“talk to the wind”理解成“对风说话”？有内味儿了，但并不精确
中文里有一种表达与该短语意思相近-“对牛弹琴”
都是：某人说出的话不被重视、不起作用的意思
使别人“说话就好像对着空气说一样”
即听不进别人说的话，把别人的话当成“耳旁风”
01
talk to the wind
耳旁风
Tom didn't hear what I said at all.
It seemed that I was talking to the wind.
汤姆根本没听进我的话。好像把我的话当耳旁风了。
对话
A:Are you listening to me?Am I talking to the wind?
你在听吗?把我的话都当耳旁风了?
B:Hey,I'm listening to you.
嘿，我听着呢。
把别人的话当“耳旁风”也可以说成“左耳朵进右耳朵出”
比如：
Everything I tell Tom goes in one ear and out the other.
我告诉汤姆的话他总是左耳朵进右耳朵出。
02
talk back to
顶嘴
“顶嘴”的英文表达中可没有mouth一词
这个词的意思是“反驳”
所以可以用talk back to来表示
Jack often talks back to his mother.
杰克经常和妈妈顶嘴。
对话
A:I don't agree with you.
我不同意你的意见。
B:Don't talk back to me!
别和我顶嘴！
除此之外，answer back也可以表示“顶嘴”
In his youth he lost several jobs, just because he dared to answer back.
他年轻时，只不过因为敢顶嘴，就失业了好几次。
03
speak ill of sb.
说坏话
Jack likes to speak ill of others.
杰克喜欢说别人坏话。
对话
A:It's heard that Jim is a mean guy.
听说吉姆很小气。
B:Don't speak ill of others.
别说别人的坏话。
如果已经不只是说某人坏话而是“辱骂某人”
要用call sb.names表示（人称用宾格形式）
You can call me names, but I won't change my mind.
你可以骂我，但我不会改变主意。
04
give someone the cold shoulder
爱答不理
“爱答不理”很难直译，实际上它指的是“对人冷淡、怠慢”
所以形象地用give someone the cold shoulder
Mary always gives Tom the cold shoulder.
玛丽总是对汤姆爱答不理的。
对话
A:Why do you give John the cold shoulder?
你为什么对约翰爱答不理的?
B:He's so mean.
他很刻薄。
“爱答不理”还可以用treat sb.coldly 表示
05
tall tale
瞎掰
“瞎掰”的意思就是胡说八道，讲一些荒诞不经、令人难以置信的事
What Mike said were all tall tales.
迈克说的话全是瞎掰。
对话
A:John said he would marry Lily next week.
约翰说他下周要和莉莉结婚了。
B:Don't listen to his tall tale.
别听他瞎掰。
tall story 也可以表示同样的意思
The judge didn't believe the tall story
the accused told.
法官不相信这位被告所讲的荒诞不经的故事。