美語訓練班第4課:"掃興"相關表達

A: 同學們，打起精神！咱們來學美語！

B: 對！歡迎來到美語訓練班！I'm Donny.

A: 我是王怡茹。今天這節課，我們要去田徑場賽跑，和多年不見的老友不期而遇，計劃一次出國旅行，還要告訴大家怎麼用美語表達“掃興”。

B: Sounds like we've got some really interesting things to show today!

A: Of course! 不過按照老傳統，咱們先教個簡單的, 花一分鐘，學一個詞!

Learn A Word: upcoming

今天我們要學的詞是 upcoming. Upcoming 意思是即將到來的，比如：The upcoming match 就是指即將舉行的比賽。The pop singer has started promoting his upcoming album. 這名流行樂歌手開始爲自己即將發行的新唱片做宣傳。All candidates are gearing up for the upcoming election. 所有候選人都在爲即將舉行的選舉積極做準備。這個週末是美國陣亡將士紀念日的長週末。The upcoming Memorial Day Weekend marks the unofficial kickoff of summer. 即將到來的陣亡將士紀念日長週末標誌着約定俗成的夏季的開始。好的，今天我們學習的詞是 upcoming.

A: 哦！Donny, 那你下星期去紐約做節目，也可以用 upcoming 嘍？

B: That's right. We're going to produce a travel show during my upcoming trip to New York.

A: Sounds like fun. Can I go with you?

B: Sure. I need someone to carry my bags for me. You're welcome to join us!

A: 給你提包啊？No way. 還是讓我們一起看看李華和 Larry 準備去哪裏玩吧。

Popular American: make up your mind // live within your means

現在播送「流行美語」。Larry在和李華商量去什麼地方渡假，他們會用到兩個常用語：make up your mind和live within your means.

Larry: Lihua, do you want to go to Toronto? I did a little research and found some really cool tours and.....

LH: Larry, 我不是很想去多倫多，我想去個有熱帶風情的地方。

Larry: Tropical?

LH: 沒錯!你說加勒比海怎麼樣？

Larry: The Caribbean? Wow, that is very tropical... actually, I know someone who went there last summer, let me give him a call─

LH: 不過! 我又非常想去泰國，那裏的水果和美食太誘人了!

Larry: What?? Thailand? Make up your mind, Lihua!

LH: Make up? 化妝？你在說什麼啊？

Larry: No, not the make-up you put on your face. To "make up your mind" means to make a choice and stick to it.

LH: 哦，to make up your mind就是拿定主意。

Larry: Yea. For example, it often takes you a long time to make up your mind when it comes to what to wear when we go out.

LH: 呵呵，這倒是。出門前我總是不能決定穿哪身衣服。

Larry: And what about your friend at school that couldn't decide which class she wanted to take?

LH: 沒錯。那個同學特別愛學習，什麼課都想選，可是一學期的時間只有那麼多，選修課的數量是有限的。 I wish she would make up her mind!我希望她能快點作出決定。

Larry: Yea, exactly. Indecisive people can sure be annoying sometimes, especially when they cause others to waste time...

LH: 哈! Larry，你說的indecisive people--猶豫不決的人，是在說我吧？我也很想定下旅行的目的地，可是，真的是有太多好玩的地方，我實在拿不定主意！

Larry: What about money? We can drive to Toronto. Thailand would be extremely expensive. Airfare alone would cost us a couple thousand dollars. We do have to live within our means, after all.

LH: 你說的 live within our means，是什麼意思？

Larry: The phrase "living within your means" means to live within the limits of your financial situation. Or, in other words, not spending more money than you can afford to spend.

LH: 哦，to live within your means就是量入爲出，不過度消費。

Larry: That's right. And if we are to live within our means, we certainly cannot afford a vacation in Thailand!

LH: 你是說，從我們的經濟情況考慮，去泰國花銷太高，我們承受不了？可是你工作這麼久，不是已經攢了些錢了麼？

Larry: Not that much money! I'm just an entry-level worker. It will take some years of saving up money before I can afford things like tropical vacations.

LH: 啊？還得再攢好幾年才能來個熱帶風情之旅？唉，Larry, 這隻能怪你平時不知節省。你看，你老去外面飯館吃飯，比在家裏吃貴多了!

Larry: So... if I were living within my means, we'd have enough money for a nice vacation?

LH: 對啊!如果你平時消費節制，我們現在就能去泰國了!

Larry: But, Lihua, I just don't have time to cook. And plus, I'm not that good at it! And there are things about your spending habits that could change, too─like cutting out some of your shopping. That would definitely help you live within your means.

LH: 啊？你讓我也減少支出，少買東西多存錢？這個嘛...

Larry: Make up your mind, Lihua. Do you want to save money or not?

LH: 那好吧，我下決心存錢。

Larry: Don't sound so depressed, Lihua. We can still go on vacation this year and still be living within our means. We just need to find a place closer to home. But first, let's make up our mind on where we want to go.

LH: 好吧! 希望我們真能做到既能愉快旅行又不讓荷包大出血! 不過，我不想去多倫多，我想去海邊!

Larry: How about South Carolina? It will take awhile to get there, but we could drive.

LH: 南卡羅萊納？有美麗的沙灘麼？

Larry: Absolutely.

LH: 那....貴麼？

Larry: We would still be living within our means if we go there. What do you think?

LH: 是嗎？我們能承受得起旅行的花費？讓我想想，讓我想想....對了! Larry, 我忽然想到，如果我們去海邊，我肯定要花很多錢買漂亮的游泳衣、太陽鏡、裙子什麼的。算了，要不還是去多倫多吧!

Larry: Make up your mind, Lihua!

今天李華學了兩個常用語，一個是to make up one's mind，意思是“拿定主意”；另一個是to live within one's means，意思是“量入爲出，不過度消費”。

A: 這個李華，真是一會兒一個主意！要我說，只要能出去旅遊，去哪兒都行！make up her mind 有那麼困難嘛？

B: 怡茹, I have to disagree. If I were to spend time and money on a vacation, I would carefully do my research before rushing to any decisions.

A: 看來你也是個 indecisive person 猶豫不決的人！我問你，去夏威夷，度假天堂，這你總不用猶豫了吧？

B: 夏威夷？太貴！

A: 那...加勒比海？

B: 太熱！

A: 北京？

B: 人太多！

A: 歐洲？

B: 去過了！

A: 你，你，你，你還真是難伺候！我以後絕對不請你一起去旅遊，這麼多意見，太掃興了！

B: 哪有啊！If you pay for my air ticket and hotel, I'll go anywhere with you! 不過，剛纔你說到“掃興”，正好，咱們來聽聽“美語怎麼說”，教的就是這個詞！

How to say it: party pooper

Donny在北京學漢語，他的中國朋友要是遇到了不知道用美語怎麼說的詞，就會來請教他。今天是Jimmy要問的：掃興。

Donny: Jimmy, sorry I can't make it to your birthday party this weekend. 我明天要去香港。

Jimmy: That's okay, Donny. 說實話，我自己對這個生日派對也沒什麼興趣。

Donny: Why? Last time we talked about it, you were really excited.

Jimmy: 還不是因爲我女朋友老打擊我! 她說，過生日意味着我又老了一歲，還說，我開party大吃大喝會變得更胖。唉，真掃興!

Donny: Oh, no! Your girlfriend is such a wet blanket! All the bad things she said made you NOT look forward to the party.

Jimmy: wet blanket? wet是“潮溼”的意思，blanket是“毯子”。你說我女朋友是個溼糊糊的毯子？

Donny: Actually, a wet blanket就是讓別人掃興的人或事。

Jimmy: 哦! a wet blanket說話討厭，專給別人的好心情潑冷水!

Donny: That's right. There is a similar phrase---party pooper. A party pooper is a person who refuses to go along with everyone else and join the fun.

Jimmy: 哦! Party pooper是在派對上掃大家興的人! Donny, 要是我去一個party, 結果大家玩兒的遊戲我都不參加，還老嚷着要回家，then I'm a party pooper，對不對？

Donny: 標準的 party pooper! But Jimmy, in real life, you are by no means a party pooper, on the contrary, you're the life of the party!

Jimmy: The life of the party? 我是派對的生命？

Donny: 差不多! The life of the party is the most fun and exciting person at a party, you know, the person who makes the party fun for everyone else.

Jimmy: 哦，the life of the party 就是派對上的開心果! 有這種人在，氣氛一定很high! 你別說，我還真是the life of the party! 哈哈!

Donny: Of course you are! So don't let your girlfriend ruin your spirits. Now, let's see what you've learned today!

Jimmy: 第一，讓人掃興的人或事是a wet blanket, 或者a party pooper；

第二，派對的靈魂人物，開心果, 是 the life of the party.

這次的美語怎麼說 就到這裏。如果你也有不會說的詞，請寫信給 Donny, 電郵請寄

A：I'm not a party pooper. I'm the life of the party!

B：誰證明啊？

A: 我朋友都這麼說啊！尤其是我原來上大學的時候，簡直是派對女王啊！多popular啊！可惜老同學們都沒在美國，Sometimes I feel so lonely.

B：Cheer up, 怡茹. Let's listen to the next program--GoEnglish，美語三級跳。講的就是老朋友見面！

Greeting Friends: Beginner

大家好！今天我們爲您播出“美語三級跳”節目“問候朋友”單元的初級課程。

Winnie: Jen 和 Lawrence 是老朋友，很久沒見面了。真巧，倆人傍晚時分在路上不期而遇。

Professor: But, Winnie, today is a special day: It's Christmas Eve! Shouldn't they be at home celebrating with their families? What are they doing walking around on the street on Christmas Eve?

Winnie: 對啊，我差點忘了，今天是聖誕節前夜! 那他們兩個怎麼會在大街上閒逛呢？ 我們來聽聽看吧!

Jen: Lawrence, is that you? !

Lawrence: Hey Jen! How are you doing?! I don't think I've seen you in over a year!

Jen: I know! It's been a long time. It's funny to run into you on Christmas Eve!

Lawrence: Yeah, isn't that funny. Why aren't you at home with your family?

Professor: So Winnie, how long has it been since Lawrence and Jen last met?

Winnie: Lawrence說，他都一年多沒見過Jen了。不過， professor Bowman, Jen說，她 “ran into Lawrence”，這難道是說他們在街上“撞車”了嗎？

Professor: No,Winnie! When you say you "run into" something, it means you meet it unexpectedly. For example, I was doing very well on the test, but I ran into trouble when I got to the math part.

Winnie: 哦，所以run into就是“不期而遇”。

Jen: My family doesn't live here. They live in Texas.

Lawrence: I see. Well why didn't you fly home to Texas for the holidays?

Jen: I have to work tomorrow, so I didn't have time to fly to Texas. Why didn't you go home?

Lawrence: I wanted to, but I didn't have enough money to buy a plane ticket.

Professor: So Winnie, why didn't Jen go home for Christmas?

Winnie: 她家在德州，可是她要上班，沒時間回去過聖誕。

Professor: Exactly. And why didn't Lawrence go home for Christmas?

Winnie: Lawrence更慘，說自己買不起機票。對了，Professor Bowman, Lawrence說的“the holidays”是指聖誕節麼？

Professor: Not really. "The holidays" means all the religious holidays that happen in December. If a person doesn't celebrate Christmas, you can wish him or her "Happy holidays."

Winnie: 原來如此，聖誕節是基督教的宗教節日，對那些不信基督教，不過聖誕節的人，你就可以說 happy holidays.

Jen: I'm sorry you couldn't go home. How is everything else going?

Lawrence: I'm OK, but I'm having trouble finding a job. What's up with you?

Jen: I can't complain. My job is going well and I have a nice apartment.

Lawrence: That's great. I'm happy everything is working out for you.

Winnie: 怪不得Lawrence買不起機票，原來他沒有找到工作。過聖誕節獨自一人，又沒有工作，真可憐。不過，Lawrence問 Jen "what's up," 這是在問什麼呢?

Professor: Asking "what's up" is like asking how someone is doing, but "what's up" is a very informal expression.

Winnie: 我明白了， "What's up"和 "how are you doing"都是問候別人，就是“你怎麼樣？”的意思，不過what's up更輕鬆隨意一些。

Professor: That's exactly right. But Winnie, did you hear Lawrence say he is happy everything is working out for Jen? What do you think "working out" means?

Winnie: 嗯, work out 是鍛鍊身體的意思， 不過在這裏，應該是“有好的結果”，“情況不錯”的意思吧。

Professor: That's right. For example, "John asked Emily to go on a date with him 10 times, but it never worked out."

Winnie: 啊？請人家約會十次被拒絕？真是百折不撓!

Jen: You know, since we're both alone, we should have dinner together.

Lawrence: Sounds great! But can we go someplace that isn't too expensive?

Jen: Don't worry, Lawrence, tonight I'll treat you. That will be my Christmas present to you.

Lawrence: Thanks! But next time, I promise I'm buying.

Winnie: Professor, "I'm buying" 和“I'll treat you" 都是“我請客”的意思吧？

Professor: Correct. You could also say "It's on me."

Winnie: 哎，學這麼多“請客”的說法，要搶着付錢麼？我還是想學學怎麼蹭飯呢!

Professor: That's easy. Just say, "I forgot my wallet."

Winnie: 那好，Professor Bowman, 咱們去吃聖誕大餐吧! 不過，我要先告訴你，"I forgot my wallet!"

A: 老朋友run into each other, 不期而遇，真是不錯！

B：That's true, but apparently Jen lives a better life than Lawrence does.

A: Jen的生活的確比Lawrence好，Her job is going well, 工作順心，She has a nice apartment. 住的地方也舒服，所以她說，I can't complain. 我沒什麼好抱怨的。

B: Don't you think Lawrence would be a bit upset by this.