英语和汉语一般都有对应的语汇或习语，然而在处置具体问题时，常常不可以完全对应。
譬如汉语习惯称亚洲四小龙，英语虽然可译成the Asian four dragons，但西方人大都叫the Asian four tigers或four tigers in Asia，由于在西方人的眼里，dragon是一类型似鳄鱼或蛇、长有翅膀而且会喷火、常常看守着金银财宝的怪物。
单个词尚且这样，成语和谚语就更难对应了，有时甚至连原文的踪迹都没了，如 Don't teach your grandmother to suck eggs，假如根据字面直译成不要告诉你的奶奶磕鸡蛋，叫人看了会莫名其妙。如果意译为不要班门弄斧，就既表达了原意，也符合汉语习惯。
和汉语一样，英语的成语也不少，但其中大多数都非常难对译成汉语成语，这个时候一般采取意译。如：
1.Like talking to a brick wall（对牛弹琴，瞎子点灯白费蜡），意为to waste one's breath trying to persuade someone who is so obstinate1 to listen to reason；例句：He is so dogmatic; it's like talking to a brick wall arguing with him.
2.To make bricks without straw（巧妇难为无米之炊），意为to try to achieve some result with inadequate2 means；例句：We were unable to give you an opinion because you didn't give us the information we needed. We can't make bricks without straw.
3.The rotten apple（害群之马，败家之子）意为the one bad person among a number of good ones；例句：His youngest son was the rotten apple.
4.To pay back in the same coin, to pay sb. back in his own coin, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth，（以眼还眼，以牙还牙，以其人之道还治其人之身）意为to retaliate3 by using the same method；例句：Jukes has attacked us in his adverti百度竞价推广ent overseas; we will pay him back in the same coin.
5.To have a heart of gold（有一副菩萨心肠）意为to be a kind, generous, forgiving person whose qualities are much appreciated.
6.Walls have ears（隔墙有耳）意为You must be very careful what you say because someone may be eavesdropping4.
有时，英语中也会出现包括着形象、比喻、拟人等手法的长句，在汉语中非常难找到对应的语汇，这个时候只能依据上下文的意思，或整篇文章的中心思想，在不损失、冲淡甚至歪曲原意的基础上进行适合处置。请看以下例子： CED Finklestein: He needs to pull a rabbit out of his hat. 总经理芬克斯泰因：他需要拿出一个绝招来（直译：他需要从我们的帽子里抓出一只兔子来）。
在中文翻译英文时同样应注意这一点。
1992年北京国际拍卖会手册上有一位领导人的题词是：一锤定音，双方交易即成。我的译文是：A hammer gives the final word, and a deal is concluded between the buyer and seller.一锤定音几个字非常形象，但比较难处置。拍卖的实质操作是由拍卖主锤师用木锤敲桌梆的形式来决定买卖，而不是成交之类的话语。因此同时使用了直译和意译两种手法，即：1、双方交易即成交和定音。这里用final word（或final say）指拍板，敲定，即决定下来，如此处置既忠实原文又生动贴切。假如完全直译成A hammer decides the tune读者可能以为是乐队指挥真的在那里定音呢。
