李華和Larry要去打網(wǎng)球,他們會(huì)用到兩個(gè)常用語(yǔ):shoo-in和top dog.
Larry: Hey, Lihua, are you ready to go? Where are your tennis shoes?
LH: Sorry, Larry.今天網(wǎng)球不打了。我得溫習(xí)功課! 我們系里新設(shè)立了獎(jiǎng)學(xué)金,只有成績(jī)最好的學(xué)生才拿得到!
Larry: The top student? Don't worry - you're a shoo-in!
LH: Shoe? In? 你說(shuō)我鞋子怎么了?
Larry: No no no. Not the shoes that you put on your feet. Shoo is spelled s-h-o-o. A "shoo-in" is a guaranteed winner.
LH: 哦! shoo-in就是絕對(duì)的贏家,肯定得勝的人。你是說(shuō),我不用溫習(xí),也肯定能拿到講學(xué)金?
Larry: Yea, exactly. Remember when you tried out for that student dance group last year? I knew you were a shoo-in for the team. You're such a good dancer!
LH: 真的?! 說(shuō)實(shí)話我當(dāng)時(shí)沒(méi)多少信心! 能入選學(xué)生舞蹈團(tuán)真是出乎我的意料!
Larry: Well, it looks like my prediction was correct - you eventually made the team, right? You should have more confidence in yourself! You were a shoo-in!
LH: Thanks Larry! 你還記得么?你找工作的時(shí)候,去面試,特別緊張,可我當(dāng)時(shí)就覺得you were a shoo-in,你肯定能被錄取!
Larry: Well, I was hardly a shoo-in for the job. There were a lot of qualified people vying for that position - I was lucky to get it.
LH: 好啦,Larry,不要謙虛啦! 話說(shuō)回來(lái)。這次獎(jiǎng)學(xué)金競(jìng)爭(zhēng)激烈,不光要看成績(jī),還要看課外活動(dòng)和表現(xiàn),真難啊!
Larry: Lihua, you're involved with plenty of extracurricular activities. Among your classmates, I'm sure you're a top dog.
LH: Larry! 你怎么說(shuō)我是狗?
Larry: Not a dog - Top dog. "Top dog" means "the best", you know, "number one."
LH: 哦? Top dog是第一名,最棒的人?
Larry: Exactly. For instance, my boss is the top dog at my office. Not only does he have the most experience, but he also has the ability to influence the work of his staff. He's definitely a top dog.
LH: 哦,你說(shuō)你的老板是辦公室里最牛的人,他不僅經(jīng)驗(yàn)豐富,而且能影響其他的工作人員。不過(guò),Larry,我可對(duì)我的同學(xué)沒(méi)有什么影響力......
Larry: Sure you do. I know plenty of your classmates look up to you. Not only are you a hard worker in class, but you also volunteer as a math tutor for middle school students at the community center, and you're a member of the school dance team!
LH: 對(duì)啊,我學(xué)習(xí)努力,還當(dāng)志愿者給中學(xué)生補(bǔ)課,又是舞蹈團(tuán)成員。經(jīng)你這么一說(shuō),我也感覺著自己怪不錯(cuò)的!
Larry: Haha! But seriously, you are the top dog in your class, and you're definitely a shoo-in for the scholarship. Just show the scholarship committee how great you are!
LH: 對(duì),Larry. 我現(xiàn)在很有信心,雖然我不敢說(shuō)I'm a shoo-in for this scholarship, 但是我得獎(jiǎng)的機(jī)會(huì)還是蠻大的!
Larry: I'm glad to hear it! But aren't you forgetting one more extracurricular activity you can put on your list?
LH: 啊?什么活動(dòng)啊?
Larry: Playing tennis with the top dog of the tennis court - me!
LH: 你呀?你才不是網(wǎng)球的top dog,我自己不是打贏過(guò)了你好多次嘛
Larry: Oh, I was just letting you win... come on, let's go play!
LH: 對(duì)不起啊Larry,這個(gè)獎(jiǎng)學(xué)金的事確實(shí)比網(wǎng)球更重要。我準(zhǔn)備好了獎(jiǎng)學(xué)金的申請(qǐng)書以后,一定會(huì)跟你打網(wǎng)球。我保證!
今天李華學(xué)了兩個(gè)常用語(yǔ)。一個(gè)是shoo-in,意思是“絕對(duì)的贏家”。另一個(gè)是top dog,意思是“優(yōu)勝者,最棒的人”。