7 BITE: 咬，吃

词组讲解

1. bite off more than one can chew ** 试图做过多的事或太费周折的事

解 〈口〉习语；词义溯源：吃的东西太多以至于难以［咀嚼（chew）］

例 Eighteen credit hours this semester? Don't you think you might be biting off more than you can chew?

2. bite one's nails ** 因为焦急而咬指甲；心急如焚

解 习语；词义溯源：咬［指甲（nails）］

例 With only one minute left in the game, Cleveland basketball fans were biting their nails hoping for a miracle win.

3. bite one's tongue ** 忍住不说，保持缄默

解 习语；词义溯源：咬自己的舌头

例 Sometimes it is best to bite your tongue rather than say something that will hurt another person.

4. bite sth. off / bite off sth. *** 咬下

解 短语动词；词义溯源：咬［下（off）］某物

例 We each bit off a piece of the candy bar and passed it to the next guy.

5. bite the bullet ** 硬着头皮接受不愉快的事

解 〈口〉习语；词义溯源：咬［子弹（bullet）］

例 When the company asks you to relocate, it's either bite the bullet and go or lose your job.

6. bite the dust ** 阵亡倒下；被打败，被拒绝

解 〈口〉习语；词义溯源：吃［灰尘（dust）］；多用于描述美国西部开荒者的电影中

例 Four teams have bitten the dust, leaving only eight more in the competition.

Didn't General George Custer bit the dust at the Battle of Little Big Horn?

7. bite the hand that feeds one ** 忘恩负义，恩将仇报

解 习语；词义溯源：咬给自己［喂食、喂饭（feeds）］的手

例 The American ambassador accused Haiti of biting the hand that feeds it.

参考译文

1. 这个学期修18个学分？你不觉得自己有些自不量力吗？

2. 比赛只剩下一分钟，克利夫兰篮球队的球迷们非常紧张，希望能有奇迹发生，赢得比赛。

3. 有的时候与其说一些伤害别人的话，不如保持沉默。

4. 我们每人在糖果上咬一口，然后把它传给下一个人。

5. 当公司要给你重新安置的时候，你要么硬着头皮去做，要么丢掉工作。

6. 有四支队伍已经被淘汰，只剩下八支队伍相互竞争了。

乔治·卡斯特将军不是在小大角河战役中阵亡的吗？

7. 美国大使指责海地忘恩负义。