1. piece of cake

 

大家对这个习语很熟悉啦，和中文里的“小菜一碟”类似，形容非常容易的事情。

 

The exam was a piece of cake.

考试很简单。

 

还有一个有趣的习语easy as pie，像做馅饼一样简单，也形容很容易，不费吹灰之力。

 

2. have your cake and eat it (too)

 

鱼与熊掌无法兼得，你怎么能吃掉蛋糕而又保有它呢？所以说这个习语多用于否定句。

 

You can't have your cake and eat it - if you want more local services, you can't expect to pay less tax.

你不能二者兼得——想获得更多的地方服务就不能指望少付税金。

 

Roger can't make up his mind whether to go to college or get a job. You can't eat your cake and have it, too.

罗杰下不了决心是上大学还是找工作, 两者不可兼得。

 

3. the icing on the cake

 

icing指的是(糕饼表层的)糖衣，这里是用蛋糕上的糖衣来比喻锦上添花之物。

 

I was just content to see my daughter in such a stable¹ relationship but a grandchild², that really was the icing on the cake.

看到女儿与女婿的关系很稳定我已感到满足，后来又添了外孙，这可真是锦上添花。

 

4. as American as apple pie

 

很多人想起美国会想到自由女神像，想到好莱坞，而对吃货来说，也会想到苹果派。这个习语的意思就是“地道美国式的”。

 

Leather jackets are as American as apple pie and Harley-Davidsons.

皮夹克具有典型的美国特色，此外还有哈利-戴维森摩托车。

 

5. be in apple-pie order

 

这个习语形容“像苹果派一样”井然有序、整整齐齐。

 

Their house is always in apple-pie order.

他们家总是收拾得井井有条。

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