内容来源：分享美国  地址链接：http://go.usa.gov/3BRZV

如果你正在学习英语，那么你大概知道，英文中“it’s raining cats and dogs”的意思是大雨倾盆而下，而不是猫狗从天而降。

但是你可能还想知道，美国人也常用跟天气有关的词语来表达与天气并不相干的意思。

以下就是五个这样的表达法；

Break the ice （破冰）

含义: 打开局面或打破沉默，尤其指通过接触或谈话做到这点。
应用举例: “It can be difficult to break the ice at formal events.”（在正式场合中可能不容易打开局面/打破矜持。）

Brainstorm（表面字义：大脑风暴）

含义: 产生很多设想。
应用举例: “Before we began writing, our teacher asked us to brainstorm topics for our essays.” （老师要求我们在动笔前，先围绕文章的主题集思广益。）

Rain on (someone’s) parade （表面字义：在[某人]表演时下雨）

含义: 破坏了某人的快乐感。
应用举例: “I’m in a great mood, so don’t rain on my parade!”（我正开心呢，别给我扫兴！）

Take (something) by storm （表面字义：受到风暴冲击）

含义: 指以排山倒海之势震慑人或某个场景场合，通常以瞬间成名或迅速传播为起因。
应用举例: “The Beatles took the world by storm in the 1960s.” （甲壳虫乐队[The Beatles，又译披头士乐队]在上世纪60年代风靡全球。）

When it rains, it pours （表面字义：一下雨，就下倾盆大雨。）

含义: 当一件不好的事情发生后，其他倒霉事也接踵而至，让情况更加糟糕。祸不单行。
应用举例: “Yesterday, my girlfriend broke up with me. Today, my car broke down on the way to work, and then my boss fired me. When it rains, it pours.”（昨天，女友和我分手了。今天，我的车坏了在上班的路上，而后我被老板解雇了。真是祸不单行啊。）

更多资料

点击请看与食品、艺术和体育相关的英语常用表达法。

“连线美国”提供可以帮助练习英语的一系列包含音频的美国英语日常对话。American English 网站也有可供英语学生和教师免费使用的多种英语资源。


It’s raining cats and dogs with these weather-based phrases

If you’re learning American English, you probably know that the saying “it’s raining cats and dogs” means a heavy rainfall, not cats and dogs falling from the sky.

But you might not know that Americans use weather-related words and phrases to describe things other than the weather.

Below are five weather-based idioms you’re likely to hear from an American:

Break the ice

What it means: To get things started, particularly by means of a social introduction or conversation.
In conversation: “It can be difficult to break the ice at formal events.”

Brainstorm

What it means: To generate many ideas quickly.
In conversation: “Before we began writing, our teacher asked us to brainstorm topics for our essays.”

Rain on (someone’s) parade

What it means: To spoil someone’s happy feelings.
In conversation: “I’m in a great mood, so don’t rain on my parade!”

Take (something) by storm

What it means: To overwhelm someone or something, often by becoming famous quickly or by spreading very rapidly.
In conversation: “The Beatles took the world by storm in the 1960s.”

When it rains, it pours

What it means: When something bad happens and other bad things happen soon after, making the situation worse.
In conversation: “Yesterday, my girlfriend broke up with me. Today, my car broke down on the way to work, and then my boss fired me. When it rains, it pours.”

Learn more

Other idioms common in everyday American speech include those derived from food, art andsports.

ShareAmerica offers a series of everyday conversations that include audio clips to help practice English. The American English website offers a variety of free resources for learners and teachers of English. The American English Facebook page posts learning materials for English-language learners daily.