努力拼搏有收获的成语（成语之努力拼搏）

尽管许多成员试图让他改变主意，但他仍坚持自己对此事的看法和立场。如果你想得到克拉丽莎派对的邀请，你最好注意你的言行举止。你必须小心你在苏珊面前的言行。我知道，但克拉丽莎嫉妒心强。尽管他们几乎失去了自己的店铺，但他们还是坚持到了情况好转。现在东西太贵了，很难维持收支平衡。你知道，即使加上露西的薪水，我们的总收入也不足以支付所有的账单。

（通过语境学习原汁原味的美国英语成语）

—Learning Western Culture Bit by Bit

“爱拼才会赢”、“愈挫愈勇”等说法无不揭示人们为了成功而拼搏的动力和勇气。Harry Collis收录的12个美国英语成语，形象而生动地反应了美国人为了取得成功而进行的不懈努力，细细品味，方知成功之艰辛和喜悦。请看：

1.toot one's own horn(＝boast)炫耀，自吹自擂

Michael's last novel was a best seller. He has no need to toot his own horn about his literary accomplishments. His readers and critics alike will now become aware of his talent. He won't have to boast about his skill and success as a writer.

迈克尔的最后一部小说是一本畅销书。他没有必要吹嘘自己的文学成就。他的读者和评论家现在都会意识到他的才华。他不必为自己的写作技巧和成功而自吹自擂。

2.stick to one's guns(＝maintain one's position ) 固执己见，坚守立场

In spite of the fact that it was inadvisable to have a controversial figure address the club, the chairman stuck to his guns and insisted that it would make good sense to hear the other side of the question before taking a vote on the issue. He maintained his opinion and position on the matter, even though a number of members tried to make him change his mind.

尽管让一位有争议的人物向俱乐部发表演讲是不明智的，但主席固执己见，坚持认为在投票表决之前听取不同意见是有道理的。尽管许多成员试图让他改变主意，但他仍坚持自己对此事的看法和立场。

3.get the baⅠI roIIing(＝initiate action) 启动，使蓬勃发展

Look! You've been talking about repairing the roof for weeks now. Don't you think it's about time to get the ball rolling?

I know, but I've been busy with other things. I promise I'll get to it this weekend.

The time to start doing it is right now! According to the weather report it's supposed to rain tomorrow.

瞧瞧，几周来你一直在谈论修理屋顶的事。你不认为是时候开始行动了吗？

我知道，但我一直忙于其他事情。我保证这个周末我就去修。

现在就该动手！根据天气预报，明天要下雨。

4.mind one's P’s and Q’s (＝take care in speech and action) 注意言行

Listen, Larry. If you want an invitation to Clarissa's party you'd better mind your P's and Q's.

But I haven't been doing anything to offend her.

I'll tell you one thing. You're going to have to be careful of what you say and how you act around Susan.

Come on! Susan and I are just friends.

I know that, but Clarissa is the jealous type. She's liable to think that something is going on between the two of you.

听着，拉里。如果你想得到克拉丽莎派对的邀请，你最好注意你的言行举止。

但我没做过任何冒犯她的事。

我告诉你一件事。你必须小心你在苏珊面前的言行。

得了吧！苏珊和我只是朋友。

我知道，但克拉丽莎嫉妒心强。她很容易认为你们之间有瓜葛。

5.hang on(＝persevere ) 坚持

During the depression years the Smiths had a great deal of trouble with their business, but somehow or other they were able to hang on. Although they almost lost their store, they managed to persevere until things got better.

在大萧条时期，史密斯一家的生意遇到了很多麻烦，但他们最终还是坚持下来了。尽管他们几乎失去了自己的店铺，但他们还是坚持到了情况好转。

6.give it one's best shot(＝try hard) 努力，尽力而为

Can you do anything about repairing this TV set?

I'm not much of an electrician, but I'll give it my best shot.

Many thanks. I'd be most appreciative.

OK. I'll try my hardest to fix it, but I'm not promising that I'll succeed.

At this point, I'll take all the help I can get.

你能帮我修一下这台电视机吗？

我算不上真正的电工，但我会尽力的。

非常感谢。我将感激不尽。

好啊，我会尽最大努力去修，但我不能保证一定修得好。

都到这个时候了，谁帮我修我都会接受。

7.make ends meet(＝pay one's bills) 收支相抵

It's almost impossible trying to keep up with the high cost of living.

It's true. Things are so expensive nowadays that it's very difficult to make ends meet.

You know, even with Lucie's salary, our combined income is hardly enough to pay all the bills.

要跟上高昂的生活成本几乎是不可能的。

真的如此。现在东西太贵了，很难维持收支平衡。

你知道，即使加上露西的薪水，我们的总收入也不足以支付所有的账单。

8.get the jump on someone(＝get the advantage over someone) 占某人的上风，抢先一步

Did you have a nice time at the school dance last night?

To tell you the truth, I would have enjoyed myself more if I had been able to go with Teresa instead of Elena.

Why didn't you ask Teresa in the first place?

I was about to, but Benito got the jump on me.

How did he manage to do that?

He got the advantage over me by telling Teresa that if she went with him, he'd take her out to dinner and then to the dance in his brand new convertible.

Well, now, she can hardly be blamed for accepting an offer like that!

你昨晚在学校舞会上玩得开心吗？

说实话，如果我能和特蕾莎而不是埃琳娜一起去，我会玩得更开心。

你为什么不先问问特蕾莎？

我正要去问，但贝尼托抢先一步。

他是怎么做到的？

他对特蕾莎说，如果她和他一起去，他会带她出去吃饭，然后开着他崭新的敞篷车去跳舞，他就这样占尽了我的上风。

原来如此，她接受这样的提议几乎无可厚非！

9.puII strings(＝exert influence) 施加影响）

Steven had been unsuccessful in getting tickets for the opening game of the season. However, he pulled some strings with the manager of the team and got excellent seats. There's no doubt that he got the tickets only by exerting his influence with a person important enough to help him get what he wanted.

史蒂文没能买到本赛季首场比赛的门票。然而，他通过球队经理走后门搞到了很好的座位。毫无疑问，他只有通过对某个足够重要的人物施加影响，才能帮助他如愿以偿，获得入场券。

10. spread oneself too thin (＝become involved in too many activities ) 事务缠身

Although Teresa has always been an excellent student,her marks have been going down lately because she is spreading herself too thin. Besides spending a great deal of time in after-school sports, she got a part-time job as a clerk in a department store. It's only natural that her grades would suffer. She is becoming involved in so many activities that she cannot devote the time that it takes to excel in any one of them.

尽管特蕾莎一直是个优秀的学生，但最近她的分数一直在下降，因为她的事务太繁杂了。除了在课余体育活动中花费大量时间外，她还在一家百货公司找到了一份兼职店员的工作。她的成绩下降就太自然不过了。她参加这么多活动，根本没时间去把其中任何一项干得出色。

11.go to bat for someone(＝help out and support someone) 帮助和支持某人

Is it true that Don got into some trouble at work last week?

Yes, he did. He was reproached for not turning in his sales reports, but his secretary went to bat for him.

What was she able to do?

She helped him out a great deal by admitting that she had misplaced the reports that he gave her to be typed.

So, it was her fault, not his.

Right.

唐上周在工作中遇到了麻烦，这是真的吗？

是的，他真遇到麻烦了。他因没有提交销售报告而受到指责，但他的秘书为他开脱了责任。

她能做什么？

她承认自己把他交给她打印的报告放错了地方，这就给了他很大的帮助。因此是她的错，而非他的错。