1. a country mile一段很长的距离

　　该习语多用在美国口语中，名词country有"农场"的意思。在美国，由于科技比较发达，农场往往都很大。这些农场总能给人以辽阔、遥远之感。故该习语用country来指"距离之远"。

　　A: Is the house close to the central city?

　　那房子挨着市中心吗?

　　B: It is a country mile from the Central Park. But it won't be a problem since you drive.

　　离中央公园远着呢。可既然你开车这就不成问题了。

　　A: The distance is not really a problem. The real problem is whether I can afford it.

　　远近到不是问题，问题是我是不是买得起。

　　B: Don't worry about it. It's a real bargain.

　　不用担心，很便宜的。

　　2. a drug on the market 滞销商品，滞销货，供应过剩的商品

　　drug的本义是"麻醉药品"，而麻醉药品是不能在市场上公开出售的，因此该词常常用来指"滞销货"。 A: The things my son bought home were usually a drug on the market for adults.

　　我儿子买回来的东西在咱们眼里都是卖不出去的。

　　B: That's not abnormal for a youngster. Young people all seems to be crazy about such things.

　　这对年轻来说没什么不正常的。年轻人看起来对这些东西都非常感兴趣。

　　A: The real problem is that he's suing my money for them.

　　问题是他拿我的钱去买的呀。

　　B: He's your son, after all. Who else's money do you suppose him to use?

　　他毕竟是你的儿子呀，不然你想让他拿谁的钱去买呢

　　3. a fair shake 公平的待遇

　　shake在口语中有"处置、对待"的意思。当fair的意思为"公平的"时，这个短语的意思是"顺利的、有意的"时，它的意思就是"好机会"。

　　A: Bob, can you ever make a thing right?

　　鲍勃，你就不能做对一件事吗?

　　B: Yes, I can and I am doing the right thing.

　　我能，而且我现在干的就是对的。

　　A: You should go and see how Allan handles it.

　　你真该去看看阿伦是怎么干活的。

　　B: It's that Allen again! Why can't you ever think of giving me a fair shake?

　　又是阿伦!你怎么就不能对我公平点? 采集者退散

　　4. a fat chance 微小的机会

　　fat本是"很多"的意思，但在这里用了反意，表示"微小的机会";表示同样意义的短语还有a fat lot，指"很少"。

　　A: What do you think of his plan?

　　你觉得他的方案如何?

　　B: I have a feeling that it is doomed to fail.

　　我感觉它注定要失败。

　　A: Why don't you vote against him?

　　干吗不投票否决他的提议?

　　B: It's a fat chance of voting out his suggestion.

　　这不大可能。