一败涂地
a complete debacle
bite the dust
utter failure
an overwhelming defeat
a total loss
utterly routed
be ruined completely
一般见识
lower oneself to the same level as somebody else
一板三眼
scrupulous and methodical
rigid
very careful of the rules
一本正经
assume a dead serious attitude
in dead earnest
prudish
with feigned impartiality
priggishly
in all seriousness
prim and proper
一本万利
highly profitable
a small investment brings a ten thousand-fold profit
一笔抹杀
completely deny
be written off at one stroke
totally negate
set at naught
obliterate
condemn out of hand
reject off-hand
blot out at one stroke
一笔勾销
write off at one stroke
write off altogether
cancel
abolish at one stroke
一鼻孔出气
be in tune with
一臂之力
a helping hand
一步登天
have a meteoric rise
一不做,二不休
in for a penny, in for a pound
a thing once begun should not be put off until done
carry the thing through, whatever the consequences
over shoes, over boots
as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb
一拍即合
chime in easily
一抔黃土
mere dust heaps
一盘散沙
a heap of loose sand -- a nation or group without cohesion, each individual for himself
in a state of disunity
一贫如洗
not to have a shirt on one's back
as poor as Job
poverty-stricken
be on one's uppers
as poor as a church mouse
as poor as though everything was washed away
in utter destitution
一曝十寒
work by fits and starts
work on and off
一模一样
exactly alike
一马当先
gallop to the head
be in the van
dash to the front of battle
be in the fore-front
一马平川
flat country
一脉相承
in the same strain
follow the same
can be traced to the same origin
be imbued with the same spirit
be a true disciple of
run in a single line
come down in one continuous line
a continuation of
一毛不拔
not to lift a finger to help
cheese paring
parsimonious
very sparing in spending money
unwilling even to pluck out a hair for another - not to give a cent
refuse to be put to trouble
as close as a clam
unwilling to give up even a hair - very stingy
一面之词
the statement of only one of the parties
一面之交
be casually acquainted
一鸣惊人
win popularity with the first work
amaze the world with a single brilliant feat
set the Thames on fire
make one's mark at the first shot