這是一個星期六,Larry 和李華來到學(xué)校附近一個社區(qū),那里的住戶當(dāng)天都把家里沒用的東西拿出來廉價銷售。 李華會學(xué)到兩個常用語:shindig 和a steal。
LL: Li Hua, this community yard sale is huge. It is quite a shindig!
LH: 啊,這兒好熱鬧喲。 這么多住家擺攤兒賣舊貨,還有這么多的人來買便宜貨。Larry? 你說這是一個shindig,什么是Shindig?。縎hindig聽起來好象不象英文詞。
LL: Oh, it is an English word all right.
LH: Okay, 是英文詞,那么shindig到底是什么意思呢?
LL: A shindig is a big, noisy event. It can be a party or any big social occasion where there are lots of people.
LH: Oh, shindig就是規(guī)模很大,很熱鬧的聚會,或者是某種社會活動。原來如此!這個社區(qū)定在今天大家一起賣舊貨,吸引了很多人來撿便宜貨。這就成了一個shindig。那還有什么場合可以稱為shindig?
LL: Remember, last year we went to the party for Professor Jackson's retirement? That was also a big shindig.
LH: 噢,杰克遜教授退休時搞的那次聚會確實可以稱作shindig。 當(dāng)時,系里的研究生和教授們都到場了,向他表示敬意。那次shindig的盛況確實難忘;大家又吃,又喝,真是很痛快!
LL: Speaking of shindigs, when are you going to have a shindig at your place, Li Hua?
LH: 你要在我家里搞一個shindig ? 看來,那么大的聚會總要等到考試以后才能辦啦。
LL: I can't think of a better time to have a big shindig than after exams. I can help you plan it.
LH: 就是啊,考完試大家都心情輕松,那是舉辦shindig 的最好時候。你愿意幫我策劃,那太好了。Larry,要是在你家舉行不是更好嗎?你那里地方大呀!
LL: Yeah, but it is also a lot dirtier. I wouldn't want to throw a fancy shindig in my messy place.
LH:那倒也是,你的家呀,雖然大,但確實是雜亂無章。不過,我可以幫你打掃啊!地方大shindig不是可以有更多的人參加嗎?
LL: You're right! I will need your help though!
LH: 嘿, 瞧瞧那些碟子! 這正是我需要的。
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LL: Wow, Li Hua. Those dishes are a steal!
LH: Steal?不, Larry,我干嗎要偷呀?那么便宜我當(dāng)然買得起呀!即便我買不起,我也不會偷呀!
LL: Oh, Li Hua, I know that. But when something is a very good deal we say it is a steal - STEAL.
LH: 噢,原來如此,對不起,我以為你讓我偷吶!原來a steal就是很合算,和便宜的東西。我們中國人會說,這些碟子簡直便宜得像白撿的一樣,所以就可以說是a steal吧。我把這一套全買下來也只要花五美元!
LL: That is what is great about shopping at a community yard sale. You can find lots of real steals.
LH: 沒錯,在這種社區(qū)賣舊貨的地方真能買到便宜貨。Larry, 你看還有別的便宜貨可以撿嗎?Any more steals?
LL: Yeah, look at this lamp. I need a lamp for my living room, and this one is only ten dollars.
LH: 你客廳里需要一盞臺燈?十塊美元, 我可不敢說這也是個steal。
LL: Why not, Li Hua? It appears to work.
LH: 這燈是可以用的,可不一定是steal啊。我的碟子是個steal,那是因為物美價廉,可是這盞臺燈嘛...
LL: Are you saying that the lamp is ugly?
LL: 唉,說實話,這燈是夠難看的。
LH: I am glad you are honest with me, Li Hua. Not everything at a yard sale is a real steal. You've just saved me ten bucks!
今天李華學(xué)到了兩個常用語。一個是shindig, 意思是規(guī)模很大,人很多,很熱鬧的盛會。李華學(xué)到的另一個常用語是a steal, 那是指便宜得象白檢的東西一樣。