美语训练班第53课

A: 大家好! 欢迎来到这期的美语训练班! 我是杨琳！


B: 我是Kat! 杨琳，今天咱们学什么呢?


A:今天，咱们要看看宠物心理医生靠不靠谱，分析一下打高尔夫的好处，走神放空一下，还要告诉大家怎么用美语说“跑腿”和“放鸽子”。


B: 我保证，我们的节目绝对不会放大家鸽子！


A: 哈哈，那是当然！好了，闲话少说，我们先赶快来进入第一个单元，Learn a Word!

Learn A Word # 1494


今天我们要学的词是immune. Immune is spelled i-m-m-u-n-e, immune. Immune的意思是免疫的，比如，immune system就是指免疫系统， immune disease 则是免疫系统疾病。Immune还可以指"免除的","不受影响的". Apple's OS X, which has long been considered immune to viruses, was recently hit by a malicious software called Flashback. 苹果电脑的OS X操作系统一向被认为百毒不侵，可是最近，该系统遭到一种名叫Flashback的恶意软件的袭击。The IMF says Africa's economy is expanding, but it is not immune to global slowdown. 国际货币基金组织说，非洲经济整体有所发展，但并不能完全不受全球经济放缓的影响。好的，今天我们学习的词是
immune，immune，immune...


A: 听见没有，You have to upgrade your Macbook! Mac is no longer immune to viruses. Kat, kat, kat! 你想什么呢？


B：Oh...Oh what? I'm sorry what?


A: 瞧你这走神的！认真点！我正在说给macbook下补丁呢！


B：对对, I spaced out there for a second! 不过正好，下面的Popular American里面，我们就要来学学走神要怎么说！


Popular American


各位听众，现在播送《流行美语》。Larry和李华明天要考试，今天一起复习，但李华一直没法专心。她今天会学到两个常用语：zone out和now you're cooking with gas。


LL: So Reaganomics were the economic policies of U.S. President Ronald Reagan---Li Hua? Are you listening?


LH: (Pause) 嗯？发生什么事了？


LL: Li Hua! How can you zone out when your final is tomorrow?


LH: Zone out? 你在说什么啊Larry?


LL: To zone out means to lose concentration and to not notice what's happening around you.


LH: 喔，你是说我分心吗？


LL: Yes. A 'zone' is an area. If you 'zone out', you mentally drift away from the place you are currently at, and go off into empty, dreamy space.


LH: 所以zone是指一个区域, zone out 就是走神。


LL: Yup. So stop zoning out! We still have a lot of studying to do!


LH: 好吧。那你告诉我，什么是supply-side economics？


LL: Supply-side economics argues that economic growth can be most effectively created by lowering barriers for people to produce goods and services (supply)--


LH: 比如说降低所得税。


LL: Hey! Now you're cooking with gas!


LH: Cooking--cooking with what?


LL: Now you're cooking with gas! It means now you understand what I'm talking about.


LH: 啊。Now you're cooking with gas 是指我终于跟上了，了解你在说什么。是啊，我还是懂一点点的。不过now you're cooking with gas和了解一件事情怎么能扯得上关系呢？


LL: This comes with a little bit of history. In the 1930's cooking became more convenient as the kitchen evolved from the old coal/wood range into the wood/gas combination. So when we say 'now you're cooking with gas', it means you've crossed the barrier and progressed!


LH: 真有意思。原来是1930年代煮饭从依靠炭和木头进化成依靠天然气，生活方便了许多。所以说now you're cooking with gas就代表我进步了。


LL: Yes, that is correct. Wow you're really cooking with gas now! Learning so fast.


LH: 哈哈对呀。我现在精神好多了。还是学习英文俚语比较有趣。


LL: But we have to keep going with Economics, or else we're both going to fail the exam tomorrow.


LH: 是啊。But if we keep talking about boring Economics, I'm going to zone out again!


LL: Hmm what should we do then...


LH: 要不这样！你先教我zone out 和now you're cooking with gas 的用法，让我变得有精神之后，我们再继续看经济学，怎么样？


LL: I guess that could work. Hmm....you seem to be able to use these two phrases already. Do you have any questions?


LH: 当然有。如果分心是zone out, 那很专注的时候就是I'm really zoned in, right?

LL: That's interesting. But no one says it that way. A lot of phrases are only used in one direction. Therefore, you can only say zone out, but there is no such thing as zone in.

LH: 啊，原来如此。分心是zone out, 但注意力集中时不能反过来说zone in.


LL: Right. What about "now you're cooking with gas?" Can you give me an example using that phrase?


LH: Even though I was zoning out at the beginning of this review session, I began to cook with gas.


LL: Hmm. The phrase 'now you're cooking with gas' is usually used together as one, so no words are changed. Therefore, we don't say that someone begins to cook with gas.


LH: 好麻烦。所以说，Now you're cooking with gas. 得要整句一字不露地用。通常是一个人对另一个人说，Now you're cooking with gas. 而不是用来形容第三者的。


LL: That's right. Now you're really cooking with gas! Do you think we can go back to Economics?


LH: 啊！我要回家了。今晚是美国偶像American Idol的决赛。拜拜！


LL: Wait! Li Hua!


今天李华从Larry那儿学到两个常用语，一个是zone out, 是走神，发呆的意思；另一个是now you're cooking with gas. 指一个人开始进入情况了。这次《流行美语》播送完了，谢谢收听，下次节目再见。


A: Kat, 我可要批评你了，How could you zone out in the middle of the show?


B: I'm really sorry! I was thinking about all the things I want to say to my supervisor! 他今天早晨又让我去帮他买咖啡！我又不是给他跑腿的小时工！


A: 原来是这样！也许你可以跟他谈谈，说不定他根本就没觉得这是个事儿呢！


B：If he asks me to buy coffee again, I will throw it in his face! Yeah, yeah! I will do that! 不过大家先拿我当个模版，咱们来看看跑腿儿用美语怎么说！


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。今天是方方要问的：跟班打杂的。


Donny: Hey, Fang Fang, what's up? Do you like your new job?


FF: 啊，还行吧。就是初来乍到，专业一点都用不上，尽打杂了。


Donny: 打杂？What do you do everyday?


FF: 无非就是复印文件，取东西，接电话什么的。哎？美国人怎么形容这种工作啊？

Donny: Oh! Someone who does small and unimportant tasks at work is called a go-for. g-o-f-o-r, go-for.


FF: 哦! 这么说，go-for 就是公司里的小弟小妹! go-for 的主要工作就是跑腿儿。那“跑腿”又怎么说呢？


Donny: We say they "run errands for others." Run is spelled r-u-n, errands is spelled e-r-r-a-n-d-s. The word "errand" means a short trip that's taken to finish a necessary task.


FF: Errand 差事，复数加s, errands, 所以 run errands for others 就是替别人“跑腿”的意思。


Donny: That's right. I guess you don't really like running errands for your boss, right?


FF: 是啊，我想做有意义的工作，可老板总让我干些没用的活儿。


Donny: She gives you a lot of busy work, I'm assuming? The phrase "busy work" refers to tasks that keep people busy but are not very useful.


FF: 哦! 原来，busy work 就是花时间，但没意义的工作。老板给我 busy work，并不是因为这些工作重要，而是因为她不愿意看我闲着!


Donny: That's right! Fangfang, a lot of people start as go-fors and work their way up. I'm sure you'll do just fine. Now let's see what you've learned today!


FF: 公司里跑腿打杂的小弟小妹叫 go-for；


跑腿是 run errands for others；


消磨时间，但是没意义的工作是 busy work.


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


B: See, I'm such a go-for at work! I hate that they make me do all this busy work!


A: 怎么可能！你可是我们的优秀主持人！上次还有听众说最喜欢Kat的幽默风格呢！


B: haha, you know how to cheer me up, girl! Thanks! 好了，咱们接下来说点好玩的，Today Tom is taking his dog to a pet psychologist!


A： 宠物心理医生？这真的靠谱吗？咱们赶快去听一听！


Cats and Dogs: Advanced


大家好！今天我们为您播出“美语三级跳”节目“宠物”单元的高级课程。


Tom和Mindy养的狗不听话，今天带它去看 pet psychologist---宠物心理医生。


Tom: Thank you so much for seeing us today, Doctor. Our dog is having some mental problems and needs a professional evaluation.


Psychologist: Of course. I understand that you are very concerned about your dog's mental health. What's the problem?


Tom: Well you see, he is always running around wild, tearing the furniture up and breaking things.


Psychologist: Is that it?


Tom: Well... he also doesn't listen when I give him commands, and he tries to eat the food off of the table. He is really wreaking havoc in our house.


Psychologist: I see ...


Professor Bowman, 你说Tom是不是有点小题大作了？他说的这些“症状”，比如乱跑，撕咬东西，吃桌上东西什么的，不是所有小狗都会做的么？


Professor: Yeah. It probably needs a professional dog trainer more than it needs a pet psychologist.


对了，Tom说the dog is "wreaking havoc." 这是什么意思？


Professor: To wreak havoc means to ruin or damage. For another example, I could say that the really powerful typhoon wreaked havoc on the coastal cities.


原来wreak havoc 就是毁坏，造成很大破坏的意思。


Tom: What do you think, Doctor? Is he depressed? He probably needs to be on some strong anti-depressants, right?


Psychologist: Well, it's perfectly normal for a young puppy to have this kind of temperament. How often do you take him out to get some exercise?


Tom: Not that often. You see, I promised my wife that I would always take him for walks. But I started getting really tired of running after him all the time, so I stopped.


Psychologist: It's pretty important that he gets lots of exercise to use up his energy. He shouldn't be cooped up in the house all day.


我就知道Tom很难做到每天出去遛狗! 瞧，连医生都说，Tom的狗精力过盛。


Professor: Right. The dog shouldn't be cooped up in the house all day.


Cooped up? 就是指被关起来么？


Professor: Exactly. You can use it in lots of different ways. For example, it's important you have someone to talk to when you're sad so that you don't keep your emotions cooped up inside yourself.


哦，就是说难过的时候不要把感情憋在心里，应该找人聊聊天，发泄一下。对了，这个心理医生还说到一个词，“temperament”， 这是什么意思？


Professor: The word temperament means character or personality. For example, it's important for doctors to have a calm temperament so they can handle the stress of their job.


哦，就是性情。那even temperament是性格随和，好脾气喽？


Professor: That's right.


Psychologist: Tom, I really wouldn't worry about it. As he grows up he will mellow out.

Tom: I hope so, because I have such high hopes for him! Even though, my parents never loved me and never thought I could achieve anything, I'm going to make sure this dog is a winner!


Psychologist: I see .... so you're treating your dog the way you wish your parents had treated you?


Tom: Exactly! And when we win first prize at all the dog shows, I'll show all those people who made fun of me when I was a kid.


Psychologist: Right. Well Tom, I'm happy to say your dog is totally healthy. You, on the other hand, need some serious professional help!

Professor: So Winnie, what is the psychologist's conclusion?


他说，狗没病，人有病! 需要看心理医生的是Tom自己! 对了，professor, 他说 the dog will "mellow out"，是什么意思？


Professor: Someone is mellow if he is very relaxed, calm and not worried about things.

所以医生是说Tom的狗随着年龄的增加，脾气会越来越好。Tom还说，等他的狗在宠物比赛中得了冠军，他会show all the people who made fun of him as a kid. 他要向这些嘲笑过他的人show什么呢？


P: Winnie, if you prove that you were right and another person is wrong, you can say you "showed" that person. For example, I never thought Andy was very smart. But when he got into Harvard, he really showed me.


噢，就是让别人服气，见识自己的厉害! 原来Tom养狗是这个目的，他还真得去看看心理医生!


A: 原来Tom养狗的初衷是he wants to show all the people who made fun of him as a kid! 诊断出炉：小狗没问题，是Tom该去看心理医生了！


B: Gosh.. uh.. Tom's a pretty weird guy, huh? I think most people want to have pets because they love them, not because they want to show off to other people.


A: 大千世界无奇不有呗！


B: 说的对。Alright, enough about pets. Now let's go learn some tips for climbing up the corporate ladder---today's tip is playing golf!


礼节美语---BE-240 Taking up Golf II


Robert两年前开始打高尔夫球，在球场上积累了不少商业界的人脉。同事Mark问他：


Mark: But how can you play with people who've been golfing for 20 years? Isn't it embarrassing?


R: Golf has a system called "handicapping" and the system does its best to level out the differences in skill. It's quite common for a novice to play alongside a more experienced golfer.


M: That's interesting. I read an article once that says you can tell a lot about a person's management style by how they play golf. Do you agree with that?


R: Actually, yes. Say for example you hit your ball into a sand trap...the way you react to that demonstrates a great deal about your character.


Robert告诉Mark, 打高尔夫球有所谓的 handicapping system 差点系统，能 level out the differences in skill 平衡不同选手的水平，让水平相对较差的新手novice能play alongside a more experienced golfer. 跟经验丰富的老手一起打球。在这里，新手novice还可以用rookie来代替。Robert说，从球风还能看出一个人的管理风格。


M: So the executives on the golf course are all sort of sizing each other up?


R: Absolutely. So what about you? Do you play any sports?


M: I was on the ping-pong team in high school. Ping-pong suits my temperament. It requires high concentration and quick decision-making skills. Unfortunately, ping-pong is not a game of choice for most business executives.


R: Yeah...I don't think CEOs like to get too sweaty. Are you interested in trying your hand at golf?


M: I thing I might be. Do I have to purchase a set of golf clubs to begin with?


既然从球风，能看出一个人的经营管理风格，那球场上的公司主管们自然都会 size each other up 相互打量，彼此观察。Robert 问Mark 喜欢什么运动项目，Mark说自己上高中的时候曾经打过乒乓球，因为 It suits my temperament. 乒乓球适合我的性情。temperament is spelled t-e-m-p-e-r-a-m-e-n-t, temperament 是性格，性情的意思，可惜的是，乒乓球不是商界高层喜爱的运动， not a game of choice. Robert表示同意，因为公司CEO们可不愿意get too sweaty 出一身臭汗。Robert 问Mark 愿不愿意 try his hand at golf 试着学打高尔夫球。to try one's hand at something 是尝试的意思。Mark问Robert要不要事先准备一套球杆。Robert回答说：


R: Not in the beginning. I'll tell you what, let's go out to the club and hit a few balls next Saturday morning. Who knows? You might get addicted.


M: And like you said, playing golf is a good chance to expand my business networks.


R: It certain is. Well, I've got to take off. How does 7:30 next Saturday morning work for you?


M: Sounds great! Thanks, Robert.


R: Not at all. I'll see you next week.


Robert告诉Mark, 先不用置备球杆，可以先去球场打几个球试试手。Who knows? You might get addicted. 意思是说不定你一下子就会上瘾呢。两人分手前，约好下星期六早上7点半一起去打球。


A: 原来那些商业主管会在打高尔夫的时候size each other up 彼此观察呢！连运动的时候都不能闲着，这些老板们也是真累。


B: That's the price you have to pay if you want to be successful in business!


A: 哎呦，看来我真不是当有钱人的材料喽！


B: 哈哈，别泄气嘛杨琳！ You can be successful in your own field!


A：借你吉言喽！好了，上面Robert和Mark约好要去打高尔夫，下面我们要来教教大家如果其中一个人爽约要怎么说！


Jessica 在北京学汉语，她的中国朋友要是遇到了不知道用美语怎么说的词，就会来请教她。今天是庄明要问的：放鸽子


Jessica：哟，庄明，你干嘛气冲冲的？


ZM: 今天真倒霉! 我刚让人放鸽子了!


Jessica: 鸽子？Pigeon? I don't get it.


ZM: 放鸽子，就是你和别人约好，结果对方却没来! 诶？美语里这个该怎么说？


Jessica: Oh! You mean you arranged to meet someone, but the person was a no-show!


ZM: No-show? 把 no 和 s-h-o-w “show” 放在一起，no-show，就是“没来，爽约”。


Jessica: Yes! But Zhuang Ming, who was this no-show? Your boyfriend?


ZM: 嗯....怎么说呢。我约好去见一个从来没见过面的男生，是别人介绍的，就算是相亲吧!

Jessica: 噢，我明白了! You went on a blind date!


ZM: blind 后面加上 date--约会，blind date， 就是相亲吗?


Jessica: Yes! if your friend set you up with someone you've never met before, that's called a blind date. Blind dates usually end up bad.


ZM: 可不是么! 就说我今天这个相亲对象吧，直接放我鸽子，害我白等。


Jessica: In this case, Zhuang Ming, you say "I got stood up"! 我被人放了鸽子。


ZM: stood up 不是“站起来”的意思么？我可没一直站着傻等啊!


Jessica: No. If you "stand someone up", you fail to show up at a date.


ZM: 哦! 不去约会，放别人鸽子，就可以说 stand someone up。而我是被放鸽子，所以你说我--got stood up!


Jessica: That's right! 我也常被放鸽子! Last month, I had a date with a really cute guy, but he stood me up! 唉，也别生气了，还是说说你今天都学了什么吧!


ZM: 第一，“爽约，没来”，可以说 no-show;


第二，放别人鸽子，可以说 stand someone up;


第三，“相亲”可以说 blind date!


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


A: 原来相亲是Blind date! What're your thoughts on blind dates, Kat?


B: 我不介意认识新朋友，you can start with friendship and see where things go!


A: Kat, 其实我朋友Matthew一直想认识你! Let me set you guys up!


B: Haha, again, I don't mind another friend!


A: It's a date! 好的同学们，这次的节目时间就到这里。如果你对我们的节目有什么建议，或者你有任何问题和评价，请发电子邮件到meiyu@voanews.com


B: Don't forget to tune in next time for American English Mosaic! Bye bye!


A: See you later!