今天来分享一组都来自于运动项目，也都能用来描述竞争关系的词组，括号里标注了运动项目。
in the driving seat或in the driver's seat (motor racing）
flogging a dead horse (horse racing)
move the goalposts (football)
keep your eye on the ball (tennis or any ball games）
on the ropes (boxing)
接下来看释义和例句。
in the driver's seat
很好理解，谁握住了机动车的方向盘，谁就——
【释义】掌握控制权、掌握主导权
In control; in a dominant or influential position.
【例句】
With the new CEO in the driver's seat, the company has turned in its most profitable quarter in years. 在新任首席执行官执掌公司后，该公司迎来了多年来利润最高的一个季度。
（图源网络）
flogging a dead horse
flog表示鞭打，鞭打一匹死马，可不就是——
【释义】徒劳；白费力
to flog a dead horse is to attempt to revive an interest which has died out; to engage in fruitless effort.
【例句】
There’s no point continuing with the project. It’ll never work.
We’re flogging a dead horse. We need to look elsewhere if we’re to fight off the competition.
（图源网络）
move the goalpost
goalpost指球门柱，突然地移动球门柱，会使得进球难度增大。所以move the goalpost可以表示——
【释义】(在某人试图做某事时）改变规则（以增加难度）
to change the rules while someone is trying to do something in order to make it more difficult for them.
【例句】
We'd almost signed the contract when the other guys moved the goalposts and said they wanted more money. 就在我们快要签合同的时候，其他人突然变卦，说他们想要更多的钱。
keep your eye on the ball
今日最简单词组，眼睛盯着球看，表示“全神贯注”、“集中注意力”
【例句】
You have to keep your eye on the ball in business. 在生意（/业务）上，你必须集中注意力。
on the ropes
来自于拳击的短语，比赛中如果被对手打到围绳边上，通常是处于劣势位置，因此可以表示——
【释义】做得不好，可能失败；处境不好
doing badly and likely to fail; being in a very bad situation
【例句】
“His business was on the ropes, and his marriage was on the rocks. Tom was having a very bad year.” “他的生意岌岌可危，他的婚姻也告急。汤姆这一年过得很糟糕。”
例句中的on the rocks可以表示：1.触礁，境况不佳；2.可以表示给饮品加冰，常用于酒吧场景。
保持好奇心，每日，每月，每年，以求寸进。
Stay tuned
Wicky小巫
TEFL国际认证英语教师丨BEC高级
高等学校教师资格丨CICPA丨立刻说名师
曾在四大会计师事务所、知名房地产企业供职多年
曾供职于QS世界排行前60强大学
现转行专注于教育行业
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