1. Balance the books 1.结账、结算
determine that accounts are in balance, bring the two sides into equilibrium, settle an account by paying what is due 确定账户处于平衡状态，力求平衡，通过支付到期款来结算账户
The accountant says he can’t balance the books till our last check clears. 会计说上次的票款清理后才能给我们结账。
2. Bring home the bacon 2.养家糊口
earn a salary, make money for your family 挣钱养家
When our parents died in an accident, and my sister and I remained alone, I had to leave college and bring home the bacon. 父母意外死亡时，我和妹妹还没成家。所以我不得不辍学养家。
3. Go Dutch 3.各自付账
share the cost of something 共同支付
When I wanted to settle the bill, she insisted on going Dutch and pay for her meal. 就在我准备结账时，她坚持各自付账，并支付了自己那份饭钱。
4. Gravy train 4.钱多活少的好差事
a source of easy money, a job that pays a lot with little work 轻易得来的钱，赚钱的清闲差事
My brother took up a job in a beach restaurant and hoped to get on board the gravy train, but in fact he had to work more than in a factory. 我哥哥在沙滩边的餐馆工作，原本以为自己找到了一份赚钱的清闲差事，可实际上，那儿的活儿比工厂还多。
5. Nest egg 5.储蓄金
savings, money kept in reserve 积蓄、贮备金
Don’t worry about the job you lost. We have a little nest egg to live on until you find another. 别担心失业后的生活。我们还有一些积蓄能撑到你找到新工作。
6. Cook the books 6.做假账
cheat in accounting, manipulate financial records 伪造或篡改财务报表
Nobody noticed that one of the managers was cooking the books until the company got totally bankrupt. 直到公司彻底破产以后，公司有一位经理做假账的事才被人发现。
7. Golden handshake 7.解雇费
a (large) sum of money paid to an employee when he/she leaves the firm 支付给员工的一大笔离职金
Grandfather didn’t really want to retire too early, but he couldn’t resist the golden handshake that the company offered. 尽管祖父不打算早早退休，但是他未能抵住一大笔离职金的诱惑。
8. Cheapskate 8.守财奴
somebody who doesn’t like to spend money 吝啬的人
We would need a new fridge, but my husband is such a cheapskate that I don’t think we’ll buy one before the other completely falls apart. 家里该买新冰箱了，可丈夫是个吝啬鬼，老冰箱没有完全坏掉之前，他是不会同意买新冰箱的。
