LH: 嗯,像這種壞人真應(yīng)該被抓到牢里關(guān)起來。Larry,你剛才還說這家伙是個真正的bottom feeder,bottom是底層,feeder不是飼養(yǎng)員嗎?這兩個字怎么能合在一起,它們和那些壞人有什么關(guān)系?
LL: A bottom feeder is a really low, despicable person. That guy was selling drugs to kids, so he definitely counts as a bottom feeder.
LH: 噢,bottom feeder是形容一個很低下、很卑鄙的人。沒錯,報上說的那個人專門賣毒品給年輕孩子,簡直太可惡了。我認(rèn)為所有的毒販都是bottom feeders.
LL: Unfortunately, there are a lot of bottom feeders in the world.
LH: 就是啊,這個世界還是有不少這種卑鄙的壞人。對了,Larry,這個bottom feeder是不是只能用來形容犯罪分子?
LL: It can be used to describe other people, too, but it's a very negative term.
LH: Bottom feeder還能用來形容其他人?那Larry,你給我舉個例子。
LL: Well, some people think that lawyers are bottom feeders because they benefit from other peoples' misfortunes.
LH: 對,好多人都不喜歡律師,認(rèn)為律師很卑鄙。我還聽到過好多恥笑律師的笑話呢!可是,Larry,律師不也會保護我們的權(quán)利嗎?
LL: That's true, but some people are upset by the fact that many lawyers get rich defending criminals.
LH: 噢,我明白了,人們之所以討厭律師,是因為律師經(jīng)常幫犯罪分子辯護,靠著打這種官司來賺錢。嗯,可是不管怎么說,我還是認(rèn)為有的律師不能算bottom feeders。
LL: Some people think that tabloid journalists are bottom feeders because they invade the privacy of celebrities and they don't always verify stories before they publish them.
LH: 這我絕對同意,那些專門報道名人私生活的狗仔記者,真是夠惡劣的。他們經(jīng)常捏造有關(guān)名人的一些很荒謬,不確實的報道。只有卑鄙的人才會寫出這樣的東西來! They are real bottom feeders!
******
LL: Hey, Li Hua, it was fun discussing the news with you, but I've got to bounce. I have to be at the doctor's office by 2:00.
LH: 噢,你兩點鐘還得去看醫(yī)生???那你得趕快走了。你說你要bounce,是那個拍皮球bounce a ball的bounce嗎?
LL: "Bounce" can be slang for leave. I've got to bounce means that I have to leave.
LH: 噢,我懂了,to bounce就表示,得走了。你說你得要bounce,是因為你得趕著去那個醫(yī)生診所了。
LL: Hey, don't you have to bounce if you're going to make to class on time?
LH: 我的老天,現(xiàn)在都快兩點了,謝謝你提醒我,我差點兒忘了得去上一堂課呢!看來我得趕緊bounce,趕快走嘍!
LL: Well, I have a little bit of time. If we bounce right now, I can drive you to campus.
LH: 你肯定有時間把我送到學(xué)校?那就太好了,要不然,等我走到學(xué)校可能就要遲到了。
LL: Okay, are you ready to bounce now?
LH: 嗯,等一會兒,我只要進(jìn)去把我的書和背包拿出來。
LL: Okay, I'll go start the car. Just come on outside when you're ready to bounce.
LH: 沒問題,你先去發(fā)動車子,我拿了包就來!
今天李華學(xué)到兩個常用語。一個是bottom feeder,這是形容那種下流卑鄙的人。另一個常用語是bounce,這是指要離開,要走的意思。