流行美语第234课
Larry正在跟李华谈他最近回家看到哥哥和妹妹的情况。 李华今天会学会两个常用语people person和know-it-all。
LL: So, Li Hua, I just got back from seeing my family. It was a nice visit, and I was so impressed with my little sister Emily. She is such a people person.
LH: 你说你妹妹Emily是什么？A people person? Hey, Larry, 妹妹Emily当然是人嘛。
LL: Oh, a people person is someone who is good around people and likes people. Emily definitely is a people person, and she has what we call "people skills."
LH: 噢，原来people person就是喜欢而且善于跟人交往的人。
LL: Right, people skills include being friendly, being a good conversationalist, and making other people comfortable. So, seeing Emily again reminded me what a people person she is.
LH: 我真是很羡慕那些善于跟人交往的人。他们总是显得很友好、也很健谈，让人喜欢。 你哥哥Ron呢? 他也是a people person?
LL: No, Ron is very, very smart, but he is a not a people person. He likes to keep to himself, and when he is in a group, he doesn't talk very much.
LH: 我知道你哥哥Ron很聪明。他是不太爱讲话。原来他性格比较内向。你和你哥哥的性格是不是有点相似？
LL: Well, I think I am somewhere in the middle. I am not as much of a people person Emily is, but I think I have more people skills than my older brother Ron.
LH: 我看你也是处于中间，在人际关系方面赶不上Emily，但比哥哥要强一些。Larry, 那你觉得我是什么水平呢？
LL: You are a people person, Li Hua. I think you need to be a real people person to be a Chinese teacher.
LH: 那倒不见得教中文的老师必须善于和人交往，其实任何老师都应该如此。 我们每天都要跟学生打交道嘛。
LL: Being a people person can also be very useful when interviewing for a job.
LH: 没错，找工作面试的时候， 公司总是喜欢能与人相处的雇员。
LL: Yes, and my sister Emily told me she has an interview for an internship at a law firm. With her people skills, I am sure she will get it.
LH: 没错，像Emily那样讨人喜欢的人，那律师事务所肯定会要她去实习的。
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LL: My older brother Ron drives me crazy sometimes, because he is such a know-it-all.
LH: A know-it-all? 他什么都知道。这不是好事吗？
LL: A know-it-all is someone who acts like they know every thing and want to show everyone that they know everything. But, they don't necessarily really know what they are talking about.
LH: 噢，这儿说的a know-it-all不是真正的有知识，而是指那种喜欢喧耀自己什么都知道， 可是其实并不见得都懂的人。
LL: Let's take my older brother Ron as an example. Because Ron is such a know-it-all, you can't say a word without him correcting you or arguing with you.
LH: 我碰到过这样的人。不管你说什么他都要更正你。 Larry, 如果你说得对呢？比如你说地球是圆的？
LL: Well, in this case my know-it-all older brother would say to me, "You know, Larry, technically the earth is not round."
LH: 什么?! 他会说， 地球实际上并不是圆的？人人都知道地球是圆的。看来你哥哥并不是无所不知啊。
LL: I'll give you another example. During this visit with my family, I said I thought Star Wars was the greatest science fiction movie of all time.
LH: 许多人都认为[星球大战]是科幻影片中最棒的。
LL: No, Ron, said, "Actually, Larry, 'The Matrix' did much better at the box office."
LH: 他怎么这么爱抬杠啊？ The Matrix这部电影的票房收入比《星球大战》还要高？我没有调查，可是我才不信呢。
LL: That's why Ron drives me crazy sometimes. I just want to have one conversation with him where he doesn't have to act like such a know-it-all.
LH: 其实，我觉得Ron未必喜欢和你争论，他可能是自卑，所以才装出什么都懂的样子。
LL: Oh, No, Li Hua, don't you start sounding like a know-it-all, too!
今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是people person，这是 指喜欢并善于跟人打交道的人。还有一个是know-it-all，这是指那种自以为什么都懂的人。
美国习惯用语第235讲声音
在这次节目里，我们要给大家讲两个以dry这个字为主的习惯用语。Dry就是：干，也就是干和湿的干。我们首先要讲的一个习惯用语是：Dry run. Dry是干，run就是跑。Dry run按字面来解释，那就是：干跑，而在我们生活中根本就没有干跑这一说。实际上，这里的run并不是跑的意思，而是run through。也就是：过一遍，或者是做一遍。换句话说，dry run就是在做一件事或执行一项计划前进行的演习。
比如说，在正式上演一个剧本以前，导演和演员要进行多次排练。这个常用语是第二次世界大战期间开始出现的。士兵在练习打靶的时候枪里是没有子弹的。有的人就把这叫做dry run。逐渐地，dry run这个说法就传开了，后来到二次大战以后就成了生活中的日常用语。
科学家有了新发明，在大规模生产以前有时也会先来试一下，看看有什么问题。做生意的人也会如此。下面就是一位公司的总裁在讲话。
例句-1: We're certainly glad we did a dry run on our new marketing plan for California before we sent our salesmen out. We found so many things wrong that we're designing the whole thing over.
他说：我们在派出推销员之前，把我们为加利福尼亚州制定的新的推销计划进行了一次演习。我们真是很高兴做了这次演习，因为我们发现了许多问题，现在我们正在重新设计。
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一个公司的董事长准备去检查一下他公司的公关部的情况。当然，公关部的经理在得到通知以后就开始紧张地做准备。下面这个例子是他在对手下工作人员说话。
例句2: The Chairman is to arrive in two hours and we still have a lot to do. Please hurry up and complete your work before 10 o'clock. We need to save at least half an hour for another dry run.
这位经理说：董事长两个小时以后就要到，我们还有许多事情要做。请大家抓紧时间，在十点以前完成你们手里的工作。我们必须剩下至少半个小时再来进行一次演习。
美国人的头衔有的时候也很令人迷惑。Chairman这个字可以用在各种不同的场合。某个委员会的主席可以叫做chairman，但是在上面这个例句里，chairman指的是：chairman of the board，就是董事长。这么地位高的负责人要去检查工作，那经理当然会感到紧张。
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我们再来讲一个以dry这个字为主的习惯用语。Cut and dried. Cut就是切东西的切。大家都知道，英文里有许多字既可做动词，也可以做名词或形容词。Dry就是一个例子。Dry run里的dry是一个形容词，但是cut and dried里的dried 是从动词to dry变形而来，也就是动词to dry的过去式，意思是已经干了。Cut and dried这个习惯用语的含义实际上跟cut 和 dry都没有什么关系。Cut and dried的意思是：老一套，或者是人们所预料的，或者是根据以往的老做法来行事。任何事情要是被说成cut and dried，那就很可能是没有什么吸引人的地方，因为缺乏新鲜内容。
下面就是一个很好的例子。这是一个共和党成员刚在自己的州里参加了党代会以后回来，感到十分失望。
例句3: It was a waste of time to go to my party's state convention this year. It was all cut and dried - the same old speakers saying the same things they said last year.
他说：今年去参加我所属的党的州党员大会真是浪费时间。一切都是老一套。讲话的人就是去年讲话的人。他们讲的话也跟去年一样。
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美国人举行婚礼的时候一般在仪式的程序里都有家长讲话的一项。有的家长口才很好，有的家长缺乏在公众场合讲话的经验。下面是一个明天就要结婚的儿子在对他爸爸讲话。
例句4: Dad, I've no doubt that you'll make a fine speech tomorrow. What really concerns me is my father-in-law. He tends to repeat what he said in the past. That'll sound all cut and dried and possibly spoil the atmosphere of the wedding.
这个儿子对他爸爸说：爸爸，你明天讲话一定会讲得很好的，这我是毫无疑问。我真正担心的是我的岳父。他总是重复他以前讲过的话。那会听起来老生常谈，还可能会影响婚礼的气氛。
流行美语第235课
Larry和李华在公园里散步，Larry告诉李华他的朋友Rick最近交了一个女朋友。 李华今天要学会两个常用语Seeing Someone和Breaking up。
LL: Hey, Li Hua, have you heard the news? Rick is seeing someone.
LH: Rick is seeing someone? Rick在看人。这有什么奇怪的，我也在看一个人呀。I am seeing someone, too.
LL: Really? You are seeing someone, Li Hua? Who is it?
LH: 就是你呀。 Larry. 我不是在看着你吗？
LL: (Laughs) That's pretty funny, Li Hua. But, by "seeing someone" I don't mean Rick is looking at someone with his eyes.
LH: 你不是说"Rick is seeing someone"吗？ 他不是在看人， 那是什么意思呀？
LL: When I said Rick is "seeing someone," I meant he was dating a girl.
LH: OH! 你是在说Rick有了一个女朋友。Although I'm seeing you，但是我们不是男女朋友的关系。
LL: Right, we are just friends, Li Hua. We go out and do things together, but we aren't boyfriend and girlfriend. We aren't seeing each other.
LH: 事实上， 我现在根本就没有男朋友，I am not seeing anyone.
LL: It's OK, Li Hua. I'm not seeing anyone either. But Rick is pretty serious about the girl he is seeing.
LH: Rick已经换了好几个女朋友了，你说他这次真的会很认真吗？那女孩是谁呀？
LL: Her name is Jennifer. Rick has been seeing her for about a month or so.
LH: 嗯，Jennifer。交往了才一个月，你怎么知道Rick对这个女孩很认真呀！
LL: You're right, Li Hua. It hasn't been very long - but ever since they started to see each other, they've been doing everything together - going out to eat, seeing movies, and taking walks in the park.
LH: 热恋的时候当然是形影不离了；一起吃饭， 看电影，一起去公园散步，多浪漫。Larry, 那边走的不是Rick吗？跟他牵着手的女孩子就是Jennifer吧？
LL: That is Rick across the park. But that is not the girl he has been seeing.
LH: 那个女孩子不是Jennifer? 难道Rick另有所爱了？
LL: I don't know. I'll ask him.
******
LL: Well, Li Hua, you were right. Rick is seeing someone else. He and Jennifer broke up.
LH: 果然Rick又有了别的女朋友。 哎，你说他和Jennifer broke up，那是什么意思呀？
LL: To break up means to end the relationship. Apparently, Rick broke up with Jennifer last night.
LH: 昨天晚上才分开，Rick就已经和别的女孩手牵手了， 真是不可思议。
LL: From what Rick says, he decided to break up with Jennifer, because he met someone new that he liked even better.
LH: Rick遇到了他更喜欢的人，所以和Jennifer分手了。 真是喜新厌旧的人呢，Jennifer一定伤心死了。 Rick是怎么跟她说的呢？
LL: Rick said he called Jennifer last night on the phone and told her he wanted to break up.
LH: 什么？他只是打了个电话，这太不礼貌了，他至少应该当面道歉。
LL: Well, I guess since they hadn't been seeing each other very long, he didn't think it a problem to break up over the phone.
LH: 他们交朋友的时间虽然是不长，可是毕竟是谈过恋爱的。如果我的男朋友突然打来电话要分手，我会很难过的。
LL: Well, at least Rick didn't send Jennifer a text message telling her he wanted to break up.
LH: 电子邮件？Larry，你跟女朋友分手不会只发个电子邮件吧？
LL: Well, me personally, no. But I've known guys who have broken up with girls by sending them a text message.
LH: Larry, 你可不能像他们那样。
LL: I promise, Li Hua. And right now it is an easy promise to keep, considering I'm not seeing anyone!
今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是seeing someone, 意思是跟某人谈恋爱。还有一个是break up， 意思是分手。
美国习惯用语第236讲
我们再来给大家介绍两个以dry这个字为主的习惯用语。第一个是：High and dry. High就是高，dry 就是干。要是一个人处于high and dry的局面，那他就是面临难以解决的困难，又没有任何人给予帮助。High and dry这个说法是怎么来的也不难想像。你要是乘船出游，而你的船在浅水的沙洲上搁浅了。等到潮水退了，你的船就在那高出水面的沙滩上没法动，周围既没有一点水，也没有任何人。这就是high and dry。下面是一个例子。这是一个人在告诉他的朋友他去参加一个聚会的情况。
例句-1: Everybody had fun at Sally's party. But when it came time to clean up the mess, all the guests left in a hurry and Sally was left high and dry, to do all the work by herself.
这句话的意思是：每个去参加萨利举办的聚会的人都玩得很高兴。但是，等到要收拾残局的时候，所有的客人都匆忙地走了，就剩下萨利一个人来干这些活。
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一般来说，美国人的时间概念是比较强的。跟朋友约会，到约定的时间就应该到指定的地点。要是去参加一个聚会，晚到五分钟，十分钟那倒还可以，因为有时候车辆拥挤，难以控制。这是可以理解的。但是，要是太晚了就不好了。另外要注意的一点是，参加一个聚会最好不要早到，因为举办一个聚会有许多准备工作要做，最后一分钟往往是最紧张的时刻，所以你要是早到，对主人来说是很不方便的。下面我们再来举一个high and dry的例子。这是一个人在埋怨他的朋友。
例句2: John, Jack and Mary all urged me to give a big party to celebrate my promotion. They promised to help out with the preparation. But so far they've done nothing saying they are too busy. It seems that I've been left high and dry and have to do all the work by myself.
这人说：约翰，杰克和玛丽都动员我举办一个大规模的聚会来庆祝我被提升的事。他们都保证帮我做准备工作。但是，到目前为止，他们什么也没做，说是太忙。看来，我是没办法了，只好自己来做一切了。
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我们在这次节目里要讲的第二个习惯用语是：Dry up. Dry up这个说法有几种不同的用法。其中之一是叫某人闭嘴，不要再说了。当然，这是不太礼貌的说法。我们来举一个例子。
例句3: Oh, why don't you dry up. I'm sick and tired of hearing you complain all the time! If you don't like the job, why don't you go out and look for another one. It's not that you don't have a choice.
这人说：喂，你得了，别说了，行吗？ 你没完没了地抱怨，我都听的烦死了。要是你不喜欢这个工作，你干吗不出去再另外找一个工作。你又不是没有选择的余地。
其实，美国近年来要找工作也不容易。许多公司和政府机构都在裁员。找到一个满意的工作更是难上加难。再说，即便找到了一个工作，难道就没有任何问题了吗？
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我们刚才说了，dry up这个常用语用在不同场合有不同的含义。上面的解释是叫某人不要再说了。另外一个解释是，非常快的消失，就像一杯水倒在很热的沙滩上。这当然是很形像的比喻。其实，dry up在生活其他方面也都适用。下面就是一个例子。
例句4: After he lost the election Senator Blank had two months left in his term. But he saw his political power dry up over night as people know very well that he'll be out of the picture soon.
这句话的意思是：布兰克参议员在竞选失败后，他的任期还剩两个月。但是，由于人们很清楚他不久就会成为局外人，所以他发现他的政治权力好像一夜之间就消失了。
流行美语第236课
李华和Larry看了一场电影刚回到Larry的公寓。李华今天会学会两个常用语Dullsville和Coolsville。
LL: Wow, Li Hua, that movie was totally dullsville. I can't believe we stayed and watched the whole thing.
LH: Dullsville? 这个电影的确没意思，It WAS really boring, 可是你为什么不说boring而是说Dullsville?
LL: Well, you know, Li Hua， many small towns in America end in "ville."
LH: 是啊，美国的许多小城镇都叫什么什么"ville" ，比如Coopersville and Andersonville.
LL: So, when I said the movie was "dullsville," I was suggesting the movie was so boring, it was like living in the town of dull.
LH: 我知道了， "dullsville"的意思是说，电影很没意思，就像是住在一个很枯燥的地方。
LL: Right. And that movie was totally dullsville, especially for a comedy. I don't think I even laughed once.
LH: 真的啊？你看这部喜剧片的时候一次都没有笑？不会吧。这部电影不是很好，可也没那么差。Larry，我们学校的一些教授，他们讲课才是真正的dullsville.
LL: Yeah, I remember back in college being in some really dullsville classes. Sometimes they were so boring I'd fall asleep.
LH: 不光是你，不少学生都会因为教授讲课乏味而打瞌睡。Larry，你上班的时候打瞌睡吗？Is your work dullsville?
LL: No, actually we've been very busy with several important projects. There are times I wish it WAS dullsville at work.
LH: 要完成好几个重要的项目，哪当然有功夫打瞌睡了。我教中文倒是蛮有意思，可是周末就很无聊。My weekends are dullsville.
LL: I know what you mean. My weekends have been dullsville, too. I usually clean my apartment, go grocery shopping, and maybe wash my car. Not too exciting.
LH: 我也是，周末就是打扫房间，买吃的、洗车、真单调。Larry，我们得想点什么有趣的事，改善一下周末的生活。
LL: Hmmm。Let me think of how we can get out of dullsville.
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LL: I've got it, Li Hua! We'll go to an amusement park next weekend. There is one not too far away that is totally coolsville!
LH: 我们下个周末去游乐园？好啊。那这次你就不用解释了，我知道Coolsville的意思就是说那个地方一切都很棒，很有意思。对不对？
LL: That's right. And this amusement park really is coolsville. We won't be bored there.
LH: 那这个游乐园里有什么特别好玩的呢？
LL: The park has three huge roller coasters. One of them goes upside down! Now that ride is coolsville.
LH: 游乐园里有三个过山车， 还有一个是头朝下的。可我不喜欢坐过山车，the ride doesn't sound so coolsville to me.
LL: You don't like roller coasters? Well, what do you think is coolsville, Li Hua?
LH: 我觉得自然博物馆很有意思。
LL: Really? Why do you think the natural history museum is coolsville? I guess I think it is more like dullsville.
LH: 自然博物馆怎么会令人厌倦呢？ 你看过那里的恐龙化石吗？多有意思啊。
LL: Well, now that you mention it, my little seven-year old cousin Amy thinks dinosaurs are coolsville, too.
LH: 你七岁的表妹Amy也喜欢恐龙化石？那下个周末，你去游乐园，我带Amy去自然博物馆，怎么样？
LL: That would be coolsville! What a great idea.
LH: 你去享受过山车，我们去观赏恐龙化石。两全齐美，Everything will be coolsville.
LL: Except for one thing.
LH: 除了一件事以外？什么事？
LL: Wouldn't it be more coolsville if we could do something together?
LH: 你说的对，两个人一起才有意思。那我跟你去游乐园，以后我们再去自然博物馆。
LL: Coolsville.
今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是dullsville，意思是枯燥乏味，令人厌倦。还有一个是coolsville，意思是很好，很有意思。
美国习惯用语第237讲
每个人在生活中都不断地需要做出选择和决定。在一生中也都会有些不顺当的时刻。在这次节目里，我们要给大家讲的两个习惯用语就是指面临困难。在日常生活中，有的时候我们会觉得自己好像站在十字路口，不知道往哪儿走才好。要是我们做出错误的决定，那我们就会处于不利的境地。这就是我们要讲的第一个习惯用语。In the doghouse. Doghouse是一个字，可是实际上是两个字组成的，一个是dog，就是狗。另一个是house，意思是房子。Doghouse这个字的原意就是：狗睡觉的房子，也就是狗窝。In the doghouse作为俗语，它的意思就是你使某人很生气，以致你不得不在屋子外面跟自己家里的狗睡在一起，意思就是倒了霉。下面是一个学生在说他自己的经历。
例句-1: I've been in the doghouse with my mom and dad ever since they saw my grades from last semester. I admit that I failed math and barely passed English, but these are tough courses!
这个学生说：自从我妈妈和爸爸看到我上学期的成绩单以后，他们一直对我很生气。我承认，我数学不及格，英语也勉强及格。可是这些都是很难的课程！
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在美国人当中，离了婚再结婚的人也不少。有的时候，双方跟前夫或前妻都有孩子，结了婚两家合在一起孩子就更多了。这就会产生很多问题，不仅孩子之间会发生矛盾，而且还会影响夫妇之间的感情。下面就是一个丈夫在说他生活中的麻烦。
例句2: My wife and I each has a son from our first marriages. Somehow, her son always likes to disturb my son when he's doing his homework. The other day I tried to discipline him and that got me in the doghouse with my wife.
这个丈夫说：我跟我太太以前第一次结婚的时候都有一个儿子。不知怎么回事，每当我儿子做功课的时候，她的儿子总是喜欢捣乱。那天，我想给他做点规矩，这可使我太太对我好生气呐。
******
下面我们再来给大家讲一个表示处境困难的习惯用语。Between a rock and a hard place. Between就是在两者之间，rock是石头，hard就是硬的，place是指地方。要是一条船遇到风浪，她的一边是一块大岩石，另一边是峭壁。这条船想要从这两者之间很窄的水面安全地脱险，这又有多么不容易。在这种情况下，你必须做出正确的决定，但是有的时候又似乎没有什么好办法。就像下面这个饭店的老板一样。
例句3: We've lost so much that we're between a rock and a hard place. I can't decide whether to try to borrow money and pay higher interest than we can afford or else sell out and probably lose half of our investment.
这个老板说：“我们亏损了这么多，现在真是左右为难。要是去借钱就得支付难以承担的高利贷。要是出售整个企业就很可能会损失我们投资总额的一半。在这两者之间，我真感到左右为难。”
******
虐待妇女是美国的社会问题之一。有的是丈夫殴打妻子。有的是男朋友殴打女朋友。有的妇女被打得鼻青脸肿，还有的受重伤，有的甚至被打死。犯这种罪行的男人都很粗暴；女方往往怕他们。下面就是一个警察在说一个受虐待的妇女的心情。
例句4: Lisa finds herself between a rock and a hard place. If she decides to stay with her husband, she'll be beaten from time to time or even killed one day. If she is determined to divorce him, he probably will kill her before she hires a lawyer.
这个警察说：利萨发现自己真是进退两难。要是她决定和她丈夫继续过下去，她会不断地挨打，或者甚至哪天被打死。要是她决心跟他离婚，她可能还没有找到律师，就被她丈夫杀了。
流行美语第237课
Larry在学校的电脑室里见到了李华。李华今天要学会两个常用语ASAP和crank out。
LL: Hey Li Hua! What are you working on? A paper?
LH: 不是，我在写申请威廉森中国历史奖学金的申请书。
LL: What? But that's due tomorrow! You'd better finish that ASAP.
LH: 我知道明天是申请的最后期限，所以我在赶呐。ASAP, 那是什么意思啊？
LL: ASAP means "as soon as possible". You need to finish that application as soon as possible!
LH: 噢，原来ASAP就是尽快 - as soon as possible 的缩写。 Larry，那你为什么不说as soon as possible而是说ASAP呢？
LL: Well, people say "as soon as possible", but if you are in a hurry, it's easier to just say ASAP.
LH: 匆忙的时候说ASAP，这能节省多少时间呢， 顶多半秒钟吧。
LL: Well, it also sounds more forceful. For instance, if your boss tells you, "Li Hua, I need you to get this done ASAP!" you know that he is in a hurry!
LH: 那倒是。ASAP听起来比较干脆，比较有力。
LL: Or if your mechanic tells you that you car is leaking oil, and that you need to have it fixed ASAP, you'd better take his word for it.
LH: 你别举这种让我倒霉的例子。不过，要是我的车漏油了，我当然得尽快修理。I need to have it fixed ASAP。
LL: Wait, Li Hua, you promised me yesterday that you would proofread my Chinese composition. Have you done that yet? I need to hand it in ASAP!
LH: 天啊， 昨天我答应帮你修改中文作文，我怎么把这件事给忘了呢？真的好对不起。那你今天下午交还来得及吗？
LL: I need to go to work ASAP, so I need to hand this in before I go.
LH: (Sighs) 如果你一定要在上班之前把作业交上去， 那我现在就帮你看吧。
LL: Thank you so much, Li Hua. You're such a good friend.
******
(Larry returns to the computer lab later in the day.)
LL: Hey Li Hua! I am back from work. Are you still working on that statement?
LH: 是啊， 我还在写申请。哎，Larry, 写申请有什么窍门吗？你怎么每次都写得那么快呢？
LL: Oh, I don't know. I guess because I have written so many of them, now it's easy for me to crank them out.
LH: Crank them out? 这是什么意思呀？
LL: To crank something out means to produce something quickly and mechanically, without much thought.
LH: 嗯，To crank something out就是不需要太多思考，很机戒地做成某种事。
LL: Well, when I was an undergraduate, I would just crank out essays and term papers, no problem. Of course, it's not that easy these days.
LH: 我听说了，你读本科的时候是写作高手， 论文和学期作文都难不倒你。现在当研究生就不一样了；你要作大量研究才能有根有据地写。
LL: Exactly. So, did you ever just crank out essays when you were a student in China?
LH: 当然了，我在中国读中学的时候， 半个小时就能crank out两页的政论文章。Larry, to crank out这个短语还能用在别的地方吗？
LL: Sure, for instance, at McDonald's, they crank out hundreds of hamburgers every day.
LH: 麦当劳每天制作成千上万个的汉堡包。这一点也不错。
LL: And Hollywood cranks out stupid action movies every other week.
LH: 我从来不看好莱坞制作的那种武打片，所以我就不太清楚了。
LL: Anyway, I have another piece of homework for Chinese class that I need you to look at ASAP. Can you help me?
LH: 没问题，我可以帮你看中文作业，不过你得帮我修改一下我写的申请书。I need to drop it in the mail ASAP。
LL: Ok, no problem. Show me what you've written so far。
今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是ASAP, 意思是尽快。还有一个是crank out， 意思是不需多加思考地，机戒地制作某种东西。
作者：scottzhong 日期：2008-02-25 07:47:52 做记号
美国习惯用语第238讲
今天我们要介绍给大家的两个习惯用语里都有一个主要的字。那就是：Bum. Bum就是指那种游手好闲，不务正业的人。每个社会都有这样的人。美国虽然是一个富有的国家，但是也不例外。美国人有几个称呼这种人的常用语。其中之一就是bum。在美国，你有时会看到一些衣服穿得破破烂烂，随身带着大包小包的人。这些包里的东西就是他们所有的家当了。
人们把他们称为bums。Bum这个字还出现在一些习惯用语当中，一般都含有贬意。今天我们要给大家介绍的第一个常用语就是：Bummer. Bummer这个字大概是在二十五年前出现的，因此在美国常用语里还是比较新的。
Bummer 的意思是：不愉快的经历。下面是一个例子。这是一个人在说他的朋友给他出的主意很不好。
例句-1: Charley sure gave us a bad recommendation when he said that new rock group from England is so great. We heard their concert last night and it was terrible - believe me, a real bummer!
这人说：查理向我们推荐说，那个从英国来的新的摇滚乐乐队简直是太好了。他的推荐实在是个错误。我们昨晚去听了那个音乐会，真是难听极了。你别不信我的话，那个音乐会实在太差劲了。
******
美国有许多餐馆，它们具有不同的民族风味。就中国餐馆来讲也有广东菜、湖南菜、四川菜等。他们之间的竞争非常激烈。尽管有那么多餐馆，可是每个人一般都有几家自己喜欢的餐馆。下面是一个人在说他的经历。
例句2: My wife and I like to try different restaurants. Some restaurants are very reasonable but their food is very tasty. Others, however, charge a lot yet the food is lousy. But none of them we've tried could be worse than the Chinese restaurant close to my home. It's a real bummer.
这人说：我太太和我喜欢到不同的饭馆去试试。有的地方价钱很便宜，可是菜做的很有味道。也有的饭馆价钱很贵，饭食却很差。但是，没有一个饭馆比我家附近那个中国餐馆更次的了。那个饭馆真是太糟糕了。
******
下面我们要给大家讲的一个习惯用语是由bum和另外一个字合起来组成的。Bum rap. Rap在这儿是指因为作错了事而受到责备或惩罚。但是，受冤枉的事不是也很多吗？要是一个人并没有犯罪而被关进监狱，这就是a bum rap。当然, a bum rap并不一定是被关进监狱。有的时候，a bum rap就是指一个人实在没有做错什么事，但是却挨了批评。下面就是一个例子。
例句3: A lot of people blame the mayor for our roads being in such bad shape. But I think he's getting a bum rap: the problem is the city council won't give him enough money to fix them.
这句话的意思是：我们这儿的道路坑坑□□实在不像样。许多人责怪市长。但是，我认为这实在太冤枉他了。问题在于市政委员会不给他足够的资金来修路。
美国总统计划要做的事往往要得到国会的同意，各城市的市长要做的事也得获得市政委员会的批准。因此确实不能把所有的责任都推给市长。
******
美国各公司或机构的办公室都有清洁工。在一般情况下，他们都在下班以后来打扫清洁。但是，也有办公室的工作人员在不得已的时候，下了班以后还要加班。下面是一个清洁工在埋怨。
例句4: I cleaned up the office at six as usual. But someone messed up the place with leftover food and beer bottles. My boss blamed me for not having cleaned up properly. I was so mad at getting this kind of bum rap.
这个清洁工说：我跟平时一样在六点打扫办公室。可是，那天晚上有人把办公室弄的乱七八糟，到处都是吃剩的东西和啤酒瓶。我的老板责备我，说我没打扫干净。受这样的冤枉气真让我非常生气。
作者：scottzhong 日期：2008-02-25 07:52:50 做记号
流行美语第238课
Larry看见李华在修补她的书包，觉得有点奇怪。 李华今天要学会两个常用语cut it和get on it。
LL: Hey, Li Hua, what are you doing with that tape?
LH: (Sighs)我不小心把书包扯了一个大洞。 我要用胶布把它粘上。
LL: With that tape? Li Hua, this cheap clear tape isn't going to cut it, you need some duct tape.
LH: The clear tape isn't going to cut it? 我不是要把书包切开呀!
LL: I know! I said the clear tape won't cut it. Cut. If something or someone can't "cut it", that means it's not good enough.
LH: 原来won't cut it的意思是不够好， 而不是把它切开。所以你是说这种透明的胶条不结实，粘不住，你要用那种厚的胶布？
LL: That's right. Remember that Chinese newspaper reading class I was taking, it was too hard for me- my Chinese wasn't good enough. I couldn't cut it in that class, so I changed to another.
LH: 我当然记得咯！当时你才学了半年中文，看中国报刊是不行，所以跟不上，只好放弃。
LL: Yeah, to be able to read Chinese newspaper, I have to learn more Chinese characters.
LH: 你说的对。 Larry你有没有帮我修改申请书啊？
LL: Yeah, I looked at it. I don't think your application is going to cut it, though. You'll need to re-write some parts.
LH: 你认为凭我写的申请书是拿不到奖学金的。哪怎么办呢？你说吧，哪些部分要重写。
LL: You need to be more specific about your future academic plans. Simply promising to work hard isn't going to cut it with the review committee.
LH: 你说得有道理，我得应当更具体地讲未来的学术计划，而不是泛泛地说要努力学习。 我写的恐怕是通不过审查委员会。
LL：Call me when you finish rewriting.
LH：I will, Larry.
******
[Li Hua and Larry meet on campus several days later]
LL: Hey, Li Hua, haven't see you for a couple of days. Do you have another draft of that application essay for me to check?
LH: 是啊，我们好几天没见了。 我一直忙着上课， 我的申请还没写好呢。
LL: Well, you'd better get on it! It's due next week!
LH: 我得get on it，那是什么意思？
LL: I said, you'd better get on it. To get on it means to take care of something or start working on an important task.
LH: 噢， get on it就是动手处理某件重要的事情。 没错，没错，我的确该动手修改那申请书了。
LL: That's right! You'd better get on it right away. By the way, I'm going to be busy on Thursday, so you'd better have it ready by noon tomorrow.
LH: 你星期四没有时间， 那就是说我非得在明天中午以前交给你。
LL: Yes. If you can give it to me around noon tomorrow, I'll get on it right away and have the corrections ready by Thursday morning.
LH: 星期四上午你就能改完。那太好了。 谢谢你。 你知道吗？我现在千头万绪，忙得不可开交，我这个月的电话账单还没付呢。
LL: Really? You'd better get on that! If you wait too long, they'll charge a big fee, and it might damage your credit score.
LH: 我知道，所以心里着急呢！过期不付要罚很多钱， 而且还会影响我的信誉。 这我都知道。可是我事太多， 我的汽车还没有重新登记呢。
LL: What? If the police notice that you are driving a car with an out of date registration, you'll get a big ticket, or worse! You'd better get on that!
LH: 是啊， 这件事一定得赶快办。 我可不想让警察发现我的车没登记，真要罚钱，我可受不了。可是我就是不喜欢填表， 要花很多时间。
LL: That kind of thinking definitely won't cut it if you want to go to graduate school. Filling out forms for grant proposals is one of the main things that professors and graduate students do.
LH: 那也是，研究生要申请研究经费都要填表。 看来我是得改变这种想法了。
今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是won't cut it, 意思是不行，不够好。还有一个是get on it ， 意思是赶快处理。
作者：scottzhong 日期：2008-02-25 08:05:07 做记号
流行美语第238课
Larry看见李华在修补她的书包，觉得有点奇怪。 李华今天要学会两个常用语cut it和get on it。
LL: Hey, Li Hua, what are you doing with that tape?
LH: (Sighs)我不小心把书包扯了一个大洞。 我要用胶布把它粘上。
LL: With that tape? Li Hua, this cheap clear tape isn't going to cut it, you need some duct tape.
LH: The clear tape isn't going to cut it? 我不是要把书包切开呀!
LL: I know! I said the clear tape won't cut it. Cut. If something or someone can't "cut it", that means it's not good enough.
LH: 原来won't cut it的意思是不够好， 而不是把它切开。所以你是说这种透明的胶条不结实，粘不住，你要用那种厚的胶布？
LL: That's right. Remember that Chinese newspaper reading class I was taking, it was too hard for me- my Chinese wasn't good enough. I couldn't cut it in that class, so I changed to another.
LH: 我当然记得咯！当时你才学了半年中文，看中国报刊是不行，所以跟不上，只好放弃。
LL: Yeah, to be able to read Chinese newspaper, I have to learn more Chinese characters.
LH: 你说的对。 Larry你有没有帮我修改申请书啊？
LL: Yeah, I looked at it. I don't think your application is going to cut it, though. You'll need to re-write some parts.
LH: 你认为凭我写的申请书是拿不到奖学金的。哪怎么办呢？你说吧，哪些部分要重写。
LL: You need to be more specific about your future academic plans. Simply promising to work hard isn't going to cut it with the review committee.
LH: 你说得有道理，我得应当更具体地讲未来的学术计划，而不是泛泛地说要努力学习。 我写的恐怕是通不过审查委员会。
LL：Call me when you finish rewriting.
LH：I will, Larry.
******
[Li Hua and Larry meet on campus several days later]
LL: Hey, Li Hua, haven't see you for a couple of days. Do you have another draft of that application essay for me to check?
LH: 是啊，我们好几天没见了。 我一直忙着上课， 我的申请还没写好呢。
LL: Well, you'd better get on it! It's due next week!
LH: 我得get on it，那是什么意思？
LL: I said, you'd better get on it. To get on it means to take care of something or start working on an important task.
LH: 噢， get on it就是动手处理某件重要的事情。 没错，没错，我的确该动手修改那申请书了。
LL: That's right! You'd better get on it right away. By the way, I'm going to be busy on Thursday, so you'd better have it ready by noon tomorrow.
LH: 你星期四没有时间， 那就是说我非得在明天中午以前交给你。
LL: Yes. If you can give it to me around noon tomorrow, I'll get on it right away and have the corrections ready by Thursday morning.
LH: 星期四上午你就能改完。那太好了。 谢谢你。 你知道吗？我现在千头万绪，忙得不可开交，我这个月的电话账单还没付呢。
LL: Really? You'd better get on that! If you wait too long, they'll charge a big fee, and it might damage your credit score.
LH: 我知道，所以心里着急呢！过期不付要罚很多钱， 而且还会影响我的信誉。 这我都知道。可是我事太多， 我的汽车还没有重新登记呢。
LL: What? If the police notice that you are driving a car with an out of date registration, you'll get a big ticket, or worse! You'd better get on that!
LH: 是啊， 这件事一定得赶快办。 我可不想让警察发现我的车没登记，真要罚钱，我可受不了。可是我就是不喜欢填表， 要花很多时间。
LL: That kind of thinking definitely won't cut it if you want to go to graduate school. Filling out forms for grant proposals is one of the main things that professors and graduate students do.
LH: 那也是，研究生要申请研究经费都要填表。 看来我是得改变这种想法了。
今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是won't cut it, 意思是不行，不够好。还有一个是get on it ， 意思是赶快处理。
作者：scottzhong 日期：2008-02-26 10:11:01 做记号
-
美国习惯用语第239讲
我们在这次节目里要给大家介绍的两个习惯用语都有同一个关键的字。那就是fair。Fair这个字有很多解释。其中一个主要的意思是：公正或诚实。这也正是我们要讲的第一个习惯用语的意思。Fair and square. Square可以用做名词，也可以用做形容词。用做名词的时候，它的一般解释就是：四方块。用做形容词的时候可以解释为：正直的，或者是光明正大的。
我们来举一个例子。目前在体育比赛中存在的一个问题就是有的运动员为了取胜而在比赛前服用那些能增强体力的药。体育界有关方面也一直在设法阻止这种现象。下面是一个人在说他那参加赛跑比赛的朋友。
例句-1: Jack won the race last week with flying colors. But other athletes suspected he had taken drugs before the race. I know Jack well - he's a person with high moral standards. I'm sure he won the race fair and square without any cheating.
这是说：杰克上星期在赛跑中以优异成绩获胜。但是，其他运动员怀疑他在赛跑前服了药。我很了解杰克。他是一个道德标准很高的人。我肯定他是老老实实取胜的；没有任何欺骗行为。
******
我们再来举一个例子说明fair and square的用法。这是一个很有钱的商人在说话。
例句2: I admit I've piled up a certain amount of money during the past ten years. But I made every penny fair and square. I've never cheated others and at the same time I don't let anybody else cheat me.
这个富商说：我承认我在过去十年内积累了一定数量的钱。但是，我的每一分钱都是老老实实地赚来的。我从来也没有欺骗过别人，同时也不允许别人欺骗我。
******
我们现在来讲第二个以fair这个字为关键的习惯用语。Fair shake. Shake这个字一般用做动词的时候比较多，意思是：摇。大家都知道，to shake hands就是握手。但是在fair shake里，shake是一个名词。Fair shake是指和每个人进行同样诚实和公正的交易。也可以说是：一视同仁。
这个习惯用语可能是来自一种用骰子玩的赌博。参加赌博的人先要把两颗骰子放在两只手当中摇一摇，然后再往桌上一撒，看看点数加起来一共有多少，以定输赢。现在我们来举一个例子看看fair shake在日常生活中是怎么用的。这是一个人在说买汽车的事。
例句3: When I buy a new car I buy it from Bill Green. He's always very honest with customers so you can depend on him to give you a fair shake when it comes to getting a good price.
这个人说：当我要买新车的时候，我就到比尔那儿去买。他对顾客总是很诚实，所以你要是想要价钱好，他可以信得过他，他肯定会很公道地对待你的。
美国人普遍第对推销汽车的人印象很坏，认为他们专会欺骗顾客，从中渔利。但是，从这个例子来看，推销汽车的人当中还是有好的。
******
下面是一个人在抱怨他的老板，因为他没有被提升。
例句4: My supervisor always assigns me to tackle the tough jobs. But when there's a promotion, he tends to forget me. Several times, people less qualified than I am got promoted. I don't think my supervisor has given me a fair shake.
这个人说：我的上司总是派我去处理难对付的工作。但是，一有提升的机会，他好像把我忘了。好几次了，那些水平不如我的倒被提升了。我认为我的上司对我不公平。
美国公司里的职工跟其他地方一样在争夺提升机会的时候也很激烈。水平高的没被提升，水平低的反而被提升的事不是罕见的现象。有的人甚至为此辞职,到别处再找工作。
作者：scottzhong 日期：2008-02-26 10:16:08 做记号
流行美语第239课
Larry和李华一起去购物。Larry准备去参加朋友的婚礼，可是原来的西装太旧了，所以需要买一套新西装。李华今天要学两个常用语hand-me-down和hands down。
LL: Hey Li Hua, I need your help with something. I want to go to the mall and buy a new suit to wear for my friend Jack's wedding.
LH: 要我帮你购物？这可是我的专长。你想买什么牌子的西装？是Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, 还是Dolce & Gabbana?
LL: Wo! Wo! Don't overwhelm me already. Any department store will do. All I need to do is find something to replace this old hand-me-down suit that I always wear.
LH: 什么？你这套旧西装是什么质地的？Hand-me-down? 我怎么没听说过这种西装布料呀？
LL: No. Hand-me-down is an expression. It refers to something that is given to you because someone else does not want it any more. My father gave me the suit that I wear now because he could not wear it any longer.
LH: 噢，我明白了，hand-me-down是说从别人那儿捡来的旧东西，是别人不要的东西。你现在这套西装原来是你老爸穿不了给你的，怪不得看起来不太合身，而且还有些旧旧的。要这么说的话，我的鞋也是hand-me-down。
LL: What? Your wingtip dress shoes?
LH: 就是啊，这双鞋其实是我的好朋友Jane不要了给我的。她还告诉我说，她的另外两个朋友Sarah和Lily也都穿过这双鞋。
LL: Wow! Now that's a hand-me-down. How have those shoes lasted so long?
LH: 这种鞋之所以结实，是因为鞋底可以换新的，我已经换过两次了。对了，你老爸有没有给你什么hand-me-down的鞋，让你穿着去参加Jack的婚礼啊？
LL: No, unfortunately, my big feet won't fit into his hand-me-down shoes.
LH: 你的脚确实不小。那就走吧，大脚，我们买东西去。
******
[Li Hua and Larry arrived at store]
LH: Larry，你有三种选择，这种黑色或是棕色的单排扣两件套西装，还有就是这件灰色的双排扣西装，你更喜欢哪个？
LL: I think the gray double-breasted suit is better looking than any of the others, hands down. And it makes me look pretty sophisticated.
LH: 这件灰西装看上去确实不错，穿在你身上也挺精神的，但是你刚才说的hands down是什么意思呀？
LL: Oh. hands down is an expression that means that something is easily better than something else; that a comparison or competition between two things is uncontested.
LH: 噢， 我明白了。你是说这件灰色西装比其它的都强得多，根本没有好比较的。你说的不错，那套棕色的好像有点儿容易皱，黑色的看起来又太一般了。这件灰色的样子确实不错。
LL: Yeah, and it costs half as much as the others. You know Li Hua, I would never have found this suit at such a good price without your help. Hands down, you are a much better shopper than I am.
LH: 而且价钱也不贵，算是让你赶上了。你也知道，我这人就是喜欢逛街。下次你要买什么东西，可以再找我。我们俩儿也算是各有所长，谁都知道，要打篮球，我绝不是你的对手，可是，hands down，毫无疑问。
LL: Yeah you're right about that. Let's go to the check-out counter and pay for this suit so I can finally get rid of my old hand-me-down suit.
今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是hand-me-down, 意思是别人用过的旧东西。还有一个是hands down，意思是毫无疑问。
作者：scottzhong 日期：2008-02-27 09:45:09 做记号
美国习惯用语第240讲
我们在这次节目里要讲的两个习惯用语也是fair这个字有密切关系的。第一个是：Fair game. Game这个字也是有许多解释，其中用得最普遍的一个意思就是：游戏。
但是，在fair game这个习惯用语里，这个 game不是指游戏，而是指猎物，也就是打猎人要打的动物。所以，fair game，作为俗语，它的意思也就是：可能成为被打击，被虐待或嘲笑的人或者东西。比如说，一个刚到一所新学校去上学的男孩很可能会成为那些老学生们开玩笑的对象；他们可以逗他，开他的玩笑，总之把他弄的日子很难过。下面我们来给大家举一个例子。这是一个人在讲现在的政客。
例句-1: Politics is a tougher business now than it used to be. These days a candidate is fair game for the press: they'll poke into every corner of his past life to see what scandal they can dig up.
这人说：现在搞政治不是件容易的事，要比以前难多了。现在参加竞选的候选人都已经成了新闻界监督的对象。他们对候选人以往的所有一切都要仔细检查，看看能不能挖出什么丑闻来。
******
我们再来举一个fair game的例子。这是一个哥哥在跟弟弟说话。
例句2: Jeff, you've got to stand up for your rights at work. If you keep on making concessions and let people dump their work on you, pretty soon you'll become fair game for your colleagues to take advantage of.
这位哥哥对弟弟说：杰夫，你在工作的地方得挺出身来维护你自己的权益。要是你不断让步，允许别人把他们的工作推到你身上，不久你的同事们就会把你当成他们经常可以利用的对象。
******
我们现在再来讲一个跟fair这个字有关的习惯用语。这个习惯用语所指的人恐怕是大家在日常生活中不时会看到的。Fair-haired boy. 首先要注意的是，在fair 跟 haired这两个字之间有一个连接号。这样，这两个字就等于合在一起了。其次，fair这个字在这里不再解释为公正。Fair这个字还可以解释为：皮肤白嫩的，头发金黄色的。
可是，fair-haired boy并不是一个有金黄色头发的男孩。Fair-haired boy，作为俗语，它是指一个父母特别宠爱的孩子，或者是工作单位的上司，学校里的老师特别喜欢的人。也可以说是上司面前的红人，或者是老师的得意门生。而这种红人，或者得意门生并不见得都很能干，很聪敏；他们往往是因为他们会拍马奉承，所以才成为红人的。下面就是一个例子。
例句3: Larry is the teacher's fair-haired boy in our English class. He pretends to her face that she's the best teacher he's ever had, but he says nothing but nasty things behind her back.
这句话的意思是：拉里是我们英语老师的得意门生。他当着老师的面假装表示，她是他所有老师当中最好的一个。可是，背着她，他尽说一些难听的话。
******
每个地方大概总是会有少数溜须拍马的人。下面是一个人在跟他的同事议论办公室里老板的红人。
例句4: I can understand why our boss likes Carol because she's capable and efficient. But, Jim is really good for nothing, and he's always behind schedule for his work. I can't figure out what he did to become the boss's fair-haired boy.
这个人说：我可以理解为什么我们的老板喜欢卡罗尔，因为她很能干，工作效率也很高。但是，吉姆实在是一个不学无术的人。他的工作也老是不能按计划进行。不知他干了些什么才成为老板的红人。我真是想不通。
作者：scottzhong 日期：2008-02-27 09:49:04 做记号
流行美语第240课
Larry和李华刚刚在餐馆吃完饭。李华今天要学两个常用语doggie bag和back burner。
LL: This is waaaay too much food for me to finish. I guess I'd better ask for a doggie bag.
LH: 怎么啦，你不会是想吐吧。
LL: Huh? No! I said I am going to ask for a doggie bag. That's a bag that you use to take home leftover food from a restaurant.
LH: 我知道了，就是中国人说的打包。你们叫"doggie bag"，是因为美国人一般都把剩下的饭菜喂狗吧？可你没有狗呀。
LL: It's just a figure of speech. I 'm asking for a doggie bag because I plan on eating the leftovers for lunch tomorrow.
LH: 原来是你自己吃啊。美国人这种习惯真好。在中国，大家出去吃饭总要点好多菜，根本吃不了，剩下的，有的就扔了。
LL: The U.S. isn't so different. People originally used the phrase "doggie bag" because they were embarrassed to admit they were saving food.
LH: 怪不得叫 "doggie bag"，原来开始的时候美国人也不好意思承认自己节俭，所以说是要喂狗。美国人真觉得这样做丢人吗？
LL: Hmm...well, in the U.S. you wouldn't ask for a doggie bag at a really nice restaurant, or on a formal occasion. But otherwise most people would rather ask for a doggie bag than waste food.
LH: 所以说，在高级饭店和正式场合一般不打包，但除此之外，打包就很正常了。中国现在也差不多，打包越来越普遍，不过我们用的是饭盒。
LL: Yeah, same here. But even though the food usually goes in a box, people still use the term "doggie bag".
LH: 美国人真把剩饭剩菜喂狗吗？
LL: (Chuckles) The food from doggie bags can make a dog fat!
LH: 不光是狗，经常在外面吃，人也会变胖的。账单来了。你得要 "doggie bag" 了。
LL: (To the waiter) Excuse me, could I get a doggie bag for this please?
******
LH: Larry, 刚才说了半天 "doggie bag"。我还真想养只小狗。
LL: I know, you've mentioned that before. But you'd better just put that on the back burner for now.
LH: 把什么放在炉子上？你在说什么呀？
LL: I said put it on the back burner. That means, you should give your idea of owning a dog low priority, and wait until it is more practical or convenient.
LH: 你是说我养狗不现实，所以不要着急，应该暂时放一放。其实，我要是真的养条狗也没有什么不可以，就是要做出一些牺牲罢了。
LL: Really, you should just put it on the back burner. Taking care of a pet requires money and time.
LH: 你说得也对，养狗又花时间，又费钱，确实应该等毕业有工作了再说。我真恨不得马上毕业。
LL: I know! I have to put so many things on the back burner while I'm in school... I feel like I have no life!
LH: Larry, 你都想干些什么呢？
LL: Well, for instance, Jack and I were working together on an online business, but I am too busy with school to work on it often. I had to put that on the back burner.
LH: 你和Jack要合作在网上做生意，真有两下子呀！
LL: It's on the back burner right now. You know, I was in a rock band for a while, but I put that on the back burner as well.
LH: (Laughs) 摇滚乐队？不会吧。Larry, 我听过你唱歌，你不会真想当摇滚歌星吧？(Cell Phone Rings) 是你的电话。
LL: Whoa, it's Angie. I'll talk to you later, Li Hua. I've got to answer this. I'm going to ask Angie out this weekend.
LH: 谁？你不是要跟Cindy约会吗？怎么又变成Angie了。你可不能脚踏两条船啊。
LL: Cindy? Well, earlier this week, she left for study abroad in Europe, so I had to put her on the back burner.
LH: (Groans) Whatever, Larry!
今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是Doggie bag, 意思是在外面吃完饭打包用的盒子。还有一个是back burner，意思是暂时不考虑。
作者：scottzhong 日期：2008-02-28 10:30:27 做记号
美国习惯用语第241讲
每当一年消逝，新年来临的时候，人们都纷纷举行庆祝活动送旧迎新。这都跟时光的流逝有关。在这次节目里，我们要讲两个跟时间有关的习惯用语。时间这个字在英文里就是：Time. Time也正是每年新年开始的时候，许多人下定决心要在新的一年里完成某些计划。也就是美国人所说的new year resolutions。
在美国，有的人在一年开始时下定决心要在新的一年中减肥，有的则保证要在新的一年里戒烟等。由于圣诞节，美国的节日气氛其实从十二月中就开始了。男女老少纷纷出动购买圣诞礼物，购物中心人群拥挤。各单位，各公司也都一个接着一个举办圣诞晚会。人们一般都抱着快乐的心情来欢渡节日。
我们要讲的一个习惯用语正是这个意思。The time of one's life. 当一个人经历到the time of his life，那他就是经历了非常高兴的事情，也可能是他一辈子最高兴的事。我们来举一个例子，这是一个老人在说为什么每当新年来临的时候，他总是感到心情激动。
例句-1: It was New Year's eve in 1941, but I still remember it like it was yesterday. I went to this party and had the time of my life because I met the beautiful girl I've been married to for fifty years!
这位老先生说：那是1941年的新年除夕，但是在我记忆里就好像昨天发生的事一样。那一天，我去参加一个聚会，我真是高兴得不得了，因为我在聚会上遇到了一个美丽的女孩。就是这个女孩，我跟她结婚已经五十年了。
******
美国人经常喜欢开着汽车出去旅行，沿着一条线路到各地去玩。下面是一个年轻人在说他跟女朋友一起出去旅行的感受。
例句2: Linda and I drove to Yellow Stone Park last summer. The scenery there was fantastic and we were so much in love. I had the time of my life and wished I could stay there forever.
这个年轻人说：我跟林达今年夏天开车到黄石公园去玩。那儿的风景简直漂亮极了。我们两又在狂热地恋爱。这是我一辈子最高兴的时候了。我真是希望能永远呆在那里。
******
我们往往会遇到一种情况。那就是一件我们正在做的事好像马上就会失败，做不成了，但是到了最后一分钟突然出现了转机。这种情况在电影里也很多。比如说，英雄人物总是要到最后一分钟才出现，然后把那马上要被人杀死的朋友解救出来。这最后一分钟在英文里就是：In the nick of time. In the nick of time就是最后一刻。这最后一刻有时几乎是来得太晚了。下面是一个人在说他去参加新年晚会的路上所发生的事。
例句3: We had a flat tire on our way to Henry's party. But we still got there in the nick of time, five minutes to twelve, just in time to raise a glass and say hello to the new year.
这个人说：我们去参加亨利举办的聚会，可是在路上，我们的轮胎暴了。不过我们仍然在最后一刻，也就是十二点差五分的时候到了亨利的家，正好举起玻璃杯，迎接新年的到来。
******
刚才我们讲到电影里经常出现危险的镜头，然后到最后一刻，危机突然出现了转机，逢凶化吉，坏人被克制，好人得救。下面是一个人在发表评论。
例句4: My friend Jack likes to watch horror movies. But to me they seem to be all the same. There is always somebody coming to rescue the good guys in the nick of time.
这个人说：我的朋友杰克喜欢看恐怖电影。可是，在我看来，它们似乎都是千篇一律。每到最后一刻，总是有人会来解救好人的。
作者：scottzhong 日期：2008-02-28 10:32:33 做记号
流行美语第241课
Larry和李华正在一起吃午饭。李华今天要学两个常用语a Cuppa Joe和Guilty Pleasure。
LL: I am so sleepy! What I need right now, Li Hua, is a cuppa joe.
LH: A cuppa joe ? 我确实有个朋友叫Joe，他怎么能帮你提神呢？
LL: No, I don't need your friend Joe. "I need a cuppa joe" is a way of saying "I need a cup of coffee."
LH: 我知道了，"cuppa"是"cup of"的缩写，可我还是不明白"Joe"怎么会是咖啡呢？
LL: You wouldn't be alone in that, Li Hua. Most Americans don't know why we call coffee "Joe", but we have for a long time, and we still say it today.
LH: 对呀，只要说起来方便，大家都知道是什么意思就好了。Larry, 你干嘛急着要喝咖啡呀？
LL: I stayed up too late watching a movie on television last night, and today I am so tired. Having a cuppa joe would really help me get through my work day.
LH: 原来是你自己晚上看电视，不好好睡觉，怪不得会那么困，要靠"a cuppa joe"里的咖啡因来提神。
LL: So I am definitely ordering a cuppa joe with lunch. How about you, Li Hua? Would you like a cuppa joe?
LH: 我才不要"a cuppa joe", 我又不爱喝咖啡。
LL: If you don't want a cuppa joe, then what are you going to order to drink?
LH: 我要一杯茶好了。
LL: I've heard that a cup of tea doesn't have quite as much caffeine as a cuppa joe. Is that true?
LH: 是呀，茶里所含的咖啡因确实不如咖啡多。
LL: Then why would anyone want to drink tea instead of a cuppa joe?
LH: 据我所知，除了咖啡因含量低以外，茶对人体还有其它许多咖啡没有的好处，特别是绿茶。听说绿茶里的抗氧化物质还能防癌呢。
LL: But I still can't live without my cuppa joe.
******
LH: Larry, 你真的那么喜欢喝咖啡吗？
LL: I guess you could say that drinking coffee is one of my guilty pleasures.
LH: 喜欢喝咖啡也算犯罪吗？
LL: A guilty pleasure is something you like to do, but isn't good for you. I'm not guilty of a crime when I drink coffee, but I do know there are better things I could be drinking.
LH: 我知道了，A guilty pleasure的意思是一种内疚的快感，就是说你明知道喝咖啡可能不如喝茶和喝水对身体好，但你还是愿意喝咖啡。
LL: That's right. What about you Li Hua, do you have any guilty pleasures?
LH: 我，当然有了，其中之一就是冰激凌。
LL: Ah yes, how could I forget? Eating ice cream is definitely a guilty pleasure for you.
LH: 我知道冰激凌是高糖和高脂肪的食品，我也担心吃多了会胖，可我就是管不住自己。这不能算是最糟糕的guilty pleasure吧。
LL: Some people like to drink alcohol or to gamble. These are guilty pleasures you have to be really careful about.
LH: 是呀，酗酒和赌博都会让人上瘾，带来各种各样的问题。这些guilty pleasure可不是闹着玩的。不过我想，大多数guilty pleasure都是无害的吧。
LL: Yes, my mother's guilty pleasure was taking a bubble bath on Sunday afternoons.
LH: 星期天下午洗泡沫浴，这也算guilty pleasure吗？
LL: She felt like she should be taking care of me and my brother and sister, but instead her guilty pleasure was to enjoy the quiet relaxation of some time alone in the bath tub.
LH: 她内疚是因为觉得应该照顾孩子，不应该自己躲起来享受啊。Larry, 咱们的午饭和你的Cuppa joe来了，快吃吧。
今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是a Cuppa joe，意思是一杯咖啡。另外一个是guilty pleasure, 意思是带有内疚的快感。
作者：scottzhong 日期：2008-02-29 11:45:02 做记号
美国习惯用语第242讲
美国人跟中国人一样有很多关于钱的说法。中国人说，有钱能使鬼推磨。美国人说：Money makes the world go around. 这是说：有钱能使地球转。中国人说：钱是万恶之源。美国人的说法跟中国话一样：Money is the root of all evil.
不管是好，是坏，大多数人那末重视金钱就说明钱是生活中最重要的东西之一。要是没有钱有好多事是办不成的。我们今天要讲的一个习惯用语也能说明这一点。这个习惯用语就是：Front money. Front就是前面的意思。那末，front money 按字面来解释就是：前面的钱。这听起来似乎不知所云，但是它确实包含了实际的内容。Front money作为习惯用语，它的意思就是：头款。这是指开办新企业时所需要的钱。Front money也可以指开始进行一笔交易时先要付的一笔钱，也就是定金。这笔钱能够保证你今后有参与这笔交易的权利。
下面我们来举一个例子。这是一个人在向他的朋友报告好消息。
例句-1: Good news - Dad agreed to give me the front money I need to start my own restaurant. I have to buy kitchen equipment, tables and chairs and lots of other stuff before I open up.
这句话的意思是：好消息。我爸爸已经答应给我开办自己饭馆所需要的开办费用。在饭馆开张前，我得去买厨房设备、桌椅板凳和其他许多东西。
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刚才这个例子里说的front money是为了开办一个事业所需的资金。下面我们再来举一个例子。这个例子里的front money是用做定金。这是一个缺乏足够资金的人在说话。
例句2: I can see the future of that computer software company will be very profitable and I would very much like to invest in it. But the group wants me to pay a large sum of front money which I can't afford.
这个人说：我能够预见，那个电脑软件公司将来会有很大收益的。我很想在这方面投资。但是，那些人要我付一大笔定金，而我又没有那么多的钱。
******
下面我们要给大家讲的一个习惯用语也是跟钱有关的。这个习惯用语就是：Hush money. Hush这个字可以解释为：不要做声，或者是掩盖。所以，hush money就是为了防止某人揭露一个罪行或者一个丑闻而付给他的一笔钱。这种作法由来已久，hush money这个习惯用语也至少有三百年的历史了。我们现在来举一个例子。
例句3: Taking hush money from a gangster to keep your mouth shut about something you saw him do is dangerous. He might decide it's cheaper to hire somebody to kill you than to keep paying you off the rest of your life.
这句话翻到中文的意思就是：一个歹徒为了不让你揭露你看到他做的事而给你一笔钱。接受这笔钱是很危险的。他以后可能会认为，雇用一个人来把你杀了要比在你有生之年不断给你钱更便宜。
******
在人背后谈论别人的私事对某些人来说真是人生不可缺少的乐事。在美国人当中，有修养的人是一般不随便讲别人坏话的，但是爱谈论东家长西家短的人也不少。下面是一个人在跟他的同事谈论公司里的秘书。
例句4: Our manager is having an affair with his secretary and was seen one day by the cleaning woman. I was told the manager has been paying her hush money every month just to keep her silent.
这个人说：我们的经理跟他的秘书有暧昧关系。有一天被一个打扫清洁的女工看见了。我听说，经理为了不让那清洁工说出去而每个月给她一笔钱，目的就是在于让她别做声。
作者：scottzhong 日期：2008-02-29 11:48:49 做记号
流行美语第242课
李华告诉Larry说，她跟一个学生约好，十点在她的办公室见面，谈谈这个学生的成绩，可以这个学生没有赴约。李华今天要学两个常用语no show和lala land。
LL: So, you made an appointment with this student to talk about his grades, and he was a no show?
LH: A no show? 对呀，他没来，没有出现，所以叫no show。这种说法简洁明了。
LL: Right, a no show is some one who doesn't show up when they have agreed to. But, it is really rude to be a no show.
LH: 确实不礼貌。我专门跑到办公室来，等了他好长时间，谁知道他却是个no show。
LL: So, he didn't even call you to tell you that he wasn't going to come? It is even ruder to be a no show and not have called to let the person know you can't come.
LH: 对呀，不来就已经很不礼貌了，连个电话都不打，就更不礼貌了。说实话，我挺意外的，因为这个学生看起来不象是那么不懂事的人。
LL: Well, maybe something unexpected happened to him. There might be a good reason why he was a no show.
LH: 失约还有什么好理由吗？
LL: Well, maybe he was a no show because his car broke down, or he got lost, or even worse maybe he had an accident.
LH: 是呀，我怎么就没想到呢。他的车可能会在半路抛锚。还有他可能会迷路。更可怕的是，还可能会出车祸。我本来挺生气的，让你这么一说，我反而开始替他担心了。
LL: I remember one time when I was in college I made an appointment with a professor and ended up being a no show because my car ran out of gas.
LH: 什么，车跑到半路没油了？你那个教授肯定火冒三丈。那后来呢？
LL: I felt so bad about being a no show, the first thing I did when I got to a phone was call the professor and apologize.
LH: 打电话道歉？那我们再等等吧，也许过一会儿我的学生就会打电话来了。
LL: Have you ever been a no show for anything, Li Hua?
LH: 倒是有一次，我的闹钟没响，所以睡过了头，结果没去上课。
LL: That's not so bad. Lots of students are no shows for classes.
LH: 不好意思的是，那是我教的一门课。(Phone rings) 等等，我接一下电话。
******
LL: Hey, was that your student? Did he have a good reason for being a no show or was he just in lala land?
LH: 打电话的就是那个学生。你为什么会觉得他在lala land呢？Lala land在哪呀？
LL: Lala land isn't a real place. It is a state of mind. It is where you go when you are day dreaming and not paying attention to the things going on in the real world.
LH: 我明白了，lala land不是一个地方，而是仙境、幻境的意思，做白日梦就是去了 "lala land"。这样说来，那个学生确实是去了lala land。
LL: Really?! He was off in lala land when he forgot his appointment with you?
LH: 没错，他当时正在跟朋友吃饭，完全忘记了跟我约好要见面。
LL: Yes, it sounds like he was in lala land. So what did you say when he told you this?
LH: 虽然我知道“忘了”不能算是失约的理由，但我还是很高兴他能打电话来道歉，谁都有忘事的时候。换句话说，大家可能都到过lala land。
LL: That's right. Just last week I was a no show for a haircut appointment because I was off in Lala land.
LH: 还有更好笑的。昨天我监考，有个学生走过来问我问题。
LL: Let me guess, you were so far off in lala land, you didn't even know the student was there!
LH: 你怎么知道的！我当时确实有点儿心不在焉，那个学生碰了一下我的肩膀才让我醒过神来。
今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是no show，意思是失约。另外一个是lala land，意思是身处幻境，心不在焉。
作者：scottzhong 日期：2008-03-01 12:46:54 做记号
美国习惯用语第243讲
今天我们要讲的两个习惯用语里都有一个关键的字。这个字就是：Free. Free这个字有好几种解释。一种解释是：自由。也就是按照自己选择的方式生活，不受专制统治的约束。Free还可以解释为：不需要付任何代价而得到什么东西。在我们要讲的第一个习惯用语里，free的意思是独立自主，不受人控制。
这个习惯用语就是：Freelance.我们要先来讲一讲freelance里的lance这个字。你要是了解了 lance这个字，你就会明白 freelance这个常用语是从那儿来的。Lance就是长矛。它是古代武士随身带的一种武器。在那个时候，大多数武士都为一个国王或一个君主服务。但是，也有一些武士从一个城市迁移到另一个城市，谁付他的工资高他就为谁服务。因为他们不属于任何一个雇主，人们把这些武士称为freelances。
现在，武士已经没有了，那么free lance又是指什么呢？Free lance是一个非常普通的词汇。它主要是指那些从事自由职业的作家；他们不受任何一个雇主的雇用，而是把自己写的文章销售给不同的杂志和报纸。我们来举一个例子。
例句-1: Bill used to be editor of a magazine. But the magazine closed so now he works freelance selling his articles to any magazine or newspaper that will buy them.
这句话的中文意思就是：比尔以前是一家杂志的编辑。可是后来那家杂志关闭了，所以他现在是一个自由作家；把他写的文章出售给任何愿意买的杂志。
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美国还有一些专门从事翻译的自由职业者；他们没有一个固定的工作，而是在某些公司或政府机构需要他们的时候去做短期的工作。下面就是一个人在说他的朋友。
例句2: Maria met her husband John when he was studying in ,Moscow. John speaks fluent Russian and has worked as a freelance interpreter since they came back to the U.S. He tells people he likes the freedom of this profession.
这个人说：马丽亚是在她丈夫约翰在莫斯科念书时认识他的。约翰说一口流利的俄语。自从他们回到美国来以后，他一直是一个自由职业的翻译。他告诉别人说这个职业很自由，他非常喜欢。
******
下面我们要讲的一个常用语是：Freeloader. Freeloader是一个字，但是它实际是由两个字组成的：free和loader。Freeloader里面的free是不收费，或者是没有代价的意思。一个freeloader就是一个人利用别人的慷慨，在人家里白吃白喝，甚至住在别人家里分文不付。这种人时间长了当然会让人讨厌。下面就是一个例子。
例句3: My brother-in-law has been living with us ever since he got mad at his boss and quit his job. Last night I told him to stop being a freeloader and get out and find another job.
这个人是在说他的妹夫。他说：自从我妹夫对他的老板生气辞职以来，他一直住在我们家里。昨天晚上，我告诉他不要继续白吃白住，到外面去再找一个工作。
******
每个人在一生中总是有起伏的，总会遇到不顺利的时候。但是，有的人在困难的时候甘愿成为一个freeloader，依赖别人，而有的人则能够冲破困难，重新站起来。下面就是一个老板在说他手下的一个雇员。
例句4: The new office manager I've hired is someone we should all admire. After her husband died, it would have been easy to rely on her parents, who happen to be rich. But she refused to become a freeloader and tried very hard to find a job to support herself.
这个老板说：我新雇用的办公室经理是我们应该倾佩的人。她丈夫去世以后，她满可以依赖她的父母；他们很有钱。但是，她却不甘心做一个坐享其成的人，下了很大工夫去找工作来养活自己。
作者：scottzhong 日期：2008-03-01 12:51:18 做记号
流行美语第243课
李华正在兴致勃勃地给Larry将她去看医生的经过，没想到被Larry泼了一盆冷水。李华今天要学两个常用语，TMI和PDQ 。
LL: Oh, Li Hua, that is really TMI. I'm sorry you had to go to the doctor, but I really don't want to hear all about your infected toenail!
LH: 你不想知道医生是怎么帮我处理那个发炎的脚趾甲的吗？TMI? 什么是TMI呀？
LL: T-M-I is an abbreviation for "Too Much Information." I think you were giving me too much information about your doctor's appointment.
LH: 我知道TMI是too much information的缩写，但我还是不明白，你为什么对我看医生漠不关心呢？
LL: Well, you were telling me very specific details about your trip to the doctor, like how he had to cut away part of your toenail, and I thought you gave me too much information. TMI!
LH: 噢，你是不想听医生是怎么把发炎的脚趾甲剪掉，又是怎么把里面的脓....
LL: (Urgently) Please, Li Hua, that really is TMI! Generally, Americans don't like to talk about the specifics of personal matters like a doctor's visit, especially when the details are disgusting!
LH: 原来是这样，就是说凡是像看医生这类的私事，美国人一般不会告诉别人，否则的话就是TMI。
LL: That's right. But you should also not give too much information about your personal relationships.
LH: 我有个朋友叫Sharon，她最喜欢给我讲她跟自己男朋友交往的细节。我也觉得那些都是 TMI 。
LL: How so?
LH: 比如说，她会告诉我，她的男朋友是怎么亲她的。
LL: That is definitely TMI. You probably really don't want to know how Sharon's boyfriend kisses.
LH: 那当然了。我实在不想听，可又不知道该怎么告诉她。
LL: Well, now you do! The next time Sharon goes on and on about her boyfriend you can just say, "Please, Sharon, TMI!"
LH: 我下次一定试试。对不起，Larry, 我得赶紧找个厕所。我刚才喝了一大瓶水。憋死我了。
LL: (Urgently) Li Hua, that is another excellent example of TMI!
******
LL: You are back, Li Hua. That was PDQ!
LH: 你刚才说TMI "too much information", 现在又说PDQ, PDQ是什么意思啊？
LL: PDQ stands for "Pretty Darn Quick." You came back from the restroom very quickly, you were PDQ!
LH: 噢，你是说我动作快啊，我是不想让你等，当然PDQ啦。
LL: Say, Li Hua, I am getting very hungry. Aren't you? Let's stop chatting and find a place to eat PDQ.
LH: 附近那个三明治的小吃店怎么样？
LL: That's a good idea! The sandwiches are really good and they make them PDQ, which is good because I should really get back to work.
LH: 对呀，他们那里的三明治又好吃又不用等。Larry, 你下午干脆别上班了，我们好好吃一顿，然后去公园。这么好的天气，待在办公室里可惜了！
LL: I wish I could, Li Hua, but I really can't. My boss assigned me a project this morning, and he really wants me to finish it PDQ.
LH: 那好吧，既然你要赶项目，那我们就快吃，你好get back to work PDQ.
LL: What about you, Li Hua? Do you have a relaxing afternoon planned?
LH: 其实我也有事。我的公寓有些地方需要修理，房东下午过来。所以吃完饭，我也要立刻赶回去。
LL: Well, it sounds like we both have things to do this afternoon. Here's the sandwich place. Oh, No! It doesn't look like our lunch is going to PDQ after all.
LH: 今天怎么这么多人，都排到门外了。
LL: Well, it doesn't look like the service will be PDQ today. They must be short-handed.
LH: 我们改去麦当劳吧，快餐店应该不会等太久。
LL: And then we'll need to eat them PDQ, too!
今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是TMI，意思是别人并不想知道的事。另一个是 PDQ, 意思是非常快。
作者：scottzhong 日期：2008-03-02 10:31:11 做记号
美国习惯用语第244讲
我们今天再来给大家讲解两个以free这个字为主的习惯用语。首先我们要讲的是：Free and easy. 大家都知道，free是自由，或者是不用花钱就得到的。大家也可能很熟悉easy这个字。一般的解释是：容易。但是它也能指一个人很平易近人，容易接近。
要是有人说某某人是free and easy，那么这个人一定是很轻松自如，很能宽容别人，也很好相处。在一般情况下，这样处世也不错，至少周围的人会喜欢这种人。下面就是一个例子。
例句-1: Jeff is such a free and easy man, almost everybody in our office likes him. He's a handy guy always ready to help out. He even lends a hand to people who once sabotaged his chance for promotion.
大家是否注意到，这个句子里有两个字：handy guy。 Handy guy翻译到中文就是手很巧的人。Handy在英文里，就是手这个字，也就是hand后面加一个y，意思就是手很巧的。Guy是一个非常口语的字。意思是人。人们常说：He's a nice guy。那就是说：他是一个很好的人。
我们现在来看看上面这个例句到底在说什么。很明显，讲话的人是在说一个同事。
这人说：杰夫这个人真是很随和，我们办公室里几乎每个人都喜欢他。他的手很巧。他也随时愿意帮忙。他甚至对那些曾经抢走他被提升机会的人他也愿意帮忙。
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Free and easy有时也可以解释为：太随便，不够谨慎小心。特别是涉及到钱的时候，这可能会产生问题。下面是一个人在说他的朋友。
例句2: Harry is such a nice friendly guy we were glad to hear he'd won a million dollars in the lottery. But he was so free and easy with the money it was all gone in a year.
这句话的意思是：哈里是一个很好的人，他总是很友好。我们听到他通过买彩票而得到一百万美元奖金的时候，我们都很高兴。可是，他在钱的问题上实在很随便，一年内这笔钱就没有了。
******
我们再来讲一个跟free这个字有关的习惯用语。Free-for-all. 大家可能已经注意到，在free for all这三个字当中有两个连接号。连接号的英文名称就是：hyphen。作为一个常用语，free-for-all的真正意思跟字面的意思很不相同。Free-for-all是指吵架、混乱或者是大声争论。在发生这种情况的时候，在场的人可以随时，随意加入争辩，既无规则，又没有人能够控制。现在在美国电视上就会看到这种情况。下面我们来举一个例子。
例句3: On that political talk show last night the experts got mad at each other and got louder and louder. The host couldn't control them - it was a real free-for-all with everybody yelling at the same time.
这句话的意思是：昨晚在那个讨论政治问题的电视节目上，几个请来的专家都互相很生气，然后讲话声音越来越大。节目主持人没法控制他们。所有的人都同时大声嚷嚷。那真是一场混战。
******
美国的中学生一般下午三四点就放学了。住得近的合夥走回家，也有的成群结队乘公共汽车，或坐地铁回家。下面是一个中年人在讲他在路上看到的情况。
例句4: The bunch of teenagers on the bus were arguing and suddenly two of them started to yell at each other. Then the rest jumped in. These kids ought to feel ashamed of themselves for such a free-for-all in public.
这个人说：在公共汽车上的那些十几岁的孩子一开始在争论什么事。突然，两个孩子开始互相嚷嚷，然后其他孩子也一起大声吵闹。这些孩子在大庭广众这样大吵大闹真是该感到害臊。
作者：scottzhong 日期：2008-03-02 10:41:17 做记号
流行美语第244课
Larry准备在公司汇报工作。事先想请李华帮他听听，看报告内容能不能吸引人。李华今天要学两个常用语。一个是dud，另一个是oomph 。
LL: Thanks for agreeing to listen to my presentation, Li Hua. I really don't want it to be a dud.
LH: Larry, 什么是 "dud" 呀 ?
LL: Oh, A dud D-U-D is something or someone that doesn't live up to expectations and is a disappointment.
LH: Dud就是让人失望的意思。你是不是想让我帮你听听，你的报告能不能吸引人啊？
LL: Right! I want my presentation to be lively and interesting. If it is boring and difficult to understand, it will be a dud.
LH: 愿意为您效劳！不过Larry, 你这人这么幽默，不用听我就知道，你的报告肯定不会枯燥无味的。
LL: You never know. I once worked with a woman who I thought was really funny, and at work we really got along. But then we went on a date, and it was a real dud.
LH: 你们约会的问题出在哪里呢？
LL: It turns out that we didn't have much in common except work.
LH: 噢，我知道了，你们俩这叫缺少共同语言。That date really does sound like a dud.
LL: What about you Li Hua? Have you every gone out with a guy who was a real dud?
LH: Dud也能指人啊。那要这么说，我可是遇到过真正的dud.
LL: How was this guy a dud, Li Hua?
LH: 他长得特别帅，可是我们俩出去吃饭，他从头到尾都在没完没了地讲他自己，根本不问问我喜欢些什么。That date was a real dud.
LL: Kind of like a firecracker that doesn't go off! We also call fireworks that don't go off "duds."
LH: 没错，我们管不响的爆竹叫“哑炮”。我最喜欢放炮了，特别是春节的时候...
Larry, 你干嘛呢？
LL: I am trying to get the slide projector to work. It looks like the light bulb is a dud!
LH: 那就别摆弄幻灯了。我光听就行了。
LL: Okay, let's get started. Please be honest, Li Hua, and don't be afraid to tell me if you think my presentation is a dud.
LH: 你放心，我一定怎么想就怎么说。
******
LL: So, what do you think, Li Hua? Does my presentation need more oomph?
LH: Oomph? 这又是什么词啊！怎么这么难说。
LL: It is like "oom" from the word room, followed by an "F" sound. Say it after me, Li Hua. Oomph!
LH: (Imitating)"oom", "oom-f". Oomph, oomph 是什么意思啊？
LL: When I asked if my presentation needed more oomph, I was asking if it needed something extra to make it more lively or interesting.
LH: 噢，你是说可以加点儿什么，让你的报告更精彩是吧。老实说，Larry, 我觉得有的地方确实有点儿枯燥，需要加点儿oomph.
LL: How do you think I could give my presentation more oomph, Li Hua?
LH: 比方说，你一上来可以先讲个笑话，吸引听众的注意。然后讲到一半儿有人开始走神的时候，你可以再讲个你自己工作中的真实经历，最好是干过的什么傻事。这样你的报告就能更生动了。
LL: That's very good advice, Li Hua. I think doing those things will give my presentation the extra oomph it needs.
LH: 好，那现在换我了。我最近给中文课设计了一个网页。你也帮我看看，要不要也加点儿oomph.
LL: Sure. I'm happy to look at it and tell you if it needs more oomph.
(Typing on keyboard...)
LH: Okay, here it is. Larry, 你觉得怎么样？
LL: Wow, Li Hua! Maybe your website has a little too much oomph!
LH: Oomph 还会太多吗？
LL: Well, you used orange and pink together on the same page. Those colors make it hard to read.
LH: 粉红色和桔黄色放在一起是太亮了，看上去眼睛有点儿不舒服，那我换换其它颜色吧。
今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是dud, 意思是令人失望的。另一个是oomph, 是吸引力的意思。
作者：scottzhong 日期：2008-03-03 11:23:08 做记号
美国习惯用语第245讲
在今天我们要讲的习惯用语里，一个关键的字就是To blow. Blow这个字是一个非常勤劳的字，因为许多习惯用语当中都有这个字。你要想再找一个像blow用得那么多的字恐怕还不容易。在以前的“美国习惯用语”节目中，我们也曾经讲过几个。
今天我们再给大家介绍两个和blow有关的习惯用语，第一个是：To blow one's own horn. To blow有好几个解释，但是在这个习惯用语当中应当解释为：吹。Horn就是喇叭。To blow one's own horn的字面意思是：吹自己的喇叭。但是，作为一个俗语，它的意思是：夸耀自己，或者是自吹自擂。喜欢夸耀自己的人一般都有这种吹牛的习惯。下面是一个学生在讲一个爱吹嘘的人。
例句-1: Do you know Joe Jones next door to me in my dorm? Nobody likes him - he's always blowing his own horn about what a great athlete he is and how much the girls all chase him.
这个学生说：你知道我宿舍里住在我隔壁的那个乔.琼斯吗？因为他老是喜欢吹嘘自己，所以没有一个人喜欢他。他总是夸耀自己是一个多么好的运动员，那些年轻姑娘又如何一个个地苦苦追求他。
******
我们再来举一个例子。这是一个人在说别人给他妹妹介绍的男朋友。
例句2: My cousin introduced my sister Lisa to Frank, a famous Harvard economics professor. He's interested in her but Lisa says she can't stand him because all he does is blow his own horn about his latest book on economics and how popular he is among his students.
这个人说：我的表哥把我妹妹利萨介绍给弗兰克。他是哈佛大学经济系的名教授。他对利萨很感兴趣，但是利萨说她无法忍受弗兰克，因为他老是自我吹嘘他最近出版的有关经济的书，他的学生们又是多么喜欢他等等。
******
在这次节目里我们要讲的第二个跟blow有关的习惯用语是：To blow the lid off. To blow在这里也可以解释为吹。Lid就是瓶子或罐子的盖头。要是你blow the lid off，那就是你把别人想方设法要保密的事情揭露出来。To blow the lid off这个说法给人脑子里制造了一个形像，那就是好像突然发生的爆炸把盒子上的盖子给掀掉了。这样人们就可以看到盒子里的秘密东西。在发现政府官员贪污腐化的情况下经常用to blow the lid off这个习惯用语。下面就是一个例子。
例句3: I hear that the newspapers are going to blow the lid off the mayor's office - they have proof that he's been taking bribes from building contractors to give them city business.
这句话的意思是：我听说几家报纸要揭露市长办公室的情况。他们有证据证明市长接受了营造商的贿赂，然后把有关市内的生意给他们做。
******
中国的俗语说，若要人不知，除非己莫为。要做坏事，总是会被人怀疑或觉察的。下面就是一个人在说他的处境。
例句4: I've watched these strange people in and out of the house next door for some time. My neighbors and I suspect they're a gang dealing in cocaine smuggled from Colombia or Mexico. I wonder if I ought to blow the lid off by reporting them to the cops.
这个人说：我看到这些不认识的人进进出出隔壁的房子已经有一段时间了。我和邻居们都怀疑他们是贩毒集团，把毒品从哥伦比亚或墨西哥偷运进来。我在想我是否应该去报告警察，把他们揭发出来。
作者：scottzhong 日期：2008-03-03 11:27:30 做记号
流行美语第245课
Larry和李华周末在国家公园野营。李华今天要学两个常用语，rough it和creep someone out。
LL: I just love camping, Li Hua. Isn't it great to be roughing it?
LH: "Roughing it"那是什么意思呀？ 听起来好像挺恐怖的。
LL: To rough it means to do without the comforts of civilization.
LH: 噢，rough it就是在艰苦条件下生活的意思。
LL: Right. Here we are camping out in the woods instead of staying in a hotel.
LH：我们没去住旅馆，而是在野外宿营，所以你说这是在rough it. 可是我们有帐篷、有灯笼、还有睡袋，应该挺舒服的。
LL: You know, Li Hua, I really enjoy roughing it. I love to breathe in the fresh outdoor smells and enjoying looking at nature instead of watching TV.
LH: 就是啊，这里空气真新鲜，天好像都比城里蓝。
LL: But there are some people who don't enjoy roughing it. My dad loves camping, but my mother really doesn't.
LH: 你妈妈为什么不喜欢野营？
LL: She really enjoys her comforts. She doesn't like to be too hot or too cold.
LH: 外出野营确实没有在家里舒适。我小时候在中国根本从来没有野营过。我父母都不喜欢rough it.
LL: While some people don't like to rough it, there are times when you have to. Do you remember the big hurricane we had last year?
LH: 当然记得。那场大风刮断了电线，害得我们停电一星期，只好因陋就简，用蜡烛照明，用煤气炉烧饭。
LL: Even though we were in our houses, we had to rough it a little until the power came back on.
LH: Larry, 这儿的洗手间在哪？
LL: Well, you know, Li Hua, we ARE roughing it.
LH: 不会连洗手间都没有吧！那你刚才...
LL: Ha ha, just kidding, Li Hua. There is a restroom down the path over there. I may like to rough it, but there is no way I am going to a campground without a bathroom!
******
(Owl sounds, other night sounds)
LL: What is that sound, Li Hua?! It is really creeping me out, and I can't sleep.
LH: Larry, 不过是只猫头鹰而已。别担心，猫头鹰是不会爬到你身上来的。
LL: Even though "creep" does mean to crawl slowly along the ground like a worm or a caterpillar, that isn't what I meant by "creep out."
LH: 那你说creep out里面的creep不是爬的意思？那是什么意思啊？
LL: When I said it crept me out, I meant the sound of the owl was bothering me or disturbing me so I couldn't sleep. Actually, it was making me a little scared.
LH: 没想到你这样的大男人也会害怕一只猫头鹰。
LL: Come on, Li Hua. You've got to admit it is a little scary being out in the woods all by ourselves. Aren't you a little crept out, too?
LH: 说实话，我也有点儿怕。对不起, Larry我不该笑话你。
LL: What is creeping you out, Li Hua?
LH: 我倒是不害怕猫头鹰的叫声，可是一想到可能会有蜘蛛和虫子在我睡袋里爬来爬去，我就浑身上下不自在。
LL: Well, we are in the woods, and there are lots of spiders and bugs in the woods. Now that you mention it, spiders creep me out, too. We'll never get to sleep.
LH: 那要不咱俩儿说点儿别的，没准注意力一转移，就不会去想那些吓人的事了。
LL: When I was young and went camping with my friends, we always told ghost stories to each other. We had a lot of fun creeping each other out.
LH: 什么，讲鬼故事？Larry! 不许吓唬我！我们现在是要设法不去想那些吓人的事，不是creep each other out!
LL: I guess you are right, Li Hua...
(Snoring sounds)
LL：Hey, did you hear that? I heard another strange noise that is really creeping me out.
LH: 别闹了。那是我在打呼噜呢！我不行了，快睡吧！
今天李华学到了两个常用语.一个是rough it, 意思是在艰苦的条件下生活。另一个是creep someone out, 意思是让人毛骨耸然。
作者：scottzhong 日期：2008-03-04 10:10:38 做记号
美国习惯用语第246讲
今天我们要介绍给大家的两个习惯用语都是以fire这个字为主的。Fire就是火。火对人类来说是非常有用的。它给我们煮饭，使我们保暖，帮助我们制造钢铁和其他金属。然而，在失去控制的情况下，火是很危险的。我们今天要讲的第一个习惯用语就是包含危险的意思。To play with fire.
火是很危险的东西，要是你掉以轻心把它当做好玩的东西来玩的话，那你就犯了严重的错误。要是你不小心地对待火的话，那你就可能会受到伤害。
下面我们来举一个例子。这是一个爸爸在警告自己孩子不要在晚上到市内不安全的地区去。
例句-1: I tell you you'll be playing with fire if you go alone into that neighborhood at night - it's a place where almost anything can happen to you if you don't watch out.
这个爸爸说：我告诉你，要是你一个人晚上到那个地区去，那你就是在冒险。那个地方，要是你不小心的话，什么事情都可能发生的。
美国的城市跟其他各国的城市一样都有一些不太安全的地区。在那些地区里经常发生暴力事件，不是枪击,就是谋杀。因此，一般人都尽量避免到那种地区去，特别是晚上。
******
To play with fire这个俗语不一定是指会造成肉体上的危险。它也可以用在其他方面。下面就是一个例子。这是一个人在劝他的同事不要去跟老板争辩。
例句2: Joseph, I know how you feel about not being selected for the promotion. But I think it would be playing with fire if you point out your boss's relationship with Carol who got the promotion. And besides, you don't have any proof.
这个人说：约瑟夫，你没有被提升，我知道你的心情。但是，你要是指出你老板跟那被提升的卡罗尔的关系，那你是在给自己找麻烦。而且，你也没有任何证据。
美国办公室里的男女关系也经常会产生一些问题。当然，大多数人还是很正派的。可是，也有少数老板，经理或手里有一点权的人想利用职权占点便宜。因此，现在美国联邦政府和其他公司都有关于性骚扰的教育，告诉大家在这方面的界限，以及发生类似问题时该怎么办。
******
我们再给大家介绍一个以fire这个字为主的习惯用语。To fight fire with fire. 要是从字面来解释，那就是：用火来攻火，这当然是不可能的。实际上，to fight fire with fire就是用你对立面对你用的手法来对待他。也可以说是以其人之道还其人之身。下面是一个例子，这是一个参加竞选的政客在说话。
例句3: I had hoped this would be a clean campaign. But if my opponent wants to play dirty and talk about my personal life, I have no choice but to fight fire with fire and talk about some personal things we've found out about him.
这个候选人说：我原先希望这次选举是光明正大的。但是，要是我的对手要耍下流手段，谈论有关我私生活的事，那我就别无选择，只好以其人之道还其人之身了，把我们发现有关他私生活的事也公布于众。
******
下面这个例子是讲一对夫妇。一开始的时候，那个丈夫在外面有外遇。后来，太太也决定用同样的方法来治她的丈夫。下面是他们的一位好朋友在说话。
例句4: Jack and Joan have been my friends for over ten years. I felt bad for Joan when Jack started to have an affair last year. But Joan's decision to fight fire with fire by having an affair herself made things much worse.
这个朋友说：我跟杰克和琼已经是十几年的朋友了。杰克去年开始在外面有外遇。我为琼感到很难受。但是，琼决定自己也去找一个男朋友，用以牙还牙的方式来对待杰克。这可是把事情弄得越来越糟。
作者：scottzhong 日期：2008-03-04 10:22:48 做记号
流行美语第246课
Larry到李华家来看蜘蛛人的DVD。李华今天要学两个常用语，rocket science和chemistry。
LL: What's the matter, Li Hua? I can't believe you are having trouble with the DVD player. I mean, it's not rocket science!
LH: Rocket science？这是我家，又不是航空航天局，怎么会有火箭科学。
LL: Well, when I said it wasn't rocket science, I meant it shouldn't be hard for you to get the DVD player to start.
LH: 噢，rocket Science在这儿的意思是指很难弄懂的东西。但是使用DVD机不该是什么难事。
LL: That's it! Getting the DVD player to work should be as simple as pushing a few buttons, and not nearly as complicated as rocket science. . . Hey, look, you got it working, Li Hua!
LH：行了，没什么难的，只要知道按哪个键就行了。
LL: Now all we need is popcorn to eat with our movie. I can go make some. I mean, making popcorn isn't rocket science.
LH: 好啊，你负责爆米花，东西都在厨房微波炉下面的抽屉里。
LL: Ok, I'm in the kitchen looking at the microwave, and I see three drawers. Which one is it?
LH: It's not rocket science, Larry. 你把三个抽屉都拉开看看不就行了吗！
LL: Oh, look at that! The popcorn was right on top. Now let me read the instructions. Hmm....Should be very easy. One doesn't have to be a rocket scientist to figure this out.
LH: Larry, 你怎么这么长时间啊！要帮忙吗？用微波炉爆米花，不应该是什么rocket Science吧。
LL: It isn't rocket science, Li Hua. The instructions are very easy. It's just I can't get the plastic wrapper off the popcorn packet.
LH: 包装纸撕不开？I'm not a rocket scientist, but let me try. . .你看，只要抓住两边轻轻这么一拉就开了。
LL: Wow, Li Hua. Maybe you are a rocket scientist after all. That was pretty good. I better let you do the rest.
LH: Larry, 别这么懒，你又不是没用过微波炉。You know it's not rocket science.
******
(Operating microwave machine.)
LL: Mmmm...This popcorn is really good, Li Hua. And so is the movie. The chemistry between the lead actor and actress is really good.
LH: 化学？我最后一次上化学课还是高中的事。化学跟蜘蛛人和他的女朋友Mary Jane有什么关系呀？
LL: When two people are attracted to each other or get along really well -- they have chemistry.
LH: 我明白了，就像做化学实验的时候一样。中文里也有两个人之间有化学反应的说法，就是说两个人互相吸引，或者是很合得来。
LL: So, now that you know what I meant by "chemistry," what do you think -- do the actors in Spiderman have good chemistry or not?
LH: 我觉得有。他们演得很逼真，真让我觉得他们彼此相爱。但是我有一个问题，Larry.
LL: What is it, Li Hua?
LH: 有的时候化学物质混在一起可能起发生爆炸，那这是不是“坏的”化学反应呢？能用来形容人跟人之间的关系吗？
LL: Absolutely! When two people really don't like each other or can't get along -- that is bad chemistry.
LH: 我原来有两个邻居，可以说是势不两立，经常互相对骂，他们俩而就是纯粹的bad chemistry.
LL: It sure sounds like it. Speaking of bad chemistry, one of the people I work with really doesn't get along with my boss. They often argue about the littlest things.
LH: 你同事跟老板有bad chemistry？那可得小心，不定哪天就会被炒了鱿鱼。
LL: You're right, Li Hua...Say, Li Hua, what do you think about the chemistry between us?
LH: Larry, 这还用问吗！It's not rocket science. 我们认识都快七年了，没有good chemistry, 就不会一直做朋友做到今天了。
今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是rocket science, 意思是很难做，很难懂的事情。另一个是chemistry, 是指人跟人之间的感情关系。
作者：scottzhong 日期：2008-03-05 11:57:34 做记号
美国习惯用语第247讲
这次节目里我们要讲的两个习惯用语都有一个关键的字。那就是：Half. Half就是什么东西，什么份量或重量的一半。我们今天要讲的第一个习惯用语是：Half-baked. Bake就是烤蛋糕，烤面包，或烤其他食品的烤。Bake的过去式就是在bake后面加一个d，成为baked。Half-baked这两个字之间有一个连接号。Half-baked的意思不难猜。要是一只鸡放在烤箱里没有烤熟就拿出来了。那就是half-baked。同样，一个没有完成的计划，或项目也可以说是half-baked。
在下面我们要举的例子里，一个公司的经理在对公司的经销部主任讲话。
例句-1: Bill, I'm sorry but this sales plan looks half-baked to me. There are some good ideas here, but I want you to take it back and do some more work on it.
这个经理说：比尔，我很抱歉。这个推销计划看起来好像还不完整。计划里有些主意很好，但是我要你把这个计划拿回去再在上面下点功夫。
******
每个人做事的作风不一样。有的人很麻俐，办什么事都乾净利索，有始有终。可是，也有人做什么事都是拖拖拉拉，而且还往往做了一半就不干了。下面是一个爸爸在劝自己的儿子做事不要虎头蛇尾。
例句2: You see, you washed the car, but left the Windows unclean. You did the dishes last night, but you forgot to turn on the dishwasher. Somehow you give people the impression that whatever you do is half-baked.
这个爸爸说：你看，你洗了汽车，但是没有把窗子打扫乾净。昨晚，洗了碗，但是你忘了开洗碗机的开关。你似乎给人一个印象，不管你做什么，你总是虎头蛇尾,没做完。
美国家庭往往给孩子分配一些适合他们的工作，培养他们帮助父母做一些家务的习惯。但是，现在很多地方都有机器洗汽车的服务，所以自己洗车的人越来越少。
******
要是一个人对自己做的事缺乏热情，那这个人对自己从事的工作就会漠不关心，是成功还是失败都不在乎。这在英文里就是：Half-hearted. Half-hearted是由half和hearted这两个字组成，当中有一个连接号。Half-hearted从字面上就可以猜到它的意思。也就是：半心半意。Half-hearted的反面就是 wholehearted。那就是：全心全意。我们来举一个例子。
在这个例子里不仅有half-hearted跟wholehearted这两个字，而且还有我们刚才讲的第一个习惯用语half-baked。现在请大家听这个例句。
例句3: Normally I'd give my wholehearted support to a bill to cut taxes. But this bill is so half-baked I can only give it half-hearted support and hope that somebody else introduces a bill that makes better sense.
说这句话的人似乎是一个国会议员。他是在说他对其他议员提出的提案的看法。这句话的意思是：在一般情况下，我会全心全意支持减少税收的提案。但是这个提案很不成熟，我只能半心半意地支持它。我希望有人会提出一个更有意义的提案。
******
我们再用half-hearted和wholehearted这两个字来举一个例子。上面这个例句涉及政治问题。下面这个例句讲的是爱情。这是一个哥哥在劝他的弟弟。
例句4: Mark, you're my brother, but I have to be frank with you. I can understand why your wife wants to divorce you. You must admit you've never loved her wholeheartedly and half-hearted love is worse than none.
这个哥哥说：马克，你是我的亲兄弟，可是我得跟你很坦率。我能够理解为什么你的妻子要和你离婚。你必须承认，你从来也没有全心全意地爱过她，而半心半意的爱比没有爱心更坏。
作者：scottzhong 日期：2008-03-05 12:03:48 做记号
流行美语第247课
Larry有两张歌剧的票，邀请李华一起去。李华今天要学两个常用语，primo和glued。
LL: Hey, Li Hua, I've got two primo tickets to the opera. Would you like to come with me?
LH: 歌剧？好啊。不过Larry, 什么是primo ticket ? Primo听起来不太象英语，是外来语吧？
LL: You are right, Li Hua. Primo is an Italian word that means "number one" or "first-class."
LH: 噢，primo是意大利语，意思是最好的，最棒的。
LL: When I said I had primo tickets to the opera, I meant I had very, very good seats.
LH：既然你有最好的票，那我们一定有primo seats, 最好的座位了！
LL: Yes, we do have primo seats. The tickets are for two seats right in front of the center-stage.
LH: 前排最中间，真是太好了，我们一定能看得特别清楚。对了，我们看的是哪一部歌剧啊？
LL: It is Verdi's Aida. Since it is an opera in Italian, I guess it is appropriate to say it will be a "primo" experience.
LH: 我听说过，威尔第的《阿依达》是一部很有名的意大利歌剧，但是我从来没看过。
LL: Yes, Aida is a very famous opera, and I know you will enjoy it. I've also heard the tenor has a primo voice.
LH: Larry, 这两张primo tickets会不会很贵啊。
LL: Actually, no. I got a primo deal on the tickets. My friend bought season tickets to the orchestra, but couldn't make this performance. He sold them to me for half price.
LH: 原来是你朋友买的季票，但是正好不能去，所以半价卖给你。That is a primo deal!
LL: And I was thinking before the opera, we could have dinner. I know a primo little Italian restaurant near the opera house.
LH: 意大利饭，太棒了！我最喜欢吃意大利饭了。
LL: I think you will find the food at this place is primo - Some of the best in New York City.
LH: 现在只有一个问题，Larry. I don't have any primo clothes to wear! 周末先得去买一身正式点儿的衣服。
******
(After the opera)
LL: Wasn't the opera amazing! I was glued to my seat the whole time.
LH: 什么？让我看看，你裤子上没有胶水儿啊，你怎么会一直粘在椅子上呢？
LL: I don't actually have glue on my pants, Li Hua. When I said I was glued to my seat, I meant I was so fascinated by the opera I didn't want to get up.
LH: 噢，我明白了，你是说歌剧太精彩了，你听得全神贯注。确实没错，特别是那个男高音，唱得简直太棒了。I was glued to my seat, too.
LL: It reminds me of this lecture about China I went to not long ago. The professor who spoke was very entertaining and charismatic.
LH: 你是说那个教授讲得太吸引人了，大家都坐在椅子上一动不动，听得聚精会神？
LL: Actually, not only was I glued to my seat, I was glued to his every word.
LH: 每个字？能让你这样的学生把他的每个字都听进去，这个教授一定很棒。
LL: He was really good, and he had a lot of interesting things to say about life in China today. What about you, Li Hua? What keeps you glued to your seat?
LH: 我最近正在看一部韩剧《朱蒙》，剧情太吸引人了，我一集接一集地看，根本放不下。I am glued to the TV set for hours.
LL: If you are glued to your television for hours, you have really become an American, Li Hua!
LH: 你为什么这么说呀？
LL: I think statistics show Americans on average are glued to their television sets for nineteen hours a week.
LH: 我简直不敢相信，美国人每星期要看十九个小时的电视，我可能连九个小时都看不了。跟看电视比起来，我更喜欢看书。
LL: Are you reading anything good right now?
LH: 我最近正在看一本畅销的侦探小说。I have been glued to every page!
今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是primo, 意思是最棒的。另一个是glued, 是指被深深吸引，全神贯注的意思。
作者：scottzhong 日期：2008-03-06 10:25:36 做记号
美国习惯用语第248讲
在这次节目里，我们要给大家介绍两个都是以bottom这个字为主的习惯用语。Bottom就是底部，也就是最下面的地方。我们要讲的第一个习惯用语就是：To get to the bottom of something. To get to the bottom of something就是找出某件事情的真相。
我们往往会从不同的人那里得到不同的信息。那我们就得做出一个判断，究竟谁说的是实话，谁在说假话。在这种情况下，我们往往会用to get to the bottom of something这个习惯用语。比如说，在法庭上，一个法官听到双方的不同说法。法官就得想办法弄清楚这个案件的真正事实。
在家里，有的时候孩子打破了什么东西。他们就互相指责。这时家长就得弄个水落石出，弄清楚事实的真相。下面就是一个很生气的爸爸在说话。
例句-1: You kids keep blaming each other for breaking the window. Now sit down and answer my questions - I'm going to get to the bottom of this and find out who did it if it takes all night!
这个爸爸说：你们这些孩子打破了窗子，老是互相指责。现在你们都跟我坐下来，回答我的问题。我一定要把事情弄清楚，那怕我们一夜不睡也得弄清楚究竟是谁干的。
******
大多数美国人都用信用卡买东西。有的人身上现金非常少，买几块钱的东西都用信用卡。许多人都有好几种信用卡。这是因为每个信用卡都让你借钱。另外，发放信用卡的公司也不断设法提供各种优惠来吸引人们用他们的信用卡。百货公司也鼓励人们用他们的信用卡来买东西，所以一个人有十几张信用卡也是不足为奇的。可是，在使用信用卡方面也有不少弊病，有的不务正业的人通过各种方法来盗用别人的信用卡。下面就是一个例子。
例句2: I didn't use my credit card last month. So I was shocked when I saw on the statement for last month that there's a new balance of two thousand dollars. I'm going to get to the bottom of this and find out who used my credit card.
这个人说：上个月我没有用信用卡。当我在上个月帐单上看到我花了两千美元的时候，我真是大吃一惊。我得追根究底把事情弄清楚，找出到底是谁用了我的信用卡。
******
下面我们要讲的一个习惯用语也是以bottom这个字为主的。这个习惯用语就是：To scrape the bottom of the barrel. To scrape就是刮。Barrel是一个圆的桶。当桶里的好东西都给别人都拿走了的时候，你就不得不刮桶底剩下的东西了。下面是一个例句。这是在说战争时期征兵的情况。
例句3: At first only young, healthy, single men were taken for military service. But the war lasted so long they had to scrape the bottom of the barrel and take married men and older men with all sorts of health problems.
这句话翻译到中文就是说：最初，征兵的对象只是身体健康的单身年轻男子。但是，战争拖的那么久，他们不得不迁就地把那些结过婚的男人和那些有各种病的年纪大一些的男子征兵入伍。
这当然是在说以前战争期间的情况。现在，美国部队的组成跟过去相比有很大的不同。现在美国部队里有不少女兵，但是有的军校仍然全部是男生，有的人认为现在应该招收女生。另外一个有争论的问题是女兵参加实战是否合适。
******
美国的许多商店一般在年初冬天即将结束，春天马上来临的时刻进行大减价。有的大减价只有一天，有的两三天或一个星期。下面是一个人在对他的妹妹说话。
例句4: A couple of companies are having one-day clearance sales today. They have lots of stuff on sale at 50 to 70% discount. If I were you, I'd go early. If you go late in the afternoon after work, you'll have to scrape the bottom of the barrel.
这个人说：有两个公司今天有一天的清仓大减价。有的东西的价钱降低百分之五十到百分之七十。要是我是你，我就早点去。要到下午上完班再去，那你可能就只能从卖剩下来的东西里去挑了。
许多美国人都利用这类减价的时候买东西。在季节转换之前，商店一般都要举行大减价，清理仓库，以便进货新的商品。清仓减价的时候可以买到非常便宜的东西。
作者：scottzhong 日期：2008-03-06 10:28:24 做记号
流行美语第248课
李华刚买了一台笔记本电脑。她今天要学两个常用语，bells and Whistles和savvy。
LL: So, you got a new laptop computer, Li Hua? Wow! It has all the bells and whistles, doesn't it?
LH: Bells and whistles？我怎么没看见这台电脑上有什么铃铛和哨子啊。
LL: Oh, What I meant was that your lap top has a lot of special features and extras that ordinary lap tops don't have.
LH: 噢，我知道了，你刚才说的bells and whistles是指电脑上的DVD播放器和超宽屏幕等额外的功能。
LL: Yeah, that is right. Manufacturers like to put lots of bells and whistles on lap tops to entice people to buy them.
LH：没错，我就是冲着这些bells and whistles才买这台电脑的。你看，上面还有无线调制解调器和一个超大储存量的硬盘呢！
LL: When I bought a lap top computer last year, Li Hua, I did NOT get one with all the bells and whistles, and now I kind of regret it.
LH: 是啊，这些bells and whistles确实要多花点儿钱，可我觉得还是值得的。
LL: I suppose I can always add some bells and whistles to my basic lap top. I would like to have a bigger hard drive.
LH: 我听说加个硬盘并不难，我觉得你真的可以在你的电脑上加点儿bells and whistles.
LL: Although sometimes it is possible to have too many bells and whistles!
LH: Bells and whistles还会嫌太多吗？
LL: Well, I was thinking of the cell phone I bought recently. It definitely came with all the bells and whistles. So many bells and whistles, in fact, I don't even know everything it does!
LH: 你是说手机啊。我也有同感。现在的手机功能越来越多，很多我都用不着，也不知道该怎么用。
LL: But some people really like to have all the bells and whistles. Like my Dad. The last time he went shopping for a new car, it had to have all the bells and whistles.
LH: 车上能有些什么bells and whistles？
LL: He wanted a car with leather seats that heated themselves and had a built in global positioning system.
LH: 能加热的皮座椅，全球定位系统，看来车上也能有不少的bells and whistles.
******
LH: Larry, 你能帮我把这些软件装到电脑上吗？
LL: I am happy to help you load your software on your new lap top, Li Hua. You know I'm tech savvy.
LH: Tech Savvy? 我知道tech是technology科技的意思，那savvy呢？
LL: Savvy means to understand something very well.
LH: 所以你说自己tech savvy, 就是说你对电脑和高科技的东西很在行喽？
LL: That's right. I've always been interested in computers, and as a result I am fairly tech savvy.
LH: 那太好了。我可一点儿也不tech savvy. 我就知道怎么用电脑写论文，发电子邮件，除此之外就一窍不通了。Larry, 除了高科技以外，还有什么东西可以说savvy吗？
LL: Oh, sure, Li Hua. We often say that some one who dresses well and has good fashion sense is fashion savvy.
LH: 噢，fashion savvy就是很跟得上服装的潮流。那我可以说fashion savvy吧。
LL: Oh, you definitely have fashion savvy, Li Hua. You always dress very stylishly.
LH: 这肯定是我祖母的遗传。我看过她的照片，穿得可漂亮了。She definitely had fashion savvy.
LL: A person can also have street savvy.
LH: Street savvy? 你是说会认路吗？或者是有方向感？
LL: No, no. A person with street savvy knows how people act in the city and how to be safe in parts of the city that might be a little rough.
LH: 噢，street savvy是说街头的生存能力，特别是能在那些比较乱的街区不惹麻烦。看来，tech savvy和street savvy我都学不来，有fashion savvy就行了。
今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是bells and whistles, 意思是附加的功能或是点缀品。另一个是savvy, 是指在什么方面很在行。
作者：scottzhong 日期：2008-03-07 11:39:05 做记号
美国习惯用语第249讲
今天我们要讲的两个习惯用语都跟吃午饭有关系。午饭在英文里就是：Lunch美国人有一个很老的俗语，那就是：There's no such thing as a free lunch. 这个俗语翻到中文就是：白吃午饭这种事是没有的。这句话现在已经成为美国人经常用的俗语了。它的含意当然要超越午饭这个范围。There's no such thing as a free lunch的确切意思就是：世界上没有任何不付出代价就能得到的东西；也许当时你不用付出代价，但是迟早你得付，即便不是付钱，你也得为别人效劳来偿还。
美国的一些行业及劳工组织雇用一些游说的人去影响政府官员。这些人很愿意请官员们去吃午饭，或者带他们出去旅行。但是，他们期望这些白吃白喝的官员能够做一些对他们有利的事，以致回报。下面这个例句是一个国会议员在说话。
例句-1: I never let a lobbyist buy me a lunch or do any favor for me. Early in my political career I learned the truth of the old saying - there's no such thing as a free lunch.
这个国会议员说：我从来没有让一个游说者请我吃过午饭，或者为我做什么事。俗话说，世上没有白吃饭的事。在我政治生涯的早期，我就懂得这句话的意思了。
******
在美国，你经常可以看到free这个字，特别是在商业广告上。初到美国来的人往往会被这个字吸引，以为真的能拿到不要钱的东西。但是，仔细一看这个free都是有条件的。下面这个例句是一个到美国来不久的学生在说话。
例句2: Seeing the word "free" in ads used to excite me because I thought the store was giving away stuff. Later I learned that there's really no such thing as a free lunch. They always want you to buy something and then give you some cheap gift to make you feel good.
这个学生说：我过去一看到广告上有免费这个字就觉得很高兴，以为商店可能在送东西给顾客。后来我才知道真是没有不要钱的事。他们总是要你买点什么东西，然后给你一个不值钱的礼物让你感到很高兴。
******
刚才我们说的是几乎不要钱的午饭，下面我们要讲的一个习惯用语是价钱很高的午饭。这个习惯用语就是：Power lunch. Power就是有力量的或是有权力的。那么，什么是 power lunch 呢？Power lunch就是有两个或更多的重要人物在一起吃午饭，但是他们并不是像一般朋友那样为了见见面，聊聊天而一起吃午饭；他们是为了谈生意，或其他工作上的事。
Power lunch一般是在很贵的饭馆里举行，因为请客的一方可以向自己的公司报销。在这种饭馆里工作是很好的，下面这个例句就给大家提供了一个很好的实例。
例句3: My brother works in a place that is very popular for power lunches. And he gets plenty of nice big tips because these people like to show off in front of each other.
这个人说：我弟弟工作的地方常常有要人在那里吃午饭。由于这些人要在自己的客人面前摆阔气，所有我弟弟经常得到很多小费。
在美国，到饭馆去吃饭要给小费已经成了必定之规。给多少小费是根据帐单上的总数。一般是总数的百分之十到百分之十五。但是人们往往给百分之十五。当然，这并不是硬性规定的，有的人给的很少，服务员就不会太高兴。有的美国人给的很多，经常给百分之二十的小费。
******
我们再来举一个例子。这是一个人在说他的朋友。
例句4: For the first time my friend Leo, a rising young star in New York financial circles, got invited to attend a power lunch today. He said he didn't enjoy it too much though because the big shots there scarcely noticed him.
这个人说：我的朋友利奥很年轻，他在纽约金融界越来越走红。今天，他第一次被邀请去出席一次全是要人参加的午餐会。但是他说他并不感到高兴，因为那些大人物根本没注意到他。
作者：scottzhong 日期：2008-03-07 11:41:03 做记号
流行美语第249课
李华到Larry家借书，正好赶上Larry的朋友Dave打电话来 。她今天要学两个常用语, fed up和off the hook。
LL: That was just Dave on the phone, Li Hua. He is really fed up right now.
LH: Dave给你打电话，就是告诉你他吃多了吗？
LL: No, Li Hua. To be fed up is to run out of patience in a difficult situation and to become angry.
LH: 噢，fed up不是指吃多了，而是说受够了。
LL: That's right. Dave has been having a bad day, and he has good reason to be fed up.
LH：他遇到什么倒霉事了吗？
LL: Well, Dave's car broke down on his way to work today, and he called a tow truck to come and get him. He's fed up, because he has been waiting for over an hour for the tow truck to arrive.
LH: 拖车一个多小时还没到。换成我，也会fed up.
LL: And Dave is also fed up with his car. This is the third time in the last month that his car has broken down.
LH: 一个月坏三次。那可真得换车了，难怪他说自己受够了。他给你打电话就是抱怨这些吗？
LL: He was hoping that if the tow truck didn't come in the next few minutes I might be able to give him a ride to work. He doesn't want his boss to get too fed up with him.
LH: 噢，原来是求你送他去上班。一而再，再而三地因为车子抛锚而上班迟到，确实会引起老板的怀疑。
LL: I don't think Dave's boss is completely fed up with him YET, but Dave doesn't want to take any chances.
LH: 那当然了。他好不容易才找到这份工作，因为这个被炒鱿鱼，太不值得了。
LL: Yeah. Personally, I'm a little fed up with Dave right now, too.
LH: Dave有什么让你受不了的呢？
LL: Well, every time Dave's car breaks down, he calls me to ask for a ride. I'm getting a little fed up with having to rearrange my schedule to keep helping Dave out.
LH: 确实有点儿烦。不过，他是你的朋友，大家应该互相帮助嘛！
LL: You are right, Li Hua. I shouldn't get fed up with Dave. (Phone rings) It's Dave on the phone.
******
LH: Dave打电话说什么？
LL: He told me the tow truck finally arrived. It looks like I'm off the hook!
LH: Off the hook? 这种说法跟钓鱼有关吧？
LL: Yes, it does, Li Hua. You know when you go fishing for fun, how you put a hook on the end of your line?
LH: 当然了，我还记得上次跟你老爸一起去钓鱼，鱼线最后面有一个钩子，在上面挂上鱼饵。
LL: And when a worm is off the hook, it is free. Just like I am now. I am off the hook, because I don't need to drive Dave to work after all.
LH: 所以，off the hook就是脱身的意思。你不用再开车送Dave去上班了，所以你说自己是off the hook.
LL: That's right. Say, speaking of obligations, don't you have a Chinese class you should be teaching right now?
LH: Oh, No. I am off the hook today, Larry. 今天学校放假，所以我不用去教中文课了！
LL: I forgot that today is a holiday. Unfortunately, I am NOT off the hook today. I need to go into work this afternoon to finish up a project I am working on.
LH: 那你就是on the hook喽？
LL: Well, we don't really say someone is "on the hook" in English when we mean they have something they need to do.
LH: 所以说不用再去做一件事情是off the hook, 但是反过来，必须去做一件事情，则不能说on the hook.
LL: You've got it, Li Hua. Say, how about going to a movie tonight? Do you still have to write your paper for Professor Jones, or are you off the hook?
LH: 唉，I'm not off the hook. 我今天晚上必须得写完那篇论文。我可不希望让琼斯教授 fed up with me.
今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是fed up, 意思是不耐烦，受够了。另一个是off the hook, 是脱身，摆脱责任的意思。
作者：scottzhong 日期：2008-03-08 11:23:51 做记号
美国习惯用语第250讲
今天我们要讲的两个习惯用语都是跟钱有关系的。钱在英文里有各种说法。一个用得最普遍的就是：Money. 我们首先要给大家介绍的一个习惯用语恐怕是许多人都很欢迎的。这个习惯用语是：Easy money. Easy就是容易，money就是钱。Easy money有两种不同的意思。Easy money可以指用花招或欺骗手段得来的不义之财。但是，easy money一般是指没有花什么功夫而得来的钱财。我们来举一个例子。这是一个人做了一笔很好的房地产生意。他说：
例句-1: I heard about this house the owner had to sell in a hurry, so I got it at a very cheap price. A week later I sold it for a 20,000 dollar profit. Talk about your easy money!
这个好运气的人说：我听说这栋房子的房主急于要出售这房子，所以我以很便宜的价格买进了。一个星期后，我把它卖掉，从中赚了两万美元。这真是轻而易举得来的钱。
请大家不要以为在美国赚钱都是那么容易。像这种机会是不多的。相反地，美国商店亏本倒闭的也不少，特别是在经济不景气的时候。
******
想轻而易举地得到钱是可以理解的，但是重要的问题是用什么手段，通过什么途径。美国是一个物质丰富的国家，有些年轻人对于物质享受已经习以为常，以为什么东西都很容易得到。在无法得到的时候，有些人就采用犯罪手段。这也是美国年轻人当中犯罪的原因之一。下面我们来给大家举一个例子。这是一个老师在对学生讲话。
例句2: I know you all want to be successful in the future. But the best way to do that is to get a good education. If I were you, I'd study hard and not spend a lot of time in figuring out how to make easy money.
这位老师说：我知道你们都希望将来很成功。可是，要达到这个目的的最好方法就是受到良好的教育。要是我是你们的话，我就努力学习，而不是化好多时间去想怎么样才能轻而易举地得到钱。
******
钱在英文里有好几种说法。Money只是其中最普遍的一个字。另外，你可以说：Dollar. Dollar就是美金，或美元。那当然是钱。我们下面要给大家介绍的一个习惯用语就是和dollar这个字有关。To bet one's bottom dollar. To bet就是打赌。One's bottom dollar就是一个人把钱都花完了，只剩下口袋底里最后一张钞票。当某人用自己最后剩下的钱去打赌的时候，这个人一定很自信，认为自己在某个问题上完全准确，因此愿意冒一切风险来证实这一点。
下面是一个例子。通过这个例子我们可以看到在日常生活中这个习惯用语是怎么用的。
例句3: You know, Senator Clark keeps telling the press that he won't run for president in 1996. But I'd bet my bottom dollar that two years from now he'll announce he's a candidate.
这个人说：你知道，克拉克参议员不断地对新闻界说，他在1996年不会参加总统竞选。但是，我可以跟你打赌，两年以后，他会宣布他参加竞选的。
******
下面又是一个例子。这是一个人在说他的同事。
例句4: Our company was to deliver the ordered products to our clients before four in the afternoon. However, Larry forgot the whole thing and the client was mad as a wet hen. But I bet my bottom dollar that Larry will blame somebody else for his mistake.
这个人说：我们公司应该在下午四点以前把客户的定货送到客户那里去。可是，拉里完全忘了这件事，把我们的客户都快气疯了。不过，拉里肯定会把他的错误的责任推给别人的，我可以跟你打赌。
作者：scottzhong 日期：2008-03-08 11:25:36 做记号
流行美语第250课
Larry和李华开车到游乐园去坐过山车。她今天要学两个常用语，Oh boy和scaredy-cat。
LL: Oh, Boy! Isn't this amusement park great, Li Hua! I can't wait to take a ride on the roller coaster.
LH: Oh, Boy？我知道你早就盼着来这儿坐过山车。可你说oh boy是什么意思啊？
LL: "Oh, Boy!" is a common American expression that really has nothing to do with boys at all.
LH: 那你刚才说Oh boy是什么意思呢？
LL: When I said "Oh, Boy!" I was expressing that I was excited about coming to the park and that I was looking forward to the fun we are going to have today.
LH: 所以你说Oh boy是表示高兴和兴奋。
LL: That's right. Oh, Boy! Li Hua, look at that. There is someone selling cotton candy. I love cotton candy.
LH: 我从没吃过棉花糖，好吃吗？
LL: Oh, boy, is it ever! It is so light and sweet. I am sure you will love it.
LH: Oh boy! Larry, 你看，那边有旋转木马。
LL: Well, let's take a ride on the carousel. It will be a lot of fun. But did you see the roller coaster, Li Hua? Oh, boy... (Nervous tone)
LH: 怎么了？刚才你说oh boy, 好象不太高兴。
LL: I just saw that the roller coaster flips you upside down, and I really don't like roller coasters that flip you upside down. Oh, boy...
LH: 可你刚才不是说oh boy是高兴的意思吗？
LL: Well, it all depends on your tone, Li Hua. If you say "Oh, Boy!" like this, it means you are happy. If you say "Oh, boy" like this, it means you are concerned or dismayed about something.
LH: 噢，我明白了。 Oh boy既可以指让人高兴的事，也可以指让人担心的事，完全取决于语气。
LL: That's right, Li Hua. It all depends on how you say it.
******
LL: I can't believe I am so worried about riding this roller coaster. I am usually not this much of a scaredy-cat.
LH: 什么是scaredy-cat? 听起来好象是胆小鬼的意思。
LL: You are absolutely right, Li Hua. And right now, I am feeling like a big scaredy-cat about the roller coaster.
LH: 你现在什么感觉？
LL: Well, right now, I have this tight feeling in my stomach, and I am shaking a little. See, look at how my hand is shaking.
LH: 我害怕的时候手也会抖，心里还会砰砰地跳。
LL: What about you, Li Hua? I thought you told me once you didn't like riding roller coasters. Why aren't you acting like a scaredy-cat now?
LH: 我以前也不敢做过山车，后来咬着牙试了一次，发现根本不可怕，而且头冲下的时候特别刺激。
LL: Okay. I'll try to be brave and ride the roller coaster with you. So, is there anything that makes you feel like a scaredy-cat, Li Hua?
LH: 说起来有点儿丢人。我最怕的是游泳。
LL: You are a scaredy-cat about swimming? Why is that, Li Hua?
LH: 因为我小时候没机会学游泳，所以长大后，不仅不敢下水游泳，连坐船都会害怕。
LL: You know, my mother is a big scaredy-cat about flying on planes. She doesn't like the feeling of going up into the air.
LH: 我听说很多人都害怕坐飞机，去什么地方，宁可开车或是坐火车 去。
LL: My mom is like that. If she can she'd rather drive or take a train when she travels.
LH: 每个人都有自己害怕的事情。
LL: Well, I think people are scaredy-cats about things they think are dangerous.
LH: 你说得没错。不过如果什么都怕，什么都不敢尝试，不是也很无聊吗？
LL: Maybe so, but I am still feeling like a scaredy-cat about that roller coaster. Do I really have to go, Li Hua?
LH: Larry, 我保证你不会掉下来。So stop being a scaredy-cat, and let's go.
今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是oh boy, 用来表达高兴或是担心的情绪。另一个是scaredy-cat, 是胆小鬼的意思。
作者：scottzhong 日期：2008-03-09 10:40:53 做记号
美国习惯用语第251讲
我们已经给大家介绍过几个跟钱有关的习惯用语。今天我们再给大家讲两个以钱，也就是money这个字为主的习惯用语。对于许多人来说，钱是非常重要的东西。在美国的成语和俗语里有不少是跟钱这个字有关的。
我们今天首先要给大家介绍的一个习惯用语是：Smart money. Smart这个字有好几个解释，比如说，聪敏，伶俐，漂亮，还可以解释为厉害等。在smart money这个习惯用语里，smart是指聪敏。大家恐怕也不难猜出smart money的意思。Smart money是指那些有经验的投资商或善于赌博的人经管投资的钱。有的时候，smart money可以直接指这些人。下面就是一个例子。这是一个人在对朋友说经商的前景。
例句-1: Do you think the economy is heading up or down? The smart money seems to think that business will get better so maybe it's time to put some money into the stock market.
这个人说：你认为经济的前景是会变得更兴旺呢，还是会变得越来越疲软。那些搞经济的专家们似乎认为商业会越来越好，所以，也许现在是把一些钱投资到股票市场去的时候了。
******
由于美国投资市场五花八门，许多人都感到难以入门，可是最保险的银行存款又利率太低，所以越来越多的人把钱投入互助基金等收益更高的投资项目。下面就是一个退休的人在说他自己的经历。
例句2: In the past, interest from my bank account was a good source of income to have after I retire. But interest rates are so low these days that I have to let those smart money people who handle mutual funds take care of my money.
这位老人说：过去，我从银行存款所得到的利息是我退休后很好的一笔收入。但是，现在利率那么低，我不得不让那些管理互助基金的专业人员来经管我的钱。
******
下面我们要给大家介绍一个非常有趣的习惯用语。这个习惯用语就是：Mad money. Mad这个字可以解释为：发疯。也可以说是：快气疯了。但是在这里mad是指非常生气。那么，钱怎么会生气的呢？ 最开始的时候，mad money是年轻女子跟男朋友一起出去玩的时候自己身上藏的一点钱。万一她跟男朋友生气了，或吵架了，那她至少自己有钱叫出租车回家去。
现在，mad money的含义已经扩大了。Mad money是另外放出的一小部份现金，准备在紧急时候用的。我们来举一个例子吧。这是一个丈夫在说话。
例句3: The other day we ran out of gas sixty miles from home. I had forgotten my wallet. But we were lucky - my wife remembered she had her mad money, so we were able to buy gas to get back home.
这个丈夫说：那天，我们在离家六十英哩的地方发现汽车里没有汽油了。我那天又忘了带钱包。但是，我们很幸运，因为我太太记得她有一些准备急用的现金，所以我们能买了汽油，开车回家。
******
下面是一个爸爸在说他女儿的经历。
例句4: Last Saturday, my daughter was invited to a dinner party and planned to buy a cake on her way. In the bakery, she found out that she'd forgotten her purse. Fortunately, she had her mad money in her pocket to pay for the cake, so it turned out all right.
这个爸爸说：上星期六，我女儿的朋友请她去吃晚饭。她准备在去的路上买一个蛋糕。她在蛋糕店里的时候发现她没有带钱包。还好她口袋里有一些应急用的现金可以付蛋糕钱，所以就没问题了。
作者：scottzhong 日期：2008-03-09 10:42:07 做记号
流行美语第251课
Larry告诉李华说，他正在给公司做一个大项目，忙得连饭都没时间吃。李华今天要学两个常用语，snarf和power nap.
LL: I've been so busy with this project, Li Hua, I've hardly had any time to eat. Today I just snarfed down a sandwich at lunch, and I haven't eaten anything since.
LH: 你只吃了个三明治？snarf也是吃的意思吗？
LL: Snarf is another word for eat, Li Hua, but when you snarf something you eat it really quickly in a very short amount of time.
LH: 噢，snarf是狼吞虎咽的意思。你是因为要赶项目，没时间吃饭，所以才匆忙地吃了个三明治。
LL: Yeah. And when I snarfed down the sandwich, I didn't really enjoy it. I ate it so fast I didn't even really taste it.
LH: 有时候我赶着写论文或是判作业，没时间吃饭，也会凑合着只吃几口炒饭填饱肚子。
LL: You know, since I haven't had anything to eat since I snarfed down that sandwich, I am feeling hungry again.
LH: Larry, 我这儿有盒饼干，你先吃几块，来垫垫肚子罗。
LL: Thanks, Li Hua. That is really nice. But I'm so hungry, I'm afraid I'd snarf up your entire box of cookies.
LH: 都吃了也不要紧，我不在乎这盒饼干，不过光吃饼干可没什么营养。
LL: You are right, Li Hua. I really shouldn't snarf up all these cookies.
LH: 不如今天晚上咱们找个餐馆，好好补一补，最近我一直在赶论文，也是忙得不可开交。
LL: I'd love to, Li Hua. But, honestly, I don't have enough time to go out with you for a nice relaxing dinner. The deadline for the project is tomorrow, and I have just enough time to snarf down something before I go back to work.
LH: 既然明天就是最后期限，你没时间正经吃饭，那就更不能光啃饼干了，而是应该吃点儿有营养的。这样才能补充能量。
LL: Okay, I do have time to go to a fast food place.
LH: 拐角处就有一家面条店，保证你二十分钟就能回去上班。
LL: And snarfing down a bowl of noodles does sound better than snarfing down a box of cookies, Li Hua.
******
LH: 这家店的面条还真好吃。
LL: Yeah, But now I'm feeling a little sleepy. I think I am going to need to take a power nap before I go back to work.
LH: A power nap? 我知道nap是午觉的意思，可power nap是什么意思啊？
LL: A power nap is a short nap, maybe only fifteen to twenty minutes in length that people take in the middle of their work day to give them more energy, more power!
LH: 噢，就是15分钟，20分钟，打个盹儿的意思。你知道吗，Larry, 在中国睡午觉是很普遍的。我们上学的时候中午都会睡上半个小时左右。
LL: Taking naps isn't as common in the U.S. as it is in China, but more and more Americans are taking power naps.
LH: 昨天晚上我看了一个节目，很有意思，里面说美国人现在越来越忙，晚上睡眠时间不够，所以白天需要take power naps，才能提高效率。
LL: Hey, I saw that report, too!
LH: 现在不少公司为了提高员工的工作效率，都在公司里设立专门供员工睡午觉的地方。
LL: I wish my company had places like that for us to take power naps at work.
LH: 你还记得吗，里面说有一家公司，给员工准备了鸡蛋形的午睡舱，还有舒缓的音乐，帮员工入睡。
LL: Yeah, I'd love to take a power nap in one of those.
LH: 但是打盹儿也要注意不能睡得太久。
LL: I guess that is true. If you end up sleeping too long, you can enter a deep sleep and wake up feeling drowsy and even sleepier than you did before you took you power nap.
LH: 好，到你公司了，你准备在哪儿小睡一会儿呢？
LL: Well, I think I will go back to work and take a power nap at my desk.
LH: Okay, Larry. 明天完成了手头的项目，给我打电话。
今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是 snarf, 是狼吞虎咽的意思。另一个是 power nap, 是打盹儿的意思。
作者：scottzhong 日期：2008-03-10 11:19:11 做记号
美国习惯用语第252讲
今天我们要讲的两个习惯用语听起来都是很顺耳朵的话，但是这些话都是在故意恭维你，以便让你做讲话的人要你做的事。在这方面，最普遍的一个习惯用语就是：Sweet talk. Sweet就是甜的；talk就是讲话。Sweet talk里面的sweet这个字就已经把意思点出来了。Sweet talk听起来很顺耳，但是实际上是拍马，或过份的赞扬。Sweet talk可以作为名词，也可以作为动词。下面是一个例句。在这个例句里sweet talk是用做动词。这是一个爸爸在说他的一个女儿。
例句-1: You know, I think my youngest daughter was born with honey in her mouth! She can sweet-talk me into doing just about anything she wants me to do.
这个爸爸说：你可知道，我想我那最小的女儿生来就是嘴巴甜的。她会用甜言蜜语来让我做几乎任何她要我做的事。
这句话的英文里用的是：was born with honey in her mouth。这是指：她生来嘴巴里就有蜂蜜。我们在这里不必逐个按字面意思来翻，翻成：生来嘴巴甜也就可以了。
******
有的人说，人人都爱听好话。这是人性。这话也许不错，但是也有一些脑子很清醒，不被好话所左右的人。我们来举一个例子。这是一个公司的主管在说他手下的一个雇员。在这个句子里 sweet talk是用做名词。这个主管说：
例句2: Alex has been working for me over a year. He never misses a chance to say what he thinks I want to hear. He hopes I'll assign him nice jobs and eventually promote him. But I don't buy that kind of sweet talk so I guess he'll be disappointed.
这个公司的主管说：亚历克斯在我手下工作已经一年多。他从来不放过机会说他认为我要听的话。他是希望我指派他好的工作，最后提拔他。但是，我可不吃这种拍马奉承。我想他会失望的。
******
下面我们要讲的一个习惯用语也是说好话的意思，但是跟sweet talk有一些不同,。这个习惯用语就是：Snow job. Snow是雪，job一般的解释是工作，也可以指某一项具体的工作。A snow job的意思是不太诚实的话，为了使听话的人相信他，他往往在讲话里撒一、两个谎。A snow job往往是当一个人遇到麻烦的时候想用几句好话来洗刷自己的责任。我们来举一个例子。学校的老师要求学生今天交期终报告，但是有一个学生没有写，所以交不出来。这个学生说：
例句3: I've got to give the teacher a snow job to get her to give me another week. Do you think she'd believe me if I tell her I really wrote the paper, but the dog got it and ate it?
这个学生说：我总得说些什么理由好让老师同意再给我一个星期。要是我告诉她我确实写了报告，但是给家里的狗叼去吃了，你认为她会相信我吗?
狗吃了作业这个理由美国学生用的太多了，这都已经成了笑话。所以，这个老师恐怕是不会相信的。
******
Snow job跟sweet talk一样可以当名词用，也可以当动词用。在上面这个例子里，a snow job是当做名词用。下面我们来举一个把snow job当做动词用的例子。这是一个正在找工作的女孩子约好到某个公司人事处去面谈，但是到了那天她把约会给忘得一干二净。下面是公司人事处主任在跟一个同事说话。
例句4: That girl didn't show up for the interview. She said she felt so dizzy on her way that she could not drive anymore and there was no telephone around. But I have this uneasy feeling she's giving me a snow job.
这位主任说：那个女孩到时候没有来面谈。她说她在路上感到头晕，没法再继续开车，周围又没有电话。可是我总有一种她在说假话的感觉。
作者：scottzhong 日期：2008-03-10 11:25:35 做记号
流行美语第252课
Larry和李华在Larry的朋友Sam家开party。李华今天要学两个常用语，party foul和split.
LL: Gosh, I am SO sorry, Li Hua! I just spilled some of my drink on you. What a party foul!
LH: 没事的，Larry. 只不过是点儿汽水而已，一下就弄干净了。不过，什么是party foul 啊？
LL: A party foul is when you do something really embarrassing at a party - like spill your drink on someone.
LH: 噢，foul 在体育比赛里是犯规的意思，那 party foul 就是指开派对的时候出丑喽。
LL: Right, and nobody really likes to commit a party foul, but sometimes when you are having a lot of fun and there are a lot of people together in one place, it is easy to do something stupid.
LH: 发生 party foul 的时候，其他人会怎样呢？
LL: Sometimes they stare or it gets very quiet - or other times some one might yell, "Party foul!" And everyone will laugh.
LH: 那可真够丢人的。不过，洒点儿饮料不算什么，我见过更糟糕的party foul。
LL: Really? What is the worse party foul you've seen?
LH: 有一次我去参加朋友的婚礼。大家跳舞的时候，发生了我见过的超级party foul.
LL: Don't keep me in suspense, Li Hua! Tell me about this party foul. What happened?
LH: 有个客人踩在了新娘的婚纱上，把婚纱撕掉了一大块。所有人都傻了，大厅里鸦雀无声。
LL: Yikes! That really is a major party foul. What happened then?
LH: 新郎和新娘处理得很好，他们知道那个客人一定很难堪，所以马上开了个玩笑，帮他解围。
LL: I think the most embarrassing party foul I committed was the time I went to a party in a suit.
LH: 穿西装去参加派对有什么不对吗？
LL: Well, I received an invitation to a very fancy New Year's Eve party once from my boss. I didn't read the invitation very closely though.
LH: Uh-oh. 你犯了什么不可饶恕的 party foul 吗？
LL: Well, when I showed up at the party and all the men were wearing tuxedos, I knew I had committed a party foul.
LH: 别人都穿正式的燕尾服，只有你一个人穿西装，肯定特尴尬吧？哎，时间不早了，咱们是不是该走了？
******
LL: This has been a nice party, but you are right, Li Hua. We really should split.
LH: We need to split. Split 不是把东西劈成两半的意思吗？
LL: It is, but split S-P-L-I-T is also a slang term meaning to leave a place - and sometimes to leave a place quickly.
LH: 噢，原来是马上离开的意思。我前天晚上看了一个老的西部片，有个匪徒杀人后就说他要 split town, 逃出城。
LL: That's a good example, Li Hua. That meant he had to get out of town quickly, before the police figured out he had committed the crime.
LH: 好吧，Larry, 我准备好了，Let's split! 我们走吧。
LL: That's a perfect use of "split", Li Hua! But before we split, we really should go find Sam and thank him for a fun evening.
LH: 对啊，不跟主人打招呼就走，别人会觉得我们没礼貌的。
LL: You're right, Li Hua. Oh, there is Sam over there. I'm going to go over and tell him we are going to split.
LH: 等等，Larry. 你看，还有这么多人呢，我们不会走得太早了吧？
LL: No, I don't think it is too early for us to split. We've been here a couple of hours already. Plus, Sam will understand. He knows I have to work tomorrow - and that you have to teach classes.
LH: 那好，我在这儿等你。
(Party sounds and music)
LL: There. I told Sam we were going to split, and that we had a great time.
LH: Sam 没有不高兴吧？
LL: Oh, no. Not at all. In fact, he said he was glad we came and hoped we would come again the next time he had a party.
今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是party foul, 是在part上出丑的意思。另一个是split,是赶快走的意思。
作者：scottzhong 日期：2008-03-11 08:41:41 做记号
美国习惯用语第253讲
今天我们要讲的两个习惯用语都有一个关键的字。这个关键的字就是：Fish. Fish就是很多人都爱吃的鱼。我们今天要讲的第一个以fish这个字为主的习惯用语就是：A fine kettle of fish. Fine就是好的，kettle是煮食品的大铁锅。A fine kettle of fish是指乱七八糟，很令人不愉快的事。这个说法可能是二百五十年前来自苏格兰。
当时，人们把在河边举行野餐会叫做a kettle of fish，因为参加野餐会的人把刚刚从河里钓上来的新鲜鱼放到一个大铁锅里，然后再用木材搭一个火来煮。这些鱼一般都是匆匆忙忙地煮熟了，然后人们把这些滚烫的鱼从锅里拿出来，用手拿着吃。这当然会把手弄得很脏，有时还会把手烫着了。下面我们来举一个例子。这是一个人在说他丢了汽车钥匙所带来的麻烦。
例句-1: There I was, stuck on a lonely road 50 miles from home, after I was stupid enough to lock myself out of my car. It was dark and not a house in sight. A fine kettle of fish, I tell you!
这个人说：我实在是非常傻，把汽车钥匙锁在车里，因此没法把车门打开了。那发生在离我家五十英里的一条路上，四周没有人。当时,天已经黑了，周围看不到一栋房子。我告诉你，那可真是糟糕。
把车钥匙锁在汽车里是经常发生的事。但是许多在美国居住的人都参加一种汽车服务组织，每年付一些会费。要是你开车在路上出了问题，不管是把钥匙忘在车里了，还是因为忘了关车灯了，电池没了，或其他问题，你可以打电话去让他们来帮你解决问题。当然，要是周围没有人，也没有电话，那就麻烦了。
******
有不少美国人都参加俱乐部。有的是跟自己的行业有关的，有的跟自己的兴趣有关的。有的人参加好几个俱乐部。每个俱乐部的规模不同，但是一般都有负责人和财务员。下面是一个人在说他所属俱乐部的财务员突然辞职，因此帐目弄得一塌糊涂。
例句2: He left a fine kettle of fish behind. We couldn't find out what our money had been spent for; we couldn’t tell which members had paid their dues, and the rent wasn't paid. What a mess!
这个人说：他真是留下了一个乱摊子。我们弄不清楚我们的钱是怎么花的。我们也不知道哪些俱乐部成员已经付了会费。我们的房租也没有交。真是一团糟。
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我们今天要讲的第二个习惯用语是：To have other fish to fry. 这里的 fry是指在油里煎。这个习惯用语的真正含义是：当某人请另外一个人做一件事的时候，这个人表示他还有其他更重要的事要做。有的时候，这种回答是真的，有的时候只是一种借口。
下面我们来举一个例子。这是一个人在请他的朋友为一个慈善机构筹款。这个朋友是这么回答的。
例句3: Hey, Joseph, you know I'd sure like to help you raise money for the Red Cross. But I have other fish to fry - I'm chairman of the committee to raise money to fix the roof on my church.
这个朋友回答说：嗨，约瑟夫，你知道我肯定是愿意帮你为红十字会筹款的。但是，我有其他的事。我们教堂的屋顶要修，而我是筹款委员会的主席。
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下面是一个丈夫在对妻子说他自己的生活计划。
例句4: Honey, they want me to run for Congress, but I said no. I have other fish to fry - I need all my time for my business so I can retire when I reach 50 and we can move to Hawaii.
这个丈夫说：亲爱的，他们要我竞选国会议员，但是我拒绝了。我还有别的事要干。我需要把所有的时间放在我的生意上。这样我到了五十岁就能退休，然后我们可以搬到夏威夷去住。
作者：scottzhong 日期：2008-03-11 08:46:09 做记号
流行美语第253课
Larry和李华在咖啡店里买咖啡。李华今天要学两个常用语，newbie和been around.
LL: Wow, it seems to be taking a long time for this guy to get our coffee made. Maybe he is a newbie.
LH: A newbie? 你说他是新来的？
LL: Right. A newbie is someone that is new to a place, activity or organization.
LH: 你说得对，他肯定是新手，好像连咖啡机还用不好呢！
LL: It is like this new guy in my office. He just started work the day before yesterday. He doesn't know where anything is.
LH: 初来乍到是最困难的时候，Larry, 你一定要帮帮这个新同事。
LL: I have been helping him, and he's doing pretty well for a newbie. He is clearly very bright and has picked up on a lot of things very quickly.
LH: 我们的咖啡来了，我们找地儿坐吧。
LL: MMMmmm...It may have taken him a while to make the coffee, but the newbie did a good job. This coffee is great!
LH: 你看，有时候对新手就是要有耐心。我还记得刚开始教中文的时候，样样东西都要学。
LL: What did you find the most difficult about being a newbie Chinese teacher, Li Hua?
LH: 当初最让我头痛的就是安排课堂活动，我总是掌握不好各项活动的时间长短。
LL: Yeah, when I was a newbie, I remember having to learn where everything was in the office and who was responsible for which aspects of my job. . .Say, Li Hua, I want to show you something on my lap top.
(Takes out lap top)
LH: 是新的电脑游戏吗？
LL: Yes, it is a fantasy role-playing game where you pretend to be a warrior or a wizard and run around attacking people and collecting treasure. I've just started the game, so I am kind of a newbie.
LH: 这里面好像还有其他人，他们也是newbies吗？
LL: No, some people have been playing the game for a long time. Their characters are very experienced, and they have fun attacking and stealing treasure from the newbies.
LH: 那你肯定也是被这些老手欺负的对象喽？我是不会玩电脑游戏，也没兴趣。
LL: You should try it, Li Hua. It is a lot of fun to play computer games, and it gets more fun when you aren't a newbie any more.
LH: 还是算了吧，在电脑游戏上面，我宁愿做个newbie.
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LL: Well, when it comes to computer games, I've been around - if you know what I mean, Li Hua.
LH: "Been around"? 我还真不知道这是什么意思。
LL: "Been around" means to have lots of experience doing something. It is actually short for a longer expression...
LH: 我想起来了。说什么人特别老道，就是"He has been around the block."
LL: That's right! We shorten it to ''been around,'' but it basically means the same thing.
LH: 所以你说自己''have been around.'' 就是说你打过很多电脑游戏喽？
LL: That's right. I started playing computer games when I was seven years old, and I still play computer games.
LH: 对了，Larry, 我一直想问你，听说你妹妹有新男朋友了？
LL: Yes, she is dating a new guy. But I'm a little concerned. I think this guy has been around. He is much older than my sister.
LH: 有经验不见得是坏事啊！
LL: Well, he has been around, but not in a good way. I think he has dated a lot of girls and may not be as serious about my sister as she is about him.
LH: 你是怕他不当真，让你妹妹伤心吧。那你妹妹呢？她有没有交过很多男朋友？
LL: No, not really. She is still very young. I wish she would wait until she has been around a bit before deciding she wants to get engaged to this guy.
LH: 别着急，Larry, 你妹妹绝顶聪明，她肯定能做出正确的选择。你要相信她！
今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是newbie, 是新手的意思。另一个是been around, 是老手的意思。
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