e.g. When he heard the good news, he was beside himself with happiness. When Tom lost his job, he was beside himself with anger. 17) That’s all there is to it: 就是这样，就是这么一回事
e.g. When a person dies, he loses everything. That’s all there is to it.
18) like a fish out of water: (feeling) awkward or uncomfortable, because one is in strange, unsuitable surroundings
如鱼离水；感到生疏（或不自在）
e.g. My little brother felt like a fish out of water in his new school. I always feel like a fish out of water among these high society people.
19) on pins and needles: worried; nervous 如坐针毡的；坐立不安的； 急得要死的 e.g. I was on pins and needles until I found out I’d won.
We’re on pins and needles waiting to hear whether she got the job.
20) or something: or a thing like that 诸如此类的什么
e.g. Did she have an accident or something on her way back home yesterday? Maybe we can go to the movies or something.
21) have (got) ants in one’s pants: be very restless or excited 坐立不安，非常激动
e.g. She’s got ants in her pants because she’s going to a party tonight.
22) break the ice: do or say sth. to remove or reduce awkwardness or tension, esp. at a first meeting or at the start of a party, etc.
（为难办的事）开个头；打破沉默，使气氛活跃
e.g. Let’s break the ice by having everyone give their names. Sam’s arrival broke the ice and people began to talk and laugh.
23) clean as a whistle: very tidy or clean 干干净净；洁白无瑕 e.g. I want you to get those plates as clean as a whistle.
6th period Improve Your Reading Skills
Guessing the Meaning of Unknown Words in Context (1)
阅读中我们不可避免会遇到一些生词,如果我们能掌握一些根据上下文猜测
词义的技能，无疑会有助于提高我们的阅读速度。例如，假定你不认识下面句子中knack这个词，也可以猜测它的含义：
Some people seem to have a knack for learning languages. They can pick up new vocabulary, master rules of grammar, and learn to write in the new language more quickly than others. (Text C, Unit 8, Book 1)
从这个词的上下文，即：有些人似乎具有一种学习语言的knack，他们能比
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别人（没有这种学习语言的knack的人）更快地学会新的词汇、掌握语法规则、学会用新学的语言写作，我们就可以猜到knack的大致意思：knack = natural skill or ability。
再如,假定你不认识下面句子中flight attendant：“Is this plane going to Oakland?” he asked the flight attendant. The flight attendant gasped. “No,” she said. “We’re going to Auckland — Auckland, New Zealand.” (Text A, Unit 1, Book 2) 从这个词语的上下文，我们可以猜测到它的大致意义：someone who serves food and drinks to passengers on a plane, and looks after their comfort and safety。
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