英语讲义(131)由“形容词或分词 名词”组成的名词惯用语

谈过了《名词惯用语》，这里要继续谈这种惯用语，不过这里谈的不是由名词直接构成，而是由“形容词或分词 名词”组成的。这种形式的惯用语数目相当多，可以尽量吸收，使词汇多采多姿。

　　① The acid test：严峻的考验
　　The car company praises its latest model. However, the acid test will come when its new cars enter the market.

　　② An armchair critic/expert：空谈的评论员／专家
　　Some people like to tell others how to do this and how to do that, but they can't set a good example. Such a person is tantamount to an armchair expert.

　　③ A back-seat driver：不在其位而爱插手管事的人
　　“No back-seat driver, please,”Jim said to Tom.“I know how to do my work.”

　　④ One's besetting sin：容易重犯的恶习
　　Harry is quite a likeable person, but his besetting sin is haughtiness.

　　⑤ A blind alley：死胡同
　　More and more people think that manual work is a blind alley, as such work will be computerised soon.

　　⑥ A/ One's blind spot：盲点
　　Computers seem to be a blind spot with many old people./ If you can't see a car from your car mirror, that car is in your blind spot.

　　⑦ A burning question：重要的问题
　　Of course, we can invite the boss, but the burning question is: will he agree to come?/ Mass unemployment is a burning question of some Asian countries now.

　　⑧ A carbon copy of someone or something：极相像的人或事
　　Yesterday's bank break-in was a carbon copy of last month's pawnshop robbery.

　　⑨ A clean bill of health：身体健康／物件良好的证明书
　　Michael started work as soon as the doctor gave him a clean bill of health./ After thorough inspection, the inspector gave the factory a clean bill of health.

　　⑩ A clean slate/sheet：清白的记录
　　David was given a long-service award for having a clean slate in his 20 years of employment.

　　（11） A closed book：完全不能理解的科目或事物
　　I am afraid nuclear physics is a closed book to me.

　　（12） Cold comfort：不起作用的安慰
　　When a worker was laid off, it was cold comfort telling him that he might get a better job soon.

　　（13） The common touch：能令一般人感动的本领
　　As Jason is a man having the common touch, he is often made to speak to the workers on behalf of the management.

　　（14） Creature comforts：物质方面的享受
　　While on holiday, one is expected to have creature comforts and even some luxurious things.

　　（15） A whole new ball game：完全不同的情况
　　Jason used to be a university lecturer with flexible teaching hours, so a nine-to-five office work now is a whole new ball game to him.

　　（16） A close call/ shave：避过惊险事
　　The motor cyclist came speeding and almost hit a pedestrian. That was a close call indeed !

　　（17） The bright lights：（常指大都市里的）即有趣又紧张的活动
　　When they first went to big cities, they longed for the bright lights not found in small towns.

　　（18） A double bind：（常和“in” 或“put…… in”连用）两面不讨好的处境
　　The appointment of the director with special duties put the deputy director in a double bind: to listen to the “actual director” or the “special director”