很多单词不是记住了大概的意思就算大功告成了，还要延申学习和积累一些对应的短语或习语，这样会很大程度地提高阅读速度，加快自己的成长或提高自己的英语考试成绩。
很多短语的本身意思不被使用，因为它们的意思有的时候不合常理，因此常被用作比喻意义，而且大部分都非常的贴切，就像 in a (pretty) pickle 和 I could eat a horse 等等，例如：
in a (pretty) pickle 陷入困境：
We're in a pretty pickle now because the hotel gave our room away.
我们现在处境很艰难，因为旅馆把我们的房间分发了。
John has gotten himself into a pickle. He has two dates for the party.
约翰陷入了困境。在聚会上他有两个约会。
I could eat a horse 饥肠辘辘：
When will dinner be ready? I'm so hungry I could eat a horse.
晚饭什么时候准备好？我非常饿了。
What’s for dinner? I could eat a horse!
晚饭吃什么？我非常饿了！
还有 throw (one) under the bus，不要理解为“扔到公交车底下”，它用来比喻为了私利而背叛伴侣、同事或密友等，例如：
It’s shocking to know how my Dad got thrown under the bus by his colleague.
知道我爸爸是怎么被同事背叛的，真让人震惊。
Our manager never hesitates to throw an underling under the bus when something goes wrong in the office.
当办公室出了问题时，我们经理总是毫不犹豫地把出卖一个下属。
He has been accused of throwing fellows under the bus for his personal agenda.
他被指控为了他的私事出卖了同事。
I'm not going to throw my friend under the bus for something he did 25 years ago.
我不会因为我朋友25年前的所作所为而背叛他。
跟 throw (sb) under the bus 类似的表达背叛的短语还有 sell sb down the river 和 stab sb in the back 等等，例如：
sell sb down the river:
He has been sold down the river by the people who were supposed to protect him.
他被本该保护他的人出卖了。
He said he could not agree to measures which would sell British farmers down the river.
他说他不能同意出卖英国农民的措施。
stab sb in the back:
He had been lied to and stabbed in the back by people that he thought were his friends.
他被那些他认为是朋友的人骗了并出卖了。
Jane promised to support me at the meeting, but then she stabbed me in the back by supporting David instead .
简答应在会上支持我，但后来却反过来支持大卫，但是她出卖了我。
背叛的行为无异于 杀鸡取卵 （kill the goose that lays the golden egg(s)），总有一天别人也会同样背叛你的。不要做损人利己的事，无论利有多大，这样社会才会和谐。
其实表达背叛可以直接用单词 betray，常用格式是 betry sb/sth (to sb)，例如：
He was accused of betraying his country during the war.
他被指控在战争中背叛国家。
He was offered money to betray his colleagues.
有人收买他出卖他的同事。
词或词组辨析：
1. underling [ˈʌndəlɪŋ] 意为“喽啰，属下，跟班儿”等，带有贬义
2. give sth away 意为“捐赠，分发，丧失”等
3. accuse sb (of sth) 意为“控告，指控“等