1、分享：英语谚语及小故事1A bad beginning makes a bad ending.不善始者不善终。2A bad workman always blames his tools.不会撑船怪河弯。3Actions speak louder than words.事实胜于雄辩。4A fox may grow gray, but never good.江山易改，本性难移。5。A friend in need is a friend indeed.患难见真情。6。A friend is easier lost than found.得朋友难，失朋友易。7A good beginning is
2、 half done.良好的开端是成功的一半。8All rivers run into sea.海纳百川。9All things are difficult before they are easy.凡事总是由难而易。10A man can do no more than he can.凡事都应量力而行。11。A man cannot spin and reel at the same time.一心不能二用。12An apple a day keeps the doctor away.一天一苹果，不用请医生。13A new broom sweeps clean.新官上任三把火。14. A s
3、ingle flower does not make a spring.一花独放不是春，百花齐放春满园。15.A snow year, a rich year.瑞雪兆丰年。16A stitch in time saves nine.小洞不补，大洞吃苦。17。A straight foot is not afraid of a crooked shoe.身正不怕影子斜。18。A wise head makes a close mouth.真人不露相，露相非真人。19A young idler, an old beggar.少壮不努力，老大徒伤悲。 20Dont put off till tomo
4、rrow what should be done today.今日事，今日毕。2. 英语小故事1.The Raven and the Swan 乌鸦和天鹅A RAVEN saw a Swan and desired to secure for himself the same beautiful plumage. Supposing that the Swans splendid white color arose from his washing in the water in which he swam, the Raven left the altars in the neighborh
5、ood where he picked up his living, and took up residence in the lakes and pools. But cleansing his feathers as often as he would, he could not change their color, while through want of food he perished.Change of habit cannot alter Nature.乌鸦非常羡慕天鹅洁白的羽毛。他猜想天鹅一定是经常洗澡，羽毛才变得如此洁白无 瑕。于是，他毅然离开了他赖以生存的祭坛，来到江湖
6、边。他天天洗刷自己的羽毛，不但一 点都没洗白，反而因缺少食物饥饿而死。这故事是说，人的本性不会随着生活方式的改变而改变。2.The Goat and the Goatherd 山羊与牧羊人A GOATHERD had sought to bring back a stray goat to his flock. He whistled and sounded his horn in vain; the straggler paid no attention to the summons. At last the Goatherd threw a stone, and breaking its
7、horn, begged the Goat not to tell his master. The Goat replied, “Why, you silly fellow, the horn will speak though I be silent.“Do not attempt to hide things which cannot be hid.很多山羊被牧羊人赶到羊圈里。有一只山羊不知在吃什么好东西，单独落在后面。牧羊 人拿起一块石头扔了过去，正巧打断了山羊的一只角。牧羊人吓得请求山羊不要告诉主人， 山羊说：“即使我不说，又怎能隐瞒下去呢？我的角已断了，这是十分明显的事实。 ”这故事
8、说明，明显的罪状是无法隐瞒的。3.The Miser 守财奴A MISER sold all that he had and bought a lump of gold, which he buried in a hole in the ground by the side of an old wall and went to look at daily. One of his workmen observed his frequent visits to the spot and decided to watch his movements. He soon discovered the s
9、ecret of the hidden treasure, and digging down, came to the lump of gold, and stole it. The Miser, on his next visit, found the hole empty and began to tear his hair and to make loud lamentations. A neighbor, seeing him overcome with grief and learning the cause, said, “ ray do not grieve so; but go
10、 and take a stone, and place it in the hole, and fancy that the gold is still lying there. It will do you quite the same service; for when the gold was there, you had it not, as you did not make the slightest use of it.“有个守财奴变卖了他所有的家产，换回了金块，并秘密地埋在一个地方。他每天走去看 看他的宝藏。有个在附近放羊的牧人留心观察，知道了真情，趁他走后，挖出金块拿走了。
11、守财奴再来时，发现洞中的金块没有了，便捶胸痛哭。有个人见他如此悲痛，问明原因后， 说道：“喂，朋友，别再难过了，那块金子虽是你买来的，但并不是你真正拥有的。去拿一 块石头来，代替金块放在洞里，只要你心里想着那是块金子，你就会很高兴。这样与你拥有 真正的金块效果没什么不同。依我之见，你拥有那金块时，也从没用过。 ”这故事说明，一切财物如不使用等于没有。4.The Wolf and the Lamb 狼与小羊WOLF, meeting with a Lamb astray from the fold, resolved not to lay violent hands on him, but to
12、 find some plea to justify to the Lamb the Wolfs right to eat him. He thus addressed him:“Sirrah, last year you grossly insulted me.“ “Indeed,“ bleated the Lamb in a mournful tone of voice, “I was not then born.“ Then said the Wolf , “You feed in my pasture.“ “No, good sir,“ replied the Lamb, “I hav
13、e not yet tasted grass.“ Again said the Wolf, “You drink of my well.“ “No,“ exclaimed the Lamb, “I never yet drank water, for as yet my mothers milk is both food and drink to me.“ Upon which the Wolf seized him and ate him up, saying, “Well! I wont remain supperless, even though you refute every one
14、 of my imputations.“The tyrant will always find a pretext for his tyranny.一只小羊在河边喝水，狼见到后，便想找一个名正言顺的借口吃掉他。于是他跑到上游，恶狠狠地说小羊把河水搅浑浊了，使他喝不到清水。小羊回答说，他仅仅站在河边喝水，并且又在下游，根本不可能把上游的水搅浑。狼见此计不成，又说道：“我父亲去年被你骂过。 ”小羊说，那时他还没有出生。狼对他说：“不管你怎样辩解，反正我不会放过 你。 ”这说明，对恶人做任何正当的辩解也是无效的。5.The Bat and the Weasels 蝙蝠与黄鼠狼A BAT who fe
15、ll upon the ground and was caught by a Weasel pleaded to be spared his life. The Weasel refused, saying that he was by nature the enemy of all birds. The Bat assured him that he was not a bird, but a mouse, and thus was set free. Shortly afterwards the Bat again fell to the ground and was caught by
16、another Weasel, whom he likewise entreated not to eat him. The Weasel said that he had a special hostility to mice. The Bat assured him that he was not a mouse, but a bat, and thus a second time escaped.It is wise to turn circumstances to good account.蝙蝠掉落在地上，被黄鼠狼叼去，他请求饶命。黄鼠狼说绝不会放过他，自己生来痛恨鸟类。蝙蝠说他是老鼠
17、，不是鸟，便被放了。后来蝙蝠又掉落了下来，被另一只黄鼠狼叼住，他再三请求不要吃他。这只黄鼠狼说他恨一切鼠类。蝙蝠改口说自己是鸟类，并非老 鼠，又被放了。这样，蝙蝠两次改变了自己的名字，终于死里逃生。这故事说明，我们遇事要随机应变方能避免危险。6.The Ass and the Grasshopper 驴子与蚱蜢AN ASS having heard some Grasshoppers chirping, was highly enchanted; and, desiring to possess the same charms of melody, demanded what sort of
18、food they lived on to give them such beautiful voices. They replied, “The dew.“ The Ass resolved that he would live only upon dew, and in a short time died of hunger.驴子听见蚱蜢唱歌，被美妙动听的歌声所打动，自己也想能发出同样悦耳动听的声音，便 羡慕地问他们吃些什么，才能发出如此美妙的声音来。蚱蜢答道：“吃露水。 ”驴子便也只吃露水，没多久就饿死了。这个故事告诉人们不要企望非份之物。7.The Lion and the Mouse
19、 狮子与报恩的老鼠A LION was awakened from sleep by a Mouse running over his face. Rising up angrily, he caught him and was about to kill him, when the Mouse piteously entreated, saying: “If you would only spare my life, I would be sure to repay your kindness.“ The Lion laughed and let him go. It happened sh
20、ortly after this that the Lion was caught by some hunters, who bound him by strong ropes to the ground. The Mouse, recognizing his roar, came and gnawed the rope with his teeth and set him free, exclaiming:“You ridiculed the idea of my ever being able to help you, expecting to receive from me any re
21、payment of your favor; now you know that it is possible for even a Mouse to con benefits on a Lion.“狮子睡着了，有只老鼠跳到了他身上。狮子猛然站起来，把他抓住，准备吃掉。老鼠请求饶命，并说如果保住性命，必将报恩，狮子轻蔑地笑了笑，便把他放走了。不久，狮子真的被老鼠救了性命。原来狮子被一个猎人抓获，并用绳索把他捆在一棵树上。老鼠听到了他 的哀嚎，走过去咬断绳索，放走了狮子，并说：“你当时嘲笑我，不相信能得到我的报答， 现在可清楚了，老鼠也能报恩。 ” 这故事说明，时运交替变更，强者也会有需要弱者的
22、时候。3. 常见口语1.不管张三李四。 Every Tom, Dick and Harry. *举出常用的男孩名，表示“不论谁都 ”、 “不管张三还是李四”。虽然没有女孩名，但男女都可用。My daughter had a homestay in America. (我女儿为体验当地生活，去美国了。 )So did every Tom, Dick and Harry. (不管谁都能去啊。)I like lovely girls. (我喜欢可爱的女孩。)So does every Tom, Dick and Harry. (无论谁都是这样的。)一波未平一波又起。2.人都有走运的日子。 （也有人译
23、为瞎猫碰上了死耗子。 ）Every dog has his day.Bob won the lottery. (鲍勃中了头彩。)Every dog has his day. (瞎猫碰上了死耗子。)Everyone has good days.Everyone gets lucky sometimes. (谁都会有走运的时候。)A flying crow always gets something. *不太常用的说法。3.说曹操，曹操到。 Speak of the devil. *“说到恶魔，恶魔就来”。源自谚语 Speak of the devil and he will appear。Spe
24、ak of the devil.常用于口语中。Here comes John! (约翰来了。)Speak of the devil. (真是说到曹操，曹操到。 )3.情人眼里出西施。Love is blind. *直译是“ 爱情是盲目的” 。表示人们一旦谈恋爱，就会失去正确的判断能力，无法冷静地看待事物。4.一举两得。Kill two birds with one stone. *直译是“一石可以打中两只鸟”，即“一举两得”。5.不闻凶讯便是吉。No news is good news.I havent heard from John lately. (好久没有约翰的消息了。)Well, no
25、 news is good news. (是啊，不闻凶讯便是吉。)6.光阴似箭。Time flies. *表示时间像飞一样地过去了。Tim flies 是 Time flies when you are having fun.的省略说法。即“越高兴时间过得越快”。7.时间就是金钱。Time is money.8.百艺不如一艺精。Jack of all trades, master of none. *Jack 是男子名，一般表示“ 某人或男人”。此句的意思是什么事都去做的人没有一件事是能精通的。9.三思而后行。Look before you leap. *直译“ 飞之前先看看” ，表示“付诸于
26、行动前要慎重地考虑，做好准备 ”。10.百闻不如一见。Seeing is believing. *“眼见为实”，即只有自己亲眼所见，才能信服。11.无风不起浪。There is no smoke without fire. *传闻总是有出处的， “无火的地方不冒烟” 。12.诚实总是上策。Honesty is the best policy. *常以为不正当行为能获得好处，但从长远来看，结果是采取正当行为才是上策。13.晚做总比不做强。Better late than never.14.男孩子就是男孩子嘛! Boys will be boys.John got into a fight aga
27、in. (约翰又打架了。)Boys will be boys. (男孩子就是男孩子嘛 !)15.知识就是力量。 Knowledge is power.Knowledge is power. (知识就是力量。)Thats why hes so successful. (所以他才成功。)16.冰冻三尺非一日之寒。/罗马不是一天就建成的。Rome was not built in a day. *要做大事不是一朝一夕就可以成功的。17.条条大路通罗马。 All roads lead to Rome. *为达到同一目的，可以采取多种手段。There are many roads to success.
28、 (有许多办法可以取得成功。) *常用语。18.入乡随俗。When in Rome, do as the Romans do. *“在罗马就要照罗马人做的去做”。即“到另一个地方就要遵从那里的风俗习惯”。口语中常省略成 Do as the Romans do.19.熟能生巧。Practice makes perfect. *任何事情都反复练习是成功的秘诀。20.历史总在重演。 History repeats itself.Another war started. (又一场战争开始了。)History repeats itself. (历史总在重演。 )21.祸不单行，福无双至。When it
29、rains, it (always) pours.22.功夫不负有心人。 Where theres a will, theres a way. *有坚强的意志和决心的话，无论有多大的困难都能克服。23.行动比语言更响亮。Actions speak louder than words.24.(钱财等) 来得容易去得快。Easy come, easy go. *轻易得来的钱财，是不被珍惜的。来得容易，去得也容易。血浓于水。 Blood is thicker than water.25.有其父必有其子。Like father, like son. *父子相似的意思。Like mother, like
30、 daughter. (有其母必有其女。)26.美貌不过一张皮。Beauty is only skin deep. *“再漂亮的美女削去一层皮后就和丑女无二样”，即“ 看人不能只看外表而要重视内涵”。Beauty is but skin deep.27.东西总是人家的好。The grass is always greener on the other side (of the fence). *直译是“( 篱笆)那边的草总是绿的”。28.不劳则不获。 You cannot make an omelet without breaking eggs. *直译是“不打碎鸡蛋就做不成蛋包饭”。意思是做
31、任何事如果不努力，不付出牺牲，不投资的话，是得不到结果的。29.患难见真情。A friend in need is a friend indeed. *in need “遇到难处，贫穷”，indeed 是“真正的”，这两个词押韵，给人以节奏感。30.只会工作不会玩的人是没意思的人。All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. *这句可以译成“只让学习不让玩的孩子会变成愚蠢的孩子”。31.事实胜于雄辩。The proof of the pudding is in the eating. *直译是“不吃布丁不知道布丁的味道”。即“不实际去试试，是不会知道它的真正的价值”。32.岁月不待人。Time and tide wait for no man. *tide 是“潮水”，此处与 time 同义，表示时间。33.越快越好。The sooner, the better.When should I come over? (什么时候来合适?)The sooner, the better. (越快越好。)
