流行美语

chubbycat

流行美语 第61课 (下载)

　


    Michael和李华正在尽情享受这星期才开始的假期。今天他们去参加了一个音乐会。Michael教会李华两个常用语：24-7和duh。

    L: Michael，这音乐会真不错，就是太长了。我啊快要饿死了！快去找个地方吃东西吧！

    M: Alright. There's a cafe on the corner over there, I think it's open 24-7.

    L: 对，前面就有家咖啡馆。你说那个cafe 24-7, 24-7是什么意思呀？

    M: I said it's open 24-7. You know the number 24, and seven, right? 24-7 means it is open all the time.

    L: 我知道了！就是说一天二十四小时，一个星期七天它都开门。对不对？

    M: You've got it! In the U.S. a lot of small diners, convenience stores and gas stations are open 24-7.

    L: 对，我看到一些小饭馆，还有一些杂货店还有加油站，他们都是二十四小时营业的。Michael, 那24-7是不是只能用在商店哪？

    M: Not at all! It can be used for anything. For instance, Li Hua, if you ever have an emergency, you can call me any time, 24-7.

    L: 噢，24-7可以用在任何场合。你说要是我遇到紧急情况，可以在任何时候打电话给你。Michael, 你真是太好了。不过，我想我可能会先打911。

    M: Yeah, that's probably a better idea. 911 operates 24-7. Li Hua, can you use this phrase now?

    L: 让我想想。有了。期终考试前，我肯定很多人为了准备考试，交报告晚上开夜车，所以可以说：Many students worked 24-7 before the finals. 对不对？

    M: You're right. I was also up 24-7 studying and writing before the finals.

    L: 那最后一个礼拜真够呛。现在总算轻松了。

    M: That's right! Woo Hoo! Hey, after we eat, let's go dancing somewhere.

    L: Michael，你还没有玩够呀！

    M: Now that we are on vacation, I'm ready to party 24-7!

    ******

    L: Michael，这饭馆开门吗？

    M: Well, duh, Li Hua! The lights are on and there are people inside. What do you think?

    L: 你说什么？ Duh? 那是骂人的意思吗？

    M: No, I didn't say anything bad! All I said was "duh". When someone says something that you think is very obvious, or asks you a stupid question, you can say "duh".

    L: Duh！ 也就是说我刚才问这个饭馆有没有开门是个傻问题，所以你就说：duh！就像是我们中文里说的“废话”！Michael, 他们这里有咖啡吗？

    M: Duh, Li Hua. Of course they have coffee here. Practically every restaurant in the States has coffee.

    L: Michael, 我只不过随便问一句，你就又来duh, duh, duh...真讨厌！

    M: Oooh! Sounds like you are getting a little grumpy, Li Hua. I guess you are pretty tired, huh?

    L: Duh, Michael! 现在都已经半夜一点半了，你还问我累不累？我才该对你说“duh"!

    M: Ok, Ok, calm down. I'll just get a coffee to go, and give you a ride home. It sounds like you need some sleep.

    L: Duh! 我当然想睡觉了！不过，买了咖啡在路上喝，然后你开车送我回家。这倒是个好主意。

    M: I see you are not the kind of person who like to party 24-7!

    L: Duh! 我悃成这样，你看我是个喜欢整天整夜party的人吗？

    李华今天学到两个常用语，一个是：24-7，意思是一天二十四小时，一周七天都工作，或者是成天成夜地干什么事。另一个是：duh, 意思是：废话，当然咯。

chubbycat

流行美语 第62课 (下载)

    　


        今天Michael正在设法买票和李华一起去看世界职业棒球赛的决赛。李华学到了两个习惯用语：to strike out 和to pull something off。

        M: Well, Li Hua, I struck out again. It looks like my cousin won't have any world series tickets to sell to us after all.

        L: 你说什么？Struck out? 这跟买球票有什么关系？

        M: I said I struck out again. Struck out means that I failed after trying several times.

        L: 噢，我想起来了！棒球赛里就有strike out这个说法。如果一个击球手三次击球不中，他就strike out， 也就是“三振出局”。所以，strike out的意思是，一件事做了几次也不成功。

        M: That's right. Looks like you've got a good grasp of the rules of baseball. Why don't you try and use it in a sentence.

        L: 嗯，让我想想。对了，我一个朋友申请了几个学校的研究院，可是没有一所学校接受她。 (English) So, she completely struck out.

        M: There you go. You know, even if your friend struck out this year, I hope she tries again. I remember the first year I applied to graduate school, I struck out too. But I learned from my mistakes, and eventually found a good school that accepted me.

        L: 原来你和我朋友一样也有申请研究院失败的经历，可是吸取教训后你就成功了，希望我朋友也会如此。

        M: Yeah, I was rather pleased to get into graduate school. Too bad I still strike out with the girls. None of the good ones want to go out with me.

        L: 嘿嘿，别担心，Michael, 你要求不要太高，一定会找到你喜欢的女孩的。你总不可能一直在这方面strike out吧!

*****

        L: 嘿 Michael, 你到底有没有买到棒球决赛的球票啊？

        M: No, to tell you the truth, Li Hua, I don't think I can pull it off. There simply are no tickets for sale.

        L: 你说什么？ Pull it off? 你还在想办法，对不对?

        M: I said I don't think I can pull it off. To pull something off - Pull. P U L L. Off. O F F, means to succeed at something very difficult, usually unexpectedly.

        L: 噢，To pull something off就是出人意料地做成一件很困难的事情。哎，Michael, 你再举个例子好不好？

        M: Ok, most of our friends didn't think that Beijing would be allowed to host the 2008 Olympics, but in the end Beijing pulled it off! I was really surprised.

        L: 对，很多人以为中国申办奥运不会成功，但是中国试了几次，终于成功， 也就是pulled it off。Michael, 凭你对中国的了解，你不应该感到惊讶才对嘛。

        M: Yeah. I guess so. Anyway, as for the tickets, I don't think I can pull this off.

        L: 为什么买棒球赛的票那么难啊？

        M: The series has already started, the tickets were sold months ago, and the only people selling them on the Internet want at least $600 a ticket for game 7.

        L: 电脑上买票还要六百美元一张？这也太过份了吧？哎，Michael, 反正我对棒球也没兴趣，你就不用给我买票了。

        M: You know, Li Hua, I spent the whole afternoon calling people and trying to find tickets. I wish you had said something sooner.

        L: 对不起，我知道你花了很多时间。可是，我没想到你这么没能耐，试了半天还是struck out!

        Michael和李华想买职业棒球赛的球票，可是没有买到。李华学到了两个习惯用语：to strike out和to pull something off。Strike out表示一件事做了几次都没有成功。To pull something off表示出人意料地做成了一件很困难的事情。

chubbycat

流行美语 第63课 (下载)

　


    李华终于把明天要交的一份报告写完了。她松了一口气，想出去轻松一下。她决定先去看看Michael在干什么。今天，李华会学到两个常用语：dumb blonde和bimbo。

    M: Hey, Li Hua. What brings you here?

    L: 没事。刚写完明天要交的报告，想休息一下。哎，你在看电视剧Friends呀？我看过，我很喜欢Pheobe. 就是那个金发女孩，她真滑稽。

    M: Yeah, she's a real dumb blonde.

    L: 你叫她dumb blonde? 什么意思呀？ Dumb不是指一个人很笨吗？blonde是金发。很笨的金发女郎啊？

    M: You're right. Dumb blonde. We often joke that blonde women are usually pretty but not very intelligent.

    L: 噢，原来你们老把金发女郎说成是很漂亮，可是却很笨。 象Pheobe也一样，很漂亮，但是老说傻话，也是个dumb blonde。可是，说人家笨不是很不礼貌吗？

    M: Yes, that's why we would never say this to someone's face. It's usually only used as a joke behind people's backs.

    L: 原来这是作为笑话来讲的，绝对不能当着一个金发女郎的面说dumb blonde. Michael，你真认为金发的女人真的都很笨吗？

    M: No, we often used the term as a joke. Most of the jokes about dumb blondes are not true.

    L: 我想也是，有金发的人不见得就是比别人笨。Michael, 你给我讲一个关于dumb blonde的笑话吧！

    M: OK. A crying blonde asked a policeman for help to find her lost dog. The policeman suggested that she put an ad in the paper. The blonde responds: "I can't, because my dog can't read." Li Hua, do you understand the joke?

    L: 听懂了。一个金发女郎的狗丢了。她一面哭一面要一个警察帮她把狗找回来。警察建议她在报上登个广告。可是，这个金发女郎说：“不行，我的狗不识字。” Michael, 我才不信有这么笨的人。

    ******

    L: Michael, 那天我们上历史课的时候，那个女学生问教授谁是美国的第一任总统。这可真傻，不过她不是金发女郎。那我该怎么说她呢？

    M: Well, you can call her a bimbo. Bimbo is a very dumb woman, not necessarily a blonde.

    L: 你的意思是，bimbo可以指笨的女人，不管她是不是金发女郎。

    M: That's right. Remember last week in class, a girl asked who won World War II, the Germans or the Japanese? What a silly question, she's a real bimbo.

    L: 对，我记得！她问第二次大战是德国人胜还是日本人胜，提得出这样问题的人才真是个bimbo。

    M: Yeah, it's scary that an American did not even know who our first president was or who won World War II. But it's still not nice to call her bimbo, though.

    L: 我知道，虽然提这样的问题很傻， 不过也不能当她们的面叫她们bimbo. 这样会伤害她们自尊的。

    M: I know you wouldn't. Just want to warn you.

    L: 哟，Michael, 我和一个朋友约好在中国城见面的，我得去搭地铁了。我要来不及了！

    M: To Chinatown? Two blocks away！You can walk there in 5 minutes, why do you want to take subway? You're such a bimbo!

    L: 噢，再过两条街就是中国城？我还以为要坐地铁呢！嗨， Michael， 我路不熟这也算bimbo呀！你真没礼貌！我走了！

    M: Sorry, bye!

    今天李华学到两个常用语，一个是：dumb blonde, 这是用来笑话那些金发女郎，看起来很漂亮，但是脑子很笨。另一个是：bimbo。Bimbo是指笨的女人，不管是不是金发。

chubbycat

流行美语 第64课 (下载)

　


    今天李华和Michael在讨论做生意的事。 李华会学到两个常用语：to make a killing和to break even.

    M: Li Hua, what are you looking at on the Internet?

    L: 噢，我想在网上买个做豆腐的机器。我和一个朋友想做了豆腐周末拿到农民集市上去卖。 你说有人会买吗?

    M: Of course people would buy your tofu! You'd make a killing!

    L: Make a killing? 做豆腐和杀人有什么关系?

    M: No, I said you'd "make a killing". "To make a killing" means to earn a lot of money quickly through some kind of lucrative business.

    L: 唷， to make a killing就是通过做生意赚了许多钱！ Michael, 这么说，你认为我们这个生意能做得成，是吗？我不知道美国人是不是爱吃豆腐呐。

    M: Of course! A lot of people who don't eat meat, or who want to eat healthy foods eat tofu. Also, there are a lot of Chinese in this part of town. I'm sure you'll make a killing.

    L: 对，好多美国人现在健康意识很强，不吃肉，爱吃豆制品。Michael, 你说得没错，这一带中国人也很多，肯定有人会买新鲜豆腐的。Michael, 你能不能再给我举一个例子呀？

    M: Well, for instance, my uncle Roger made a killing in real estate. A few years ago, he bought a lot of land and then rich people started building houses in the area, and he made a lot of money.

    L: 你叔叔几年前买了好多地，然后有钱人在这些地上盖房子，所以他就通过房地产生意赚了好多钱！他可真有远见呐！

    M: You can also say to make a killing in the stock market, in the insurance business or even in the tofu business!

    L: 噢，to make a killing in the stock market就是通过买卖股票赚了好多钱，in the insurance business就是保险业。可是，我想靠卖豆腐大概不会make a killing --赚不了太多钱。

    ******

    M: Don't worry about losing money, Li Hua. At the very least, you will break even.

    L: 你说我至少会什么？break even?

    M: "To break even" means to neither lose nor gain money. If you do some business and are able to cover the costs of the business, but don't make a profit, you are breaking even.

    L: 噢，那就是既不赚钱，也不亏本。做豆腐的机器不是太贵，所以，你说得对，要做到收支相抵， 也就是break even, 应该不会有问题。

    M: Even if you don't earn a lot of money, if you break even you lose nothing, plus you get to enjoy lots of fresh tofu.

    L: 唷，你倒想得好，不赚不赔没什么损失，还能吃好多新鲜豆腐！你不就是想不出钱白吃豆腐嘛！对不对？

    M: What? I don't care that much about tofu. Stop being silly and use this phrase in a sentence.

    L: 嗯...有了。我和我的朋友Regina上星期第一次去大西洋赌城玩。开始我们各自出了50 美元，可是不到一小时全输光了。后来我们两人各出10美元，合在一起，结果终于把100美元又赚了回来。所以，In the end, we broke even.

    M: (Sarcastically) Wow. $50. Good thing you were able to break even, or you'd have to sleep in a cardboard box on the sidewalk.

    L: Michael, 别小看人哪！输了50美元，我就得睡在马路上的纸箱里呀？哎，不过，说实话，50美元是不少钱，我本来就不该去赌钱。

    今天李华学到两个常用语，一个是：to make a killing, 意思是做生意在短期内赚了很多钱。另一个是：to break even, 意思是做生意没有亏本，也没有赚钱。

chubbycat

流行美语 第65课 (下载)

　


    今天Michael和李华在打台球。从Michael的谈话中，李华学到两个常用语： to fork something over和to get over something.

    L: (sound of pool balls clicking) 嗨，别进去，别进去呀！ 啊呀，我怎么又输了这关键的球呢！这下好了...

    M: That's too bad, Li Hua. Looks like you owe me five dollars. Come on, fork it over!

    L: 对，我们赌了五块钱，输了就给你，有什么了不起。可什么是fork it over?

    M: To fork something over means to pay or give something, usually money. You lost a 5 dollar bet, so you need to fork over five dollars!

    L: 噢，to fork it over原来就是付钱，或者给什么东西。Michael，你再举个例子，好不好？

    M: Before I left China, I bought a lot of souvenirs. At the train station, a worker told me that my bags were too heavy, and I was made to pay a fine. I had to fork over 80 yuan， 八十块！

    L: 行李太重就被罚了八十块人民币！可能是坑你是外国人吧！嗨，你本来就不该买那么多礼品。而且你买的都不是什么好东西，瞧那条石头雕的龙，真难看！

    M: Hey, I forked over 350 yuan for that statue! Don't make fun of it!

    L: You forked over 350 yuan for that thing? 出350块买那条龙呀？老天爷，Michael, 那玩意儿恐怕还不值50块人民币呢。

    M: Well, anyway, you need to fork over my 5 dollars now, please.

    L: 你那么着急要我给你五块钱干嘛？

    M: Go over to the bar and get us some beers. My treat!

    L: 要我拿那五块钱去买啤酒，还算你请客！Macheal, 你真好意思呐！

    ******

    L: 我刚才怎么会又输给你呢，真是难以相信。真倒霉！

    M: Please, Li Hua, its a game of pool. Get over it!

    L: Get what? 你说什么？Get-over-it?

    M: I said "get over it". To get over something means to stop feeling bad about something, to forget about something bad.

    L: To get over it就是不要为了某件事老感到难受，要把它忘掉。你的意思是要我忘掉我输给你五块钱？

    M: Well, you don't need to completely forget about losing -- but just don't let the fact that you lost bother you. Get over it!

    L: 对，完全忘掉恐怕是不行，但是别老放在心里。 Michael, 我是跟你开玩笑的啦。不过，to get over it这个说法好像很有用，再给我举个例子吧。

    M: My aunt's husband was killed in the Vietnam war. She never completely got over his death. She sometimes talks about him as if he were still alive.

    L: 你姨夫在越南战争里被打死已经那么久了，你阿姨到现在有时还以为他还活着。我听了都感到难受，你别举这么伤心的例子好吗？

    M: Ok, let me see -- when I was eight, I had a puppy. I really loved that dog! But the dog got sick, and never got over the illness.

    L: 哟，你八岁时候养的小狗后来病死啦！Michael! 我最心痛这种小动物了，我都快要哭了。

    M: Li Hua, please! Don't cry . That was years ago! Besides, it wasn't even your dog.

    L: 说的也是，那么多年前的事了，而且也不是我的狗。可能我喝酒喝太多了。

    M: Hey, you'd better finish that! I forked over five dollars for these beers!

    今天李华学到两个常用语，一个是：to fork it over, 意思是给什么东西，或付钱。另一个是：to get over it, 意思是忘掉不愉快的事情。

chubbycat

流行美语 第66课 (下载)

　


    今天Michael和李华在学校的书店里买书。李华会学到两个常用语：hot和to have a crush on someone。

    M: Li Hua, do you see that girl over there?

    L: 你是说那个穿红毛衣的女孩？她怎么啦？

    M: She's so hot! I've seen her around campus before and I would really love to meet her.

    L: 你在校园里见过她，还想认识她。嗯，她是很漂亮。不过，你又没跟她说过话，你怎么知道她很热呢？

    M: No, silly. To say someone is "hot" means that he or she is really attractive. That girl over there is definitely hot.

    L: 噢，说一个人hot是说她很漂亮，很有吸引力，而不是感觉很热的意思。

    M: That's right, Li Hua. Now, you know who I think is hot. Tell me who do you think is hot?

    L: 没错，我现在知道你喜欢谁了。至于我喜欢谁嘛，嗯...电影演员汤姆.克鲁斯 - Tom Cruise - 怎么样？I think he's hot！

    M: Tom Cruise? No, I mean someone you really have a chance of going out with.

    L: 噢，要能够一起出去玩的人呐？

    M: Yes, I mean you are not very likely to meet Tom Cruise. Besides, he's a little old now.

    L: 说得也是，要想认识Tom Cruise恐怕是不太可能的。他当然比以前老了，不过，我觉得他还是很有风度的--He's very hot。

    M: Now, come on, who do you think is hot?

    L: 你想知道我心目里谁最hot呀？我才不告诉你呢，免得你泄露了我的机密。

    M: Fine, be that way, but I will find out sooner or later.

    ******

    L: 哎, Michael, 你喜欢的那个女孩去付钱了。要不要我去跟她说话？和她认识以后再给你介绍一下。

    M: NO!

    L: 为什么？你是信不过我，还是怕羞呀？

    M: I'm not sure. Besides, I don't want her to know that I have a crush on her. She might not even like me.

    L: 你不要她知道什么？You have a crush on her -- 这是什么意思？

    M: "To have a crush on someone" means you really like the person.

    L: 噢，to have a crush on someone就是喜欢某人。那我喜欢你，你是我的好朋友，我能不能说I have a crush on you呢？

    M: No, "to have a crush on someone" means you like that person romantically.

    L: 噢，对不起，刚才没弄清楚。 所以，to have a crush on someone是说对异性有好感，希望和这个人谈恋爱，才能这么说。那我能说I have a crush on Tom Cruise吗?

    M: Yes, that would be appropriate. But when are you going to like someone you actually have a chance of meeting.

    L: 你想知道我真的要谁做男朋友啊？这种事我怎么能告诉你啊。

    M: Why not? Don't you trust me?

    L: 这不是什么信任不信任的问题。好，等你告诉那个女孩你喜欢她以后我再告诉你，好不好？

    M: Then I guess I won't know who you have a crush on any time soon.

    L: 啊呀，你真是没胆量。怪不得你交不到女朋友呢！

    Michael和李华在学校的书店里买书，李华学到了两个常用语。hot是指一个人对异性很有魅力和吸引力；to have a crush on someone是指对异性有好感。

chubbycat

流行美语第67课

　


    今天Michael和李华刚上完课在学生休息室里聊天。李华会学到两个常用语：out of line和to trash something.

    L: 嗨， Michael，刚才我听到历史课的教授在对你嚷嚷，什么事呀？

    M: I argued with him because I thought that a book he's assigning us to read is no good. I guess I was out of line.

    L: 你说教授指定要我们看的书不好！你真是没有分寸。嗯，你刚才还说什么来啦？Out of line? Line, 是l-i-n-e这个字吗？那不是排队的意思吗？

    M: No, "to be out of line" means to speak or act when it is not appropriate, especially when dealing with someone who is your superior.

    L: To-be-out-of-line就是话说得不恰当，或者是做事做得不合适，特别是对长辈。那不就是我刚才说的“没分寸”吗？我们中国人对长辈特别要有礼貌，哪有象你那样跟教授争论的嘛！

    M: Well, in America, you're not always out of line when you disagree with your teacher. Still, I was wrong to criticize our professor so loudly in front of the whole class.

    L: 我知道，美国学生和老师辩论是很正常的。可是，象你那样在全班同学面前对教授大声嚷嚷，那才是出了格，out of line。Michael，out of line只是指你和长辈说话没有分寸吗？

    M: Not always. For instance, I once told my classmate he should break up with his girlfriend. The two of them had been together for many years. I was not a close friend of this guy, so I was out of line to say that.

    L: 你要你同学和他女朋友分手？你跟这个同学又不熟。哎哟，你不仅是out of line， 你简直是疯了-- out of your mind!

    ******

    L: Michael，我觉得那教授对你大声嚷嚷也有点过份。

    M: Well, I really trashed the book he was asking us to read. I probably should have been a little more tactful.

    L: 噢，你还把那本书扔到垃圾桶里啦？那可真是太没礼貌啦！

    M: What are you talking about? I didn't throw anything in the trash. I said I "trashed the book". That means I said really bad things about it.

    L: 噢，to trash the book不是把书扔到垃圾桶里，而是把它说成一钱不值。

    M: Last year I made a professor angry because I trashed General MacArthur in a history class. I wrote a paper on his mistakes in the Korean War.

    L: 去年你写了一篇论文例举了麦卡瑟将军在韩战中的种种错误？我怎么不知道呀？Michael, 你不能老是这么贬低历史人物嘛！对了，除了书和人以外，to trash something还能用在别的地方吗？

    M: You can trash anything. For instance (sips coffee), this coffee is horrible! It tastes like dishwater.

    L: 这咖啡象洗碗水？我觉得还可以嘛。有什么东西你觉得好吃的吗？

    M: Not really. That's the problem with Americans. We don't have good taste in food or drink. Americans don't understand what good cheese, bread or chocolate taste like. We always eat junk.

    L: 你听听，现在你又在贬低美国人了，说他们不知道什么是好吃的，不懂得什么是好的奶酪、面包和巧克力，老是吃那些垃圾食品。 Now you're "trashing" your own country.

    M: Hey, this is a free country. I can trash America anyway I want.

    L: 把自己的国家说得一钱不值似乎也有点out of line了。你这个人啊，就是爱看到反面的东西。嗨(sighs) Whatever.

    今天李华学到两个常用语，一个是：out of line, 意思是没有分寸，出格。另一个是：to trash something, 是把什么东西说成一钱不值。

chubbycat

流行美语第68课

　


    Michael和李华正在教室里等着上课。今天李华会学到两个常用语：gee和oh well...

    L: Michael, 你听说了没有，Professor Johnson的车坏了，这节课取消了。

    M: His car broke down? (sarcastically) Gee... that's too bad! I was really looking forward to Professor Johnson's class!

    L: 你不是最讨厌上Professor Johnson的课吗？你说geeeee, 这是什么意思啊？

    M: (sighs) Come on, Li Hua! Don't you know what sarcasm is? Of course I don't like that class!

    L: 噢，你是在说反话！哎哟，你们美国学生老是说那些讽刺挖苦的话，有时候我都听不懂。哎，gee到底是什么意思吗？

    M: Well, "Gee..." is an interjection that shows surprise, wonder, or uncertainty. Sometimes when people say "Gee..." (in a long, drawn out fashion) they are just pretending that they are surprised.

    L: 你是说gee放在句子里，可以表示惊奇或是怀疑。可要是拖长了调，说geeeeee，这说话的人啊就是假装他感到惊奇。等等，那要是我问你，纽约今年的冬天会冷吗？这个问题当然是很傻啦，因为纽约的冬天总是冷的，那，你会怎么样带着讽刺的口气来回答呢？

    M: I would say, "Gee..., I don't know... Winter here has been cold every year for the last ten thousand years, but maybe this year will be different."

    L: 几千年来纽约的冬天都是冷的，今年可能会不同，哎，Michael, 你也真是能说反话哎！

    M: Now, Li Hua, why don't you give me an example using "Gee" without sarcasm to show that you are surprised.

    L: 举个不带讽刺意思的例子啊... 哎，要是你告诉我你得到一大笔让你到中国去学习的奖学金，我就会说：Gee, that's great!。哎，Michael, 教室都空了，你走不走啊？

    M: (Sarcastically, in English) "Gee, I don't know. Sometimes I just like to sit in an empty classroom and do nothing..."

    L: 得，你愿意坐在空教室里，那我走了！

    M: Hey, wait!

    ******

    M: Did you hear, the football team won't make the playoffs this year. Oh well, that's too bad.

    L: 对，足球队今年不能参加决赛。你说是Owell不好，谁是Owell?

    M: I said, "Oh well". Oh, o-h, well, w-e-l-l. "Oh well" is use to show mild regret. We also use it to tease people or pretend that you are upset.

    L: 噢，原来这是两个字，oh和well。 oh well就是表示有点遗憾。Michael, 你等等，我要到那个售货机去买包土豆片。(sound of vending machine). 嗨，这个机器坏了，我给了一包的钱，它给我两包。

    M: It's broken? Oh well, I guess you have to give me a bag. We don't want to waste food, right?

    L: Oh well, 你说这啊是想逗我。我为什么要给你一包土豆片哪！还美其名说什么不要浪费食品。你不就是想白吃我的土豆片吗？

    M: You're not going to give me any chips? (teasing) Oh well, I guess I won't be able to give you a ride home.

    L: 你为了一包土豆片就不让我搭你的车，要我走回家啊？行啊，那我以后就不帮你做中文课作业了！

    M: (teasing) Oh well. I guess I won't be able to help you learn English then. Hm, too bad!

    L: 你呀，别装模作样，不帮我学英语就算了，以后啊不跟你说话了。

    M: Um, calm down Li Hua. I was just joking, you know.

    L: (in English, sarcastic) Gee, really? (Chinese) 我还真以为你为了一包土豆片就不要我这个朋友了呢。

    M: Oh well, we've been kidding too much. Let's go home.

    李华今天学到了两个常用语，一个是：gee, 这是一个语气词，可以使你说的话带有遗憾、惊奇的色彩。另一个是：oh well, 在中文里就是：“行啊， 得啦！”

chubbycat

流行美语第69课

　



    Michael和李华刚吃完晚饭，两人正在讨论晚上去干什么。李华会学到两个常用语：to catch a flick和to have no business doing something。

    M: Dinner was okay. Did you like it?

    L: 晚饭是不错，可是我吃得太饱了。

    M: Me, too. It's still really early. Do you want to catch a flick or something? We can still make it to the 7:00 pm show.

    L: Catch a flick? 那是一种游戏吗？

    M: No. Flick is just another word for movie, and to catch a flick means to go to a movie.

    L: 噢，原来flick也可以指电影，catch a flick就是去看场电影。哎，怪不得那天我听不懂。那天，生物课的一个同学下了课对我说：Would you like to catch a flick? 我当时还不知道他说什么，所以我就说：No. 其实我很爱看电影。Okay, let's catch a flick.

    M: You learned that quickly. I hear that Arnold Schwarzenegger's new flick is pretty good. We could go see that. It's probably pretty violent though.

    L: 你想去看阿诺的新电影。好呀！ 对，他的电影都有很多打斗的场面，不过，他的电影本来就是动作片嘛。Michael, 我是不是可以把阿诺的动作片叫做action flicks?

    M: Yes, that's right, Li Hua. There are also romance flicks, adventure flicks, and comedy flicks.

    L: 我知道了，romance flicks就是爱情片, 那，adventure flicks就是惊险片, comedy flicks呢，就是喜剧片，对不对？

    M: That's right! What kind of movie do you like best?

    L: 我最喜欢看喜剧片，因为comedy flicks会让人发笑，看了以后会很高兴，很轻松。

    M: I like action flicks. They are exciting.

    L: 好，那我们就去看阿诺的action flick - 动作片好了！

    M: Okay, let's catch a flick.

    ******

    M: That movie was awful! I've never been so bored in my entire life!

    L: 啊，你不喜欢这个电影？我倒觉得阿诺演得很象个侦探啊！

    M: Are you kidding? That man has no business acting. He is the worst actor ever. I hope he is a better governor.

    L: 阿诺has no business acting? 你是说阿诺的工作不是演员? 他明明就是个演员啊！

    M: No, I said he has no business acting. When you say someone has no business doing something, it means that they should not do it because they cannot or because they are really bad at it.

    L: 噢，说什么人has no business doing something, 就是说这个人不该干这件事或是这一行，因为他的水平太差了。Michael, 你再给我举个例子，好不好？

    M: For instance, I have no business teaching Chinese because I don't speak it very well. Now you give me an example.

    L: 你说你中文太差，所以不能教中文。还要我举个例子。那太容易了。你呀，没有资格批评阿诺的演技，因为你不是影评家！You have no business criticizing Arnold because you are not a movie critic.

    M: Hey, I can still have my opinion. You have no business telling me what I can or can't say.

    L: 好，那你就坚持己见吧，我不理你就是了。

    M: You have no business being so upset. I'm just making examples.

    L: 我也不是真和你生气啦，Michael, 大概是太晚了，我们都犯困了吧！真该回家睡觉了！

    M: Okay, good night.

    L: 再见！

    李华今天学到了两个常用语：to catch a flick表示看电影。To have no business doing something表示某人水平很差，不适合干某件事或者某一行。

chubbycat

流行美语第70课

　



    本课文下载：第70课

    现在Michael和李华在准备下午的考试。李华会学到两个常用语：to jinx和come off it。

    L: Michael, 考试准备得怎么样了？ 可别再像上次那样考砸了！

    M: Ahh! Li Hua, don't say that! You'll jinx me!

    L: Jinx you? 听不懂，什么是jinx啊？

    M: Jinx. Jinx can be used as a verb or a noun. One way to jinx someone is to say something unlucky, like you just said.

    L: 噢，jinx这个词可以作动词，也可以作名词。你刚才说：You'll jinx me, 意思是你认为我说“这次你可别考砸了”，这句话不吉利，会让你倒霉。哎哟，Michael, 你那么迷信啊！

    M: Well, some people believe in jinxes. For instance, a lot of people think that there is a jinx on the Chicago Cubs baseball team. It hasn't won a World Series for 95 years.

    L: 有人说芝加哥棒球队“小熊队”撞上了倒霉运，所以老是进不了世界杯决赛。Michael, 你刚才说，There is a jinx on the Chicago Cubs. 这个jinx就是名词了吧？

    M: That's right! I don't believe in black magic or anything like that. But I do think that if someone hears something unlucky, or believes that there is a jinx, it can affect his or her performance.

    L: 我啊，也不相信真的有什么魔术或巫术的。可是，要是你确实相信听到倒霉话就真的会倒霉，那是会影响你的心理，也会影响你做事的结果。我就不信真的有jinx！

    M: Really? What if I told you that I think you're going to fail this test unless you apologize to me? I am jinxing you!

    L: 什么？你要我对你道歉！我要不跟你道歉，我考试就会不及格！你想咒我啊，You are trying to jinx me? 我才不怕呢。我又不信jinx这一套！我只是希望你这次别考砸了。我是好意啊！

    M: Li Hua, you said it again! I'm going to give you five seconds to apologize for jinxing me.

    L: 给我五秒钟对你道歉？我干吗要道歉，我又没有说错话。我看你还是赶快去复习你的功课吧！别相信什么悔气不悔气的。

    ******

    L: 哎呀，Michael, 我这次肯定考砸了。都是你的错，you jinxed me before the test!

    M: Oh come off it, Li Hua. You said you don't believe in jinxes.

    L: Come off it? 你在说什么呀？

    M: I said "come off it!" That means "stop talking nonsense" or "stop pretending that something is true".

    L: 噢，come off it就表示“不要瞎说”、“别装蒜啦”。嗨，你不是说你相信听了倒霉的话就真的会倒霉呀？

    M: Come off it, Li Hua! You're the one who said that if someone fails, it has nothing to do with the jinx.

    L: 我是不相信所谓的jinx, 可是你在考试前和我争来争去，影响我情绪，所以我没有考好啊！

    M: You want me to feel guilty? Well, I don't!

    L: Come off it, Michael! 你要我跟你道歉，还说不然我就会考不好，这当然影响我情绪啦！

    M: Come off it, Li Hua! It's not my fault. It's your fault you didn't come to class on Friday. You missed about a third of the material covered on the test.

    L: 什么？我考试没考好是因为我礼拜五没有来上课？哎，你明明知道那天我生病了嘛！

    M: Oh, come off it! I saw you later that day. You weren't sick!

    L: You come off it, Michael! 我是真的生病啦！

    M: Unlucky, huh? So you're still blaming me for jinxing you? Come off it, already. You don't really believe in that jinx nonsense, do you?

    L: 对，我考试没考好，不怪你，算我自己倒霉，行了吧？

    李华今天在和Michael谈论考试的时候，学到了两个常用语：to jinx表示“带来坏运气”；come off it表示“不要瞎说”、“别装蒜”。

chubbycat

流行美语第71课

　



    Michael和李华现在在商店里买东西。李华会学到两个常用语： shades和to get turned down.

    L: Michael, 你在看什么？

    M: I really need a new pair of sunglasses. I sat on the old ones and crushed them.

    L: 你也真是的，怎么会坐在自己的太阳眼镜上呢！

    M: (trying on a pair of sunglasses) Li Hua, what do you think? Do I look cool in these shades?

    L: 你把太阳眼镜叫做shades? 是s-h-a-d-e这个词吗？那不是“树荫”的意思吗？

    M: Shade used as plural - shades, is just another word for sunglasses. It makes sense because they shade your eyes from the sun.

    L: 噢，shade用作复数，就可以指“太阳眼镜”。对，太阳眼镜把阳光给挡住了。这么说倒挺形象的。 Yes, Michael, you look very "cool" in those "shades."

    M: Thank you. Li Hua, You should try on this pair of shades. They would look pretty on you.

    L: 好啊，我来试试。倒是真好看，可惜太贵了。我可舍不得花这么多钱。

    M: Yes, those shades are pretty expensive. Maybe they'll go on sale. I have to pay for my shades now.

    L: 对，我还是等它减价的时候再买吧。你决定买你这副了？可要小心哟，别再把你的new shades放在椅子上给坐坏了。

    M: I will be careful. Hey, Li Hua, how about this pair of shades? They are light brown instead of black.

    L: 这副浅棕色的墨镜确实挺别致的，不过，我不太喜欢这个颜色。我想我还是等下次挑一副黑色的shades吧！

    M: Okay, I think we need to get back to school. Don't you have a class this afternoon?

    L: 就是啊，我下午有课，我们赶快回学校吧。

    ******

    L: Michael, 你看，那边走过来的不就是你喜欢的那个女生吗？你现在戴着新墨镜，样子好酷啊。还不赶快跟她说句话？

    M: No, I don't really feel like getting turned down. I'm sure she has a boyfriend anyway.

    L: 哎哟，你真是的！你怎么能肯定她已经有男朋友了呢？你说什么不想被turned down？你是说，怕这个女孩的男朋友找你算帐，把你打翻在地呀？

    M: No, no. "To get turned down" means to get rejected. I'm afraid of getting turned down means I'm afraid of being rejected.

    L: 原来，to get turned down就是“遭到拒绝”的意思，也就是说，你想和她交往，如果她不愿意，那你就是被turned down了。你是怕遭到她的拒绝，让你下不了台呀！

    M: Exactly. Nobody likes to get turned down.

    L: 我也知道，谁都不想被拒绝。可是，你怎么能肯定这个女生就一定会turn you down呢？你不试一试，永远也不知道她到底是不是真的会turn you down啊！

    M: You're right. My fear of getting turned down is making it difficult to find a girlfriend. I suppose I'll survive even if she turns me down. Maybe I'll ask her out to coffee next time I see her.

    L: 就是啊，你老怕被拒绝，怎么能找到女朋友嘛！而且，即使被turned down, 也没什么大不了的。Michael, 你要是戴着这副新买的墨镜，我肯定她不会turn you down。

    M: Are you sure she won't turn me down if I wear these shades?

    L: 我肯定她不会拒绝你，可是，她要是已经有男朋友了，那我就不知道你这副新买的shades有多大威力了。

    M: Ok, I'll make sure if she has a boyfriend before I ask her out.

    今天李华学到两个常用语，一个是：shades, 相当于 sunglasses, 也就是“太阳眼镜”、“墨镜”；另一个是：to get turned down, 意思是“遭到拒绝”。

chubbycat

流行美语第72课

　



    今天李华碰到了倒霉的事，Michael大力相助，真够朋友的。李华会学到两个常用语：a drag和to start from scratch。

    M: Hey, Li Hua. How is your history project going?

    L: 你还要问我历史课的事。唉，我可真倒霉呀！我的电脑坏了，把我写的东西全丢了。可报告明天就要交呢。

    M: Your computer crashed? Wow, that's a drag. Is there anything I can do to help?

    L: 哎哟，你说什么？什么是drag啊?

    M: If something is a "drag," that means it is negative or depressing. The fact that you lost your history project and will probably have to do it again is definitely a drag.

    L: 原来a drag就是倒霉的、让人不高兴的事。我电脑坏了，把我明天要交的历史课报告全丢了。这可真是倒霉事。It's really a drag。

    M: That's right. You want to know what else is a drag?

    L: 还有什么倒霉事呀？

    M: My computer is broken, too, so I can't let you use it to re-write your project. I sent it in to be fixed and I won't get it back until next week.

    L: 你的电脑也坏啦！哎哟，本来还真想先借你的用呢！没事，我可以用我同屋的电脑。可是，我得先到图书馆里去把我写报告用过的书全找回来，重新看这些书，找材料。我能不能在明天完成这个报告还是个问题呐，真是倒霉！

    M: Maybe if you explain your situation to the professor, he'll give you some extra time. I'm sure he knows what a drag it is when your computer breaks down. It doesn't hurt to ask.

    L: 对，我得去跟教授解释一下。他肯定明白电脑坏了，丢了材料有多倒霉。你说得对，也许他会让我延期交卷。我马上就去找他。

    ******

    M: Li Hua, what did your professor say? Will he give you extra time to do the project over again?

    L: 对呀，教授让我延期三天交卷。可是我怕重头开始再做一遍时间还是不够！What a drag!

    M: Yeah, you do have to start from scratch. I'll help you as much as I can.

    L: Start from what? 什么是start from scratch?

    M: To start something from scratch means to start from the very beginning. You lost your entire project when your computer crashed, including your research, so now you have to start from scratch.

    L: 噢， to start from scratch就是从头开始。我电脑坏了，所做的一切东西都丢了，所以，I have to start from scratch -- 从头开始啦！

    M: That's right. You have to start your project from scratch. How can I help?

    L: Michael, 你能帮我忙，那真是太好了。既然我得从头开始，那我得先去图书馆。你能帮我找书吗？

    M: Sure. I'm happy to help. While we are walking, why don't you try and give me another example of "to start something from scratch".

    L: 一面走路还要我给你举例子。你可抓得真紧哎！ 好吧，让我想想。要是我家房子被烧了，那我们不得不重新盖房子-- to build a new house from scratch. Right?

    M: Yeah, that's right. That's not a very happy example though. It would be a real drag if your house burned down!

    L: 对，这个例子倒有点倒霉了！好，再给你一个例子。要是我学画画，可是我从来没有学过，我就说：I am going to start from scratch。

    M: Yes, you could. Hey, look, there's the library. I suppose we had better focus on your project now. You do have to start from scratch after all.

    L: 对，我得集中力量从头来起。唉，真倒霉，it's such a drag!

    今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是：a drag, 意思是倒霉，不好的事。另一个是：to start something from scratch, 这是指从头开始。

chubbycat

流行美语第73课

　



    李华正在开车和Michael一起去学校。今天李华会学到两个常用语：to be on crack和to get the hang of something。

    L: 哟，我的天啊，我车后面的一个轮胎爆了！Michael, 一个轮胎爆了还能开一段路，对不对？

    M: Li Hua!? Are you on crack? You can't drive with a flat tire, you'll ruin your car, and probably get in a wreck!

    L: 哎哟，我也不想弄坏我的车，也不想出车祸。不过，你刚才问我Are you on crack？这是什么意思啊? crack这不是一种毒品吗？on crack不就是吸毒吗？

    M: Yes, "crack" -- as in "crack cocaine". "To be on crack" means to be high on cocaine. Of course, when I say, "Are you on crack?" I really mean -- "Are you crazy"?

    L: 等等，这得弄清楚。你的意思是，to be on crack可以指吸毒，但是你刚才对我说的不是这个意思。你是说：我要在一个轮胎破了的情况下继续开车，简直是疯啦！哎，你可得解释清楚了，我从来不吸毒的！

    M: Calm down, Li Hua. People use this phrase all the time. I was just alarmed that you would try to drive your car with a flat tire. You'd have to be on crack to do something crazy like that.

    L: 噢，我懂了，你的意思是：我准是吸了毒才会想干这种傻事 -- 轮胎破了还想继续开车。Michael, 我们把轮胎换了吧。现在还来得及。

    (sound of trunk opening, tools rattling, sound of car jack, etc.)

    L: 说到发疯，我认为George Wilkins才真是疯了呢。我听说他要到阿富汗一个村庄去给他的论文做实地调查。

    M: He's going to be traveling in Afghanistan! Is he on crack? Can you imagine how dangerous that place must be right now?

    L: 我也觉得真是太危险了。不过他想要当国际水平的人类学家。那他就得做出牺牲啦！

    M: Yeah, well that Ph.D. won't be much good to him if he gets shot. I still think anyone who chooses to go to Afghanistan right now is on crack.... it's just crazy!

    L: 就是，要在阿富汗给打死的话，什么博士学位都没用了。行了，轮胎装好了，我们快走吧！

    (sound of trunk closing)

    ******

    L: (Horn honking) 噢，应该让他先走。我开车的技术实在太差了。老是犯这种错误。

    M: Don't worry Li Hua, you're not a terrible driver! You haven't been driving for very long. You'll get the hang of it, eventually.

    L: 你说我最后会什么？Get the hang of it？

    M: I said you will "get the hang of it". "To get the hang of something" means to become proficient at something through practice.

    L: 噢，to-get-the-hang-of-it就是多练习，多实践，一些事情就会做得更好。这不就是中文里说的“熟能生巧”吗？但愿你说得对，我多开车，技术就会改进喽！

    M: I know I'm right! Remember when you first started school, you had trouble with your writing assignments? I think you've gotten the hang of writing English essays now, right?

    L: 就是哎，我刚来美国的时候不会写学术报告。现在是好多了。

    M: You've been living in the U.S. for some time now. You must have gotten the hang of a lot of new skills?

    L: 嗯，我在美国已经三年了，是学到不少东西。

    M: And you've gotten the hang of teaching, haven't you? Your students seem to like you.

    L: 对呀，我在教中文方面也比较熟悉了。I've got the hang of teaching Chinese, 对不对？

    M: Absolutely!

    今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是：to be on crack, 这可以指“吸毒”，但是也可以指：“你疯啦！”。李华学到的另外一个常用语是：to get a hang of something, 意思是通过练习，熟能生巧。

chubbycat

流行美语第74课

　



    今天Michael提前下班，在路上碰到李华。李华会学到两个常用语： to slack off和peon。

    L: 嘿， Michael, 你今天怎么这么早就下班啦？

    M: Well, this is the holiday season, so everyone at work is slacking off. No one minds if I leave early.

    L: 你说是因为过节，早下班没人会介意，而且办公室里每个人都在slacking off? 那是做什么呀？

    M: (Chuckles) I said everyone is "slacking off". "To slack off" means just the opposite of "being busy". "To slack off" means "to not work hard".

    L: 噢，to slack off的意思和“努力工作”刚好相反。我懂了，你是说，因为过节，所以同事们都比较放松-- Everyone at work is slacking off. 可是，Michael, 你自作主张提前下班，是不是有一点太slack off了呢？

    M: Oh, I certainly don't worry about it, because I noticed even my boss is slacking off. He left even earlier than I did.

    L: 你们公司老板比你走得还早，看来，他比你更加slack off。说得也是，马上就要新年了，连我也觉得挺懒散，什么事都不想做。

    M: That's Ok. You're on vacation. You have very good reasons to be slacking off.

    L: 虽然说是放假，可是我本来打算利用假期多读些英文书，我要是这么懒散，恐怕连一本书也读不完了。

    M: I wish it were holiday all the time, so I could always slack off.

    L: 什么？你想每天都放假，那你就可以老这么轻松的了？嘿，Michael，我们中文里常说：“一张一驰”。Slack off一段时间以后，你就应该努力工作啦！

    M: Hmm. Maybe you are right. Sometimes after slacking off during a holiday or vacation, we do feel refreshed and ready to get back to work again.

    L: 也是啊，适当放松一下，工作起来会更带劲儿。新年快到了，我确实应该slack off for a couple of days, 可是如果slack off的时间太长了，我心里就会觉得不安。

    ******

    L: 哎，Michael, 你提早下班，万一公司有什么要紧事，你不担心同事会找你吗？

    M: Oh, don't worry about that. I am not that important, I'm just a peon where I work.

    L: 你是什么？a peon? 那是什么呀？

    M: I said I am a Peon. The word "peon" originally meant someone who did manual labor in order to pay off a debt. These days, though, people use "peon" to refer to an unimportant person at work who performs a simple task.

    L: 噢，peon这个词原来是指“为了还债而做苦工的人”，现在呢，大家用peon这个词来指那些在公司里做简单工作，地位比较低的雇员。Oh, come on Michael, 你怎么能说自己在公司不重要呢？

    M: No, I'm just a peon at my workplace. Anyone could do my job.

    L: 嗯，要是谁都能做你的工作，那恐怕是一个peon了。中文系的李教授常常对我们说，你要不好好干，好多人都等着这个位子呢。看来，我才是一个真正的peon呢。

    M: Well, maybe you are easy to replace. But that's no reason for you to feel like a peon.

    L: 你说得对，我不应该自己觉得我做的工作不重要，而且，想想看，我们大学校长或是你们公司老板恐怕当年也做过好一段时间的peon呢！

    今天李华学到了两个常用语，一个是： to slack off, 意思是“松懈，懒散”。另一个是peon, 指“在工作单位做简单工作的人”，也就是所谓的“小土豆”。

chubbycat

流行美语第75课

　



    李华今天在紧张地准备历史课的考试。她在和Michael的谈话中会学到两个常用语：beats me和to be in a bind.

    M: Hey, Li Hua. What are you doing?

    L: 我在准备历史课的考试。Michael, 你知道美国总统罗斯福和斯大林第一次见面是在什么时候？

    M: Beats me. I don't know much about that period of history.

    L: 哎哟，你不知道我也不会打你呀，你为什么要说：Beats me? Beat不就是打人的意思吗？

    M: No, I don't mean you would beat me. The expression "beats me" means that I have no idea what the answer is.

    L: 噢，在这里，beat不是打人的意思。Beats me就是我不知道！

    M: Right. If I ask you a question like how many miles away the sun is, you might say, "I don't know - beats me."

    L: 这你倒是说对了，我还真不知道地球和太阳之间距离多少英里。Beats me! 你知道尼加拉瓜的第五任总统是谁吗？

    M: Okay, that really beats me. You don't really need to know the answer to that question for your history test, do you?

    L: 傻瓜，我当然不需要知道这个答案，我是在跟你开玩笑，我学的历史是二次大战期间的美国和欧洲，和尼加拉瓜根本就没关系。

    M: Okay. By the way, what time is your history exam?

    L: 哟，beats me! 我把考试的日程忘在同学家里了！

    M: You left the schedule at your classmate's home? What's wrong with you?

    L: Beats me! 我也不知道我怎么会忘在他家里的。不过，没关系，我还有足够时间来准备。

    M: You had better go and check the exam time. If the exam is tomorrow, you're really going to be in trouble.

    L: 行，行，行。我去查，要是明天就考试的话，那我可真是麻烦了。

    ******

    M: Hey, Li Hua, did you find someone to help you with that history question?

    L: 没有人知道罗斯福和斯大林第一次见面是什么时候。我也找不到这方面的材料。而且，考试是星期二，不是星期三。我这下可真麻烦了。

    M: Wow, it sounds like you're really in a bind.

    L: 你说什么？我在什么东西里？什么是a bind?

    M: To be in a bind -- B I N D -- means that you are in a very difficult situation. Your exam is tomorrow and you can't find the material you need to study. Therefore, you are in a bind.

    L: 噢，to be in a bind就是处境很难。唉，我真是处境艰难。Michael，我这次考试可能要不及格了。你能不能帮我摆脱这个困境呢？也就是 to get out of this bind I'm in.

    M: Of course, I'm always willing to help a friend out of a bind. You can study your notes, and I can look up any questions you have in your text book. Will that help?

    L: 我复习我的笔记，然后你帮我查课文里的问题。这是个好主意，这样我可以省好多时间。Michael, 谢谢你，谢谢你。哎，还有什么情况下我们可以用to be in a bind?

    M: Well, if I have to pay my rent, but I don't have any money, then I'm in a bind.

    L: 你付房租的时候到了，可是你又没有钱，那可真是in a bind。我来举个例子。要是我在找工作，有个公司要和我面谈，可是我早就和朋友约好那天要一块儿吃饭，我可以说：I'm in a bind吗？

    M: Yes, you would be in a bind. But you're going to be in an even worse bind if we don't start studying for your exam soon.

    L: 你说得对，要是我们再不动手开始准备考试的话，那我就会处境更困难了-- in an even worse bind。好吧，那赶快念书吧！I don't want to be in a bind anymore!

    今天李华学到了一个用得非常普遍的说法：beats me, 意思是“不知道”。李华还学到了另一个常用语：to be in a bind, 意思是“处境困难”。

chubbycat

流行美语第76课



    Michael和李华正坐在教室里聊天，等着上课。今天李华会学到两个常用语：out of it和gung ho。

    L: 嘿，Michael, 你今天看起来好象不太舒服...你是不是病了？

    M: I'm O.K. I just have a small cold. I took some strong cold medicine, so I am a little out of it today.

    L: 噢，你有点感冒，但是吃了几颗比较厉害的药。你说你out of it? 你是说你药没啦？

    M: No, I said "I am out of it" "Out of it" mean's that I am half-awake, not alert, or something like that.

    L: 噢，原来是你吃的感冒药让你感到昏昏沉沉，晕呼呼的。这就是为什么我不喜欢吃那种感冒药。

    M: Yeah, I know what you mean. But I had such a terrible headache, I had to take something. I just hope I'm not too out of it to pay attention in class.

    L: 头痛太厉害倒也是得吃点药。可是，今天上课的内容对考试很重要。你要是昏沉沉的话，可能会漏掉重要的内容噢。

    M: Well, you'll let me look at your notes, right? Anyway, I'm not so out of it that I can't pay attention at all. (yawns while speaking) I'm just a little sleepy, that's all...

    L: 你当然可以看我的笔记。不过，要是你只是有点困，不太厉害的话，你还是可以注意听讲的。其实，Michael, 只要喝一杯热热浓浓的咖啡你马上就会清醒的。

    M: (yawns) Hmm... That's a good idea, Li Hua. I was so out of it this morning that I forgot to make coffee.

    L: 你早上连咖啡也忘了做？你真是够迷糊的了。我要是早上没喝咖啡的话，根本就醒不过来。

    M: You mean if you don't have coffee, you'll be out of it for the whole morning? Wow, Li Hua, you're starting to become more and more American.

    L: 我要没有咖啡，真是一个早上都没精神。对，都是你们美国人传染给我的好习惯。快走吧，我们还有二十分钟，而且上课前得让你喝点咖啡才行呐。

    ******

    L: 嗨，Michael, 我听说有的学生这个周末要去参加反战抗议活动，你去吗？

    M: I'm not sure. I'm not very gung ho about this anti-war protest.

    L: 你对这个抗议活动不太gung ho, 这是什么意思啊？

    M: I said "I'm not very gung ho about this protests". Gung ho means to be very aggressive, enthusiastic or zealous about something. Believe it or not, Li Hua, it's from Chinese.

    L: Gung ho这个说法是来自中文？意思是非常热情，很有闯劲。我怎么从没听说过？

    M: You don't know that? Some say that in World War two, a U.S. marine commander taught a special marine unit the Chinese battle cry "gung ho".

    L: 那是二战时一个美国海军陆战队的司令教他的士兵用的中国战斗口号？你真是越说越悬乎了。不过，你为什么对反战活动不积极呢？你不是讨厌这场战争吗？

    M: I am not gung ho about this protests because I don't like the organizers, I think they are too radical.

    L: 你是不喜欢组织这次抗议活动的人，你认为他们太激进了。

    M: Are you going to the protest? You have been very gung ho about protesting the war.

    L: 是啊，我反对战争，这方面的活动我都积极参加。可是这个周末我得写论文。I am very gung ho about working on my thesis.

    M: Good for you! I wish I was as gung ho about my studies as you are. But right now, I am so out of it I don't have energy to do anything.

    L: 说了那么多话，你还觉得困，那你赶快喝这杯咖啡啦!

    李华今天学到两个常用语，一个是：out of it, 意思是“昏昏沉沉，有点晕乎”。另一个是：gung ho, 意思是“积极热情”。

chubbycat

流行美语第77课

　



    这是一个星期六的下午， Michael和李华比较放松，他们正在校园里散步。 李华会学到两个常用语：critter和mug。

    L: 今天天气真好，你看那个人在跟他的狗玩，那小白狗真好玩！

    M: Yes, he is a cute little critter.

    L: Critter是什么？Critter是狗的一个品种吗？

    M: No, a critter is just an animal, usually one that is relatively small and furry. The word is used a lot in the Southern part of the US.

    L: 噢，critter就是毛耸耸的小动物。那么，松鼠也可以说是个critter，对不对？

    M: Yes, squirrels are definitely critters. But you know a lot of people don't like squirrels. They think that they are dirty and look like rats with bushy tails.

    L: 还有人不喜欢松鼠的呀？怎么会说它们象老鼠呢！我觉得它们真可爱，看起来毛耸耸，软棉棉的。我最喜欢看它们用前面两条腿捧着一颗花生啃。哎哟，那样子真好玩！

    M: Well, I would not try to feed those little critters if I were you, they bite and can carry diseases.

    L: 不要喂它们吃东西？它们会咬人？嗨， 你站得远一点扔给它们不就行了吗？我倒是听说过它们会传染疾病，是要小心点。Michael, 那象耗子那样的小动物也能够叫做critters吗？

    M: Yes, those are critters, too. Speaking of which, did you hear that my roommate got a new-born sharpei?

    L: 你的室友养了一只刚出生的沙皮狗！那肯定很好玩。

    M: I don't think so. As far as I'm concerned, that little critter looks ugly.

    L: 你觉得沙皮狗难看啊？不少人家里养沙皮狗都觉得它们可爱。我还没有见过刚出生的沙皮狗呢！Michael, 你带我去看一看，好不好吗？

    M: You want to take a look at that ugly critter? Ok, we'll go.

    ******

    M: Look, Li Hua, here is my roommate's sharpei. Look at that furry mug. He looks like he should be friendly.

    L: 哟，这就是你室友的沙皮狗呀！好可爱哟！Michael, 你说什么furry mug？Mug不是用来喝咖啡或喝茶的杯子吗？沙皮狗和mug有什么关系呀？

    M: No, not a coffee mug. Mug is slang for a face, usually an ugly one. His little mug is his face.

    L: 噢，在这里，mug不是指杯子的意思，而是指一张脸，而且往往是指难看的脸。我觉得这只狗的脸挺可爱的。Michael, 我能不能摸摸它啊？

    M: Go ahead, but I'm sure he'll bite you.

    L: 它会咬我？那就算了，我就看看它吧。哎，Michael, 我们能不能把人的脸称为mug呢?

    M: Of course. For example, my brother has a really ugly mug.

    L: 你弟弟的脸很难看? 哎哟，Michael, 你怎么能这么说啊？再说，你弟弟的脸没准跟你的脸很象啊！

    M: I was just trying to give you an example. I don't really think my brother has an ugly face.

    L: 哎哟，你真是的，要给我举例子也得找个适当的例子嘛。怎么能拿你弟弟来举例子，破坏他的形象呢？对了，我还得弄弄清楚，mug一般是指难看的脸，是贬意，对不对？

    M: Yeah, we usually don't say a person has a pretty mug. But, if you like the look of that dog, you can say: "Oh, what a cute mug this little dog has!"

    L: 噢，你的意思是，可以用mug这个词来指一个动物的脸很可爱，但是不能用来形容人的脸。

    M: That's right.

    今天李华学会说critter。这是指毛耸耸的小动物。今天她还学会一个词，那就是mug。Mug在这里是指动物和人的脸，一般是指难看的脸。

chubbycat

流行美语第78课声音

　


    今天Michael到李华的宿舍串门，李华会学到两个常用语：have a cow和pack rat。

    M: Hey, Li Hua, what are you doing?

    L: 哎哟，我在找我的眼镜，急死人了，找不到眼镜我怎么上课啊？

    M: Calm down. Li Hua, don't have a cow. I'm sure you'll find them.

    L: 你说什么？Don't have a cow? Cow, 这不是“母牛”的意思吗？哎，我这儿是学生宿舍，怎么能养母牛呢？

    M: No, I said "don't have a cow", it means don't get too excited about something. I'm sure you'll find your glasses if you are patient enough.

    L: 噢，我懂了，你是让我耐心点儿。你叫我Don't have a cow, 意思就是别着急、别慌，可是，Don't have a cow字面的意思明明是“别有母牛”。这跟“别惊慌”一点关系也没有，好奇怪哟！

    M: Yeah, it is a little strange, but we still say it.

    L: 好吧，就听你的， I won't have a cow, 再想想看，我可能把眼镜放在什么地方了。

    M: Well, where did you see them last?

    L: 我记得昨晚睡觉前把眼镜放在床边桌子上了。

    M: Have you looked under the bed?

    L: 有啊，我在床底下找过了，让我再看看。哎呀，你还真说对了，就在床底下呢！

    M: See, I told you not to have a cow and I was right.

    L: 可是，Michael, 你肯定平时也有惊慌失措的时候。比方说，要是我对你说，我把你的电脑弄坏了，你肯定会have a cow。

    M: Yes, I would have a cow because I can't afford to buy a new one. Hey, Li Hua, You didn't really break my computer, did you?

    L: Don't have a cow! 我是在跟你开玩笑啦！

    ******

    M: Li Hua, you really have a lot of stuff. Is that the movie ticket from last week? You even saved that?

    L: 噢，这是上星期的电影票。你说我这儿东西多啊，那是因为我喜欢把各样东西留起来。你看，除了电影票，我还有报纸杂志什么的。谁知道呢，说不定什么时候会有用呢！

    M: You're really a pack rat. Look at all this stuff! No wonder you couldn't find your glasses.

    L: 哎哟，Michael, 虽然我找不到眼镜可能是因为我这儿东西太多，可你也不该骂人啊？干吗说我是rat? Rat 那不是“老鼠”吗？

    M: No, I didn't call you a rat. I said you are a pack rat. A pack rat is someone who saves everything and has lots of stuff.

    L: 噢，原来，pack rat是指“什么东西都不肯扔的人”。我什么东西都不愿意扔 -- I guess I am a pack rat.

    M: My mom is a pack rat, too. We have so much stuff in our house. She even saved every drawing I ever made when I was a kid.

    L: 原来你妈妈也是个pack rat. 你说连你小时候画的画她都舍不得扔？我倒希望我妈也是个pack rat, 把我小时候画的画啦或者玩过的玩具也留到今天。

    M: So you can have them here and add to your "collection"? You're really a pack rat, but Li Hua, have you ever thought how difficult it would be for you to move to a new place?

    L: 说的也是，我什么都留着，东西越积越多，要是哪天想搬家，那可就成问题罗。

    M: Well, my folks have been in their house for more than 20 years, probably because my mom is such a pack rat, they have too much stuff to even move.

    L: 什么？你爸妈在一个地方住了20多年，可能就是因为你妈是pack rat，弄得家里东西太多了？Maybe I shouldn't be a pack rat anymore!

    今天李华学到了两个常用语，一个是to have a cow, 意思是“惊慌失措”；另一个是pack rat, 意思是“什么东西都不肯扔的人”。

chubbycat

流行美语第79课声音

　


    今天Michael和李华要出去买东西。李华会学到两个常用语：down with that和to pay through the nose。

    M: Hey, Li Hua. What do you want to do today? I don't have any special plan, so we can do whatever you want.

    L: 你今天没事干呀？太好了，我正想去买几件春天穿的衣服。那些旧的都已经过时了。

    M: I'm down with that. I need to buy some new tennis shoes. My old ones are really gross. My roommate is threatening to throw them out.

    L: 我也注意到你的球鞋了，实在不象话，怪不得你的室友要把它扔掉呢。哎，那太好了，咱们就一块儿去买东西吧。不过，Michael，你刚才说I'm down with that。那是什么意思呀？就是你愿意去的意思吗？

    M: Yes, the expression "I'm down with that" means going shopping is okay with me and I'm willing to go.

    L: 这很有意思。那要是你问我，要不要跟你一块儿吃晚饭，我很愿意的话，我能不能说：I'm down with that?

    M: Yes, that would let me know that you are willing to have dinner with me. What would you say if I suggested we go to my friend's party on Saturday night.

    L: 你建议我们星期六晚上上你朋友家去聚会啊。嗯，那一定很好玩，我愿意去，I'm down with that。

    M: Right. Now, where do you want to go shopping? There are lots of places close by.

    L: 去哪儿买东西呀？学校附近有很多买东西的地方。去附近那个购物中心，好不好？

    M: Okay, that's fine with me. That mall has a shoe store and it's close. Let's go.

    L: Okay, I'm down with that. 我们可以搭公共汽车去，几分钟就到了。然后我们有一整天去买我们要买的东西。还可以在购物中心吃饭呢！

    M: Okay, I'm down with that.

    ******

    L: 哎，Michael，这家店看起来真好。我们能不能进去看看呀？我肯定他们有很好的衣服。

    M: That's Neiman-Marcus. They have nice stuff, but they're really, really expensive. You have to pay through the nose to buy even a shirt there.

    L: 我也猜想它们的衣服一定很贵。你说要在他们这里买件衬衣就要pay through the nose? 东西贵和鼻子有什么关系呀？

    M: To pay through the nose is to pay a lot of money for something, usually way more than the item is worth. For instance, a shirt in a normal store costs about $40. However, a shirt in Neiman-Marcus easily costs $200. That's paying through the nose.

    L: 我懂了。To pay through the nose就是用高价买一样东西，往往要比原来的价值高很多。像普通店里一件衬衣要40美元，在他们这里就要200美元。可是，Michael, 我还是不懂，一个人的鼻子和钱有什么关系呀？

    M: Yeah, it is a strange expression, but that's the way it is. Do you still want to go into that store?

    L: 不要，不要，我不进去了。我只是个学生，没那么多钱，I can't afford to pay through the nose for things. 我啊，付不起这么高的价钱。

    M: I agree. I don't want to pay through the nose for anything either. It's stupid to waste so much money on something you can buy cheaper somewhere else.

    L: 就是呀，能够用便宜的价钱买到的东西为什么要浪费那么多钱去买呢？对了，Michael, 那什么时候我们还可以用to pay through the nose这个说法的呢？

    M: Well, some people are willing to pay through the nose to buy tickets to see their favorite singers.

    L: 噢，花好多钱买票去听他们喜欢的歌手唱歌。我就有几个朋友爱买名牌的东西。她们就愿意pay through the nose。

    M: I don't understand paying through the nose to eat at fancy restaurants either. Food is food. Li Hua, I'm getting hungry. Can we go eat first?

    L: I'm down with that. 我也有点饿了。但是，I don't want to pay through the nose.

    李华今天学到了两个常用语。一个是：down with that, 意思是“同意”，或者是“愿意”。另一个是：to pay through the nose, 意思是“出高价买东西”。

chubbycat

流行美语第80课

    　


今天Michael和李华正在谈论有关买汽车的事。李华会学到两个常用语：to kick oneself和raw deal。

L: Michael, 你没有买Jerry的车啊？我以为价钱很公道啊！怎么回事啊？

M: Please don't mention that! Jerry sold the car to someone else yesterday. I'm still kicking myself for not buying it when I had the chance.

L: Kicking yourself, kick不就是k-i-c-k，踢球的踢吗？你为什么要踢你自己呢？

M: No, no Li Hua. "To kick oneself" means to feel regret for missing an opportunity, or making a mistake that could have been avoided.

L: 噢，to kick oneself不是真的踢自己，意思是：自己失去了一个好机会而埋怨自己太笨。Michael, 那到底是怎么回事啊？

M: Well, I told Jerry that I wanted to check out some other cars before I made a decision. Someone else bought the car before I had a chance to decide. I'm still kicking myself for waiting too long.

L: 原来你是想等看看别的车以后再做决定，结果Jerry就把车卖给别人了。哎哟，Michael, 你不用埋怨自己啦。不管做什么交易，作决定前仔细考虑清楚总是好的。

M: Well, I guess you're right. When I bought the car I have now, I wasn't careful enough. Later, I found out the car was in very poor condition, and I have been kicking myself ever since.

L: 你看，我说得没错。你买现在这辆车的时候不小心，所以现在老要出问题。哎，Michael, 你呀，买得不好也怨自己，没有买到也埋怨自己。你累不累呀！

M: Hey, speaking of regret, I heard that your ex-boyfriend Ding Yu is doing really well these days. I bet you are kicking yourself for dumping him, huh?

L: 你在说我以前的男朋友丁余？告诉你，不管他现在多有钱我都不会因为跟他分手而后悔。

M: Hmm, I know, when you're a famous professor at a top U.S. university, Ding Yu will be kicking himself for not being nicer to you when you were together.

L: 我要是在美国当了名教授，他再捶胸顿足地后悔也没有用。

******

L: Michael, 你没有买Jerry的车，那你是不是还想找一辆旧车呢？

M: Yes, I still want to replace my car. But I'm sort of afraid... The last time I bought a car, I got a really raw deal!

L: 你上回买车怎么啦？什么是raw deal？是不是不好的意思？

M: That's right! A raw deal. Raw. A "raw deal" means an unfair deal, or to be treated roughly and unfairly by someone.

L: A raw deal就是吃了亏的交易。你的意思是，你上次买这辆车的时候，卖车的人让你吃了大亏？

M: That's right. The week after I bought the car, the engine broke down, and I had to completely replace it! The guy I bought it from refused to pay for it.

L: 车才买了一个星期就出问题。这实在是太倒霉了。这就是所谓的a raw deal。那么，Michael, raw deal是不是只能用在买卖方面的？

M: No, not necessarily. For instance, my Uncle George worked at a factory for over twenty years. Unfortunately, the factory was shut down and George lost his job right before he had a chance to retire. That was a raw deal!

L: That's really a raw deal! 我听到好几个这样的例子了。一个人在一个公司做了几十年，还没来得及退休公司就关门了。退休金全完了。我舅舅的工厂关门前，他工作了八个月，到现在还没拿到工资呢！

M: That's really a raw deal!

今天李华学到了两个常用语：to kick oneself和raw deal。To kick oneself是由于错过了机会而怨恨自己。Raw deal就是在跟别人打交道时吃了亏。

chubbycat

流行美语第81课

    　


        李华和Michael这个周末什么功课都没有，原来准备好好玩一玩，可是后来计划落空。李华会学到两个常用语：zip和drama queen。

        L: 嗨，Michael, 你这个周末有功课要做吗？

        M: Nope. I don't have to do zip. I'm free the whole weekend.

        L: 你不用做zip? 那是什么意思呀？Zip不是衣服上的拉链吗？

        M: No, I mean zip as in zero or nothing. I don't have zip means I don't have anything to do.

        L: 噢，zip可以解释为“零”，“什么也没有”。那你的意思是你周末什么事也没有，对不对？

        M: Yes. If you ask me for money and I don't have any, I could say I haven't got zip. Get it?

        L: 知道了，你没有钱，我本来也没有想问你借钱啊。

        M: Good. Now, do you have any money I could borrow. I want to buy a coke.

        L: "No, I don't have zip." 我这么说对不对？

        M: Yes, you used it right, but I really want to buy a coke.

        L: 你真的要问我借钱哪？Michael, 我可真是没有钱，我不骗你。

        M: Oh well, I guess I'll have to go to the bank before we can do anything interesting this weekend. If I don't have any cash, then we won't be able to do zip.

        L: 没错，你要不到银行去取钱，那周末我们哪儿也去不了。We won't be able to do zip.

        M: Now you've learned the word zip. The bank is over there. I'll get some cash and I'll come right back.

        L: 快点，我饿了，要去吃晚饭了。嗨，Michael, 你多取点钱，I don't have zip in my pockets.

        M: Alright.

        ******

        L: Michael, 我们周末出去玩的计划全被打乱了。我们的历史教授从电脑上发给我们一个新作业，星期一就要交了。啊呀，我真气死了。

        M: Oh, don't be such a drama queen. The assignment can't be that bad, and I know for a fact that you do have free time.

        L: 你叫我什么？ Drama queen? Drama是戏剧，queen是女王。这两个词合在一起，嘿，我虽然不知道drama queen的具体意思，但是我肯定你是在讽刺我，对不对？

        M: Not really. A drama queen is a girl who exaggerates her problems, usually to get attention. Your problem really isn't that bad, but you make it sound like the end of the world.

        L: 噢，drama queen原来是说一个女孩，为了引起别人的注意，夸张了她面临的问题。 哎哟，就是小题大作。嗨，我可不是小题大作。我是因为没有时间完成作业，所以我才心烦意乱。

        M: Oh, please. You are being a little too dramatic about this homework assignment.

        L: 只是一个作业，你说得倒简单！算了，算了，不跟你争了。可能是我还不清楚drama queen的含意，Michael, 你再给我举个例子，好不好？

        M: Do you remember my friend, Angela, who called me crying because she couldn't find her math book?

        L: 当然记得。她呀，为了找不到她的数学书给你打电话的时候还哭了，我真是难以相信。她好像老是有什么事感到不高兴似的。

        M: She is such a drama queen. She makes a huge deal out of losing a book or a bad haircut. Once, she wouldn't talk to me for a week because I forgot to call her back.

        L: 对，她总是大惊小怪，小题大作的，丢了一本书也不高兴，剪头发剪得不好也不高兴。你忘了给她打回电，她当然要生气，一个星期不跟你讲话就算客气的了。我可没有象她那样，所以别叫我drama queen.

        M: Yeah, you're not quite as bad.

        今天李华学到了zip和drama queen两个常用语，zip就是零，什么也没有的意思；drama queen是指那种喜欢小题大作，大惊小怪的女孩子。

chubbycat

流行美语第82课

    　


        今天Michael和Li Hua在一起做功课。Li Hua会学到两个常用语：bail和call it quits。

        M: Agghh! Come on, Li Hua. We've been studying for five hours. I'm ready to bail!

        L: 是啊，我们做了5个小时的功课，我也想干点儿别的了。可是Michael, 你说你准备做什么？You're ready to bail。bail, 那是一种游戏吗？

        M: No, silly. I said "I'm ready to bail". "To bail" as in "to leave".

        L: 噢，To bail在这里是“离开”的意思。可是明天就要考试了，我们还没复习完呢！

        M: Please, Li Hua. I already know the material. I'm ready for tomorrow's test. Let's bail and get something to eat!

        L: 好吧，我肚子也饿了，Let's bail and get something to eat! Michael, 你对明天的考试这么有把握，你是不是昨天晚上就开始复习啦？

        M: Not really. I went to a movie with some friends last night. After the movie, they wanted to go to a dance club, but I bailed on them and went home to get some sleep.

        L: 噢，你昨天晚上和朋友去看电影，然后你的朋友们去跳舞，可是you bailed on them, 意思就是你没和他们一起去，对不对？

        M: That's right. I bailed on my friends and went home.

        L: 噢，那Michael, 除了可以说bail on someone, 还可不可以说bail on something呢？

        M: Of course! For instance, last week I had a dentist appointment, so I had to bail on history class.

        L: 对啊，上星期，你因为要去看牙，所以没有上历史课，You bailed on history class.

        M: Come on, Li Hua. I'm starving. Let's bail and get something to eat!

        (Door open and the two leave...)

        ******

        M: (in restaurant) By the way, Li Hua, I heard that Jack isn't going to be in school next term. Is he really calling it quits?

        L: 什么？Jack下学期就不来上学啦？你说他calling it quits, quit 不就是“放弃”的意思吗？你是说Jack下学期就要退学啦？

        M: Ya, that's right. "To call it quits" means to quit doing something. I heard that Jack is calling it quits.

        L: 噢，to call it quits意思就是“停止做某件事”，可是，我听说Jack只不过是想先打半年工，多挣点钱，明年他还会回来继续上学，He's not really calling it quits.

        M: That's good to hear.

        L: Michael, 那这个to call it quits还可以用在别的地方吗？

        M: Sometimes "to call it quits" means to break up a relationship between a boyfriend and girlfriend.

        L: 噢，原来to call it quits还可以用来表示男女朋友分手，这就让我想到啦，不久前好莱坞电影明星Ben Afleck和Jennifer Lopez, 他们俩本来都订婚了，可是后来又推迟了婚礼，大家就觉得很奇怪啊：Are Ben and J-Lo calling it quits?

        M: (sighs) I can't stand those two. I hope that this time they are calling it quits for real, so I never have to hear about them again.

        L: 你倒希望他们俩真分手，这样你再也不会听到他们的消息啦。嗨，Michael你也真是的，他们写他们的，你不看不就得了。你不是老说功课太多吗？对了，你还说选修的阿拉伯语课太难 - Are you going to call it quits?

        M: No, I'm not going to call it quits! I am going to finish it.

        L: 哇，从来没见过你这么大的决心呐！我还记得你学中文的时候有好几次都想call it quits呢！

        M: Whatever.

        今天李华学到了两个常用语，一个是bail, 表示“离开”。另一个是call it quits, 意思是“停止做某件事”。

chubbycat

流行美语第83课

    　


        Michael和李华刚在外面吃完晚饭。李华会学到两个常用语：shoot和shot。

        L: 嗨，这顿饭吃得真不错。Michael, 快付帐，我们走吧。这次该你付了吧？

        M: Yeah yeah, I know. I'll just charge it to my credit card.... oh shoot! I forgot my wallet!

        L: 你忘了带钱包？没有信用卡你就要shoot. Shoot不是开枪吗？

        M: I said "Oh shoot!". If you say "shoot" loudly and suddenly, it's a way to express alarm or disappointment. If you say it slowly, and with a low tone of voice, it shows disgust or indifference.

        L: 噢，shoot在这里不是开枪的意思呀？你说，突然大声地说shoot，就表示惊吓或者是失望。如果是低声地说，那就表示讨厌或者是不在乎。Michael, 你先给我举个大声说的例子吧。

        M: Well, if I close my car door and realize that I just locked my keys inside, I might yell "Aw, shoot!"

        L: 关了车门才发现车钥匙给锁在车里了，那是很烦人的，在中文里我们就会说：啊呀，真糟糕！那Michael, 可不可以再给我举一个低声说的例子呢？

        M: If someone tells me a story about a scar on their little finger, I might say "Shoot, that's nothing. Look at this big scar on my back."

        L: 你的意思是，如果小手指上一个疤跟你背上的大疤比算不了什么。在中文里我们是说：嗨，那算什么！ 对了，Michael, 这个shoot是不是骂人的话？

        M: (slowly) Li Hua, the word "shoot" isn't vulgar! Actually, it's a word people use when they want to avoid cursing. A little kid could say it, and no one would care.

        L: 噢，shoot是心里很火，可是又不想骂人的时候说的。所以不是什么难听的话。得了，你忘了钱包，那看来只能我来付钱了！Oh shoot! I don't believe it. 我也没带信用卡。那我们怎么办哪？

        M: (slowly) Shoot, it's nothing to worry about， Li Hua. My house is close by. I can walk home and get my wallet.

        ******

        L: Michael, 你怎么那么快就回来了？

        M: (panting) I ran as fast as I could. (pants some more) Boy, am I shot!

        L: 你从家里跑来的！ 你那么紧张干什么呀！ 对了，你刚才说：I am shot! 在路上有人对你开枪，所以你才跑那么快啊？

        M: What? No, of course not! "To be shot" means to have no energy, to feel weak and tired. I really tired myself out running so fast: I'm really shot now!

        L: 噢，to be shot是累了，觉得没劲的意思。哎哟，你跑那么快当然会累咯。对不起，本来我也可以走回家去拿信用卡的，可是我昨晚只睡了五个小时，所以我今天也感到很累 - so I'm shot too.

        M: I used to stay up late studying too, and sometimes I'd be so shot that I'd fall asleep in class.

        L: 我也跟你一样，老是开夜车念书，结果上课的时候悃得打瞌睡。以前在国内念书的时候好象都没有这么紧张呢！

        M: (slowly) Shoot, Li Hua. If you feel that way, you might as well stay in China.

        L: 哼，要是我这么想，我就最好呆在中国！你说这话是什么意思呀！那你老觉得累，你干脆呆在家里算了。

        M: Shoot! Don't be mad! I was just kidding.

        L: Shoot, 我也是跟你开玩笑嘛。

        李华学到了两个常用语，一个是shoot，这是一个惊叹词，表示讨厌，失望或者是烦恼，也就是有的时候心里不高兴，但是又不想用脏话骂人的时候用的词。李华还学到了to be shot，这是很累的意思。

chubbycat

流行美语第84课

    　


        今天Michael和李华去一个夜总会听音乐，因为他们的朋友Jack要带他的乐队来演出。李华会学到 "to stick around" 和 "guilt trip" 。

        (noisy rock music playing, people talking, etc.)

        L: (Talking loudly over crowd) Michael! (coughs) 这个地方真让人难受，声音这么大，还有那么多人抽烟。这些乐队也真是够呛的！

        M: I know Li Hua, the show isn't very good. But Jack's band is going to be playing soon. Let's stick around until their performance is over, OK?

        L: Jack的乐队什么时候来啊？哎，你说什么"stick around"? 你的意思就是先不要走，是不是？

        M: That's right. I said "let's stick around." That means to stay or remain in a place.

        L: 噢，to stick around就是在一个地方再呆一会儿。懂了，你的意思就是要我们等Jack的乐队来了，表演完了以后再走。Michael, 那乘我们等他的时候，你再给我举几个例子，好不好？

        M: Hmmm... Well, you remember Angie Summers, right? She finished her Ph.D. last spring, but has decided to stick around and do some post-doctoral work before she starts looking for a job.

        L: 我当然记得Angie Summers啦。她今年春天拿到了博士学位，可是决定在开始找工作前先不离开学校，做一些博士后的工作。所以，在这里，to stick around就是她继续呆下去，不离开学校。噢，Michael，我们还要等Jack等多久嘛？

        M: I don't know. Let's just stick around for another half hour or so. If Jack doesn't show up, we can leave.

        L: 好，那再等他半小时，否则我可真要受不了了！

        ******

        L: (sighs) 噢，谢天谢地，总算完了，我要再在里面呆下去，就要聋了。

        M: Yeah, I'm sorry about that, Li Hua. But if we hadn't waited for Jack to perform, he would have given us a huge guilt trip about it on Monday.

        L: 要是我们不等Jack的话，他会给我们什么？A guilt trip? Guilt不是感到有罪，感到内疚吗？那Trip是旅行。你是说Jack会觉得非常抱歉啊？

        M: No, I meant he'd make us feel guilty.

        L: 噢，他让我们感到内疚?

        M: That's right. A "guilt trip" means guilty feelings one has about doing something wrong. To "give someone a guilt trip" means to try and make him feel guilty.

        L: 等等等等，这我得弄清楚了。A guilt trip就是一个人做错了什么事而觉得内疚，好象他犯了错误。To give someone a guilt trip就是让别人感到内疚。嘿，Jack的乐队水平那么差，让我们来听这种音乐，他应该觉得内疚才对呀！

        M: I agree! So when was the last time you had a guilt trip about something?

        L: 我最后一次觉得内疚是什么时候啊？那就是我要跟我男朋友分手的时候啊，是我要跟他分手的，我到现在心里还感到有点抱歉。

        M: Don't let him put a guilt trip on you! So why did you break up with him anyway?

        L: 因为我和你老在一块儿学习，他老是让我觉得好象我做错了什么是的。He tried to put a guilt trip on me.

        M: What? That's insane. I'm glad you broke up with him. Anyway, you'd better not try to make me feel guilty about him.

        L: 对，他呀，是有毛病，所以我才和他分手的嘛。我告诉你可是没有要让你感到内疚的意思啊！

        M: That's better!

        今天李华学到了to stick around，意思是“在一个地方呆下去，先别走”.李华还学到了a guilt trip，这是指“感到内疚”。

chubbycat

流行美语第85课

    　


            Michael因为家里有急事而匆匆走了。今天，Michael的好朋友Larry和Li Hua在一起谈到Michael。Li Hua会学到两个常用语：live it up和Yeah right!

            LL: Hey Li Hua. You look unhappy. What's up?

            LH: Michael原来计划下个月去中国学中文，可是他突然家里有急事要他马上去，所以他只好直接从家里去北京了，我都没有机会跟他说再见。I hope he'll be O.K in China.

            LL: Of course he'll be O.K.! I bet right now Michael is living it up in China.

            LH: 哎呀，你说什么呀！Michael现在人已经到中国了，他当然是living in China啦！

            LL: No, no, Li Hua. I said that he is "living it up in China". To "live it up" means to live a fun and extravagant lifestyle, like a rich person who is always partying and never has to work.

            LH: 噢，live it up意思就是“尽情享受生活”，就好像有钱人可以过奢侈的生活一样。唉，Michael他是个穷学生，他哪能像有钱人那样过日子呀。

            LL: Well, as a foreign exchange student, he doesn't have to worry about paying for tuition, or rent or food, because he's already paid for it... so in China, for just a few dollars a day, he can live it up!

            LH: 真的？参加交换项目去中国留学，学费、食宿都不用自己付啊！Larry, 那你当初在北京留学的时候肯定也lived it up喽？

            LL: Oh, we had fun alright. We usually didn't have a lot of homework, and didn't have to go to work, so on the weekend, we had plenty of time to live it up!

            LH: Hmm, 功课不多，又不用打工，这么说，你们大老远跑到中国，说是去留学，其实是去过逍遥日子、尽情享受去啦？

            LL: Hey, I didn't say we didn't study! We got to live it up while we learned Chinese.

            LH: 哎哟，和你相比，我在美国的留学生活可就没那么自在了。

            ******

            LH: (sound of cell phone ringing) (speaking into the cell phone) Hello? Michael! 你好吗？哎呀，中国现在的时间是半夜了吧？还是我明天再给你打吧！Michael, 你学完一年回来的时候，你的中文肯定要比Larry 强。 Sure. Have fun! Bye bye! (cell phone shuts off) Larry, Michael said to tell you "hi".

            LL: You think Michael's going to speak Chinese better than I? Yeah Right!

            LH: 你说什么？Yeah Right! 从你说话的口气看，你是在说反话吧？也就是说，你根本不相信我说的话？

            LL: You've got it. I said "yeah right" When someone says "yeah right" like this (uses sarcastic tone of voice) "yeah right" or this "yeah right", it means they don't believe something is true, or don't agree with something.

            LH: 你看，我猜对了吧！听你的口气就带着讽刺的意味。怎么，你觉得一年以后Michael的中文不会超过你啊？可是Larry, Michael比你更用功呦！

            LL: Yeah, right! I lived in China for two and a half years. I'm practically fluent in Mandarin. Michael can't catch up with me in just a year.

            LH: 什么？你自以为你的中文讲得流利？Yeah right! 虽说你在中国呆过两年半，Michael他只有一年的时间，可是只要他用心听课，认真完成作业，他的中文肯定能超过你。

            LL: You think someone can learn Chinese just by going to class and doing homework? Yeah right! I learned more spoken Chinese by living it up and hanging out with Chinese friends than I did in class.

            LH: Hmmph. 我看Michael他也挺喜欢交朋友的，他肯定也能找到好多人练习中文会话。

            D: Yeah right! But he'll never catch up with me!

            L: Yeah, right!

            今天李华从Larry那儿学到两个常用语。一个是live it up, 表示“尽情享受生活”。另一个是Yeah right, 这是带有嘲讽口气的反话，表示不相信对方。

chubbycat

流行美语第86课

    　


            今天Larry到Li Hua的宿舍去串门，Li Hua会学到两个常用语：hang in there和to be stressed out。

            LL: Li Hua, you look exhausted. Is everything OK?

            LH: 哎哟， Larry, 我得在星期五以前赶出两篇论文，星期五还有一门课要大考，你说我能不累吗？I AM exhausted!

            LL: Hang in there, Li Hua! After Friday it will be all over, and then you can relax.

            LH: Hang in there? 那是什么意思呀？

            LL: Hang in there. Hang in there just means "to keep enduring" or "to persist through a difficult situation."

            LH: 噢，hang in there的意思就是，在困难的情况下再忍一忍，或者坚持下去。HHang in there - Hmm...这个说法很有意思。不过hang这个词本意不是“悬挂”吗？

            LL: That's right, but "hang in there" can also mean "to stay the same" or "to not give up".

            LH: 噢，我明白了，hang in there就是要“坚持下去，不要放弃”的意思。

            LL: Exactly! Remember last semester when you had two tests and a term paper due the same week, you hung in there and even managed to get good grades. When things get tough, you just have to hang in there.

            LH: 我当然记得上学期的那个礼拜。一个星期里，我有两门课要考试，还要交一篇学期论文。我当时咬紧牙关坚持学习，结果还得了好分数。所以你说，这就是hang in there的意思吧？

            LL: You're right! Let me give you another example. If someone is having an emergency and calls the 9-1-1 emergency hotline, the operator might say, "Hang in there, an ambulance will be there in a few minutes".

            LH: 噢，你说要是遇到紧急情况打911电话，接线员可能会说，Hang in there! 也就是说：“别着急，坚持一下，救护车马上就到”的意思。

            LL: So, just hang in there, Li Hua. You'll finish the papers before Friday and get good grades for the test too!

            ******

            LH: 嗨，Larry, 我刚考试考完。现在好了， 我可以轻松一下了。

            LL: Well, I'm glad to see you so happy now that your test is over and those papers are done. You were really stressed out last week!

            LH: 就是啊，我现在好高兴。可是，你说我上星期怎么了？Stressed out?

            LL: I said you were "stressed out". Stressed out means that you were under so much stress and pressure that you barely made it.

            LH: 噢，stressed out意思就是“压力太大，几乎承受不了”。Hmm, 这话一点没错，我上个星期还真是有点顶不住了。Larry, 你倒是好像不太容易stressed out.

            LL: That's because I know that to be stressed out usually makes things worse. I find that I do better on a test when I'm not stressed out about it.

            LH: Hmm, 我也有这种感觉，你越是感到压力大，越会坏事。在这种情况下，考试都是考不好的。

            LL: Last week, you appeared a little bit impatient, but I understand it's because you were really stressed out about your papers. So I encouraged you to HANG IN THERE.

            LH: 我上星期显得很烦躁呀！哟，我自己还没有察觉呢。Larry, 我要是对你显得不耐烦， 对不起哟！下次再遇到压力很大的情况，也就是我stressed out的时候，我一定会记住，要坚持下去，要hang in there.

            LL: Oh, don't worry about it. The last thing I want is for you to stress out about making me upset. By the way, did you call Michael last night?

            LH: 对，我打了。他说他还不太习惯那儿的生活，我让他hang in there! Try not to be stressed out. 他还让我向你问好呢！

            LL: That's nice!

            今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是hang in there, 表示“坚持下去，不放弃”。另一个是to be stressed out, 意思是“压力太大”。

chubbycat

流行美语第87课

    　


            今天Larry到Li Hua的宿舍里面去串门，Li Hua会学到两个常用语：neat freak和crash.

            LL: Hey, Li Hua. What are you doing?

            LH: 我刚收拾完房间，现在我要把所有文件分类，然后放在这些不同颜色的文件夹里。

            LL: Wow, you really are a neat freak.

            LH: 你说我是什么？Neat freak？听上去就不是什么好意思。哎，你别叫那些我听不懂的名字，好不好？

            LL: Calm down. Li Hua. To be neat is to be very clean and orderly. A freak is a person that is really weird or unusual. Together, a "neat freak" refers to someone who likes to keep things extremely clean and organized.

            LH: 嗯，neat这个词我知道，就是“干净、有条理”的意思， freak就是说一个人和一般人不一样，很古怪。所以，a neat freak就是一个特别爱干净、特别有条理的人。哎，Larry, 你真觉得我是个neat freak吗？

            LL: Yes, see, your room always looks perfect, you always make your bed. You never throw your clothes on the floor. And you have all your papers well organized.

            LH: 那你和neat freak刚好相反。你的房间总是乱糟糟的，床也不铺，衣服满地乱扔，还有，你的各种学习资料也是到处乱放。

            LL: Well, I'm not a neat freak, so I don't care if everything is neat and perfect.

            LH: 我看哪，Larry, 你就是太懒了-- I think you are just too lazy。

            LL: Well, maybe I am a little lazy, but look at your room, books, sweaters and even newspapers are stacked in order, and you're a real neat freak.

            LH: 怎么啦，书呀、毛衣和报纸当然应该放整齐嘛。这有什么奇怪的？ 对你来说这可能是过份“有条理”，可能是有点怪。Well, I guess I am a neat freak.

            LL: Alright. Now that you've finished cleaning, why don't we go to a movie.

            LH: Sure, let's go!

            ******

            LL: That movie was so long. It's almost midnight! I'm so tired that I think I'm going to go home and crash.

            LH: 什么？你是说你太累了，如果开车回家会出交通事故啊？

            LL: No, I don't mean crash as in "car-crash". I mean crash as in "go to sleep".

            LH: 我还是不懂。你是说crash，这个词，除了可以用作car-crash, 表示“撞车”，还可以用来表示“睡觉”啊？

            LL: Yes, "I really want to go home and crash" means that I really want to go home and sleep.

            LH: 噢，我懂了。想想看，crash这个词用在这里还挺形象的，因为你太累了，所以一回家就“瘫”在床上“睡着”了。So, Larry, can I say I was so tired that I crashed on the couch -- 我实在太累了，所以倒在沙发上就睡着了?

            LL: Yes, you can say that. Another example is: I crashed at Jim's house the other night because it was too late to go home.

            LH: 这个我懂，你是说，你那天晚上在Jim家玩得太晚了，所以干脆不回家，就在他家里过了一夜。 那要是我家里在粉刷墙壁，没法住，我可不可以说，I'd like to crash at my friend's house?

            LL: Of course you can, but right now Li Hua, what I really want is to crash in my own bed. I can't wait to get home.

            LH: 有那么着急吗？ 刚才看电影的时候我看你眼睛还张的大大的呢。不过，我也挺累的了。我想我一到家也会倒头就睡着的 -- I will also crash when I get home.

            LL: Let's go!

            今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是neat freak, 表示“特别爱干净、有条理的人”。另一个是crash, 在口语里可以表示“睡觉”。

chubbycat

流行美语第88课

    　


            今天Larry和Li Hua一起打保龄球，Li Hua会学到两个常用语：snap和spaced out.

            (SFX of bowling alley)

            LL: Hey, Li Hua, you look nervous. Have you ever bowled before?

            LH: No, 我从来没打过保龄球，所以当然紧张啦！

            LL: Don't worry, Li Hua, bowling is a snap. You'll figure it out in no time.

            LH: 你说bowling是什么 - a snap? To snap不是对别人嚷嚷、说话态度很凶的意思吗？

            LL: That's right. "To snap at someone" is to speak rudely, but snap can also be used as a noun. If we say something is a "snap" that means it's very easy and can be learned quickly.

            LH: 噢，我懂了，snap用作动词的时候，意思就是对人很凶，不过你刚才说的snap是用做名词，要是我们说something is a snap, 意思就是很容易就能学会的事，哎，那不就是我们中文里所说的“小菜一碟”吗？

            LL: Yes. So, now you'll understand what I meant by saying "bowling is a snap!"

            LH: 你说“保龄球容易学”？可是，我怎么觉得挺难的呢？

            LL: Well, if you think bowling is hard, then what do you think is a snap?

            LH: 让我想想 -- 骑自行车挺容易的。我一个下午就学会了。

            LL: So you think riding a bike is a snap -- I agree, once you learn how to ride a bike, it's a snap. Hey, Li Hua, you know what else is a snap?

            LH: No, what else?

            LL: Beating you at bowling is a snap. Look, I'm 50 points ahead of you.

            LH: 这太不公平了！我以前从来就没有打过保龄球，你可能已经打过几百次了！我能打到那么多的pins就算不错了。

            LL: You're right, Li Hua. It's not fair. Here, I'll teach you. Then you'll see what a snap it is.

            (Sound of ball being thrown)

            ******

            LL: Li Hua, did you enjoy bowling?

            LH: Yes, 保龄球挺好玩的，可是也挺累人的。

            LL: Yeah, I agree. I feel kind of spaced out.

            LH: 你说你觉得怎么样了 - spaced out? Larry, 你是身体不舒服吗？

            LL: No, no. Feeling spaced out means feeling kind of detached and unfocused. I sometimes feel spaced out when I'm tired.

            LH: 噢，我懂了，feeling spaced out意思就是“觉得昏昏沉沉的，注意力难以集中”。就是啊，一个人太累的时候是会感到昏昏沉沉，周围发生什么事都不知道。

            LL: Yeah, but sometimes it might be for no reason. For instance, I might feel spaced out at class - I would be thinking about baseball, instead of listening to the teacher.

            LH: 你上课的时候还会想起棒球赛呀！哎呀，那你走神儿也走得太厉害了吧！

            LL: All right, Li Hua. Now don't tell me you've never felt spaced out yourself.

            LH: 我当然也有迷糊的时候啦，比如上星期，我心不在焉地去上课，结果走错了教室。

            LL: Last week, I was really stressed over the exams. I was so spaced out that I forgot my father's birthday. I felt terrible.

            LH: 什么，因为要考试，你紧张得连你爸爸的生日也忘记啦？那你爸爸肯定很生气罗？

            LL: No, he knows me very well - bowling is a snap for me; but exams always make me very nervous.

            今天李华从Larry那儿学到两个常用语。snap用作名词，意思是“轻而易举的事”。Spaced out就是“昏昏沉沉、注意力不集中”。

chubbycat

流行美语第89课

    　


            今天Larry和Li Hua下课以后一起去吃午饭，Li Hua会学到两个常用语：threads和load up。

            (campus noise)

            LL: Hey, Li Hua, those are nice threads you're wearing.

            LH: Threads? - 那不是“缝衣服用的线”吗？哎哟，Larry, 你是说我的连衣裙开线了吗？

            LL: No, no. Threads, when used in plural, is another word for clothes. I was just telling you that you are wearing nice clothes.

            LH: 噢，原来thread用作复数--threads，就可以代表“衣服”。这倒挺合理的，因为衣服就是用线织成的嘛！你刚才说these are nice threads, 原来是夸我的连衣裙漂亮啊！

            LL: That's right!

            LH: 谢谢你，Larry, 其实，这件连衣裙挺旧的了。 Larry，要是我说一件衣服，是不是要用单数thread?

            LL: No. It's always threads. I think that's because even one piece of clothing is made of many threads.

            LH: 说得也是，即使一件衣服，也是用很多很多线做成的，所以，还是要用复数 - threads.

            LL: So, Li Hua, let me test you. If I say, "I went shopping yesterday and bought lots of threads", what does that mean?

            LH: 这么简单的句子，还要考我。你是说“我昨天买了很多衣服”。Larry，你真的买了好多衣服呀？

            LL：No, I was just giving you an example. I don't go shopping for threads.

            LH：你老是穿牛仔裤加T恤衫，怎么也不换换样子嘛？

            LL: What's wrong with the threads I'm wearing? Oh, please, Li Hua, my threads are just fine -- Jeans and T-shirt are comfortable.

            ******

            (cafeteria sound)

            LL：Hey, not many people in the cafeteria. That's the benefit of coming late.

            LH: 来晚了人少是没错，但是好东西可能也都给吃完了。哎，Larry, 我知道你饿了，可是你也不能一下子拿那么多嘛，你吃得完吗？

            LL: I won't have time to eat dinner until late, so I'm trying to load up on food now.

            LH: 噢，今天你晚饭要很晚才能吃，可是，你说什么 - load up on food? 那是什么意思啊？

            LL: To load, load up on something is to get a lot of it, usually so that you can store some of it for later.

            LH: 噢，我明白了。你是想午饭多吃点，晚上就不会太饿了。哎，Larry, 除了说吃的东西，load up on还可以用在别的地方吗?

            LL: Of course. Do you remember the storm we had last summer? Well, people were worried about losing power, so they loaded up on batteries before the storm.

            LH: 去年夏天的那场暴风雨呀？我当然记得。就是啊，当时大家特别担心停电，所以买了好多电池 - We loaded up on batteries.

            LL: Yup. Also, Li Hua, we can load up on sleep, too.

            LH: 噢，除了可以说load up on food, load up on batteries, 我们还可以说load up on sleep, 意思是多睡觉、多休息。

            LL: If you load up on sleep and vitamins, you shouldn't get sick very easily.

            LH: 是没错，多休息、多吃维生素，我们就不容易生病了，哇，Larry, 我看你装了整整两盘菜啊，要是我像你这样load up on food，我肯定早就发胖了。

            LL: All right, Li Hua, what are you trying to say? You know I don't load up on food like this everyday!

            LH：那倒也是！

            今天李华从Larry那儿学到两个常用语。一个是threads, 在口语里表示“衣服”。另一个是load up on something, 意思是“大量储存某样东西”，比如load up on food, 就表示“吃得很多”。

chubbycat

流行美语第90课

    　


            今天Larry和Li Hua一起听了有关环境保护的讲座。Li Hua会学到两个常用语：to buy something和to be sold on something。

            (college hallway noise)

            LH: 哎，Larry, 听了这个讲座，我觉得“全球变暖问题”真挺让人担心的。

            LL: I don't know, Li Hua... I just don't buy the theory that global warming is caused by humans. There is a lot we just don't know.

            LH: 你说你不买什么？ 哎，没人想卖你东西啊？

            LL: I said that I don't buy that theory. That mean's I don't accept it as completely true.

            LH: 噢，原来I don't buy the theory就是“我不接受这种说法”。哎，那不就是我们中文里说的“我不买这一套”吗？得了得了，我没时间跟你争论。哎，你听说了吗 - 我们今年的学费要涨百分之10呢！学校说他们计划要翻修图书馆。

            LL: What? That's ridiculous. I don't buy that excuse. They raised tuition last year by 5% to expand the stadium.

            LH: 就是嘛，去年学校为了扩建体育馆已经把学费增加了百分之5了。Larry, 那你是不是能够再用I don't buy it 给我举一个和学校没有关系的例子呢？

            LL: OK. You know my friend Angela? She's often late for class, and she always has different excuses. So finally one day, Professor Johnson said to her, "I don't buy your excuses. I think you are just not self-disciplined enough!"

            LH: 对，你那个朋友Angela，她老是迟到，而且总有借口。可是我不知道Johnson教授这么厉害，居然还公开说不相信她的话，还批评她是自己要求不严格。哎哟，那多不好意思呀。

            ******

            LH: So Larry, 你打定主意去南京哪一所学校留学了吗？

            LL: I don't know. I guess I'm still not sold on that school.

            LH: Sold? 那不是“卖东西”的“卖”吗？哎哟，“卖东西”和“留学”这有什么关系呀？

            LL: No, silly! I said that I am not sold on that school. "To be sold on something" means to be convinced that it's worthwhile, or it's the best choice.

            LH: 噢，我明白了。To be sold on something意思就是“你认为这件事值得，是个好选择”。这个说法挺有意思的，你能不能再给我举了例子？

            LL: Well, remember when you were looking for a new apartment? At first you weren't sold on that place, but when you heard that the rent was only $600 a month, you were sold!

            LH: 对呀，我在找房子的时候，一开始还不太满意我现在住的那个地方，后来听说房租一个月才六百美元，马上我就动心了。哎，Larry, to be sold on something是不是只能用在和“钱”有关的事情上呢?

            LL: Not necessarily. For instance, suppose you can't decide if you want to vote for someone who is running for office, you could say "I'm not sold on that candidate yet".

            LH: 噢，选举的时候，要是我还不能肯定是不是要投某个候选人的票，我也可以说，I'm not sold on that candidate yet.

            LL: That's right. We were just talking about that Professor Johnson didn't buy Angela's excuses, we can also say he wasn't sold on her excuses.

            LH: 对，Professor Johnson不相信Angela老是迟到的借口，我们也可以说He wasn't sold on her excuses, 也就是说，to be sold on something也有“相信”的意思。

            LL: Hey, Li Hua, I guess I should have told you that was just an example -- Professor Johnson didn't really say it to Angela.

            LH: 什么？闹了半天Johnson教授根本就没对Angela说那些话呀？你可真会编故事!

            LL: I know - You were totally sold on it - You actually bought it!

            今天李华从Larry那儿学到两个常用语，一个是to buy something, 表示“相信某件事”。另一个是to be sold on something, 意思是“认为某件事值得、是真的”。