現(xiàn)在大家可能都已經(jīng)很熟悉Michael和李華了吧!他們倆都在紐約上大學(xué)。紐約有許多酒吧都是愛爾蘭移民開的。今天Michael要帶李華去看一個酒吧。Michael在講話時會用兩個常用語:to bum和turn-off。
L: 嗨,這兒好熱鬧??!Michael,在愛爾蘭酒吧里大家喝些什么呢?
M: People normally drink a large beer that is usually served warm.
L: 我可從來沒喝過熱的啤酒,一大杯也喝不了,要一小杯行不行?
M: Well, you can order whatever you want, but I need to bum a couple of dollars, if you don't mind.
L: 隨便我要什么都行呀!那好,就來一小杯。對了,你剛才說要是我不在意的話,你想bum a couple of dollars, 那是什么意思???
M: What I mean is, can I borrow a couple of dollars from you.
L: 原來你要問我借幾塊錢!
M: Yes. But don't use this word for big things. For example, you would not ask your friend, “Can I bum your car?”
L: 噢,在問別人借大的,象汽車之類的東西時,不能用bum這個字,bum 只能用在問人借小東西的時候。
M: Yeah, it's usually used when asking for something small, like a piece of gum or candy.
L: 喲,你們美國人,怎么一片口香糖,一顆糖還要借???難道真的還要還嗎?
M: No, small things you don't need to return, such as gum and candies.
L: 這很重要,因為在這種情況下,我們中國人就不說借了,我們大概會說:給一顆糖吧。
M: You are right Li Hua. But if you feel cold at a friend's home and you asked to bum a sweater, then you would return it when you were going to leave.
L: 對,要是在朋友家感到冷要借一件毛衣,那一般都應(yīng)該還的。所以,這要看情況,對不對?
M: Yes, if you will let me bum a couple bucks tonight, I promise to pay you back tomorrow.
L: 行,行,行,就借你兩塊錢,你問服務(wù)員要酒吧,我來付錢。可明天別忘了還我。
M: Okay. Two beers please!
L: 我以前有一個朋友,每次跟她一起出去,不管去看電影,還是去 喝咖啡,她總是問我借錢。
M: A girl I used to hang out with acted the same way. Whenever a group of us went out, she would always ask to bum money. It got to be a real turn-off.
L: 你也碰到過這樣的人哪? 等等,a real turn-off? 這是什么意思呀?把什么東西關(guān)掉?
M: No, a turn-off is something that repels someone.
L: 噢, 是一個讓人討厭的什么東西。 是不是指一個人的性格里有什么地方讓你不喜歡他?
M: Yes, that's right. Let me give you an example. Your ex-boyfriend always smoked cigarettes around you, that was a real turn-off.
L: 是啊,我以前的男朋友跟我在一起的時候老是抽煙,那真是討厭。
M: A girl I once dated always interrupted me whenever I was talking. That was a real turn-off.
L: 對,你告訴過我,你從前的女朋友老是打斷你的話,讓你很討厭。 我還有一個朋友把臟衣服在房間里到處亂扔, that was also a turn-off.
M: See, you've learned how to use turn-off. By the way, I also have dirty clothes lying around my apartment. Does that bother you?
L: 哼,你也把臟衣服到處亂扔?你要是不打掃乾凈的話,別想請 我到你家去。
M: Ok, I'll try to clean it up.
各位聽眾,今天李華從Michael 那里學(xué)到了兩個常用語,一個是: to bum,意思是借錢或其他東西;另一個是:a turn-off,意思是讓人討厭的地方。這次就到此結(jié)束,下次節(jié)目再見。