one person pats another on the back, or that someone pats themselves on the back.

The editor of the newspaper asked to see me, and I thought he would pat me on the give me a bunch of and say, `Well done!' Instead he fired me.

I decided if giving up smoking was going to be so hard, I'd need more pleasurable things in my life, so each day I kept patting myself on the back and treating myself.

stand pat
If someone stands pat, they do not change something or they refuse to change their mind about something. This expression is used mainly in American English.

The last time the cut short-term rates, long-term rates rose due to investor fears of inflation, all of which makes it hard for the to do anything but stand pat till the economy's direction becomes clearer.

Building society managers are willing to stand pat on mortgage rates for the moment.

There are certain issues on which Britain would stand pat and insist on unanimity.

054pile







the bottom of the pile
the top of the pile
Someone who is at the bottom of the pile is low down in society or in an organization. Someone who is at the top of the pile is high up in society or in an organization. The expressions the bottom of the heap and the top of the heap mean the same.

Tragically, organized labour has paid for its disregard of workers at the bottom of the pile.

Their position, at the bottom of the social pile, has resulted in them suffering from indifference at best, exploitation and oppression at worst.

You may not like to admit that you are ambitious but you must know deep down that you want to be on the top of the pile.

055pilot







on automatic pilot
on autopilot
If you are on automatic pilot or on autopilot, you are acting without thinking about what you are doing, usually because you have done it many times before or because you are very tired.

Razzall has worked at number 28 Lincoln's Inn Fields since he joined as an articled clerk in 1966. `I expect I'll turn up here on auto-pilot for the first few weeks before I find I'm in the wrong place,' he says.

seemed to be on automatic pilot and able to go on driving without a word of complaint or apparent fatigue.

When the kids came home I just switched on to autopilot, making the tea, listening to them fight.

056poor







poor as a church mouse

If you say that you are as poor as a church mouse, you are emphasizing that you have very little money. This is an old-fashioned expression.

I was as poor as a church mouse, but I bought that wreck of a car.

I suspect we'll continue to be poor as church mice.

057pride







swallow your pride
If you swallow your pride, you decide to do something even though it is shameful or embarrassing, and you would prefer not to.

However, if political compulsions demand, he can swallow his pride and ally himself with his political enemies.

States like Illinois have cut programs for the general assistance grants and winter energy assistance. Governments, industries and small businesses have laid off They and members of their families are swallowing their pride and looking for charity.

058ride







a free ride
If you say that someone is getting a free ride in a particular situation, you disapprove of the fact that they are getting some benefit from it without putting any effort into achieving it themselves.

I never wanted anyone to think I was getting a free ride or special treatment from the boss.

Tyrone will graduate soon and try to get his high school diploma. Many like him are hoping around, go to college. And then there are others who are just in for the free ride.

go along for the ride
come along for the ride
If you say that someone is going along for the ride or is coming along for the ride, you mean that they have decided to join in an activity but are not doing it seriously or getting deeply involved in it.

Your boyfriend is not likely to be serious about anything this week except having a good time. Go along for the ride.

`Who's that with you?' `A friend of mine. He came along for the ride.'

a rough ride
a bumpy ride
an easy ride
If you say that someone will have a rough ride or a bumpy ride, you mean that they are likely to have a lot of problems and that it will be very difficult for them to achieve something.

The government is likely to face a rough ride in parliament.

The recession yesterday continued to provide a bumpy ride for the lower and middle range of the art market.

You can say that someone will have an easy ride if you think that they will achieve something without difficulty because they do not face much opposition.

You don't come into politics expecting an easy ride.

take someone for a ride
If you say that someone has been taken for a ride, you mean that they have been deceived or cheated.

You've been taken for a ride. Why did you give him five thousand francs?

Why do I have this sneaking suspicion that is taking us all for a ride?

059sails







trim your sails

If you trim your sails, you adapt your behaviour to deal with a difficult situation, for example by limiting your demands, needs, or expectations.

Mr Lee, for his part, has already begun trimming his sails in preparation for dealing with new government.

Would he trim his conservative sails to suit a Democratic Senate?

060save







save someone's ass
save someone's butt
If you do something to save someone's ass or to save their butt, you do it in order to save them from a dangerous or very unpleasant situation. You can also talk about saving your own ass. These are informal expressions, which are used mainly in American English. Many people consider them offensive.

who's a terrific guy, up to me and `Thank you, thank you, you saved my ass.'

I thought you'd want to know closer to the , such as how I managed to save Grace's butt from Parish for this long.

Lenny said she climbed out the back of the car to get away, to save her own ass.