实用短语useful phrases（二）
Learn by heart 牢记
To memorize something; to have learned something word for word or very precisely.
Example: At school we often learned Shakespeare’s sonnets by heart and recited them in front of the class.
On hold 尚未办理的事情
Something set aside and waiting to be dealt with
Example: Our vacation plans are on hold right now; because my Dad’s just been admitted to hospital with a stomach ulcer.
A dark horse 出乎意料的嬴家
An unexpected winner.
Example: A dark horse in this year’s basketball cup was Japan!
The bottom line 本质内容
The most essential part of something
Example: We’ve talked a lot about taxation and immigration, but the bottom line is that we have to create more jobs.
Live it up 狂欢一场
To enjoy a high standard of living and lead a carefree life
Example: The neighbors having been living it up ever since they won the sweepstakes.
Look forward to 期待着
To relish some future prospect; to eagerly await meeting somebody.
Example: You can tell Jake is looking forward to his vacation – he keeps telling us how many days there are left until he finishes college.
Bear in mind 记住
To remember something which can be of help in the future.
Example: Before you start your perspective drawing, bear in mind you should first establish a vanishing point.
Have a mind to 想做某事, 计划做某事
To be decided on ; to intend to
Example: The service in our hotel was terrible. I have a mind to write a letter of complaint.
Be in the mood 想要做某事
To feel like doing something
Example: She is not in the mood for playing cards and says she should really be preparing her lecture notes.
Over the moon 欣喜若狂
Extremely happy
Example: She’s over the moon about her promotion – she really wasn’t expecting it.
Get a move on 赶快
To hurry up
Example: Get a move on! The train is about to leave.
Over and above 除…这外, 额外的
In addition to
Example: Over and above our salary, we are getting a large bonus, because business has been very profitable this year.
Get the picture 了解某事
To understand something, to grasp some meaning
Example: When they started cutting back and laying people off at work, I got the picture and starting looking for another job.
Be out of pocket 花光了钱的
To be without money
Example: He’s complaining because he spent all of his money on slot machines and now he’s out of pocket.
Keep somebody posted 传达消息
To regularly give somebody up-to-date information or details of the progress being made.
Example: I phoned in at the end of each working day to keep my boss posted about developments at the trade conference.
In the long run 最终, 最后
Over a long period of time, once a process has matured
Example: The grocery store is making a loss right now. In the long run, however, we hope to achieve a situation of stable profit.
On a shoestring 生活拮据
In a thrifty manner; with costs or spending down to a bare minimum
Example: She lives on a shoestring – she gets a tiny pension and has to budget very tightly.
Lose track of 失去消息, 失去线索
To lose contact with somebody to not know where something is
Example: I lost track of Fran when she moved to Boston. I’ve even tried to locate her on the Internet.