英语的成语故事（通用25个）
在日常学习、工作抑或是生活中，大家都接触过比较经典的成语吧，成语是语言中经过长期使用，锤炼而形成的固定短语，你还记得哪些成语呢？以下是小编为大家整理的英语的成语故事，仅供参考，大家一起来看看吧。
英语的成语故事 1
Story 1Covering One’s Ears While Stealing a Bell
Mr. Wang thinks he is clever, but he always does foolish things.
One day he sees a beautiful bell at the top of a door. “Oh! How nice! I will take it
home.” He thinks, “What can I do?” After a while he has a “good” idea. “Aha! I have an idea now. I can plug my ears. Then I will not hear the ring when I take off the bell.” Then he does so. But as soon as he takes off the bell, the owner opens the door. “What ate you doing?” the owner says angrily.
故事1 掩耳盗铃
王先生总以为自己很聪明，实际上他总干傻事。
一天，他看见一户人家的门头有个很漂亮的.铃铛。“啊，真漂亮啊!我要把它拿回家去。”他自言自语道：“我该怎么做呢?”过了一会儿他想到了一个“好”主意。“啊哈!我有办法了!我把耳朵堵上，拿铃铛的时候就听不见铃声了。”
于是他就这样做了。可是他刚拿下铃铛，屋子的主人就打开门，怒气冲冲地说：“你在干什么?”
英语的成语故事 2
Story 2Adding Feet to a Snake
One day, Mr. Lion holds a party. Many animals come and drink a lot of wine. At last there is a pot of wine. Who can drink it? They drink out an idea and decide to have a match-Draw a snake. If you finish first, you can get it.
Soon Mr.Wolf finishes drawing. “Yeah, I’ve finished. I’m No.1,” he says. But he draws again and says, “Oh, let me add feet and my snake.” At the time, Mr. Gorilla also finishes. He takes away the pot of wine and drinks, then he says, “That isn’t a snake. Snakes have no feet. I get the wine.”
故事2 画蛇添足
一天，狮子先生举行一场聚会，许多动物都来了，他们喝很多酒。最后只剩一
壶酒了。让谁喝呢?它们想了想，有个主意。它们比赛画蛇，谁最快画好，谁就喝这壶酒。
不一会，狼先生画好了。“哈，我画好了，我是第一个。”它说。可是它又画了起来，它还说：“再给它加几只脚吧。”这是猩猩先生也画好了。它拿起那酒壶喝起来。一边喝一边说：“那不是蛇，蛇是没有脚的，我赢了这壶酒。”
英语的成语故事 3
Story 3 Adding Eyes to a Dragon
Mr. Li is a good painter. One day he draws a beautiful dragon without eyes.
Mr. Zhou looks at the picture and says, “The dragon has no eyes. It isn’t a good picture.”
But Mr. Li smiles and says, “If I add eyes to the dragon, it will fly away.”
Mr. Zhou shakes head and says, “You are boasting. I don’t believe you.”
Mr. Li isn’t angry. He holds the paintbrush and adds eyes to the dragon. Woe! The dragon really flies.
故事 3 画龙点睛
李先生是位很好的`画家。一天画了一条栩栩如生的龙，但是这只龙没有眼睛。 周先生见了说：“这条龙没有眼睛。这不算一张好画。”
可是李先生笑着说：“如果我给它加上眼睛，它就会飞走了。”
周先生摇头说：“你吹牛。我不相信。”
李先生也不生气，只是拿起笔给龙点上眼睛。哇!龙真的飞走了。
英语的成语故事 4
Story 4 Snow White
Snow White is born on a cold winter day. She is as white as snow. Her eyes are very big, her hair very long and her voice is sweet. She is very kind and beautiful. Everyone loves her. Her mummy, the Queen loves her, too. But she died.
A new Queen comes. She is beautiful, but bad. She doesn’t like Snow White, because Snow White is the most beautiful girl in the world.
“I will kill Snow White.” So she orders a hunter to kill Snow White. The hunter is an
honest man. “You are a good girl; I don’t want to kill you.” So he lets Snow White go. Snow White goes into a forest. She finds a house, and goes into the house. Seven dwarfs live there. They like Snow White, and ask Snow White to live with them.
No sooner, the new Queen dies. Because she isn’t the most beautiful woman in the world.
故事 4 白雪公主
白雪公主出生在一个寒冷的冬天，因此她像雪一样洁白无瑕。她又两只大眼晴，有漂亮的长头发和甜蜜的声音。她又善良又美丽。每个人都很喜欢她。她妈妈――皇后也爱她，但她死了。
一位新皇后来了，她很漂亮但很恶毒。她不喜欢白雪公主，因为白雪公主是世界上最美丽的女孩。
“我一定要杀死白雪公主。“因此，她命令一位猎人去杀白雪公主。这位猎人是一个诚实的.人。 “你是一个好姑娘，我不想杀你。”所有他放走了白雪公主。
白雪公主走进一片森林，她发现了一个房子，并且走进了房子。七个小矮人住在房子里。他们很喜欢白雪公主并留她一起住下来了。
不久，女皇死了，因为她不是世界上最美丽的人。
英语的成语故事 5
Story 5 Look at the Sky from the Bottom of a Well
There is a frog. He lives in a well and he never goes out of the well. He thinks the sky is as big as the mouth of the well.
One day a crow comes to the well. He sees the frog and says, “Frog, let’s have a talk.” Then the frog asks, “Where are you from?” “I fly from the sky,” the crow says. The frog feels surprised and says, “The sky is only as big as the mouth of the well. How do you fly from the sky?”
The crow says, “The sky is very big. You always stay in the well, so you don’t know the world is big.”
The frog says, “I don’t believe.” But the crow says, “You can come out and have a look by yourself.”
So the frog comes out from the well. He is very surprised. How big the world is!
故事5坐井观天
有一只青蛙住在井底，他从来没有去过井外面。他以为天空就和井口一样大。 一天，一只乌鸦飞到井边，看见青蛙，就对它说：“青蛙，咱们聊聊吧。”青蛙就问
他：“你从哪里来?”“我从天上上来。青蛙惊讶了，就说：“天空就只有这井口这么大，你怎么会从天上飞老呢?”
乌鸦说：“天空很大。只不过你一直呆在井里，所有不知道世界很大。”青蛙说：“我不相信。”乌鸦说：“你可以出来，自己看看嘛。”
于是青蛙来到井外。他十分惊讶，原来世界这么大!
英语的成语故事 6
Story 6 I can’t Cook It
It’s sunny day in spring. Miss Cat is fishing. Suddenly the fishing rod moves. “Great! Oh, it’s so heavy!” Miss Cat says happily.
The fish is plucked out of the river. “Oh, a big fish! How big the fish is!” She cheers. But she puts the fish into the river and goes on fishing.
At the time Mr. House goes by and sees it. “What do you set it free?” He asks. “Because my pot is too small. I can’t cook it,” Miss Cat says.
故事6 我没法煮它
这是春天里一个阳光明媚的日子，猫小姐在河边钓鱼。突然鱼竿动了动。“太棒
了!哇，好重啊!”猫小姐高兴地喊着。
鱼被拉出来了。“啊!一条大鱼!这条大鱼可真大呀!”她欢呼道。但是她却把鱼放回河里，又继续钓鱼。
这时候马先生路过，看见这一切，就问她：“为什么你把鱼放了?” “因为我的锅太小。我没办法烧这么大的鱼。”猫小姐回答说。
英语的.成语故事 7
Story 7 The Clever King Solomon
Long, long ago, there was a king. Solomon was his name. He was very clever.
In his country, there were two women. They lived in the same house and each had a child.
One night, one of the babies died. The dead baby’s mother took the other woman’s baby, and put it in her own bed.
The next morning , they had a quarrel.
“No, this is my baby!” The dead is yours!”
Each one wanted the living baby. So they went to see King Solomon.
“Bring me a knife, cut the child into two and five each woman one half.” said the King. “Oh. Your Majesty! Give her my baby. Please don’t kill my baby!”
Then King Solomon pointed to the woman in teas and said, “Give the baby to her. She is the mother.”
故事7 聪明的国王所罗门
很久很久之前，有一位国王，他的名字叫所罗门，他非常聪明。
在他的国家里，有两位妇女，她们住在同一间房子里。各有一个婴儿。
一天夜里，其中一个婴儿死了。他的妈妈抱另一位妇女的小孩，把他放在自己的床上。
第二天早上，他们发生了争吵。
“不，这是我的孩子!这个死的是你的!”
他们都想要这个活着的孩子，于是她们去见所罗门国王。
“给我拿把刀来，把这个孩子切成两半，没人一半。”国王判决道。
“哦，陛下，把我的'孩子给她吧。请不要杀了我的孩子!”一位母亲哭喊道。 于是所罗门指着流泪的妇女说：“把孩子给她，她是真正的母亲。”
英语的成语故事 8
Story 8 The Ox and the Dog
An ox and a dog serve for the same farmer.
One day the dog arrogantly says: “How grand I am! In the daytime, I watch out for the cattle in the meadows; at night, I guard the house. But you…”
“Me? How about me ?” the ox says
“You can only plough or draw a cart,” the dog slightly says.
“Yes. It’s true,” the ox says. “But if I don’t plough, what do you guard?”
故事8 牛和狗
一头牛和一只狗同时为一个农夫工作。
一天，狗骄傲地说着;‘我是多么重要啊!白天我在牧场看护家群，晚上我看家。
而你呢…..?”
“我?我怎么啦?“ 牛反问。
“你只会犁地或是拉扯。”狗不懈地说。
“是的。你说得没有错，”牛回答道。“但是如果没有我犁地，你看护什么呢?”
英语的成语故事 9
Story 9 Wolf Is Coming
There is a naughty boy in a village. He likes telling lies. One day he wants to make fun of the farmers. So he shouts, “Wolf! Wolf! Wolf is coming!” The kind farmers are working in the field. They hear the shout, and hurry to help the boy. But when get there, the boy says: “There isn’t a wolf. I’m joking. The farers are angry and go back to their field. After a while the biy shouts again, “Wolf! Wolf! Wolf is coming!” And the farmers come and are cheated again. The boy laughs and laughs. They say, “You tell lies. We will not believe you.”
Later a wolf really comes. The boy is very scared. “Wolf! Wolf! Wolf is coming!” the boy shouts and shouts. “Help! Help!” But no one comes. And wolf eats the naughty boy.
故事9 狼来了
村子里有个淘气的小男孩，他喜欢撒谎。一天，他想捉弄村名，就大喊：“狼来了!狼来了!” 善良的`村民们正在地里干活，听到喊声，赶快去救他。俄式他们到了那里，男孩说：“没有狼。我跟你们开完先的。”村民很生气，回到田里。不一会，那孩子大喊：狼来了!狼来了!”村民来了，却再次被欺骗。男孩开心地大笑，村民们说：“你说谎。我们再也不会相信你了。”
后来狼真的来了。男孩十分害怕。 “狼来了!狼来了!”他大声呼喊，“救命啊!救命!”但是没人来。结果这个淘气的男孩被狼吃了。
英语的成语故事 10
Story 10Catching a Thief
Witty Hare can run very fast. One day when he gets home. He sees a rat. The rat is jumping down his window. “Oh. A thief!” Witty Hare shouted and catches the rat, “You can’t run faster then me.” Soon Witty Hare catches up with the rat, and the rat is left behind, “I must run away,’ the rat says and laughs, “He is so silly.”
Witty Hare goes on running. A sheep sees him and asks him, “What a re you doing?” “I’m catching the thief.” Witty Hare says. “ Thief? Where’s the thief?” the sheep fells surprised. “He’s behind me ,”Witty Hare says proudly.
故事10 追贼
机灵的肚子跑得很快。一天，她回到家的时候看见一只老鼠。这只老师正从它家的'窗户跳下去。“啊! 贼!”机灵肚子喊着追过去。 “你跑不过我的!” 不一会它追上了老鼠，还把老鼠丢在后面。“我得赶紧逃。”老鼠窃笑着说：“这家伙真笨。” 机灵兔子继续跑着。一只绵羊看到了就问塔：“你在干什么?”“我在追贼。”机灵兔子说。“贼?贼在哪里啊?”绵羊感到奇怪。 “它在我后面呢。”机灵兔子自豪地说着。
英语的成语故事 11
Story 11 A Clever Panda
A little panda picks up a pumpkin and wants to take it home. But the pumpkin is too big. The panda can’t take it home.
Suddenly she sees a bear riding a bike toward her. She watches the bike. “I know! I
have a good idea.” she jumps and shouts happily, “I can roll a pumpkin. It’s like a wheel.”
So she rolls the pumpkin to her home. When her mother sees the big pumpkin, she is surprised, “Oh, my God! How can you carry it home?” the little panda answers proudly, “I can’t lift it, but I can roll it.” Her mother smiled and says，“What a clever girl! Use you heard to do something,”
故事11 聪明的熊猫
一只小熊猫摘了一只大南瓜，想把它拿回家。但是这只南瓜太大了，她没有办法把这么大的南瓜带回家。
突然她看见一只狗熊骑着一辆自行车朝她这边来。她看着自行车，跳着说：“有了!我有办法了。我可以把南瓜滚回家去。南瓜好像车轮。
于是她把那瓜滚回家。当她妈妈看到这只大南瓜的时候，很惊讶：“天啊!这么食的`南瓜!你是怎么把它带回家来的?”小熊猫自豪地说;“我拎不动它，可是我能滚动它啊!”她妈妈微笑着说：“真聪明啊!记住：只要你肯动脑筋，没有难办的事。”
英语的成语故事 12
Story 12 A Friend in Need Is a Friend Indeed
Jack and Ben are good friends. One day, they explore a forest together. When they go deep into the forest, suddenly they hear a sound.
“What’s that? The sound is so terrible.” Ben says.
“Oh! Bear! Look! A bear!” Jack says and climbs quickly on a tall tree.
Ben tries to climb on the tree. But he can’t. “What can I do? Help me please! “Ben says to Jack. But Jack does nothing.
The bear is coming. Ben lies down quickly and pretends to die. The bear looks at Ben and walking around him. Ben holds his breath. The bear smells Ben and thinks he’s dying, and then the bear goes away.
When Jack sees the bear going far, he slides down from the tree and wakes Ben. “What did the Bear whisper to you?” Jack asks Ben.
“Why didn’t you help me? Have you not heard the sentence: A friend in need is a friend indeed?” Ben shouted.
故事12 患难见真情
杰克和本是一对好朋友。一天，他俩结伴去森林探险。当他们深入森林时，突然听到一个声音。
“那是什么?这声音真恐怖。”本说。
“啊!是熊!快看!熊!”杰克边说边迅速爬到身旁的颗大树上。
本试着爬在树上，可是他做不到。“我怎么办啊?快帮帮我?”本朝杰克喊道。可是杰克什么也没有做。
熊来了。本赶快躺在地上装死。熊看看本。绕着他走了儿圈。本赶忙屏住呼吸。熊又低下头闻了本，以为他死了，然后就走开了。
杰克看到熊走远了，他才滑下树来，叫醒本。“熊刚才跟你说什么了?“杰克好奇地文本。
“你刚才为什么不帮我?难道你没有听对患难见真情这句话吗?”本大声喊道。
英语的成语故事 13
Story 13 Three Little Pigs and a Big Wolf
Once, a mother pig sent her three little children into the world. They needed to look after themselves.
The first pig found some straw, and he built a fine house with straw,
The second pig built a house with wood.
The third pig built a house with stone.
One day, a wolf came to straw house, he was hungry.
“Little pig let me in! I’m your brother.”
“No, no! You are a wolf.”
Then the wolf blew down the straw house. The first pig ran to the wooden house.
Then the wolf came to the wooden house, too. The two pigs ran to the stone house.
The wolf came and blew the stone house. He blew and blew, but the house didn’t fall down. Then wolf was angry, he climbed to the roof and jumped down the chimney.
The wolf fell into the pot! Ouch! He ran away.
The three little pigs lived happily.
故事13 三只小猪
从前，猪妈妈把她的三个小孩打发出去，因为他们需要学会照顾自己。 第一只小猪找到一些稻草，他盖了一座漂亮的草房子。
第一只小猪盖了一座木头房子。
第二只小猪了盖了一座石头房子。
一天，一只大灰狼来到草房前，他十分饥饿。
“小猪，让我进去，我是我你兄弟。”
“不，不，你是大灰狼。”
然后大灰狼就把草屋吹倒了，第一只小猪逃到了木头屋子里。
然后狼来到木头前，他吹呀吹可是吹不倒石头房子。狼发怒了，他爬上了屋顶并从烟囱往下跳。
在烟囱下面的火炉上有一锅水。三只小猪用大火把得很烫。
狼掉进了锅里!哎呀!他逃走了?
三只小猪从此过着快乐的'生活。
英语的成语故事 14
Story 14 The Wolf and the Crane
There is a bad wolf in the forest. One day he is eating a lamb. Suddenly a bone sticks in his throat.
“Oh, a bone is my throat.” He goes to see a doctor, “Please help me.” The doctor, Mr. Panda says, “Sorry, I can’t help you. The bone is inside.”
“What can I do?” the wolf is sad. Then he meets a crane. “Oh, dear crane. Please help
me. A bone is in my throat. I will pay for your help.”
“Ok. Let me have a try,” the crane says. She pulls out the bone with her bill. “Now I will go. Remember your words. You should pay me,” she says.
“Well. Pay you. I remember,” the wolf says. With the words, the wolf bites off the crane’s neck and eats her up.
故事14 狼与鹤
森林里有一只很坏的狼。一天，他正在吃一只羊羔.突然一根骨头卡在他的喉咙里了。
“哎呀，一根骨头卡在我的喉咙里了。”他赶忙去看医生， “请帮帮我吧。”医生熊猫先生说：“很抱歉，我帮不了你。骨头卡在里面。”
“我该怎么办啊?”狼伤心。后来他遇到一只鹤。“亲爱的鹤小姐，请救救我吧，一根头卡在我的喉咙里了。我会给你报酬的。”
“好吧。我试试看。”鹤小姐说。她用她的长嘴把骨头拉了出来。“现在我要走了。记住你的`话，你该给我报酬的。”
“好的，给你报酬。”狼突然说，突然咬住鹤的长脖子，把她吃了。
英语的成语故事 15
一言为重
古时候秦国有个相国叫商鞅，秦王非常器重他。公元前359年，他打算在秦国实行变法，但他怕百姓们不相信官府，就决定做件事以取得他们的信任。
有一天。他把一根10米长的竿子竖在都城南门外，然后告诉百姓如果谁把这根竹竿拿到城边北门，就赏给他10两银子。开始，大家听到这个消息都很吃惊，但没人敢试。于是商鞅又提高声音说："谁把这根竹竿拿到北门，赏50两银子。"这时，有一个胆子挺大的.人愿意去试一试。当他把竹竿拿到北门时，商鞅立刻赏给他50两银子。其他人看见了，都非常后悔自己没去试。
经过这件事，大家都相信了官府。后来商鞅的变法进行地很成功，秦国因此成为了当时最强大的国家。
后来，人们就用"一言为重"来比喻一个人信守诺言。
译文
What is Said Carries Weight
In ancient times, there was a prime minister named Shang Yang in the State of Qin. He was held in high regard by the King. In the year 359 BC, he prepared for a political reform to promote the economic development. But he was afraid that the people would not believe local authorities. He thought an idea.
One day, he had a 10-meter long pole erected at the south gate outside the capital. Then he told the crowd whoever took the pole to the north gate would be awarded 10 ounces of silver. Everyone was astonished, but nobody dared to have a try. After seeing that, Shang Yang raised his voice and said:" Anyone who carries the pole to the north gate will get 50 ounces of silver." A brave man did it and was be given 50 ounces of silver. Others felt very reGREtful.
In this way, Shang Yang achieved his aim successfully. Soon the state of Qin became the strongest country.
Later, people use it to praise the man who keeps his promise.
英语的成语故事 16
Cast pearls before swine
对牛弹琴
During the Warring States Period, there was a musician named Gongmingyi, who played musical instruments very well. Many people liked listen to him play, and respected him very much.
在战国时期，有一个名字叫公明仪的音乐家，他很会弹琴。很多人都喜欢听他弹琴，人们很敬重他。
One day, Gongmingyi saw a cow when he was having fun in the countryside.
一天，公明仪在郊外游玩时，看到了一头正在埋头吃草的大黄牛。
He thought, "Everybody compliments my music. Why dont I play for this cow?"
他心里想：“大家都赞扬我的琴技高超，不如我给这头牛也弹一曲吧！”
So he took out his guqin, He played a piece of elegant quaint music for the cow, but the cow just kept grazing the grass with its head down.
于是，他拿出心爱的琴，给牛弹奏了一曲古雅的曲子，可是牛还是在埋头吃草，根本就没搭理他。
He thought that the cow might not listen to the elegant quaint music. He played another piece of joyful music, but the cow still kept its head down to graze the grass and totally ignored him.
他想，牛可能不太听古雅的曲子，于是他又弹奏了一曲欢快的曲子，牛依然埋头吃草不理他。
Gongmingyi was so disappointed and started to question his ability.
公明仪非常失望，开始怀疑自己的`琴技。
Someone passing by saw this scene and said, "Its not because your ability is bad. It is that the cow cannot understand music at all."
有个路过的人看到这个场景，笑着说：“不是你弹的琴不好，而是牛根本听不懂啊！”
Gongmingyi sighed and had to go home with the guqin.
公明仪叹了口气，只好抱着琴回家去了。
英语的成语故事 17
To Pull up the Seedlings to Help Them Grow
Once upon a time, there was an old farmer who planted a plot of rice. After he planted the seedlings, every day he went to the field to watch the seedlings grow. He saw the young shoots break through the soil and grow taller each day, but still, he thought they were growing too slowly. Eventually he got impatient with the young plants and suddenly he hit upon an idea that one by one, he pulled up the young plants by half an inch. The next early morning, the young man couldn’t wait to check his “achievement”, but he was heart-broken to see all the pulled-up young plants dying.
“拔苗助长”
从前，有个农夫，种了稻苗（seedlings）后，便希望能早早收成。每天他到稻田时，都发觉那些稻苗长得非常慢。他等得很不耐烦。想了又想，他终于想到一个“最佳方法”，他将稻苗全都拔高了几分。第二天，一早起身，他迫不及待地去稻田看他的'“成果”。 哪知，却看到所有的稻苗都枯萎了。
英语的成语故事 18
后来人们用“名落孙山”来比喻考试没有考上或者选拔没有被录取。
Failing to Pass an Examination
In the Song Dynasty(960-1279)there was a joker called Sun Shan. One year he went to take the imperial examination, and came bottom of the list of successful candidates. Back in his hometown, One of his neighbours asked him whether the neighbour"s son had also passed. Sun Shan said, with a smile:"Sun Shan was the last on the list, your son came after Sun Shan."
Later, people used this idiom to indicate failing in an examination or competition.
英语的成语故事 19
抱薪救火
战国末期，秦国向魏国接连发动大规模的进攻，魏国无力抵抗，大片土地都被秦军占领了。到公元前273年，秦国又一次向魏国出兵，势头空前猛烈。
魏王把大臣们召来，愁眉苦脸地问大家有没有使秦国退兵的办法。大臣们由于经过多年的战乱，提起打仗就吓得哆嗦，谁也不敢谈“抵抗”二字。在这大兵压境的'危急时刻，多数大臣都劝魏王，用黄河以北和太行山以南的大片土地为代价，向秦王求和。
谋士苏代听了这些话，很不以为然，忙上前对魏王说：“大王，他们是因为自己胆小怕死，才让您去卖国求和，根本不为国家着想。您想，把大片土地割让给秦国虽然暂时满足了秦王的野心，但秦国的欲望是无止境的，只要魏国的土地没割完，秦军就不会停止进攻我们。”
说到这里，苏代讲了一个故事：从前有一个人，他的房子起火了，别人劝他快用水去浇灭大火，但他不听，偏抱起一捆柴草去救火，是因为他不懂得柴草不但不能灭火反而能助长火势的道理。大王若同意拿着魏国土地去求和，不就等于抱着柴草救火吗？”
尽管苏代讲得头头是道，但是胆小的魏王只顾眼前的太平，还是依大臣们的意见把魏国大片土地割让给秦国。到公元225年，果然秦军又向魏国大举进攻，包围了国都大梁，掘开黄河大堤让洪水淹没了大梁城，魏国终于被秦国灭掉了。
故事出自《史记魏世家》。成语“抱薪救火”比喻用错误的方法去消灭祸害，结果反而使祸害扩大。
Carrying Faggots to Put Out a Fire
In the last years of the Warring States period, the State of Qin attacked the State of Wei on a large scale repeatedly and occupied large areas of land, for the State of Wei was too weak to defend itself. In 273 B.B., the qin army launched another attack upon the State of Wei with a momentum more vigorous than ever. The king of the State of Wei summoned his officials,and asked with a worried look if anyone could propose a way to defeat the Qin army. After years of chaos caused by the wars,the officials trembled when fighting was mentioned, and no one dared to speak ofresistance. At the critical moment when a large enemy force was bearing down upon the border, most of the offinials persuaded the king to sue for peace, at the cost of giving away to the State of Qin the large area of land north of the Huanghe River and south of the Taihang Mountain. However Su Dai, a counsellor, did not agree. He hurried up to the king and said:"Your Majesty, they dont think about the interests of the country at all.It is just because they are cowardly and afraid of death that they ask you to sue for peace by betraying the country. Of course you can temperarily satisfy the ambition of the king of the State of Qin is insatiably greedy. It will never stop assaulting us until our land is totally given away."Once there was a man whose house was on fire. People told him to put out the fire with water, but he would not listen. Instead, he carried a faggot to put out the fire, only to make the fire fiercer. That was because he didnt know that,instead of putting out the fire, faggots could only make it burning more vigorously. Isnt it equivalent to carrying faggots to put out a fire if you agree to sue for peace at the cost of the land of the State of Wei?"Though Su Dais argument was very convincing, the king accepted the suggestion of those officials and gave away to the State of Qin a large area of the land of the State of Wei. For the king of the State of Wei was cowardly and only cared for peace at the moment.As might be expected,the Qin army assaulted the State of Wei on a large scale in 225 B.C.,surrounding the capital city Daliang and flooding it by digging open the dykes of the Huanghe River.The State of Wei was finally destroyed by the State of Qin.This story appears in the Historical Records Written by Sima Qian.The set phrase"carrying faggots to put out a fire"is used to mean adopting a wrong method to save a situation and ending up by making it worse.
英语的成语故事 20
这个故事后来变成成语“日暮途穷”，比喻处境十分困难，力量用尽了，计策没有了。
The Day Is Waning and the Road Is Ending
In the Spring and Autumn Period, Duke Ping of Chu was misled by slanderers, and had Wu Zixu"s father executed. Wu Zixu fled to the State of Wu. More than then years later, Wu Zixu took his revenge by helping. Wu conquer Chu. Yet he suffered agonies of remorse, because his countrymen called him a traitor. He protested, "I"m just like a traveller. It"s already late, but I still have a long way to go. I simply dont know what to do."
This idiom comes from the above story. It means being in a very difficult situation at the end of one"s tether.
英语的成语故事 21
Mending the Fold After the Sheep Is Lost
亡羊补牢
In the past, there was a man who kept thirty sheep.
从前，有一个人，养了三十只羊。
One morning, he discovered that one sheep was missing. Where had it gone? Upon examination, he found that his fold was damaged. During the night a wolf had broken into the fold and devoured the sheep.
一天早上，他发现少了一只羊。这只羊到哪儿去了呢?再一查看，原来是他的羊圈坏了。夜里狼闯进羊圈，羊是被狼吃掉的。
His friend said to him:
他的朋友对他说:
"You had better mend the fold quickly."
“快把羊圈 修理 修理吧!”
He said:
他说:
"The sheep had already been devoured by the wolf. What is the use of mending the fold?"
“羊已经被狼吃了，修理羊圈还有什么用呢?”
He did not listen to his friends advice.
他没有听取朋友的意见。
The following morning, he discovered that during the night the wolf had again broken into the fold and devoured another sheep. Not until then did he realize that his friend was right.
第二天早上，他发现夜里狼又闯进羊圈，又吃掉了一只羊。这时候，他才明白，朋友的`意见是对的。
Consequently, he mended the fold at once, and thereafter no more sheep were devoured by the wolf.
于是，他马上把羊圈修理好。从此，他的羊再也没有被狼吃掉过。
英语的成语故事 22
Killing the Pig to Educate the Son
杀猪教子
Zeng Zi was one of Confucius disciples.
曾子是孔子的一个学生。
One day, Zeng Zis wife wanted to go to market. Their son wanted to go together with her. He made a row, crying and fussing without stop. His wife could do nothing but bend down to humour him, saying:
有一天，曾子的妻子要上街。儿子吵着要跟妈妈一起去，又哭又闹，吵个不停。妻子没有办法，只好弯腰哄他，说:
"My darling, go home now. Mama will be back soon. When Im back, Ill kill the pig to make a meal for you."
“我的小宝贝，回家去吧!妈妈去了就回来，一回来就杀猪给你吃。”
When the son heard this, he went home happily.
儿子听了，高高兴兴地回家去了。
Not long after, the wife returned home from the market. Zeng Zi tied up their fat pig, took out a shining sharp knife and prepared to kill it. When his wife saw this, she hurriedly held Zeng Zi by the hand and said:
过了不久，妻子从街上回到了家。曾子就把家里的肥猪捆住，拿出雪亮的尖刀，准备杀猪。妻子看见了就急忙拉住曾子的手，说:
"Whats the matter with you? I was only trying to humour the child."
“你这是怎么了?我只不过是哄哄小孩的'。”
Zeng Zi said seriously:
曾子严肃地说:
"How can you cheat a child? The child is still small and doesnt understand things. He only follows the example of his parents. Now you cheat him, then he will follow your example and cheat others. Furthermore, when a mother cheats her child, the child will no longer trust his mother. Then, how can you educate the child well?"
“你怎么能够哄骗孩子呢?现在，孩子还小，不懂事，他只会照着父母的样子去做。你现在哄骗孩子，孩子就会学你的样子，去哄骗别人。做母亲的哄骗儿子，做儿子的就不会再信任母亲。这样，怎么能教育好孩子呢?”
Having said this, Zeng Zi raised his knife and killed the fat pig.
曾子话一说完，就一刀宰了肥猪。
英语的成语故事 23
Losing Ones Head
忘乎所以
The gorillas in the valleys in the south often lived together in groups of several tens. They were fond of drinking wine, and even fonder of imitating mans behavior.
南方山谷里的猩猩，常常数十成群地生活在一起。它们喜欢喝酒，更喜欢模仿人的行为。
People knew very well their habits and often put wine or distillers grains on the roadside together with many straw sandals connected together with ropes.
人们掌握了它们的.习性，经常把酒或酒糟放在路边，旁边又放着许多草鞋，草鞋用绳索连接起来。
The gorillas knew this was a trick to lure them into traps and cursed:
猩猩知道这是人们引诱它们上当，便破口大骂:
"Humph! Do you think we dont know your tricks? Well never be taken in!"
“哼!你们以为我们不知道吗?我们决不上你们的当!”
So they called one another, turned round and left.
于是，互相招呼，回头就走。
But they had already smelled the aroma of the wine, and couldnt bear to part with it. Even after they left, they would turn their heads to look back. When they saw no one there, they would turn back; and after they turned back, they were afraid of being deceived, and left again. After much hesitation, they finally said to themselves:
但是，它们已经闻到了酒香，总有点恋恋不舍，就是走了，也要回过头来望望。回头望不见人，便又转过来;转过来了又怕上当，再返身回去。犹豫了好久，它们最后自言自语地说:
"Just for a taste of the wine. It wont matter as long as we dont get drunk."
“去尝尝味道，不喝醉就不碍事。”
Shortly afterwards, they agreed to come back to drink the wine. When they got drunk, they forgot everything. Every gorilla put on the straw sandals and imitated the way man walks.
不一会儿，大家同意了，都回来喝酒。等到喝醉的时候，它们一切都忘记了，一个个穿上草鞋，学着人走路。
As a result, they fell down one after another and were all caught alive by people.
结果，一个个都跌倒了，统统被人活捉。
英语的成语故事 24
The Kingfisher Moves Its Nest
翠鸟迁巢
In order to avoid calamities, at first the kingfisher always selects a high place to build its nest.
翠鸟起先为了避免灾祸，总是选择高的地方筑巢。
But when the young birds are hatched, it will move to a place a little lower to build its nest. This is because the kingfisher is particularly fond of its offspring and is afraid they而ght fall down from a high place.
但是，等到孵出小鸟以后，它就到少许低一点儿的'地方筑巢。这是因为它特别爱护小鸟，生怕它们从高处摔下来。
When the young birds grow beautiful feathers, the kingfisher will become even fonder of them and more protective, so it will move its nest further downward, with the result that the young birds are easily taken away by people.
等到小鸟长出了美丽的羽毛以后，母鸟就更加喜欢和爱护它们了，于是又向下搬巢，结果小翠鸟却被人们轻而易举地掏走了。
英语的成语故事 25
精卫填海
Once upon a time, the youngest daughter of Emperor Yan, legendary ruler of primitive China, went boating on the Eastern Sea. While she was enjoying herself, a strong wind rose on the sea and her boat capsized. Just before she was buried by the surging waves, her spirit turned into a beautiful bird. As it flew over the roaring sea, it cried sadly in the sound "jinwei, jingwei". That was why people called it "Jingwei".
The bird lived on a mountain near the sea. It hated the sea so much that it decided to fill it up. Every day, it flew to and fro between the mountain and the sea, carrying in a twig or a pebble from the mountain and dropping it into the sea.
One day, the roaring sea said to Jingwei, "Poor little bird, stop doing that meaningless thing! Youll never fill me up." Jingwei replied, "Ill fill you up no doubt! I will, even if itll take me thousands of years! Ill fight on until doomsday!"
The brave little bird kept carrying twigs and pebbles from the mountain to the Eastern Sea without taking a rest.
From this fable comes the idiom "The bird Jingwei trying to fill the sea". We use it to describe people who are firm and indomitable and will not stop until they reach their goal.
从前，炎帝(传说中中国原始社会的统治者)的小女儿在东海上划船。正当她划得高兴时，海面上突然升起一阵大风，把她的小船弄翻了。就在她要被汹涌的波浪吞没时，她的灵魂变成了一只美丽的小鸟。它飞过那咆哮的海面，伤心的叫着"精卫，精卫"的声音。所以人们就叫她"精卫"。
精卫鸟住在靠海的一座山上。它非常恨大海，所以决心要把它填平。它每天来回于山海之间，把从山上衔来的小树枝和小石子扔在大海里。
一天，咆哮的大海对精卫说："可怜的小鸟，停止你那无谓的.举动吧!你是永远都填不平我的。"精卫回答说："我当然会把你填平的!即使这需要千千万万年的时间，我也一定会斗争到底，直到你的末日来临!"
这只勇敢的小鸟继续从山上衔来小树枝和小石子，扔到东海中，从未有片刻休息。
"精卫填海"这个成语就是由这个传说而来的，形容那些坚定不移，不屈不挠，不到目的决不罢休的人。
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