英语习语承载了一个国家的文化，且生动有趣，灵活运用习语可以大大拉近你与外国友人的距离。下面就来学习下英语习语的主要来源及常用译法。
一、英语习语的来源
1.圣经（Bible)
- the salt of the earth 中坚力量
- a wolf in sheep’s clothing 披着羊皮的狼
- separate the sheep from the goats 分辨好坏
- cast not the first stone 欲责他人，先思己过
- the leopard cannot change his spots 江山易改本性难移
- as old as Methuselah 非常古老
- good samaritan 心地善良乐于助人的人
2.古希腊罗马神话（Greek and Roman Mythology）
- an apple of discord 争斗之源，祸根
- the archilles’ heel 致命的弱点
- a Gordian knot 难题
- cut the Gordian knot 快刀斩乱麻
- pandora’s box 潘多拉盒子
- Greek gift 阴谋害人的礼物
- the sword of Damocles 达摩克斯之剑
3.莎士比亚戏剧(Shakespeare’s Plays)
- bay(bark at) the moon 做徒劳无益的事
- what’s done is done 既往不咎
- strange bed fellows同床异梦
- be hoist with one’s own petard 自作自受
- much ado about nothing无事生非
- to paint the lily画蛇添足，多此一举
- love is blind爱情是盲目的
- a foregone conclusion 预料之中的结果
4.伊索寓言(The Fables of Aesop)
- a dog in the manger 在其位不谋其政
- cherish a snake in one’s bosom养虎遗患
- kill the goose that lays the golden eggs杀鸡取卵
- cry wolf 发假情报
- sour grapes酸葡萄
- blow hot and cold 朝三暮四
二、英语习语的常用译法
1.直译法
- A cat has nine lives.猫有九命。
- A barking dog never bites. 吠犬不咬人。
- A rolling stone gathers no moss.滚石不生苔。
- Too many cooks spoil the broth. 厨子多了煮坏汤。
2.直译加解释法
- Bad workmen often blame their tools. 拙匠常怪工具差。（不会撑船怪河弯）
- He who laughs at crooked men should need walk very straight.
- 笑别人驼背的人得自己首先把身子挺直。（正人先正己）
- It’s a long lane that has no turning. 路必有弯。（事必有变，事情总会有转机）
3.意译改造法
- One swallow does not make a summer. 一燕不成夏。
- A single flower does not make a spring. 一花不是春（独木不成林）。
- No smoke without fire. 无风不起浪。
- Every dog has his day. 凡人皆有得意时。
- A stitch in time saves nine.亡羊补牢，为时未晚。
- Many hands make light work. 众人拾柴火焰高。
- Penny wise, pound foolish. 贪小便宜吃大亏。
- The pot calls the kettle black. 五十步笑百步。
- Two dogs strive for a bone, and a third one runs away with it. 鹬蚌相争，渔翁得利。
4.等值互借法
- Wall have ears. 隔墙有耳。
- Great minds think alike. 英雄所见略同。
- Strike while the iron is hot. 趁热打铁。
- Like father, like son. 有其父，必有其子。
- Where there is will, there is a way. 有志者事竟成。
- It is never too old to learn. 活到老，学到老。
- Let bygones be bygones. 过去的就让它过去吧。
