如果你趕公交，在車門關上的最后一秒擠上了車；如果你參加考試，最終分數差一分就會不及格……這些情況都可以用上一個短語：by the skin of your teeth。今天我們繼續學習地道習語。

31. by the skin of your teeth 僥幸成功，勉強做成

I hadn’t studied much, but passed the test by the skin of my teeth.
我沒怎么學，但僥幸過了，離掛科只差一點點。

32. comfort food （難過或焦慮時食用的）安慰食品，開心食品

Fat and sugar – the twin pillars of the best comfort food.
脂肪和糖類是安慰食品的兩大支柱。

33. skeleton staff （企業或機構運轉需要的）最基本的工作人員

The hospital has a skeleton staff at weekends.
該醫院周末只有必需崗位上的工作人員會上班。

34. baker's dozen 十三

We had a baker's dozen of eggs for fourteen of us at the time. How could we even them out？
當時我們十四個人有十三個雞蛋。怎么分得均呢？

35. let the chips fall where they may 隨它去，不去管結果了

Kathy decided to risk her money on the investment, and let the chips fall where they may.
凱西決定冒險投資，不去管結果了。

36. no-brainer 不費腦筋之事；容易處理的問題

That last test question was a complete no-brainer.
最后那道測試題絲毫不費腦筋。

37. a stone's throw 很短的距離，擲石之遙

The cottage is just a stone's throw from the sea.
小屋離海只有一箭之遙。

38. hear (sth) on/through the grapevine 從傳聞中聽說；通過道聽途說獲悉；聽小道消息知道

I heard on the grapevine that he was leaving - is it true?
我聽到傳聞說他要離開了——是真的嗎？

39. sit on the fence 騎墻觀望，猶豫不決

You can't sit on the fence any longer - you have decide whose side you're on.
你不能再騎墻觀望了——你必須決定支持誰。

40. take sth with a pinch of salt 對…半信半疑，對…有所懷疑

You have to take everything she says with a pinch of salt, she does tend to exaggerate.
你不能完全相信她的話，她總是喜歡夸大其詞。

（中國日報網英語點津 杜娟）