英汉成语翻译
一、关于英汉成语
这里所指的成语是广义的，包括谚语和习语。成语一般具有言简意赅、趣味隽永的特点。准确熟练地运用成语可以增强表达能力，表明个人掌握使用语言的水平。
成语好比一面镜子，反映出一个民族的文化特点，因此也是一种语言与别种语言差异最大，最难翻译的部分。现从几个方面说明英汉成语互译的特点。
（一）喻体不同
中国人常用“雨后春笋”来形容事物的大量涌现。英语则用“just like mushroom”来形容同样的意思。
试比较：
Kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.
（有！）杀鸡取蛋（/ruan）。
Look for a needle in a haystack.
大海捞针
Like a rat in a hole.
瓮中之鳖
A good conscience is a soft pillow.
日间不做亏心事，夜半敲门心不惊。
（二）风俗习惯不同
对于英国人来说，狗既用来看门打猎，也是人的伴侣/宠物。英国人对狗一般有好感，常用来比喻人的生活。 如：
Dog tired 非常疲倦
To dog one's steps 跟某人走
Top dog 重要的人
Lucky dog 幸运儿
As faithful as a dog 像狗一样忠诚
Love me, love my dog 爱屋及乌
Every dog has his day 凡人皆有得意的日子
但是，在英语中，“dog ”有时（受外来的影响）也含有贬义。如：
a surly dog 性情乖戾（ ）的人
That/this dirty dog 那个狗东西
He is in the doghouse 他名声扫地了
He was a bit of a dog in his younger days. 他年轻时过着花天酒地的生活。
（三）历史背景的不同
中国自古就是以农业大国，成语中有很大一部分农谚。如：斩草除根；解甲归田；拔苗助长； 顺藤摸瓜；瓜熟蒂落；桃李满天下。 英国是一个岛国，有很大一部分成语源于航海。 如： To know the ropes 内行
To tide over 安然渡过
To go with the stream 随波逐流
To clear the decks 准备战斗
all at sea 晕头转向
plain sailing 一帆风顺
To rest on one's oars 小憩片刻
To keep one's head above water 奋力求生
（（部分成语出自历史事件、寓言、故事等，这类成语可以称为典故成语。英汉典故成语各有自己的民族渊源，相似的不多，少数近似的如："blow hot and cold" 对应 “朝三暮四”。
"blow hot and cold"出自《伊索寓言》，讲一个人冬夜在山林迷路，碰到一个山林小神，领他回自己的小屋。路上这人不断向手上呵气，山林小神问他干什么，他说手麻木了，呵气取暖。到家后，山林小神给他端来一碗热腾腾的粥，那人端到嘴边又吹气。山林小神问他又干什么，他回答说，粥很烫，想把它吹凉。山林小神对他说：“你嘴里的气吹热又吹凉，这样的人我不接待，你走吧。”寓言原喻“避免与性情模棱两可的人交往”，现意“反复无常”。
“朝三暮四”出自《列子．黄帝》，有个养猴子的人拿橡子喂猴子，告诉他们早上给三个橡子，晚上给四个，猴子都不高兴。他又说早上给四个晚上给三个，猴子们就都高兴了。原比喻作诈欺骗，后来比喻反复无常。
但"love is blind"与“情人眼里出西施”却有细微差别："love is blind"出自莎士比亚的《威尼斯商人》，它含有看不到情人缺点之意，而未能传达“出西施”之意。翻译时，不能生搬硬套。））
二、英汉成语互译的几种方法
（一）直译法：直译不是一字对一字的死译，而是照字面翻译，不做太多的引申和注释。
１ 英译中
Golden age 黄金时代
To show one's cards 摊牌
To turn over a new leaf 揭开新的一页
He laughs best who laughs last 谁笑在最后，谁笑得最好。
Necessity is the mother of invention. 需要是发明之母。
We never know the worth of water till the well is dry. 井干方知水可贵。
２ 中译英
做一天和尚撞一天钟。
So long as I remain a bonze（ ）, I go on tolling the bell.
天下乌鸦一般黑，老狼都是吃肉的。
All crows are equally black, all wolves eat meat.
路遥知马力，事久见人心。
A long road tests a horse's strength and a long task proves a man's heart.
采用直译法一般可以保留原文的形象和色彩，引进的成语经过时间考验，可以融入到汉语中去。汉译英时，采取直译法，也会把具有中国特色的成语的原来形象和色彩传递到英语中去。
（二）借用法
英汉语都拥有丰富的成语，有的在内容和形式上都相互符合：有相同的意义/隐意，又有相同/相似的形象或比喻。 这时，可借译/用。
burn one's boats 破釜沉舟
Walls have ears. 隔墙有耳
go through fire and water 赴汤蹈火
Man proposes, God disposes. 谋事在人，成事在天
fish in troubled waters 混水摸鱼
pour cold water over / on 泼冷水
know something like the palm / back of one's hand 了如指掌
Constant dripping wears the stone 滴水穿石
pour oil on fire 火上浇油
a thorn in the flesh 肉中刺
Facts speak louder than words 事实胜于雄辩
有时设喻不同，但喻意一致，也可借用：
a flash in the pan (wok!) 昙花一现
have one foot in the grave 风烛残年
at the end of one's rope 山穷水尽
The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. 心有余而力不足。
to have an old head on young shoulders 少年老成
Birds of a feather flock together. 物以类聚„
（三）意译法
在直译和借用汉语成语都不妥当时，为了确切表达原意，可根据上下文进行意译：
to have other fish to fry 有别的事要做
to rain cats and dogs www.ryedu.net 下倾盆大雨
have a bee in one's bonnet （有带子女士帽！）胡思乱想
hit the nail on the head 切中要害
(end of 3-1?)
三、应注意的几个问题
（一）对同一习语的译法不是一成不变的，可根据上下文灵活处理。如：“谋事在人，成事在天。”一般译为英语：“Man proposes, God disposes.”但在下面的句子中，却不能不作改变。
“谋事在人，成事在天，咱们谋到了，靠菩萨的保佑，有些机会，也未可知。”（《红楼梦》 第六回） Man proposes, Heaven disposes. Work out a plan, trust to Buddha, and something may come of it for all you know.
+文中菩萨（Buddha ）是佛教词语,God disposes是基督教词语，译文如不作调整， 就会造成混乱，所以把"God" 改为"Heaven" 。
又如：方案一公布，大家就七嘴八舌地谈论开了。
Publication of the draft plan touched off a lively discussion with everybody eager to put in a word. +译文中“七嘴八舌”之义已表达出来，不必硬加"with seven mouths and eight tongues", 否则，native 看不懂。
（二）要注意保全原文的风格
如果成语是古语，就要翻得古雅些，如果成语是口语，就要翻得生动、口语化一些。 如：
...... 老子说：“民不畏死，奈何以死惧之。”
...Lao Tze said,"The people fear not death, why threaten them with it."
以其人之道，还治其人之身。
Do unto him as he does unto others.
己所不欲，勿施于人。
Do unto others as you would be done by.
“这断子绝孙的阿Ｑ！”（鲁迅）
"AhQ,may you die sonless!"
（三）对于具有较明显的民族和地方色彩，或附有一定的人名、地名的成语，翻译时，通常不能拿来互相
替换。 如：
To carry coals to Newcastle（运煤炭到纽斯卡尔去－－多此一举），就不要译成：带着瓷器上浮梁。（浮
梁是中国古时盛产瓷器的地方。）
To teach one's grandma to suck eggs. 不要译成 “夫子庙前卖文章；关公面前耍大刀”
Two heads are better than one.（一人不如两人智）不要译成：三个臭皮匠胜过一个/顶个诸葛亮。（北外汉英词典：Three cobblers (补鞋匠) with their wits combined equal Zhu Geliang, the master mind.）
（（ 对于多数字面上显示民族色彩的成语，译者最好采用直译的办法以保留这种色彩，汉译英尤其如此。如：“守株待兔”这个习语，有译者把它译成“watching the stump（树桩） and waiting for a hare.”然后另加注释：From the story of a peasant who, seeing a hare run headlong against a tree-stump and break its neck, abandoned his plough and waited by the stump in the hope that another hare would do
the same thing. 有时，也可译成: Waiting for gains without pains.
另外，意译时，多选用中性词语。 如：“一个和尚挑水吃，两个和尚抬水吃，三个和尚没水吃”。可译成：Everybody's business is nobody's business．（直译/喻体大致相同： One boy is a boy, 2 boys half a boy,
3 boys no boy.）))
（四）确切理解，不要望文生义
（有些英语成语看起来与汉语某些成语相似，但意义完全不同，或存在细微差别。要特别注意。如： to go home 作为自由词组，是“回家”的意思。但用作成语，往往表示“击中要害”和“发生影响”； to wash one's hand 容易让人误解为 “洗手不干”，其实含有“断绝关系”、“推脱责任”的意思； to bark at the moon 和“蜀犬吠日”，两个成语虽然设喻差不多，但情景和思路大不一样，前者比喻“徒劳无益”，后者比喻
“少见多怪”。）
（五）分辨褒贬义，注意有褒贬两可的。 如：
（It's an ill wind that blows nobody good. 天下无绝对的坏事。（有弊必有利）
这句谚语看起来好像是贬义，其实不然；
Birds of a feather flock together. 并无贬义，无非表示消极意义；
To be hand and (in) glove with 即可用于褒义，又可用于贬义。不能不加区别，一概译成“亲密无间”。 比较：
The two friends are hand in glove with each other.
这两位朋友亲如手足。
The traitors and the enemy were working hand in glove with each other.
卖国贼和敌人相互勾结。
Every official is hand in glove with him.
当官的跟他穿一条裤子。
再如：to lock the stable door after the horse has been stolen，有人译成“亡羊补牢”，并不妥当。“亡羊补牢”是“犹为未晚”，含义是积极的。英语成语是说“马已被盗，再关厩门也无益了”，含义是消极的。）
（六）英汉互译时，为方便读者理解，可适当添词或减词
（汉语成语多是四字组成，译成英语时，不能仅从字面意义去译，而应领会其实质，译出内在思想。必要时，可以加词。如：Show off one's proficiency with the axe before Lu Ban，the master carpenter. 如
不在译文中加上the master carpenter Lu Ban，恐怕大多数外国人都不知Lu Ban是何许人。
相反，有时也可以省译。 如：山雨欲来风满楼。The wind sweeping through the tower heralds a rising storm in the mountains. 只保留原文的主要比喻，省略了“山”，“楼”的字眼。外语爱好者网站 -英语教学版
有些并列式成语，如：“取之不尽，用之不竭”，英译时仅用“inexhaustible ”一个词来表达；又如：沉鱼落雁之容，闭月羞花之貌。只要译成Her beauty would put the flowers to shame.）
四字成语往往含义重复，在修辞上优美匀称，但翻译时，只要译出其中一组的意思即可。 如： 花言巧语 fine words 油嘴滑舌 glib tongue
长吁短叹 sighing deeply 精疲力竭 exhaustion, exhausted
发号施令 issue orders 土崩瓦解 fall apart
（七）有时，英语原文没用成语，但译文却用四字成语。 如：
Over the past several weeks, she had grown increasingly restless.
过去几周，她越来越六神无主。
I was nervous before crowds.
我在大庭广众之前感到紧张。
It was a privilege revokable at any time on whim（冲动）of the authorities.
只要当权者心血来潮，这种恩赐随时可以取消。
(end of 3-2?)
四、英汉成语翻译第 2 页举例
a laughing stock 笑柄 （树桩/木头）
in the land of nod 睡乡 （瞌睡/打盹）
at snail's pace 蜗行
in one's evening of life 晚年
an outsider 门外汉
all skin and bone 皮包骨
the year of snow, the year of fertility 瑞雪兆丰年
a blot from the blue 晴天霹雳 （耻辱）
to see through at a glance 一眼看穿
to see through the trickery 看穿把戏
to fish in troubled waters 混水摸鱼 1 （张培基：“完全相同的形象比喻”162页） to do something by halves 半途而废
a heart of stone 铁石心肠
strike while the iron is hot 趁热打铁
tit for tat 一报还一报
like father, like son 有其父必有其子
A rolling stone gathers no moss 滚石不生苔
to seek truth from facts 实事求是
to become cocksure 自以为是
to stand on one's own feet 自立
slow and steady 稳健
skin deep 肤浅
the prime of life 壮年
call a spade a spade 说实话
to gain the upper hand 占上风
to hold the cards in one's hand 操胜券
fair field and no favour 一视同仁
to go with the tide 随波逐流
to be in the same boat 同舟共济
to go through thick and thin 赴汤蹈火
to one's heart's desire 称心如意
to pour oil on the flame 火上浇/加油 /to add fuel to the fire 2
to become a household word 家喻户晓
to be in two minds 三心二意
as alike as two peas 一模一样
a sea of faces 人山人海
rain or shine 风雨无阻
haste makes waste 欲速不达
much coin, much care 钱多劳神
to read between the lines 字里行间 （implied meaning!)
to vanish like smoke 烟消云散
to end in smoke 烟消云散
practice makes perfect 业精于勤
to provide against a rainy day 未雨绸缪 (mo)
wait-and-see attitude 观望态度
to talk black into white 颠倒黑白
in black and white 白纸黑字
Many a little/pickle (Every little) makes a mickle. 集腋成裘/积少成多 （old Scotish: a./ad./n. 许多/大量） to fish for compliments 沽名钓誉
to cudgel one's brain 绞尽脑汁 (用棍敲击)
firm as a rock 坚如磐石
to be lean as a lath 骨瘦如柴 (a: /板条)
not to stir a finger 袖手旁观
to fish in the air 缘木求鱼
a friend in need is a friend indeed 患难之交
care killed the cat 愁能伤人
to wear one's heart on one's sleeves 心直口快
a contented mind is a perpetual feast 知足长乐 (/banquet)
to tread the heel of 步其后尘
to spare no effort 不遗余力
to leave no stone unturned 不遗余力
to play ducks and drakes with one's money 挥金如土 (female/male)
to kill two birds with one stone 一石二鸟
Pride goes before fall 谦受益，满招损
Better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off. 远亲不如近邻
Much ado about nothing 无事忙/生非/小题大做
Lover's quarrels are soon mended 夫妻无隔夜之愁
Ill news comes apace 好事不出门，恶事传千里 （pace-space)
to have a finger in the pie 染指/干预
to bull in a china shop 闯祸
to burn the midnight oil 开夜车
put on airs 摆架子
a stitch in time saves nine 事半功倍
Well begun is half done. 良好的开端是成功的一半
Birds of a feather flock together 物以类聚
to cast pearls to the swine 对牛弹琴 （猪！）
a black sheep 害群之马
to hold a candle to the devil 助纣为虐
to hail the rising sun 趋炎附势
An old head on a young pair of shoulders 少年老成
neither fish nor flesh 不伦不类
black and blue 鼻青脸肿
to shed crocodile tears 猫哭老鼠
to put a fifth wheel to the coach 画蛇添足
to spring up like mushrooms 雨后春笋
to put the cart before the horse 本末倒置
to make a mountain of a small hill 小题大做
He that dies pays all debts 一了百了
as snug as a bug in a rug 舒舒服服 (warm & comfortable/cosy)
No use crying over spilt milk 覆水难收
to be at sixes and sevens 乱七八糟 （张培基：“大体相同”162页） Six of 1 and half a dozen of the other. 半斤八两
to hang by a thread 千钧一发
Harm hatch, harm catch. 恶有恶报 （孵（小鸡））
once in a blue moon 千载难逢
after death, the medicine / after meat, the mustard. 放马后炮
the memory of a good deed lives 流芳百世
to have a card up one's sleeves 锦囊之计
to warm a snake in one's bosom 养虎为患
hitting the nail on the head 一针见血
to flog a dead horse 徒劳无功
to help a lame dog over the hill 救人之急
to put all one's eggs in one basket 孤注一掷
to teach one's grandma to suck eggs 不自量力
to know the ropes 熟门熟路
by fits and starts 一曝十寒
like cures like 以毒攻毒
to beat with one's own stuff 自相矛盾
to carry coal to Newcastle 多此一举
to cut the Gordian knot 快刀斩乱麻 （Greek mythology: 棘手）
goose-flesh 鸡皮疙瘩
to break a fly upon the wheel 杀鸡用牛刀
to count one's chickens before they are hatched 打如意算盘
In for a penny, in for a pound 一不做，二不休
a cat on hot bricks 热锅上的蚂蚁
Nothing venture, nothing gain. 不入虎穴，焉得虎子 Do unto others as you would be done by 己所不欲，勿施于人
A miss is as good as a mile 差之毫厘，失之千里 Greek meets Greek 棋逢对手
Diamond cuts diamond 针锋相对
on the horns of a dilemma 进退两难
a blessing in disguise 塞翁失马，焉知非福
to play with fire 玩火
to buy off 收买
to turn for the better 好转
to see how the wind blows 看风势
to wound one's feelings 伤感情
to see the world 见世面
to praise to the skies 捧上天去
at one's wits end 智穷才尽
by leaps and bounds 突飞猛进
to turn over a new leaf 改过自新
The longest day must have an end. 世上没有不散的宴席。 Where there is life, there is hope. 留得青山在，不怕没柴烧。 Many kiss a baby for the nurse's sake. 醉翁之意不在酒。 Many hands make light work. 众人拾柴火焰高
Who keeps company with the wolf will learn to howl 近朱者赤，近墨者黑
英汉成语翻译
一、关于英汉成语
这里所指的成语是广义的，包括谚语和习语。成语一般具有言简意赅、趣味隽永的特点。准确熟练地运用成语可以增强表达能力，表明个人掌握使用语言的水平。
成语好比一面镜子，反映出一个民族的文化特点，因此也是一种语言与别种语言差异最大，最难翻译的部分。现从几个方面说明英汉成语互译的特点。
（一）喻体不同
中国人常用“雨后春笋”来形容事物的大量涌现。英语则用“just like mushroom”来形容同样的意思。
试比较：
Kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.
（有！）杀鸡取蛋（/ruan）。
Look for a needle in a haystack.
大海捞针
Like a rat in a hole.
瓮中之鳖
A good conscience is a soft pillow.
日间不做亏心事，夜半敲门心不惊。
（二）风俗习惯不同
对于英国人来说，狗既用来看门打猎，也是人的伴侣/宠物。英国人对狗一般有好感，常用来比喻人的生活。 如：
Dog tired 非常疲倦
To dog one's steps 跟某人走
Top dog 重要的人
Lucky dog 幸运儿
As faithful as a dog 像狗一样忠诚
Love me, love my dog 爱屋及乌
Every dog has his day 凡人皆有得意的日子
但是，在英语中，“dog ”有时（受外来的影响）也含有贬义。如：
a surly dog 性情乖戾（ ）的人
That/this dirty dog 那个狗东西
He is in the doghouse 他名声扫地了
He was a bit of a dog in his younger days. 他年轻时过着花天酒地的生活。
（三）历史背景的不同
中国自古就是以农业大国，成语中有很大一部分农谚。如：斩草除根；解甲归田；拔苗助长； 顺藤摸瓜；瓜熟蒂落；桃李满天下。 英国是一个岛国，有很大一部分成语源于航海。 如： To know the ropes 内行
To tide over 安然渡过
To go with the stream 随波逐流
To clear the decks 准备战斗
all at sea 晕头转向
plain sailing 一帆风顺
To rest on one's oars 小憩片刻
To keep one's head above water 奋力求生
（（部分成语出自历史事件、寓言、故事等，这类成语可以称为典故成语。英汉典故成语各有自己的民族渊源，相似的不多，少数近似的如："blow hot and cold" 对应 “朝三暮四”。
"blow hot and cold"出自《伊索寓言》，讲一个人冬夜在山林迷路，碰到一个山林小神，领他回自己的小屋。路上这人不断向手上呵气，山林小神问他干什么，他说手麻木了，呵气取暖。到家后，山林小神给他端来一碗热腾腾的粥，那人端到嘴边又吹气。山林小神问他又干什么，他回答说，粥很烫，想把它吹凉。山林小神对他说：“你嘴里的气吹热又吹凉，这样的人我不接待，你走吧。”寓言原喻“避免与性情模棱两可的人交往”，现意“反复无常”。
“朝三暮四”出自《列子．黄帝》，有个养猴子的人拿橡子喂猴子，告诉他们早上给三个橡子，晚上给四个，猴子都不高兴。他又说早上给四个晚上给三个，猴子们就都高兴了。原比喻作诈欺骗，后来比喻反复无常。
但"love is blind"与“情人眼里出西施”却有细微差别："love is blind"出自莎士比亚的《威尼斯商人》，它含有看不到情人缺点之意，而未能传达“出西施”之意。翻译时，不能生搬硬套。））
二、英汉成语互译的几种方法
（一）直译法：直译不是一字对一字的死译，而是照字面翻译，不做太多的引申和注释。
１ 英译中
Golden age 黄金时代
To show one's cards 摊牌
To turn over a new leaf 揭开新的一页
He laughs best who laughs last 谁笑在最后，谁笑得最好。
Necessity is the mother of invention. 需要是发明之母。
We never know the worth of water till the well is dry. 井干方知水可贵。
２ 中译英
做一天和尚撞一天钟。
So long as I remain a bonze（ ）, I go on tolling the bell.
天下乌鸦一般黑，老狼都是吃肉的。
All crows are equally black, all wolves eat meat.
路遥知马力，事久见人心。
A long road tests a horse's strength and a long task proves a man's heart.
采用直译法一般可以保留原文的形象和色彩，引进的成语经过时间考验，可以融入到汉语中去。汉译英时，采取直译法，也会把具有中国特色的成语的原来形象和色彩传递到英语中去。
（二）借用法
英汉语都拥有丰富的成语，有的在内容和形式上都相互符合：有相同的意义/隐意，又有相同/相似的形象或比喻。 这时，可借译/用。
burn one's boats 破釜沉舟
Walls have ears. 隔墙有耳
go through fire and water 赴汤蹈火
Man proposes, God disposes. 谋事在人，成事在天
fish in troubled waters 混水摸鱼
pour cold water over / on 泼冷水
know something like the palm / back of one's hand 了如指掌
Constant dripping wears the stone 滴水穿石
pour oil on fire 火上浇油
a thorn in the flesh 肉中刺
Facts speak louder than words 事实胜于雄辩
有时设喻不同，但喻意一致，也可借用：
a flash in the pan (wok!) 昙花一现
have one foot in the grave 风烛残年
at the end of one's rope 山穷水尽
The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. 心有余而力不足。
to have an old head on young shoulders 少年老成
Birds of a feather flock together. 物以类聚„
（三）意译法
在直译和借用汉语成语都不妥当时，为了确切表达原意，可根据上下文进行意译：
to have other fish to fry 有别的事要做
to rain cats and dogs www.ryedu.net 下倾盆大雨
have a bee in one's bonnet （有带子女士帽！）胡思乱想
hit the nail on the head 切中要害
(end of 3-1?)
三、应注意的几个问题
（一）对同一习语的译法不是一成不变的，可根据上下文灵活处理。如：“谋事在人，成事在天。”一般译为英语：“Man proposes, God disposes.”但在下面的句子中，却不能不作改变。
“谋事在人，成事在天，咱们谋到了，靠菩萨的保佑，有些机会，也未可知。”（《红楼梦》 第六回） Man proposes, Heaven disposes. Work out a plan, trust to Buddha, and something may come of it for all you know.
+文中菩萨（Buddha ）是佛教词语,God disposes是基督教词语，译文如不作调整， 就会造成混乱，所以把"God" 改为"Heaven" 。
又如：方案一公布，大家就七嘴八舌地谈论开了。
Publication of the draft plan touched off a lively discussion with everybody eager to put in a word. +译文中“七嘴八舌”之义已表达出来，不必硬加"with seven mouths and eight tongues", 否则，native 看不懂。
（二）要注意保全原文的风格
如果成语是古语，就要翻得古雅些，如果成语是口语，就要翻得生动、口语化一些。 如：
...... 老子说：“民不畏死，奈何以死惧之。”
...Lao Tze said,"The people fear not death, why threaten them with it."
以其人之道，还治其人之身。
Do unto him as he does unto others.
己所不欲，勿施于人。
Do unto others as you would be done by.
“这断子绝孙的阿Ｑ！”（鲁迅）
"AhQ,may you die sonless!"
（三）对于具有较明显的民族和地方色彩，或附有一定的人名、地名的成语，翻译时，通常不能拿来互相
替换。 如：
To carry coals to Newcastle（运煤炭到纽斯卡尔去－－多此一举），就不要译成：带着瓷器上浮梁。（浮
梁是中国古时盛产瓷器的地方。）
To teach one's grandma to suck eggs. 不要译成 “夫子庙前卖文章；关公面前耍大刀”
Two heads are better than one.（一人不如两人智）不要译成：三个臭皮匠胜过一个/顶个诸葛亮。（北外汉英词典：Three cobblers (补鞋匠) with their wits combined equal Zhu Geliang, the master mind.）
（（ 对于多数字面上显示民族色彩的成语，译者最好采用直译的办法以保留这种色彩，汉译英尤其如此。如：“守株待兔”这个习语，有译者把它译成“watching the stump（树桩） and waiting for a hare.”然后另加注释：From the story of a peasant who, seeing a hare run headlong against a tree-stump and break its neck, abandoned his plough and waited by the stump in the hope that another hare would do
the same thing. 有时，也可译成: Waiting for gains without pains.
另外，意译时，多选用中性词语。 如：“一个和尚挑水吃，两个和尚抬水吃，三个和尚没水吃”。可译成：Everybody's business is nobody's business．（直译/喻体大致相同： One boy is a boy, 2 boys half a boy,
3 boys no boy.）))
（四）确切理解，不要望文生义
（有些英语成语看起来与汉语某些成语相似，但意义完全不同，或存在细微差别。要特别注意。如： to go home 作为自由词组，是“回家”的意思。但用作成语，往往表示“击中要害”和“发生影响”； to wash one's hand 容易让人误解为 “洗手不干”，其实含有“断绝关系”、“推脱责任”的意思； to bark at the moon 和“蜀犬吠日”，两个成语虽然设喻差不多，但情景和思路大不一样，前者比喻“徒劳无益”，后者比喻
“少见多怪”。）
（五）分辨褒贬义，注意有褒贬两可的。 如：
（It's an ill wind that blows nobody good. 天下无绝对的坏事。（有弊必有利）
这句谚语看起来好像是贬义，其实不然；
Birds of a feather flock together. 并无贬义，无非表示消极意义；
To be hand and (in) glove with 即可用于褒义，又可用于贬义。不能不加区别，一概译成“亲密无间”。 比较：
The two friends are hand in glove with each other.
这两位朋友亲如手足。
The traitors and the enemy were working hand in glove with each other.
卖国贼和敌人相互勾结。
Every official is hand in glove with him.
当官的跟他穿一条裤子。
再如：to lock the stable door after the horse has been stolen，有人译成“亡羊补牢”，并不妥当。“亡羊补牢”是“犹为未晚”，含义是积极的。英语成语是说“马已被盗，再关厩门也无益了”，含义是消极的。）
（六）英汉互译时，为方便读者理解，可适当添词或减词
（汉语成语多是四字组成，译成英语时，不能仅从字面意义去译，而应领会其实质，译出内在思想。必要时，可以加词。如：Show off one's proficiency with the axe before Lu Ban，the master carpenter. 如
不在译文中加上the master carpenter Lu Ban，恐怕大多数外国人都不知Lu Ban是何许人。
相反，有时也可以省译。 如：山雨欲来风满楼。The wind sweeping through the tower heralds a rising storm in the mountains. 只保留原文的主要比喻，省略了“山”，“楼”的字眼。外语爱好者网站 -英语教学版
有些并列式成语，如：“取之不尽，用之不竭”，英译时仅用“inexhaustible ”一个词来表达；又如：沉鱼落雁之容，闭月羞花之貌。只要译成Her beauty would put the flowers to shame.）
四字成语往往含义重复，在修辞上优美匀称，但翻译时，只要译出其中一组的意思即可。 如： 花言巧语 fine words 油嘴滑舌 glib tongue
长吁短叹 sighing deeply 精疲力竭 exhaustion, exhausted
发号施令 issue orders 土崩瓦解 fall apart
（七）有时，英语原文没用成语，但译文却用四字成语。 如：
Over the past several weeks, she had grown increasingly restless.
过去几周，她越来越六神无主。
I was nervous before crowds.
我在大庭广众之前感到紧张。
It was a privilege revokable at any time on whim（冲动）of the authorities.
只要当权者心血来潮，这种恩赐随时可以取消。
(end of 3-2?)
四、英汉成语翻译第 2 页举例
a laughing stock 笑柄 （树桩/木头）
in the land of nod 睡乡 （瞌睡/打盹）
at snail's pace 蜗行
in one's evening of life 晚年
an outsider 门外汉
all skin and bone 皮包骨
the year of snow, the year of fertility 瑞雪兆丰年
a blot from the blue 晴天霹雳 （耻辱）
to see through at a glance 一眼看穿
to see through the trickery 看穿把戏
to fish in troubled waters 混水摸鱼 1 （张培基：“完全相同的形象比喻”162页） to do something by halves 半途而废
a heart of stone 铁石心肠
strike while the iron is hot 趁热打铁
tit for tat 一报还一报
like father, like son 有其父必有其子
A rolling stone gathers no moss 滚石不生苔
to seek truth from facts 实事求是
to become cocksure 自以为是
to stand on one's own feet 自立
slow and steady 稳健
skin deep 肤浅
the prime of life 壮年
call a spade a spade 说实话
to gain the upper hand 占上风
to hold the cards in one's hand 操胜券
fair field and no favour 一视同仁
to go with the tide 随波逐流
to be in the same boat 同舟共济
to go through thick and thin 赴汤蹈火
to one's heart's desire 称心如意
to pour oil on the flame 火上浇/加油 /to add fuel to the fire 2
to become a household word 家喻户晓
to be in two minds 三心二意
as alike as two peas 一模一样
a sea of faces 人山人海
rain or shine 风雨无阻
haste makes waste 欲速不达
much coin, much care 钱多劳神
to read between the lines 字里行间 （implied meaning!)
to vanish like smoke 烟消云散
to end in smoke 烟消云散
practice makes perfect 业精于勤
to provide against a rainy day 未雨绸缪 (mo)
wait-and-see attitude 观望态度
to talk black into white 颠倒黑白
in black and white 白纸黑字
Many a little/pickle (Every little) makes a mickle. 集腋成裘/积少成多 （old Scotish: a./ad./n. 许多/大量） to fish for compliments 沽名钓誉
to cudgel one's brain 绞尽脑汁 (用棍敲击)
firm as a rock 坚如磐石
to be lean as a lath 骨瘦如柴 (a: /板条)
not to stir a finger 袖手旁观
to fish in the air 缘木求鱼
a friend in need is a friend indeed 患难之交
care killed the cat 愁能伤人
to wear one's heart on one's sleeves 心直口快
a contented mind is a perpetual feast 知足长乐 (/banquet)
to tread the heel of 步其后尘
to spare no effort 不遗余力
to leave no stone unturned 不遗余力
to play ducks and drakes with one's money 挥金如土 (female/male)
to kill two birds with one stone 一石二鸟
Pride goes before fall 谦受益，满招损
Better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off. 远亲不如近邻
Much ado about nothing 无事忙/生非/小题大做
Lover's quarrels are soon mended 夫妻无隔夜之愁
Ill news comes apace 好事不出门，恶事传千里 （pace-space)
to have a finger in the pie 染指/干预
to bull in a china shop 闯祸
to burn the midnight oil 开夜车
put on airs 摆架子
a stitch in time saves nine 事半功倍
Well begun is half done. 良好的开端是成功的一半
Birds of a feather flock together 物以类聚
to cast pearls to the swine 对牛弹琴 （猪！）
a black sheep 害群之马
to hold a candle to the devil 助纣为虐
to hail the rising sun 趋炎附势
An old head on a young pair of shoulders 少年老成
neither fish nor flesh 不伦不类
black and blue 鼻青脸肿
to shed crocodile tears 猫哭老鼠
to put a fifth wheel to the coach 画蛇添足
to spring up like mushrooms 雨后春笋
to put the cart before the horse 本末倒置
to make a mountain of a small hill 小题大做
He that dies pays all debts 一了百了
as snug as a bug in a rug 舒舒服服 (warm & comfortable/cosy)
No use crying over spilt milk 覆水难收
to be at sixes and sevens 乱七八糟 （张培基：“大体相同”162页） Six of 1 and half a dozen of the other. 半斤八两
to hang by a thread 千钧一发
Harm hatch, harm catch. 恶有恶报 （孵（小鸡））
once in a blue moon 千载难逢
after death, the medicine / after meat, the mustard. 放马后炮
the memory of a good deed lives 流芳百世
to have a card up one's sleeves 锦囊之计
to warm a snake in one's bosom 养虎为患
hitting the nail on the head 一针见血
to flog a dead horse 徒劳无功
to help a lame dog over the hill 救人之急
to put all one's eggs in one basket 孤注一掷
to teach one's grandma to suck eggs 不自量力
to know the ropes 熟门熟路
by fits and starts 一曝十寒
like cures like 以毒攻毒
to beat with one's own stuff 自相矛盾
to carry coal to Newcastle 多此一举
to cut the Gordian knot 快刀斩乱麻 （Greek mythology: 棘手）
goose-flesh 鸡皮疙瘩
to break a fly upon the wheel 杀鸡用牛刀
to count one's chickens before they are hatched 打如意算盘
In for a penny, in for a pound 一不做，二不休
a cat on hot bricks 热锅上的蚂蚁
Nothing venture, nothing gain. 不入虎穴，焉得虎子 Do unto others as you would be done by 己所不欲，勿施于人
A miss is as good as a mile 差之毫厘，失之千里 Greek meets Greek 棋逢对手
Diamond cuts diamond 针锋相对
on the horns of a dilemma 进退两难
a blessing in disguise 塞翁失马，焉知非福
to play with fire 玩火
to buy off 收买
to turn for the better 好转
to see how the wind blows 看风势
to wound one's feelings 伤感情
to see the world 见世面
to praise to the skies 捧上天去
at one's wits end 智穷才尽
by leaps and bounds 突飞猛进
to turn over a new leaf 改过自新
The longest day must have an end. 世上没有不散的宴席。 Where there is life, there is hope. 留得青山在，不怕没柴烧。 Many kiss a baby for the nurse's sake. 醉翁之意不在酒。 Many hands make light work. 众人拾柴火焰高
Who keeps company with the wolf will learn to howl 近朱者赤，近墨者黑