西方基本文化常识扫盲Hot

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在美国生活小费应该给多少?

给小费早已成为美国人一个根深蒂固的文化。每年，全美的食品服务行业有超过400亿美元的小费收入。对于刚来美国的新移民来说，应该给多少消费成为困扰他们的一个难题。本文为你介绍由埃米利-波斯特学院（Emily Post Institute）提供的给小费习惯的一个指南。

餐厅酒吧
侍应：适当的服务是帐单的15%，非常良好的服务是20%，差的服务不低于10%。
服务领班/队长：额外奖励服务领班。
葡萄酒管家：每支酒的15%。
调酒师：帐单的15%-20%，另外普通饮料最低50美分，含酒精饮料每瓶1美元小费。
衣帽间服务员：每件外套1美元。
代客泊车或车库服务员：2美元。
洗手间服务员：50美分至1美元。
日常生活
计程车司机：因地区而异。15%是足够的，额外1美元到2美元提拿行李服务。
送外卖人士：帐单的10% ，即10美元的帐单，至少给1美元小费。如果在恶劣天气下，给15%-20%的小费。
超市的服务员：查看公司政策是否接受小费，服务员帮忙提货物到车，可给1美元，如果有超过3袋，可给1.50美元至3美元。
理发师：15%-20%，最低1美元。其他的服务，洗发，刮胡子或修指甲，每人给1美元至2美元。
洗发服务生：2美元。
美甲师：15%。
水疗服务（如按摩）：15%-20% 。如果服务是由店主提供，可不用给额外小费。
咖啡/食品零售店：有一些服务员在收银柜旁边，放有收小费的罐子，这是完全选择性的，可不给小费。
勤杂工：不用小费。
煤气服务员：不用小费。
康奈尔大学酒店管理学院副教授迈克琳（Mike Lynn）建议比萨外卖最低给小费2元，他的理由是送外卖人士可能面对很大的危险，如是在犯罪猖獗的地区，或在恶劣天气驾驶等。而且外卖比萨的服务，不另多收送货的费用。
旅游
机场Skycap服务人员：如果帮忙把行李提放在路边，每袋1美元，如果拿到行李托运柜台，每袋2美元。
酒店门卫：帮忙提行李，每袋为1美元，帮忙找电召车，每人为1美元。
酒店侍者：将行李送到客房，每袋为1美元。但如果你只有一个袋，最低小费是2美元。
酒店管家：每晚2美元到5美元。
酒店礼宾服务部：为你订门票或预订，5美元小费。如果他们很难得到的门票，10美元以上，如果只是查问地图，不用给小费。
容易多给小费的3种情况
1.甜蜜巧古力。美国人都爱小甜吃，有研究发现，只要服务员给客人递上帐单时，多加两块小的巧古力，小费的收入增加约20%。
2.信用卡。人们在餐厅拿信用卡付帐单时，似乎不会考虑信贷紧缩的问题。信用卡的客户，比较现金付帐的人，往往会给更多的小费。当纽约市计程车安装上信用卡阅读器之后，小费平均从10%，增加至22%。
3.按钮付款。这又是计程车多收小费的另一种技巧，新安装的按扭付款系统，包括预置的小费数额，比较乘客付现金，可获得更多的小费。

 

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回复: 西方基本文化常识扫盲Hot

继续学习

 

[狗狗凡]

回复: 西方基本文化常识扫盲Hot

“淘金热”是美国一个很重要的历史事件，当时发财梦促使八万多人跋山涉水涌到旧金山。虽然这段历史插曲早已载入史册，但这股热潮中出现的一些习惯用语却还沿用至今。我们今天就来讲这样两个习惯用语。
　　第一个是：stake out a claim。Stake out在这里的意思是“立桩标出地界”，而这儿的claim是名词，它的意思是“土地所有权”。
　　淘金者抵达目的地后做的第一件事就是尽可能在金块发现地附近占有一片土地。他们的具体做法是在自己选中的土地的四角敲进木桩，说明这里是某人的地界，然后向政府管理土地的部门递交一份claim，也就是申请这块土地所有权的文书。这就是stake out a claim。
　　久而久之，stake out a claim被用来表示更广泛的意思了，可以引申为“坚持要求得到某物”。
　　例句-1：Boy, this apple pie is great! And I'm still hungry -- I think there's a piece left in the kitchen. I'll stake out a claim for it, if you guys don't mind。
　　哇，这苹果派真好吃！我还没吃够呢，你们要不介意的话，厨房里剩下的那块就归我了！
　　美国习惯用语：大大小小都归我
　　例句-2：Okay, Sally, you get mother's Chinese tea set. But I want to stake out a claim to those old dishes from France: I've always loved them and they fit in fine with the dishes I have now。
　　好吧，莎莉，你就拿妈妈的中国茶具吧。我要那些法国买来的旧盘子：我一直喜欢那些盘子，而且它们跟我现有的那些盘子又很配。
　　第二个习惯用语是strike it rich。当年千千万万个淘金者中确实有那么几个幸运儿果真找到了金子成为百万富翁。这时其他来探寻金矿的人就会说他们是：strike it rich。 Strike it rich原意是“挖到金矿发大财了”，现在引申为“突然发大财”。
　　例句-3：Did you hear about Jim? -- What a lucky guy! He bought a lottery ticket last week. You know the odds of winning -- millions to one against you. But he struck it rich -- he won ten million dollars!
　　你听说吉姆的事儿了吗？他可真走运！他上星期买了张彩票。你是清楚中奖机会有多渺茫的，是好几百万分之一，但是他居然中奖得了一千万美元，转眼成了大富翁。
　　Strike it rich不一定用来说发财，有时也可以指和钱财无关的幸运。例如取得重大科研成果。
　　例句-4：Dr. Jonas Salk worked years to find a way to protect children from the dread disease of polio. And 40 years ago he struck it rich: he found a vaccine that has almost wiped out this killer。
　　乔纳斯索尔克医生多年来一直在努力研究如何保护儿童不受可怕的小儿麻痹症的侵袭。四十年前他有了重大突破：他发现了一种几乎根除了这种致命疾病的疫苗。

 

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回复: 西方基本文化常识扫盲Hot

今天要学的习惯用语是：pinch pennies。 Pinch作为动词最普通的意思是用食指和拇指捏着，pennies是一分钱硬币，在美国钱币中价值最低。那么，pinch pennies是什么意思呢？



Pinch作为动词最普通的意思是用食指和拇指捏着，pennies是一分钱硬币，在美国钱币中价值最低，一百个pennies才值一美元，所以好多人对pennies不屑一顾，甚至都不愿在口袋里带上pennies当零钱花，因为即使装满了一口袋也没多少钱。Pinch pennies从字面来看是紧紧捏着pennies不放，这样的人想必是守财奴了。

 

[故乡的云]

回复: 西方基本文化常识扫盲Hot

mondaze:讨厌的星期一

一周七天你最讨厌哪天？很多人都会说是星期一吧，因为又要开始学习或者工作了，mondaze这个词就应运而生了。
解释：a daze you find yourself in due to it being Monday
经过了一个周末，到了星期一，又要开始学习或者工作了，我们会尽量恢复状态，但是可能状态并不好。

例句：
I locked my keys in my car because I was in a total Mondaze. I hate the start of a new work week.
我把钥匙锁车里了，都是因为该死的恍惚的周一。我讨厌一周工作的开始。

 

[故乡的云]

回复: 西方基本文化常识扫盲Hot

今天这个新词是no-motion，英文解释:A promotion without a raise or bonus，中文解释:升职了却不涨薪水或福利，就好像没升一样。


no-motion这个词的意思是A promotion without a raise or bonus，就是升职了却不涨薪水或福利，就好像没升一样。

例句：
My boss gave me a no-motion as I was promoted to VP but still receiving the same pay!我的老板给我升职到副总，但没涨薪水或福利，好像没升职一样。

 

[故乡的云]

回复: 西方基本文化常识扫盲Hot

husbeen：在家中没有地位，惟妻命是从的丈夫时间

在女性越发独立的社会，像“家庭妇男”、“家庭煮夫”这样的称呼已经司空见惯了。不过，在有些家庭，丈夫不但要操持家务，还要服从妻子的一切命令，毫无地位可言。这样的丈夫可就有点凄惨了


The husbeen is the insignificant other, the husband that has given up all sense of individuality and independence to keep his wife happy.
Husbeen（暂译为“过气老公”）指在家中没有地位，放弃全部个性和独立地位来取悦妻子的丈夫。


The husbeen is the man for whom those wedding bells have well and truly tolled, a man who mistook his independence for handing in all of his individuality.
这些丈夫来说，婚礼的钟声曾经清晰地敲响过，他们只是误以为独立就是将全部个人意志拱手相让。

例句：
We know who wears the pants in that relationship, John is such a husbeen.
我们都知道那段关系中谁说了算，约翰真的是个“过气老公”。

 

[故乡的云]

回复: 西方基本文化常识扫盲Hot

英文解释：That feeling that college students experience where they feel so exhausted that the idea of their face hitting their pillow sounds so utterly fantastic, it's almost sexual.

Pillow lust的中文意思是指对枕头的渴望，劳累后想睡觉。

例句：
Oh dude, it's been such a long week. I've got pillow lust, and I've got it bad.
噢，老兄，这周过的真慢，我真的好想上床休息。

 

[故乡的云]

回复: 西方基本文化常识扫盲Hot

中国人说英语为什么听起来没有礼貌

中国人的英语以Chinglish或Chenglish闻名于世；中国人最大的英语发音问题就是没有连读，但这都不是最主要的语言问题。老外们时常议论，很多中国人在说英语时，听起来没有礼貌；并不是这些中国人本身没礼貌，而是他们还没有习惯英语的礼貌表达方式。

比如，中国人在餐厅或咖啡厅，会说：“我想要一个汉堡包。”或者“我想要一杯咖啡。”但是，如果直接把这些话翻译成英语“I want to have a hamburger.”或“I want to have a coffee.”老外们会觉得这样说话很没有礼貌，当然他们也不会直接告诉你。而在西方国家，老外们一般会说：“Could I have a hamburger, please?”或“Can I have a coffee, please?”

再比如，中国人在拒绝别人邀请的午宴或晚宴时，会说：“抱歉，我不能去，我还有别的安排。”翻译成英文就是“Sorry，I can’t. I have another appointment.”如果这样说，那别人第二次也许不会再邀请你了。老外们一般会这样说：“That is a good idea! I would like to join in but I have another appointment today.”

我们可以从中总结一些“有礼貌”的技巧：

1，西方人（主要指有一定修养的欧美人）在与他人交流时，比较多地使用情态动词：can、could、may、might、would等等；情态动词（Model Verbs）又称为情态助动词（Model Auxil-iaries），表示说话人的语气，可表达建议、要求、可能和意愿等，使得说话的语气比较有礼貌；

2，比较多地使用虚拟语气，比如would (had) rather、would (had) sooner、would (just) as soon等等，或者在陈述句中使用过去式表示虚拟语气，或者使用if等引导的从句表示“可能性”。这样说话可以使人感觉表达者是在考虑达到最佳的结果或方式，尽量避免不好的结果或方式，或者推测可能出现的问题，并找出可能解决的办法；

3，往往在句尾加please，而不是在句首加please。当please用在句首的时候，语气听起来就比较强，听起来像命令。比如请求别人做某事的时候，我们中国人会说“请在周一前给我回复。谢谢。”但是如果你直接用英语说“Please reply to me by Monday. Thank you.”听者会觉得你是在命令他，一点礼貌也没有。而如果这样说：“Could you please reply to me by Monday? Thank you.”就显得有礼貌了；

4，在陈述句的表达可能显得生硬、没礼貌时，尽量使用疑问句、否定句或从句，尽量避免自己的主观判断或武断，以积极的、建议的、比较的、人性的语气，代替消极的、命令的、直接的、武断的语气；

5，说话要以他人为中心，以肯定他人、赞同他人为前提，让自己显得谦卑、渺小。说完之后，还要附带一句“Thank you”或“Thanks”。其实，这种礼貌的表达方式是来自古老的中国。这是东西方文化的共同点，也是为人处世的基本原则。了解英语中礼貌的表达方式，尽量让自己的英语表达更有礼貌，融入社会。

 

[故乡的云]

回复: 西方基本文化常识扫盲Hot

英语的“大便、小便、放 屁”真正说法

英语的“大便、小便、放 屁”真正说法
一名中国留学生初到美国，在机场找厕所，问老外：「Where is W.C.？」老外听不懂。一名中国太太到医院生产，洋护士问她：「Did you have a bowel movement？」她却听不懂。还有人学了几十年的英语，还不晓得英语里的「大便」、「小便」、「放P」真正应该怎么说……
　　至于性毛病，更是老中难于启齿、欲语还羞的尴尬。见到洋医生，窘迫万分，不知如何开口才是，真有「犹抱琵琶半遮面」的感受。
　　以下为一些「禁忌」（taboo）的美语之整理。毕竟这些都是咱们日常生活的一部分，说不定有一天这些「禁忌」之语还能「派上用场」呢！
　　厕所
　　在美国一般都叫rest room或bath room（男女厕均可）或分别叫做 men‘s room 或 ladies‘ room（=powder room），不过在飞机上，则叫 lavatory，在军中又叫 latrine。至于 W.C.（water closet）仍是过去英国人用的，在美国，几乎没有人使用。
　　解小便
　　最普通的说法是 to urinate（名词是 urination），如果去看病，护士为了化验小便，就会给你一个杯子说：「Will （could） you urinate in this cup？」医生或许也会问：「Do you have trouble urinating？」=Do you have difficulty voiding？（小便有困难吗？）
　　此外，还有其他的说法：to piss = to take a piss = to take a leak = to void = to empty。 例如：
　　I need to piss = I have to take a leak.
　　How often do you get up at night to void？（晚上起床小便几次？）
　　此外，john（j 小写时，不是男人名字）是 bath room 或 toilet 的意思（也叫 outhouse），这通常是指在户外工作场地所使用的临时或流动性厕所（有时前面也加 portable 一字）。不过也有老外把家里的厕所叫做 john。 例如：
　　There are several （portable） johns in the construction site.（在建筑场地有几个临时厕所。）
　　He went to the john a few minutes ago.（他在几分钟前上了厕所。）
　　The manual labours have to use (portable) johns during their working hours.（劳动者在工作时间内需要使用流动性厕所。）
　　不过，小孩多半用 to pee 。例如：
　　The boy needs to pee.
　　然而，「小便检查」又叫做 urine test，因为这里的 urine 是化验的样品（specimen）。 例如：
　　Do I need a urine test?
　　注意：to piss off 是片语，又是指对人生气或对事物的不满。不过这是不礼貌的片语，少用为妙。 例如：
　　He pissed me off. = He made me angry.
　　He always pisses off （at） the society.（对社会不满）
　　如果「小便」有毛病，也可以告诉医生说：
　　My urine is cloudy and it smells strong.（有浊尿，味道很重）
　　I have pus （或air）in urine.（尿有泡沫） （pus = cloudy; air = bubble）
　　I dribble a little urine after I have finished urinating.（小便后还会滴滴答答。）（即失禁毛病）
　　I am passing less urine than usual.（小便的量比平时少）

　　解大便
　　一般是用 to make（或 have）a bowel movement 或 to take a shit。如果看病，医生常问：「Do you have regular bowel movement？」（大便正常吗？）（说得斯文些，就是「大肠在转动」）
　　此外，还有其他的说法： to defecate =to discharge excrement（或 feces）=to take feces （或 faeces）。 例如：
　　The patient needs to take a shit. （=to make a bowel movement）
　　不过，小孩多半是用 to make a poo poo 或 to make a BM. 。 例如：
　　The boy had a stinky BM.（大便奇臭。）
　　但是「大便检查」倒叫做 stool exam，因为 stool 也是一种化验的样品。 例如：
　　The doctor has to exam his stool.（医生要检查他的大便。）
　
放P
　　在美语里最常用的是 to expel gas 或 to fart 或 to make （或 pass）gas。 例如：
　　医生有时问：「How often do you expel（或 make 或 pass）gas？」（你放屁的次数很多吗？）
　　Is the gas expelled by belching？（是否打嗝后就会放屁呢？）（动词是 belch）
　　He said the more he ate, the more he farted.（吃的愈多，放屁也愈多。）
　　He has passed more gas than usual within the last two days.（过去两天中，他放屁比平常多。）


　　Be careful not to fart in the public.（注意在公共场所不可放屁。）
　　至于消化不良，大便不通或拉肚子，也有不同的说法。 例如：
　　I have an upset stomach.（消化不良） = I have heartburn. = I have indigestion.
　　注意：Heartburn 是指胃不舒服，不是「心痛」（heartache）
　　Something has upset my stomach for two weeks.（胃不舒服有两星期了。）
　　He has（persistent）constipation.（或 irregularity）（他经常便秘。) 或
　　He has been unusually constipated.（便秘很反常。）或
　　He is having problem with irregularity.（或 constipation); 或 He has no bowel movement for the past few days.
　　He has bouts of diarrhea.=He is having trouble with diarrhea.（他拉了一阵肚子。）
　　He can see trace of blood and pus or mucus in his stool（或 bowel movement）（大便时可看到血丝和粘膜。）

 

[生命的狂想]

回复: 西方基本文化常识扫盲Hot

如何用英文表达看球心情

今天李华和Larry在看足球赛，美国队对阿尔及利亚队。我们要学两个常用语：on the edge of your seat和down to the wire。
　　LH: Larry，今天这场比赛很重要！美国要是赢了，就进16强，要是输了就得回家了。
　　L: I know! Who do you think will win? The US or Algeria?
　　LH: 这可说不好。
　　“最后关头”的“紧张和兴奋”
　　L: I agree, it's hard to predict who will win. All I know is that I'm going to be on the edge of my seat the whole game。
　　LH: 什么？你要坐在椅子边儿上看比赛？这样坐着你一会儿就得累。
　　L: Actually, when you are really excited or nervous about something, you can say that you are on the edge of your seat。
　　LH: 哦，on the edge of your seat不是真的坐在椅子边儿上，而是形容紧张的样子。你是说，这场比赛让你感到特别紧张、兴奋，简直坐也不是站也不是。
　　L: Right! Or for another example, my friend Eddie loved the new Jack Nicholson suspense movie. He said it kept him on the edge of his seat for two hours。
　　LH: 对！悬疑电影总是让人的心提在嗓子眼，紧张得不行！哎，Larry, 你不是说你在网上买了一件美国队的球衣么？寄来了没有？
　　L: I've been waiting on the edge of my seat all week for it to come, but it hasn't arrived yet. I hope it didn't get lost in the mail。
　　LH: 别急，没准今天球衣就到了。你看别的世界杯比赛了吗？
　　L: Yeah a few, but for me, none can keep me on the edge of my seat like a US match does。
　　LH: 这倒是！不过，足球比赛太紧张了！要不我们还是看“美国偶像”吧，轻松一下。
　　L: No way! I'm always sitting on the edge of my seat whenever they announce the winner of American Idol。
　　LH: 你怎么看什么都这么激动！对了，我还真没看出来，你也是美国偶像的粉丝啊！
　　L: Well you never know when you might learn something surprising about me, Lihua。
　　LH: 哈哈，那以后和你说话时我该紧张了，I'll be on the edge of my seat when I talk to you!
　　美国对阿尔及利亚的比赛结束了，Larry和李华在谈论这场比赛。
　　LH: 真够悬的！双方一直是0比0，我还以为美国队要被淘汰了呢！谁知美国队居然在最后三分种里进了个球，这下就挺进16强啦！
　　“最后关头”的“紧张和兴奋”
　　L: I know! That was so amazing! If I watch a few more games like that, I'm going to have a heart attack!
　　LH: 心脏病？不至于吧！不过，这场比赛最后几分钟确实挺刺激的。
　　L: You're right. That game really came down to the wire。
　　LH: Down to the wire? 这是什么意思？
　　L: When something comes down to the wire, that means there isn't much time left。
　　LH: 哦，down to the wire就是指到了最后关头。你是说这场比赛在快结束的时候居然难分胜负。
　　L: Right. Here's another example. My big report for work is due tomorrow and I still have a lot of work to do, so it's really coming down to the wire today。
　　LH: 你是说，明天有报告要交，可你还没怎么写呢，所以今天是你完成报告的最后关头了！哎？既然要写报告，干嘛还看世界杯？
　　L: I'll just say that I know what's important in life. Say, how is your summer job search going?
　　LH: 还在找呢。我已经快没钱了，如果再找不到工作，我连房租也交不出来了。
　　L: Gosh, it sounds like it's really coming down to the wire. Have you had any success?
　　LH: 倒是有一份工作，我已经进入最后一轮面试了，公司说今天下午打电话通知我结果。
　　L: Wow, it sounds like it's coming down to the wire. You must really be on the edge of your seat。
　　LH: 是啊，已经快5点了，还没来电话，我都要急死了！

 

[生命的狂想]

回复: 西方基本文化常识扫盲Hot

看“绝望主妇”学地道口语

一条巷子，五户人家，外加八婆和熟女，就组成了全美收视冠军：Desperate Housewives。这部美剧不仅剧情跌宕起伏、帅哥美女遍地，而且还有很多地道的英语表达，我们一起来学习吧！
　　1. The bank says your check is gonna take five days to clear。
　　银行说你的支票五天才能兑现。
　　2. It all boils down to your DNA。
　　看“绝望主妇”学地道口语
　　这完全取决于你的DNA。
　　3. I friended you on Facebook。
　　我在Facebook上请求加你为好友了。
　　4. I wanna take a family portrait。
　　我想照张全家福。
　　5. Well, how about I make it worth your while?
　　我给你些酬劳怎么样？
　　6. So we've gotta play ball。
　　所以我们得合作。
　　7. He read my palm。
　　他给我看手相了。
　　8. What's the point? The past is the past。
　　有什么好谈的？过去的就让它过去吧。
　　9. You're gonna have to take over my carpools on Mondays。
　　我每周一得搭你的车。

 

[狗狗凡]

回复: 西方基本文化常识扫盲Hot

读神话故事学英文：特修斯

Just as Heracles was the chief hero of Peloponnesus，so Theseus was the most famous half god of Attlca.His father was king Aegeus of Athens and his mother a princess of Troezen.When he was still an infant his father left him in the care of his mother and went back to his own kingdom.Before he left，Aegeus buried his sword and sandals under a huge stone，and told his mother to direct him to Athens as soon as he was big enough to lift the rock and take the hidden gifts with him. At the age of sixteen he became a strong young man，intelligent and with lots of nerve.Taking the sword from under the rock，he joyfully set out to look for his father.It was a journey of adventures.But he cleared the roads of various monsters he met and appeared harmless in his father's palace at Athens.Little did he suspect that here would be an attempt on his life there。
　　King Aegeus had recently married Medea，a bad woman.She was anxious to have the Athenian throne for her own child. She had persuaded the king to poison the newcomer at a feast.As the feast was in progress，King Aegeus saw Theseus' sword and recognized his son in the young man . Quickly pushing the poisoned cup aside，he took his son in his arms and declared him his successor.Thus troubled by her own evil designs，Mede fled in her dragon drawn carriage，never to return.for a time Theseus stayed with his father at Athens.When the Cretan bull escaped into the area of Marathon he set out alone to fight with the beast and offered it up as a sacrifice to the gods。
　　At this time the city of Athens was bothered by the respect it had promised to pay to King Minos of Crete . The Cretans had come to attack Athens，and the gods had ordered that the Athenians would have to meet the demand of the Cretan king that seven boys and seven girls be sent to Crete every year to feed the half man，half bull Minotaur.Determined to kill the Minotaur and save his people from further grief，Theseus decided to go as one of the fourteen chosen victims.Before he left he promised his father that if he succeeded in his work he would change the black sails of his ships to white ones.He went，and with the help of princess Ariadne of Crete，he killed the Minotaur and carried the Princess with him on his way back.At Naxos he left the girl in her own care.For when he neared Athens he forgot to put up the promised white sails，and his anxious father，standing on a hill-top，saw the black sails，threw himself down into the sea in despair.So stricken with grief was Theseus that he never recovered from regret.He succeeded his father as king，and introduced many good measures to improve the life of his people.To rid his kingdom of the threat by the Amazons，he led an expedition into the woman country and took its queen prisoner.The queen，Antiope by name，ws in fact so passionately in love with him that she agreed to marry him.At a later date the Amazons came to lay attack on Athens on the excuse of recovering their queen.In the battle that followed，the queen was wounded by a chance arrow and died，leaving Theseus a sad widower。
　　Theseus' friendship with Pirithous，king of the Lapithae，grew from a dramatic beginning.Pirithous was invading Attica and Theseus was marching his men out to meet him. In the first personal encounter between the two heroes each was so filled with admiration for the other that they both laid down their weapons and became faithful friends。
　　At the wedding of Pirithous，to which Theseus and Heracleswere invited，a number of horsemen present were angry with the shining beauty of the bride，so that they attempted to take her by force.Both Theseus and Heracles were enraged at their wild behaviour .In what was known as the coldblooded fight between the horsemen and the Lapithae they beat the horsemen and saved the bride.But she did not have long to live。
　　Both Theseus and Pirithous were full of the ambition of marrying a lady of holy birth.At one time they got Helen by force，she was the beautiful daughter of Zeus，but as she was not yet of marriageable age，Theseus left her with his mother.Later she was rescued by her brothers，Castor and Pollux.So proud were the two friends that they were now planning to invade the lower world and carry Persephone up by force，for Pirithous was eager for her beauty.They went，but they found it impossible to get out again. One of them，Pirithous，was bound to a turning wheel while Theseus himself was chained to a rock.If it had not been for Heracles，who came in for Cerberus，Theseus would never have been able to return to the upper air again。
　　When he returned to Athens he was quite old and unhappy with life.As king he acted like a tyrant and went successfully away from his people. He was sent away to the island of Scyros，where he fell into sea from a cliff. Nothing more was heard of him until the battle of Marathon centuries later.When the Athenians saw a mighty soldier leading them in their ruthless attack against the invading Persians，they recognized him as Theseus and after the war they devoted a grand temple to his memory and offered sacrifice at his altar。
　　正如海格立斯是珀罗普妮萨斯的大英雄，特修斯当之无愧地成了安提卡闻名遐尔的人神。他的父亲是雅典国王埃尔忒斯，而他的母亲是特隆泽的一位公主。当他还在襁褓中时，他父亲就把他交给了母亲，返回自己的王国去了。临行前，埃尔忒斯将剑和凉鞋埋在一块巨石之下；并告诉他母亲说：一旦特修斯长大了能搬起了石头，就拿出埋藏的礼物，然后指点他到雅典来。特修斯16岁时就长成了身强体壮的年轻人，他智慧超群但却性情急燥。当他从巨石下拿出宝剑时，就激动地起程去寻找他的父亲。旅途惊险至极，他清除了路上所遇的各种怪物猛兽，最终安然无恙地来到父亲在雅典的王宫里。他丝毫没有预料到王宫里竟隐藏着杀害他的阴谋。
　　国王埃尔忒斯新近娶了梅底。梅底是个心地歹毒的女人。她一心想让自己的孩子继承雅典王国的王位。她已说服国王让他毒死宴会上的这个陌生人。宴会上，埃尔忒斯国王看见了特修斯的剑，立刻认出原来这个年轻人是自己的儿子。他迅速推开那杯毒酒，拥抱他，并宣布他为自己的王位继承人。梅底为自己的歹毒计划扰得心神不安，于是驾上龙车逃掉了，从此再没有回来。特修斯在雅典与父亲住了一段时间。当克里坦的公牛跑到马拉松地区时，特修斯单枪匹马前去向那只猛兽挑战，最终将它作为祭品献给了众神。
　　那段时间，雅典城一直为自己曾许诺向克里特国王米诺斯进贡一事而困扰不安。克里特人曾进攻雅典，众神命令雅典人满足克里坦所提的条件。也就是每年须向克里特王国进贡七对童男童女来喂养半人半牛的怪物。为了杀死怪物，使同胞们免遭更大的悲痛，特修斯决定作为被选送牺牲品的一员前往克里特。临行前，他向父亲保证，一旦成功，他将把船上的黑帆换成白帆。他走了，在克里特公主阿瑞安得妮的帮助下，他杀死了半人半牛的怪物并带着公主一同返回。他把姑娘留在了纳克松斯，让她自己照顾自己。但是当他的船驶近雅典时，他忘记换上约定好的白帆。他焦虑的父亲站在山顶上看到远处的黑帆时，就绝望地跳海自尽了。特修斯懊悔万分，再也没能从自责中缓过来。
　　他接替父亲当了国王。他引进了许多好方法来改善人民的生活。为了使国家不再受亚马孙族女战士的威胁，他带队远征这个女人国，并俘虏了它的王后。王后名叫安提诺波。事实上，她狂热地爱上了特修斯并答应嫁给他。后来，亚马孙族人借口要夺回王后派兵攻打雅典。在接着的战斗中，王后被一只乱箭射中，不幸丧命，留下特修斯一人独自悲伤。
　　特修斯与拉皮塞国王皮瑞塞斯的友谊有着戏剧般的开端。皮瑞塞斯入侵安提卡。特修斯带兵出城迎战。在两人正面交锋的第一个回合中，两人相互之间钦佩不已，以致最后都放下武器成了忠实的朋友。
　　皮瑞塞斯结婚时，特修斯和海格拉斯都受到了邀请。在场的许多骑兵被新娘那闪光夺目的美丽所激怒。他们决定用武力把她抢过来。特修斯和海格拉斯对他们的野蛮行径怒不可遏。在这场众所周知的冷血战争中，他们痛击了骑兵并夺回了新娘。可惜她很快就离开人世了。
　　特修斯和皮瑞塞斯都雄心勃勃想娶一位出身圣洁的淑女。他们一度夺来了海伦。她是宙斯美丽的女儿，但她未到婚嫁年龄，于是特修斯让母亲照看她。后来，海伦的兄弟卡斯特和波鲁克斯救出了她。两位朋友如此骄傲便决定去进攻人间，把珀耳塞福涅抢来。因为皮瑞塞斯喜爱她的美貌。他们出发了，但他们却发现自己已无法逃脱，皮瑞塞斯被绑到了一个旋转的车轮上了，而特修斯则被拴在了石头上。要不是海格立斯，特修斯肯定就不能再回到天上了。
　　当特修斯回到雅典时，他老态龙钟，生活也不如意。作为一个国王他独断专横，结果被人民赶下了台。他被流放到塞库鲁斯岛。在那儿，他失足从悬崖上栽到了海里。从那以后，他杳无音信。几百年后特洛伊战争爆发。雅典人看到一个身材高大的士兵带领他们勇敢无情地攻击着入侵的波斯人，他们认出他就是特修斯。战争结束后，雅典人为纪念他建造了一座大寺庙，并给他的祭坛贡奉祭品。

 

[故乡的云]

回复: 西方基本文化常识扫盲Hot

Larry和李华一起去看职业棒球赛。今天我们要学两个常用语：a drop in the bucket和a flash in the pan.
LH: Larry, 世界杯结束了，咱们该看棒球了吧？我估计，棒球比赛肯定没有世界杯那么紧张。
L: I agree. Baseball games are much slower, and each game isn't very important.
LH: 对。每个队一年要打162场比赛，所以输个一两场的没什么问题。不像世界杯，输一场比赛就被淘汰！
L: You're exactly right. Each game is just a drop in the bucket.
LH: A drop in the bucket? 这是什么意思？
L; You can say that something is just a drop in the bucket if it is only a very small or insignificant part of something else.
LH: 哦，a drop in the bucket就好比一桶水里的一个水滴，指无关紧要。我们中文里把这个叫沧海一粟。
L: Right! Here is another example. Joe donated $20 to help people in Haiti after the earthquake, even though $20 was just a drop in the bucket.
LH: 海地地震后，Joe给灾民捐了20美元，尽管这只是很小的一笔钱。
L: Exactly. So Lihua, you're going to support the Nationals, right? They've got a great new pitcher named Stephen Strasburg.
LH: 我听说这个新投手特别棒! 不过 Larry, the Nationals去年打得那么差，换个新投手真能管用么？
L: Yeah, he is probably just a drop in the bucket, but if the Nationals can get some more good players they might be better in a couple years.
LH: 这么说，我们买票的钱就可以被用来聘请优秀的棒球队员喽？
L: I guess that's true, but of course, the price we paid for our tickets is just a drop in the bucket.
LH: 可不是么。The Nationals要想签下身价几百万美元的球星，可不能只靠咱俩这门票钱。哎？为了在经济上支持他们，你给我买一件有他们队标的T恤衫吧!
L: Well sure! But you have so many clothes, one more shirt is just going to be a drop in the bucket.
比赛结束了，Larry和Lihua从棒球场往外走。
LH: Larry, 这个新的投手可真棒!
L: Yeah, he played really well. If he keeps pitching like that, he is going to have an amazing career. I sure hope he's not just a flash in the pan.
LH: A flash in the pan? 什么意思？
L: A flash in the pan is something that starts out really well, but lasts for only a very short amount of time.
LH: 哦，就是昙花一现！你是说，你希望这个新投手不要在开始的时候表现很出色，但很快就默默无闻了。
L: Right. Here is another example. The new author's first book got a lot of praise from critics, but he turned out to be a flash in the pan because his other books were terrible.
LH: 我明白了。这位作家的第一本书一鸣惊人，可这只是昙花一现，因为他后来写的几本书都很差。
L: That's right.
LH: Larry， 你注意到了么？这片地方自从盖了新棒球场以来，漂亮多了！饭馆、商场什么的都多起来了！
L: Yeah, a lot of people thought it would be a flash in the pan, but there is still a lot of development even a few years later.
LH: 是啊，这个地区的发展可不是昙花一现，而是持续下来的。虽然现在经济不景气，但我还是希望他们能坚持下去。
L: Well, there were some signs that the economy was improving a few months ago. But unfortunately, it looks like they may have just been a flash in the pan.
LH: 是啊，当时那些经济指标似乎都挺鼓舞人心的，谁知没过多久情况又变坏了。
L: Well spending $5 on dinner will only be a drop in the bucket for the economy. But a hamburger does sound great.
LH: 好啊！咱们虽然不能改善全国的经济，但总可以先满足一下自己的胃吧！
今天李华学了两个常用语。一个是a drop in the bucket，表示无关紧要，沧海一粟。另一是a flash in the pan，意思是昙花一现。

 

[故乡的云]

回复: 西方基本文化常识扫盲Hot

Larry和李华一起去参观艺术博物馆。他们会用到两个常用语：Overkill和write something off.
LH: Larry, 听我的对了吧。逛艺术博物馆比看电影强多了！
L: Well I agree. But the art museum would be even better if it served popcorn too!
LH: 这倒也是，要是博物馆里也卖爆米花、热狗、啤酒，边逛边吃，那该有多舒服啊!
L: Hot dogs and beer? I don't know, Lihua. I think that might be overkill.
LH: Overkill是什么意思？
L: When you think that an idea goes too far, you can say that it is overkill.
LH: 哦，overkill就是过份的想法或行为。你是说，在博物馆里卖爆米花似乎还不错，可如果连热狗和啤酒都一起卖就太夸张了。
L: That's right! Here is another example. Elliot's boss thought about firing him for being an hour late to work, but then decided that would be overkill.
LH: 哦，Elliot迟到了一个小时，老板本来想因为这个而炒他的鱿鱼，不过后来觉得，这么做太过份了。对了，Larry, 博物馆这么好，我们天天来这里逛如何？
L: Lihua, I really enjoy the art gallery, but coming here every single day would definitely be overkill.
LH: 什么过份，你真没有艺术细胞! 我的艺术气质比你浓多了，我看，我干脆去读个艺术史的博士好了！
L: Lihua, it's fine to enjoy art as a hobby, but I think getting a PhD in art history would really be overkill.
LH: 呵呵，我开玩笑的。对了Larry, 你还记得上次咱们去华盛顿看兵马俑展览么？
L: I sure do! That was one of my favorites.
LH: 就是，多好看啊。可惜展出的只是一部分，要是所有兵马俑都到美国来展览就好了！
L; I don't know ... I was satisfied seeing just a few. I think bringing the entire collection here would be overkill.
LH: 才不会呢! 要看就得看全的！那个气势，肯定不一样! 我给你买张机票，你去中国看吧！
L: Lihua, it's nice that you're encouraging me to see the Teracotta Warriors, but buying me a plane ticket to China is definitely overkill!
LH: Larry, 你喜欢什么流派的艺术啊？现实主义还是抽象主义？
L: I definitely prefer the realistic kind. Anybody can make abstract art!
LH: 人人都能创作抽象派艺术作品？那好，你创作一个给我看看!
L: Er ... I guess you're right. I shouldn't write off abstract artists so quickly.
LH: Write them off? 这是什么意思？
L: When you write something off, that means you decide that it isn't important.
LH: 哦，就是小看，不看好的意思。你是说，你不该小瞧抽象派艺术家。
L: Right! Here is another example. In high school most people had written Jack off as an actor, so they were really surprised when he became a movie star years later.
LH: 我明白了。高中时大家都觉得Jack肯定当不了演员，可后来他成了电影明星，所以大家都很吃惊。
L: That's right!
LH: 对了Larry, 你说这些艺术品的创作者一定都很有钱吧？他们的作品都卖得好贵哦！
L: Actually I don't think so. Many great artists were written off in their own time, and people only started to appreciate them many years later.
LH: 也是，好多艺术家在世的时候不被世人重视，总是死了之后才得到人们的认可，真可惜！哎， Larry, 你喜不喜欢画画？
L: I thought of being an artist when I was a little kid, but I wrote that dream off a long time ago when I realized I was bad at drawing.
LH: 哦，你发现自己画画不行，就放弃了当画家的梦想。
L: Yeah, but I still like to draw as a hobby. Even though I can't be a professional artist, giving it up even as a hobby would have been overkill.
LH: 要不这样吧，Larry, 把你最近画的大作拿来，跟我五岁时画的儿童简笔画比比，看看你有没有达到我五岁时的水平？
L: Very funny, Lihua. I'll write that off as a joke!
今天李华学了两个常用语。一个是overkill，表示过份的想法或行为。另一是write something off, 意思是“小看，不看好”。

 

[故乡的云]

回复: 西方基本文化常识扫盲Hot

Larry准备参加马拉松比赛，李华在帮他进行赛前训练。他们会用到两个常用语：on the dot和get a taste of one's own medicine
LH: Larry, 加油，就剩500米了！冲刺冲刺! 好..！
Larry: (Out of breath) How...did... I do?
LH: 成绩不错，但还是没进15分钟。
Larry: (Still a bit out of breath) Let me see that watch...Hey, this isn't above 15 minutes... this is 15 minutes on the dot!
LH: Dot? 点点？这个秒表是新的，上面什么都没有啊!
Larry: No, no. The watch is fine. I'm talking about the time. Look...it says 15:00. Exactly fifteen minutes...Fifteen minutes on the dot.
LH: 哦， on the dot就是“正好”的意思。你是说，你刚才的成绩是正好15分钟。可是Larry，我的意思是，你还是没有冲破15分这个关口。这样你下个月参加比赛时，名次是不会理想的!
Larry: I know, I know... wait a minute. Next month? I thought I had way more time to prepare than that!
LH: 啊？你忘啦？距离比赛还有整整一个月，30 days on the dot!
Larry: Well, at least I'm making progress...fifteen minutes is my best time so far. I think I'm done running for today. It's 5pm on the dot.
LH: 好吧，那今天就练到这儿吧。天儿也够热的，今天是35 degrees on the dot，35度呢!
Larry: Well, when you're running, it feels more like 40 degrees on the dot!
LH: 不过回家前，你还得做30个仰卧起坐。
Larry: You sure are a strict coach...how do you know so much about training?
LH: (得意地)我高中是田径队的，教练特严格，我都是跟他学的!严师出高徒嘛!
Larry: Oh really?? (pauses for a moment as if hatching a plan) You know, Li Hua, there's a couple's race as well on race day. I think you and I should be a team!
LH: 双人跑？ 我也参加？那可不行，我整整10年没跑步了!10 years on the dot!
Larry: Hey, you've been making me run all over this track for the past week; I think it's only fair that you got to taste of your own medicine.
LH: 什么，taste of my own medicine? 我的药的味道？
Larry: Actually, you've been working me so hard, but now it's time for you to go through the same ordeal that you had put me through. In other words, you're getting a taste of your own medicine.
LH: 我明白了，get a taste of my own medicine就是自食苦果。你是说，这几天我逼你练得那么辛苦，现在你也要让我尝尝同样的滋味。
Larry: Right! Let's start early tomorrow...be here at 7 am on the dot. I can't wait to give you a taste of your own medicine!
第二天，Larry和李华开始了训练。
Larry: Come on, Lihua, just 500 more meters! Pick up your speed! And...you're done!
LH: (Out of breath) 时间怎么样？
Larry: Eighteen minutes.
LH: 啊？这么慢？ 18 minutes on the dot? 正好18分么？
Larry: No, not on the dot. More like 18 minutes and 16 seconds...
LH: 我要累死了，不练了不练了!
Larry: Now you know how it feels to taste some of your own medicine!
LH: 是啊，现在我体会到你的辛苦了。我真不该对你那么严格。
Larry: Good! Well, I guess I can tell you now...there's no couple's race.
LH: 根本就没有什么双人跑？!
Larry: Yeah, you were pushing me so hard...I just wanted you to get a taste of your own medicine.
LH: 为了让我自食苦果，你就用这招骗我？!哎呀，糟糕，刚才跑得太快，你妈妈送我的那条项链不知道什么时候掉了。
Larry: My mother's necklace?? That's been in my family for 100 years on the dot! Why did you wear that on a run?
LH: 哈! 你着急了吧! 项链就在我包里!怎么样， you just got a taste of your own medicine，你也知道被骗的滋味不好受了吧!
Larry: Indeed...
今天李华学了两个常用语。一个是on the dot，表示“正好，精确地”。另一是get a taste of one's own medicine, 意思是“自食苦果”。

 

[故乡的云]

回复: 西方基本文化常识扫盲Hot

Larry在学校书店，陪李华买新学期要用的书。他们会用到两个常用语： bite your tongue和stoop down to someone's level。
LH: 啊呀，怎么这么多人都选今天来买书!
Larry: Well, classes do start on Monday. Everyone is getting ready for school to start.
LH: Larry，刚才我结帐的时候，你听见那个收款员嘲笑我了么？他看我买这本书，说什么：“呦，你还上这门课哪？有什么用啊这种课!”他怎么能这样呢？! 气得我够呛!
Larry: Yea, I almost said something to him, but I just wanted to get out of there. Sometimes it's just better to bite your tongue and walk away.
LH: Bite your tongue? Larry你咬舌头啦？ 疼不疼啊？
Larry: No, Lihua. My tongue is fine. Biting your tongue is a phrase that means you force yourself to keep quiet - Like you have to bite your tongue to keep it from talking.
LH: 哦，to bite your tongue意思就是忍着不说话。你是说，你本想说那店员两句，可不想引起争执，所以就忍着没作声。
Larry: That's right, Lihua, and saying something mean back to that rude cashier just wouldn't be worth it. Better to bite my tongue and walk away.
LH: 这倒是。我真希望刚才那个收银员也知道什么时候闭嘴，bite his tongue，不要对客人说这么没礼貌的话。
Larry: He was probably just having a bad day. When someone gets frustrated, it's easier for them to forget to bite their tongue when they should...Like last Friday when my boss asked me to work late...
LH: 啊？老板让你加班，你说什么啦？
Larry: Well I wanted to tell him to get lost, but, of course, I bit my tongue instead.
LH: 幸好你忍住了！对老板大发脾气可不是明智之举！
Larry: That sure would be a mistake. Another example of a good time to bite your tongue is when your teacher makes you angry in class.
LH: 没错！有时候我也想顶老师几句，可想想得罪老师的后果，我呀，还是bite my tongue，装哑巴算了!
Larry: That's definitely the smart thing to do. You wouldn't want your teacher to be angry at you!
LH: 每个人在生活中都应该“三思而后言”，不能想到什么说什么。一想起刚才那个没礼貌的店员，我就来气！
Larry: It's alright, Lihua - there's nothing we can do about it now anyway. We would only be stooping down to his level if we returned the insult.
LH: "Stooping down to his level"“弯腰到他的水平”？这是什么意思？
Larry: To stoop down to his level would mean to be rude to him just like he was rude to us. Just because he is rude does not mean that we have to act the same way.
LH: 我明白了。stoop down to someone's level意思就是“跟某人一般见识”。如果别人对你没礼貌，而你也用粗鲁的语言去回敬他，那你就是把自己降低到和他一样的档次了。
Larry: Right. For example, if someone speeds past you while you're driving, it's better to let them go instead of trying to catch up and race them.
LH: 对，别人不守交通规则，咱不能跟他们一般见识，和他们一块儿违章开车。
Larry: Exactly. If they want to be unsafe, let them be unsafe by themselves.
LH: 对了，Larry, 刚才咱们排队的时候，后面一群女生在议论你的新鞋。
Larry: My shoes? What did they say??
LH: 呃....她们在嘲笑你的鞋子老土...不过没关系，我忍了，什么都没说，我不能跟她们一般见识，叽叽喳喳说人坏话，你说对吧？
Larry: My shoes? Out of style? That's so rude. I'm glad you didn't stoop down to their level. If I had heard them, I might not have been able to control myself. Why, I would......
LH: Larry! 你怎么啦？!咱们刚才不是才说么，不要想到什么就说什么!
Larry: You're right. I wouldn't want to stoop down to their level.
LH: 要不，咱们还是给你买双新鞋吧！
Larry: New shoes? What, you don't like these either?
LH: Um, I....
Larry: Yes?
LH: 我想我还是bite my tongue吧!
Larry: It doesn't work if I already know what you are going to say! (Sigh) OK. There's a shoe store. Let's hope the cashier there is having a better day.
今天李华学了两个常用语。一个是bite your tongue，表示“忍着不说话”。另一个是stoop down to one's level, 意思是“跟某人一般见识”。

 

[故乡的云]

回复: 西方基本文化常识扫盲Hot

Larry在家里和朋友们联网打游戏，李华则在书房里写作业，他们会用到两个常用语：epic fail和learn your lesson。
(网络游戏声音)
Larry: OK, guys. There are only two enemies left. Everybody stay calm! We almost have this round won.
LH: Larry，你在跟我说话么？
Larry: Oh wait, there's an enemy sneaking up behind Mike. Mike! Watch out! He's gonna kill you!! Noooooo!!!
LH: Larry!怎么啦？
Larry: Epic Fail. We almost won.
LH: Epic fail? 什么意思？
Larry: "Epic fail" means an unfortunate occurrence. People say that when something bad unexpectedly happens - especially in video games. In this case, we had almost beaten the other team, until someone sneaked up on my friend Mike at the last minute... it was such an epic fail.
LH: 哦，epic fail就是惨败。你是说，你和朋友们本来在游戏中要赢了，结果却遭到对方的突袭，结果惨败。 不过，你说话的声音太大了吧？我作业都写不下去了！
Larry: I'm sorry, Lihua. I just get so involved with these video games...
LH: (叹气) 算了，是我自己太紧张这篇论文了。要是明天交不上去，我就完了，it will be an epic fail!
Larry: Here, sit down. Let me show you one of my favorite websites. It's a collection of epic fails.
LH: 好吧，我也放松一下。
Larry: Look - here's a video of a guy trying to jump over a car on his bicycle. Look, there he goes...and at the last second, he misses the ramp and - (撞碎的声音) - he broke the car's window with his bike.
LH: 我的天！表演飞车最后却被车撞！还好这个人没有受重伤！
Larry: but I'm sure he's embarrassed after that epic fail.
LH:是啊，这么丢脸的失败，好窘啊! 为什么要干这么危险的事嘛！
*******
Larry: You would be surprised how many people are willing to try dangerous things like that. Hopefully, after that epic fail, he learned his lesson.
LH: Learned his lesson？你是说，他撞了车还要去上学？
Larry: No, not quite. I don't mean lesson as in something a teacher tells you at school. That phrase can also mean something you learn in life after making a mistake.
LH: 我明白了，learn his lesson就是吸取教训的意思。嗯，这个人的确应该长点记性，以后别干这种事儿了。我就不会像他一样，明知道最后结果是个epic fail，大失败，何必还要做呢？
Larry: Oh really? I can remember an epic fail you had just last week.
LH: 不会吧？
Larry: Remember last Friday when it was really windy outside and you were carrying that briefcase full of papers?
LH: 呵呵，那倒是，我公文包没锁好，结果里面的论文全飞出来，被风刮得满地都是，我当时都快疯了！这算是个epic fail! 大失策！
Larry: And did you learn your lesson?
LH: 那当然！ 我可是吸取教训了! 每次都会检查公文包锁好了没有。Larry， 你看! 网站上又有个视频，还是刚才那个飞车男! 这回他要骑车从房顶飞到游泳池里去！
Larry: Wow, looks like he didn't learn his lesson. I'm almost afraid to watch...
LH: 是啊! 哎呀! 游泳池旁边有堆树杈，他可别摔在那上面！(撞在树杈上的声音，水花飞溅的声音). 还是撞上了!
Larry: Yea. It was also an epic, epic fail. And look - this kid has 15 more videos!
LH: 啊？还有15个视频？I guess he'll never learn his lesson. 真是不长记性! 好了，我要回去写作业了!
Larry: Sounds good. I should get back into the game; my team is probably waiting for me. I'll try to be quieter this time.
LH: 没关系，我会戴着耳机，边听音乐边写。你不会吵到我的！
Larry: Smart idea. ...Hey, wait a minute. Where's my headphones? Lihua!
LH: Larry, 我把你的耳机拿走了，你就凑合一下，别用了。
Larry: No headphones? But then I won't be able to hear my teammates.
LH: 啊...不管，我先拿到的! 你就认倒霉吧! This is an epic fail for you, 你失算了， 哈哈!
Larry: An epic fail indeed.
今天李华学了两个常用语。一个是epic fail，表示“惨败，非常失策”。另一个是learn your lesson, 意思是“吸取教训”。

 

[故乡的云]

回复: 西方基本文化常识扫盲Hot

李华收到了妈妈从中国寄来的包裹，迫不及待地把里面的东西拿给Larry看。他们会用到两个常用语： tacky和swallow one's pride。
LH: Larry, 你看，这是我妈送你的礼物!
Larry: Interesting....Is....Is that a rug?
LH: 什么啊？这是毛衣! 多好看啊!
Larry: That's a sweater? Oh, my....
LH: 你看！我妈还在这儿别了张纸条，上面说，这是她亲手给你织的。我妈真有两下子，是不是啊Larry?
Larry: .....Oh my.
LH: 怎么？你不喜欢？
Larry: Umm...Look, Lihua. Don't get me wrong, it's great, but...It's just a little tacky for what I'd normally wear.
LH: Tacky? 什么意思？
Larry: Well...basically....not fashionable.
LH: 不时髦？俗气？这毛衣怎么俗气了？！
Larry: Well, look at this design...there are pine trees and little people knit into it.
LH: 那怎么了，有松树有小人儿就俗气？
Larry: Well, a little bit, no? And look at these colors...bright green and red on black? It's so tacky it almost hurts my eyes... and plus, look at the...
LH: 你还嫌颜色太鲜艳，俗气得让你眼睛难受？! 行了行了! I don't think they're tacky at all. 我觉得一点儿都不俗! 我妈亲手织的，看你敢不穿!
Larry: Listen, I know you like tacky clothing, and that's fine. But I'm not wearing it.
LH: 什么？你说我喜欢俗气的衣服？! 我哪有!
Larry: OK, for example, your pink Hello Kitty tennis shoes are quite tacky.
LH: 粉色的hello kitty网球鞋不是tacky，是可爱! 可爱!
Larry: They would be cute on an 8-year old girl, not a college-aged young woman...And how about that jacket you have with all the extra zippers all over it?
LH: 哼! 咱俩眼光不同，我不跟你争了。反正我妈的这件爱心毛衣，你非穿不可。
Larry: Lihua, I don't think you understand. There is no way I'm going out in public with that thing on!
LH: 你不穿我就要生气了!
Larry: Forget about it! (a second passes) Lihua, come on. Don't be angry. Lihua?
LH: 别理我。我正生气呢。
Larry: (Begrudgingly, sighs) OK, fine. I guess I'll have to swallow my pride and wear the sweater.
LH: Swallow your pride? 你说什么呢？
Larry: To swallow your pride means to begrudgingly do something that you are embarrassed to do.
LH: Swallow one's pride 就是忍气吞声，勉强去做不愿做的事儿。这么说......你是要穿这件毛衣喽？
Larry: Yes, if it will make you happy, I will swallow my pride and wear your mother's tacky sweater.
LH: OH YEAH! Larry你真好!
Larry: Well, it's only because I know you have to swallow your pride and do many things on my behalf as well.
LH: 啊？我也为了你忍气吞声过？
Larry: Well, remember when my boss accidentally called you his "Japanese friend"? You just smiled and nodded, but I'm sure you wanted to correct him.
LH: 哦，想起来了。那次，你老板的确把我当成了日本人，不过没关系啦，美国人把中国、韩国、日本人搞混是常事。我不介意，我们中国人也常常觉得只要金头发蓝眼睛就都是美国人！
Larry: Well, do you remember when you swallowed your pride last Halloween? I made you wear that tacky French maid costume to my friend's party!
LH: 对！那次万圣节，你非让我穿那件难看得要命的法国女仆装！
Larry: Right. And I want to thank you for swallowing your pride and wearing that tacky costume.
LH: 等等！你是说这件爱心毛衣和那件女仆装一样俗气难看？
Larry: Why not? I think the sweater is tacky, just like you thought the costume was tacky.
LH: 可是.....我穿的那件女仆装还特别曝露，别扭死了!
Larry: Oh, come on. Wearing a sexy costume is normal on Halloween!
LH: 可我不喜欢穿这种衣服！穿女仆装在你一大堆朋友前走来走去，I really had to swallow my pride! 我牺牲了多少自尊啊!
Larry: Gee, I didn't realize it was so embarrassing for you. You win, ok? I'll wear the tacky sweater. But that's all I can do.
LH:你想得美! 你看，这里还有一个 Hello Kitty的手套，也是我妈织给你的！戴上吧！
Larry: Oh good grief. How does your mother know how to make all of this stuff?
今天李华学了两个常用语。一个是tacky，表示“俗气难看”。另一个是swallow one's pride, 意思是“忍气吞声”。

 

[故乡的云]

回复: 西方基本文化常识扫盲Hot

Larry在咖啡馆里碰见了李华。他们会用到两个常用语：take someone under your wing和take someone for a ride.
(Sound of caf□door opening - chimes)
Larry: Hey, there you are, Lihua.
LH: (Sounding tired) Oh, hi Larry.
Larry: I haven't seen you since last weekend. What have you been up to? Don't tell me you're having midterms already.
LH: 我连看书的时间都没有! 尽忙着照顾我表妹了。她从中国来美国上高中，初来乍到，什么都不会，所以我这两天一直在帮她安顿。
Larry: I'm sure it's a very tough transition for both of you. But, it's so nice of you to take her under your wing.
LH: "Take her under my wing"? 这是什么意思？
Larry: To take someone under your wing means to give them a great deal of personal guidance and protection while they are learning something of which you have experience.
LH: 我明白了， to take someone under your wing，就是指导、保护和照料某人。我现在就是这样像母鸡带小鸡一样照顾着我表妹呢!
Larry: It takes time to learn how to cope with living in a totally new environment - it's only natural to need a little bit of help at first. As a matter of fact, I can remember a time not so long ago when I took a certain confused girl from China under my own wing...
LH: 你说你也曾这样帮助过一个女孩？ 你不是在说我吧？Larry, 虽然你给了我很多帮助，但这和我给我表妹的帮助是不同的。我要是不在她身边，她连出门买吃的都不敢!
Larry: But Lihua, you couldn't buy groceries on your own either when you first moved here. One time at the grocery store, your bill came to $7.50 and you pulled out a dollar bill, asking me if it was enough!
LH: Haha, 这个我记得。刚到美国时，每次需要跟美国人打交道我都会非常紧张，就算不说英语，还是觉得很恐怖。
Larry: Luckily, I was there to take you under my wing while you got used to living in the United States - just like how you're taking your cousin under your wing now!
LH: 哈，看来我们都是好心人! 最近我在帮我表妹找房子。她以前的房东欺负她是新来的，把房租提高了两倍!我表妹已经傻呼呼地交了一个月的钱!
Larry: Yeah, you have to be really careful. It sounds like that landlord was taking your cousin for a ride.
LH: Taking her for a ride? 开车带她出去？那个房东可没这么好心!
Larry: Um, I mean "taking her for a ride" as in, taking advantage of her situation - playing a trick on her for his own benefit.
LH: 哦! 原来to take someone for a ride还有欺负人，宰人的意思!
Larry: Yea, that's right. For example, when I went to New York City, my cab driver noticed that I had never been to New York before, and so he took a longer route to my hotel in order to run up my bill. This is a classic case of "taking someone for a ride."
LH: 啊？司机看你是第一次来纽约，就带着你绕远路，多收你的车费。这可真差劲，欺负人!
Larry: Unfortunately, some people will take advantage of other people like that.
LH: Larry, 咱们是愿意take others under our wings, 不遗余力地帮助别人，可这个房东和那个出租司机却会take people for a ride， 占别人便宜。所以这两个说法的意思正好相反嘛!
Larry: Yea, you could think of it like that. So, it's a great thing that you are taking your cousin under your wing! Otherwise, it would be easy for people to take her for a ride.
LH: 好吧，为了防止她受欺负，我就继续努力吧。
Larry: I'm sure your cousin is a smart girl. Before you know it, she'll be just as capable to live on her own in the United States as you are - and you won't have to worry about people trying to take her for a ride.
LH: (叹气) 不过，在她完全自立前，我可有的忙了，估计不能常和你见面了!
Larry: That's OK. Taking someone under your wing is a quite a full-time job!
今天李华学了两个常用语。一个是to take someone under your wing，意思是“照顾和帮助某人”。另一个是to take someone for a ride，意思是“占人便宜，欺负人”。