The albatross is said to be a bird that helps warn shippers about bad seas. There is a poem in which a ship is lost at sea because a crewmember needlessly kills an albatross. His fellow shipmates make him wear it around his neck as a reminder of his deed.

Now this phrase means a burden which some unfortunate person has to carry. For example: "With the insurance hike, my car is now an albatross around my neck."

It means that a person or thing was made of the same stuff as somebody or something else, so from the same source or parentage.

For example: "His dad being a renowned comedian, he gives up his career as a comedian just to prove he is beyond a chip of the old block."

It means "the best of the best". It is from French, meaning “cream of the cream.”

For example: "Come on, try some Maotai. Trust me, it is the crème de la crème".

Again, this is from French. It can be translated "already-seen". When you are in a situation or when you see something, and then, you tell to yourself : "I feel like if I had already lived/seen this...". This phenomenon is called "Déjà vu".

For example, "When I first met her at the coffee house, I had a feeling of Déjà vu. Can you believe that?"

It means to do something that causes one serious and permanent harm. For example: "Quit smoking now! Have you realized you are driving nails into your coffin?"

Sitting duck= Can't do anything about something
Thrown to the lions= Leading someone into trouble
Get under one's skin= To annoy someone

Chip off the old block : 相似, 有其父必有其子
Déjà vu :重复的事物
Drive a nail into one’s coffin 自掘坟墓
Fine Kettle of fish : 完全不同的事
Sitting duck : 找死, 等死
run of the mill: 很平常的
Vis-à-vis : 面对面 或 对比, 比较???

Normally used as an exclamation. This phrase means an awkward/sorry state of affairs. The origin of this phrase is not very clear. Some say in the past, a kettle can be very big, and a kettle of fish is very messy. Some say it is a corrupted form of "a fine kiddle of fish".

You can also say "A pretty kettle of fish". For example, "Not a single person prepared for the rehearsal. You can imagine it was a pretty kettle of fish at the beginning."

本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛Run of the mill ：Not special or outstanding; average
Shot in the arm ：Something that boosts one's spirits.
Sit on the fence ：Informal. Undecided as to which of two sides to support; uncommitted or neutral.
Sitting duck : An easy target or victim.
Sitting pretty : To be in a very favorable position.
Spread oneself too thin : To have too much work, over burdened, over stressed

Take the cake : To win the first
Take the rap : To accept punishment or take the blame for an offense or error

Ticker-tape parade : A grand parade
Timbuktu : A city
Tongue-in-cheek : Meant or expressed ironically or facetiously.
Toot one’s own horn : To brag or boast about oneself.
Two shakes of a lambs tail : In no time, in a minute
Get under one’s skin : To irritate or stimulate; provoke
Under the wire : At the finish line., at the last moment.
Vis--vis : Compared with
Walking papers : A notice of discharge or dismissal.

I am not sure about the following, hope somebody can help.

Star crossed lovers
Thrown to the lions :
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