A pretty picture
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idiom

A pretty picture

一个愉快或理想的情况；通常用于讽刺
Meaning
A pleasant or ideal situation; often used ironically
Example
This isn’t **a pretty picture** – we need to fix these problems.
这不是**一幅美丽的画面** – 我们需要解决这些问题。
idiom

filter out

从某物中去除不需要的部分
Meaning
to remove unwanted parts from something
Example
Use this tool to **filter out** spam messages.
使用此工具**过滤掉**垃圾邮件。
idiom

In a peaceful state of mind

感到放松和平静，没有压力或担忧
Meaning
feeling relaxed and at ease without stress or worry
Example
After yoga, she felt **in a peaceful state of mind** all day.
瑜伽之后，她整天都感到**心境平和**。
idiom

take a dim view of

不赞成某事; 拥有负面意见
Meaning
to disapprove of something; to have a negative opinion
Example
The manager **takes a dim view of** employees arriving late.
经理不赞成员工迟到。
idiom

a game plan

策略或行动计划
Meaning
a strategy or plan of action
Example
We need a clear **game plan** before we start the meeting.
我们在开始会议之前需要一个清晰的游戏计划
idiom

zero in on

把全部注意力和努力集中在一件事情上
Meaning
to direct all your attention and efforts toward one thing
Example
The team needs to **zero in on** the main problem before making changes.
团队需要在做出改变之前专注于主要问题。
idiom

in stitches

笑得停不下来
Meaning
laughing uncontrollably
Example
His joke had everyone **in stitches**.
他的笑话让大家笑得停不下来。
idiom

wave the white flag

投降或放弃
Meaning
to surrender or give up
Example
After a long debate, he finally **waved the white flag**.
经过长时间的辩论，他终于**放弃了**。
idiom

A bright future awaits

美好的事情即将到来
Meaning
good things are coming ahead
Example
Despite the challenges, a **bright future awaits** you.
尽管面临挑战，**光明的未来在等待你**。
idiom

chalk up

将某事归因于特定原因
Meaning
to attribute something to a particular cause
Example
Let’s **chalk up** the delay to bad weather.
让我们把延误归因于坏天气。
idiom

know something by heart

把某事完全记住
Meaning
to memorize something perfectly
Example
She **knows all the poems by heart**.
她把所有的诗都背得滚瓜烂熟。
idiom

lend a listening ear

专心和同情地倾听
Meaning
to listen attentively and sympathetically
Example
Whenever I feel down, she always knows how to **lend a listening ear**.
每当我感到沮丧时，她总是知道如何专心倾听。
idiom

hot potato

一个有争议的问题，没有人愿意处理
Meaning
a controversial issue that no one wants to deal with
Example
The refugee crisis has become a **hot potato** in the government.
难民危机在政府中变成了一个有争议的问题
idiom

Take it one step at a time

逐步处理任务，而不是急于完成。
Meaning
Deal with tasks gradually instead of rushing.
Example
**Take it one step at a time**, and you’ll succeed.
一步一步地做，你会成功的。
idiom

as thick as thieves

成为非常亲密的朋友，共享秘密。
Meaning
To be very close friends who share secrets.
Example
Lisa and Nora are **as thick as thieves** since childhood.
丽莎和诺拉从小就是非常亲密的朋友。
idiom

check back

稍后回来获取更新
Meaning
to return at a later time for an update
Example
Please **check back** next week for the final list.
请在下周**回来**查看最终名单。
idiom

balance out

反制或取消某事的效果
Meaning
to counteract or cancel the effect of something
Example
The extra volunteers should **balance out** the workload.
额外的志愿者应该平衡工作负载。
idiom

go under

失去意识，通常在手术期间
Meaning
to lose consciousness, usually during surgery
Example
He was nervous before going **under** for his operation.
他在手术前感到紧张。
idiom

strike it rich

突然赚很多钱
Meaning
to suddenly make a lot of money
Example
They **struck it rich** after investing in that startup.
他们在投资该初创公司后突然赚了很多钱。
idiom

go into orbit

变得非常兴奋或生气
Meaning
to become very excited or angry
Example
Mom **went into orbit** when she saw the mess in my room.
妈妈看到我的房间乱七八糟时，气得不行。
idiom

beat a dead horse

在已经解决的问题上浪费时间
Meaning
to waste time on a topic that has already been resolved
Example
Stop **beating a dead horse**; the decision is final.
别再纠结这个问题了，决定已经定了。
idiom

a few bricks short of a load

有点愚蠢或疯狂
Meaning
a little stupid or crazy
Example
He tries hard, but he’s **a few bricks short of a load**.
他努力尝试，但他是**有点愚蠢或疯狂**。
idiom

success is earned, not given

成功来自于努力工作，而非运气
Meaning
success comes from hard work, not by chance
Example
Remember, **success is earned, not given**, so work hard every day.
记住，**成功是通过努力获得的，而不是天赐的**，因此每天都要努力工作。
idiom

freak out

变得非常焦虑、生气或害怕
Meaning
to become very anxious, upset, or scared
Example
She **freaked out** when she saw the spider.
她看到蜘蛛时吓坏了。
idiom

a steep learning curve

当某事很难学习，通常是迅速的
Meaning
when something is difficult to learn, usually quickly
Example
The new software had a **steep learning curve**, but I managed to understand it.
新软件有一个**陡峭的学习曲线**，但我设法理解了它。
idiom

The melting pot

许多不同文化融合的地方
Meaning
A place where many different cultures blend together
Example
New York is often called **the melting pot** of cultures.
纽约常被称为文化的熔炉。
idiom

take on board

接受或承担某事的责任
Meaning
to accept or take responsibility for something
Example
The manager had to **take on board** the new task for the team.
经理必须接受团队的新任务。
idiom

out of the frying pan into the fire

从糟糕的情况进入更糟糕的情况
Meaning
to go from a bad situation to a worse one
Example
Leaving that job was like jumping **out of the frying pan into the fire**.
离开那份工作就像是跳**出火坑进火海**。
idiom

break the glass ceiling

克服障碍或限制，尤其是在职业或个人进步方面
Meaning
to overcome a barrier or limitation, particularly in career or personal advancement
Example
She was the first woman in the company to **break the glass ceiling** and become a senior manager.
她是公司中第一个**打破玻璃天花板**并成为高级经理的女性。
idiom

Tech-savvy

拥有现代技术的良好知识。
Meaning
Having good knowledge of modern technology.
Example
Our **tech-savvy** team built the prototype in just a week.
我们的**技术精通**团队在仅一周内完成了原型。
idiom

easy come, easy go

轻松赚来的钱轻松失去
Meaning
money that is easily earned is easily lost
Example
He lost all his winnings in a day—**easy come, easy go**.
他在一天之内失去了所有的奖金——轻松来，轻松去
idiom

fan out

在区域内扩展
Meaning
to spread out over an area
Example
Volunteers will **fan out** across the park.
志愿者将在公园内分布开来。
idiom

wait in the wings

随时准备接管或在需要时介入
Meaning
to be ready to take over or step in when needed
Example
The assistant manager was **waiting in the wings** for a promotion.
助理经理正在等待晋升。
idiom

serenity now

在压力大的情况下用来唤起冷静的短语
Meaning
a phrase used to invoke calmness, usually in a stressful situation
Example
Whenever I feel stressed, I remind myself to say **serenity now**.
每当我感到压力时，我会提醒自己说 **宁静现在**。
idiom

have a chip on your shoulder

因过去的事情而生气或怀恨
Meaning
to be angry or resentful about something from the past
Example
He **has a chip on his shoulder** about being rejected.
他因为被拒绝而心怀怨恨。
idiom

make a good impression

在某人脑海中塑造自己正面的形象
Meaning
to create a positive image of yourself in someone's mind
Example
You should dress well to **make a good impression**.
你应该穿得好看一点，以便**给人留下好印象**。
idiom

a big mouth

一个说话太多或者揭露秘密的人
Meaning
a person who talks too much or reveals secrets
Example
Don’t tell Jake, he’s **a big mouth**!
不要告诉杰克，他是**一个嘴巴很大的人**！
idiom

pull your socks up

努力提高自己的表现
Meaning
to make an effort to improve your performance
Example
You need to **pull your socks up** if you want that promotion.
如果你想要那个晋升，你需要更努力。
idiom

let sleeping dogs lie

避免提出会引起麻烦的问题
Meaning
to avoid bringing up a problem that will cause trouble
Example
It is better to **let sleeping dogs lie**.
最好让睡着的狗保持安静。
idiom

break someone’s heart

让某人非常伤心
Meaning
to make someone very sad
Example
It really **broke his heart** when she left him.
当她离开他时，真的让他心碎了。
idiom

to steal the show

吸引所有的注意力或称赞
Meaning
to attract all the attention or praise
Example
Her performance in the play completely **stole the show**.
她在戏剧中的表演完全**抢了风头**。
idiom

fair-weather friend

只有在一切顺利时才是朋友的人
Meaning
a person who is only your friend when things are good
Example
A **fair-weather friend** will leave you when things get tough.
一个**晴天朋友**在事情变得困难时会离开你。
idiom

put all your cards on the table

在讨论中诚实并揭示所有事实
Meaning
to be honest and reveal all the facts in a discussion
Example
It’s time to **put all your cards on the table** and be transparent.
是时候把所有的卡都摊开，并保持透明。
idiom

to go down in history

因重要或重大事情而被铭记
Meaning
to be remembered for something important or significant
Example
He **went down in history** as one of the greatest inventors of all time.
他作为有史以来最伟大的发明家之一而载入史册。
idiom

faith moves mountains

强烈的信念可以实现伟大的事情
Meaning
strong belief can achieve great things
Example
Keep believing in yourself—**faith moves mountains**.
继续相信自己—**信念能移山**。
idiom

chase your dreams

积极努力实现你的雄心
Meaning
to actively try to achieve your ambitions
Example
You should always **chase your dreams** no matter how hard it seems.
无论多么困难，你都应该始终**追求你的梦想**。
idiom

grey matter

智慧; 思考的能力
Meaning
intelligence; the ability to think
Example
Use your **grey matter** to solve the puzzle.
用你的**智慧**来解开谜题。
idiom

hold someone accountable

让某人对他们的行为负责
Meaning
to make someone take responsibility for their actions
Example
It’s important to **hold people accountable** for their mistakes.
让人们为他们的错误负责是很重要的。
idiom

get along with

与某人有良好的关系
Meaning
to have a good relationship with someone
Example
I really **get along with** my coworkers.
我真的和我的同事相处得很好。
idiom

take things to the next level

将某事物提升或发展到超越当前状态的水平
Meaning
to improve or develop something beyond its current state
Example
We plan to **take our innovation to the next level** this year.
我们计划在今年将我们的创新提升到一个新的水平。
idiom

roll with laughter

uncontrollably 大笑
Meaning
to laugh uncontrollably
Example
The comedian made the whole audience **roll with laughter**.
喜剧演员让全体观众不受控制的笑了。
idiom

spam someone

发送太多消息或不必要的信息
Meaning
to send too many messages or unnecessary information
Example
Don’t **spam me** with notifications every minute!
不要每分钟都用通知来骚扰我！
idiom

tie the knot of friendship

开始一段友谊
Meaning
to start a friendship
Example
They **tied the knot of friendship** during college.
他们在大学期间结下了友谊的纽带。
idiom

daydream about

在清醒时幻想愉快的事情
Meaning
to imagine pleasant things while awake
Example
He often **daydreams about** living on a tropical island.
他常常幻想住在热带岛屿上。
idiom

beyond words

无法用言语描述的极大或极端
Meaning
too great or extreme to be described in words
Example
Her kindness was **beyond words**.
她的善良是**无法用言语描述的**。
idiom

cross the floor

改变政治忠诚或党派
Meaning
to change political allegiance or party
Example
The MP shocked everyone when he decided to **cross the floor** and join the opposition.
当议员决定**跨越楼层**并加入反对党时，震惊了所有人。
idiom

clear your head

暂时停止思考某事并放松
Meaning
to stop thinking about something for a while and relax
Example
After a stressful week, I like to take a walk to **clear my head**.
在一周的压力之后，我喜欢散步来**清理头脑**。
idiom

life of the party

聚会中最活跃和最有娱乐性的人
Meaning
the most lively and entertaining person at a party
Example
Jake is always the **life of the party**.
杰克总是聚会的**life of the party**。
idiom

Flying blind

在没有足够的信息或指导下采取行动。
Meaning
To act without sufficient information or guidance.
Example
Without proper data, we're **flying blind** on this project.
没有适当的数据，我们在这个项目中**盲目进行**。
idiom

state of the art

最现代化和先进的
Meaning
the most modern and advanced
Example
They built a **state-of-the-art** research facility.
他们建造了一个**最先进的**研究设施。
idiom

come straight to the point

直接而诚实，不浪费时间
Meaning
to be direct and honest without wasting time
Example
Please **come straight to the point** and tell me what happened.
请直接了当告诉我发生了什么。
idiom

bear the responsibility

承担某事的责任
Meaning
to take on the duty of something
Example
She was willing to **bear the responsibility** for the new project.
她愿意为这个新项目承担责任。
idiom

reach the top

在某事中达到最高位置或级别
Meaning
to achieve the highest position or level in something
Example
After years of hard work, she finally **reached the top** of her profession.
经过多年的努力工作，她终于 **达到了她职业生涯的巅峰**。
idiom

stressed out

因为问题而感到非常担心或紧张
Meaning
feeling very worried or tense because of problems
Example
I'm completely **stressed out** about my exams.
我因为考试而感到完全**压力过大**。
idiom

Patience pays off

耐心最终会带来积极的结果。
Meaning
Being patient will eventually lead to positive results.
Example
I know you’ve been waiting for a long time, but trust me, **patience pays off**.
我知道你等了很长时间，但相信我，耐心会得到回报。
idiom

stick with

尽管面临挑战，仍继续做或支持某事
Meaning
to continue doing or supporting something despite challenges
Example
If you **stick with** the routine, you’ll see results soon.
如果你坚持这个例行公事，你很快就会看到结果。
idiom

to wear one's heart on one's sleeve

公开展示自己的情感或感受
Meaning
to openly show one's emotions or feelings
Example
He really **wears his heart on his sleeve**, you can tell exactly how he feels.
他真的**把心挂在袖子上**，你可以清楚地看出他的感受。
idiom

strong password

一个难以被他人猜到的密码，通常结合字母、数字和符号
Meaning
a password that is difficult for others to guess, typically combining letters, numbers, and symbols
Example
For better security, always use a **strong password** with at least eight characters.
为了更好的安全性，始终使用至少包含八个字符的**强密码**。
idiom

take a stand

明确表示坚定的决定或观点
Meaning
to make a firm decision or opinion known
Example
It’s time to **take a stand** and support what you believe in.
是时候**表明立场**并支持你所信仰的事物。
idiom

a couch potato

一个花很多时间坐着看电视的人
Meaning
a person who spends a lot of time sitting and watching TV
Example
He’s become **a couch potato** since he lost his job.
他自从失去工作后，变成了**一块沙发土豆**。
idiom

get off on the right foot

以积极的方式开始一段关系或活动
Meaning
to start a relationship or activity in a positive way
Example
We **got off on the right foot** during our first meeting.
我们在第一次会议中**顺利开始**了。
idiom

join the dots

将信息片段连接起来以理解完整的画面
Meaning
to connect pieces of information to understand the full picture
Example
AI systems can **join the dots** faster than humans when analyzing data.
AI 系统在分析数据时比人类更快地 **join the dots**。
idiom

black sheep

被认为是团体或家庭耻辱的人
Meaning
a person who is considered a disgrace to a group or family
Example
He is the **black sheep** of the family.
他是家里的**黑羊**。
idiom

clean up your act

开始更负责任地行为。
Meaning
to start behaving more responsibly.
Example
You need to **clean up your act** if you want that promotion.
如果你想要那个晋升，你需要**clean up your act**。
idiom

Behind the curve

相比竞争对手，处于落后或发展较慢的状态。
Meaning
To be less advanced or slow compared to competitors.
Example
Our company is **behind the curve** in adopting AI technologies.
我们的公司在采用人工智能技术方面落后于竞争对手。
idiom

make hay while the sun shines

趁着好机会抓住它
Meaning
take advantage of a good situation while it lasts
Example
You should **make hay while the sun shines** and finish your work early.
你应该趁着好机会抓住它，提前完成工作。
idiom

make a vow

做出一个认真的承诺或誓言
Meaning
to make a serious promise or pledge
Example
They **made a vow** to stay together forever.
他们发誓永远在一起。
idiom

on the warpath

非常生气并且可能争论或打架
Meaning
very angry and likely to argue or fight
Example
She was **on the warpath** after hearing the bad news.
她听到坏消息后非常生气。
idiom

move with the times

随着社会或技术的变化而改变和适应
Meaning
to change and adapt as things in society or technology change
Example
Businesses must **move with the times** to stay relevant.
企业必须**顺应时代**才能保持竞争力。
idiom

draw in

吸引某人的兴趣
Meaning
to attract someone’s interest
Example
The bold headline **drew in** readers right away.
大胆的标题立刻**吸引**了读者。
idiom

crash the system

使系统或过程完全崩溃
Meaning
to cause complete failure in a system or process
Example
One wrong command can **crash the system**.
一个错误的命令可能会使系统崩溃。
idiom

heart skips a beat

因爱情而感到激动或紧张
Meaning
to feel excited or nervous because of love
Example
Every time he smiles, her **heart skips a beat**.
每次他笑的时候，她的**心跳漏了一拍**。
idiom

on the right side of the law

合法行事; 不违反任何法律
Meaning
acting legally; not breaking any laws
Example
He wants to stay **on the right side of the law**.
他想保持 **在法律的正确一方**。
idiom

air out

让新鲜空气进入空间
Meaning
to let fresh air into a space
Example
Open the windows to **air out** the room.
打开窗户让房间通风
idiom

pair off

组成两人一组
Meaning
to form groups of two
Example
Students will **pair off** for the lab experiment.
学生将**配对**进行实验。
idiom

downhearted

感到沮丧或悲伤
Meaning
feeling discouraged or sad
Example
She felt **downhearted** after failing the exam.
她在考试失败后感到**downhearted**。
idiom

Speak from the heart

真诚和诚实地说话。
Meaning
To speak honestly and sincerely.
Example
When he apologized, he really **spoke from the heart**.
当他道歉时，他真的发自内心地说话。
idiom

change one's tune

改变自己的意见或态度
Meaning
to change one's opinion or attitude
Example
After hearing the good news, he decided to **change his tune**.
听到好消息后，他决定**改变自己的看法**。
idiom

play it by ear

根据情况发展决定或行动
Meaning
to decide or act as the situation develops
Example
We’ll **play it by ear** and see what happens.
我们将随情况而定，看看会发生什么。
idiom

a figure of speech

一种以非字面意义用于强调或效果的短语
Meaning
a phrase used in a non-literal way for effect or emphasis
Example
When he said he could eat a horse, it was just **a figure of speech**.
当他说他能吃一匹马时，这只是**一种修辞手法**
idiom

it's not rocket science

这不难理解
Meaning
it's not difficult to understand
Example
You can learn to cook, **it's not rocket science**.
你可以学会做饭，**这不难理解**。
idiom

ride the wave

利用趋势或情况
Meaning
to take advantage of a trend or situation
Example
Many companies are trying to **ride the wave** of AI technology.
许多公司都在努力利用人工智能技术的趋势。
idiom

hit upon an idea

突然想到一个好主意
Meaning
to suddenly think of a good idea
Example
I **hit upon an idea** for improving the app.
我突然想到了一个改善应用程序的好主意。
idiom

take someone to task

严厉批评某人因为他们做错了某事
Meaning
to strongly criticize someone for something they did wrong
Example
The teacher **took him to task** for cheating on the exam.
老师因他在考试中作弊而严厉批评了他。
idiom

take the helm

接管或领导一个组织的控制
Meaning
to assume control or leadership of an organization
Example
She **took the helm** of the company after her father's retirement.
她在父亲退休后**掌舵**了公司。
idiom

The sun will shine again

坏时光过后，好时光会来临。
Meaning
Better times will come after bad ones.
Example
Don’t worry too much — **the sun will shine again**.
别太担心，太阳会再次照耀。
idiom

There’s always hope

无论事情看起来多么糟糕，你仍然可以保持希望。
Meaning
No matter how bad things look, you can still hope.
Example
Don’t lose heart — **there’s always hope**.
不要失去信心——总是有希望。
idiom

steal someone’s thunder

夺取别人想法或成功的功劳
Meaning
to take credit for someone else’s idea or success
Example
She **stole my thunder** by announcing the news first.
她通过首先宣布新闻，**抢了我的风头**
idiom

draw up

准备官方文件或计划
Meaning
to prepare an official document or plan
Example
The lawyer will **draw up** the agreement this afternoon.
律师将在下午起草协议。
idiom

Above reproach

完全诚实且没有缺陷。
Meaning
Completely honest and without fault.
Example
Her integrity is **above reproach**.
她的诚信无可挑剔。
idiom

live the dream

过上自己一直梦想的生活
Meaning
to be living the life you always wanted
Example
After years of hard work, he’s finally **living the dream**.
经过多年的努力，他终于过上了梦想中的生活。
idiom

a giant leap for mankind

一次重大的或开创性的成就
Meaning
a significant or groundbreaking achievement
Example
The first man landing on the moon was truly **a giant leap for mankind**.
第一个登月的人真的是**人类的伟大飞跃**。
idiom

Take a leap of faith

做一些不确定的事情，相信它会成功
Meaning
to do something uncertain, trusting that it will succeed
Example
Starting her own company was a **leap of faith**, but it paid off.
创办自己的公司是一次**信念的飞跃**，但它得到了回报。
idiom

straight from the horse’s mouth

来自最可靠的来源；直接来自相关人士
Meaning
from the most reliable source; directly from the person involved
Example
I heard the news **straight from the horse’s mouth**.
我直接从最可靠的来源听到了这个消息。
idiom

show who's boss

让人们认识到你的权威
Meaning
to make people recognize your authority
Example
Sometimes a leader must **show who's boss**.
有时候，一个领导必须 **展示谁是老板**。
idiom

get the ball rolling

开始某事，尤其是一个项目或过程
Meaning
to start something, especially a project or process
Example
Let’s **get the ball rolling** on this new campaign.
让我们开始这个新活动。
idiom

eat your heart out

默默地因嫉妒或渴望而受苦
Meaning
to suffer silently from jealousy or longing
Example
He’s been **eating his heart out** since his ex got engaged.
自从他的前任订婚后，他一直在**吃掉自己的心**。
idiom

give off

散发气味，光线或感觉
Meaning
to emit a smell, light, or feeling
Example
The candles **give off** a calming scent in the room.
蜡烛在房间里散发着宁静的香气。
idiom

machine minds

指能够学习或思考的人工智能系统
Meaning
refers to artificial intelligence systems capable of learning or thinking
Example
The rise of **machine minds** is reshaping industries worldwide.
‘机器思维’的崛起正在重新塑造全球产业。
idiom

tears of joy

因幸福而哭泣
Meaning
crying because of happiness
Example
She shed **tears of joy** when her son returned home.
当她的儿子回家时，她流下了**快乐的眼泪**。
idiom

a sound mind in a sound body

心理健康依赖于身体健康
Meaning
mental health depends on physical health
Example
**A sound mind in a sound body** is the key to a happy life.
健康的身体才有健康的心灵，这是通往幸福生活的关键。
idiom

Zoom in on

专注于某事
Meaning
To focus closely on something
Example
Let’s **zoom in on** the key issues first.
让我们先关注关键问题。
idiom

light the fire

激励或鼓舞人们充满热情地行动
Meaning
to inspire or motivate people to act passionately
Example
Her speech really **lit the fire** in the employees’ hearts.
她的演讲真正点燃了员工们心中的火焰。
idiom

The longest journey begins with a single step

任何大任务都从一个小步骤开始。
Meaning
Any big task starts with a small action.
Example
Don't worry about the entire project, **the longest journey begins with a single step**.
不要担心整个项目，**最长的旅程始于一步**。
idiom

get a grip

控制你的情绪并理智地行事
Meaning
to control your emotions and behave sensibly
Example
Stop panicking and **get a grip** on yourself!
别慌，控制一下自己！
idiom

Keep an open mind

愿意考虑新的想法或意见。
Meaning
To be willing to consider new ideas or opinions.
Example
Try to **keep an open mind** when learning about different cultures.
在了解不同文化时，尝试保持**开放的心态**。
idiom

Economic bubble

一种资产价格远远高于其真实价值的情况。
Meaning
A situation where asset prices rise far above their real value.
Example
The housing **economic bubble** burst in 2008, causing a global crisis.
2008年住房经济泡沫破裂，引发了全球危机。
idiom

Don’t throw in the towel

不要放弃或停止。
Meaning
Don’t give up or quit.
Example
**Don’t throw in the towel** even if it’s hard.
**不要放弃** 即使它很难。
idiom

pair up

形成两人一组
Meaning
to form groups of two
Example
Students should **pair up** before starting the lab activity.
学生们应该在开始实验室活动前两人一组。
idiom

plug and play

使用简单，无需复杂设置
Meaning
easy to use without complex setup
Example
The new printer is **plug and play** – no installation needed.
这台新打印机是 **plug and play**，无需安装。
idiom

a ticking time bomb

一个随时可能变得危险的情况或人。
Meaning
A situation or person that could become dangerous at any moment.
Example
His anger issues make him **a ticking time bomb**.
他的愤怒问题让他成为一颗定时炸弹。