M: Me too. Hey, I got an idea. Let's go to the student center and relax after class.
L: 我当然知道Johnson博士有多严格。好吧，下了课我们去学生中心休息一下。
M: Glad class is over! I'm ready to chill for the rest of the morning. I haven't had a chance to chill out these last few days, getting ready for school and all.
L: 什么？ 你说上完课很高兴，但是为什么一上午你会发冷呢？
M: Oh, no! Chill or chill out here means to relax. Chill,
M: I said: "I haven't had a chance to chill out these last few days getting ready for school."
L: 原来你是说：过去几天为了准备开学而没有机会休息。
那你能说去打棒球，休息一下？
M: You normally go someplace calm and peaceful where you can relax. I like to chill out at the cafe with a book sometimes. And I know that you like to chill at the museum.
M: A burger would hit the spot. Let's go, I'm hungry.
L: 好家伙， 喝了咖啡，又肚子饿了， 要去吃汉堡包。这回我可不奉陪了， I have to ditch you now. 再见了！
M: Ok. Bye. 再见。
Michael 和李华在对话中用了to ditch 和 to hit the spot. To ditch表示 要离开某个人，因为你不想跟他在一起了；或表示要马上离开一 个不想再呆的地方。To hit the spot 是感到过隐，觉得很痛快。这次[流 行美语]就播讲到这里。下次节目再见。作者: chubbycat 时间: 9-8-2008 23:48
流行美语第三课
M: No, no, no! Quarterback here is a verb, meaning to lead. The word quarterback is borrowed from American football, where the quarterback leads the team.
M: Someone quarterbacked the meeting at the law firm.
L: 你们公司的一位重要领导主持会议，讨论公司的收入报告，这又 该怎么说？
M: The company's big gun quarterbacked the meeting about their revenue report. Hey, I need to get back to work. I'll call you later.
L: 好吧，那就再见吧！希望你将来成为a big gun.
M: Oh, yea, I'm sure soon I'll be quarterbacking every meeting and every project.
L: 你真的当真呐！ 还想主持所有会议，总管所有项目。得啦，再 见吧！
Michael 和李华在对话中用了两个常用语， 一个是：the big guns， 意思是大人物，对决策有重大影响的人；另一个是：to quarterback，意思是主持会议，或总管项目。这次[流行美语]就播讲到这里。下次节目再见。作者: chubbycat 时间: 9-8-2008 23:48
Lesson Four 第四课 (下载)
M: Well, look at that guy over there, sitting on the bench. The long hair and wild clothes. I really like his outfit, so I would call him a trip. But some people may not like this.
M：No, no, no! They're not going to choke on their food! It's the same word with the same spelling, but it has a different meaning. Here, choke means to fail under pressure.
L：噢，我懂了。 你说的choke 是指纽约队会抵挡不住华盛顿球队的压力而输掉， 对吗？
M: Yes! And choke has many uses. How else do you think it can be used?
[流行美语]又和大家见面了。Michael是一个在纽约上大学的美国年轻人，他经常跟中国学生李华一起玩。Michael向李华学中文，李华向 Michael 学英文。Michael 正在准备考试，有很多功课要做，但是李华要他出去休息休息，两人约好下午在动物园见面。他们在对话中会用这两个词：all-nighter和cram。
L: 嗨，Michael. 我在这儿！
M: Hey, Li Hua. Oh, the elephant house, let's go in and take a look.
L: 噢，那是大象馆啊？ 好， 进去看看。 不行，不行，这儿太臭 了。走吧！
M: Oh, yeah. Let's get out of here. In fact, I've got a lot of studying to do. I'm going to need to pull an all-nighter.
M：The train is just about to leave. Good thing you got here in time.
L：我当然会准时到，我什么时候迟到过？嗨，火车就要开啦？要多少时间才能到华盛顿呐？
M：Only about four hours. I'm probably going to sleep the entire way.
L：(train leaving station, announcer in background) 你想在火车上睡觉？ 不行，你睡觉我跟谁说话呐？
M：Li Hua, you are full of energy. But I'm drained, I'm going to sleep.
L：我是精力充沛。可你说你是什么？ Drained?
M：Yeah. Drained, it means exhausted.
L：Drained就是累的意思。那drained这个词还能用在其他什么场合呢？
M：The word can be used two ways. To be physically drained and emotionally drained. For example, if a couple fight all the time, they would be emotionally tired, which you can also call drained.
M：Yeah, you were emotionally drained. Well, if you don't want me to sleep on the train, we'd better go get more coffee. Let's go to the Cafe Car.
L： 那好呀，走，去食品车厢买咖啡！
M：This coffee is going to keep me awake the entire trip.
L：这杯咖啡就能让你一路上不困啦？ 我可不行，到华盛顿之前，我至少还要喝两杯。
M：Geez, Li Hua, I don't think I will be nearly as wired as you are.
L：Wired？ 我猜这是说我精力旺盛， 是不是？
M：You are right. This word has a couple of meanings. One means to be energetic and the other means to have nervous energy.
L：这么说，wired可以指对某件事很兴奋，也可以说对某件事感到紧张而努 力去做。 要是我精力充沛，可以说：I am wired; 要是在大考前我感到很紧张而抓紧时间复习功课，也可以说：I'm wired。 是这个意思吗？
M：Yeah, that's right. But it has one other meaning as well. Wired means to be connected to something, such as being wired into the Internet, or being wired into a discussion.
L：噢，跟什么东西联系在一起也可以说是wired， 例如和因特网连接。你最后说的 wired into a discussion 我不太懂，那是什么意思啊？
M：You have been participating in the meetings to make decisions about our college, right?
L：对啊！我是参加一些会议，讨论有关学校的某些决定。
M：Ok, your participation in the college's meetings and being involved in those decisions means you are wired into the discussion.
L：噢，我参加这些会议，参预决策的讨论，这就可以说：I'm wired into the discussion.
M：Yep. After all this coffee I have had, I don't feel so drained. In fact, after the next cup, I think I'm going to be pretty wired.
M: Ok, maybe once we are done with the panel we can go out and do something fun.
L: 好主意， 小组讨论会结束后我们可以出去玩。
L: 好了，Michael，会开完了。我们得计划一下今天上哪儿去。不过， 我先得喝杯咖啡。
M: Ok, ok. Geez, you have such a one track mind sometimes. Do you know what a one track mind is?
L: 我不知道，但是我知道你在取笑我。
M: No, I'm not making fun of you. One track mind means you are only thinking about one thing all the time. Today all you have been thinking about is coffee. You should remember this phrase, it's commonly used.
L: 噢，one track mind还是常用的说法，所以我得记住。你认识我的 朋友王光吧？ 她成天工作，从来不想别的事。你能说她是one track mind 吗？
M: Yeah, you can say that. It's amazing how much she works, never does much of anything else.
L: 对，她就是这样，工作狂。你们男人也都是one track mind。脑子 里总是想着女孩子。
M: Yeah, there's one particular girl I think about.
M: No, that's not what I meant by close call. I meant that the car nearly hit you.
L: 对啊，那车差一点就撞上我了，这就是 close call？
M: Actually, Li Hua, close call means that you narrowly avoided danger. Something bad could have happened to you, but you narrowly avoided a bad situation.
M: No, not really. But don't forget that when you use it in the past tense, pig out should be pigged out.
L: 那是过去时态，要是说你到了圣诞节假日又要大吃大喝了，那该怎么说？
M: You will pig out during the Christmas holidays.
L: 嗨，我是在说你，我才不会吃那么多东西呢！
Michael, 是不是每年都有这么多人来中央公园滑冰？
M: Yes, it's free. My friend Josh said he would be coming to ice-skate with his girlfriend Emily today. Oh, By the way, Li Hua, did you tell Simon that Josh and Emily are getting married soon? I just need...
M: Yeah, that's right. Children or young people often goof off. Do you remember when we were at the movies and those high school students threw candy at the screen, you could say they were goofing off.
M: That's right. Even though it's not that late, I'm ready to hit the sack!
L: 你说什么？你要去捅一个口袋？Sack不是麻袋吗？我以为你很累了，而你现在要去运动？
M: No, no. It's a colloquial saying. I mean I'm going to bed. Sack, here means bed, and hit means going to.
L: 噢，原来to hit the sack是指去睡觉，sack在这里是指床， hit是去 床上睡觉的意思。 那我要坐下，能不能说 to hit the chair?
M: No, not really. This phrase -- to hit the sack -- has a pretty limited meaning.
L: 哟，to hit the sack只能指去睡觉，别的地方还不能用！那要是我 午想睡个午睡，能不能说：I want to hit the sack?
M: No, it's usually used to talk about going to bed at night, after a long day at work or school.
L: 午睡也不能用，只能指一天工作和学习后晚上去睡觉。那现在我 已经上了一天的学，再加上晚上上了这堂枯燥无味的课，我可 以说：It's time for me to hit the sack。 对不对？
M: That's correct, Li Hua. But don't forget that we have a test tomorrow.
L: 我当然不会忘掉明天的考试。
M: Ok, now go hit the sack, but after tomorrow's test we will have to study seriously for next week's test, no more goofing off.
L: 明天考试后你想好好学习，为下星期的考试作准备。没问题，我 帮你准备，我们俩都会考得很好。
M: Yeah, I'm going to hit the sack. Bye, Li Hua!
Michael 今天教了李华两个常用语，一个是：to goof off，意思是做一些无聊的事，开玩笑；另一个是：to hit the sack，这是指晚上上床睡觉。这次[流行美语] 今天就学习到这里，我们下次节目再见。作者: chubbycat 时间: 10-8-2008 23:48
流行美语第十七课
M: Yeah, it's usually used when asking for something small, like a piece of gum or candy.
L: 哟，你们美国人，怎么一片口香糖，一颗糖还要借啊？难道真的还要还吗？
M: No, small things you don't need to return, such as gum and candies.
L: 这很重要，因为在这种情况下，我们中国人就不说借了，我们大概会说：给一颗糖吧。
M: You are right Li Hua. But if you feel cold at a friend's home and you asked to bum a sweater, then you would return it when you were going to leave.
L: 对，要是在朋友家感到冷要借一件毛衣，那一般都应该还的。所以，这要看情况，对不对？
M: Yes, if you will let me bum a couple bucks tonight, I promise to pay you back tomorrow.
L: 行，行，行，就借你两块钱，你问服务员要酒吧，我来付钱。可明天别忘了还我。
M: Okay. Two beers please!
L: 我以前有一个朋友，每次跟她一起出去，不管去看电影，还是去 喝咖啡，她总是问我借钱。
M: A girl I used to hang out with acted the same way. Whenever a group of us went out, she would always ask to bum money. It got to be a real turn-off.
L: 你也碰到过这样的人哪？ 等等，a real turn-off? 这是什么意思呀？把什么东西关掉？
M: No, a turn-off is something that repels someone.
L: 噢， 是一个让人讨厌的什么东西。 是不是指一个人的性格里有什么地方让你不喜欢他？
M: Yes, that's right. Let me give you an example. Your ex-boyfriend always smoked cigarettes around you, that was a real turn-off.
L: 是啊，我以前的男朋友跟我在一起的时候老是抽烟，那真是讨厌。
M: A girl I once dated always interrupted me whenever I was talking. That was a real turn-off.
L: 对，你告诉过我，你从前的女朋友老是打断你的话，让你很讨厌。 我还有一个朋友把脏衣服在房间里到处乱扔， that was also a turn-off.
M: See, you've learned how to use turn-off. By the way, I also have dirty clothes lying around my apartment. Does that bother you?
L: 哼，你也把脏衣服到处乱扔？你要是不打扫乾净的话，别想请 我到你家去。
M: Ok, I'll try to clean it up.
各位听众，今天李华从Michael 那里学到了两个常用语，一个是： to bum，意思是借钱或其他东西；另一个是：a turn-off，意思是让人讨厌的地方。这次就到此结束，下次节目再见。作者: chubbycat 时间: 10-8-2008 23:48
流行美语第十八课
M：No, "hit" here means he is the most popular person at these parties. "Hit" is a word used to describe someone or something that makes a favorable impression.
M：Yeah, things can also be called a hit. For instance, you can say "that song is a hit with teenagers".
L：对了，有的歌曲非常热门，这也能称为hit。 你刚才说：“That song is a hit with teeangers”， 意思是：“青少年特别喜欢的一首歌。” 这么说，“年轻人喜欢的一首歌”就是。。。
M：That song is a hit with young people.
L： 一个受欢迎的电视节目也能说是hit吗？
M：Yes, you can! A hit TV program.
L：Michael， 我听说好多女孩儿都很喜欢你！
M：No, that's not true!
L：我认识的女孩都说你很帅！我想她们那么喜欢你，你恐怕还不知道自己是a hit with girls！
M：Oh, stop it, Li Hua! You're embarrassing me.
L：哟，你还会不好意思呐！得了，去拿点东西吃吧，我饿了。
L：Michael， 我们来了有两个小时了吧！ 我倒是认识了几个很有意思的人。
M：Yeah, the people here are pretty cool, but I'm getting tired. I've got a test tomorrow that I haven't prepared for yet. Do you think we can go pretty soon?
M: Well, sometimes we might say a movie or a play "bombed". That means that no one wanted to see it, and it probably lost a lot of money.
L: 噢，还可以指电影，或话剧太次，没有人要看，卖座率太低。我上 星期去看了一次电影，剧院里没几个人。后来我才看到报纸评论 说这部电影太糟了。我能不能说："The movie I saw last week bombed"?
M: Sounds like it bombed to me. Remember the play we went to a few weeks ago? The actors were terrible!
L: 对，你说几个星期前去看的那场话剧，有几个话剧演员简直是 太糟 了。That play really bombed! 我说得对不对？
M: Absolutely! Hey listen, Li Hua, can we please change the subject? I don't want to think about failure right now. What would you like to eat? It's my treat.
M: If I were you, I would have told him to take a hike.
L: 你要对他说什么？ Take a hike? 是什么意思啊？
M: Take a hike is to tell someone to leave, or to tell someone to leave you alone.
L: Take a hike就是叫谁走开，或者是告诉某人不要来打搅我。对吗？
M: That's correct. In fact, you told me there's that one guy who always bothers you in the study hall. You should tell him to take a hike.
L: 我知道你在说谁。我在自修室里念书的时候，那个人经老是要来跟 我说话。可是他往往很不客气。
M: Why don't you tell him to take a hike?
L: 我不好意思对别人说这种话。 那样很不礼貌，是不是？
M: Sometimes you can use "take a hike" in a joking manner. For instance, when my friend kept teasing me about the way I dressed the other day, I told him to take a hike.
L: 我那天是听见你那朋友在笑话你穿的衣服，可是，当时你说take a hike，我不知道是什么意思。现在想起来，你好象是用开玩笑的口气说的。
M: Li Hua, give me an example. I want to see if you know how to use it.
L: 哼，你要考我！ Michael, 你经常跟我开玩笑，说我老买衣服，下次你再要这样，我就要对你说：Take a hike.
M: Yes, Li Hua, I suppose you could.
L: Michael, 你昨晚上不是说好要跟Bob去看电影吗？你怎么一个晚上都呆在家里呢？
M: Bob and I did make plans to go out last night. But he blew me off. He decided to go out with his girlfriend. It wasn't the first time he blew me off.
L: 原来说好去看电影，到最后一分钟打电话给你说要和女朋友出去 玩。Michael，你刚才说了两遍blew me off ? 是不是取消原定约会的意思？
M: Yes, to blow off means to break off plans you had with someone.
L: 也就是说你和Bob约好去看电影，可是他为了跟女朋友玩而把你给甩了。
M: You're right.
L: To blow off 还能用在什么场合呢？
M: If someone has been friendly to you in the past, but he suddenly seems to ignore you, you can say that person blew you off.
L: 噢，to blow off 还可以指某人突然对你很冷淡。
M: Yes. For instance, when I was at a party last weekend, Nancy acted like she didn't even know who I was. I can say Nancy blew me off.
L: Nancy上个周末在聚会上看见你好象不认识你？这不可能，她不是跟你很好的吗？
M: Yes, but that's ok. Li Hua, you can also use this phrase to talk about things you blow off, such as something you don't want to do.
L: 我不想做什么事，也可以用to blow off。我不是告诉你我不想参加 那经济学的小组吗？可是，要是我blow it off，我这门课就会不及格。
M: Yeah, there are some things in life you just shouldn't blow off.
L: 唉，生活中有些事是非得做的，就象和你一起吃午饭一样。
M: Oh, Li Hua, take a hike.
在今天的对话中，Michael教了李华两个常用语，一个是：take a hike，意思是叫某人走开；另一个是to blow off，这是指取消约会，或者是不做自己不想做的事。这次的[流行美语]就到此结束，我们下次再会。作者: chubbycat 时间: 14-8-2008 00:22
流行美语第二十五课
M: Don't worry about it! I'll buy you one. It's only a few bucks.
L: 你说什么？一杯可乐不是$2.75吗？你说 "only a few bucks"?
M: Yes. "Buck" is an informal way to say "dollar".
L: 哟，"buck" 就是"dollar"！是非正式的名称。 嗨，昨天我要买一块 糖，你给我一美元，那我就可以说：“You gave me a buck"，对不 对？
M: That's right. And the other day, I lent you a few bucks for lunch. And last week, you borrowed ten bucks so you could buy a chemistry textbook, and...
M: Handsome? Whatever! He's got to be over 50 years old now!
L: Michael, 你说 “whatever"，在这里是什么意思呀？比如说：You can buy whatever you want." 意思是：你想买什么都行。可是，你 刚才说一个字“ whatever”，口气不同，好象意思也不一样。
M: The word "whatever" I said is the same as in your example， But when someone says "whatever" like this: "whatever," he is being sarcastic. He thinks what you just said is nonsense.
M: I bought a pair of tennis shoes. When I bought them, I thought it was a good deal, but later I saw the same pair at another store for much less. I got ripped off.
M: I wanted to do that, but when I went back to the first store, I saw a sign that said "All Sales are Final". So, I guess there's nothing I can really do about it.
L: 哟，还不让退货，这可真倒霉。那你买鞋的时候怎么没看见不让 退货的牌子呢？
M: I was just too eager to buy these shoes. If you buy something and then find out that it is of poor quality, you can also say you were ripped off.
L: 噢，买了东西后发现质量很差也可以说to be riffed off。对了，我上 个月从网上买了一部DVD电影，可是我在看电影的时候好几次都卡住 了，害得我连结尾都没看上。
M: I guess I'm not the only one who got ripped off.
L: 买东西真是要小心。得了，我们去买饭吧！
(Michael和李华吃完饭以后)
L: 时间不早了，该回去了。搭地铁去吧！
M: Sure! That was fun, Li Hua, but I have to stop spending so much money.
M: No, they just keep telling me that they will let me know soon. I wish the company would just give me a straight answer.
L: Straight answer? 是什么意思啊？
M: Well, if you are looking for a straight answer, that means you want someone to give you a direct answer and tell you the truth.
L: 噢，straight answer就是直接了当，或者是实事求是的回答。
M: That's right. For instance, I could see that my last roommate was unhappy living in our apartment, I asked him why, but I could never get him to give me a straight answer.
M: Li Hua, I think you are the only one who is bothered by that. Well, this is our stop. Do you still want to come over to my messy apartment? Give me a straight answer.
M: Thanks for the encouragement, Li Hua. But I've always been kind of a loser at sports. Growing up, I was always picked last for the baseball and soccer teams.
L: 原来你在体育方面从小就不行。不过，Michael， 在其他方面你 一点也不笨。
M: What do you mean, Li Hua?
L: 这还不明白吗？女孩子都很喜欢你呀，你还有其他好多朋友呀。
M: You're right, I do have a lot of friends. But if they could see how many times I fell down today, I'm sure they would not want be friends with such a loser.
M: Sure. You can say that something is bugging you, such as an assignment that you haven't been able to finish or a problem that you cannot solve. You could also...
L: 等等，让我先弄清楚你说的。你是说，我没能完成的功课， 或者解决不了的问题都可以用to bug这个动词。那就是说："This assignment is bugging me"，或者是：“This problem is bugging me"，对 不对？
M: Yes, you can also say that a habit someone has really bugs you.
L: 我知道，象Mary，她老是打断我说话，让我很烦，很讨厌。
M: You could say "It really bugs me when Mary interrupts me in the middle of a sentence." I can also say it really bugs me when you try to tell me what to do.
L: 嗨，我告诉你该怎么做是为了你好。老实说，it bugs me that you never listen to me.
M: It seems that you've learned how to use "loser" and "to bug". Let's go home.
Michael这个美国学生由于各方面的压力太大而情绪不太好。 今天他想去找李华一起出去放松放松。现在他正在敲李华的门。Michael会教李华两个常用语：to play hooky和to snap。
L：Michael，你在这儿干什么？你不是有课吗？
M：Yes, I'm supposed to be in class right now. But I didn't read the assignment for class today, and I just didn't feel like going, so I decided to play hooky.
L：你真够呛，没看今天上课的材料就不想去上课，还想在家玩什么游戏！什么是hooky呀？
M：No, to play hooky means to skip class.
L：噢，原来to play hooky是指逃学，旷课。我还以为是玩什么游戏呢！Michael, 你要进来坐会儿吗？
M：Actually, I was going to the student center to hang out and have lunch. I was wondering if you would like to come with me.
M：It seems like you have been working a lot lately. I have an idea! Why don't you call in to work and tell them you're sick! You can also play hooky from work.
L：我最近工作是很忙。Michael，你的意思是让我打电话给工作的地方说我生病，这样就可以不去上班？这也可以说是to play hooky?
M：Yes, you can play hooky from school or from work.
L：你可真能出馊主意！自己逃学还不算，还要我装病不去工作。不行，我工作的地方星期一总是很忙的，而且上星期我真的生病，请了两天假。I don't want to play hooky from work. 我说得对不对，Michael？
M：Yes, very good. I guess you'd better go to work then. It's too bad I can't spend more time with you. Well, if you have only one hour for lunch, we'd better hurry.
M：Hey, I may play hooky once in a while, but I usually study hard. Do you think I don't feel any pressure to get good grades? If I don't do well, I won't get a good job later on.
M: I can say something is fishy if I think someone is lying about something.
L: 这我就清楚了，你要是认为某个人在骗你，你就可以说：It seems fishy.
M: That's right.
L: 比方说，我那天接到一个旅行社的电话，说我得了一个奖。他说我可 以到四个地方去旅行一个星期只要二百美元，但是要我马上付这笔 钱。我当时就觉得可疑，I thought something was fishy, 对不对？
M: You're absolutely right. Let me tell you something, the travel company probably doesn't even exist. After you pay them, you won't be able to find them anymore.
L: 哟，幸亏我没上当。原来是骗局，等我付了钱，他们就消失了！ 这可太气人了！
M: You really have to be careful whenever you smell something fishy.
( Michael和李华在飞机场)
L: Michael， 一个周末过得真快。好象刚到，现在又要搭飞机走了。
M: Look, half of the flights are canceled because of the snow, but ours is still on time. We really lucked out.
M: Yes, for example, I can say I really lucked out on that test last week. I didn't study very much for it, but I still knew all the answers on the test.
L: 上星期的考试，我可没有考好。你没怎么念书倒是都能答出考题， you really lucked out on that test. 我可没有这种运气。我要不念书就 考不好。
M: Hold on a second, I think they just called my name. I hope nothing's wrong.
L: 对，我也听到他们叫你的名字呢，快去看看，有什么问题。
L: 怎么回事，Michael, 票子没有问题吧？
M: No, in fact I lucked out again. I dropped my wallet at the ticket counter. They just wanted to return it to me.
L: 哟，你钱包掉了还不知道，柜台捡到了还主动还给你。你哪 来那么好的运气呐！You really lucked out this time! 钱包里有多少钱 哪？
M: Not much, only ten bucks! Come on Li Hua, let's board the plane.
M: I think the new TV soap opera on Channel 6 is so cheesy. It is fake and the things they say on the shows are so weird. I don't know why these shows are so popular.
M: Yes, I guess I do get a kick out of watching my students learn.
L: Michael, 走吧！ 嗨，看完展览要不要再去喝个酩酊大醉呀？
M: Arrrgh! Li Hua, you really do get a kick out of tormenting me. I'll never get wasted for the rest of my life. I promise.
L: 我只是开个玩笑而已。不过，我倒是希望你这辈子再也不要喝那么多酒了！
别看Michael 昨晚喝醉了，今天还晕乎乎的。可是他教了李华两个很有用的常用语，一个是：wasted，那是指喝得大醉；另一个是：to get a kick out of something，那就是为某件事感到很高兴。这次的[流行美语]就到此结束，下次节目再见。作者: chubbycat 时间: 14-8-2008 23:16
流行美语第三十六课
M: That's right. To chip in, means to each contribute money to buy something.
L: 那就是我们中国人说的凑钱买东西。
M: Usually you say "chip in" if each person in a group of people gives some money to buy someone a present.
L: 要是每个人都出一些钱给谁买个礼物，人们一般就会说to chip in。
M: To give you another example, my mother said her colleagues always chip in to buy gifts to celebrate someone's birthday or when someone has a new baby.
M: You can also use "to chip in" if you are going out with a group of people for dinner or a drink.
L: 噢，几个朋友一起出去吃饭，喝酒，每个人出一些钱来付帐也可以说是chip in。
M: Yes, the guys and I usually each chip in a few dollars when we go out for pizza on Friday nights。Last week, I paid 10 dollars, Bob chipped in $4, John gave $2. There is one guy who never chips in. He's cheap. It really makes me mad.
L: 等等，上星期五你们几个人出去吃比萨饼，你付了十美元，Bob出了四美元，John出了两美元。还有一个小气鬼，从来不出钱。他真好意思！Why don't you ditch him, 甩了他不得了！
M: Oh, we've been friends for many years, and it's only a few bucks!
M: Man, last night I just vegged out in front of the TV all night.
L: 你说什么? 你说你在电视机前面vegged out? 是不是说你在电视机前面吃生菜？
M: No, no, no It doesn't have anything to do with vegetables! To veg out, V-E-G O-U-T, means to sit around and do nothing.
L: 噢，原来如此。“to veg out”意思是说无所事事，呆坐在那里。那你干吗不出去呢?
M: I was supposed to go out with some friends, but I was too tired after being at work all day. That's why I ended up vegging out in front of the TV all day.
L: 啊，原来你是太累了，昨晚你除了呆坐在家里，什么也没干。那么veg out 和英语里面另外一个形容：老是坐在电视机前的人是个couch potato一不一样呢?
M: Yes, it is similar to being a couch potato. However, if you are vegging out, that does not necessarily mean you are watching TV or eating like a couch potato does.
M: No, if you veg out you usually do so at home. You may be reading, listening to music, watching TV or just sitting there. Basically, your are not thinking of anything very complicated.。
M: Yes, that's true. People often veg out after a long day of working or studying. Sometimes, they veg out when they should be working or studying, but then don't feel like it.
M: Yeah, you can also say“vegged”for short, as in “I totally just vegged last night in front of the TV.”
L: 迈可，让咱们先停下来歇会儿吧。
L: 我真难以相信你星期六还得上班，我以为你是星期一到星期五上班呢。
M: Usually, I do only have to work from Monday through Friday. But my supervisor has really been in my face about getting this project done. I needed to get it done by Monday, so I decided to come in over the weekend.
L: 我懂得，你是说你的领导一直在逼着你做完你的工作。可是你是怎么说的？ In my face? 那是什么意思啊？
M: To say that my supervisor was “in my face” means that he has been giving me a lot of pressure about finishing the project. Just imagine someone who is standing close to your face, demanding that you finish something.
L: 要是你说某人是in your face的话，听起来可不是什么好事。像是他不断地在提醒你该做什么事。看来你的领导是个很难处的人啊。
M: Actually, he is not that bad. I really like him as a person. He is just very demanding when it comes to finishing work on time. He has an “in your face” personality.
L:这样说来，你也可以说某人有“in your face”的个性呐。
M: Yes, that means they have a very aggressive, direct personality. Someone like that usually doesn't care what other people think about their ideas.
L: 这样形容一个人的个性，听起来不太尊敬。
M: You’re right, it's not a very nice thing to say about someone. You probably shouldn't tell someone directly that you think they have been in your face about something.
L: 谈到“in my face”,大太阳正照在我脸上，可真把我晒得够呛，咱们到里边儿去找个阴凉地方吧。
M: Okay, how about getting some ice cream? There's an ice cream store right over there.
L: 好主意，咱们走吧。
今天迈可和李华一块儿去买东西，李华学了两个新词儿："veg out"和“in my face”."veg out"是说什么事也不做，完全轻松一下；“in my face”是一种咄咄逼人的态度或者个性。作者: chubbycat 时间: 14-8-2008 23:18
流行美语第39课
M: Man, last night I just vegged out in front of the TV all night.
L: 你说什么? 你说你在电视机前面vegged out? 是不是说你在电视机前面吃生菜？
M: No, no, no It doesn't have anything to do with vegetables! To veg out, V-E-G O-U-T, means to sit around and do nothing.
L: 噢，原来如此。“to veg out”意思是说无所事事，呆坐在那里。那你干吗不出去呢?
M: I was supposed to go out with some friends, but I was too tired after being at work all day. That's why I ended up vegging out in front of the TV all day.
L: 啊，原来你是太累了，昨晚你除了呆坐在家里，什么也没干。那么veg out 和英语里面另外一个形容：老是坐在电视机前的人是个couch potato一不一样呢?
M: Yes, it is similar to being a couch potato. However, if you are vegging out, that does not necessarily mean you are watching TV or eating like a couch potato does.
M: No, if you veg out you usually do so at home. You may be reading, listening to music, watching TV or just sitting there. Basically, your are not thinking of anything very complicated.。
M: Yes, that's true. People often veg out after a long day of working or studying. Sometimes, they veg out when they should be working or studying, but then don't feel like it.
M: Yeah, you can also say“vegged”for short, as in “I totally just vegged last night in front of the TV.”
L: 迈可，让咱们先停下来歇会儿吧。
L: 我真难以相信你星期六还得上班，我以为你是星期一到星期五上班呢。
M: Usually, I do only have to work from Monday through Friday. But my supervisor has really been in my face about getting this project done. I needed to get it done by Monday, so I decided to come in over the weekend.
L: 我懂得，你是说你的领导一直在逼着你做完你的工作。可是你是怎么说的？ In my face? 那是什么意思啊？
M: To say that my supervisor was “in my face” means that he has been giving me a lot of pressure about finishing the project. Just imagine someone who is standing close to your face, demanding that you finish something.
L: 要是你说某人是in your face的话，听起来可不是什么好事。像是他不断地在提醒你该做什么事。看来你的领导是个很难处的人啊。
M: Actually, he is not that bad. I really like him as a person. He is just very demanding when it comes to finishing work on time. He has an “in your face” personality.
L:这样说来，你也可以说某人有“in your face”的个性呐。
M: Yes, that means they have a very aggressive, direct personality. Someone like that usually doesn't care what other people think about their ideas.
L: 这样形容一个人的个性，听起来不太尊敬。
M: You’re right, it's not a very nice thing to say about someone. You probably shouldn't tell someone directly that you think they have been in your face about something.
L: 谈到“in my face”,大太阳正照在我脸上，可真把我晒得够呛，咱们到里边儿去找个阴凉地方吧。
M: Okay, how about getting some ice cream? There's an ice cream store right over there.
L: 好主意，咱们走吧。
今天迈可和李华一块儿去买东西，李华学了两个新词儿："veg out"和“in my face”."veg out"是说什么事也不做，完全轻松一下；“in my face”是一种咄咄逼人的态度或者个性。作者: chubbycat 时间: 14-8-2008 23:18
流行美语第40课
这一天迈可准备和李华一起温习功课，在他们两人对话的时候，李华学到了两个新词儿:“to be into” 和“geek”.
M: Well, at least you are lucky you started young. I have only been into learning Chinese for a couple of years, and my Chinese is terrible!
L: 不，迈可，那你可说的不对，你的普通话说的挺好的。
L: 迈可，你是不是该停下来，别再看那漫画书，该开始复习功课了。
M: Li Hua, you sound like my mother. Anyway, I can’t put this comic book down. I am such a comic book geek.
L: 你说你是什么？一个“geek”? 那是什么意思？
M: Well, a "geek" is soomeone who spends all of their time with their special interests or hobbies. They are mor concerned about their hobbies than being "cool" or making friends.
L: geek是怎么拼？的这个字听起来好怪噢。
M: Geek. G-E-E-K.
L: 这样的话，我能不能说篮球名将Michael Jordan 是一个篮球 geek?
M: Well, not really. Geeks are not usually into playing sports. They like things like comic books, computers, collecting stamps, reading science fiction books。
M: Gee, thanks Li Hua. Anyway, I am not completely a geek. I do study hard most of the time. I do like to dance, and I do have a lot of female friends.
M: That's too bad. I don't like being chewed out like that either. Especially when I know I was wrong.
L: 那可不是我的错，我自行车的链子又脱落了。 为什么发生这类事情你总是怪我呢？
M: Hey, take it easy, Li Hua! Don't chew me out! I was talking about myself, not you.
L: 我的天，是我不对，不知道我今天是怎么回事。我想跟每个人发脾气似的。
M: You must be stressed. First, Professor Liu chewed you out, then you almost ran over the kid on the bike.
L: 你说的对，我真不该对任何人都发脾气。我应该开开心心的。
M: At least you should be happier than I am. Yesterday, my roommate chewed me out. He said I always make a mess in the living room, and he is tired of cleaning up after me.
L: 也许你是把房子弄得很乱，可是你室友也不该对你发脾气啊。
M: He was right, though. I really need to get rid of my bad habits.
今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是Take it easy，意思是冷静下来，或者放轻松些。另一个是to chew out，意思是发脾气骂人。作者: chubbycat 时间: 15-8-2008 21:52
流行美语第四十三课
今天是周末，Michael和李华去打台球。李华一边玩一边还学了两个年轻人常用的词：to rule和to blow money on something.
L: 哎呀，我不想玩了。我老是输给你。这样玩还有什么意思啊。
M: Hey! You don't need to get angry just because I rule at the pool table!
L: 啊？ 你在台球桌上做了什么？你是不是耍了什么花招，怕我生气啊？
M: Absolutely not! I said that I rule the pool table. That means that I am the best at playing pool. I can defeat anyone. Rule, R-U-L-E.
L: 噢，我明白了，rule在这里指的是你玩台球玩得最棒，可以打败任何人。对不对，Michael？
M: That's right! I am king of the pool table! I rule!
M: Sport? Ping-pong is not a sport! It's a game! You might rule at that little game. But I rule at pool, a man's game!
L: 你在瞎说什么啊。我不跟你争了。你还是多给我解释解释rule这个词吧。
M: Well, I can say "I rule the pool table"; that means that I dominate the game. Or I can say "I rule at" doing something. In either case it means the same thing: I am the best!
L: 好了，好了，就算你是最棒的吧。那rule还有什么别的用法呢？
M: Sometimes we just say something or someone rules without adding any other words. For instance, I can say "Chinese food rules!" That means I think it is great.
L: 那如果我说：Michael Jordan rules!，是不是就表示我认为他是最棒的篮球运动员，对不对？
M: That's right. When we say a person rules, that means we think they are the best, or at least that they are impressive.
L: 哎，Michael，你看那边有个人老往我们这边看，没准他是想和你比赛，怎么样，敢不敢跟他比？
M: Whatever, I rule the pool table, no matter who I play against!
******
L: Michael，你打得怎么样，输了还是赢了？
M: Not so well. Say, Li Hua, can I borrow five dollars? I just blew my money on playing pool with them, and I need to put gas in the car so we can get home.
L: 你说你的钱怎么了？你是不是在赌博啊？
M: No, I said I blew my money on pool. That means I spent all of my money very quickly. Blew is the past tense for blow.
L: 噢，“blow money on something”就是为了做某件事很快把口袋里的钱花光了。
M: That's right. Like when we were at the mall the other day, and you blew a whole week's pay on shoes.
L: 我是花了一星期的工资买鞋，可你不觉得我买的鞋价廉物美，所以不能说我浪费啊。
M: Well, I guess sometimes it's ok to blow one's money on something useful.
L: 就是嘛。哎，我倒是想起了一个你乱花钱的例子，记不记得你大 学一年级的时候到赌城拉斯维加斯，blew all of your money on black jack。
M: Ha ha ha....yeah, what a wonderful memory. but, I'll never blow all of my money like that again. I am older and wiser now.
L: 得了吧，你年龄的确是越来越大，可脑筋并没有越来越聪明。要不然你今天怎么会玩台球把钱都花光呢？
M: Those guys are good. They play quickly, and they both beat me several times. Also, we agreed that the loser had to pay for the pool table. So of course I blew all of my money very quickly.
M: Don't worry about it! You have to learn this sooner or later. Give it a shot!
L: 你说什么？Give what? 我该把车干吗？
M: I said give it a shot, that means try or give it a try. We say give a shot when we ask someone to try something they are not sure they can do.
L: 噢，你用的字 shot, 是不是就像开枪射击的那个shot啊
M: That's right. For instance, when you are taking a test, and you are not sure of the answer to a question, you still have to give it a shot and try to guess the correct answer.
L: 噢，give it a shot原来指的是尽量试试，即使你没有多大的信心。
M: That's right. Now you try and use this phrase. Go ahead, give it a shot!
L: Hmm，如果说你想要申请一个很好的工作，可是又怕自己得不到，你就可以说：Give it a shot! 反正你也不会有什么损失的。
M: You've got it.
L: 那还有没有其它场合可以用shot这个字的？
M: Well, we might also say give it your best shot.
L: 所以我们也可以说“give it your best shot”， 意思就是全力以赴去试一下。
M: That's right. Now you'd better move your car into that space. We shouldn't sit here in the middle of the road. Go ahead and park, give it a shot!
L: 好，我就试试看啰。
******
L: 我的天， Michael，我撞到哪里了？
M: Don't worry Li Hua, it's not a big deal. The bumper just hit the parking meter.
L: 你说不大什么？不管撞倒哪儿都不得了啊。
M: No no, I said its not a big deal. That means it's not very serious.
L: Oh, 那big deal是哪两个字，怎么拼?
M: Big, B-I-G; Deal, D-E-A-L. If something is a big deal it is very serious, or very important to someone.
L: 我明白了，当我撞上停车计时表，你说 its not a big deal，你的意思是说没什么大不了的。我并没有造成多大损害,对不对?
M: Yeah, at least I don't think you did. Maybe you scratched the bumper or the parking meter. You didn't really damage the car or meter, so it's not a big deal.
L: 原来如此，但愿你说的对。还有，要是不用not这个字可以？
M: Sure you can, for instance, it was a big deal for me when I turned 16 and got a driver's license.
L: 对。对美国青年人来说，拿到驾驶执照可真是一件大事。
M: Looks like you understand how to use this phrase. Why don't you make another sentence?
L: 那我就用它造句子： It was a very big deal for Chinese people when Beijing got the chance to host the 2008 Summer Olympics.
M: It sure was! I remember on TV, I saw a lot of people in Beijing partying when that happened.
L: 哎呀，别多说了。我得赶快把车停好。
M: Yep, if a cop sees you stopping traffic, he might think it is a big deal. Move out of the space and try to park again. Give it another shot!
今天李华学到了两个常用语：a big deal和give it a shot。A big deal是指很重大，或者严重的事。Give it a shot指的是尽力去试。作者: chubbycat 时间: 15-8-2008 21:53
流行美语第四十五课
M: Yeah, it's really packed today. I've never seen this many people here.
L: Michael,你刚刚说什么？你是说人好多吗？
M: Yes, I said the park is packed. That means it is crowded, there are a lot of people here.
L: 噢，我懂了。你说的packed，就是通常你说打包的pack那个字吧？
M: That's right. Here we say "be packed" to show that a place is full of people, just like a box packed full of stuff.
L: 我想我懂了。那中国人口很多，我是不是可以说China is packed？
M: No, that's not really right: China has a lot of people, but China is also a very big place. We usually use 'packed' to describe a small place full of people.
L: 嗯，原来是这样一来。那就好像在中国春节期间，每班火车都挤的满满的，那我就可以说：在春节前那个星期the trains are packed，对不对？
M: That's right. Around Spring Festival, the buses are packed as well. Right?
L: 没错。事实上，中国的公共汽车永远都是挤得满满的，很难找到个座位，至少在各个大都市都是这样。
M: So, in China what other kinds of places might be packed with people?
M: Ewww. I don't really understand why people liked that movie so much. I thought it was boring.
L: 管它是啥原因，Michael，反正中国各地的电影院总是很挤就是了。
M: Hey, the show is starting.
******
L: 哎，Michael，你觉得今天的烟火如何？
M: Well I guess they were OK, but I was hoping they would be better.
L: 你觉得还可以更好一些？可是我觉得已经很好了。
M: But there was so much hype about this show! Every newspaper said it was going to be the greatest fireworks display in New York history!
L: 你说太多什么？你说这次烟火怎么了？
M: I said there was a lot of hype, Hype means a lot of excitement or praise about something that you might hear about before you see it.
L: Oh，所以hype就是指大家总是把一件事说的比实际情况还要好。 对不对？
M: Yeah, that's right. For instance, there was a lot of hype about Titanic, but I didn't think it was as good as the hype said it would be.
L: Hmm，你说the hype about Titanic，所以我们就应该说there is hype about something，对不对?
M: That's right. For example, I remember hearing a lot of hype about the Forbidden City in Beijing, but I didn't think it was very interesting.
L: 你说什么？你居然说北京故宫不好，那可是中国保存历史古迹的一颗明珠哎。
M: I didn't say it wasn't important to Chinese history. I just didn't think it was very fun to visit, at least not as fun as all the hype said it would be.
L: 我才不管你怎么想呢。你说报上对今天的烟火作了很多宣传，到底是怎么说的呢？
M: Well, the newspapers said it was going to be larger and more exciting than anything ever shown in the city before. But really I think that was just hype. This year wasn't much different from last year.
M: Yeah I'm ready...let me get this call though. Hello? Sorry, I can't come to work right now. I have to pick up a friend from the airport. Yep. Sorry I can't help out. OK.
M: Sometimes he would try to sell us things. And even though we refused to buy his stuff, he just wouldn't leave us alone. That's why my neighbors didn't like him. They all thought he was a little weird.
L: 啊，他还硬向你们推销东西。难怪你们怀疑他有什么不良动机。 所以你才说他是个creep。
M: You've got it. You give me an example.
L: 我们班有个男生很讨厌，所有的女生都觉得他是个creep。
M: Ok. Why is he a creep?
L: 他看人的眼神不对头，还有啊，他脸上总是一副皮笑肉不笑的表情，喜欢和女生开那种很肉麻的玩笑。
M: Yes, he definitely sounds like a creep to me.
L: 哎，Michael，我今天早上看到你和Alice在咖啡厅喝咖啡，你早上不是有上课吗？
M: Oh, you busted me! Please keep quiet about that, OK? I told my professor I had to visit a sick aunt in the hospital.
M: Also, rednecks like life in the countryside. They enjoy sports such as hunting or fishing. They like living in areas with lots of open space.
L: Hmm, rednecks他们不住在 城市，他们更享受乡下的生活。
M: Exactly. Also, most rednecks have blue-collar jobs, or work on a farm. By the way, Li Hua, be careful how you use this word. Some people might get angry if you call them a redneck.
### ### ###
L: 哎，对了，Michael，你那个红脖子朋友Bob为什么事打电话给你 啊？
M: Well, he asked me if I wanted to visit him this summer. I'm not sure if I really want to go though.
L: 真的吗？ 为什么你不想去呢？
M: He lives out in the sticks. There's nothing for me to do out there.
L: 他生活在那儿？The sticks 是什么地方啊?
M: Oh, when I say in the sticks, that just means in a rural area, far from a big city.
L: 噢，原来是指乡下啊。哎哟，只不过离开城市几天，这样你也受 不了啊？
M: Well, I am used to city life. I don't know how to fish or hunt, and I really don't like farm work. I don't think I would like living in the sticks.
L: 你觉得你不适合乡下的生活啊，不过偶尔去呼吸一下新鲜空气不 是挺好的吗？
M: I guess. Maybe I should visit him.
L: 要是有人自称是 redneck 的话，他也许觉得生活在乡下 in the sticks 也是很值得自豪的了？
M: Actually, the phrase in the sticks is not very polite. You shouldn't tell someone that they live in the sticks unless you are just joking with them.
L: 奥，说别人 live in the sticks 并不是很好，除非你是在开玩笑啊？
M: You are right. Usually when you say something is in the sticks you mean it is far from anything civilized.
L: 其实美国人并不懂得什么是真正的乡下。就算他们住在乡下好了， 只要一开车就到城里了嘛。
M: That's true. Still, some places out in the sticks are pretty far from a big city, even if you drive a car.
今天李华学到了两个新词：redneck 和 in the sticks 。Redneck 是指乡下人。 In the sticks 则是指远离城市的农村地区。作者: chubbycat 时间: 15-8-2008 21:54
流行美语第四十九课
在今天的对话中Michael会教李华两个常用语：一个是under the weather，另一个是to grab a bite to eat。
M: Oh, its nothing. I am just a little under the weather today, so I decided to take the rest of the day off and really rest.
L: 什么？你说天气不好，所以你就请一天假。天气好好的吗，你干吗撒谎呢？
M: No no, I said "I am under the weather today". Under, U-N-D-E-R; The Weather, W-E-A-T-H-E-R. Under the weather, it means sick.
L: 噢，under the weather就是生病的意思啊，那你还不赶快看医生啊？
M: Oh, don't worry. It's not very serious. Usually when someone says that they are under the weather, they mean they feel bad, but are not very sick.
L: 你的病不严重，那我就放心了。可是你为什么今天觉得under the weather呢？
M: Last night I went out to eat with a friend. After dinner, it started to rain heavily. We didn't have umbrellas, and I had to walk to a long way back to my car in the rain. I think I caught a cold, so now I feel under the weather.
M: It's ok, Li Hua. I can take care of myself. That's why I am resting at home. That reminds me, how is your mother doing? Didn't you say she was under the weather last week?
M: Oh no! You must have been worried she had SARS.
L: 没错，我家里人都担心她感染了萨斯。所以每个人都嚷着自己 under the weather，不过啊，第二天我妈妈的情况好转，他们每个人也都觉得自己好了。
M: They were all thinking about SARS, so they also felt under the weather. In fact, they were all ok.
L: 就是啊，他们觉得自己under the weather，我看纯粹是心理作用。
M: So why were you trying to call me at work today?
L: 我打电话想问问你今天晚上要不要一快去吃饭。
M: Well, I'd like to, but I really think I should stay at home tonight. Maybe this weekend we can grab a bite to eat.
L: 你说我们这个周末吃什么？
M: I said we can "grab a bite to eat". Grab, G-R-A-B; a bite, B-I-T-E; to eat, E-A-T. It means we can go out and have a quick meal somewhere this weekend.
L: 噢，grab a bite to eat就是随便到那个餐馆吃一顿，对不对。
M: That's about right. To be exact, it means to find some quick and simple food, like fast food.
L: 啊？尤其指吃快餐啊，我可不想这样随便grab a bite to eat 。我想去个有气氛的好餐馆。再说了，Michael，你也不应该老吃垃圾食物。
M: I know, I know. It's just that I often don't have a lot of time between classes and work. So at lunchtime, I usually have to go to a fast food place and grab a bite to eat. I don't have time to go anywhere else.
L: 如果你觉得中午时间很紧，那你就因该在家里把午饭准备好带到学校。你看，你每天到外面grab a bite to eat，那样你的开销多大啊。
M: I don't always grab a bite to eat at fast food places. Sometimes I make lunch at home. But it takes a lot of time in the evening, and sometimes I am busy then, too.
L: Michael，你真是太不会照顾自己了，冒着雨乱跑，整天吃垃圾食品，难怪你会under the weather，以后你真的要好好照顾自己呢。
今天Michael身体有点不舒服，就是under the weather:Michael约李华等他身体好了一起去grab a bite to eat，也就是随便到外面吃点快餐。作者: chubbycat 时间: 15-8-2008 21:55
流行美语第50课
piece of junk
cheap
今天李华到Michael家里借用他的电脑。李华会学到了两个新词儿：piece of junk 和cheap。
M: Ok Li Hua, let me see if I can find that webpage for you.
L: Wow, 你的电脑上网真够慢的, 不知道是哪儿出问题了。
M: Actually, it's not the Internet connection, it is my computer. Its an old piece of junk and it is very very slow.
L: 它是一片什么啊？你的电脑出什么问题啦？
M: I said it's a "piece of junk". Piece, P-I-E-C-E; of junk. J-U-N-K. A piece of junk is something that is old and broken, or just doesn't work well.
L: 噢！我想起来了，junk就是你要丢掉的废物，像是旧的车胎或破烂的自行车。
M: That's right. In fact, I'd say my car is a piece of junk too. It's ten years old, it doesn't start half the time, and pieces are always falling off of it.
M: Well, some older cars are more simple in design, and easier to fix. It is hard to find parts for my car, and it isn't really worth the cost to fix it.
L: 嗯，那倒是。现在好些东西过几年之后就变成废物了，就好像我的‘随身听’一样。
M: Your walkman is a piece of junk? I've had a Sony walkman for ten years, and it still works well!
M: Yes, you probably should. If it damages your tapes, it's not worth using.
L: 别管我的了，你的电脑该怎么办？ 为什么不去买个新的来呢？像你这样的学生可得有台好电脑才行啊。
M: I might. Hey, wait a minute! What would I do with my old piece of junk computer? Maybe give it to a certain friend of mine?
L: 嘿，我可没那么说，不过要是还能用的话，我倒乐于拿走，也许我还可以用它来做功课。
******
L: 哎，Michael, 现在你不想换电脑了是不是？
M: Well, I could, but I am also too cheap to spend money to buy a new one.
L: 等等，你说你是便宜的？我以为只能说东西是便宜的，你是不是说你太穷了啊？
M: No no, that's not what I mean, even though that is true. When I say that a person is cheap, that means that they always try to avoid spending money, or always buy the least expensive thing they can find.
M: Oh, sorry. I should have told you: it is not very nice to call a person cheap. It also means that someone is not generous, or doesn't understand quality.
L: 噢，原来cheap还有爱捡便宜的意思。难怪你不喜欢被人说 cheap。
M: Anyway, I could say you are cheap, because you always use old things that other people give you. Like your bicycle, or that watch you have..
L: 可是，单单因为我不肯花钱，并不表示我就cheap啊。我只是个穷学生嘛。
M: Yeah, I shouldn't say you are cheap, that's not very nice. My roommate is really cheap, though. Nobody likes to go out to eat with him.
L: 真的吗？他怎么啦？
M: Well, if three or four of us order a pizza together, he always adds up exactly how much each person owes. He counts every cent!
L: 哇，那他也真够呛的，算那么清楚啊。
M: And he also never gives a full tip to restaurant waiters. He always gives them a little bit less than he should.
L: 他不肯给服务员该给的小费？我想我从这家伙身上了解到cheap的含义了。
今天李华从 Michael那儿学到了两个新词儿。Piece of junk就是指没用的废物；cheap在这里指小气、不肯花钱。作者: chubbycat 时间: 18-8-2008 02:13
「美国习惯用语」第五十一讲
第一个是：to pull no punches。 To pull no punches，这是指毫不保留地告诉别人你的看法。Punch 这个字的一种解释就是拳击。 To pull no punches 这个俗语使人脑子里顿时出现一个拳击场里两个拳击手扭成一团，互相攻打对方，而对方设法回避的形像。但是 to pull no punches 这个俗语并不是用在拳击方面的。下面的例子说明在日常生活中怎么用这个俗语：
例句-1: When I saw my brother Joe, I didn't pull any punches -- I told him to stop drinking and go out and find a job.
例句-2: I pulled no punches when I went to see the auto dealer who sold me such a lousy car. I told him he ought to be ashamed to charge so much for a car that had so many things wrong with it. No, he didn't give me my money back, but I sure felt better afterwards.
今天我们要讲的另外一个俗语是：straight from the horse's mouth。 Straight from the horse's mouth，从字面上来解释它的意思是：直接来自马的嘴巴。可是，这个俗语的真正意思是：你听到的消息是真实的，因为这消息来自可靠的来源。马和消息可靠又有什么关系呢？你要知道，远在人们还没有使用汽车的年代，人们是依靠马作为他们主要的交通工具，认为马是十分可靠的。现在，汽车已经早就代替了马，但是这个俗语仍然被广为使用。现在我们再来举个例子：
例句-3: I tell you I know for certain that Lisa will be promoted to manager. The boss told me himself, so it's straight from the horse's mouth!
这个人说：“告诉你，我知道莉沙肯定会被提升为经理的。这是老板亲口告诉我的，这个消息是绝对可靠的！”
我们再来举个例子：
例句-4: Say, did you hear that Sally and Bob are going to get married. Honest, I'm not joking. I heard it from Bob himself, so it's straight from the horse's mouth!
他说：“喂，你听说了没有，萨利和鲍勃要结婚了。我可不是开玩笑，我说的是实话。我是听鲍勃自己讲的，因此这消息是完全可靠的！”作者: chubbycat 时间: 18-8-2008 02:14
ct us at Voice of America, Chinese Branch. Thanks.
「美国习惯用语」第五十二讲
no holds barred
to let one's hair down
对人坦率，无保留地说自己的看法，有的时候是以友好和轻松的态度出发的，但是在某种情况下也可能是语气强硬，情绪对立。我们今天要讲的两个习惯用语就反映了这两种不同的气氛。我们先来讲第一个：no holds barred。 No holds barred 这个说法是来自摔交运动。但是，在人们争论的时候， no holds barred 是指不顾对方的面子和情绪，毫不迟疑地把自己的想法说出来。比如说，一个美国朋友可能会对你说：
例句-1: My wife and I had a real no holds barred talk last night about all the things wrong with our marriage.
例句-2: That TV debate between those two guys running for senator was sure a no holds barred affair. They spent more time saying nasty things about each other than they did talking about their plans.
下面我们要介绍的一个习惯用语是：to let one's hair down。 To let one's hair down描绘出一幅可爱的画面。过去，西方女子很多都留长头发，出去应酬时把头发盘在头上梳出各种式样来。晚上回家后，她们就把发卡一个个地从头发里拿出来，让头发很自然地披在肩上。 To let one's hair down的实质意思也就是解除表面的装饰，使一切显得很自然、真实和放松。 To let one's hair down不一定用于女子，也可以用在男性。下面的例子就可以说明问题：
例句-3: The president has to make so many official appearances that he seldom gets a chance to let his hair down and enjoy life like ordinary people.
这句话是说：“总统要出席许多公开场合，因此他很少有机会像普通老百姓那样轻松地享受生活。”
To let one's hair down 也可以用在朋友之间，就像下面这个例子一样：
例句-4: Sally, we've been good friends for a long time. But lately I get the idea you are very much upset with me. I wish you'd let your hair down and tell me what's wrong to make you feel this way.
例句-1: I know this guy is a smart political worker. But he's hard to control. In fact, he's a loose cannon who might do more damage to our side than the man I'm running against.
例句-2: A story from Hollywood said that the new James Bond film is the blockbuster film of the season.
这是说：“好莱坞的一篇文章说，詹姆斯.邦德新拍的那个电影是这一季度最成功的片子。”
你可能很熟悉下面这个例子中提到的那个电影：
例句-3: The biggest Hollywood blockbuster of all time still remains "Gone With the Wind", the classic picture about the civil war. And the amazing thing is it was made back in 1939.
例句-2: This young producer made money on his first three films, so the studio invested forty million in his fourth film. But it turned out to be a real bomb -- it didn't make enough to get back the investment.
下面我们要给大家介绍的一个俗语也和 bomb 有关，但是它的意思和 bomb 又很不相同。这个习惯用语就是：to drop a bombshell。 To drop a bombshell 的意思是：宣布令人震惊的消息，就像一枚炸弹在你身旁突然爆炸一样让你吃惊。下面这个祖父宣布的消息确实会让人感到很惊讶：
例句-3: Grandfather dropped a bombshell last night when he told the family he is marrying a woman 40 years younger than he is.
例句-4: In March 1968 President Lyndon Johnson dropped one of the biggest bombshells ever dropped in American politics when he announced that he would not run for re-election because of the Vietnam War.
例句-1: My friend Joe is certainly an oddball. In the summer he puts his shoes in the refrigerator at night so his feet will be cool when he goes to work in the morning.
例句-4: One good thing I got done at the office today was clean up my desk. I'd let so many odds and ends pile up that you could scarcely see the desk itself. But I got busy and took care of everything.
下面我们来谈谈和水果有关习惯用语。英文里“水果”这个字，也就是fruit,是来自很早以前的一个拉丁文里的动词。意思是“享受”。而事实上也确实如此，香蕉、苹果、橘子、樱桃、桃子或葡萄等水果放在果盘里看起来都十分吸引人。因此、有关水果的俗语往往是具有一种肯定和完善的含义，例如：peaches and cream。
大家知道peaches就是桃子， cream是指奶油。 Peaches and cream的意思是：一切都很美好。有人可能会问：桃子和奶油有什么关系呢？这是因为美国人在吃水果时往往喜欢把水果切成块，然后加一点奶油一起吃。实际上，美国人吃很多东西都喜欢和奶油一起吃。所以，peaches and cream就意味着完美无缺。请听下面这个例子：
例句-1: Sally and Joe had a big fight last week, but they've made up and now everything is peaches and cream again.
这句话的意思是：“沙莉和乔伊上星期大吵了一场。可是，后来他们互相谈开了，现在他们又很要好了。”
Peaches and cream还可以形容一个年轻少女容光焕发的面孔：
例句-2: Peter's sister is a lovely girl. She has a real peaches and cream complexion, soft and white as milk and a touch of pink like a fresh ripe peach.
例句-3: Bill was sure he'd be elected class president. But when Mary beat him in the voting, he told us he was glad he didn't get the job because it was too much work. That's nothing but sour grapes！
例句-4: Talk about a clear case of sour grapes! When Bob's girl friend left him to marry another man, he went around telling anybody who would listen that he left her because she wasn't good enough for him.
例句-1: Mr. Lee paid $15,000 for his new car. But he got a real lemon: it's never run right and it spends more time in the garage getting fixed than it does on the road.
例句-2: Mister Green usually gives me good advice. But the computer company stock he told me to buy was a lemon. I had to sell it at the price I paid for it.
例句-3: Mary spends all her time listening to loud music, talking on the phone, or looking at herself in the mirror instead of studying or helping us around the house. I tell you, that kid is driving us all bananas!
例句-4: I'm going bananas over the noise in the apartment next door. They play their television loud enough for the whole building to hear. And they never turn it off until one o'clock in the morning!
人们坐在一起闲聊，天南地北，说长道短的，传播流言菲语，这是很普遍的一种活动。美国有好多成语和俗语是形容这一方面的。例如to shoot the breeze。To shoot就是发射、开枪、发炮等，breeze就是阵阵微风。To shoot the breeze这个习惯用语使人脑子里出现了一幅画面，也就是：一些好朋友没事聚在一起闲聊天，毫无顾忌地想说什么就说什么。下面我们来听听一个大学生说他昨晚在干什么：
例句-1: On Friday nights I usually go to a movie. But it was raining so hard last night I just stayed in the dorm to sit around and shoot the breeze with a couple of friends.
下面这个人说出了为什么他喜欢shooting the breeze。他的话恐怕也说出了一般人心里的想法：
例句-2: One thing I enjoy about shooting the breeze -- you can relax and say anything you want to. You're among friends and nobody takes things seriously.
这个人说：“我很喜欢聊天，因为你可以很放松，想说什么都行。你是和朋友在一起，没有人会很认真的。”
******
要是你问一个人，你说的那个消息是从那儿听来的，他可能会说：through the grapevine。Grape是葡萄，grapevine就是葡萄藤。Through the grapevine的意思实际上就和中文里说的：通过小道消息来的一样。也就是说，这个消息是经过人们口头传播传到他这儿来的，他也不知道到底是从谁那儿开始的。
例句-3: What do you think of the news that our regiment is being transferred to California. It's not announced officially yet, but this morning I got it through the grapevine.
例句-4: I don't always believe what I get through the grapevine, but it's true at least half the time and and it's a lot faster than whatever the army tells you about what we're doing.
在今天的节目里，我们要给大家介绍几个和鱼有关的习惯用语。中国人常常用「如鱼得水」来形容一个一切都很顺当的环境。美国人常用的一个俗语却刚好和「如鱼得水」相反，他们说：a fish out of water。从字面上解释就是：没有水的鱼。你肯定经历过一种场合，当时你觉得很不自然，和周围的人或环境格格不入。A fish out of water作为一个俗语，就是指这种感觉的。它的意思是某人和他所处的环境不融恰，使他感到很别扭、很难堪。
比如说，我的一个朋友最近从一个国际会议回来后他对我说：
例句-1: At the conference I was a fish out of water. All the speeches were in French, a language I never studied.
他说：“参加那个会议真叫我感到别扭。所有人发表讲话的时候都用法语，可是我从来也没有学过法文。”
每个人都会有感到别扭的时候，下面这个人碰到的场合又是一个例子：
例句-2: Everybody else at the party ended up in the swimming pool. But I was a fish out of water because I can't swim.
这人说：“参加聚会的每个人最后都到游泳池去游泳了，我真感到别扭，因为我不会游泳。”
******
要是谁想教鱼怎么游泳的话，那简直是班门弄斧，多余的了。下面我们要讲解的一个习惯用语就是这个意思：to teach a fish how to swim。To teach a fish how to swim作为俗语的意思是指班门弄斧：给别人提出完全没有必要的建议或劝告。你听了下面这位父亲的讲话就会知道他的儿子有多可笑了：
例句-3: My son, fresh out of college， keeps telling me how to run my business. But I've been making good money for 30 years so he's teaching a fish how to swim.
例句-4: The day after I got my private pilot's license, I told this man at the party all about how to fly an airplane. Later I learned he was an airline pilot who flew jumbo jets -- I'd been teaching a fish how to swim.
有些人在处理问题的时候很果断，但是也有不少人前怕狼后怕虎，在处理问题的时候左顾右盼，迟迟不能做出决策。比如说，几个朋友一块儿去钓鱼。可是，其中一个人心不在焉，根本没有好好钓鱼。这时，他的朋友就会对他说：“Fish or cut bait。” Fish or cut bait在这个情况下的意思就是：“得了，你要不想钓鱼就乾脆去干别的。”
Fish or cut bait从字面上来解释就是：你要就钓鱼，否则就切断你的鱼饵。换句话说，也就是你要不做这个，那就做那个，总得有所决定。Fish or cut bait作为俗语的意思就是：不要举棋不定，而要当机立断。
比如说，有一个孩子刚从中学毕业，可是他什么也不想干，天天在家游荡。他的父亲就对他说：
例句-1: Son, either go on to college or go out and find yourself a job. It's time to fish or cut bait!
他说：“儿子呀，你要就去上大学，否则就出去给自己找个工作。是作出决定的时候啦！”
下面的例子是一个经营汽车的人在对一位顾客说话：
例句-2: Mister Wilson, you asked me to hold that red convertible until you made up your mind whether to buy it. Well, I've got another customer who wants it, so it's time for you to fish or cut bait.
例句-4: I'm not going to vote for that man for senator -- he's too much of a cold fish. I shook hands with him once and it was like shaking hands with a dead mackerel.
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".
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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。作者: chubbycat 时间: 19-8-2008 00:08
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！
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.
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.
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.
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.
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。作者: chubbycat 时间: 19-8-2008 00:11
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.
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: 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”。作者: chubbycat 时间: 20-8-2008 00:24
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.
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?
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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。作者: chubbycat 时间: 20-8-2008 00:25
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.
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.
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”。作者: chubbycat 时间: 20-8-2008 00:26
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.
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...
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".
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.
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!"
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”。作者: chubbycat 时间: 20-8-2008 00:27
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”。作者: chubbycat 时间: 20-8-2008 00:27
流行美语第80课
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.
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.
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: 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: 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.
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.
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”。作者: chubbycat 时间: 20-8-2008 21:50
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.
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.
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.
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?
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!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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”。作者: chubbycat 时间: 20-8-2008 21:52
流行美语第87课
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.
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.
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.
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.
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”。作者: chubbycat 时间: 20-8-2008 21:52
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!"
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”。作者: chubbycat 时间: 21-8-2008 21:51
「美国习惯用语」第九十一讲
to throw a curve
to throw for a loop
美国人在打棒球时经常喜欢发曲线球，使球的方向会发生突变，这样给对方造成错觉，不能回击那个球。这和其他球类运动，如排球、乒乓球或网球，在发球时发转求的作用也很相似。逐渐地，这种让对方产生错觉，因而无法应付的球艺变成了日常用语：to throw a curve。
Curve就是曲线的意思。To throw a curve就是在打棒球时发曲线球。但是作为俗语，它的意思是给别人造成错觉，让他难以应付。请听一个刚刚考完历史的学生在埋怨他的教授：
例句-1: Professor Green certainly threw us a curve today. Half the questions were from parts of the book he told us to read but he never covered them in class. Of course, most of us didn't bother to read the stuff, so we really got caught.
例句-2: My supervisor threw me a curve when he told me he would recommend me for the promotion. He didn't tell me he was also recommending three other people for the same job. So I didn't get it.
今天我们要讲的第二个俗语是：to throw for a loop。Loop是圆圈的意思。To throw for a loop是指“感到非常震惊”或者是“情绪很波动”。下面的例子是一个男朋友使得他的女朋友非常不高兴。这个女孩子说：
例句-3: Bill told me he couldn't take me out last night because he had to study for a big exam. So it threw me for a loop when I saw him walking into the movie theater with that stupid girl who sits next to him in biology class. (Recording defects: no audio for this part)
例句-4: When I saw my semester grade for the chemistry course, it really threw me for a loop! I was sure I'd get at least a "B"--but there it was in black and white: a "D". So I barely managed to pass.
例句-1: The truth is that Pete never liked his rich Uncle John. But you should have seen his crocodile tears when the old man died and left him a million dollars!
例句-2: In his speeches the mayor always puts on a big show of crocodile tears for poor and homeless people. But I don't see him doing anything to help them.
例句-3: Usually I don't give money to beggars. But this nice young man told me a sob story about needing money for a bus ticket to see his dying mother, so I gave him two dollars.
例句-4: On my way to work this man stopped me and said that he hadn't eaten in three days so I gave him a dollar. On my way home I saw him get into a new car and drive off and now I know he had given me a sob story.
To cry in one's beer，的意思是坐在酒吧间里对着啤酒哭，自己可怜自己。比如说，一个人在劝他的朋友：
例句-1: Come on, Joe! Instead of sitting around in a bar all day crying in your beer about not having any money, why not get off your bottom and go out and look for a job!
例句-2: I'm tired of hearing my roommate crying in his beer about how hard it is to get good grades. If he'd stay home and study instead of going out every night, I'm sure he'd do a lot better in his classes.
例句-3: Come on, Jack, you're twenty years old--don't be such a cry baby about everything. We all have our problems, but you ought to do something about them instead of just complaining.
例句-4: Bill, don't be such a cry baby about going to the dentist: all he's going to do is clean your teeth. Look at your little sister--she's not making a fuss about it.
例句-2: I'd have to say the chances are cloudy. We have quite a bit of support for this bill but we're not sure that we have enough votes to get it passed.
不管是美国人，还是中国人，我们每个人恐怕都有做白日梦的时候。有的时候，我们一边走路，一边在想心事，或者是一边做什么事，一边在想其它事情，身边发生什么事全然没有注意到。美国人把这叫做：in the clouds。
In the clouds可以解释为：心不在焉。请听下面这个例子，这是一个人在说她的朋友：
例句-3: Sally is my best friend but she walked right past me today, and didn't even say hello. Her head certainly was in the clouds--she looked like her mind was a thousand miles away.
你们肯定都知道英文里的前置词有时会使人很混乱，它们在句子里虽然不显眼，但是作用却很关键，用错了一个前置词意思可能完全不同。我们先来讲on a cloud这个词。
On a cloud是很高兴的意思，高兴得走路轻飘飘的好像腾云驾雾一样。下面这个大学生就是一个例子：
例句-1: I've been on a cloud all day long - I heard this morning that I got an A on my final biochemistry exam.
这个学生说：我今天一天都很高兴，因为我早上听说，我生物化学期末考试得了一个A。
令人高兴的事是层出不穷的，下面这位太太也是很高兴，至少她的先生是这么说的：
例句-2: My wife has been on a cloud since I told her the other day I would spend my year-end bonus at the office to take us to Hawaii to celebrate our twentieth wedding anniversary. And to tell you the truth, I'm really looking forward to it myself.
我们刚才讲的是on a cloud。下面我们把前置词on换成under，也就是under a cloud。任何人under a cloud是绝对不会高兴的，因为他不是丢尽了面子，就是被怀疑做了什么坏事。下面是一个人在讲另外一个被逮捕的人，这人被指控和贩毒有关：
例句-3: The judge had to let him go because there wasn't enough evidence against him. But he's going around under a cloud because most people think he's guilty.
例句-4: See that man sitting at the table by himself? He's supposed to be a very smart lawyer, but he's been under a cloud ever since he was mixed up in a scandal involving a company that was run by a mobster.
例句-1: I'm really worried - our company is losing so much money these days that if things don't get better in the next two months we'll be a basket case and have to go out of business.
例句-2: They made me wait so long for the interview that I was a basket case by the time I finally got called in. I've never been so nervous! I stammered, I stuttered--I almost couldn't remember my own name.
例句-3: Did you hear that Gloria's marriage is all washed up? She found her husband was seeing another woman, so she packed up, took the kids and moved out. Now she's suing for divorce.
例句-4: That man over there used to be one of the best players in baseball. But then he started drinking, turned into an alcoholic, and just two years later he was all washed up.
例句-2: What makes my brother think he's so smart? Sure he did a lot better than I did in college. But if he's all that smart, how come I have a better job and make more money?
例句-3: The thing I like about Harry is that he's such a smart dresser. He probably doesn't spend any more money on his clothes than I do, but somehow he manages to look so stylish.
例句-4: I'd love to go to this party; it's the smartest social affair this year. But I can't afford to buy a new gown, and everybody else there will be so smartly dressed.
我们经常说做事要看轻重缓急，有的时候不得不把正在做的事或计划要做的事先搁置一边。美国人把这叫做：to put on the back burner。Back就是后边，而burner在这儿的是指做饭的炉子。美国的厨房里，炉台上一般都有四个炉口，前面两个，后面两个。人们往往把很快能煮好的东西放在前面炉子上煮，把一些要慢慢煮的东西放在后面的炉子上。这就是to put on the back burner这个俗语的来源。下面这个例子是一个广告公司的老板在给会计下指示：
例句-1: Joe, I know you're working on the Anderson contract, but let's put it on the back burner for now. We need your help on the new Jones contract. It's worth more than five million dollars.
例句-2: Honey, the boss told me today he can't give me that pay raise I was expecting. I'm afraid that means we'll have to put our plans to buy a bigger house on the back burner until next year.
例句-3: Billy and Sally always drag their feet when I tell them it's bedtime. They love to watch TV after dinner and they'd stay up till midnight if I didn't chase them off to bed.
例句-4: The union is dragging its feet on agreeing to a settlement. They think the company is getting desperate to get people back to work because Christmas is coming and that's our busiest time of year.
例句-2: My father deserted my mother and me when I was five years old. But I can't turn my back on him now that he's old and sick. So I'm paying the rent for him on a little apartment in Los Angeles.
下面我们要给大家介绍的一个俗语是：to get on someone's back。To get on someone's back是指对某人唠唠叨叨没完。太太嫌先生不帮忙做家务，先生又嫌太太太唠叨。这个现象可能是没有国界的，哪儿都存在。下面两个例子表达了双方的观点，先听太太的吧：
例句-3: I really don't like to get on Henry's back all the time. But after twenty years, you would think he'd learn to pick up his clothes and hang them in the closet to help me keep the house neat.
例句-4: Helen is always on my back to make me pick up my clothes when I leave them lying around the house. She's right, of course, but I wish she wouldn't get on my back so much.
例句-1: I like my boss except for one thing - he's always nagging me about getting to work on time. I'm never more than five minutes late, and that's only when the bus doesn't show up on time.
例句-2: My wife is such a nag about my smoking - she keeps after me all day long to stop it. You know, I've been smoking twenty years now and giving up my four packs a day is hard to do.
要是有人老是对你唠叨个没完，你总有一天会感到无法忍耐，你可能会说: "Hey, get off my back, will you!"这就是说:“喂，你别跟我唠叨了，行不行！”我们这儿要讲的常用语就是：to get off one's back。
下面的例子是一个汽车工人在谈论他的老板：
例句-3: I'm telling you, if that guy doesn't stop nagging me about working faster, I'm going to tell him to get off my back or I'll walk right off the job and let him see how hard it is to find a good mechanic these days.
To get off one's back还可以指一些对人起限制作用的规章、条例或机构等。下面这个例子就是一个商人在抱怨政府过多的条例：
例句-4: Do you know what would help pick up the economy? Just get the government off our backs with all these useless rules and regulations that keep us filling out forms and showing inspectors around.