base基地,oration演講, lieutenant陸軍中尉,grumble抱怨,windbag饒舌之人
【笑話原文】
Who Am I
At a tea for officers and their wives, the commanding general of a base delivered a seemingly endless oration. A young lieutenant grumbled to the woman sitting beside him, “What a pompous and unbearable old windbag tat slob is!” The woman turned to him, her face red with rage. “Excuse me, Lieutenant. Do you have any idea who I am?” “No, ma’am,” the man fumbled. “I am the wife of the man you just called an unbearable old windbag.” “Oh,” said the lieutenant. “And do you have any idea who I am?” “No,” said the general’s wife. “Thank God.” said the lieutenant, getting up from his seat and disappearing into the crowd.
【中文譯文】
你知道我是誰嗎?
在一次軍官和家屬的茶話會(huì)上,基地的司令沒完沒了地發(fā)表著演說。一位年輕的中尉對(duì)坐在他旁邊的女人嘟囔說:“這個(gè)老家伙羅嗦乏味、自以為是,真叫人不能容忍。”那個(gè)女人轉(zhuǎn)過來,她的臉因生氣而通紅:“中尉,你知道我是誰嗎?”小伙子說:“夫人,我不知道。”“我是那個(gè)你才說的羅嗦乏味、自以為是、叫人不能容忍的老家伙的太太。”中尉說:“喔,那你知道我是誰嗎?”將軍的夫人說:“不知道。”中尉說:“感謝上帝。”說完就從位置上站起來,消失在人群中。
【詞匯講解】
1.base基地。 The country maintains military bases on foreign soil.
那個(gè)國家在國外設(shè)有軍事基地。
2.oration演講。 He asked for no funeral oration.他不要人在葬禮上宣讀悼詞。
3.pompous自負(fù)的。 He was very pompous at the meeting.他在會(huì)上表現(xiàn)得很自負(fù)。
4.rage狂怒。也可以做動(dòng)詞,指“動(dòng)怒”: She raged when her jewels were stolen while under police protection.在有警察保護(hù)的情況下她的珠寶被偷, 她十分生氣。
5.fumble笨拙地弄。 Benjamin fumbled for the light switch.
本杰明手忙腳亂地找電燈開關(guān)。
6.crowd人群。也可以做動(dòng)詞,指“催促”: Don't crowd me; give me time to think.不要逼我; 給我時(shí)間讓我想想。