2011英语四级考试语法讲义：形容词+名词=名词惯用语

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　　来自“形容词＋名词”的名词惯用语多且有用，谈了两期还不够，现在再把那些失之可惜的录下。这样一来，大家至少认识几十个这类名词惯用语，可以随时应用。
* ]- L) h- l4 J　　（1） A mixed blessing：忧喜参半的事
　　“Working in a big city is a mixed blessing. It is so convenient and comfortable there, but noise pollution and traffic congestion are two big headaches.”

　　（2） A narrow escape：九死一生
# h& g! B! T9 A. x+ k　　“The residents ran out of the burning building in time, but it was a narrow escape.”

　　（3） A nasty piece of work：讨厌的家伙
6 w8 s) b5 s* H& Q7 R* Z2 w$ j* M; H　　“Beware of Tom! He looks nice at first sight, but finally you will find him a nasty piece of work.”

　　（4） A necessary evil：讨厌但不得不做的事
　　“David is tired of administrative work, but, as the chief administrator of the department, he has to regard it as a necessary evil.”
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: c0 {/ A$ }. ^( Q* d7 q* S　　（5） An odd man out：难以和他人相处者
/ y8 I7 b$ B# u( Q& y: V) S) R3 }　　“At school, Bob was an odd man out; he seldom mingled with his peers.”
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　　（6） An open book：尽人皆知的事
8 l8 P7 a3 u9 ?* R/ [　　“David's daily life is an open book; he is a nice person to work with.”
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　　（7） Plain sailing：一帆风顺
　　“With the major obstacles removed, all should experience plain sailing from now on.”

! D( R! f, U$ {, v　　（8） A plum job：薪酬优厚的好差使
　　“Teaching can be considered a plum job here, but fewer and fewer young people regard it as a good career.”

' f3 x7 N4 G" {6 m　　（9） A put-up job：预先布置的勾当；骗局
　　“There is much publicity on foreign investment, but it may be a put-up job.”
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　　（10） A safe bet：必胜的事
　　“For many housewives, putting money in a good bank is a safe bet.”

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　　（11） Second nature：第二天性
　　“Wearing a seat belt is second nature to every motorist here.”

　　（12） One's sixth sense：一个人的第六感
: W6 a" R: b. M2 j　　“When the policeman saw a parcel near a building, his sixth sense told him that it could be a time bomb.”

　　（13） Small talk：不重要的闲谈
　　“As is often the case with staff meeting, it started off with small talk and then got down to business.”
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9 N( c- G9 c1 f; Z) o　　（14） A snap decision：急速的决定
5 g3 e! _5 r) p$ n7 C: ]% I, `　　“The radical change of ruling or public housing came as a snap decision from the public housing authorities.”
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' x# T5 m8 j+ q$ [; U　　（15） A soft option：比较容易或有利的选择
　　“Helen considered staying with her mother a soft option because she did not have to worry about house-keeping.”

7 A& r' Z$ K$ M4 N' z* J! V　　（16） A stepping stone：踏脚石
, ?4 R* ~6 Q9 {' \4 j　　“A good degree from a good university serves as a stepping stone towards a person's career.”

% W* u: w! y. ~8 X/ h& I　　（17） A sure-fire method/solution：绝对可靠的方法/解决办法
+ N% ~8 J' N' n' _/ p/ S　　“To link good performance with better remuneration is a sure-fire method to increase productivity.”

+ ~/ t9 H; G. ^/ h. n　　（18） Teething troubles：暂时的困难
, X; b% b$ H' \# w　　“Shortage of experienced staff and inefficient use of office equipment are teething troubles of any new company.”

　　（19） A wet blanket：扫兴者
　　“Don't be a wet blanket by prohibiting people from doing this or that.”
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　　（20） Wishful thinking：如意算盘
5 d6 e0 V, [' K5 [) X6 f3 ?) Q　　“Buying a big car? No, it is only wishful thinking, since I don't have the means to do so.”