容易用錯的習語，你中招了嗎？（一）

許多母語爲英語的人可能都不知道有些關於choices, options, 和Alternatives的習語。實際上，在寫這篇文章的時候，我發現了一些我從來沒聽過也聽不懂的習語。因爲許多習語的用法都很老，並且涉及我們今天沒有或並不使用的東西。

因此我們列表中關於choices, options或者 alternatives的25個習語是最常用的、最容易理解的。

1. Beggars can’t be choosers

乞丐沒有選擇的餘地

A person who is in a position of poverty or has no power to bargain with cannot choose what they will be given.

一個處於貧窮狀態或者沒有權利討價還價的人不能選擇他們被給予什麼。

I want the new iPhone, but it’s too expensive, so I will have to settle for the old one. Beggars can’t be choosers!

我想要新的iphone，但它太貴了，我只好將就舊的用了。沒錢的人不能挑肥揀瘦！

2. Damned if you/I do, damned if you/I don’t

左右爲難

This idiom describes a situation that offers two different options, both of which will have undesired consequences.

這個習語描述一種情況，在這種情況下有兩種不同的選擇，無論怎樣選擇，結果都不盡人意。

I don’t know what to do! I am damned if I do, damned if I don’t!

我不知道做什麼！我怎樣做都不對。

3. Hedge your bets

兩面下注

If you hedge your bets, you are avoiding committing yourself entirely to something.

如果你兩面下注，那麼你就是在避免把自己完全投入到某件事情上。

Until they pay you for the first job, hedge your bets and wait for the payment.

在他們付給你第一份工作的錢之前，先兩面下注，等待付款。

4. In a quandary

進退兩難

When you are in a quandary, which means you are doubtful, you are unsure of what decision or action to take during a difficult situation.

當你處於窘境之時，這說明你很懷疑，你不確定在這種困難的狀態下應該做什麼決定或者採取什麼行動。

What are you going to do? Wow! You are definitely in a quandary!

你打算怎麼辦？哇！你真的是進退兩難！

5. In two minds

猶豫不決

Two people have very different ways of thinking because they have two separate minds. So, to be in two minds describes how we feel when we cannot decide whether to do one thing or another.

兩個人的思維方式截然不同是因爲他們思考的大腦完全不同，所以當不能決定做哪件事情的時候，我們就可以用in two minds來描述我們的感受。

I am in two minds about ending my relationship with Kenny; he is adorable, but I don’t think he is my type.

我對結束與肯尼的關係這件事情猶豫不決；他值得崇拜，但是我認爲他不是我喜歡的類型。

6. It’s a no-brainer

毫無疑問，很簡單。

When the decision is so obvious and requires little or no thought, it is said to be a no-brainer.

當決定很明顯，很少需要甚至根本不需要思考的時候，就可以用it’s a no-brainer來表示。

My homework is a no-brainer today.

今天的家庭作業很簡單。

7. It’s a win, win.

雙贏

A situation that will have beneficial results for everyone involved is called a win-win scenario.

對每個人都有好處就叫做雙贏。

Alice is going to the movies and Mary is going shopping, it’s a win-win.

愛麗絲要去看電影，瑪麗要去購物，這簡直雙贏。

8. Keep my options open

保留選擇權

A person who does not commit to any one thing because they like to be able to choose what they want to do at the last possible moment.

一個人不承諾任何事情，是因爲他們想在最後一刻選擇自己想做的事情。

I haven’t decided which University I am going to yet. I would like to keep my options open.

我還沒有決定我要上哪所大學，我想保留我的選擇權。

9. My way or the highway

我說了算

It means the listener must either do what that person says or go away; they have no choice or alternative.

這意味着聽者要麼做別人所說，要麼走開；他們沒有選擇的權利。

It’s my way or the highway; please do as I tell you.

我說了算；請按我告訴你的做。

10. On the fence

保持中立，抱觀望態度

A fence divides two sides, so if we are on the fence, we are undecided. We are in the middle.

柵欄分兩部分，所以如果說we are on the fence，那就說明我們還沒有決定。我們正保持中立。

I was on the fence about which company to work for because both had offered me great jobs.

至於在哪家公司工作我還在抱觀望態度，因爲他們都給我提供了很好的工作。

11. Out of the frying pan into the fire

每況愈下，越來越糟

A frying pan is used to describe a bad situation because it is a hot and unfriendly place to ver, a fire is even worse than a frying pan. Therefore to go out of the frying pan into the fire means to go from a bad situation to an even worse one.

A frying pan主要用來描述一個糟糕的情況，因爲既炎熱又不友好。然而，火甚至比煎鍋表達的意思還要糟糕。因此，走出油鍋進入火場意味着從一個糟糕的局面走到更加糟糕的境地。

Susie went out of the frying pan into the fire when she screamed at the customers.

當蘇西對顧客大喊大叫時，情況就更加糟糕了。