在美國有很多常見的字眼，總是使學英語的中國人感到不解。在此，舉一些例子供讀者參考。
1. Head Start：假如這兩個字開頭的字母是大寫，則連在一塊是一個專有名詞，指的是美國政府為貧窮或弱智的兒童設立的一種練習機構，幫助他們，期望他們在進小學之前能趕上教學進度。也就是：U.S. government tries to give extra － help for those underprivileged children before entering first grade.
比如： Many poor parents send their children to Head Start.
但假如head start的字母是小寫，那樣就是普通名詞了，是指比別人早著手，或領先、 有利，即：advance start or advantage
比如：In order to give his son a head start, the father decided1 to send him to a private kindergarten.（為了讓他的兒子有好的開始，他決定把兒子送到私立嬰幼兒園去。)
To know more colloquial3 expressions is a head start in learning English.
2. blue blood：是指富豪或出身富家的人
比如：He has blue blood.或He is blue blooded .
Mr. Lin comes from a blue blooded family.
Some people do not want to admit that they have blue blood.
Many blue blooded children attend this private school.
3. bed of roses：意思是稱心如意的處境；美好、理想的安樂窩
比如：Life is not always a bed of roses.
Young people think that marriage will be a bed of roses.
4. from soup to nuts：意思是從頭到尾，自始至終；或是一應俱全，完整詳盡（多半是指物品方面）。
比如：This store sells everything from soup to nuts.
My office is supplied from soup to nuts.
但假如指常識豐富的話，則不需要這個詞，而是一般用 from A to Z來表達，。
比如：Mr. Greenspan knows economics from A to Z.
5. real blast：blast 本來是指一陣狂風。但在口語中則是指歡樂，或玩得愉快，非常盡興
比如：Miss Su had a blast at the party.
I hope our get-together5 will be a blast.
注：blast 前面用 real 形容，是起到加大語氣有哪些用途。
6. off-limits：意思是禁止入內(nèi)；限制進出或不準用，也就是關閉 比如：The library will be off-limits to the public until re-carpeting project is completed.
The teachers have the use of a john that is off-limits to students.（學生不能用教師衛(wèi)生間。)
或 This bathroom is off-limits to students.
7. next of kin2：是指家人或者近親。 在美國，所謂親人也是依每一個人的不同情況而定的，可能是夫婦、爸爸媽媽、兒女，或是叔叔嬸嬸、表兄弟姐妹。
比如：If a person has a serious car accident, his or her next of kin will be notified.
At the funeral all next of kin were in attendance.
The doctor should discuss the prognosis candidly6 with the next of kin.
All his property will eventually go to his next of kin.
假如kin單獨用，用作家屬或親屬的總稱，則一般后面不加 s。
比如：All my kin attended the family get-together.
8. fair-weather friend：這是指一些只能同安樂而不可以共患難酒肉朋友
比如：A fair-weather friend will not contact you during your time of hardship.
When she ignored him during his financial problem, he knew she was a fair-weather friend.
9. real bomb：在口語里是指在公眾場合或舞臺上表演失敗或表現(xiàn)欠佳。一般與 real 用在一塊。
比如：The show was a real bomb, so I cut out early. （這個劇非常糟糕，所以我提前退場了。）（cut out = leave）
假如 bomb 作名詞用，意思就是炸彈；作動詞，則是轟炸，或失敗、非常壞的意思。 比如： A U.S. fighter dropped a bomb over Iraq. （作名詞）= A U.S. fighter bombed Iraq. （作動詞）
The play has bombed. （這場戲演砸了）
值得注意的是：real bomb有時也指真的的炸彈。比如：
The police found a real bomb in the building. （警察在建筑物中發(fā)現(xiàn)了一顆真炸彈）
10. neck and neck：不相上下，難分高低。
比如：The horses came in neck and neck across the finish line. （賽馬到達終點時難分上下）
Last year George Bush and Al Gore7 almost remained neck and neck in the race for White House. （去年布什和戈爾在大選中幾乎不分上下）
11. through thick and thin：甘苦與共，一同分擔艱難困苦
比如：She feels like a fool for sticking with her husband through thick and thin.（
He has walked through thick and thin during the past five years. （過去的五年中，他歷盡辛酸)
12. cry wolf：狼來了的假警報。
比如：Don't cry wolf unless you really need help.（除非你真的需要幫助，不然不要發(fā)狼來了的假警報)
Crying wolf is not a responsible behavior. （發(fā)假警報是不負責任的行為）
Parents should teach their children not to cry wolf. （爸爸媽媽應該教育孩子不要喊狼來了的假警報）
13. banner year：意思是特別得意或特別好的一年（如升官、漲薪、取得獎勵等等）
比如：This has been a banner year for Mrs. Lin.（這是林太太最得意的一年）
With a promotion8 and marriage, he really had a banner year in 1998.（1998 年他又升職又結(jié)婚，真是很得意）
有時老外也用 banner month，但不需要 banner day。
比如：Mr. A had a banner month at his car dealership9. （A先生這個月的車子賣的非常不錯）
14. shell company：這是指假冒或有名無實的公司行號，也就是所謂「皮包」公司。
比如：They used fake receipts from shell companies with no staff or premises10.
Shell companies are illegal in the U.S.
There was no dice he would be able to get this job.
He asked her for more money, but she said no dice to him. （他要她多給些錢，但她說不可以）
I tried to contact Mr. Wang, but no dice.（設法與王先生聯(lián)絡，但徒勞無功）
16. dislocated worker：指失業(yè)或正在找工作的人（refers to a person who lost a job or still looking for a job)
比如：There are 200 dislocated workers in our community when the company closed its door.
To avoid being a dislocated worker, one needs a good education with skills. （為了不失業(yè)，個人需要同意一些好技能的教育）
17. stick-in-the-mud：這是指一些落伍守舊，循規(guī)蹈矩者；或是思想落后，毫無進取心的人，就像陷入泥淖一樣。（old fashioned or unprogressive person）（多作名詞用)
比如：He is a boring stick-in-the-mud.
Being a stick-in-the-mud, people don't value his opinions.（他是呆頭呆腦的，大伙都不看重他的建議）
（注：若是專指老頑固，一般是用 old fogy 或 old foggy；不過 stick-in-the-mud 既可指青年又可指老人）
18. Take chances：意思是冒險，也就是 take a risk 或 take a chance 。反之，take no chances 就是不冒險，非常小心 的意思。
I take no chances =I take no risk
而take chances 則是籌備冒險的意思。
比如： The soldier must take his chances in the battle.
Some people are more prone12 to take chances than others.
19. Dog's life：意思是日常的困境或痛苦的日子
比如：Over the past years she led a dog's life with her alcoholic13 husband.
Many new immigrants in the U.S. initially14 endure a dog's life.
20. En masse：這是法文，意思是全體職員，一同，一塊 ， 根據(jù)字面意義看，就是 in mass的意思。
比如：The audience applauded en masse upon the completion of his speech.
Employees marched en masse to the company headquarters for pay raise.
21. Con-man：是指騙子或壞蛋 ，專門設法獲得別人信賴后再行騙的人。
比如：Be careful of con-men; they may try to rip you off.
Beware of telephone con-men who may solicit15 for a fake charity.
22. Walking dead man：就是身體健康非常差的人。
比如：Due to severe illness, he now becomes a walking dead man.
注意： 這個詞只用于第三人稱，所以別說：You are a walking dead man，如此是非常不禮貌的。 而且不需要來形容女性，所以不可以說：She is a walking dead woman. 除此之外，也不說：They are walking dead persons 。
23. Take heart：意思是鼓起勇氣，振作起來，不要悲觀
比如：Take heart, Mr. Chen, things will get better.
We have taken heart from the news of victory.
24. Happy-go-lucky：意思是無憂無慮的，樂天派的
比如：He has been happy-go-lucky all his life.
It is always better being happy-go-lucky versus16 being depressed17.
1. Head Start：假如這兩個字開頭的字母是大寫，則連在一塊是一個專有名詞，指的是美國政府為貧窮或弱智的兒童設立的一種練習機構，幫助他們，期望他們在進小學之前能趕上教學進度。也就是：U.S. government tries to give extra － help for those underprivileged children before entering first grade.
比如： Many poor parents send their children to Head Start.
但假如head start的字母是小寫，那樣就是普通名詞了，是指比別人早著手，或領先、 有利，即：advance start or advantage
比如：In order to give his son a head start, the father decided1 to send him to a private kindergarten.（為了讓他的兒子有好的開始，他決定把兒子送到私立嬰幼兒園去。)
To know more colloquial3 expressions is a head start in learning English.
2. blue blood：是指富豪或出身富家的人
比如：He has blue blood.或He is blue blooded .
Mr. Lin comes from a blue blooded family.
Some people do not want to admit that they have blue blood.
Many blue blooded children attend this private school.
3. bed of roses：意思是稱心如意的處境；美好、理想的安樂窩
比如：Life is not always a bed of roses.
Young people think that marriage will be a bed of roses.
4. from soup to nuts：意思是從頭到尾，自始至終；或是一應俱全，完整詳盡（多半是指物品方面）。
比如：This store sells everything from soup to nuts.
My office is supplied from soup to nuts.
但假如指常識豐富的話，則不需要這個詞，而是一般用 from A to Z來表達，。
比如：Mr. Greenspan knows economics from A to Z.
5. real blast：blast 本來是指一陣狂風。但在口語中則是指歡樂，或玩得愉快，非常盡興
比如：Miss Su had a blast at the party.
I hope our get-together5 will be a blast.
注：blast 前面用 real 形容，是起到加大語氣有哪些用途。
6. off-limits：意思是禁止入內(nèi)；限制進出或不準用，也就是關閉 比如：The library will be off-limits to the public until re-carpeting project is completed.
The teachers have the use of a john that is off-limits to students.（學生不能用教師衛(wèi)生間。)
或 This bathroom is off-limits to students.
7. next of kin2：是指家人或者近親。 在美國，所謂親人也是依每一個人的不同情況而定的，可能是夫婦、爸爸媽媽、兒女，或是叔叔嬸嬸、表兄弟姐妹。
比如：If a person has a serious car accident, his or her next of kin will be notified.
At the funeral all next of kin were in attendance.
The doctor should discuss the prognosis candidly6 with the next of kin.
All his property will eventually go to his next of kin.
假如kin單獨用，用作家屬或親屬的總稱，則一般后面不加 s。
比如：All my kin attended the family get-together.
8. fair-weather friend：這是指一些只能同安樂而不可以共患難酒肉朋友
比如：A fair-weather friend will not contact you during your time of hardship.
When she ignored him during his financial problem, he knew she was a fair-weather friend.
9. real bomb：在口語里是指在公眾場合或舞臺上表演失敗或表現(xiàn)欠佳。一般與 real 用在一塊。
比如：The show was a real bomb, so I cut out early. （這個劇非常糟糕，所以我提前退場了。）（cut out = leave）
假如 bomb 作名詞用，意思就是炸彈；作動詞，則是轟炸，或失敗、非常壞的意思。 比如： A U.S. fighter dropped a bomb over Iraq. （作名詞）= A U.S. fighter bombed Iraq. （作動詞）
The play has bombed. （這場戲演砸了）
值得注意的是：real bomb有時也指真的的炸彈。比如：
The police found a real bomb in the building. （警察在建筑物中發(fā)現(xiàn)了一顆真炸彈）
10. neck and neck：不相上下，難分高低。
比如：The horses came in neck and neck across the finish line. （賽馬到達終點時難分上下）
Last year George Bush and Al Gore7 almost remained neck and neck in the race for White House. （去年布什和戈爾在大選中幾乎不分上下）
11. through thick and thin：甘苦與共，一同分擔艱難困苦
比如：She feels like a fool for sticking with her husband through thick and thin.（
He has walked through thick and thin during the past five years. （過去的五年中，他歷盡辛酸)
12. cry wolf：狼來了的假警報。
比如：Don't cry wolf unless you really need help.（除非你真的需要幫助，不然不要發(fā)狼來了的假警報)
Crying wolf is not a responsible behavior. （發(fā)假警報是不負責任的行為）
Parents should teach their children not to cry wolf. （爸爸媽媽應該教育孩子不要喊狼來了的假警報）
13. banner year：意思是特別得意或特別好的一年（如升官、漲薪、取得獎勵等等）
比如：This has been a banner year for Mrs. Lin.（這是林太太最得意的一年）
With a promotion8 and marriage, he really had a banner year in 1998.（1998 年他又升職又結(jié)婚，真是很得意）
有時老外也用 banner month，但不需要 banner day。
比如：Mr. A had a banner month at his car dealership9. （A先生這個月的車子賣的非常不錯）
14. shell company：這是指假冒或有名無實的公司行號，也就是所謂「皮包」公司。
比如：They used fake receipts from shell companies with no staff or premises10.
Shell companies are illegal in the U.S.
There was no dice he would be able to get this job.
He asked her for more money, but she said no dice to him. （他要她多給些錢，但她說不可以）
I tried to contact Mr. Wang, but no dice.（設法與王先生聯(lián)絡，但徒勞無功）
16. dislocated worker：指失業(yè)或正在找工作的人（refers to a person who lost a job or still looking for a job)
比如：There are 200 dislocated workers in our community when the company closed its door.
To avoid being a dislocated worker, one needs a good education with skills. （為了不失業(yè)，個人需要同意一些好技能的教育）
17. stick-in-the-mud：這是指一些落伍守舊，循規(guī)蹈矩者；或是思想落后，毫無進取心的人，就像陷入泥淖一樣。（old fashioned or unprogressive person）（多作名詞用)
比如：He is a boring stick-in-the-mud.
Being a stick-in-the-mud, people don't value his opinions.（他是呆頭呆腦的，大伙都不看重他的建議）
（注：若是專指老頑固，一般是用 old fogy 或 old foggy；不過 stick-in-the-mud 既可指青年又可指老人）
18. Take chances：意思是冒險，也就是 take a risk 或 take a chance 。反之，take no chances 就是不冒險，非常小心 的意思。
I take no chances =I take no risk
而take chances 則是籌備冒險的意思。
比如： The soldier must take his chances in the battle.
Some people are more prone12 to take chances than others.
19. Dog's life：意思是日常的困境或痛苦的日子
比如：Over the past years she led a dog's life with her alcoholic13 husband.
Many new immigrants in the U.S. initially14 endure a dog's life.
20. En masse：這是法文，意思是全體職員，一同，一塊 ， 根據(jù)字面意義看，就是 in mass的意思。
比如：The audience applauded en masse upon the completion of his speech.
Employees marched en masse to the company headquarters for pay raise.
21. Con-man：是指騙子或壞蛋 ，專門設法獲得別人信賴后再行騙的人。
比如：Be careful of con-men; they may try to rip you off.
Beware of telephone con-men who may solicit15 for a fake charity.
22. Walking dead man：就是身體健康非常差的人。
比如：Due to severe illness, he now becomes a walking dead man.
注意： 這個詞只用于第三人稱，所以別說：You are a walking dead man，如此是非常不禮貌的。 而且不需要來形容女性，所以不可以說：She is a walking dead woman. 除此之外，也不說：They are walking dead persons 。
23. Take heart：意思是鼓起勇氣，振作起來，不要悲觀
比如：Take heart, Mr. Chen, things will get better.
We have taken heart from the news of victory.
24. Happy-go-lucky：意思是無憂無慮的，樂天派的
比如：He has been happy-go-lucky all his life.
It is always better being happy-go-lucky versus16 being depressed17.