【money for old rope】据说中世纪时绳索交易兴盛,船员们常把船上老旧的绳索(old rope)拿去出售。现在这一习语用来形容“容易赚的钱”,例:All I have to do in my job is answering the phone occasionally--it’s money for old rope.我的全部工作只是偶尔接个电话,这钱赚得容易极了。
【make a killing】 这一习语原指猎人在狩猎时有所斩获,现在表示“突然发大财;暴富”之意。 例:They made a killing with the sale of their London house.他们通过出售位于伦敦的房子而赚了一大笔钱。
【kiss one's ass】直译过来就是:“亲某人的屁股”,这个短语的正确意思是:“巴结某人”。因此,当美国人说"But you can kiss my ass."时,他/她要表达的意思就是:"But you can try to curry favor with me."、"You can try your best to please me."。
【Paradigm shift】If John is going to start walking to work, that is a paradigm shift in his habits. He has never taken any exercise in his life!如果约翰开始走着去上班了,那可真是一个大变化,他从来不做任何运动的!Paradigm shift本意是指“人们思维方式的改变或变革”。记住了吗?
【a license to print money】 license指“许可证”。如果获得了一张“印钞许可证”,那无疑意味着你可以“毫不费力地赚大钱”,这一习语就用来形容这样“一本万利的生意”。 例:These shopping channels are a license to print money.这些购物频道能够轻而易举就赚到很多钱。