与遇到问题(having problems)相关的英语习语②

leave sb holding the baby
(突然)把重大责任推给某人

  • He changed to another job and we were left holding the baby.
    他换了工作,把活儿甩给我们。

have sb over a barrel
使(某人)别无选择,使(某人)听从摆布

  • She knows I need the work so she's got me over a barrel in terms of what she pays me.
    她知道我需要这份工作,所以就在薪酬上难为我。
  • He had me over a barrel because he knew my carefully-guarded secrets.
    我受制于他,因为他掌握了我严守的秘密。

stumbling block
障碍物;绊脚石

  • Lack of willingness to compromise on both sides is the main/major stumbling block to reaching a settlement.
    双方都不愿妥协是问题无法解决的主要症结。
  • Perhaps the major stumbling block to reunification is the military presence in South Korea.
    也许实现统一最大的绊脚石是驻扎在韩国的军队。

clutch/grasp at straws
(为摆脱困境)抓救命稻草,不放过任何微小的机会

  • She offered to take a pay cut to keep her job, but she was just clutching at straws.
    她提出减薪以保住工作,但这只不过是在乱抓救命稻草。

draw a blank
未能答复;毫无结果

  • He asked me for my phone number and I drew a blank - I just couldn't remember it.
    他向我要电话号码可我却没能给他——我把号码给忘了。

face the music
接受批评(或惩罚)

  • Sooner or later, I'm going to have to face the music.
    迟早我得自己承担后果。

a fact of life
无法避免的事情

  • Going bald is just a fact of life.
    谢顶是无法避免的事情。

easier said than done
说来容易做来难;说说容易

  • "Why don't you just ask Simon to pay?" "That's easier said than done."
    “你为什么不让西蒙付钱?”“说得倒容易。”