李華和Larry排隊(duì)買(mǎi)票看電影。今天我們要學(xué)兩個(gè)常用語(yǔ):rope somebody into something和spot.
LH: 我真是太想看這部電影了,自從Sex and City《欲望都市》電視系列結(jié)束以后,我就一直眼巴巴地等著電影版上映。
LL: Yes, I remember. I think you were addicted to that show. In fact, I might even call it an unhealthy obsession.
LH: Unhealthy obsession? 你才病態(tài)呢!你每天都看Oprah的脫口秀,雷打不動(dòng),居然還說(shuō)我病態(tài)。不過(guò)話說(shuō)回來(lái),你能陪我看這么女性化的電影,我還真沒(méi)想到。
LL: Actually, you didn't have to rope me in at all. I love Sex and the City even more than Oprah.
LH: 你說(shuō)的rope you in是什么意思???
LL: When you rope someone into something, it means that you convince them to do something they don't want to do.
LH: 也就是說(shuō),如果你本來(lái)不想看這個(gè)電影,但是經(jīng)不起我軟磨硬泡,最后只好同意,就是被我rope into it.
LL: Yup. But even if I didn't want to see this movie, I would have gone anyway. I owed you a favor after I roped you into going to the national Chia Pet convention with me.
LH: 一個(gè)人情?我陪你去參加草頭娃娃展覽大會(huì),你至少欠我五個(gè)人情。我到現(xiàn)在都不知道自己為什么會(huì)同意干這么傻的事!
LL: Well what about the time you roped me into house-sitting your dog? I knew that was going to be a bad idea.
LH: 你幫我照看snoopy難道不開(kāi)心嗎?它那么可愛(ài)!
LL: He would have been more adorable if he were house trained.
LH: 我正在加緊訓(xùn)練它不要隨地大小便,下星期還要麻煩你照顧它。
LL: No way, you're not roping me into that again. But you know, you can also use that phrase when you play a trick on somebody.
LH: Oh really?
LL: Yes. For example...Wait a minute. Oh no! There's a sign that say Sex and the City is sold out!
LH: Oh No! 我今天晚上看不成一定會(huì)急死的。
LL: Wow. You are really gullible. I can't believe I roped you into that joke so easily. It's not sold out.
******
LL: Uh oh Lihua, I think I forgot my wallet.
LH: 不會(huì)吧?為什么我們每次出來(lái)你都“忘記”帶錢(qián)包呢?
LL: I'm sorry. I was just so excited to find out what happens with Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda that I completely forgot. Can you spot me?
LH: Spot you? Spot you是什么意思???哦,我知道了,你一定是在請(qǐng)求我的原諒。
LL: Actually, no. Spotting somebody is like loaning somebody something, usually money.
LH: 所以你是要跟我借錢(qián)買(mǎi)電影票?
LL: Er... yes. But I think you owe me that favor. Remember last week when you were going to the store to buy some Chia Pets and I spotted you the money?
LH: 那不算,因?yàn)椴蓊^娃娃本來(lái)就是買(mǎi)給你的。那你說(shuō),spotting somebody跟picking up the tab意思一樣嗎?
LL: "Picking up the tab" is usually only used to refer to paying the bill at a restaurant. "Spotting" is used mostly for small things and favors. You wouldn't use it for something big.
LH: 你說(shuō)spot只能用在小事上,那什么樣的事才算小事呢?
LL: Well, for example, since my car is broken, I might need you to spot me a ride home after the movie.
LH: 你是說(shuō)我不僅要買(mǎi)票請(qǐng)你看電影,看完電影還要開(kāi)車(chē)送你回家,你這個(gè)男朋友還真挺難伺候的。
LL: Maybe, but it's worth it. You know, if you want to get really colloquial, you can also "bum" something off somebody.
LH: 那bum可以用在什么事情上呢?大事還是小事?
LL: "Bum" is only for little things. If I smoked and was out of cigarettes, I could ask to bum a cigarette off someone. But since my only addiction is gummy bears, I will need to bum a dollar off you to buy some candy in the theatre.
LH: 什么?你還要買(mǎi)糖吃。你看人家《欲望都市》里的男人多紳士,從來(lái)不讓女人花錢(qián)。你得好好學(xué)學(xué)。
LL: Well, you can't believe everything you see on TV, Lihua.
今天李華學(xué)了兩個(gè)常用語(yǔ)。一個(gè)是rope somebody into something,意思是說(shuō)服某人去干本來(lái)不愿意干的事。另一個(gè)是spot,意思是借東西,往往是借錢(qián)。