超經典實用的英語諺語，提高你的英語水平，聊天寫作不用愁!

1. When in Rome, do as the Romans do

【釋義】 該諺語的字面意思是：你在羅馬就按照羅馬人的習慣去做事。意在告誡我們要入鄉隨俗、入國問禁。

【場景運用】

(Anna and Bob, from Hong Kong, went to the suburbs of Beijing with their family yesterday afternoon. They are staying in a village. Now they are having breakfast.)

Bob: I don’t like mantou and porridge. I’d like only milk and bread for breakfast.

Anna: Stop it, Bob. When in Rome, do as the Romans do!

2. Two wrongs don’t make a right

【釋義】 以牙還牙行不通，兩個錯誤不等於一個正確，不能因別人錯了自己就可以犯錯。

【場景運用】

Bob: He has hurt my feelings, so I want to do something unpleasant to get back at him.

Anna: That is a bad attitude. You know that two wrongs don’t make a right.

3. No man is an island

【釋義】 可直接翻譯為“沒有人是孤島”。該句出自英國詩人John Donne 1623年所作的《沉思錄》，它所要表達的意思是：人是社會的動物，沒有人能脫離社會群體而單獨存在。

【場景運用】

Anna: I am going to organize the whole event myself.

Bob: That’s very silly. No man is an island. You need help from others if you want to get everything done in time. I suggest you rethink things.

Anna: Hmm, I guess you’re right.

4. Better late than never

【釋義】可直接翻譯為“晚做總比不做好”，該諺語與漢語中“亡羊補牢，未為晚矣”所表達的意思一致。

【場景運用】

Anna: What took you so long? I’ve been waiting for you for ages!

Bob: Sorry! I missed the bus and had to walk here.

Anna: Oh well, never mind. Better late than never!

5. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence

【釋義】 該諺語字面意思是“籬笆另一邊的草總是看起來更綠”。這也就是我們中國人說的“鄰家芳草綠,隔岸風景好”、“這山望著那山高”、“他鄉月更圓”。

【場景運用】

Anna:Bob, your lawn (草坪) appears greener than mine. You always do a good job!

Bob: Thanks, Anna. Well, you know the age-old saying that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. When you see the grass from far away, you can’t see the dead leaves, the mess, etc.

6. There is no such a thing as free lunch

【釋義】 這個俗語的字面意思是：白吃午飯這種事是沒有的。其含義當然要超越午飯這個範圍，就是說世上沒有任何不付出代價就能得到的東西。

【場景運用】

Bob: Anna, you did a part-time job as a dishwasher for the first time this summer, didn’t you?

Anna: Right. I worked 5 hours per day and kept working for 4 weeks. As a result, I got 600 yuan. It’s a boring and tiring job, but there is no such a thing as free lunch in the world.

Bob: I think so. The more efforts (努力) we make, the bigger chance we will have to succeed.

7. A good beginning makes a good ending

【釋義】 該諺語意在告誡我們“善始者必善其終”。

【場景運用】

Bob: This year, I’ve made up my mind to prepare methodically (系統地) for my exams, and to start reviewing the lessons early.

Anna: Sounds great. You know, a good beginning makes a good ending.

8. One finger cannot lift a small stone

【釋義】 該諺語的字面意思是：一根手指拿不起一塊小石頭。引申義為：獨木難支，眾人拾柴火焰高。

【場景運用】

Bob: I’m afraid I can’t get this work well done alone.

Anna: Er, one finger cannot lift a small stone. I think you need more hands to make light work. If a lot of people join in working together for a difficult task, it can be a lot easier.

9. God helps those who help themselves

【釋義】 該諺語的字面意思是：上帝會眷顧那些自強之人。意在告誡我們自助者天助，求人不如求己。

【場景運用】

Anna: If we are in difficulties, who can we turn to? Nobody, just ourselves.

Bob: Absolutely right. As an old saying goes, God helps those who help themselves. No matter how hard our life might be in coming days, we have to learn how to grow up.

10. It is the early bird that catches the worm

【釋義】 該諺語的字面意思是：早起的鳥兒有蟲吃。意在告誡我們早行動早成功,捷足先登。

【場景運用】

Bob: Hurry up, Anna! I hear that there are not many tickets left for the football match.

Anna: I’m ready now. Let’s go. It is the early bird that catches the worm.