根据短文内容，完成表格中的内容配对。
English idioms are interesting. An idiom is a phrase that we can't understand from the meaning of
each word. For example, if an American boy asks his mom what's for dinner tomorrow, she may say
"I'll play it by ear", that means she doesn't have plans for dinner and she will decide later.
"Play it by ear" used to mean playing music without using the music (乐谱), but now people often
use it when they're not talking about music!
There are many idioms in English. If you learn to use them, your English will be much more
vivid (生动的) and colorful.
Have you ever heard the idiom "He bought the farm?" It means he died. Do you know how it
became popular? It was first used in World War I. When a soldier died, the government gave his
family enough money to buy a farm.
In the early 1930s, people in the US often did not know when or where their next meal was. So
as soon as they got something in their hand that could be eaten, it would go into their mouth. That
was how people began to use the idiom "living hand to mouth" to mean "living a poor life".
And don't be angry if your English friend says this to you, "Break a leg in your game!" He is
wishing you good luck! Hundreds of years ago, people believed in sprites (小妖精). Sprites enjoyed
causing trouble. If the sprites heard you ask for something, they would make the opposite happen.
Tell someone to "break a leg" and the sprites would make something good happen.
Aren't English idioms interesting? And break a leg in your next football match!
| Idioms |
Original (原始的) meaning |
Current (现时的) meaning |
| 1. play it by ear |
A. bad thing |
a. He died |
| 2. He bought the farm? |
B. going into their mouth as soon as they
got something in their hand |
b. not have plans for dinner |
| 3. living hand to mouth |
C. play music without using the sheet music |
c. Wish you good luck! |
| 4. Break a leg in your game! |
D. When a soldier died, the government gave
his family enough money to buy a farm. |
d. living a poor life |
1. ______ ______ 2.______ ______ 3._____ _____ 4._____ _____