envelope 信封,torrential 傾瀉的,dispatch 派遣
【笑話原文】
Not in An Envelope
Torrential rainstorms were knocking down power lines all over town. I had to dispatch repairmen right and left. When I called a customer to get her address, she replied, “I’m at Post Office Box 246.” I said, “Ma’am, we’ll be coming to you in a truck, not an envelope.”
【中文譯文】
不是裝在信封里
傾盆大雨造成全城多處停電。我只好調(diào)度修理人員東奔西跑。我打電話問一個顧客的地址。她回答說:“我在郵政信箱246號。”我說:“夫人,我們是開著卡車去,不是裝在信封里去。”
【詞匯講解】
1. envelope 信封。Address an envelope and put the letter in it. 把地址寫在信封上, 把信裝進信封里。
2. torrential 傾瀉的。 That summer a torrential rain poured down for two days and nights. 那年夏天,一場暴雨下了兩天兩夜。
3. knock down 擊倒。也可以指“拆卸”:Why are they knocking down the wall? 他們?yōu)槭裁丛诓饓?
4. dispatch 派遣。也可以指“匆匆吃完”:We soon dispatched the chocolate cake. 我們很快就吃完了巧克力蛋糕。
5. ma’am 太太,夫人/主婦/喜歡差使人的女子
6. truck 卡車。也可以作動詞,指“用卡車裝運”。