coattail n.(男)上衣后摆
on someone's coattails (翻译1)

A:Paul is the first millionaire of us all.
B:But he's not a real success.His brother is.
A:Why do you say so?Both of them are very rich.
B:But he became an upstart on his brother's coattails.
A:保罗是我们中的第一个百万富翁。
B:但他并不是一个真正的成功者，他哥哥才是。
A:怎么这么说呢？他们两个都很富有嘛。
B:可是他是靠他哥哥的提携才发起来的。

dress n. 衣服
dress somebody down （翻译2）

A:The boss looks cross.
B:Yes?
A:Nancy's work is a mess,you know.I'm afraid he'll dress her down.
B:That would be all right as long as he doesn't boot her out.
A:老板看起来情绪不太好。
B:怎么了？
A:你知道，南希工作干得一团糟，恐怕老板要训斥她了。
B:只要老板不开除她，挨训也无所谓了。

dress up (翻译3)

A:You're so fond of dressing youself up?
B:Yes,I feel cool that way.
A:But it's a very casual gathering,not a formal occasion.
A:你怎么这么喜欢打扮？
B:打扮好了感觉很酷的。
A:可这个聚会很随便，不那么正式。

give somebody a dressing-down(翻译4)

A:Why is Lily shedding tears,Jimmy?
B:The teacher gave her a dressing-down.
A:How come?
B:Her work was bad.And the teacher was very angry about that.
A:莉莉怎么哭了，吉米？
B:老师批评她了。
A:为什么？
B:她的作业写得很糟，老师非常生气。

参考答案:

1 靠……的提携
2 斥责，指责
3 盛装，精心打扮
4 受到责骂