許多母語(yǔ)為英語(yǔ)的人可能都不知道有些關(guān)于choices, options, 和alternatives的習(xí)語(yǔ)。實(shí)際上，在寫這篇文章的時(shí)候，我發(fā)現(xiàn)了一些我從來沒聽過也聽不懂的習(xí)語(yǔ)。因?yàn)樵S多習(xí)語(yǔ)的用法都很老，并且涉及我們今天沒有或并不使用的東西。

因此我們列表中關(guān)于choices, options或者 alternatives的25個(gè)習(xí)語(yǔ)是最常用的、最容易理解的。

1. Beggars can’t be choosers
乞丐沒有選擇的余地

A person who is in a position of poverty or has no power to bargain with cannot choose what they will be given.
一個(gè)處于貧窮狀態(tài)或者沒有權(quán)利討價(jià)還價(jià)的人不能選擇他們被給予什么。

I want the new iPhone, but it’s too expensive, so I will have to settle for the old one. Beggars can’t be choosers!
我想要新的iphone，但它太貴了，我只好將就舊的用了。沒錢的人不能挑肥揀瘦！

2. Damned if you/I do, damned if you/I don’t
左右為難

This idiom describes a situation that offers two different options, both of which will have undesired consequences.
這個(gè)習(xí)語(yǔ)描述一種情況，在這種情況下有兩種不同的選擇，無(wú)論怎樣選擇，結(jié)果都不盡人意。

I don’t know what to do! I am damned if I do, damned if I don’t!
我不知道做什么！我怎樣做都不對(duì)。

3. Hedge your bets
兩面下注

If you hedge your bets, you are avoiding committing yourself entirely to something.
如果你兩面下注，那么你就是在避免把自己完全投入到某件事情上。

Until they pay you for the first job, hedge your bets and wait for the payment.
在他們付給你第一份工作的錢之前，先兩面下注，等待付款。

4. In a quandary
進(jìn)退兩難

When you are in a quandary, which means you are doubtful, you are unsure of what decision or action to take during a difficult situation.
當(dāng)你處于窘境之時(shí)，這說明你很懷疑，你不確定在這種困難的狀態(tài)下應(yīng)該做什么決定或者采取什么行動(dòng)。

What are you going to do? Wow! You are definitely in a quandary!
你打算怎么辦？哇！你真的是進(jìn)退兩難！

5. In two minds
猶豫不決

Two people have very different ways of thinking because they have two separate minds. So, to be in two minds describes how we feel when we cannot decide whether to do one thing or another.
兩個(gè)人的思維方式截然不同是因?yàn)樗麄兯伎嫉拇竽X完全不同，所以當(dāng)不能決定做哪件事情的時(shí)候，我們就可以用in two minds來描述我們的感受。

I am in two minds about ending my relationship with Kenny; he is adorable, but I don’t think he is my type.
我對(duì)結(jié)束與肯尼的關(guān)系這件事情猶豫不決；他值得崇拜，但是我認(rèn)為他不是我喜歡的類型。

6. It’s a no-brainer
毫無(wú)疑問，很簡(jiǎn)單。

When the decision is so obvious and requires little or no thought, it is said to be a no-brainer.
當(dāng)決定很明顯，很少需要甚至根本不需要思考的時(shí)候，就可以用it’s a no-brainer來表示。

My homework is a no-brainer today.
今天的家庭作業(yè)很簡(jiǎn)單。

7. It’s a win, win.
雙贏

A situation that will have beneficial results for everyone involved is called a win-win scenario.
對(duì)每個(gè)人都有好處就叫做雙贏。

Alice is going to the movies and Mary is going shopping, it’s a win-win.
愛麗絲要去看電影，瑪麗要去購(gòu)物，這簡(jiǎn)直雙贏。

8. Keep my options open
保留選擇權(quán)

A person who does not commit to any one thing because they like to be able to choose what they want to do at the last possible moment.
一個(gè)人不承諾任何事情，是因?yàn)樗麄兿朐谧詈笠豢踢x擇自己想做的事情。

I haven’t decided which University I am going to yet. I would like to keep my options open.
我還沒有決定我要上哪所大學(xué)，我想保留我的選擇權(quán)。

9. My way or the highway
我說了算

It means the listener must either do what that person says or go away; they have no choice or alternative.
這意味著聽者要么做別人所說，要么走開；他們沒有選擇的權(quán)利。

It’s my way or the highway; please do as I tell you.
我說了算；請(qǐng)按我告訴你的做。

10. On the fence
保持中立，抱觀望態(tài)度

A fence divides two sides, so if we are on the fence, we are undecided. We are in the middle.
柵欄分兩部分，所以如果說we are on the fence，那就說明我們還沒有決定。我們正保持中立。

I was on the fence about which company to work for because both had offered me great jobs.
至于在哪家公司工作我還在抱觀望態(tài)度，因?yàn)樗麄兌冀o我提供了很好的工作。

11. Out of the frying pan into the fire
每況愈下，越來越糟

A frying pan is used to describe a bad situation because it is a hot and unfriendly place to be.However, a fire is even worse than a frying pan. Therefore to go out of the frying pan into the fire means to go from a bad situation to an even worse one.
A frying pan主要用來描述一個(gè)糟糕的情況，因?yàn)榧妊谉嵊植挥押谩Ｈ欢?，火甚至比煎鍋表達(dá)的意思還要糟糕。因此，走出油鍋進(jìn)入火場(chǎng)意味著從一個(gè)糟糕的局面走到更加糟糕的境地。

Susie went out of the frying pan into the fire when she screamed at the customers.
當(dāng)蘇西對(duì)顧客大喊大叫時(shí)，情況就更加糟糕了。