Have you ever thought about what it means to ‘put your thinking cap on’?

　　你是否思考过“带上思想帽”的真正含义?

　　How is it possible to‘pass with flying colors’?

　　颜色跟考试又有什么关联呢?

　　This blog will help you decipher some of the confusing idioms surrounding school and education. With regular practice, you might just be able to use them in everyday speech yourself, and not ‘draw a blank’ when you hear someone else use them!

　　本文将介绍一些容易让人迷惑的习语，这些习语与学校、教育相关。经过练习，也许你便能在平时生活中运用这些习语啦，更不会在听到时感觉“一头雾水”。

　　Just remember, although these idioms derive from terminology surrounding school and education, they can be used in everyday situations.

　　需要注意的是，这些习语虽然与学校、教育相关，但同样适用于日常交流。

　　1. PUT / GET YOUR THINKING CAP ON

　　1.开动脑筋

　　To engage your mind and think in a serious manner.

　　令大脑和思维保持在思考状态。

　　Right, we need to figure out how we’re going to solve this problem before mum and dad get back, solet’s put our thinking caps on!

　　好吧，我们必须在父母回家前想出解决问题的办法，那就让我们开动脑筋!

　　2. DRAW A BLANK

　　2.一无所获/大脑一片空白

　　To get no response from someone when they are asked a question.

　　面对提问毫无反应。

　　I asked him about his plans for Christmas, butI just drew a blank. He didn’t seem to understand what I was asking him!

　　我问过他的圣诞计划，但是一无所获。他好像根本不明白我在问什么!

　　3. BACK TO BASICS

　　3.回复本原

　　An approach that uses traditional ideas and methods which have been successful in the past.

　　一种在过去有所成效的传统理念和方法。

　　They seem to prefer having everything back to basics in their office. They have minimal use of advanced technology, but apparently find everything simpler and easier to manage.

　　看上去他们更喜欢传统的办公方式。虽然他们鲜用先进技术，但是一切变得似乎更简单、更易于管理。

　　4. AS EASY AS ABC

　　4.不费吹灰之力

　　Something that is very simple or easy.

　　某事不值一提、非常简单。

　　That jigsaw puzzle is as easy as ABC, I don’t understand why you’ve been struggling with it for so long.

　　七巧板游戏如此简单，你怎么花这么久的时间还没搞定?

　　5. COPYCAT

　　5.模仿者

　　Used to describe someone who copies another person’s work.

　　描述模仿、抄袭他人作品者。

　　I don’t like talking to her about my wedding plans because she’s such a copycat! I know she’ll steal my ideas and use them for her own wedding.

　　我不想跟她谈论我的婚礼计划，她是个地地道道的模仿者!她知道了，一定会在自己婚礼上盗用我的创意。

　　6. COVER A LOT OF GROUND

　　6.许多事情需要完成

　　When a lot of work needs to be completed. If there is a lot of research to be done, or material to get through.

　　大量的工作、研究项目急需完成或材料等待审核。

　　Our team have done so well over the past two weeks, we’ve managed to cover so much ground that I feel this programmer may be ready by the end of this month!

　　过去两周，我们小组进展迅速，处理了不少事情，也许这个项目月底就能完成!

　　We have to complete our research within the next month. We still have a lot of ground to coverand I fear we may not get everything done in time.

　　我们必须在下月底完成这项研究。可是现在仍有很多工作没有完成，恐怕不能及时完成任务了。

　　7. COUNT NOSES

　　7.清点人数

　　To count the number of people around you (generally used on a school trip, to check for missing students).

　　用于清点人数(常见于郊游时清点学生以防遗漏)。

　　My grandmother was constantly counting noses at the birthday party. I think she felt responsible for all the children there!

　　外祖母常在生日聚会上清点人数。她一定认为自己对在场的每个孩子都有责任!

　　8. EAGER BEAVER

　　8.做事勤奋的人

　　Someone who works hard and is very enthusiastic.

　　做事勤奋、干劲十足的人。

　　Mary is such an eager beaver, she always the first one to do whatever the boss asks. I think she’s hoping for a promotion!

　　玛丽做事勤奋，无论老板提出什么要求，总是第一个冲锋陷阵。她一定是想得到提拔!

　　9. DROP OUT OF SCHOOL (phrasal verb) / DROPOUT (noun)

　　9.辍学(动词词组)/辍学生(名词)

　　To stop attending school completely (leave without graduating).

　　完全不上学(尚未毕业便离校)。

　　She dropped out of school at the age of 14 to help her sick grandmother at home, but now she runs her own successful nursing home for the elderly!

　　虽然她十四岁便辍学在家照顾生病的祖母，但是如今她成功经营了一家养老院。

　　He’s adropout,I can’t see him being anything successful with his current reputation.

　　他是名辍学生，就现在而言，我看不出他能有什么出息。

　　10. SHOW OF HANDS

　　10.举手表决

　　Raising hands to vote about something.

　　对某事进行表决。

　　With a show of hands, who would prefer to have longer working days but a shorter working week?

　　举手表决，有谁支持延长工作日但缩短工作周期?

（编辑：何莹莹）