美语训练班第4课

A: 同学们，打起精神！咱们来学美语！

B: 对！欢迎来到美语训练班！I'm Donny.

A: 我是王怡茹。今天这节课，我们要去田径场赛跑，和多年不见的老友不期而遇，计划一次出国旅行，还要告诉大家怎么用美语表达“扫兴”。

B: Sounds like we've got some really interesting things to show today!

A: Of course! 不过按照老传统，咱们先教个简单的, 花一分钟，学一个词!

Learn A Word: upcoming

今天我们要学的词是 upcoming. Upcoming 意思是即将到来的，比如：The upcoming match 就是指即将举行的比赛。The pop singer has started promoting his upcoming album. 这名流行乐歌手开始为自己即将发行的新唱片做宣传。All candidates are gearing up for the upcoming election. 所有候选人都在为即将举行的选举积极做准备。这个周末是美国阵亡将士纪念日的长周末。The upcoming Memorial Day Weekend marks the unofficial kickoff of summer. 即将到来的阵亡将士纪念日长周末标志着约定俗成的夏季的开始。好的，今天我们学习的词是 upcoming.

A: 哦！Donny, 那你下星期去纽约做节目，也可以用 upcoming 喽？

B: That's right. We're going to produce a travel show during my upcoming trip to New York.

A: Sounds like fun. Can I go with you?

B: Sure. I need someone to carry my bags for me. You're welcome to join us!

A: 给你提包啊？No way. 还是让我们一起看看李华和 Larry 准备去哪里玩吧。

Popular American: make up your mind // live within your means

现在播送「流行美语」。Larry在和李华商量去什么地方渡假，他们会用到两个常用语：make up your mind和live within your means.

Larry: Lihua, do you want to go to Toronto? I did a little research and found some really cool tours and.....

LH: Larry, 我不是很想去多伦多，我想去个有热带风情的地方。

Larry: Tropical?

LH: 没错!你说加勒比海怎么样？

Larry: The Caribbean? Wow, that is very tropical... actually, I know someone who went there last summer, let me give him a call─

LH: 不过! 我又非常想去泰国，那里的水果和美食太诱人了!

Larry: What?? Thailand? Make up your mind, Lihua!

LH: Make up? 化妆？你在说什么啊？

Larry: No, not the make-up you put on your face. To "make up your mind" means to make a choice and stick to it.

LH: 哦，to make up your mind就是拿定主意。

Larry: Yea. For example, it often takes you a long time to make up your mind when it comes to what to wear when we go out.

LH: 呵呵，这倒是。出门前我总是不能决定穿哪身衣服。

Larry: And what about your friend at school that couldn't decide which class she wanted to take?

LH: 没错。那个同学特别爱学习，什么课都想选，可是一学期的时间只有那么多，选修课的数量是有限的。 I wish she would make up her mind!我希望她能快点作出决定。

Larry: Yea, exactly. Indecisive people can sure be annoying sometimes, especially when they cause others to waste time...

LH: 哈! Larry，你说的indecisive people--犹豫不决的人，是在说我吧？我也很想定下旅行的目的地，可是，真的是有太多好玩的地方，我实在拿不定主意！

Larry: What about money? We can drive to Toronto. Thailand would be extremely expensive. Airfare alone would cost us a couple thousand dollars. We do have to live within our means, after all.

LH: 你说的 live within our means，是什么意思？

Larry: The phrase "living within your means" means to live within the limits of your financial situation. Or, in other words, not spending more money than you can afford to spend.

LH: 哦，to live within your means就是量入为出，不过度消费。

Larry: That's right. And if we are to live within our means, we certainly cannot afford a vacation in Thailand!

LH: 你是说，从我们的经济情况考虑，去泰国花销太高，我们承受不了？可是你工作这么久，不是已经攒了些钱了么？

Larry: Not that much money! I'm just an entry-level worker. It will take some years of saving up money before I can afford things like tropical vacations.

LH: 啊？还得再攒好几年才能来个热带风情之旅？唉，Larry, 这只能怪你平时不知节省。你看，你老去外面饭馆吃饭，比在家里吃贵多了!

Larry: So... if I were living within my means, we'd have enough money for a nice vacation?

LH: 对啊!如果你平时消费节制，我们现在就能去泰国了!

Larry: But, Lihua, I just don't have time to cook. And plus, I'm not that good at it! And there are things about your spending habits that could change, too─like cutting out some of your shopping. That would definitely help you live within your means.

LH: 啊？你让我也减少支出，少买东西多存钱？这个嘛...

Larry: Make up your mind, Lihua. Do you want to save money or not?

LH: 那好吧，我下决心存钱。

Larry: Don't sound so depressed, Lihua. We can still go on vacation this year and still be living within our means. We just need to find a place closer to home. But first, let's make up our mind on where we want to go.

LH: 好吧! 希望我们真能做到既能愉快旅行又不让荷包大出血! 不过，我不想去多伦多，我想去海边!

Larry: How about South Carolina? It will take awhile to get there, but we could drive.

LH: 南卡罗莱纳？有美丽的沙滩么？

Larry: Absolutely.

LH: 那....贵么？

Larry: We would still be living within our means if we go there. What do you think?

LH: 是吗？我们能承受得起旅行的花费？让我想想，让我想想....对了! Larry, 我忽然想到，如果我们去海边，我肯定要花很多钱买漂亮的游泳衣、太阳镜、裙子什么的。算了，要不还是去多伦多吧!

Larry: Make up your mind, Lihua!

今天李华学了两个常用语，一个是to make up one's mind，意思是“拿定主意”；另一个是to live within one's means，意思是“量入为出，不过度消费”。

A: 这个李华，真是一会儿一个主意！要我说，只要能出去旅游，去哪儿都行！make up her mind 有那么困难嘛？

B: 怡茹, I have to disagree. If I were to spend time and money on a vacation, I would carefully do my research before rushing to any decisions.

A: 看来你也是个 indecisive person 犹豫不决的人！我问你，去夏威夷，度假天堂，这你总不用犹豫了吧？

B: 夏威夷？太贵！

A: 那...加勒比海？

B: 太热！

A: 北京？

B: 人太多！

A: 欧洲？

B: 去过了！

A: 你，你，你，你还真是难伺候！我以后绝对不请你一起去旅游，这么多意见，太扫兴了！

B: 哪有啊！If you pay for my air ticket and hotel, I'll go anywhere with you! 不过，刚才你说到“扫兴”，正好，咱们来听听“美语怎么说”，教的就是这个词！

How to say it: party pooper

Donny在北京学汉语，他的中国朋友要是遇到了不知道用美语怎么说的词，就会来请教他。今天是Jimmy要问的：扫兴。

Donny: Jimmy, sorry I can't make it to your birthday party this weekend. 我明天要去香港。

Jimmy: That's okay, Donny. 说实话，我自己对这个生日派对也没什么兴趣。

Donny: Why? Last time we talked about it, you were really excited.

Jimmy: 还不是因为我女朋友老打击我! 她说，过生日意味着我又老了一岁，还说，我开party大吃大喝会变得更胖。唉，真扫兴!

Donny: Oh, no! Your girlfriend is such a wet blanket! All the bad things she said made you NOT look forward to the party.

　

Jimmy: wet blanket? wet是“潮湿”的意思，blanket是“毯子”。你说我女朋友是个湿糊糊的毯子？

Donny: Actually, a wet blanket就是让别人扫兴的人或事。

Jimmy: 哦! a wet blanket说话讨厌，专给别人的好心情泼冷水!

Donny: That's right. There is a similar phrase---party pooper. A party pooper is a person who refuses to go along with everyone else and join the fun.

Jimmy: 哦! Party pooper是在派对上扫大家兴的人! Donny, 要是我去一个party, 结果大家玩儿的游戏我都不参加，还老嚷着要回家，then I'm a party pooper，对不对？

Donny: 标准的 party pooper! But Jimmy, in real life, you are by no means a party pooper, on the contrary, you're the life of the party!

Jimmy: The life of the party? 我是派对的生命？

Donny: 差不多! The life of the party is the most fun and exciting person at a party, you know, the person who makes the party fun for everyone else.

Jimmy: 哦，the life of the party 就是派对上的开心果! 有这种人在，气氛一定很high! 你别说，我还真是the life of the party! 哈哈!

Donny: Of course you are! So don't let your girlfriend ruin your spirits. Now, let's see what you've learned today!

Jimmy: 第一，让人扫兴的人或事是a wet blanket, 或者a party pooper；

第二，派对的灵魂人物，开心果, 是 the life of the party.

这次的美语怎么说 就到这里。如果你也有不会说的词，请写信给 Donny, 电邮请寄meiyu@voanews.com

A：I'm not a party pooper. I'm the life of the party!

B：谁证明啊？

A: 我朋友都这么说啊！尤其是我原来上大学的时候，简直是派对女王啊！多popular啊！可惜老同学们都没在美国，Sometimes I feel so lonely.

B：Cheer up, 怡茹. Let's listen to the next program--GoEnglish，美语三级跳。讲的就是老朋友见面！

Greeting Friends: Beginner

大家好！今天我们为您播出“美语三级跳”节目“问候朋友”单元的初级课程。

Winnie: Jen 和 Lawrence 是老朋友，很久没见面了。真巧，俩人傍晚时分在路上不期而遇。

Professor: But, Winnie, today is a special day: It's Christmas Eve! Shouldn't they be at home celebrating with their families? What are they doing walking around on the street on Christmas Eve?

Winnie: 对啊，我差点忘了，今天是圣诞节前夜! 那他们两个怎么会在大街上闲逛呢？ 我们来听听看吧!

Jen: Lawrence, is that you? !

Lawrence: Hey Jen! How are you doing?! I don't think I've seen you in over a year!

Jen: I know! It's been a long time. It's funny to run into you on Christmas Eve!

Lawrence: Yeah, isn't that funny. Why aren't you at home with your family?

Professor: So Winnie, how long has it been since Lawrence and Jen last met?

Winnie: Lawrence说，他都一年多没见过Jen了。不过， professor Bowman, Jen说，她 “ran into Lawrence”，这难道是说他们在街上“撞车”了吗？

Professor: No,Winnie! When you say you "run into" something, it means you meet it unexpectedly. For example, I was doing very well on the test, but I ran into trouble when I got to the math part.

Winnie: 哦，所以run into就是“不期而遇”。

Jen: My family doesn't live here. They live in Texas.

Lawrence: I see. Well why didn't you fly home to Texas for the holidays?

Jen: I have to work tomorrow, so I didn't have time to fly to Texas. Why didn't you go home?

Lawrence: I wanted to, but I didn't have enough money to buy a plane ticket.

Professor: So Winnie, why didn't Jen go home for Christmas?

Winnie: 她家在德州，可是她要上班，没时间回去过圣诞。

Professor: Exactly. And why didn't Lawrence go home for Christmas?

Winnie: Lawrence更惨，说自己买不起机票。对了，Professor Bowman, Lawrence说的“the holidays”是指圣诞节么？

Professor: Not really. "The holidays" means all the religious holidays that happen in December. If a person doesn't celebrate Christmas, you can wish him or her "Happy holidays."

Winnie: 原来如此，圣诞节是基督教的宗教节日，对那些不信基督教，不过圣诞节的人，你就可以说 happy holidays.

Jen: I'm sorry you couldn't go home. How is everything else going?

Lawrence: I'm OK, but I'm having trouble finding a job. What's up with you?

Jen: I can't complain. My job is going well and I have a nice apartment.

Lawrence: That's great. I'm happy everything is working out for you.

Winnie: 怪不得Lawrence买不起机票，原来他没有找到工作。过圣诞节独自一人，又没有工作，真可怜。不过，Lawrence问 Jen "what's up," 这是在问什么呢?

Professor: Asking "what's up" is like asking how someone is doing, but "what's up" is a very informal expression.

Winnie: 我明白了， "What's up"和 "how are you doing"都是问候别人，就是“你怎么样？”的意思，不过what's up更轻松随意一些。

Professor: That's exactly right. But Winnie, did you hear Lawrence say he is happy everything is working out for Jen? What do you think "working out" means?

Winnie: 嗯, work out 是锻炼身体的意思， 不过在这里，应该是“有好的结果”，“情况不错”的意思吧。

Professor: That's right. For example, "John asked Emily to go on a date with him 10 times, but it never worked out."

Winnie: 啊？请人家约会十次被拒绝？真是百折不挠!

Jen: You know, since we're both alone, we should have dinner together.

Lawrence: Sounds great! But can we go someplace that isn't too expensive?

Jen: Don't worry, Lawrence, tonight I'll treat you. That will be my Christmas present to you.

Lawrence: Thanks! But next time, I promise I'm buying.

Winnie: Professor, "I'm buying" 和“I'll treat you" 都是“我请客”的意思吧？

Professor: Correct. You could also say "It's on me."

Winnie: 哎，学这么多“请客”的说法，要抢着付钱么？我还是想学学怎么蹭饭呢!

Professor: That's easy. Just say, "I forgot my wallet."

Winnie: 那好，Professor Bowman, 咱们去吃圣诞大餐吧! 不过，我要先告诉你，"I forgot my wallet!"

A: 老朋友run into each other, 不期而遇，真是不错！

B：That's true, but apparently Jen lives a better life than Lawrence does.

A: Jen的生活的确比Lawrence好，Her job is going well, 工作顺心，She has a nice apartment. 住的地方也舒服，所以她说，I can't complain. 我没什么好抱怨的。

B: Don't you think Lawrence would be a bit upset by that, like getting a little jealous?

A: 你说Lawrence会忌妒Jen比自己混的好？不至于吧，毕竟是老朋友，关系可比同事单纯得多！

B: 说得对! In the office, some people don't really want to see others excel in their work.

A: 没错，在办公室里，有人就是看不得别人比自己强！咱们来听听下面的“礼节美语”。

礼节美语: Power Struggles II

David 跟 Sandra 聊天，说起自己以前有个同事，特别喜欢 name-drop. David说，

D: We would be in a meeting and she would say. "Yesterday I was chatting with Tom." She meant Tom Solomon...our CEO.

S: Basically she was trying to impress people by using the CEO's name...but who knows if she really talked to him?

D: You don't know...and name-dropping is a really bad habit. It gives everyone else negative feelings about you. If you have a good idea, just speak up. You don't need to use someone else as a cover.

David 举例说，他们开着开着会，那个同事就会突然说，我昨天跟 Tom 聊天，大家都知道，Tom 是公司首席执行官CEO。David说这样做其实是个坏习惯，会让别人对你有负面看法。如果你有什么好主意，just speak up. 直截了当说出来就好了，you don't need to use someone else as a cover. 不用打着别人的旗号。

S: Yeah... Tim does that too sometimes. But the worst thing he does is try to push me to the sidelines.

D: What do you mean?

S: When we have meetings sometimes people bring up my accomplishments and Tim always has to jump in and say something like, "Yes, but that was last year. We need fresh thinking this year." Why can't he just be nice?

Sandra 说，她对Tim最反感的地方是，he tried to push me to the sidelines. sidelines 边线，to push someone to the sidelines 就是排挤某人的意思。另外一种说法是 stay on the sidelines 站在边线上，意思是不积极参与。Sandra 举例说，比如开会时，只要一有人提到 Sandra 以前的工作成绩，Tim 就会马上说，那都是去年的事了，我们需要新思维 fresh thinking. 以此削弱 Sandra 的影响和份量。

D: Well like you said earlier, he might feel threatened by you. He sees you as a rising star and he's afraid you'll shine brighter than he'll. Some people don't know how to react in situations like that.

S: I don't hate Tim. He'not totally bad; in fact he's pretty clever sometimes. I just hate all the office power struggles!

D: Unfortunately every workplace has its wars for power. That's how the game is played.

David觉得，Tim可能真是觉得Sandra对自己构成威胁。他怕你会 shine brighter than he'll 比他更耀眼，这里也可以用 outshine, He's afraid you'll outshine him. Sandra说，其实她不恨Tim, 她是不喜欢办公室里的权力之争，all the office power struggles. 然而，所有工作场所都难免有这种争权夺利，勾心斗角，按照David的话说，That's how the game is played.

A: 看吧，因为别人工作出色，就 feel threatened,觉得自己受到了威胁！还有那些 name droppers, 就爱吹嘘自己和名人、上司一起怎样怎样，让人讨厌啊！

B: Not to mention people pushing you to the sidelines,使劲排挤你。Workplace power struggle is just horrible!

A: 是啊，干得比别人好反而遭到忌妒和排挤！这样吧，咱们走出office, 去一个简简单单决胜负的地方！

B: Where is that?

A: Track field! 田径场！咱们来赛跑！

American sports English: On your mark

Y: 大家好，我是杨晨。

P: 我是Patrick.

Y & P: 今天我们......

Y: Patrick，你不要跟我抢着说话，这是犯规。要是赛跑你这就是抢跑，false start!

P: I apologize. In track and field, if an athlete committed two false starts, he or she will be disqualified.

Y: 两次 false starts，就要被罚下场。

P: 刚才你也是false start, 为什么只有我道歉？

Y: er....Well, let's move one, shall we?

P: Ok, anyway, today we're going to talk about sprinting events.

Y: Sprinting events 是田径比赛中的短跑项目，我们先来讲起跑。在起跑线，我们会听到发令员喊:“各就位”

P: On your marks，

Y: 预备

P: get set,

Y: 没有发令枪发令员就喊“跑”。

P: go!

Y: 正式比赛当然都用发令枪了。

P: A starting gun is used in official track meets.

Y: 起跑对短跑运动员很重要。

P：A runner's start is crucial, especially for sprinting events like the 100-meter-dash. You need to react to the gun fast, but not too fast, otherwise you will commit a false start.

Y: 枪响了要迅速冲出去，但起跑太快，据说快于0.1秒就是抢跑了。你看，我懂得很多吧。信不信我跑得比你快。

P: 不相信。

Y: 那我们出去比一比！Lets race.

P: OK. Lets race and see what happens.

Announcer: On your mark, get set, go......

Y: I win, I win!!!

P: No, you didn't, you cheated! False start.

A: 怎么样？Donny, 下班后田径场等我，咱们比比100米短跑谁厉害！？

B: No problem! I'm a serious runner. Don't go easy on me!

A: I won't! 好，今天的节目就到这里。节目的撰稿人是晓北，编辑是蔚然。同学们，我们下次的美语训练班再见!

B: Bye!