點滴英語天天學第312期:雅思詞彙(152)
1. Expression：gild the lily
Explanation：To further adorn something that is already beautiful. （進一步裝飾已經美麗的東西，畫蛇添足，多此一舉）
Example：Your house has lovely brickwork. Don't paint it. That would be gilding the lily.
你的房子的砌磚和漂亮，不要去用油漆去粉刷，否則就弄巧成拙了。
Oh, Sally. You're beautiful the way you are. You don't need makeup. You would be gilding the lily.
噢，Sally，你本來就很美，你不需要化妝，否則就畫蛇添足了。
Comment on this would be to gild the lily.
對此發表評說無異於畫蛇添足。
You look radiant as always—wearing such an extravagant gown is just gilding the lily.
你看上去一如既往地容光煥發，穿着如此奢侈的禮物簡直就是多此一舉。
These days it's dangerous for a candidate to go out on a limb and gild the lily about his life, his political views or his accomplishments. Both his opponent's side and the media leap at the chance to check up his claims and expose any mistakes they can find.
如今，對候選人構成危險的做法是公開發表言論爲自己臉上貼金，炫耀自己的生活，張揚本人的政治觀點，或者賣弄個人成就。不論是跟他對立的一方還是新聞界都在等待時機覈查他的聲言是否和事實相符，並隨時準備揭發他們所能找到的任何不實事求是的地方。（這裏的gild the lily的意思是弄巧成拙，作徒勞無益的虛飾）
2. Expresssion：a piece of cake
Explanation：A very easy task or accomplishment. （非常簡單的工作或技能）
Example：I thought I was going to fail the test, but it turned out to be a piece of cake!
我以爲我考試不會及格，但結果卻是小菜一碟。
Her family have 11 children, so looking after 4 will be a piece of cake for her.
她家有11個孩子，所以照看4個孩子對她來說是小菜一碟。
Persuading him to give us the day off won't be a piece of cake.
要說通他放我們假可不是容易事。
Don't think this job a piece of cake. You'll have to rack your brains once you start on it.
別以爲這工作是易如反掌的事，你幹了就知道它是很傷腦筋的。
Honey, I finally asked Old Man Jones for my raise. And it was a piece of cake!
親愛的，我終於對老瓊斯提了要求增加工資的事。我沒有費吹灰之力他一口答應了。
3. Expression：take the cake
Explanation ：To be the best or the most outstanding. （是最好的或最傑出的）
Example：You've done some nice murals, but this one takes the cake!
你畫了一些漂亮的壁畫，但這幅最出色！
Look at those fireworks, If they don't take the cake, I don't know what does.
看那些焰火，如果它們算不上最好的，我真不知道什麼纔是最好的。
Sam takes the cake as a storyteller.
山姆講故事時無與倫比的。
