1 down to the wire

最后关头。

It was down to the wire. = There wasn't much time left.

直到最后一刻。

（例子）：I feel like I am always in a rush because I wait to do thing until it's down to the wire.

我总是赶时间， 因为我常到最后一分钟还忙着。

2 活学活用

中译英：不到最后关头，我们不能放松。

英译中：What kind of language learner are you? If you are a successful language learner, you have probably been learning independently, actively, and purposefully. On the other hand, if you language learning has been less than successful, you might do well to try some of the techniques outlined above.

今天加入了一些新的内容：

1 hit the books

撞书（用功）

I need to hit the books. = I need to study.

例子： If I don't hit the books this week, I won't pass the test.

如果我这星期不用功，我考试就不及格了。

2 活学活用

中译英：英语中有些地方还真有趣，可把“撞书”理解成“用功”。

英译中：How should you built up your vocabulary

Through Context

When students in a college class were asked what should be done when they came across a new word in their reading, 84 percent said, 'Look it up in the dictionary.' If you do, however, you interrupt the very mental processes needed to make your efforts most productive.

3 语法 构词法

英语词的构成有一定的规律，这种规律称为构词法。掌握构词法知识对我们更好的理解词义，认识新词和扩大词汇量有重大的意义。

构词方法有三种：派生法，合成法，转换法。

一． 在一个词的词根前或后加某个词缀产生新词，有前缀，后缀。

构成名词的常用后缀：

-er,-or,-ist,-ee,-ian,-ese,-ant构成人或物的名称.。

例如：thinker, guesser, translator, conductor, physicist, dentist, employee, trainee, physician, Italian, Japanese, assistant等。

（待续）

1 cost someone an arm and a leg

要花上一条胳膊一条腿（代价昂贵）

That cost me an arm and a leg. = That was very expensive.

那东西贵极了。

（例子）：I really like my new car, but it cot me an arm and a leg. Now I have no money for new cloths.

我非常喜欢我的新车，不过这辆车贵极了。现在我连买衣服的钱都没了。

2 活学活用

中译英：学习的代价是很昂贵的。

英译中：But there's another reason. Suppose someone asks you what the word "fast" means. You answer, "swift." But does it mean that in such contexts as "fast color", "fast woman", or "fast friend"? And if a horse is fast, is it securely tied or running at top speed? It could be either, It all depends. On the dictionary? NO, on context - on how the word is actually used. After all there are over twenty different meanings for "fast" in the dictionary. But the dictionary doesn't tell you which meaning in intended. That's why it makes such good sense to begin with context.

3 语法 构词法

(2) -ance, -ence, -(a)tion, -ics, -ing, -ity, -ment, -ness, -th, -ty, -ure, -ship等用于构成表示行为，性质，状态的抽象名词。

例如：acceptance, assistance, dependence, confidence, repetition, preparation, discussion, division, physics, fabrics, building, wedding, reality, ability, settlement, argument, greatness, hardness, warmth, length, safety, penalty, failure, pressure, friendship, leadership.等。