off the beaten track . not well known； not visited by many people不出名；人们不常去的

I know a nice place for a picnic that's off the beaten track； hardly anyone goes there．我知道一个野餐的好地方，那儿很少有人去。

This theatre is off the beaten track．这家剧院并不出名。

off the beaten track . unusual不寻常

The workers went off the beaten track and designed a new type grinder．工人们打破常规，设计了一台新型磨床。

off the cuff . without preparing ahead of time what one will say无准备地；即兴地

He is always at his best when he speaks off the cuff．他即席讲话总是讲得很出色。

Considering that the speech was off the cuff，it was rather good．由于这发言是毫无准备的，所以它还算是不错的。

 off the ground . making progress进展

Our plans for a party didn't get off the ground because no one could come．我们聚会的计划未能实现，因为没人前来参加。

Make sure your project gets off the ground at the start．一定要使你们的工程一开始就进行得顺利。

off the hook . out of trouble； out of an awkward situation摆脱窘境

Seeing that he couldn't answer the question， I tried to get him off the hook by changing the subject．看到他那个问题答不上来，我就设法换个话题让他摆脱窘境。

As soon as he saw her smile he knew he was off the hook．他一看到她的笑脸，就明白他已没麻烦了。

off the map  . remote偏远的

Our house is rather off the map． I think it would be best for me to meet you at the station．我们的房子在很偏远的地方。我想最好是我到车站去接你。

off the point . not related to the subject离题的；不切题的

I understand what you are trying to say，but I think it is off the point．我知道你想讲什么，但是我认为你要讲的与本题无关。

 off the record . confidentially；not for official publication不可记录或引用的；不公开

The president told the reporters that his remarks were strictly off the record．总统告诉新闻记者，他的谈话严禁公开发表。

off the top of one's head . without thinking hard； quickly不加思索地

He didn't prepare his lecture beforehand， but only talked off the top of his head．他事先没有准备，在讲演时只是想到哪里讲到哪里。

Jim answered the teacher's question off the top of his head．吉姆回答老师的问题时不大动脑筋。

off the track . following a wrong line of action 出轨

The train ran off the track．火车出轨了。

Our effort proved fruitless because we were off the track from the very beginning．我们一开始路子就迈得不对，所以一番功夫尽付东流。

off the track . away from the subject离题

 The speaker was a long way off the track．演讲者离题太远。

 old hand . experienced worker； very knowledgeable person老手；有经验的人

Cowboys were old hands at controlling cattle．牛仔们是驯牛老手。

Mr．Jackson is an old hand at negotiating our contracts， he's been with the firm for nearly twenty years，so he knows all the procedures．杰克逊先生在我们的合同谈判方面很在行，他在这公司已将近二十年，所以他熟悉一切程序。

 on one hand . on the one hand . from one point of view一方面

John wants to be a printer or a teacher：on one hand， printing pays better；on the other hand，schools need good teachers．约翰想成为一个印刷商或教师：一方面是因为印刷商的报酬高，另一方面学校需要好的教师。

at the tip of one's tongue . on the tip of one's tongue . just going to say话到嘴边

It was on the tip of my tongue to tell him．我差点告诉了他。

It was on the tip of my tongue to call him a liar，but I stopped myself just in time．我差一点叫他为撒谎鬼，但我及时制止了自己。

It is on the tip of my tongue but I still can't remember your name．你的名字就在我嘴边，可我就是想不起来。

He has half a dozen languages at the tip of his tongue．他能随口讲六种语言。

 on somebody 's behalf .  in somebody 's behalf . for；in the interest of；on account of因为，为。

Don't be uneasy on my behalf．不要为我担心。

Thank you for all the trouble you have taken in my behalf．谢谢你为我解决问题所尽的努力。

Public sympathy was active in his behalf．公众对他深表同情。

 on somebody 's behalf .  in somebody 's behalf . as the representative代表

The chairman signed the document on behalf of the company．The chairman signed the document on,the company’s behalf 董事长代表公司签署了文件。

on a diet . living on a limited list of foods and drinks按规定进食

You'd better give her something else but candy and chocolate because she is on a diet．你最好不要给她糖和巧克力而给些别的，因为她在节食。

on account . as interim payment预付

Give the driver ten dollars， and tell him it is on account．给司机十美元，告诉他那是预支的。

on account . in the creditor's book分期付款

John paid ten dollars down and five dollars on account each month for his bicycle．约翰购买自行车时先付了十美元，以后每月按五美元分期付款。

on account of . as a result of； because of .因为

The picnic was held indoors on account of the rain．由于天下雨，野餐在室内进行。

Flights were delayed two hours on account of the thick fog．由于大雾，班机推迟了两小时。

on all fours . on all four legs ；on hands and knees匍匐而行

Alice's father got down on all fours and gave the baby a ride．艾丽丝的父亲趴下，让她骑在背上。

The baby crawled around the floor on all fours．那婴孩在地板上到处乱爬。

on all fours . in agreement with一致的

Your argument is on all fours with mine．你的论点和我的一致。

This simile is not on all fours with the thing that it is supposed to illustrate．这个比喻同那个要说明的事物不太贴切。