VOA流行美語 Unit 17: to bum; turn off
現在大家可能都已經很熟悉Michael和李華了吧！他們倆都在紐約上大學。紐約有許多酒吧都是愛爾蘭移民開的。今天Michael要帶李華去看一個酒吧。Michael在講話時會用兩個常用語：to bum和turn-off。
L: 嗨，這兒好熱鬧啊！Michael， 在愛爾蘭酒吧裏大家喝些什麼呢？
M: People normally drink a large beer that is usually served warm.
L: 我可從來沒喝過熱的啤酒，一大杯也喝不了，要一小杯行不行？
M: Well, you can order whatever you want, but I need to bum a couple of dollars, if you don't mind.
L: 隨便我要什麼都行呀！那好，就來一小杯。對了，你剛纔說要是我不在意的話，你想bum a couple of dollars, 那是什麼意思啊？
M: What I mean is, can I borrow a couple of dollars from you.
L: 原來你要問我借幾塊錢！
M: Yes. But don't use this word for big things. For example, you would not ask your friend, “Can I bum your car?”
L: 噢，在問別人借大的，象汽車之類的東西時，不能用bum這個字，bum 只能用在問人借小東西的時候。
M: Yeah, it's usually used when asking for something small, like a piece of gum or candy.
L: 喲，你們美國人，怎麼一片口香糖，一顆糖還要借啊磕訓勒嫺幕掛?孤穡?/P>
M: No, small things you don't need to return, such as gum and candies.
L: 這很重要，因爲在這種情況下，我們中國人就不說借了，我們大概會說：給一顆糖吧。
M: You are right Li Hua. But if you feel cold at a friend's home and you asked to bum a sweater, then you would return it when you were going to leave.
L: 對，要是在朋友家感到冷要借一件毛衣，那一般都應該還的。所以，這要看情況，對不對？
M: Yes, if you will let me bum a couple bucks tonight, I promise to pay you back tomorrow.
L: 行，行，行，就借你兩塊錢，你問服務員要酒吧，我來付錢。可明天別忘了還我。
M: Okay. Two beers please!
L: 我以前有一個朋友，每次跟她一起出去，不管去看電影，還是去 喝咖啡，她總是問我借錢。
M: A girl I used to hang out with acted the same way. Whenever a group of us went out, she would always ask to bum money. It got to be a real turn-off.
L: 你也碰到過這樣的人哪？ 等等，a real turn-off? 這是什麼意思呀？把什麼東西關掉？
M: No, a turn-off is something that repels someone.
L: 噢， 是一個讓人討厭的什麼東西。 是不是指一個人的性格里有什麼地方讓你不喜歡他？
M: Yes, that's right. Let me give you an example. Your ex-boyfriend always smoked cigarettes around you, that was a real turn-off.
L: 是啊，我以前的男朋友跟我在一起的時候老是抽菸，那真是討厭。
M: A girl I once dated always interrupted me whenever I was talking. That was a real turn-off.
L: 對，你告訴過我，你從前的女朋友老是打斷你的話，讓你很討厭。 我還有一個朋友把髒衣服在房間裏到處亂扔， that was also a turn-off.
M: See, you've learned how to use turn-off. By the way, I also have dirty clothes lying around my apartment. Does that bother you?
L: 哼，你也把髒衣服到處亂扔？你要是不打掃乾淨的話，別想請 我到你家去。
M: Ok, I'll try to clean it up.
各位聽衆，今天李華從Michael 那裏學到了兩個常用語，一個是： to bum，意思是借錢或其他東西；另一個是：a turn-off，意思是讓人討厭的地方。這次就到此結束，下次節目再見。
