Bark up the wrong tree认错目标,错怪了人 They were looking for a tall thin man,
but were barking up the wrong tree; the thief was short and fat.
Beat about the bush旁敲侧击,拐弯抹角 If you’d got bad news, don’t beat about
the bush; come straight to the point.
Behind the eight ball受挫,处境不妙 Not having a car puts Bill behind the
eight ball; he cannot get to work.
Between the devil and the deep blue sea
进退两难 I was between the devil and the deep
blue sea and didn’t know what to do next.
Blow hot and cold摇摆不定,反复无常 He blows hot and cold on the plan so
that I don’t know whether he will eventually help us or not.
Can not hold a candle to someone
远不如某人 Marina can’t hold a candle to her
mother as far as cooking is concerned.
The die is cast事已定局,木已成舟 I’m not sure that I want to leave the job
after all but the die is cast – I’ve handed in my resignation.
Draw/pull in one’s horns退缩,节制 He said he could beat any man there
single-handed, but he pulled in his horns when Tom came forward.
Face the music面对麻烦,接受处罚 Mary broke a dining-room window and
had to face the music when her father got home.
Follow one’s nose凭直觉行事 Oh, I don’t know just where I want to go.
I’ll just follow my nose and see what happens.