Idioms & Phrases

1. Idioms & Phrases • balance A with B • experience sth to the fullest • expect ~ of sb. • go/be on a diet • keep good company • argue with sb. over/about sth. • hook up sth. to sth. else • cut down on sth. • an average of ~(number) vs. on average • be amazed at sth.

2. 1. balance A with B • Students have to balance work with play so that they can learn well while having fun. • (On your own)從現在起你必須在賺錢和花錢的需求之間取得平衡。From now on, you have to balance making money with the need to spend money.

3. 2. experience sth to the fullest • If you want to enjoy life to the fullest, you need to find a job that really interests you. • (On your own)為了充分享受停留在夏威夷的時光，亨利故意(on purpose)不帶手機及膝上型電腦。To enjoy his stay in Hawaii to the fullest, Henry didn’t bring along his cell phone and laptop computer on purpose.

4. 3. expect ~ of sb. • Don’t expect too much of him. He is too busy to help you out this time. • (On your own)我已經把你要我做的每件事都做了，你還指望我甚麼？I have done everything you have asked me to do. What else do you expect of me?

5. 4. go/be on a diet • I’m on a diet now. Don’t tempt me to eat ice cream. • Many people choose to go on a diet in order to lose weight. • (On your own)我太重了，但我不知道是不是該進行節食。I’m too heavy, but I don’t know if I should go on a diet.

6. 5. keep (good/bad) company • A person is known by the company he keeps. • Keeping good company will keep you from going astray. • (On your own)她所關心的是能否在學校結交益友。What she cared about is whether or not she can keep good company in school.

7. 6. argue with sb. over sth. • The two brothers always argue with each other over small things. • (On your own)Meg常和她妹妹為了誰先洗澡而爭吵。Meg often argues withher younger sister over who gets to take a shower first.

8. 7. hook up sth. to sth. else • To make the machine work, you need to hook it up to the computer. • (On your own)將這部電視連線到大樓的中央線路系統。Hook up this computer to the building’s central wiring system.

9. 8. cut down on sth. • You’ve been watching too much TV lately. You have to cut down on the time you spend on TV. • (On your own)在網路上教學，老師們可以減少課堂上紙張的使用量。Teaching online, teachers can cut down on the amount of paper used in class.

10. 9. an average of ~(number) vs. on average • School children in our country spend an average of two hours on TV every day. • On average, school children in our country spend two hours on TV every day. • (On your own)我每個月平均花一千元購買書籍。I spend an average of one thousand dollars on books every month.

11. 10. be amazed at • We were amazed at/by the change in his appearance. • (On your own)大家對Henry的突然失蹤大感驚奇。Everybody was amazed at Henry’s sudden disappearance.