Play chicken ≠ 玩小鸡

其实，“Play chicken”是一个美国俚语，意思是：为吓倒对方互相挑战和威胁；比胆量。

例句：

When you drive you'd better not play chicken with bigger cars.

当你开车的时候最好别和大车去叫板！




Play cat and mouse ≠ 玩猫和老鼠

“Play cat and mouse”，从字面意思也很好理解，就是：欲擒故纵；对人忽冷忽热。

例句：

The famous businessman spent his time playing cat and mouse with the judge.

这个著名的商人把所有时间都花在和这个法官玩欲擒故纵上。




Chicken out ≠小鸡出去

“Chicken”除了有“小鸡；鸡肉”的意思以外，还有“胆怯的；懦夫”的意思。所以，“Chicken out”真正的意思是：临阵退缩；因害怕而停止做某事。

例句：

He makes excuses to chicken out of family occasions such as weddings.

他总是找借口逃避如婚礼这样的家庭聚会。

I had never ridden on a motor-cycle before. But it was too late to chicken out.

在那以前我从未骑过摩托车。但当时已来不及临阵脱逃。