1.find one's tongue: to be able to talk; to figure out what to say

能说得出话来

 

Mother shouted at me just now. I was too scared to find my tongue.

妈妈刚才对我大嚷，我吓得说不出话来。

 

Ann was unable to find her tongue. She sat there in silence.

安说不出话来，静静地坐在那。

 

2.up for grabs¹: something is available

有待争取

 

One of our accountants² is retiring and his job is up for grabs.

我们一位会计就要退休了，他空出来的职位可以争取一下。

 

That job is up for grabs to anyone who wants it.

任何想得到这份工作的人都可以争取一下。

 

3.take for: to cheat someone by a certain amount of money

上当受骗；被宰了

 

He was taken for all his money at the casino.

那个赌场骗走了他所有的钱。

 

That crook³ took me for a hundred bucks⁴. How much did he take you for?

那个骗子骗我了一百块钱，他骗了你多少？

 

4.full of oneself：conceited or self-important

自以为是

 

Mary is very unpopular because she's so full of herself.

玛丽非常不受欢迎，因为她太自以为是了。

 

You don't care about my feelings. You are too full of yourself.

你一点也不在意我的感受，你太自以为是了。

 

5.a horse of a different color：a situation or a subject that is different from what you had first thought it was

完全是另外一回事

 

A：Congratulations! I hear you were recommended⁵ by the school to take the exams applying for a position in the local government.

A：恭喜你！听说你被学校推荐参加市政府的考试啦！

 

B: Taking the exam is one thing but passing it is a horse of a different color.

B：参加考试是一回事，要通过考试就是另外一回事了。

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