We all lead busy lives and sometimes it feels like we’re never going to get off that treadmill. In English, there are many idiomatic expressions to express this “busyness”.
我們都過著繁忙的生活，有時感覺仿佛永遠無法停下來。英語中有很多習慣用語用于表達這種”繁忙“。
I know that some colleagues in the ELT community question whether we should teach idioms to our learners, especially as there are more non-native speakers than native speakers of English in the world. I, for one, think that idiomatic expressions give colour to a language and even if the learner might never use these expressions or be expected to use them, they are very likely to come across them when reading or listening to native speakers. So, an awareness of them is vital if they are to understand what they’re reading or listening to.
我知道有些英語教學社區會就是否應該教授學習者習語而有疑問，尤其是在世界各地說英語的人中非母語人士遠多于母語人士。而我，作為其中一員，認為習語會為語言增添色彩，即使學習者可能從不用它或被期望使用它們，但是當他們閱讀英文原版文章或聽母語為英語的人說話時就會很容易碰到這些習語。因此，習語的學習在這個時候就尤為關鍵了。
Back to busy lives. In this post I’d like to share 8 idioms that are often used to describe a busy working life.The examples I’ve used are business-related.
話題回到繁忙生活。本文我打算跟大家分享8個用于描述繁忙工作生活的習語。例句中為商務場合用法。
1. All hands on deck
1. 全員各就各位
When there’s a lot of work to be done and everyone needs to be involved.
當有很多工作需要做時，所有人都要加入。
As the opening day approached, it was all hands on deck to get everything ready in time.
由于開業時間迫在眉睫，所有人員必須各就各位，及時做好各方面準備。
2. Hive of activity
2. 一片繁忙的景象
A place where there are a lot of things happening and everyone is busy.
指某處正在發生大量的事，每個人都很忙。
When I arrived at the office, the place was already a hive of activity with everyone buzzing around.
當我到達時，辦公室里已經一片熱火朝天的景象，每個人都在忙的團團轉。
3. Rushed off your feet
3. 忙的不可開交
You are so busy that you don’t have time to stop.
你太忙了以至于完全停不下來。
I am exhausted. I’ve been rushed off my feet all day at the shop.
我感到筋疲力盡。我在店里的一整天都是忙的腳打后腦勺。
4. Work your fingers to the bone
4. 拼命地做，非常努力
To work very hard or to be extremely hardworking.
工作努力或努力到極致。
He deserves his success. He worked his fingers to the bone when he started the business.
他的成功歸功于他自己。剛開始創業時他工作非常努力。
5. Roll up your sleeves
5. 卷起袖子準備大干一場
Get ready for hard work.
準備好努力工作。
If we’re going to increase our market share, we’re going to have to roll our sleeves and get new customers.
如果我們想要增加市場份額，我就需要擼起袖子大干一場，獲得新的客戶。
6. Have your work cut out
6. 按時完成艱巨的任務
Have a difficult or challenging task or problem to deal with.
有困難的或挑戰性的或問題需要處理應對。
They have their work cut out with that client. He is incredibly demanding.
關于那個客戶他們有一大堆工作要做。他要求太苛刻了。
7. A race against time
7. 和時間賽跑
Working towards a deadline.
在時間截點前干工作。
I have so many deadlines. It’s a never-ending race against time to meet them.
我有這么多任務截點。要在規定時間內完成簡直就是和時間賽跑。
8. Hit the ground running
8. 立即快馬加鞭地開展重要工作
Start an activity immediately and with energy.
全力以赴馬上開展活動。
He intends to hit the ground running if and when he wins that contract.
一旦他贏得了那份合同，他就打算馬上全力以赴開展工作。
