American Idioms 札记（2）
1. 窃取 abstract something from someone or something： to steal something from someone or something. (Formal.)
The officer was found guilty of abstracting a rather large amount of money from the company.
2. 紧挨着 abut on something： [particularly of the edge of an area of land] to meet or touch something along one boundary or at one point.
Our land abuts on the shopping center’s parking lot.
3.有意；故意 accidentally-on-purpose： Inf. deliberate, but meant to look like an accident.
Then, I accidentally-on-purpose spilled water on him.
4. 天有不测风云 Accidents will happen：Prov. It is impossible to completely prevent things from going wrong. (Often used to console someone who has made a mistake or caused an accident.)
Child: Mommy, I spilled grape juice all over the carpet!
Mother: Don’t cry, honey. Accidents will happen.
Jill: I’m so embarrassed. I was just tapping on your window to wake you up. I didn’t mean to break it. Jane: Accidents will happen.
5. 适应 acclimate someone or an animal to something and acclimatize someone or an animal to something ：to cause a person or other living thing to become used to a different climate or environment.
We will help acclimate Henry to the new building.
We need to acclimatize the fish to the new aquarium.
6. 伴奏 accompany someone with something： to use a particular musical instrument to play music that goes along with someone else’s musical performance.
She accompanied Mary with her flute.
7. 人人都这样说 according to all accounts and by all accounts： from all the reports [that are available]; according to what everyone is saying.
According to all accounts, the police were on the scene immediately.
By all accounts, it was a very poor performance.
8. 随心所欲 according to one’s own lights： according to the way one believes; according to the way one’s conscience or inclinations lead one.
John may have been wrong, but he did what he did according to his own lights.
9. 归功于 accredit something to someone： to assign or attribute a deed to someone; to assign or attribute praise to someone.(Often passive.)
We can accredit this great success to Fred and his committee.
10. 王牌 ace in the hole and someone’s ace in the hole ：Fig.something important held in reserve. The twenty-dollar bill I keep in my shoe is my ace in the hole.
11.侥幸 ace out (of something) ：to get out of something through luck; to evade or avoid something narrowly.
I just aced out of having to take the math test!
12. 决定性地考验 the acid test ：Fig. a test whose findings are beyond doubt or dispute.
The senator doesn't look too popular just now, but the acid test will be if he gets reelected.
13. 确认收到 acknowledge (the) receipt of something： to report receiving something, such as a package, letter, or notice.
The company acknowledged receipt of the merchandise I returned.
14. 默许；同意 acquiesce to someone or something： to give in to someone or someone’s wishes; to agree, perhaps reluctantly, to someone’s ideas or requests.
We are willing to acquiesce to your demands.
15. 宣告无罪 acquit someone of something ：to establish someone’s innocence of a criminal charge or the blame for some wrongdoing.
The investigator acquitted Wally of the charges.
The officer was found guilty of abstracting a rather large amount of money from the company.
2. 紧挨着 abut on something： [particularly of the edge of an area of land] to meet or touch something along one boundary or at one point.
Our land abuts on the shopping center’s parking lot.
3.有意；故意 accidentally-on-purpose： Inf. deliberate, but meant to look like an accident.
Then, I accidentally-on-purpose spilled water on him.
4. 天有不测风云 Accidents will happen：Prov. It is impossible to completely prevent things from going wrong. (Often used to console someone who has made a mistake or caused an accident.)
Child: Mommy, I spilled grape juice all over the carpet!
Mother: Don’t cry, honey. Accidents will happen.
Jill: I’m so embarrassed. I was just tapping on your window to wake you up. I didn’t mean to break it. Jane: Accidents will happen.
5. 适应 acclimate someone or an animal to something and acclimatize someone or an animal to something ：to cause a person or other living thing to become used to a different climate or environment.
We will help acclimate Henry to the new building.
We need to acclimatize the fish to the new aquarium.
6. 伴奏 accompany someone with something： to use a particular musical instrument to play music that goes along with someone else’s musical performance.
She accompanied Mary with her flute.
7. 人人都这样说 according to all accounts and by all accounts： from all the reports [that are available]; according to what everyone is saying.
According to all accounts, the police were on the scene immediately.
By all accounts, it was a very poor performance.
8. 随心所欲 according to one’s own lights： according to the way one believes; according to the way one’s conscience or inclinations lead one.
John may have been wrong, but he did what he did according to his own lights.
9. 归功于 accredit something to someone： to assign or attribute a deed to someone; to assign or attribute praise to someone.(Often passive.)
We can accredit this great success to Fred and his committee.
10. 王牌 ace in the hole and someone’s ace in the hole ：Fig.something important held in reserve. The twenty-dollar bill I keep in my shoe is my ace in the hole.
11.侥幸 ace out (of something) ：to get out of something through luck; to evade or avoid something narrowly.
I just aced out of having to take the math test!
12. 决定性地考验 the acid test ：Fig. a test whose findings are beyond doubt or dispute.
The senator doesn't look too popular just now, but the acid test will be if he gets reelected.
13. 确认收到 acknowledge (the) receipt of something： to report receiving something, such as a package, letter, or notice.
The company acknowledged receipt of the merchandise I returned.
14. 默许；同意 acquiesce to someone or something： to give in to someone or someone’s wishes; to agree, perhaps reluctantly, to someone’s ideas or requests.
We are willing to acquiesce to your demands.
15. 宣告无罪 acquit someone of something ：to establish someone’s innocence of a criminal charge or the blame for some wrongdoing.
The investigator acquitted Wally of the charges.
