A person

Some people are able to lead other people by the nose. For example, if a wife leads her husband by the nose, she makes him do whatever she wants him to do. Some people are said to be hard-nosed. They will not change their opinions or positions on anything. If someone is hard-nosed, he will never pay through the nose or pay too much money for any object or service.

It is always helpful when people keep their noses out of other people’s business. They do not interfere. The opposite of this is someone who noses around all the time. This kind of person is interested in other people’s private matters. He is considered nosy. Someone who keeps his nose to the grindstone works very hard. This can help a worker keep his nose clean or stay out of trouble.

One unusual expression is \"That is no skin of my nose\". This means that a situation does not affect or concern me. We also say that sometimes a person cuts off his nose to spite his face. That means he makes a situation worse by doing something foolish because he is angry. More problems can develop if a person looks down his nose at someone or something. The person acts like that something is unimportant or worthless. This person might also turn up his nose at something he considers not good enough. This person thinks he is better than everyone else. He has his nose in the air.

短语串记

1. lead by the nose 牵着鼻子走

eg: Don’t let anyone lead you by the nose, use your own judgment and do the right thing. 不要让人牵着鼻子走,自己有点主见,做该做的事情。

2. hard-nosed adj.顽强的,不屈不挠的,不讲情面的

3. pay through the nose

按字面解释,pay through the nose就是通过鼻子来付钱,这听起来似乎很痛苦,而实际上,pay through the nose的确切意思是付出比真正的价值高得多的钱,也可以说是付出的钱实在太多而让人感到心痛。eg: My brother Bob borrowed the money to open his restaurant five years ago when the interest rate was very high, so he’s been paying through the nose ever since.我哥哥鲍伯五年前借钱开饭馆的时候正好利率非常高,所以,他从那时起就一直在大笔大笔地还债。

4. keep one’s nose out of sth 避免插手(他人的事),尽量不卷入

eg: When Billy asked his sister where she was going, she told him to keep his nose out of her business. 当比利问他姐姐要去哪里时,她让他别管她的事。

5. nose around / about 找寻,打听(别人的事)

eg: We found a man nosing around in our backyard.我们发现有个人在我们后院里找什么东西。

6. nosy adj.好管闲事的,爱打听的

eg: Don’t be so nosy —it’s none of your business.别管那么多闲事——这与你无关。

7. keep one’s nose to the grindstone连续辛勤地工作

grindstone是\"磨刀石\"的意思。这个表达很形象,按字面意思来看,是说鼻子对着磨刀石。想象一下一个人低着头磨刀的样子,的确给人一种埋头苦干的直观印象啊。而且这个短语用动词keep表达一种持续的状态,把\"埋头\"的意思更生动地表达了出来。eg: These years those who’re keeping their nose to the grindstone can’t make bundles. 这年头,只会埋头苦干的人是挣不了什么大钱的。

8. keep one’s nose clean 循规蹈矩,不做违法的事

eg: Since leaving prison, he’s man-aged to keep his nose clean. 自从出狱以来,他尽量做到规规矩矩。

9. no skin of my nose不关我的事