idioms的英文解释是a group of words whose meaning is different from the meanings of the individual words, so they might not make sense literally, but they do in a cultural sense. 在理解这些idioms的时候，不可以逐字从字面上解释，否则会前言不搭后语。下面就给大家列举一些超高频的英美idioms：

　　British English Idioms

　　1. Talk the Hind legs off a Donkey

　　这个idiom的实际意思跟外科手术没啥关系，其实它指的就是那种超级话唠的人。(a person who really talks too much)

　　e.g. Watch out for your phone bill when you call her - she can talk the hind legs off a donkey!

　　2. Popping out

　　当我们要离开一下下的时候，会用到这个idiom。

　　(This is usually mentioned when someone is leaving his or her spot for a little while)

　　e.g. I’m just popping out for lunch.

　　3. Raining Cats and Dogs

　　在世界不同的地方，你可能听到掉下来的不是cat或者dog，而是其他的动物，不过不管是啥，指的都是“下了很大的雨”。

　　(It’s raining a lot!)

　　e.g. Don’t forget your umbrella when you go out, it’s raining cats and dogs out there!

　　4. A piece of cake

　　我们中文里的“小菜一碟”，应该就是它了!

　　(This is a simple way of saying something is easy – not requiring much effort)

　　e.g. I’m glad I used that guide for my revision – the exam was a piece of cake!

　　5. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

　　查中英字典，这个idiom的解释也是令人费解，什么叫“双鸟在林不如一鸟在手”呢…… 其实拿英文解释可能更清楚一些：having one certain thing is better than having two possibilities that might not happen.

　　e.g. Do you really want to gamble all your money on the car and holiday? A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush!

　　American English Idioms

　　1. Let the cat out of the bag

　　“让猫咪跑出袋子”是个啥!其实指的是“不小心泄露秘密”。

　　(to tell a secret carelessly or by mistake)

　　e.g. Why did he tell everyone? Now that the cat’s out of the bag, I’m in trouble!

　　I wanted it to be a surprise, but my sister let the cat out of the bag.

　　2. Pulling someone’s leg

　　这个不是真的要拽别人的腿，而是“开个玩笑”而已。

　　(It’s a form of light-hearted joke, to play a joke on somebody, usually by making them believe something that is not true)

　　e.g. Don’t be so angry! She was only pulling your leg!

　　3. Bend over backwards

　　这个听起来特别像瑜伽专业体式的idiom，是有比喻色彩的。它指的是“竭尽全力做某事”。

　　(Someone goes out of their way or makes an exceptional effort.)

　　e.g. I've bent over backwards to help him.

　　4. What’s eating you?

　　这个idiom要是直译的话，有点儿恐怖了…… 这其实是个关心你的问题，当我感觉something’s bothering you的时候我就会这样问啦。

　　e.g. She looked really worried after that class. “What’s eating you?” I asked.

　　5. Smell a rat

　　“闻耗子”是什么鬼!跟耗子没有什么关系啦，而是当你怀疑有什么事儿不太对劲儿的时候，会这样说。

　　(When you suspect something not quite right.)

　　e.g. I don’t like the sound of this idea – I smell a rat!