1. A thorn in someone's side

腰上的荊棘(芒刺在背)

He is a thorn in my side. = He bothers me or restricts me.

他讓我覺得芒刺在背.

例子: His accent has always been a thorn in his side. He is very intelligent, but no one can understand him.

他說話的聲音讓我覺得芒刺在背.他是個聰明得人, 但是誰也聽不懂他的話.

2. Back on track

重上軌道（改過自新）

I am back on track. = I am once again pursuing the correct goal.

我又開始追尋正確的目標了。

例子： She used to drink a lot after work and the next day it would affect her job, but now she has a boyfriend and that has helped put her back on track.

以前她下了班就酗酒，以致影響第二天的工作表現。 現在她心認識論了一個男朋友，那有助于她重上軌道。

3, An uphill battle

上坡作戰(zhàn)(在逆境中求勝)

It was an uphill battle. = It was very difficult and we felt like we were not going to accomplish it, but we did.

這件事好比上坡作戰(zhàn),很不容易.我先前還以為做不到,結果卻辦成了.

例子: Making my parents believe that it was a good idea for me to delay college and travel instead was an uphill battle. I promised that I would go to college after one year, so they agreed.

說服我父母讓我輟學去旅游好比作戰(zhàn).我答應他們一年以后回來上大學,他們終于答應了.