to stand on one's own two feet
一个人如果能站稳脚跟的话,他就一定能独立自主,靠自己的力量来办事。我们下面要举的一个例子是一位父亲担心他的儿子吸毒或酗酒,所以在劝告他的儿子:
例句-1: Son, somebody may try to get you to smoke marijuana or drink, just to fit in with the crowd. But I hope you can stand on your own two feet and say no.
这位父亲说:"儿子呀,有的人为了要你合群也许会劝你喝酒或吸毒。但是我希望你能够独立自主,拒绝他们的引诱。"
那些能够独立自主的人的确很令人钦佩。下面就是一个例子:
例句-2: Bill Brown has managed to stay in Congress now for twenty years. The voters don't always agree with him but they really like the way he stands on his own feet and makes his own decisions on which way to vote, regardless of pressures from all the lobbyists.
这个人说:"比尔·布朗在国会当议员已经二十年了。选民们不一定都同意他的观点,但是他们倒很欣赏他在对各种提案投票时的那种独立自主精神。不管那些游说者给他施加多大压力,他都按自己的决定投票。"