這是一個(gè)星期六,Larry 和李華來(lái)到學(xué)校附近一個(gè)社區(qū),那里的住戶當(dāng)天都把家里沒(méi)用的東西拿出來(lái)廉價(jià)銷售。 李華會(huì)學(xué)到兩個(gè)常用語(yǔ):shindig 和a steal。
LL: Li Hua, this community yard sale is huge. It is quite a shindig!
LH: 啊,這兒好熱鬧喲。 這么多住家擺攤兒賣舊貨,還有這么多的人來(lái)買便宜貨。Larry? 你說(shuō)這是一個(gè)shindig,什么是Shindig???Shindig聽(tīng)起來(lái)好象不象英文詞。
LL: Oh, it is an English word all right.
LH: Okay, 是英文詞,那么shindig到底是什么意思呢?
LL: A shindig is a big, noisy event. It can be a party or any big social occasion where there are lots of people.
LH: Oh, shindig就是規(guī)模很大,很熱鬧的聚會(huì),或者是某種社會(huì)活動(dòng)。原來(lái)如此!這個(gè)社區(qū)定在今天大家一起賣舊貨,吸引了很多人來(lái)?yè)毂阋素?。這就成了一個(gè)shindig。那還有什么場(chǎng)合可以稱為shindig?
LL: Remember, last year we went to the party for Professor Jackson's retirement? That was also a big shindig.
LH: 噢,杰克遜教授退休時(shí)搞的那次聚會(huì)確實(shí)可以稱作shindig。 當(dāng)時(shí),系里的研究生和教授們都到場(chǎng)了,向他表示敬意。那次shindig的盛況確實(shí)難忘;大家又吃,又喝,真是很痛快!
LL: Speaking of shindigs, when are you going to have a shindig at your place, Li Hua?
LH: 你要在我家里搞一個(gè)shindig ? 看來(lái),那么大的聚會(huì)總要等到考試以后才能辦啦。
LL: I can't think of a better time to have a big shindig than after exams. I can help you plan it.
LH: 就是啊,考完試大家都心情輕松,那是舉辦shindig 的最好時(shí)候。你愿意幫我策劃,那太好了。Larry,要是在你家舉行不是更好嗎?你那里地方大呀!
LL: Yeah, but it is also a lot dirtier. I wouldn't want to throw a fancy shindig in my messy place.
LH:那倒也是,你的家呀,雖然大,但確實(shí)是雜亂無(wú)章。不過(guò),我可以幫你打掃?。〉胤酱髎hindig不是可以有更多的人參加嗎?
LL: You're right! I will need your help though!
LH: 嘿, 瞧瞧那些碟子! 這正是我需要的。
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LL: Wow, Li Hua. Those dishes are a steal!
LH: Steal?不, Larry,我干嗎要偷呀?那么便宜我當(dāng)然買得起呀!即便我買不起,我也不會(huì)偷呀!
LL: Oh, Li Hua, I know that. But when something is a very good deal we say it is a steal - STEAL.
LH: 噢,原來(lái)如此,對(duì)不起,我以為你讓我偷吶!原來(lái)a steal就是很合算,和便宜的東西。我們中國(guó)人會(huì)說(shuō),這些碟子簡(jiǎn)直便宜得像白撿的一樣,所以就可以說(shuō)是a steal吧。我把這一套全買下來(lái)也只要花五美元!
LL: That is what is great about shopping at a community yard sale. You can find lots of real steals.
LH: 沒(méi)錯(cuò),在這種社區(qū)賣舊貨的地方真能買到便宜貨。Larry, 你看還有別的便宜貨可以撿嗎?Any more steals?
LL: Yeah, look at this lamp. I need a lamp for my living room, and this one is only ten dollars.
LH: 你客廳里需要一盞臺(tái)燈?十塊美元, 我可不敢說(shuō)這也是個(gè)steal。
LL: Why not, Li Hua? It appears to work.
LH: 這燈是可以用的,可不一定是steal啊。我的碟子是個(gè)steal,那是因?yàn)槲锩纼r(jià)廉,可是這盞臺(tái)燈嘛...
LL: Are you saying that the lamp is ugly?
LL: 唉,說(shuō)實(shí)話,這燈是夠難看的。
LH: I am glad you are honest with me, Li Hua. Not everything at a yard sale is a real steal. You've just saved me ten bucks!
今天李華學(xué)到了兩個(gè)常用語(yǔ)。一個(gè)是shindig, 意思是規(guī)模很大,人很多,很熱鬧的盛會(huì)。李華學(xué)到的另一個(gè)常用語(yǔ)是a steal, 那是指便宜得象白檢的東西一樣。