表示身体部位的很多英语单词都是宝,它们基本上都可以用来作比喻,从头发 hair 开始,到 feet 都可以见到它们的踪影,如 hang by a hair,heart and soul 和 get one's feet wet 等等。hang (on) by a hair 命悬一线;气若游丝;危在旦夕After the loss, their chances of getting into the championships are hanging on by a thread.Her life hung by a thread as medics rushed her to the hospital.heart and soul 全心全意;完全地;最重要或核心的部分
I'm so sorry that you lost the restaurant, Jim. I know you put your heart and soul into it.吉姆,很抱歉你损失了餐厅。我知道你全身心投入其中。Now we are getting to the heart and soul of the matter. This feature is the heart and soul of my invention.现在我们正进入问题的最重要的部分。这个特征是我发明的最核心的部分。get one's feet wet 初次涉足;开始做(新鲜的事情)I've only had a few cello lessons-I've barely gotten my feet wet.At that time he was a young actor, just getting his feet wet.
跟它们类似的还有 fight tooth and nail 或 fight tooth and claw,很明显它不能用作它的字面意思“战斗牙齿和指甲(爪子)”,它用来表示竭尽全力或激烈斗争等,例如:She fought the guards tooth and nail as they escorted her out of the building.The senator vowed to fight the proposal tooth and nail.I want this job so I’m going to fight tooth and nail for it.The independent regions are fighting tooth and nail to keep their special status.These elite troops have been selected by the royal palace to fight tooth and claw against any possible invaders.这些精锐部队被皇宫挑选出来与任何可能的入侵者进行殊死搏斗。
想必大家都想到了常见的 try one's best,它表示尽某人最大的努力做某事,它的延申版 do/try one's level best (to do sth) 也可以用来表示竭尽全力,例如:I'll try my best to help them solve problems.I'll do my level best to bear it all.I'll do my level best to get you a ticket.He has tried his level best to give up smoking.
我们还可以使用 all out 来表示全力以赴或竭尽全力或努力奋斗,对应的形容词是 all-out,例如:We're going all out to win.
We will be going all out to ensure it doesn't happen again.
我们要全力保证此事不再发生。
You're going to have to give us an all-out effort in the next game if you want to stay on the team.
1. cello [ˈtʃeləʊ] 意为“大提琴”2. elite [eɪˈliːt] 意为“精英,精英的”等