短的英語成語故事

　　成語故事有著獨特的魅力,它既具有豐富的內涵,深遠的意義,又有妙趣橫生的典故和靈活多變的語言環境,下面這些是小編為大家推薦的幾篇。

　　1：玩火自焚

　　During the Spring and Autumn Period 770-476 BC, prince Zhou Xu of the State of Wei killed his brother and became the new emperor. Zhou Xu was a tyrant. He oppressed his people and indulged in wars of agGREssion. By launching wars, he tried to divert the people's attention and reduce their discontent with him in order to consolidate his dictatorship.

　　The Duke of the State of Lu leant about Zhou Xu's usurpation of state power and his ambitious plan, he asked a senior official, "What do you think about Zhou Xu's move? "The official answered, "He indulges in wars , bringing his people much disaster. He won't get their support. And he's capricious, so few of his close friends follow him. He can never achieve his success. In addition, war is like fire. If one launches wars endlessly without restraint, he'll eventually burn himself. "

　　Sure enough, the people of Wei with the help of the State of Chen overthrew Zhou Xu and killed him in less than a year.

　　Later, people use it to mean that those who do evil will finally ruin themselves.

　　2:邯鄲學步

　　Imitating Another without Success and Losing What Used to Be One'sOwn Ability

　　Tradition has it that more than 2,oooyears ago,there lived a young man in the Shouling area of the State of Yan.As his name is not known ,we just call him Shouling young man for convenience's sake.

　　self confident He was at a loss as to how to behave all the time.

　　His family members advised him to overcome this shortcoming,but he thought they were fond of poking their noses into his business and were unwilling to provide him with tuition fee.His relatives and neighbours sneered at him,saying that he would never be able to learn anything.Asthe days went by,he even began to doubt whether he should walk the way he did,for he felt more and more that his walking gestures were too clumsy and awkward.

　　One day,he met some people on the road who werechattingand laughing.One of themsaid that people in Handan walked most gracefully.And thatwas just what he was most concerned about,so he hurreed towards themand wanted to make further inquiries.To his surprise,when these people saw him,they stalked off laughing.

　　He could not picture to himself in what way their walking gestures were graceful,no matter how hard he racked his parents one day.He went to Handanwhich was far away to learn how to walk.

　　As soon as he arrived in Handan,he was dazzled to find that everything was novel.He learned from the children there how to walk,because he thought that the children's walking gestures were lively and pleasing to the eye.He learnd from the old people there how to walk,because he thought the old people's walking gestures were steady .He learnd from the women there how to walk,because he thought the women' swaying walking gestures were beautiful.That being the case with him ,in less than half a month he even forgot how to walk.As he had already used up his traveling expenses,he had to crawl back home.

　　Thisstory come from the article"Autumn Water"in The Works of Xhuang ZiZhuang Zi was a famous ancient Chinese philosopher of about 300B.c..Later the set phrase"initating another without success and losing what used to be one's own ability"is used to refer to acts of copying others mechanisally in disregard of specififc conditions.

　　3:塞翁失馬

　　Near China's northern borders lived a man well versed in the practices of Taoism. His horse, for no reason at all, got into the territory of the northern tribes. Everyone commiserated with him.

　　"Perhaps this will soon turn out to be a blessing," said his father.

　　After a few months, his animal came back, leading a fine horse from the north. Everyone congratulated him.

　　"Perhaps this will soon turn out to be a cause of misfortune," said his father.

　　Since he was well-off and kept good horses his son became fond of riding and eventually broke his thigh bone falling from a horse. Everyone commiserated with him.

　　"Perhaps this will soon turn out to be a blessing," said his father.

　　One year later, the northern tribes started a big invasion of the border regions. All able-bodied young men took up arms and fought against the invaders, and as a result, around the border nine out of ten men died. This man's son did not join in the fighting because he was crippled and so both the boy and his father survived.