很地道的成语翻译

丹尼尔

中华文化博大精深，成语俗语都是智慧结晶，但翻译成英文如果表达不当，却容易引起误解。所以，一起来学学常见中文成语的英译很有必要!

1 N5 g: p, P( G4 E0 d2 n$ \　　01

$ E7 O  O- I/ {& s　　爱屋及乌

/ E7 W* [) A' M( w1 L2 X　　Love me, love my dog.

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　　百闻不如一见

* i/ ]4 J& b* O0 e, P# R# x　　One look is worth a thousand words.

3 z3 T$ L9 C8 q0 T　　Seeing is believing.

　　03
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, q4 t. a4 n' }　　比上不足，比下有余
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　　to fall short of the best, but be better than the worst
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　　笨鸟先飞
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" U$ f. P( v8 X　　A slow sparrow should make an early start.
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　　05
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# m6 B0 U' ^, y1 F" ~: s, s4 p2 C8 z　　不遗余力

　　spare no effort; go all out; do one's best
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' P- M0 p/ e9 y- u! E　　06

　　不打不成交

　　No discord, no concord.
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　　07

2 @: _. `: p" I　　拆东墙补西墙
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2 c9 Z) m* R0 p$ \$ B7 h) h" l  a　　rob Peter to pay Paul

" ~! K; ]6 B8 \  G% P+ B% h　　08
  f* u# H# ?2 y4 p* L" f& o
　　辞旧迎新

　　bid farewell to the old and usher in the new
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　　09

! ^2 R' l' E! b9 ]4 l) B- j1 n- Y　　大事化小，小事化了

2 P4 a& p- o1 Q) X* Q　　try first to make their mistake sound less serious and then to reduce it to nothing at all

- i9 U0 G. X, X0 s9 q: Y9 l* k　　10
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4 W5 M& p, A5 j, y　　大开眼界
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　　broaden one's horizon; be an eye-opener

　　11
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( W9 ]. j4 u, }% N- h4 c6 x　　国泰民安
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9 b/ i- V$ L& ^　　the country flourishes and people live in peace
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1 X# M9 t6 A" d$ Y% s) b0 v  m　　过犹不及
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　　going beyond the limit is as bad as falling short; excess is just as bad as deficiency;
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　　too much is as bad as too little

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　　好了伤疤忘了疼
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  G% r4 K, L# Y& U% P　　once on shore, one prays no more
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　　14
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　　好事不出门，坏事传千里
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. Q* m; m( N' d2 u0 l6 o  G; ~　　Bad news travels fast.

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　　和气生财
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( Y* ?7 V0 F1 l, N- c　　harmony brings wealth;

% }& [3 }( U  n) J/ n　　friendliness is conducive to business success

　　16
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　　活到老学到老

9 @+ z8 w2 D5 V' t　　never too old to learn

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　　既往不咎
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4 ~- y* |( E% I　　let bygones be bygones

　　18

　　金无足赤，人无完人

: R& I1 L* b; D: ~　　There are spots even on the sun.

　　19
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　　金玉满堂

　　Treasures fill the home.

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　　脚踏实地

- j. m+ R' ]$ A8 t　　be down-to-earth
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1 ]# q8 J6 C  [' s/ ?; c2 A$ z　　脚踩两只船
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# o( G5 l+ {1 N+ h; A/ @　　sit on the fence; be a fence-sitter; have a foot in either camp

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& @( F6 ?% Y9 }; A　　君子之交淡如水

　　A hedge between keeps friendship green.

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  g, R3 [: r  s$ v/ P4 L! f& b　　老生常谈，陈词滥调

　　cut and dried; cliché
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　　24
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　　礼尚往来
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　　Courtesy calls for reciprocity.

　　25
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2 R- N: O) N* ?  G　　留得青山在，不怕没柴烧

　　Where there is life, there is hope.

　　26
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% e2 F- P4 ^! m　　马到成功

　　achieve immediate victory; win instant success

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　　名利双收
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+ |% g8 |( _1 \　　gain both fame and wealth

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　　茅塞顿开
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- w/ G6 X: ]2 _2 F　　be suddenly enlightened

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　　没有规矩，不成方圆
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; }: {" x) u9 r$ q3 {% A, u1 D　　Nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards.

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- t8 |6 i5 p0 E% B% h: l　　每逢佳节倍思亲
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! h7 m" p- Z4 ?6 e, ?# d　　On festive occasions more than ever one thinks of one's dear ones far away.

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! a& l8 C7 K0 _: e$ F) C7 k　　谋事在人，成事在天
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　　Man proposes; God disposes.

　　32

, y  {$ c, k- l! e$ G+ c　　弄巧成拙
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. Z  Y# D; ]. x: l5 L$ n　　make a fool of oneself in trying to be smart
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　　33

　　赔了夫人又折兵
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/ Z) U' R  ?- B$ b　　suffer a double loss; lose the bait along with the fish

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0 W4 t2 l1 B3 N% n: R' z8 B+ w　　抛砖引玉
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　　a modest spur to induce others to come forward with valuable contributions; throw a sprat to catch a whale

　　35
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　　破釜沉舟
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　　cut off all means of retreat;burn one's own way of retreat and be determined to fight to the end
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1 c  H, H  l0 s! g9 [# v% B' \　　抢得先机
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  F' \+ v( ]+ q9 m" c: f5 C　　take the preemptive opportunities
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　　巧妇难为无米之炊

1 H+ K5 w8 N  G4 P　　One can't make bricks without straw.

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$ O1 \  h" `' Y+ m　　千里之行始于足下
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! X  W* p% Q) P& H3 Z* e9 ]! |( W　　a thousand-li journey begins with the first step--the highest eminence is to be gained step by step

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( q& T  r4 y) O4 \8 {' u　　前事不忘，后事之师

/ l; u" ]3 T. a" U- O　　Past experience, if not forgotten, is a guide for the future.

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  |. ]/ c' {7 m8 j# T% c/ M　　前怕狼，后怕虎

　　fear wolves ahead and tigers behind; hesitate in doing something

　　41

　　强龙难压地头蛇

3 z1 B5 d- o& {5 _* r6 e5 {　　The mighty dragon is no match for the native serpent.
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9 r5 C# a, [# L3 m2 T) e* G0 W2 F　　42

  ^( }; H6 v+ G9 _8 j+ {　　瑞雪兆丰年

　　A fall of seasonal snow gives promise of a fruitful year

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　　人逢喜事精神爽
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5 L( k0 ?. }  V- Y- |& R& P) h3 q2 d　　People are in high spirits when involved in happy events.
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　　44
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　　世上无难事，只怕有心人

3 s$ G# p# j5 m' y% Y　　Where there is a will, there is a way.

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* t- z5 H8 f" H. C0 u, r9 K- E　　世外桃源
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8 N" X! s8 V5 t, L1 j' b7 C　　a retreat away from the turmoil of the world

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% A, v1 t0 v2 O$ D4 b) L　　人之初，性本善
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0 u9 b  g  r' @# {　　Humans are born good.

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# K4 y' x9 F8 b- b% w  L: j) s　　上有天堂，下有苏杭
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1 U" o: ?; C- E　　Just as there is paradise in heaven, there are Suzhou and Hangzhou on earth
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　　塞翁失马，焉知非福

* S- e3 Z; y$ Q, f- U4 U　　a blessing in disguise;

% o+ R8 X' D, Z4 T8 m  m2 d　　Every cloud has a silver lining.
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　　49

7 ]! J; n. F1 _. W5 T　　三十而立
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　　A man should be independent at the age of thirty. /At thirty, a man should be able to think for himself.

  {$ b% _) e, v# s5 l6 |　　50

　　水涨船高

　　A ship rises with the tide
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　　时不我待

　　Time and tide wait for no man.

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: @5 Z5 z1 ^7 q- z6 K7 W　　杀鸡用牛刀
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! j. p% P+ ~+ \　　use a steam-hammer to crack nuts

　　53

　　实事求是

　　seek truth from facts; be practical and realistic; be true to facts

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' Z/ c1 S7 l/ X4 ]1 \/ h( M& e　　说曹操，曹操到
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- ?$ E- d' N4 E4 Y2 B　　speak of the devil
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　　55

7 e2 U1 N8 X. S7 K* V2 t$ F% q　　实话实说

　　speak the plain truth; call a spade a spade; tell it as it is
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　　56

　　实践是检验真理的唯一标准

; z* J- y6 j3 \　　Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth.57
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- v# h. q- b/ {5 h! m$ s. A　　韬光养晦
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5 Y' A% m+ ~2 p. i) [　　hide one's capacities and bide one's time58

- X: o& _* z. o8 E　　糖衣炮弹
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　　sugar-coated bullets59

8 N0 ^! j; k( x　　天有不测风云
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　　Anything unexpected may happen. a bolt from the blue60

; N# B* L' X+ o; d# ~" e5 ?7 l　　团结就是力量
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0 E( b; z2 X. c" C9 O　　Unity is strength.
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6 ^! y. X. o+ w9 C! X# |　　61
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　　跳进黄河洗不清
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　　Even if one jumped into the Yellow River, one can not wash oneself clean - there's nothing one can do to clear one's name
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　　62

　　歪风邪气

　　unhealthy trends and vulgar practices
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　　物以类聚，人以群分

　　Birds of a feather flock together.
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　　64

　　望子成龙

9 b! R: ?: K0 g( V2 M9 }　　hold high hopes for one's child
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　　65
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　　唯利是图
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　　seek nothing but profits; be blind to all but one's own interests
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　　无中生有
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　　a sheer fabrication out of nothing; fabricate rumors out of thin air

　　67

  ]6 l9 v$ a1 B　　无风不起浪

　　There are no waves without wind. Nothing comes of nothing.

4 x- F; X* u$ e8 k  g　　68

　　徇私枉法

　　twist the law to suit one's own purpose

　　69

5 M" H( Q2 H8 S# Y/ E' h# J3 x; Y. Q: a　　新官上任三把火
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; f+ `- _1 R  l0 Q" H7 L　　a new broom sweeps clean

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　　蓄势待发
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　　accumulate strength for a take-off

　　71
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- v( }& w8 V$ B# e  W3 F　　心想事成
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; i5 }" ~0 P6 L) I" g" ?8 N# ?7 O& t" S　　May all your wish come true
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　　心照不宣

　　have a tacit understanding; thoroughly understand each other, without having exchanged a word of explanation
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　　73

　　先入为主

　　First impressions are firmly entrenched.
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　　74
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: F% o6 ?$ T& d　　先下手为强
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　　He who strikes first gains the advantage.

　　The best defense is offense.
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　　75

　　热锅上的蚂蚁
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　　ants on a hot pan

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　　现身说法
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　　warn people by taking oneself as an example

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　　息事宁人
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; M- y/ d- I  g# L- ?* W　　pour oil on troubled waters; patch up a quarrel and reconcile the parties concerned

　　78
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　　循序渐进
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3 J  I5 M( o# P8 d/ l　　proceed in an orderly way and step by step; advance gradually in due order

　　79
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6 {1 h$ G- b5 \* @" U7 V　　严以律己，宽以待人
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0 b4 A1 L2 y) v/ r( n+ z+ u5 x　　be strict with oneself and lenient with others

) H, {* K; e7 ?, x4 f) w, Z+ Q　　80

6 l3 B$ J, P3 W) I  p　　有情人终成眷属

　　Jack shall have Jill, all shall be well.81
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　　有钱能使鬼推磨

' O+ `* |% p3 @0 S/ K/ }! u" }# d　　Money makes the mare go./ Money talks.82
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7 }9 W2 ]7 q5 H% @　　有识之士
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* ]# K) O/ Z3 V0 |& F, q　　a man of insight83
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　　有勇无谋

5 k! m. q, M- W, j) b5 P) |: A　　bold but not crafty84

; L% |4 ~; p; _& u8 L4 _1 ~6 X+ f2 y　　有缘千里来相会
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8 c! F, J7 m$ \5 M　　Separated as we are thousands of miles apart, we come together as if by predestination.85

. J" x6 S1 b0 [# O$ g　　与时俱进

　　keep pace with the times86
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% A- M6 b- U4 {7 ~8 G　　以人为本

5 e' R# |/ ]( @& H' N　　people-oriented
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5 ]5 y" V2 Q. Z$ O, N$ \. E　　87

　　因材施教

/ }* l# h* X  o2 X6 z: A* N　　teach students according to their aptitude
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# w; C7 A0 m% Z: f% [　　欲穷千里目，更上一层楼
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　　to ascend another storey to see a thousand miles further; Ascend further, were you to look farther.
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　　欲速则不达

0 i% U; F0 P2 }; V4 v1 f5 `3 t　　Haste makes waste.

* k$ B9 Q3 _6 ]( d7 h　　More haste, less speed.
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) U4 E% s6 i/ V' k( r: }/ B　　90
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　　优胜劣汰
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　　survival of the fittest
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　　91

　　英雄所见略同

0 `5 E( ?4 i9 m. a  N　　Great minds think alike.

　　92
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& A+ r9 R$ ?6 a7 y0 [; F　　冤家宜解不宜结
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* F$ T" @. h- y3 A　　Better make friends than make enemies.

7 Q" J, Q/ [* k- s　　93

. e0 G; k8 o. _& O　　冤假错案
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　　cases in which people were unjustly, falsely or wrongly charged or sentenced; unjust, false or wrong cases

　　94
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# o% F2 `* F( p8 F5 w" t0 o4 f1 x! g　　一言既出，驷马难追
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6 F7 w: d+ y/ F9 V3 Q　　A promise is a promise.
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4 L+ i% _% T3 }9 u& m' a+ n$ I　　A real man never goes back on his words.
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　　95

　　招财进宝
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　　bring in wealth and treasure
6 H( d4 N- R* {' V- R& R3 q# B
' \! c, `5 k/ c; \　　96

　　债台高筑
% R* u& u9 ]. E3 E; a6 V2 A( _6 K
　　become debt-ridden

　　97

　　众矢之的

　　target of public criticism
, l, T: E% w' I4 E- D# T
% a2 E$ r$ p5 ]1 c　　98

; t1 H1 k+ O0 g* \, E/ n; [; j2 D　　纸上谈兵
+ W9 a! T" s( r4 T# [
7 l) h) k# Z  x+ y- Q　　be an armchair strategist
$ y! f4 Z; B6 @
1 ]- Z, p( c5 Y! ~. v  ]　　99

2 X' l. F6 x; D3 J- e6 I3 P  h　　纸包不住火
9 m4 g1 E5 b8 y4 ]4 b4 e0 T- Y
6 [" j9 \" }8 Z4 e5 M6 j　　You can't wrap fire in paper.
0 G) o# U) J, H. \7 N. Q, k
# ~0 D8 Y3 T/ Q! T- ^8 ~/ ^* z0 \- U　　What's done by night appears by day.

　　100
% v* D  D* U7 a+ k# `
% s% B) l% d  N6 T( y　　左右为难
% L; X4 m$ q& v$ n' X8 S. s% v& X
　　caught in a dilemma; between the devil and the deep blue sea

Justing

应根据前后语境翻译，同一成语可以有不同译法。