摘要：成语是历史的积淀，每个成语背后都有意义深远的故事。吉米老师特地给大家准备了 50个带音频的英文版成语故事，一起学习吧！
英语口语·吉米老师说
成语是历史的积淀，每个成语背后都有意义深远的故事。吉米老师特地给大家准备了 50个带音频的英文版成语故事，一起学习吧！
英语·成语故事
本文来源网络，版权归原作者所有
11.负荆请罪
In the Warring states Period, Lian Po and Lin Xiangru were both senior generals of the State of Zhao. They both did great job to their country.
战国时期，廉颇和蔺相如都是赵国的大将。他们都对国家做出了巨大的贡献。
One day, Lin Xiangru took a lot of trouble to get a valuable jade back for the king. Then he got a promotion above Lian Po.
有一天，蔺相如因“完璧归赵”的事情获得了升职，职位在廉颇之上。
Out of envy, Lian Po said: “I’ll make Lin feel ashamed and foolish the next time I meet him.”
廉颇愤愤不平地宣称：下次我再见到他，我一定要羞辱他。
Lin Xiangru heard of this from others. In order not to cause conflict, he tried his best to avoided meeting Lian.
蔺相如听说之后，就躲避着廉颇，因为他不想跟他发生冲突。
Because Lin put benefit of the country first, he thought that any conflict between he and Lian would be used by the enemy of their country.
蔺相如把国家利益放在第一位，他认为他和廉颇之意的任何冲突都会被敌国利用，
Therefore, he brought doubts and blame from others on himself.
因此，他独自承受着别人的质疑和指责。
Later when Lian Po realized his mistake, he was so ashamed.
后来，廉颇意识到了自己的错误：羞愧难当，
So he went to Lin’s home carrying brambles on his naked back and asked for punishment.
于是他就来到蔺相如的家，在赤裸的上身背着荆条，请求蔺相如的惩罚。
难点点拨
1. senior general: 高级将领，大将
2. take a lot of trouble: 费力地，多费周折地
3. get back：取回，挽回
4. jade: 玉石，翡翠
5. promotion: 升职
6. out of envy: 出于嫉妒
7. avoid：躲避
8. cause conflict: 引起冲突
9. bring ... on oneself: 独自承担
10. blame: 指责，责备
11. bramble：荆条，荆棘
12. naked: 赤裸的
13. punishment: 惩罚
12.画蛇添足
In old time, a family in the State of Chu held a sacrificial activity to their ancestors, and after that they rewarded the people who helped in the ceremony with the pot of wine used in it.
从前，楚国有一户人家，祭完祖宗以后，把一壶祭祀时用过的酒给帮助办事的人喝。
There were many helpers but only one pot of wine. Who will drink it?
办事的人很多，可是酒只有一壶。到底给谁喝呢?
Then someone suggested: “Let everyone draw a snake. Whoever draws fastest and most lifelike will get the pot of wine.”All people thought that was a good idea.
有人提议说：”各人都在地上画一条蛇，谁画得快、画得像，就把这壶酒给谁喝。”大家都认为这个办法很好。
One man drew very fast. He finished it in the blink of an eye, and of course he was given the pot of wine.
有一个人画得很快，一转眼，就把蛇画好了。这壶酒应该归他。
At this moment, he saw that the others had not finished yet, so he wanted to flaunt (show off )his skill.
可是，这时候，他看看别人都没有画好，就想再炫耀一下自己的能耐。
He said proudly: “How slow you are! Even though I give the snake more feet and you won’t finish it.” Holding the wine pot in his left hand, he began to add feet to the snake with his right hand.
他得意洋洋地说：”你们画得真慢啊，我就是再画上几只蛇脚，你们都画不好！”他左手拿着酒壶，右手又开始给画好了的蛇添上脚。
When he was just adding feet to the snake, another man finished his drawing.
当他正在给蛇画脚的时候，另一个人却把蛇画好了。
He grabbed the wine pot at once, saying: "A snake has no feet. How could you add feet to it? The first one who finished drawing a snake is I, not you."
而且立刻把酒壶夺了过去，说：”蛇是没有脚的，你怎么画上了脚？第一个画好蛇的是我，不是你了！”
Having said this(After saying this), the man drank off the wine.
说完，就将杯子中的酒一饮而尽。
这个成语故事告诉我们：
任何事都要实事求是，不能卖弄聪明，否则非但不能把事情做好，反而会把事情弄砸。
We should keep our feet on the ground whatever we do, or it may lead a bad ending.
重难点词汇及短语：
hold a sacrificial activity举行祭祀活动
suggest 提议，建议
lifelike 栩栩如生的，逼真的
in the blink of an eye 一眨眼的功夫
flaunt 炫耀
grab 夺取，抢过来
at once 立刻，马上
drink off 一饮而尽
13. 南辕北辙
There once was a man who wanted to go to the south, but his carriage was heading north.
从前有一个人坐着马车要去南方，但是他的马车却朝着北方行驶。
A passer-by asked him: “Now that you are going to the south, why is your carriage heading north?”
一个路人看到了问他：”既然你要去南方，为什么你的车子要往北走呢？“
The man answered: “My horse is good at running, my cart driver has excellent driving skills, and I have enough money. In any case, I am able to get to my destination.”
这个人回答道：”我的马善于奔跑，我的马车夫也有很高超的驾驶技术，我呢，又有充足的钱。无论如何，我都会到达目的地的。“
The man didn't realize that if he was heading a wrong direction;
这个人没有意识到，如果他朝着一个错误的方向走，
the faster his horse ran, the further he would be away from his destination.
他的马跑的越快，他离目的地就会越远。
难点点拨
1. carriage: 马车
2. head: 前进，驶往
3. passer-by：路人
4. now that: 既然
5. driving skills: 驾驶技术
6. in any case: 无论如何
7. destination: 终点，目的地
8. direction: 方向
9. further: （far的比较级）更远，越远
14.滥竽充数
King Xuan of Qi liked listening to a kind of music - yu.
齐国的国君齐宣王爱好音乐，尤其喜欢听吹竽，
Therefore, he ordered 300 players to make a band to play yu for him.他派人组成了一支300人的乐队在一起合奏给他听，并给这些乐手们很丰厚的报酬。
A man named Nan Guo heard this news. He went to apply for this job.
有个南郭先生听说了齐宣王的这个爱好，心里痒痒的，
He didn’t know how to play yu, but he told the king that he could play yu very well.
他虽然对竽一无所知，但觉得这是个赚钱的好机会。
King Xuan of Qi was very happy when he heard this and let him be a member of the band.
于是南郭跑到齐宣王那里去，吹嘘自己的竽吹得有多好，齐宣王听后便信以为真了，很爽快地收下了他。
From then on, he played fake music every day and was paid like others until King Xuan of Qi died.
这以后，南郭先生就随那300人一块儿合奏给齐宣王听，每逢演奏的时候，南郭先生就捧着竽混在队伍中，人家摇晃身体他也摇晃身体，人家摆头他也摆头，脸上装出一副动情忘我的样子，居然没有被任何人看出破绽来。但是好景不长，过了几年，齐宣王死了，他的儿子继承了王位。
King Min succeeded to the throne after King Xuan died. He also loved to listen to yu.
年轻的王子也爱听吹竽，可是他和齐宣王不一样，
But he liked to listen to solos.
他认为独奏更加动听，一群人一块儿吹实在太吵。
When Nan Guo heard about this news, he was so afraid that he ran away at night.
南郭先生得到这个消息之后吓出了一身冷汗。他想来想去，觉得这次再也混不过去了，只好连夜收拾行李逃走了。
Fraud will not stand the test of time and will eventually reveal itself.
故事告诉人们：弄虚作假是经不住时间的考验，终究会露出马脚的。
重难点词汇及短语
1. order：命令
2. apply：申请
3. a member of...：......的一员
4. fake：假的，伪造的
5. succeed to：继承
6. throne：王位
7. solo：独奏
15.盲羊补牢
There once was a shepherd. He bred many sheep.
从前有一个牧羊人，养了很多羊。
In the daytime, he herded them outside; at night, he drove them into the sheepfold which was enclosed by hays and pegs.
白天放牧，晚上把它们赶进一个用柴草和木桩围起来的羊圈内。
One morning, the shepherd went to herd the sheep and found one sheep lost.
一天早晨，这个牧羊人去放羊，发现羊少了一只。
He then found that the sheepfold had been broken, and the wolf must had stolen the sheep through the hollow.
原来羊圈破了个窟窿。夜间有狼从窟窿里钻了进来，叼走了一只羊。
“You’d better repair the sheepfold and plug up the hollow as soon as possible.” The neighbors advised him.
邻居劝他赶快把羊圈修一修。
“The sheep has been lost, what’s the point of repairing the sheepfold?”
他却说：“羊都已经丢了，还修羊圈有什么意义。”
He didn’t take the neighbor’s kind suggestions.
他没有接受邻居们的好心劝告。
The next morning, he went to herd and found another sheep lost. The wolf had done it again.
第二天早上，他去放羊，发现羊又少了一只。原来狼又从窟窿钻进去叼走了一只羊。
The shepherd now regretted for not taking his neighbor’s advice and not taking remediation in time.
这位牧羊人很后悔没有接受邻居们的劝告，去及时采取补救措施。
So he plugged up the hollow soon, and reinforced the whole sheepfold to make it more stable.
于是，他赶紧堵上那个窟窿。又把整个羊圈都加固了一番，羊圈比以前更加牢固了。
From then on, his sheep didn’t get stolen any more.
从此，牧羊人的羊再也没有丢过。
The story tells us that it is very common to make mistakes and encounter setbacks in our life. As long as you can draw the lesson and make up the mistake in time, you can avoid remaking mistakes and suffering more losses.
这个故事告诉我们：在我们的一生中，犯错误，遭受挫折都是很正常的事情，只要能够及时吸取教训，弥补错误，就能避免再次犯错，从而遭受较少的损失。
难点点拨
1. shepherd: 牧羊人，牧师
2. bred: (breed的过去式) 饲养，养育
3. drove：(drive的过去式) 驱赶
4. enclose: 把……围住
5. hay: 干草
6. peg: 木桩
7. plug up: 堵上
8. advise/ suggest: 建议 (suggestion是suggest的名词形式)
9. what’s the point of ...: 做……有何意义
10. regret for：为……感到悔恨
11. take remediation in time: 及时补救
12. reinforce: 加固
13. stable：牢固的，稳定的
14. setback: 挫折
15. make up the mistake: 弥补错误
16.一鸣惊人
The king of Chu had been a king for three years, but he never managed the state affairs.
楚庄王即位了三年，没管理过国家大事。
A minister was worried so he said to the king: “ I have a puzzle. Could you help me to solve it?”
大臣伍举很着急，进宫去对楚庄王说：“大王，我有个谜解不开，想请您猜一猜。”
The king said: “ What is it?”
楚庄王说：“您就说吧！”
The minister answered: “ There is a bird living in the South Mountains. It never sings or flies. Why?”
伍举说：“有一只鸟停在南山上，三年来不飞也不叫，这是什么缘故呢？”
The king smiled: “ In order to make its wings stronger, it never flies. And for knowing the situations, it never sings. Although it does not fly, it will fly straight into the sky afterwards;
楚庄王笑笑说：“三年不飞，为了让翅膀长得坚强些；三年不叫，为了看看周围的情形。
Even if it doesn’t sing, its singing must be surprising once it does.
它虽然不飞，一飞起来就直冲云霄；虽然不叫，一叫出声就让人吃惊（一鸣惊人）。
Don’t worry, I know what you mean.”
您放心吧，我知道您的意思了。”
After half a year, the king of Chu managed the state affairs.
又过了半年，楚庄王亲自管理起国家大事来。
He abolished the unreasonable laws and made new laws. He fired the incompetent ministers and asked the learned people for help.
他废除了不合理的法令，制定了新的法令；罢免了不称职的大臣，请有学问的人来帮他办事。
The State of Chu became better and better. And the king became a leader of all the countries.
楚庄王把楚国治理得很好，后来成了各国君主的首领。
重难点词汇及短语
1. manage：管理
2. state affairs：国务，国事
3. minister：大臣
4. puzzle：迷惑
5. in order to：为了
6. situation：情况，形势
7. abolish：废除
8. unreasonable：不合理的
9. dismiss：罢免，开除
10. incompetent：无能力的，不胜任的
11. learned：有学问的
12. ask for help：寻求帮助
17.量体裁衣
There was a famous tailor in Ming Dynasty. He could tailor clothes perfectly.
明朝嘉靖年间，北京城中有位裁缝名气很响，他裁制的衣服，长短肥瘦，无不合体。
One day, a Royal Doctor asked him to make a court dress.
一次，御史大夫请他去裁制一件朝服。
After measuring his waist, the tailor asked: “How long have you been an official?”
裁缝量好了他的身腰尺寸，又问：“请教老爷，您当官当了多少年了？”
The Royal Doctor felt strange: “You’re just a tailor. Why are you asking this?”
御史大夫很奇怪：“你量体裁衣就够了，还要问这些干什么？”
The tailor answered: “A young official is high-spirited. He walks with chest out. So the front of the clothes should be longer than the back. 裁缝回答说：“年青相公初任高职，意高气盛，走路时挺胸凸肚，裁衣要后短前长；
After being an official for years, the mood is slightly peaceful, so the front and the back should be of equal length.
做官有了一定年资，意气微平，衣服应前后一般长短；
When an official is about to retire after a long time, he is depressed in his heart. He lowers his head and stoops down when he walks. So the front of the clothes should be shorter than the back.
当官年久而将迁退，则内心悒郁不振，走路时低头弯腰，做的衣服就应前短后长。
Therefore, If I don’t ask you that question, how can I make a perfect court dress for you?”
所以，我如果不问明做官的年资，怎么能裁出称心合体的衣服来呢？”
重难点词汇及短语
1. tailor：裁缝
2. Royal Doctor：御史大夫
3. court dress：官服
4. waist：腰
5. slightly：稍微
6. depressed：沮丧
7. stoop down：弯腰
18.殃及池鱼
Once, there was a pool near the gate of a city wall. In the pool, many fish were swimming happily there.
从前，有个地方，城门下面有个池塘，一群鱼儿在里边快乐地游着。
One day, the gate burst into flames. One of the fish saw it and said to others: “Swim! Swim quickly! It’s on fire!”
突然，城门着了火，一条鱼儿看见了大叫说：”不好了，城门失火了，快跑吧！”
But other fish didn’t care too much. They thought the gate was far away from the pool and it would not hurt them.
但是其他鱼儿都不以为然，认为城门失火，离池塘很远，用不着大惊小怪。
At last only that fish swam away.
除了那条鱼儿逃走了之外，其它鱼都没有逃走。
The fire burned bigger and bigger, so all people came to the pool to fetch water.
火势越来越大，这时，人们拿着装水的东西来池塘取水救火。
In the end, the fire was put out and the water in the pool was used up. Unluckily, the fish in the pool died because of no water.
过一会，火被扑灭了，而池塘的水也被取干了，满池的鱼都遭了殃。
重难点词汇及短语
implicate 牵连
burst into flames 突然失火
put out 扑灭（火）
fetch 取
19.返老还童
Liu An liked finding the way to live forever since he was a youth. So he was asking around about the elixir of life.
相传，刘安自年轻时代起，就喜好求仙之道。封淮南王以后，更是潜心钻研，四处派人打听却老之术，访寻长生不老之药。
One day, eight old men told him that they had the medicine and wanted to give it to him. Liu An was so happy to hear that and invited them to his palace.
有一天，忽然有八位白发银须的老汉求见，说是他们有返老还童之术，并愿把长生不老药献给淮南王。刘安一听，知是仙人求见，真是大喜过望，急忙开门迎见
But when he saw the eight old men, he was unhappy and said: “You are such old men.
但一见那八个老翁，却不禁哑然失笑。原来八个老汉一个个白发银须，虽然精神矍铄，但毕竟是老了呀！哪会有什么防老之术呢？
How can I believe that you can make me stay young and live forever?” The old men laughed: “Do you think we are too old? Then, look at us carefully.”
“你们自己都那样老了，我又怎么可以相信，你们有防老之法术呢？这分明是骗人！”说完，叫守门人把他们撵走。
After saying this, they became eight children.
说着，八个老翁一眨眼工夫，忽然全变成儿童了。
重难点词汇及短语：
youth：青年
elixir of life：长生不老药
invite：邀请
20.对症下药
Hua Tuo was a great medical scientist in China. He had excellent medical skills and always made a right judgement of the illness.
华陀是东汉末年著名的医学家，他医术高明，诊断准确，在我国医学史上享有很高的地位。华陀给病人诊疗时，能够根据不同的情况，开出不同的处方。
One day, two guys came to his home. Both of them said they had headache and fever. But, after diagnosing two of them, Hua Tuo gave them two kinds of different medicine.
有一次，两个人一同到华陀那儿看病，他们诉说的病症相同：头痛发热。华陀分别给两人诊了脉后，给其中一人开了泻药，而给另一人开了发汗的药。
These two men were confused and asked: “We have the same symptom, why should we take different medicine?”
两人看了药方，感到非常奇怪，问：”我们两人的症状相同，病情一样，为什么吃的药却不一样呢？”
Hua Tuo smiled: “Although your symptom looks the same, it was caused by different causes. So you should take different medicine.”
华陀解释说：“你俩只是病症的表象类似，实则病因却大不相同，我当然得对症下药，给你们用不同的药治疗了。
Soon after, these two men recovered.
”二人服药后，没过多久，病就全好了。
难点点拨：
medical scientist 医学家
excellent 超高的，杰出的
diagnose 诊断
confused 困惑的
symptom 症状
take medicine 吃药
recover 痊愈
来源：教英语音乐的呦呦