1.behind schedule 落后于计划或预定时间
该习语的字面意思是"落后于预定时间".例如：The train is two hours behind schedule.（火车晚点两小时。）与之相关的习语还有on schedule,意思是"按时间表；及时；准时";ahead of schedule,意思是"提前".
A: Are you OK? 你没事吧？
B: Yeah. 没有。
A: I worried about you all the time. You've come back at last! 我一直担心你。你终于回来了。
B: I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. 对不起，让你久等了。
A: What happened to you? 怎么回事？
B: The train is behind schedule. 火车晚点了。
A: No wonder. 怪不得。
2.behind the eightball 处于非常不利的地位
eightball指"台球比赛中的8号黑球".在台球比赛中，只有将其他所有的球都打进袋中才能击打黑球。因此，其他的球如果在黑球的后面，则是"非常不利的处境",behind the eightball即比喻某人"处于非常不利的地位".
A: New computer companies have mushroomed in our city. 我们城市里的电脑公司好像雨后春笋般冒了出来。
B: With so many competitors, our company is behind the eightball right now. 有这么多的竞争者，我们公司正处于一种非常不利的状况之中。
A: Why not try a new line of business? 为什么不试一试其他行业呢？
B: I am looking for opportunities now. 我也正在寻找机会。
3.bell the cat 为众人利益而冒险
该习语出自一则猫和老鼠的寓言故事：老鼠们为了不被猫抓住，就想出了一个在猫的脖子上系铃的良策，但是谁去给猫系铃呢？（Who will bell the cat?）。没有一只老鼠敢去。因此bell the cat指"舍己救人，为他人利益冒险".
A: It's harder and harder to find clients because of the financial depression. 由于经济萧条，寻找新客户越来越难了。
B: Yeah. But the boss wouldn't want excuses, he only wants the result. 是啊。可老板不会听什么借口，他只要结果。
A: Someone should talk to him. 应该有人去和他谈谈。
B: Who is it? That's as good as belling the cat. 谁去呢？那无异于老鼠给帽儿系铃铛。
4.beside the point 离题，不中肯
point是名词，有"要点，中心意思，核心问题"的意思；beside the point字面意思为"在核心问题旁边",引申为"偏离中心".
A: Your plan won't work. I think it's your nonsense. That's beside the point. 你的计划是没用的。你简直是在胡说八道。那根本是不切题的。
B: How dare you say that? I worked it out after much calculation. 你怎么敢这么说？ 我是经过慎重考虑才提出来的。
A: Sorry. Now let's calm down and try to find a good way, OK? 对不起。现在让我们都平静下来再想个好的解决办法，好吗？
B: Well. Let's discuss it again. 好吧。我们再讨论讨论吧。
5.big bucks 一大笔钱
buck的意思是"美元",big bucks即为"一大笔钱".
A: You seem to be beside yourself today. What has made you so happy? 你看起来得意洋洋的。什么事让你那么高兴？
B: I made some big bucks last week. I didn't expect that I could make so much money. 上星期我赚了一大笔钱，我可从没想过我能赚那么多钱。
A: The sun is shining on you. You must have had luck going for you. 你真是吉星高照呀，你的运气来了。
B: I guess so. 我想也是。
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