美語訓(xùn)練班055

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禮節(jié)美語 EARLY ADOPTERS II

Henry買了最新的超小電腦Orange SuperCom 4，拿給同事Sara和Mark看。Sara問他：

Sara: So did you already own an Orange SuperCom 3?

Henry: Yeah, I sold it on eBay last week.

M: I used to rush out and buy the latest gadgets as well, but I discovered that first generation products often have a lot of bugs in them.

H: Actually, Mark is right. Even this Orange SuperCom 4 is not quite up to snuff. The connection to the Internet is a bit slow, and it seems like the computer has a little trouble multitasking.

Mark說，他原來也是科技潮人，一出什么新玩藝兒，the latest gadgets, 馬上跑去買。gadget is spelled g-a-d-g-e-t, gadget 是小玩藝的意思，常指科技類產(chǎn)品。不過，Mark發(fā)現(xiàn)，很多第一代，第二代產(chǎn)品都有很多 bugs, bugs在這里指技術(shù)方面的漏洞。Henry承認(rèn)，他新買的SuperCom4 is not quite up to snuff. 也不是樣樣都好， up to snuff 意思是符合標(biāo)準(zhǔn)，相當(dāng)于 up to standard.

M: The problem is that many times in the beginning they haven't quite ironed out all the wrinkles in the software. By the third or fourth generation the company's engineers have a better idea of what works and what doesn't.

S: I'm generally pretty content just to stay with the same system until it becomes obsolete. I still play my old cassette tapes at home.

M: That's one way to go. You know the old expression: "If it ain't broke...don't fix it."

S: Exactly, I use things until they literally fall apart.

H: I prefer the expression: "Out with the old and in with the new!"

Mark 說，問題關(guān)鍵是，第一、二代產(chǎn)品時(shí)，很多軟件中存在的小問題還都沒有得到解決。They haven't ironed out all the wrinkles in the software. to iron out 意思是抹平，解決。Sara說，她在這方面從不趕時(shí)髦，家里的東西都得用到過時(shí)。英語里有一種說法叫：If it ain't broke...don't fix it. 沒壞就不要去修它。Henry 崇尚的則是另一種境界：Out with the old and in with the new! 舊的不去，新的不來。

M: I guess the world needs both kinds of people. Early adopters of technology like Henry help pave the way into the future.

S: And people like me try to keep the pace of change down to a reasonable speed.

H: I have to tell you though...despite all its faults, the new Orange SuperCom 4 is really quite an amazing machine!

M: Maybe after work I can take a quick look at your new toy.

H: Sure! I love showing off my new gadgets! Sara, care to join us?

S: That's OK...I think I'll stay at home and play my cassette tapes. You guys have fun!

Mark 說，Sara和Henry這兩種人，都是不可缺少的。他問Henry下班能不能去擺弄一下他的新玩具。Henry欣然同意，說：I love showing off my new gadgets! 我就喜歡顯擺我的新玩藝，to show off 是顯擺的意思，他還問Sara, care to join us? 要不要一起來。Sara開玩笑說，她還是選擇回家去聽她的磁帶錄音機(jī)。

B: See, THOSE guys tend to spend every dollar they have on new gadgets! Compared to them, my enthusiasm for beautiful, elegant bags is nothing!

A: 嘿! 就你能找借口!

B: 嘿嘿，再說了，這也能為我增添人氣啊。Today, for example, I'm carrying this brand new style of LV bag. A bunch of people on the street stopped to compliment me on my bag! I'm practically a local star.

A: Now that might be true. 這倒是個(gè)增添人氣的方法哈! 說到這里，咱們?nèi)タ纯慈藲膺@個(gè)詞兒用美語怎么說!

Donny 在北京學(xué)漢語，他的中國(guó)朋友要是遇到了不知道用美語怎么說的詞，就會(huì)來請(qǐng)教他。今天吳瓊是要問的：人氣。

Donny: Hi, Wuqiong, do you want to go to this concert with me?

WQ: 演唱會(huì)?讓我看看是哪個(gè)歌星開的。哇! 這個(gè)人現(xiàn)在是人氣天王! 我當(dāng)然愿意跟你去啦。哎?人氣在英文里怎么說?

Donny: 人氣就是受歡迎的程度。So you can use the word "popularity", p-o-p-u-l-a-r-i-t-y, popularity.

WQ: popularity 就是人氣。這個(gè)詞就是 popular 的名詞形式嘛。

Donny: Exactly. I've heard about this singer's rising popularity. That's why I want to go to his concert.

WQ: 演唱會(huì)的表演嘉賓，guest stars，都有誰?

Donny: Well, here's the guest star list. Most of them are popular too, but who's this person on the bottom of the list? 我怎么沒聽說過。

WQ: 讓我看看，讓我看看。哦，這個(gè)女明星幾年前很紅，可后來過氣了。

Donny: No wonder I've never heard about her. She's a has-been. The word "has-been" means someone who is no longer popular.

WQ: has-been? has 和 been放一起就是過氣的人，過時(shí)的東西。This guest star used to be famous and popular, but now she's just a has-been.

Donny: 對(duì)。

WQ:這么說，她可能想借著當(dāng)嘉賓的機(jī)會(huì)重新走紅嘍?

Donny: That's possible. This concert will be a good opportunity for her to stage a comeback.

WQ: comeback, c-o-m-e-b-a-c-k, comeback 就是東山再起，咸魚翻身的意思吧?If this singer makes a comeback, she will regain her popularity!

Donny: Exactly. Now let's see what you've learned today!

WQ: 第一：人氣叫 popularity;

第二：過氣、過時(shí)的人或物是 a has-been;

第三：東山再起是 a comeback.

這次的"美語怎么說"就到這里結(jié)束了。如果你也有不會(huì)說的詞，請(qǐng)寫信給 Donny, 電郵請(qǐng)寄[email protected]

A: I hope my popularity will increase after all this serious hosting. I should get SOME kind of reward for dealing with YOU all day....

B:哈哈，趕快去查查你微博的粉絲人數(shù)漲沒漲?

A: 哈哈，我這就去!(笑) 好了，這次節(jié)目時(shí)間就到這里。同學(xué)們，如果你對(duì)我們的節(jié)目有什么建議，或者想提什么問題，請(qǐng)發(fā)電子郵件到[email protected].

B: Tune in next time for American English Mosaic!

A: See you next time!