汉语成语具有的民族文化特色在很多情况下在译语中难以用直译法再现。为了确保译文读者准确理解成语的意义，我们常常采用意译手段。它虽然难以保全成语的文化特色和具体形象，却能简洁明快第反映出成语的喻义。例如：“手忙脚乱”in a frantic rush、“立竿见影”get instant results、“噤若寒蝉”keep quiet、“明火执仗”do evil things openly、“牵肠挂肚”be full of anxiety and worry、“快马加鞭”speed up、“藕断丝连”have not cut off relations completely、“五光十色”multicolored、“归心似箭”be very anxious to return home、“鸡毛蒜皮”trifling、“开门见山”come straight to the point、“狗急跳墙”do something desperate、“黔驴技穷”at one's wits' end、“单枪匹马”all by oneself、“生龙活虎”bursting with energy、“顺手牵羊”walk off with something、“守株待兔”trust to chance and stroke of luck。

　　套译法是指套用译语中某个与汉语成语喻义相近的成语来进行翻译的方法。套译法可用于下列几种情况：(1)两个 成语的字面意义和蕴涵意义基本一致。例如“肉中刺”a thorn in the flesh、“混水摸鱼”fish in troubled waters、“趁热打铁”strike while the iron is hot、“眼见为实”seeing is believing、“隔墙有耳”walls have ears、“自投罗网”throw oneself into the trap、“嗤之以鼻”turn up one's nose at、“一触即发”touch and go、“空中楼阁”castles in the air、“充耳不闻”turn a deaf ear to、“熟能生巧”practice makes perfect、“事实胜于雄辩”facts speak louder than words;(2)两个成语的比喻形象有所差异，但比喻意义基本一致。例如：“笑掉大牙”laugh off one's head、“乱七八糟”at sixes and sevens、“东张西望”look right and left、“抛砖引玉”to throw a sprat to catch a herring、“缘木求鱼”seek a hare in hen's nest、“挥金如土”to spend money like water、“胆小如鼠”as timid as a hare、“瓮中之鳖”like a rat in a hole、“无风不起浪”there is no smoke without fire、“挂羊头卖狗肉”cry up wine and sell vinegar、“有志者事竟成”where there is a will there is a way、“新官上任三把火”new brooms sweep clean、“偷鸡不成蚀把米”go for wool and come back shorn、“己所不欲勿施于人”do as you would be done by;(3)汉语成语原本是翻译的产物，因此可直接以英语成语回译之，例如：“以眼还眼”an eye for an eye、“君子协定”a gentleman's agreement、“武装到牙齿”armed to the teeth。