在英语中，有许多习语和短语通过比喻和象征来传达特定的含义，这些表达方式丰富了语言的表达力和趣味性。这些习语往往源自日常生活中的具体事物或活动，但它们的含义远远超出了字面意义。

1.curry favour 讨好，奉承，拍马屁(curry是咖喱)

He's always trying to curry favour with the boss.

他总是想方设法拍老板马屁。

2. be in apple-pie order 井然有序;整齐;井井有条(apple-pie是苹果派)

Their house is always in apple-pie order.

他们家总是收拾得井井有条。

3. jam tomorrow 许而不予的好东西，可望不可及的东西(jam是果酱)

As children we were always being promised jam tomorrow, if only we would be patient.

孩提时大人总是许诺只要我们耐心点儿就会给我们好东西。

4. (as) cool as a cucumber 镇静，冷静，泰然自若(cucumber是黄瓜)

She walked in as cool as a cucumber, as if nothing had happened.

她泰然自若地走进来，好像什么事也没发生过。

5. be like chalk and cheese 截然不同;迥异(chalk是粉笔，cheese是奶酪)

My brother and I are like chalk and cheese.

我哥哥和我截然不同。

6. like two peas in a pod (尤指外观)非常相像(pea是豌豆)

The twins are like two peas in a pod.

那对双胞胎长得极像。

7. bean counter (尤指大公司的)会计师(bean是豆类)

It looked like the project was going to be approved, but the bean counters said it wasn't cost-effective.

眼看这个项目就要获批准了，但会计师们认为它不划算。

8. bring home the bacon 养家糊口(bacon是培根)

I can't sit around all day - someone's got to bring home the bacon.

我不能整天坐着无所事事——家里总得有个养家糊口的人。

9. chew the cud 深思，反复思考(cud是咀嚼物)

He sat for a moment chewing the cud before he spoke.

他坐着沉思了片刻才开口说话。

10. eat crow / eat humble pie 认错;道歉(pie是馅饼)

After boasting that his company could outperform the industry's best, he's been forced to eat humble pie.

他吹嘘他的公司可以压倒业内最好的企业，但之后，他就不得不承认言过其实了。

11. sour grapes 酸葡萄(指由于得不到而贬低某物，grape是葡萄)

I don't think it's such a great job - and that's not just sour grapes because I didn't get it.

我认为这份工作不怎么样——我可不是因为吃不着葡萄说葡萄酸。

12. spill the beans 泄露秘密(bean是豆类)

So who spilled the beans about her affair with David?

所以到底是谁把她和大卫的私情泄露出去的?

这些习语的使用不仅能够使语言更加生动形象，还能帮助我们更好地理解和运用英语。通过学习和掌握这些习语，我们能够更准确地表达自己的思想和情感，同时也能更好地理解他人的表达。因此，了解和运用这些习语对于提高英语水平和跨文化交流能力具有重要意义。