生活环境的不同，文化上的差异决定了我们语言上的差异。学英文时经常按中文思路，直接翻译每个单词的意思。实际上，这是错误的英文学习方式，今天来说几个非常简单，但你不一定都能答对的实用表达，马上来看！

A word

A word中“Word”是“词、字”没错，但是连起来“A word”就不是“一个单词”。

“A word”是“私下里沟通，悄悄话，也可指商谈，谈话”的意思。

举个例子：

Can I have a word with you？

可以借一步说话吗？

I don't think she's interested but I'll have a word with her.

我想她不会感兴趣，但是我会和她聊聊的。

- Tom, can I have a word with you? It won't take long.

- Sure. I'll be with you in a minute.

-汤姆，我能和你说句话吗？不会占用你太多时间。

-好的，我一会儿过来。

Have words

Have words难道是“有话说”？如果你这么理解，那就错了。

Have words是“拌嘴，争论，吵架”的意思。

举个例子：

Parents had words last night.

爸妈昨晚吵架了。

In a word

汉语中，我们经常说一句话“总而言之、言而总之”是不是“To make a long story short”呢？

“总之、总而言之”是“In a word”或者“All in all”的意思。

举个例子：

In a word, they can do everything they like with, money.

总之，他们用金钱能做到他们喜欢做的一切。

In a word, I am tired of everything.

总之，我对一切都很烦。

Eat one's word

Eat one's word并不是真的把文字吃下去，不是“食言”！

以前听过一个小笑话：儿子的债主拿着欠条找上门时，父母把欠条当面包一样吃了！

在这里“Eat one's word”，不是吃文字，是指“收回前言，承认自己说错了话”！

举个例子：

What he said proved wrong, so he had to eat his words.

事实证明他说错了，所以他只好收回前言。

I never thought Clare could handle this job, but I have to eat my words now.

我一直以为Clare无法胜任这份工作，看来我错了。

What's the good word?

What's the good word?并不是“有什么好话”！

What's the good word?等同于How are you，是一种更加地道的美式口语！

举个例子：

Haven't seen you for a long time.

What's the good word?

好久不见,你近来好吗？

From the word go

From the word go不是“从这个单词走”，如果你这么理解，那真的会闹笑话的！

“From the word go”是指“始终，从一开始；完全，彻底”的意思！

举个例子：

Again, your readers will have to buy my book for the whole story, but there is no question that Dumbledore took an unnatural interest in Potter from the word go.

读者也需要购买我的书才能知道全部故事，但是毫无疑问，邓布利多从一开始就对波特有一种不正常的兴趣。

Yes, it was love from the word go.

是的，我们从一开始就互相爱上了。

by word of mouth

嘴巴里的词?好像没有这种说法。

但是你要仔细想想，这也没错，因为by word of mouth就是通过口头来传播。也就是一个消息经过一传十，十传百以后，许许多多人都知道了这件事。

举个例子：

I think the best form of advertising is by word of mouth. People don't believe a lot of what they hear or see in paid-for advertisements, but when they hear a recommendation directly from a friend, they are far more likely to act on it.

我认为最好的广告方式是口口相传。人们不太相信他们听到的或看到的那种付钱做的广告。当他们直接从朋友那儿听到推荐，他们就很可能会采纳。

（来源：英语四六级备考）