一只傲娇的鸡
我是个讲信用的人，说好了时不时会分享些英语相关内容，就一定会分享。今天和大家聊聊“鸡”。
Chicken是我们的好朋友，日常美食的来源之一。奇怪的是英语中有很多与Chicken相关的idiom（习语）-类似我们的成语，字面意思并不是真正想表达的含义，往往内含玄机。
Idiom: a group of words that has a special meaning that is different from the ordinary meaning of each separate word.
下面我们来看看跟Chicken有关的习语，很有意思。
Chicken out
表达的意思其实是“临阵脱逃，逃避，畏缩”，在最后一刻因害怕还放弃了原本的计划（to decide at the last moment not to do something you said you would do, because you are afraid）
例句：You’re not chickening out, are you?
Run Around Like a Headless Chicken
这个比较好理解，“手忙脚乱，无头苍蝇”（to be very busy doing a lot of things, but in a way that is not very effective）。
例句：Oh my gosh, I am so busy at work! I'm running around like a headless chicken!
Spring chicken
字面意思很奇怪“春天的鸡”，春天的鸡好吃？变绿了？其实这里表达的意思是“年轻”多指人天真，涉世未深（a young and naive person）。
例句：I can’t believe you’re wearing such a short skirt. You’re no spring chicken, you know!
Chicken feed
不要理解成鸡饲料！这里表达的意思是“不值一提的小钱，薪水低”（an amount of money that is so small that it is almost not worth having）。比如现在人人都想摆地摊，我家有个亲戚去公园摆地摊卖矿泉水，每天就挣几块钱，这挣得就好比“鸡饲料”。
例句：I work now - as a teacher. I get chicken feed, but I like my job。
Don’t Count Your Chickens Before They Hatch
这一句我很喜欢，字面意思是“不要在孵出小鸡之前就去数鸡的数量”，实际表达的意思是“不要过于乐观，别打如意算盘”。任何事情发生之前都充满变数，我们不要对结果过于乐观，保持平常心最好。
例句：
A: “I’m sure my boss will give me a raise next month, so I’ve decided to treat myself to an exotic holiday.”
B: “If I were you I wouldn’t book the holiday until you actually get the raise…don’t count your chickens…”
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