英语成语故事大全（5篇）
1.英语成语故事：highly talented才高八斗
tsau pi and tsau jr were sons of tsau tsau. both were very gifted writers, and tsau jr was especially quick-witted.
曹丕与曹植都是曹操的儿子，二者均有才华，特别是曹植更具文采。
after tsau tsau's death, tsau pi took over the throne of the kingdom of wei. jealous of tsau jr's literary ability, and afraid that he might cause problems, tsau pi was always looking for a way to kill his brother.
在曹操死后，曹丕继任大统，但他嫉妒曹植的才华，同时也惧怕曹植回谋反，所以一直在伺机杀害曹植。
one day, tsau pi called tsau jr into see him.he ordered his brother to make up a poem within the time it took to walk seven steps, adding that if he could not, his life would be in danger.
有一天，曹丕要求接见曹植，他要求曹植在他七步之内作诗一首，如果做不到，就会有生命危险。
greatly saddened, tsau jr began to walk and to think. before he had taken the seven steps, he had already finished his poem, the meaning of which was: "brothers are of the same family, so why should the oppress each other?"
悲愤之下，曹植急中生智，作出七步诗，是的意思就是“本来就是亲兄弟，为什么要这样步步紧逼，伤及感情?”
tsau jr was very intelligent and loved to study. he wrote many outstanding articles which showed his artistic talent and earned him the admiration of many people. one scholar said of him: "heaven gave the world ten decalitres of talent, and tsau jr alone has eight of them."
曹植文采俱佳，热爱学习，他曾做过不少才华横溢的文赋，均令世人感叹不已。曾有一位学者说道：“如若天下文采共有十斗，曹植一人独占八斗。”
2.英语成语故事：a drop in the bucket九牛一毛
li ling was a great general during the time of emperor han wu-di (hàn wǔ dì汉武帝). he was a very good fighter, and he won every battle.
西汉时代有个很有名的大将军名叫李陵，他骁勇善战，百战百赢。
one time, however, li ling's troops were so hopelessly outnumbered by the huns that although they fought bravely, the whole army was soon taken captive.
有一次，虽然李陵的军队奋勇杀敌，因为兵力不足而战败投降。
li ling shamefully surrendered for the moment, planning to wait for an opportunity to strike back.
李陵打算暂时先忍辱投降，以便伺机等待机会反击。
but when news of the surrender reached the capital, the emperor's jealous ministers began to degrade li ling in front of the emperor.
但当李陵投降的消息传到首都，皇上身边嫉妒的大臣们都开始指责李陵。
what he heard made the emperor so angry that he had li ling's wife and mother put to death.
皇上十分气愤，他将李陵的妻子与母亲都赐死了。
ze-ma chian, who had always respected li ling, believed that he wouldn't surrender without a reason, and urged the emperor not to believe rumors.
司马迁一直很敬重李陵，他不信李陵会无缘无故投降，便谏言皇上不要听信谣言。
this time, the emperor grew angry at sz-ma chian, and locking him up, punished him severely.
但就因为这样，皇上便迁怒司马迁，并将他囚禁，进行严惩。
sz-ma chian then wrote a long letter to a friend, saying, "i am now in the middle of writing a history book. if i die, it will be as if one ox in a group on nine were to lose a single hair. i am willing to withstand punishment in order to complete this book." sz-ma chian finally did finish his book - the very famous shr-ji.
司马迁随后写了一封长信给他的朋友，说道：“我现在在写一部历史长篇，如果我死了，就如同九牛一毛般微不足道，但我愿意承受住这般的惩罚，来完成这部书。”最终，司马迁完成了这部名流千古的史学著作——《史记》。
3.英语成语故事：be afraid of one's own shadow草木皆兵
in ad 383, the king of former qin (秦朝), fu jian (fú jiān 苻坚), led a huge army to attack eastern jin.
公元383年，秦王苻坚率领步兵、骑兵90万，攻打江南的晋朝。
after losing the first round of fighting, fu jian looked down from a city wall, and was terrified when he saw the formidable battle array of the eastern jin army.
在一轮战败后，苻坚从城墙俯视周遭，当他看到势不可破的东晋部队，他感到很害怕。
and then looking at the mountains around, he mistook the grass and trees for enemy soldiers.
此时，苻坚在寿春城上望见晋军队伍严整，士气高昂，再北望八公山，只见山上一草一木都像晋军的士兵一样，于是更加恐慌。
as a result, when the nervous fu jian led his army into battle, it suffered a crushing defeat.
后来苻坚全军覆没，带着少数残余的队伍逃回去了。
4.英语成语故事：within an ace of winning功亏一篑
Once a man planned to build a terrace.
古时，有一个人要筑一座九仞(八尺=一仞)高的山。
He worked very hard and spent a lot of time digging and carrying earth.
他十分努力的建造这座山，并且花了很多时间挖土、搬运泥土。
When the mound was almost completed and only one more basket of earth was needed, the man gave up.
终于当山快要建成的时候，几乎只差最后一篮子的泥土就行了的时候，他放弃了。
The terrace was never completed.
这座山便永远无法完工。
5.英语成语故事：To have an image of bamboo in one's mind入木三分
Wang Xi-zhi is one of the most famous calligraphers during the Eastern Jin Dynasty of China. When he was very young, he practiced his art every day and never stopped.
王羲之是中国东晋时代一个很有名的书法家，他从小就刻苦练字，从不间断。Later he absorbed the strong points of all the other schools of calligraphy, and developed his own unique style of writing. Because of his achievements, he has been honored as one of China's sages of calligraphy.
以后又吸取了各个不同书法派的优点，形成他自己独特的个性。因为他在书法上的成就，人们都尊称他为中国书法界的“圣人”。
One time, Wang Xi-zhi sketched in wood for an engraver to cut. Then the engraver found the ink had penetrated one centimeter into the wood.
有一次，王羲之在木板上刻字，后来刻字的人发现墨汁渗入木板有三尺深。
"Ru Mu San Fen" is got from this story, which means the calligraphy is penetrating.
“入木三分”就是从这个故事中得出来的，用来形容书法有力。
Now it is often used to describe expressing sharp ideas or profound views.
