at sixes and sevens 七上八下

2011年12月2日 星期五

at sixes and sevens means
(1) confused or undecided : eg. I’m at sixes and sevens about what to do.(2) in disorder: eg. Your room is all at sixes and sevens.
這個用法和中文很好玩的是,都是用數字表示。翻譯成中文是七上八下,亂七八糟。英文卻是用6和7來表示。

in one's element

Note: in one’s element means “doing what one’s happiest or best at doing”
The opposite phrase is to be “out of one’s element.”

When I watched a TV program, Project Runway, a couple of days earlier, I actually heard one of the designers saying this phrase. He said that designing is in his element.

grin and bear it (逆來順受,苦笑著忍受)

to grin and bear it" means to suffer something unpleasant without complaint

eg. I hate having my wife's parents to stay, but I suppose I 'll just have to grin and bear it!