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Some problems are difficult to solve. But there are a lot of number expressions that can help. For example, if we put two and two together, we might come up with the right answer. We know that two heads are better than one. It is always better to work with another person to solve a problem.
* put two and two gether = 종합해서(보고 들은 것으로) 추측하다/ two heads are better than one = 백지장도 맞들면 낫다
Sometimes there are no two ways about it. Some problems have only one solution. You cannot be of two minds over this.
* There are no two ways about it = 이견의 여지가 없다(두말할 필요 없다)/ be of two minds = 망설이고 있다
But with any luck, we could solve the problem in two shakes of a lamb’s tail. We could have our answers quickly and easily.
* in two shakes of a lamb's tail = 순식간에; 즉시; 당장에
Sometimes we can kill two birds with one stone. That is, we can complete two goals with only one effort or action. But we must remember that two wrongs don’t make a right. If someone does something bad to you, you should not do the same to him.
* kill two birds with one stone = 일석이조/ two wrongs don't make a right = 악을 악으로 갚아 봐야 좋을 게 없다
If you are going out with your girlfriend, or boyfriend, you do not want another friend to go along on your date. You can just say to your friend: two’s company, three’s a crowd.
* two's company, three's a crowd = 두 사람은 좋은 동반자가 되지만 셋이면 의가 잘 맞지 않는다
When I was a young child in school, I had to learn the three R’s. These important skills are reading, writing and arithmetic. These three words do not all start with the letter “R.” But they have the sound of “R.” My teachers used to give three cheers when I did well in math. They gave praise and approval for a job well done.
* the three R's = reading, writing, arithmetic(읽기, 쓰기, 산수)/ give three cheers = 만세 삼창하다
Some of my friends were confused and did not understand their schoolwork. They were at sixes and sevens. In fact, they did not care if they finished high school. They saw little difference between the two choices. Six of one, half a dozen the other – that was their position. But they were really happy when they completed their studies and graduated from high school. They were in seventh heaven. They were on cloud nine.
* be at sixes and sevens = 혼란스러운(뒤죽박죽인)/ six of one, half a dozen the other = 오십보 백보다, 비슷비슷하다/ eventh heaven = 최고의 행복/ be on cloud nine = 너무나 행복한
Nine times out of ten, students who do well in school find good jobs. Some work in an office doing the same things every day at nine-to-five jobs. You do not have to dress to the nines, or wear your best clothes, for this kind of work.
* nine times out of ten = 십중팔구/ nine-to-five = 봉급생활자의, 일상적인일/ be dressed to the nines = 격식을 갖춰 옷을 입은; 최상의 정장을 차려 입은
Last year, one of my friends applied for a better job at her office. I did not think she would get it. I thought she had a hundred to one shot at the job. Other people at her office thought her chances were a million to one. One reason was that she had been caught catching forty winks at the office. She slept at her desk for short periods during the day. But her supervisor appointed her to the new job at the eleventh hour -- at the very last minute. I guess her lucky number came up.
* a hundred to one = 십중팔구; 거의 절대적으로/ a million to one = (가능성, 희망 따위가)매우 적은/ catch(have, take) forty winks = 잠시 눈을 붙임/ the eleventh hour = 마지막 기회; 최후의 순간; 막판/ sb's (lucky) number comes up = 매우 운이 좋다
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