Per aspera ad astra.

△美国二重唱组合的经典歌曲《忧愁河上的桥》，歌词开头：When you are weary, feeling small, when tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all. I am on your side. (当你疲惫不堪，感觉无助，眼泪在你眼眶打转，我帮你吹干，并一直陪在你身边)，告诉伤心失望的人，他们并不孤单，因为还有朋友在身边，不离不弃。

​上一个帖子说到 water under the bridge (已成过往，何必再提)，这期再说几个常见的：

a bridge too far

"太远的桥"比喻计划或者目标太过远大，以至于很难或者不可能实现。

?：

The plan to learn German in 3 weeks proved to be a bridge too far for Mark.

对于马克来说，3个月学会德语的目标结果就是好高骛远。

​

to build bridges 

"搭建桥梁"比喻改善人与人之间的关系。

?：

Despite a rocky start, Andy is trying hard to build bridges with the newcomer.

尽管一开始并不愉快，安迪还是努力的去改善与新人的关系。

​

to burn bridges

把 build 换作 burn，意思完全相反，表示做了不能回头的事，大有破釜沉舟的决心。

?：

Sara has decided to burn Bridges with his bastard boyfriend.

莎拉决定与她的混蛋男友断绝关系。

​

to cross a bridge when one comes to it

字面"行至桥前方过桥"，比喻没有事先计划，事情到了跟前才做打算。

?：

Well, if we have to move our house, we will cross that bridge when it comes / when we come to it.

要搬家，就等非搬不可，现在不考虑。

​

to be like painting the Forth Bridge

"就像给四桥刷油漆"中的"四桥"指苏格兰的第四座铁路桥(the Forth Railway Bridge) (见下图)；

因为桥太长，所以给桥刷漆的工期也长，工人们还未完工，又得开始下一个，后来这个短语用来比喻事情永远都做不完。

?：

Cleaning a house this size is like painting the Forth Bridge. As soon as I've finished, it's time to start again.

打扫这么大的房子真是一眼望不到头，才刚弄完，又得开始打扫了。

​

to bridge the gap

"在沟壑之间搭桥"比喻做利于沟通或者解决问题的事。

?：

Good communication can bridge the gap between strangers.

良好的沟通可以拉进陌生人之间的距离