few and far between，單在字面意思上看就是，數(shù)量稀少且間隔很遠(yuǎn)，引申起來(lái)就是說(shuō)數(shù)量少而且分布得很散，于是就是“難得一見(jiàn)”或者“世上罕見(jiàn)”的意思了。

作為形容詞，英文的解釋是?Not many; few and scattered; not often met or found; rare.?用來(lái)斷言（predicate）某些東西的罕見(jiàn)、少見(jiàn)之處。

據(jù)傳最早這個(gè)詞出自一首16世紀(jì)的詩(shī)，“The?Pleasures?of?Hope”(1799):“What?though?my?winged?hours?of?bliss?have?been,?like?angel-visits,?few?and?far?between?”?

這種習(xí)語(yǔ)一定要按整體意思翻譯，如果還分開(kāi)翻那就多余了。Some?people?think?that?good?movies?are?few?and?far?between.?

一切盡在掌握怎么用英文表達(dá)？盡在“掌”握，一“手”遮天，得心應(yīng)“手”，逃不出“手掌心”。。。中文里在講人對(duì)外物的控制時(shí)，總在用手作比喻。其實(shí)英文中也是一樣的。比如?in hand & have/hold?sth/someone in the palm of one's hand 。

in hand有三個(gè)意思，占有實(shí)體、控制、手頭上的活。Cash in hand, get situation in hand, the matter in hand.?這個(gè)控制的意思是很一般的程度，差不多就是不讓它再繼續(xù)向我們不想要的方向去走的意思。和我們想表達(dá)的“盡在掌握”還是有很大差距的。如果要用這個(gè)短語(yǔ)來(lái)講的話，需要加個(gè)修飾，比如well, We have the? situation well in hand here.?

而 in the palm of one's hand?就更貼切一些了，不只是手上，而且是在手掌上，可控余地當(dāng)然大得多了。英文的詮釋是?To completely control; to have great influence over someone/sth.?

If?you?want?to?have?someone?in?the?palm?of?your?hand,?flattery?always?helps.

Her?boyfriend?will?do?anything?for?her;?she?hold?him?in?the?palm?of?her?hand.

As?his wife got the manager post as well, he felt like he?would soon have the entire company in the palm of his hand.