我們已經連續幾次談了出自水手卻在日常生活中被常人採納的習慣用語。今天要講的習慣用語都跟水有某種關聯。
第一個是： rock the boat。Rock在這兒當動詞，意思是搖動。那麼rock the boat可不就是左右晃動船隻了嗎？划過船的人都知道這不是什麼開玩笑的事兒，弄不好就會翻船。這一來不僅你本人，同船的其他人都得遭殃。那麼習慣用語rock the boat含義是什麼呢？我們聽個例子。一位州長正展開競選活動爭取再次當選。他的首席顧問提醒他務必迴避一個引起反感的問題。
例句-1：Governor, the state is running out of money, but let's not talk about raising taxes until the election is over -- you'll just rock the boat and get the voters upset with you.
顧問說：雖然州內資金短缺，但是我們在選舉沒結束前可別提出加稅，不然你會激怒選民把事情搞糟的。
候選人在競選中時常會以甜言蜜語取悅選民爭取選票，如果在這當口上反而提出加稅，觸犯眾怒一定會把競選計劃全盤打翻。所以rock the boat意思就是把事情打亂搞糟。
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我們再學個意義相似的習慣用語：make waves。Wave是波浪。聽到這個習慣用語，有人也許會聯想起中國成語"興風作浪。" Make waves也確實是這個意思，正好比把一塊大石頭扔進平靜的湖水裡激起層層波浪一樣，make waves用來表示把現狀打亂、掀起風波。我們來聽個例子。這是辦公室的一位老前輩在好心告戒一名新同事：
例句-2：Look, you may see things here you don't like. But it's better not to make waves -- the big boss doesn't like complaints, and the last guy to make waves got fired the very next day.
他說：哎，你可能會覺得這兒有些事情看不順眼，但是你最好別聲張。我們的大老闆可不愛聽怨言。上次興風作浪的那人第二天就給解僱了。
習慣用語make waves意思是掀起風波、打亂現狀。
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我們再學一個習慣用語：hold water。Hold water是個相當古老的習慣用語，有四百來年的歷史了，原來是指罈罈罐罐裝水一點兒不漏，後來hold water被轉用來表示確實可靠、經得起嚴密審查，跟中文成語"滴水不漏"的意思正相吻合。我們來聽個例子，說的是謀殺案的審判，被告被控在搶劫時扣住並槍殺店員。我們聽聽是怎麼會事。
例句-3：The accused said he was out of town at the time of the murder. But his story didn't hold water after the prosecutor showed a videotape of him pointing a gun at the victim.
他說：被告聲稱謀殺案發生那天他不在本地，但是檢方放出一段他拿槍指著被害人的錄象，這一來他的說辭就漏洞百出了。
這裡的not hold water意思是漏洞百出，習慣用語hold water解釋"滴水不漏"比喻確實可靠經得起嚴密審查。
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最後再學一個習慣用語: high and dry。High and dry來自這樣的情況：如果你乘坐的船航行時給水下的礁石或者沙堤卡住了，到退潮水位低的時候這艘船就被高高地架在乾乾的沙石上動彈不得，因為接觸不到水，也就無法藉助水流的浮力和動力來讓你擺脫困境。
High and dry逐漸被廣泛應用成為習慣用語。我們聽個例子來體會它的意思。這段話裡說的Bill沒充分考慮應付意外不測情況。
例句-4：Bill made good money, but he spent every dollar he made. When he was killed in a car crash, his family was left high and dry with no insurance and not enough money to pay the rent.
他說：Bill以前收入不錯，但是卻掙多少花多少，沒有積餘。所以他在車禍中喪生後，他的家人就陷於一籌莫展的困境，沒有保險，甚至連房租也付不起。
顯然Bill在世時是家庭的主要收入來源，他雖然掙錢很多，但是卻沒防到命運不測，既沒積蓄也沒買保險，所以他一出事，家人就一無依靠生活沒著落了，可見習慣用語high and dry是用來描繪處於一籌莫展的困境的。
Understanding the Importance of Idioms in English Language Learning
An idiom is a phrase or saying that is commonly used in everyday English to express certain ideas or opinions. Understanding English idioms is important because they require a deeper familiarity of the English language to comprehend what someone means when they use them in conversation.
Idioms may seem complicated at first, but they can actually be a lot of fun to learn. If you’re interested in building your English skills, read on to find out why idioms are so important to your English language learning.
Idioms Give You a New Way to Express Yourself in the English Language
The meaning of an idiom generally depends on the specific context in which it is used. When someone in America tells you to 『break a leg』, for example, they aren’t saying that in a literal sense, but instead are wishing you good luck, usually before a performance. Similarly, if someone asks you to 『think outside the box』, they mean that you should use a different approach than what you might normally do.
Idioms can help students in ESL school express themselves in a more creative way during conversation
Idioms can help students in ESL school express themselves in a more creative way during conversation
Idioms are particularly useful because they give you a new, creative way to express yourself. Rather than saying 『You’re correct』, you could say 『You hit the nail on the head』, which is a more complex and interesting expression. Idioms can also be quite humorous to use, which allows you to express yourself in a more genuine way, including showing off your personality and sense of humor.
Understanding Idioms Can Boost Your Conversational English Skills
You may encounter idioms most often in spoken or written conversation. Idioms can help improve your conversational skills because it shows native speakers that you understand the cultural meaning and context behind the idiom you’re using. This can help you feel more comfortable and confident with your conversational abilities the more you practice it during your English language learning courses.
You don’t have to start with the most complex idiom, either—even a simple 『break a leg』 can help you connect in a more meaningful way during the conversation you’re sharing.
Students at ASC English can use idioms to enrich their conversational skills
Students at ASC English can use idioms to enrich their conversational skills
Learning about Idioms Can Help Enrich What You Learn in Your ESL Lessons
Native speakers often use idioms more than someone who is new to the language, simply because they are more familiar with them and know the context in which they should be used. Therefore, when you use an idiom, you sound more like a native speaker.
It also helps if you think of English as if it were a soup – the basics may be good, but you need a little extra flavor to take it to the next level. Idioms, in that sense, are the spice that you can add to your English skills as you progress through your ESL lessons. Understanding the basics of English is a good start, but idioms can help you explore the language in a deeper, more meaningful way.