含义: a Jack of both side

騎牆派

both 成语

best of both worlds

(See the best of both worlds)

burn the candle at both ends

work or play too hard without enough rest He has been burning the candle at both ends with his work and his studies. That is why he became sick.

can't have it both ways

"you have to choose one or the other; cannot have your cake..." When children are allowed to make choices, they learn that they can't have it both ways.

cut both/two ways

be capable of having two opposite effects My decision to complain to our boss could cut two ways and cause him to be pleased as well as angry at me.

have it both ways

do two things, have both things You can

hot and bothered

upset, getting angry, ready to speak angrily You know that Dad gets hot and bothered when you stay out late.

jump in with both feet

become totally involved, go whole hog Ken gets involved in his work. He jumps in with both feet.

the best of both worlds

the best parts of two cultures or styles etc., two heads are better... If you have Italian design and German engineering, you have the best of both worlds, eh.

bat for both sides

to be bisexual

make (both) ends meet

earn what it costs to live收支相抵
He could not make both ends meet．他入不敷出。
However much money you earn，it's still difficult to make ends meet．不管你挣多少钱，若要收支平衡仍有困难。

play both ends against the middle

Idiom(s): play both ends (against the middle)

Theme: MANIPULATION

[for one] to scheme in a way that pits two sides against each other (for one's own gain). (Informal.)
• I told my brother that Mary doesn't like him. Then I told Mary that my brother doesn't like her. They broke up, so now I can have the car this weekend. I succeeded in playing both ends against the middle.
• If you try to play both ends, you're likely to get in trouble with both sides.

make both ends meet

Idiom(s): make (both) ends meet

Theme: MONEY

to manage to live on a small amount of money.
• It's hard these days to make ends meet.
• I have to work overtime to make both ends meet.

let sb have it with both barrels

Idiom(s): let sb have it (with both barrels)

Theme: SCOLDING

to strike someone or attack someone verbally. (Informal. With both barrels simply intensifies the phrase.)
• I really let Tom have it with both barrels. I told him he had better not do that again if he knows what's good for him.
• Bob let John have it—right on the chin.

have the best of both worlds

Idiom(s): have the best of both worlds

Theme: ALTERNATIVES

to be in a situation where one can enjoy two different opportunities.
• When Donna was a fellow at the university, she had the privileges of a professor and the freedom of a student. She definitely had the best of both worlds.
• Don hated to have to choose between retirement and continuing working. He wanted to do both so he could have the best of both worlds.

have a foot in both camps

Idiom(s): have a foot in both camps

Theme: FLEXIBILITY

to have an interest in or to support each of two opposing groups of people.
• The shop steward had been promised a promotion and so had afoot in both camps during the strike—workers and management.
• Mr. Smith has afoot in both camps in the parent-teacher dispute. He teaches math, but he has a son at the school.

cut both ways

Idiom(s): cut both ways

Theme: BALANCE

to affect both sides of an issue equally.
• Remember that your suggestion that costs should be shared cuts both ways. You will have to pay as well.
• If our side cannot take along supporters to the game, then yours cannot either. The rule has to cut both ways.

with both hands tied behind one's back

Idiom(s): with one hand tied behind one's back AND with both hands tied behind one's back

Theme: EASY

under a handicap; easily.
• I could put an end to this argument with one hand tied behind my back.
• John could do this job with both hands tied behind his back.

land on both feet

Idiom(s): land on one's feet AND land on both feet

Theme: RECOVERY

to recover satisfactorily from a trying situation or a setback. (Informal.)
• Her first year was terrible, but she landed on both feet.
• It's going to be a hard day. I only hope I land on my feet.

Both ends meet

If you make both ends meet, you live off the money you earn and don't go into debt.

both --- and|and|both

coord. conj. Used to emphasize that two or more things are talked about. Both Frank and Mary were at the party. Millie is both a good swimmer and a good cook. In the program tonight Mary will both sing and dance. The frog can move quickly both on land and in the water.
Compare: AS WELL AS. Contrast EITHER OR.

burn the candle at both ends|both ends|burn|candle

v. phr. To work or play too hard without enough rest; get too tired. He worked hard every day as a lawyer and went to parties and dances every night; he was burning the candle at both ends.

cut both ways|both ways|cut|cut two ways|two ways

v. phr. To have two effects; cause injury to both sides. People who gossip find it cuts both ways.

hot and bothered|bothered|hot

adj., informal Excited and worried, displeased, or puzzled.

A hackneyed phrase. Fritz got all hot and bothered when he failed in the test. Leona was all hot and bothered when her escort was late in coming for her. Jerry was hot and bothered about his invention when he couldn't get it to work. It is a small matter; don't get so hot and bothered.

land on one's feet|feet|foot|land|land on both fee

v. phr., informal To get yourself out of trouble without damage or injury and sometimes with a gain; be successful no matter what happens. No matter what trouble he gets into, he always seems to land on his feet. Mary lost her first job because she was always late to work, but she landed on her feet and soon had a better job.

plague on both your houses|house|houses|plague|pla

Bad luck to both of you!

Used to show disgust at those who wont stop quarreling. The bus drivers went on strike because the bus company would not raise their pay. After several weeks, the people who needed to ride the bus to work said, "A plague on both your houses."

best of both worlds, the

best of both worlds, the
Benefits from two seemingly opposed alternatives, as in Jenny taught in the morning only and worked on her book afternoons, so she had the best of both worlds. Charles Kingsley used this idiom in Westward Ho! (1855): “Make the best of both worlds.” Also see make the best of it.

both

both
In addition to the idioms beginning with both, also see best of both worlds, the; burn the candle at both ends; cut both ways; foot in both camps, have a; have it both ways; play both ends against the middle; work both sides of the street.
* * *
- both barrels, with
- both feet on the ground, with

both barrels, with

both barrels, with
With full force, as in When I scolded her for stealing, I let her have it with both barrels. This term alludes to firing with both barrels of a double-barreled shotgun. [Colloquial; mid-1900s]

both feet on the ground, with

both feet on the ground, with
In a sensible, realistic, or practical manner. For example, You can count on Tom not to get cheated in that deal; he has both feet on the ground, or Jean is a dreamer, but her husband is a man with his feet on the ground. There is a related phrase, have both feet on the ground, meaning “to be practical or realistic.” [Mid-1900s]

bother, bothered

bother, bothered
see go to the trouble; hot and bothered.

foot in both camps, have a

foot in both camps, have a
Support or have good relations with two opposing sides. For example, He had a foot in both camps, making donations to candidates in both parties. In this expression camp alludes to encampments of enemy troops in a battle. [First half of 1900s]

work both sides of the street

work both sides of the street
Engage in doubledealing, be duplicitous, as in The real estate agent was known for working both sides of the street, advising first the buyer and then the seller. This metaphoric term transfers opposite sides of a street to opposite sides of a negotiation.