短語「once in a blue moon」出現在19世紀,它的意思為「罕見的、千載難逢的」,在這裡「blue moon」並不只是「藍色月亮」的含義,而是指「在一個月內出現的第二次圓月」,這種現象每隔32個月發生一次。
[例句]
1.Barry only visits his parents once in a blue moon.
巴裡很難得去看望他父母一次。
2.Brian has little contact with his sister. They see each other once in a blue moon.
Brian和他的姐姐很少聯繫。他們幾乎很少見面。
3.This is a chance once in a blue moon.
這是一個千載難逢的機會。
「out of the blue」所表達的意思是「出乎意料,所料不及」。
[例句]
1.One day, out of the blue, she announced that she was leaving.
有一天,她出人意料地宣布她要離開了。
2.The opportunity came out of the blue.
機會就突然不期而至了。
3.There are so many things out of the blue in our life.
生活中就有這麼多的出乎意料。
4.The job offer came out of the blue, and I had to make a choice immediately.
這個工作機會來得突然,我必須馬上做出選擇。
5.Things are never as bad as we think they are; and miracles happen out of the blue when there is a smile on our face.
事情遠不像我們想像的那麼糟,反而在我們展開笑容時,奇蹟不斷在我們周圍發生。
短語「black and blue」直譯為「黑色和藍色」,它還可以表達「青一塊紫一塊」的意思。
[例句]
1.After Sam lost the wrestling match he was black and blue.
山姆摔跤比賽結束後臉上青一塊紫一塊的。
2.He was beaten black and blue in the face.
他被打得鼻青臉腫。
3.Had so many falls that he was black and blue all over.
他摔了很多跤,以致於全身上下青一塊,紫一塊的。
4.He slipped down the stairs one night. The next day he was black and blue.
有一天晚上他從樓梯上滑了下來。第二天他身上青一塊紫一塊的。
短語「a bolt from the blue」所表達的意思是「意外事件、晴天霹靂」。1.The news of his death came as a bolt from the blue.2.His decision to resign from such a good job was a bolt from the blue to his friends.他對如此的好工作決定辭職不幹實在出他朋友的意料之外。3.The news that Wang Wei was missing came like a bolt from the blue.