1)be behind the eight ball 陷入窘境
字面意义是"(白球)在黑球的后边".在某一台球游戏里,规定最后打入十五个球当中的黑球.在此之前,不但不许打它入袋,而且不许白球碰到它.因此,如果白球在黑球的 后面,这球就很难打了.

Our company is really behind the eight ball. We have a huge debt to pay but can't borrow any more money.

2)put someone on the spot  使人感到非常尴尬
这里的spot是"困难的境地"的意思.使人处于困难境地,当然别人会难堪啦! be in a spot 是"陷入困境"的意思.本习语用于使别人既不能采取紧急对策,也无法加以补救的场合, 例如让别人在众目睽睽之下出丑,只有难为情的份了.

Not having prepared adequately, the boss's tough questions  put me on the spot.

Joe is in a spot. If he doesn't finish his tern paper by tomorrow,there is a good chance thast he might flunk the course.

3)keep one's head over water 经济上过得去
作为比喻,它仍然残留着在水里挣扎,努力把头抬出水面的形象.它的含义是"保持支付必要费用的状态". 为了保持这种"勉强度日"的状态,也可能在某个时期,借一点钱,但是只要能支付利息和到期还本,仍然算是keep one's head over water.反之,即使不负债,但囊中如洗,在经济上过不去,那不能说keep one's head over water.

Our office managed to keep its head above water by securing a bank loan.

4)come hell or high water  不管发生什么情况
不管hell地狱来也好,不管 high water洪水来也好, 表示"哪怕有千难万险"的坚强意志.

I'm going to see my son in that school come hell or high water.
You can count on us to help come hell or high water.

5)hot water   困境
自16世纪初,就有的古老传说.古时,每当有小偷,强盗闯入家门时,人们就从窗户往他们身上浇热水.
At the women's rights convention(会议) I got myself into hot water by using so many male pronouns(男性代词).

6)It never rains but it pours  祸不单行
直译为'只要一下雨,必定瓢泼".一般用做比喻,表示"不幸或灾难一齐到来".

First I lost my job. Then my wife caught pneumonia, and as I was going to visit her in the hospital, I fell down and broke my leg. Now I know what they mean when they say it never rains but it pours.

但在极例外的情况下,它还有"福能双至"的意思.

Soon after our son was born I got a promotion and a raise. It never rains but it pours.

7)through thick and thin  有甘也有苦, 同甘共苦
thick 原与thicket(草丛)同义,thin原意为"开阔地".字面的意思是"穿过草丛和开阔地", 也就是"有时要披荆斩棘,非常辛苦;有时走开阔地,其乐融融".

I count him as a faithful friend; he's stayed with me through thick and thin.

8)be up a tree  非常难办
袋鼠被狗追急了,就跳上树去.由于袋鼠在树上一动不动, 所以就常用这一表达法形容非常窘迫的状态.

I'm up a tree. I've got a date to take Mary to a concert tonight, but I've
lost the tickets.

9)be in a pickle  为难
pickle一般作"咸菜"解,在这里指"腌咸菜的盐水".泡在盐水里,可不是一件很开心的事! 同义词有be in a fix.

I'm in a pickle. I'm supposed to take Betty to the movies, but I don't
have enough money.

在请求别人帮助时,常以次做开场白.
I'm in a pickle. Can you lend me a little?

10)weather the storm  渡过难关
weather是动词,是"渡过恶劣的气候","在暴风雨中平安无事'的意思.

Soon after we got bad press reports, the neighborhood lodged a protest, but somehow we weathered the storm.