偶看新闻2018上海演唱会:VOA流行美语（150-200）
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VOA流行美语（151-200）
流 行 美 语(Popular American)
--- 听美国之音 学流行美语
流行美语(Popular American),这个短小精悍的英语教学节目每次五分钟，生动活泼，幽默轻松。节目通过两个大学生的对话来教授美国年轻人常用的俚语，有的在字典上还查不到。
151 downer; baby
152 pump; iffy
153 knock-off; running on empty
154 copycat; wacky
155 butterfingers; klutz
156 cash cow; tickled pink
157 clam up; tank
158 dilly-dally; dis
159 flying colors; butter up
160 swamped; get axed
161 putz around; worrywart
162 gibberish; google
163 bang for the buck; number crunchers
164 boss; mob scene
165 gross; in a pinch
166 cell; the 411
167 deadbeat; cool it
168 whatever floats one‘s boat; up a creek
169 wiped out; cutie-pie
170 high maintenance; dating 101
171 crummy; sack out
172 clotheshorse; shell out
173 go overboard; guzzle
174 dump; ham
175 fixed to do sth.; tricked-out
176 set of wheels; the pits
177 have a beef with sb.; hit pay dirt
178 hit the road; have a hissy fit
179 have a ball; tizzy
180 knock it off; conked out
181 can of worms; cut one‘s losses
182 grease monkey; fender bender
183 learn the ropes; put a lid on it
184 rattle on; third degree
185 bottom feeder; bounce
186 freak out; wig out
187 let off steam; oops
188 shrink; gross out
189 bad vibe; wake up call
190 whoa; booboo
191 cushy; legit
192 shindig; a steal
193 make a u-ey; step on it
194 diddlysquat; rub it in
195 runaround; take a chill pill
196 kiss sth. goodbye; lose one‘s cool
197 make a big stink; to be creamed
198 eager beaver; grunt work
199 baloney; party animal
200 holed up; come up for air
流行美语第151课
Larry到李华住的地方去接她出去吃晚餐，可是发现李华正焦急地到处找什么东西。今天李华会学到两个常用语：downer和baby.
LH: Larry，我的钱包不见了。找了半天也没找到。我肯定是放在家里的，你说现在怎么办呢？
LL: That‘s a real downer. Let me help you look for it. What does it look like?
LH: 嗯，我的钱包是红颜色的，上面还镶有蓝色的边。你刚才说downer，那是什么意思？
LL: Oh, a "downer" is something that makes you feel "down" or depressed. Losing your wallet is definitely a downer.
LH: Downer就是让人不高兴的事情。嗯，丢钱包真的是很倒霉。丢了钱还不算，还得重新申请驾驶执照、身份证件，还得打电话给信用卡公司取消我的信用卡，想到这些我就头疼。
LH: Hey, don‘t get all upset yet. We still haven‘t finished looking for it.
LL: 我知道。这样吧，我到厨房去找，你帮我找一找沙发底下。
LL: Sure. Hey, you know what else is a downer? Julia can‘t go out with us tonight. Her boyfriend is sick and she went over to his house to take care of him.
LH: 噢，Julia今晚不能和我们去吃饭啦？真让人失望。That is a downer! 自从她交了男朋友以后，我已经好久没见到她了。
LL: I know what you mean. I haven‘t seen her in at least two months.
LH: 我找到了！我找到我的钱包了。你看，在冰箱下面，一定是今天早上我买菜回来时掉下去的。
LL: Great! Let‘s go. I‘m so hungry that I can eat a whole horse. It would be a real downer if we have to wait for a table at the restaurant.
LH: 餐厅里等不到位子，那还不是什么大问题。我要是真找不到我的钱包，那才真是a real downer。
LL: Yeah, then I‘d have to pay!
******
LH: (Whiny) 什么！还得等一个小时才有座位啊？啊，我不行了，我快要饿死了！
LL: Oh, don‘t be such a big baby. You‘ll survive. Besides, it might not take that long.
LH: Larry, 你说我像个baby 。Baby 就是婴儿，娃娃。我饿了还不行吗？大人也会肚子饿哪！
LL: Well, then don‘t act so immature and whiny. You‘re too old to whine like a baby.
LH: 你说我表现得象个孩子一样，所以叫我baby。我饿了还不能说呀？
LL: Saying that you‘re going to starve to death is a little dramatic, don‘t you think?
LH: 我说快要饿死了。这是强调，夸张！为了找钱包，我中午饭都没有来得及吃。所以我真的是很饿啊！
LL: All right, don‘t get so upset. I was just teasing you. You don‘t need to be such a big baby about it.
LH: 你怎么你又叫我baby了！
LL: I‘m sorry. It‘s just fun to tease you.
LH: 噢，你就喜欢逗我。你觉得这样很好玩啊？好啊！你不也是经常抱怨没有时间看球赛，没有时间出去玩吗。那下回我也叫你a big baby!
LL: I really was just kidding, Li Hua. You‘re not a big baby. You don‘t need to start thinking of ways to get even with me.
LH: 你惹急了我就说是开玩笑。我当然要想办法报复了。
LL：Hey, look our table‘s ready.
LH：谢天谢地。我们终于等到位子了。现在你再叫我big baby， 我也无所谓了。吃饭要紧，快点菜吧。
今天李华学到两个常用语。第一个是downer, 就是指让人非常失望，非常不高兴的事。另一个常用语是baby, 是形容一个人表现得像小孩一样幼稚。
VOA慢速英语网 www.voanews.cn www.voanews.com.cn
pa152.txt
流行美语第152课
今天早上Larry和李华和一对朋友Charles and Lisa约好一起打网球。李华会学到两个常用语：pumped和iffy.
LL: I‘m really pumped about today‘s tennis match. How about you, Li Hua?
LH: 你对今天的比赛怎么啦？Pumped？你是不是在说你很紧张？
LL: No, I‘m not nervous. Pumped means energized and excited. I‘m looking forward to today‘s game because I think it will be a lot of fun.
LH: 原来pumped是很兴奋。对了，pump不是也有打气的意思吗？你是说你打足了气，跃跃欲试的意思。
LL: That‘s right! What about you? Aren‘t you pumped about the game?
LH: 嗯，我是很期待这场比赛，不过，我可不敢说我像你那样pumped. 我对体育没有象你那样感兴趣。
LL: Yeah, I guess I get particularly pumped about sports. If sports don‘t get you all that pumped up, then what does?
LH: 我呀，我是一谈起旅行就特别兴奋。I‘m pumped about travel。只要想到要去旅行，我就非常兴奋。明年暑假，我计划要到温哥华去玩一个星期。
LL: You‘re pumped about going to
LH: 到那儿去干什么？ 温哥华有很多美丽的高山。景色一定很壮观。还有那里的野生动物！我一想到有机会看到野生麋鹿我就特别兴奋。Yes, I‘m pumped about going to
LL: Well, I guess people get pumped about different things. Personally, I don‘t get very excited about mountains and wild animals.
LH: 我知道，高山美景和野生动物对你来说没有太大吸引力。还不如在网球场上打球来得过瘾。
LL: Hey, tennis is fun and it‘s good exercise.
******
LH: Larry，刚才跟Charles和Lisa一起打网球挺过瘾的。对了，我差一点忘了问你，这个周末在麦迪逊广场花园有一场职业网球赛。你想去看吗？
LL: I don‘t know. It‘s iffy that we‘ll even be able to get tickets. Tickets for things like that sell out very quickly.
LH: 那倒也是，像这种热门球赛的票八成已经卖完了，所以你刚才说iffy，就是指我们“不太可能”买到票，是吗？Iffy肯定是从if 这个词来的。
LL: That‘s right. If something is "iffy"，that means that it is uncertain or even a little unlikely.
LH: 要是用iffy这个词来形容什么事的话，那就是不肯定，不太可能。不过，Larry，我们还是可以试一试吗。没准运气好，还有票呢！
LL: Yeah, but even if I can get tickets, it‘s iffy that we‘ll be able to afford them. Tickets for games like that tend to be expensive, too.
LH: 你说门票可能很贵，我们可能买不起啊？Larry，也许他们有半价的学生票呢。我们试试看嘛，好不好？
LL: Sure, I‘ll call the ticket vendor this afternoon. But it‘s iffy that they have half-priced tickets for students.
LH: 没关系，如果真的买不到票，我们可以做别的事啊！如果我们不能去看职业选手打球，我们还可以找朋友去打嘛！
LL: Speaking of which, wasn‘t that last game fun? Do you think Charles and Lisa would play with us again?
LH: 对，跟Charles和Lisa打的最后一场是真好玩！
LL: But it‘s iffy that they‘ll want to play against us again.
LH：他们不一定再想跟我们打球。那是为什么呀？
LL：Can‘t you see? They were defeated by us every round. It‘s really iffy that they had any fun this morning.
LH：对了。老是输球的话恐怕是没有什么好玩。
今天李华学到两个常用语。第一个是pumped，是形容很兴奋，很有活力的样子。另一个常用语是iffy，是指某件事情不太可能。
VOA慢速英语网 www.voanews.cn www.voanews.com.cn
pa153.txt
流行美语第153课
今天李华和Larry在纽约市中央公园附近散步。路边有许多小贩在卖仿名牌的手提包和围巾等东西。今天李华会学到两个常用语：knock-off和running on empty.
LL: Li Hua, don‘t bother buying any of those. They‘re just cheap knock-offs.
LH: 可是这个手提包真漂亮！你看，上面还有名牌古姿的标记呢！你说这些都是便宜的knock-offs。是不是说它们都不是真货？
LL: Yeah. A "knock-off" is a fake, an imitation of the real thing.
LH: 你瞧。我一猜就猜对了，knock-off就是指假的，仿冒的东西。这些皮包当然不可能是真的啦！一个真的古姿皮包可是要上百美元呢！我根本就买不起！
LL: Well, if you can‘t afford the real thing, why would you want to buy a cheap knock-off?
LH: 买不起真货的人才买假冒品嘛！有的假冒品做的非常好，你不仔细看还分不出是真是假呢！你看，这个皮包还是很漂亮，而且也很实用呢！
LL: Well, it‘s your decision whether you want to buy a knock-off.
LH: 我很喜欢这个皮包。不过我现在还不需要。算了吧！我想还是别买了。
LL: Hey, look that vendor is selling knock-offs of famous paintings. Some of them are pretty good.
LH: 真的耶！这些仿冒的艺术画看起来和真品一样，模仿得真像！ 不知道是不是那个卖画的人自己画的。
LL: It‘s possible. He might be an art student and practices his skill by making knock-offs of famous masterpieces.
LH: 在中国也有很多学艺术专业的学生，他们会临摹一些名画，顺便练习自己的绘画技巧。所以你经常可以找到一些假的中国名画呢。
LL: I know. When I was in
LH: 你在中国买这样的仿冒品带回来送人啊？不过很多美国人都不太懂中国的画，说不定他们还以为你送给他们的是真品呢！
LL: The important thing is not whether the paintings were knock-offs but rather that they made my friends happy.
******
LL: Wow, Li Hua. I‘m really running on empty. Do you mind if we go back home now?
LH: Running-on-empty? 什么是“running on empty"? 你不舒服，想回家了？
LL: No, "running on empty" means that I‘m exhausted and I don‘t have any energy. I feel like a car whose gas tank is empty.
LH: 噢，你用汽车没有油来比喻，我就知道了。Running on empty就是很累，一点劲儿都没有了。或许我们可以找点东西吃。你可以补充一下体力。
LL: That might help a little, but I really need to go home and get some rest.
LH: 对了，你前两天感冒刚好，所以才会觉得running on empty。好吧，那我们就买点东西吃。休息一下，然后就回家。
LL: That sounds like a good idea to me. When I‘m running on empty, food and sleep are always the best remedies.
LH: 我也是呀！我一累，只要吃饱睡足，马上就能恢复体力。我们这两天都够忙的。真是该好好休息一下。
LL: It‘s kind of difficult to enjoy the park when you‘re running on empty.
LH: 没错。人一累，再好玩的事都提不起劲来。
LL: Hopefully, by tomorrow, I won‘t be running on empty anymore and we can enjoy a nice walk in the park.
LH: 今天你回家好好睡一觉，多吃点有营养的东西，我保证你明天就会有精神了。如果你还想来公园散步，我一定奉陪！走吧！
今天李华学到两个常用语。第一个是knock-off，是指假的，仿冒的东西。另一个常用语是running on empty，是形容一个人很累，体力不足。
VOA慢速英语网 www.voanews.cn www.voanews.com.cn
pa154.txt
流行美语第154课
Larry和李华刚刚看完电影。李华在问Larry她没看懂的地方。今天李华会学到两个常用语：copycat和wacky。
LH: Larry，我特别喜欢看这种侦探片，最后把坏人抓住，特痛快。对了，刚才那电影里的侦探说，那杀人凶手是个copycat。那是什么意思啊？
LL: A copycat is someone who imitates someone else. The murderer in the movie imitated other famous murderers, so he was copycat killer.
LH: 嗯，copycat就是指模仿别人的人。噢，现在我懂了。那个侦探是说那个杀人犯是模仿其他杀人犯的作案方法。哎呀，怪不得我看电影的时候有些地方弄不懂。对了，Larry，这个copycat还可以用在其他的地方吗？
LL: Sure. For instance, my younger sister used to imitate me a lot when she was a kid. She would repeat whatever I said, so I caller her my little copycat.
LH: 你叫你小妹妹little copycat。你妹妹一定很可爱。她一定很崇拜你，所以才模仿你的一举一动，重复你说的话！
LL: Yeah, it was kind of cute, but it got annoying after a while.
LH: 小妹妹学你的样有什么讨厌的？
LL: Kids are great copycats and they always manage to copy things that they shouldn‘t. If I said a bad word, my sister always repeated. My mother thought I was teaching her bad words on purpose.
LH: 所以大人要给小孩树立好的榜样嘛！ 你不要你妹妹说粗话，那你就不该说粗话。不过，你妈妈以为你故意教坏妹妹，那肯定让你很不好受。对不对？
LL: That‘s right. It got me into a lot of trouble. Hey, I also remember that when I was a kid, it was common for kids to accuse each other of being a "copycat."
LH: 没错，小孩子最喜欢说别人学自己，好象自己很聪敏，别人就只会模仿。
LL: You‘re right. To call someone a copycat means that the other person isn‘t original and was just imitating what someone else was doing.
LH: Larry，你说的这句话不是跟我刚才说的意思一样吗？ You‘re a copycat!
LL: Not entirely the same!
******
LL: Hey, Li Hua, did you ever do any wacky things when you were a kid?
LH: 对不起，Larry，你刚才说什么。我没听懂，你问我小时候做过什么wacky的事，那是什么意思啊？
LL: Wacky means crazy or silly. Kids tend to do wacky things. For instance, when I was a kid, I tried to play Tarzan with our living room curtains.
LH: Wacky就是指疯疯颠颠或犯傻。对，小孩子往往会做一些傻事。不过，像你小时候想学泰山而把窗帘当树枝爬上去，这也太危险了。
LL: Yeah, I had just seen the movie, Tarzan, and I decided to climb the curtains and swing from them the way Tarzan swung from the vines. Pretty wacky, huh?
LH: 我想也是，你肯定是看了泰山这电影后才那么wacky的。 不过说到wacky，我小时候也不见得比你差，也做了不少wacky的事呢！
LL: Such as?
LH: 嗯，比方说，我8岁那年，我爬上邻居家的一棵树，上去了，却不知道该怎么下来呢。
LL: That‘s wacky! So what did you do?
LH: 我挂在树上，还能怎么办？只好大叫，请人来救我喽！后来有人拿了张梯子，把我给救下来了。
LL: That‘s funny. Hey, how‘s your cat doing? Has she done anything wacky lately?
LH: 嗨，说到我的猫小雪球，它做的wacky 事那才多呢！昨天我在看电视上一个介绍大自然的节目，小雪球看到银幕里的小鸟就一直想扑上去和它玩。那个模样真逗！
今天李华学到两个常用语。第一个是copycat，是指模仿别人的人。另一个常用语是wacky，意思就是疯疯颠颠，犯傻的。
VOA慢速英语网 www.voanews.cn www.voanews.com.cn
pa155.txt
流行美语第155课
Larry和李华正在学校体育馆里打篮球。今天李华会学到两个常用语：butterfingers和klutz。
LL: Here, Li Hua, catch!
LH: 嘿！Larry，你不要那么用力嘛！你这么用力我接不住啊！
LL: Don‘t blame the fact that you‘re a butterfingers on me. I don‘t think it‘s my fault that you keep dropping the ball.
LH: 对，我老是接不住球，可我没有怪你呀！我只是让你别使那么大劲儿。你说我是什么来着 ? Butterfingers? 你肯定又在损我，是不是？
LL: A butterfingers is someone who is clumsy and tends to drop things.
LH: 噢，我知道了，butter是黄油，fingers是手指，butterfingers就好像手上抹黄油，油腻腻的抓不住东西。也就是指那些笨手笨脚，经常会把东西掉在地上的人。Larry，我才不是呢，都是你扔球太用力，所以我才接不住！
LL: Okay, butterfingers, you can keep trying to blame this on me, but I know the truth.
LH: 别再叫我butterfingers了。来吧，再丢一次，只是别那么用力了！
LL: All right, but I don‘t think it‘s going to help.
LH: 你看。我这不是接住了吗？I‘m not a butterfingers！
LL: That was just luck. Don‘t feel too bad, though, my sister‘s much more of a butterfingers than you are.
LH: 你妹妹比我还糟糕？怎么说啊？
LL: She used to try out for the softball team every year in high school, but she never made the team because she couldn‘t catch the ball.
LH: 啊，她念中学的时候每年都参加垒球队选拔，从来没有被接纳呀！就是因为她老接不到球！看来她真的是个butterfingers。
LL: My sister‘s tough, though, she never let the fact that she‘s a genuine butterfingers stop her from trying.
******
LH: Larry，你怎么摔倒了，没事吧？
LL: Yeah, I‘m all right. I just tripped over that rock. I‘m such a klutz!
LH: 噢，一块石头把你绊倒了？嗨，你说你是什么来啦？Klutz？那是什么意思？
LL: A klutz is someone who is very clumsy and falls, trips, and bumps into things very easily.
LH: Klutz就是指那种经常会撞上什么东西，经常会跌倒的人。Larry，我可从来没有见你摔倒过。这还是第一次，所以你还算不上是个klutz。
LL: Thank you, Li Hua. I appreciate it. However, I assure you that I can be a real klutz sometimes. Fortunately, I usually do klutzy things when no one else is looking.
LH: Larry，你真有意思。你怎么知道你笨手笨脚的时候没有人看见？不久前你好象告诉我你撞到什么东西。我听了也忘了。
LL: Oh, that‘s a few months ago. One day, I wasn‘t paying attention and I walked into a street sign. Some girls saw me and they started laughing. I felt ridiculous!
LH: 光听你这么说，我就觉得好笑，没听说有人走在路上会撞上路标的。我可以想像，你当时一定显得很傻，a real klutz!
LL: Well, that‘s the only time people saw me being a klutz. I don‘t plan on doing a repeat performance.
LH: 就这一次给人看见？ 以后不再会这样傻了？别太自信了！
LL：You mean once a klutz, always a klutz?
LH：我不是说你做了一次傻事，以后永远做傻事。我是说你还有可能做傻事。
LL：Well, let‘s see!
今天李华学到两个常用语。第一个是butterfingers，是指抓不稳东西，手里拿的东西经常会掉到地上去。另一个常用语是klutz，是形容一个人经常跌倒，或撞到东西，笨手笨脚的。
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pa156.txt
流行美语第156课
Larry和李华到学校附近一家新开的墨西哥快餐店吃饭。今天李华会学到两个常用语：cash cow和tickled pink。
LL: Wow! This place is a real cash cow! Look how crowded it is!
LH: Cash cow？ 什么是cash cow？ 我知道cash就是钱，现金；cow是一头牛。噢，我懂了，cash cow就是一头很有钱的牛。意思就是，这里生意这么兴隆，钱赚很多。对不对？
LL: That is right! A cash cow is a business that is very profitable. This is obviously a popular place, so they must be making a lot of money.
LH: 没错，这家餐厅一定很赚钱。你看，要是这里每小时来200个客人，每人平均消费7美元，那就不得了了！
LL: That‘s $1,400 an hour! This place is definitely a cash cow. I wish I owned a business like this.
LH: 嗯，我也希望自己能有这样一个赚钱的摇钱树呢。
LL: You know what? The new movie theater that they just opened by campus is another real cash cow.
LH: 对耶！学校旁边那家新开的电影院，是这附近唯一的一家，所以大家都上那儿去看电影。他们肯定也很赚钱。
LL: Tickets are really expensive, too, but we don‘t have a choice because there aren‘t any other movie theaters nearby.
LH: 真没办法，就因为这是这儿唯一的一家电影院，尽管票价贵，大家也别无选择！他们变成了赚钱的影院，a cash cow!可苦了我们这些穷学生！
LL: At least they give student discounts on weekdays. That makes it a little bit easier on us.
LH: 看来，我们最好在星期一到星期五之间去看电影。这样可以享受优惠价。不过这对戏院本身也有好处么！这样一来，学生就愿意在生意比较清淡的时间去看电影喽！
LL: You should be a businesswoman, Li Hua. It seems like you really understand these things. If you own a business, I‘m sure it will turn out to be a cash cow.
LH: 也不见得啦！我其实对做生意没太大兴趣。
******
LL: I‘m tickled pink with the food here. What do you think, Li Hua? Do you like Mexican food?
LH: 我很喜欢墨西哥菜，好吃极了。你说你tickled pink ？Tickle是搔痒的意思，pink是粉红色，你是说这道菜太辣了？
LL: No, I mean that I really like the food. To be tickled pink by something is to be really pleased by it.
LH: 噢，原来，tickled pink是指非常高兴，很满意的意思。嗯，我也很喜欢这里的菜。I am tickled pink too。
LL: Oh, I almost forgot to tell you: I got a really good job for the summer. I‘m really tickled pink about it.
LH: 你找到一份非常好的暑期工？那太好了。我真替你高兴。那你什么时候开始工作呢？
LL: I‘ll take a couple of weeks off after exams and then start work at the beginning of June. I told my mom and she was tickled pink too.
LH: 考完试休息几个星期再工作。这安排真是不错。别说你妈听了高兴，谁听了都会替你高兴。我还不知道暑期干什么呢！
LL: Aren‘t you going to visit
LH: 对，我是要去温哥华看我哥哥，但是我得先打工，赚了钱才能去呀！听说学校图书馆有暑期工作。
LL: That sounds good. You could sit in the air-conditioned library all summer and read and play on the Internet. You should be tickled pink to get a job like that!
LH: 对，要是他们要我的话，我可以一个暑期坐在有空调的图书馆里看书，玩互联网。有那么一个工作，我当然高兴啦！
今天李华学到两个常用语。一个是cash cow，这是指非常赚钱的生意。也就是摇钱树。另一个常用语是tickled pink，是让人非常高兴，非常愉快的意思。
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pa157.txt
流行美语第157课
Larry和李华正在为他们的朋友Laura担心。他们两人都觉得Laura好像有什么心事。今天李华会学到两个常用语：clam up和to tank。
LL: Laura has been acting really strange lately, but every time I try to ask her what‘s bothering her, she just clams up.
LH: 我也注意到了，Laura最近是有点怪怪的。我也问过她怎么回事，她就是不肯说....对了，Larry，你刚才说clam up，那是什么意思啊？
LL: To clam up is to become silent and refuse to talk about something.
LH: To clam up就是闭紧了嘴巴，不肯把心里的事告诉别人。可是Larry，clam不是一种蛤蜊吗？这跟说不说话有什么关系？
LL: Yes, in fact, that‘s where the expression comes from. Clams can close their shells very tightly. If a person refuses to talk, his lips are closed just like a clam‘s shell.
LH: 噢，对了。一个人嘴巴闭得紧紧的时候，就好像蛤蜊闭上壳，怎么也不打开。这个说法太形象了！
LH: The problem is that Laura has clammed up about whatever is bothering her, which means that we have no way of helping her out.
LH: 那倒也是。她要不说，我们又怎么能帮她。也许我们应该让她一个人静一静，等她想说的时候自然会告诉我们到底是怎么回事。
LL: That‘s probably the only thing we can do.
LH: 其实我爸爸也是一样。心里如果有事，从来不肯说。有的时候把我妈急的一直生气。
LL: A lot of people clam up when something is bothering them. I tend to clam up when I‘m really nervous.
LH: 我也是耶！我只要一紧张，就不说话了。每个人不一样，我妹妹一生气就可以几天不说话。别人也不知道她在生什么气。
LL: That‘s like my mother. She could clam up for days when she is angry with my father.
LH: 你妈妈跟你爸爸生气几天不说话。那你爸爸怎么办哪？
LL：Whenever my mother clams up, he clams up too.
******
LL: I found out what was bothering Laura. She was upset because the last play she wrote tanked. Everyone criticized it.
LH: 大家都批评她最近写的剧本。为什么？你说她写的那个剧本tanked，那是什么意思？Tank， 不就是打仗用的坦克吗？
LL: No, this has nothing to do with the tank used in war. This "tank" is a verb. When something "tanks" that means that it is a complete failure.
LH: 噢，这个tank 和军用坦克毫无关系。这里说的tank是个动词。意思是完全失败。所有的剧评家都批评Laura的舞台剧。那真是太惨了。可怜的Laura!
LL: Yeah, no wonder she clammed up. I wouldn‘t want to talk about it if one of my projects tanked, either.
LH: 就是啊，自己的成果被别人这样批评，心情一定不好受。对了，Larry，为什么大家不喜欢Laura的剧本呢？
LL: I have no idea. I haven‘t seen or read her play, so I have no way of judging her work. Laura is a good playwright, I don‘t understand why her work tanked.
LH: 嗯，没有看过她的剧本是很难判断。不过，Laura确实是一个很好的剧作家。也许我们应该去看看她写的舞台剧，说不定没有这么糟么。
LL: Even if the play really is terrible, we could at least show our support by going to see it.
LH: 你说的对，不管是好是坏，我们去看就代表我们对Laura的支持。好！我去问她在哪儿可以买票。Larry，那你什么时候有空去看呢？
LL: Let‘s go this Friday. Originally, I had planned to see a movie this Friday, but the movie I wanted to see tanked, so I might as well go and see Laura‘s play.
LH: 怎么就那么巧呢？你要看的电影也失败了。好，就这么说定了。我去买票，星期五我们就去看Laura的舞台剧喽！
今天李华学到两个常用语。第一个是clam up，是指一个人不肯把心里的话告诉别人。另一个常用语是to tank，也就是失败的意思。
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pa158.txt
流行美语第158课
Larry和李华今天晚上约好和朋友碰面，可是当Larry到李华家接她时，李华还在梳妆打扮。今天李华会学到两个常用语：dilly-dally和dis。
LL: Come on, Li Hua. Aren‘t you ready yet?
LH: 再等一下，我头发还没弄好呢。
LL: Come on, already. Stop dilly-dallying and let‘s go!
LH: Larry，你在说什么啊，什么是dilly-dally啊？
LL: To dilly-dally is to waste time doing pointless things. Right now, you‘re dilly-dallying with your hair when our friend is waiting for us.
LH: Dilly-dally就是拖拖拉拉。噢，你是说我们的朋友在等着，而我在这儿浪费时间。整理头发是浪费时间？我总不能披头散发地出门吧。 你不有的时候也爱拖拖拉拉，- dilly-dally嘛。
LL: Me? Dilly-dally? Tell me, when have I ever dilly-dallied?
LH: 瞧你说得，好像你自己从来没有拖拖拉拉过？两天前，我们约好晚上七点吃晚饭，结果你在家打电话跟朋友聊天，到了七点半才来！ 这不是Dilly-dally吗? 你忘啦？
LL: Oh, I forgot about that. Yeah, I guess I do dilly-dally sometimes. I really felt sorry for making you wait.
LH：还有一次我在家里开party，我让你早点来帮忙，结果客人都到齐了，你还没有到，原来你是去买牙膏，在商店里逛得忘了时间。
LL：Hey, Li Hua, you do have a good memory. I already forgot about it. But, I am sorry for dilly-dallying.
LH：我倒不是要你道歉，你早就道歉过了。我只是要提醒你，你也有拖拖拉拉的时候。也就是：dilly-dally，对不对？
LL：You‘re right. But at least you‘ve learned how to use "dilly-dally".
LH: 不过说真的，现在是5点半，我们和John的约会是6点，真的得赶快走了。
LL: Well, because of your dilly-dallying, we‘re really going to have to hurry.
******
LH: Larry，你的上衣和裤子根本就不搭配，你是关着灯穿衣服还是怎么着？
LL: Don‘t dis my clothes! I may not have great fashion sense, but at least I don‘t waste a lot of time dilly-dallying with my hair.
LH: 哎，我是在说你的衣服，你怎么又扯上我的头发。你说我dis你的衣服。那是什么意思？
LL: To "dis" something is to criticize something or make a negative comment about it. I think dis is short for "disrespect."
LH: 原来dis就是disrespect这个词的简称，disrespect就是不尊重。你说：※Don‘t dis my clothes" 就是让我别批评你的衣服。我不是批评你的衣服，只是搭配得不好么。
LL: That doesn‘t make me feel any better, Li Hua. It‘s not nice to dis your friends or their clothes.
LH: 我以为朋友之间应该坦率，我说你衣服搭配得不好，你也不高兴，还说我这样说是不礼貌的。你不觉得你这样批评我也是不对的吗？
LL: Oh, please, you started the whole thing by dissing my clothes.
LH: 好啦，好啦，我以后不说就行啦。
LL: All right, I promise not to dis you if you promise not to dis me or my clothes, deal?
LH: Deal。以后你不批评我，我也不再批评你穿衣服的品味。我们就这么说定了。 Larry，已经六点了，怎么John还没有来呢？
LL: Yeah, I wonder where he is? I hate people dilly-dallying.
LH: 也许John正在哪里闲晃，根本就忘记时间了！
今天李华学到两个常用语，第一个是dilly-dally，是说拖拖拉拉把时间浪费在不重要的事情上。另一个常用语是dis，是批评或给予负面评价。
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pa159.txt
流行美语第159课
经过一个星期的紧张考试，学期结束了，Larry和李华正在很轻松地吃午饭。今天李华会学到两个常用语：flying colors和to butter up。
LL: Well, Li Hua, how do you think you did on your English exam? I‘d be willing to bet that you passed it with flying colors.
LH: 我想我英语考试考得还可以。你刚才说你敢打赌我一定会通过，但是with flying colors是什么意思啊？ Flying就是飞; colors是颜色, flying colors，我可不懂。
LL: Oh, to pass a test or an exam with flying colors means that you did a really great job.
LH: 噢，flying colors就是非常出色。你的意思是我英语考试一定考得非常出色。是不是出色，我可不知道，其实只要及格，我就很高兴了。
LL: Come on, you had me for a tutor. I‘m sure you did well!
LH: 你辅导我英语，我就一定会考得成绩优异？你真的对自己的辅导这么有信心啊？
LL: That‘s not a very appreciative attitude, Li Hua. Whether or not you pass the exam with flying colors, I still put in a lot of time helping you.
LH: 跟你开个玩笑嘛！我知道你花了很多时间和心血来辅导我的英语。我怎么会不感谢你呢！不管我考的好不好，我都应该谢谢你呀。
LL: You helped me a lot, too. I‘m not sure if I passed my Chinese exam with flying colors, but I‘m sure that I got at least a B+.
LH: 你肯定你的中文考试能得个B+? 那已经算是很出色了。对了，你刚才是怎么说来啦？ 噢，我想起来，flying colors。好了，现在一切都结束了。暑期里，你不需要再苦苦地读中文了！
LL: I know, I‘m so glad this semester is over.
LH: 就是啊。学期结束真让我感到轻松。 这个星期我什么也不想做了。
LL: We both deserve a break. Even if we didn‘t pass all our courses with flying colors, we both worked really hard all semester.
LH: 我同意，尽管我们不见得每门功课都成绩优异，我们都已经尽最大的努力了，应该休息一下！
******
LH: 嗨，Larry，你看起来好帅！是不是今晚有约会啊？
LL: No, I don‘t have a date tonight. Why are you being so nice? Are you trying to butter me up for something?
LH: 说你帅，还要问我为什么对你这么好？你真是疑神疑鬼的。还说我想什么来啦？Butter up, butter不是黄油吗？什么意思呀？
LL: To butter someone up is to be really nice to him so that you can ask him for something.
LH: 其实，我猜到了，to butter up就是为了得到好处而拍人马屁的意思。哼，我才不会那么做呢！
LL: I know you weren‘t trying to butter me up, Li Hua. I was just joking with you.
LH: 好吧，只要你知道，我是诚心诚意的赞美你，不是另有企图，别有用心就好了。
LL: I know you‘re not like that, but there‘s a girl in my Chinese class who is.
LH: 真的啊？你的中文班里有个女孩就是这样的人？她怎么啦？
LL: She was really nice to me one day. She offered to help me with my homework and everything. It turns out, she was just buttering me up so that she could ask me to help her move to a new apartment.
LH: 原来她是想让你帮忙搬家啊！其实她没有必要帮你做任何事，直接了当请你帮忙不就行了嘛！也许她不好意思。
LL: I guess, but what bothers me is that she ignored me until she needed my help with something. She was only nice to me when she was buttering me up to ask for help.
LH: 原来如此。她过去从来不理你，到了要你帮忙的时候才来拍马屁。那她也真是太会利用人了。
今天李华学到两个常用语。第一个是flying colors，这是指的是什么事情做得很出色。另一个常用语是to butter up，这是指为了得到好处而拍人马屁。
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pa160.txt
流行美语第160课
Larry已经开始在一家公司做暑期工作。他正在向李华抱怨工作上的问题。今天李华会学到两个常用语：swamped和to get axed。
LL: I‘ve only been working there two days and I‘m already totally swamped with work! It‘s unbelievable!
LH: Larry，你说 swamped with work，是不是说你不知道怎么做这份工作？
LL: No, I know how to do the work. It‘s just that there is too much of it. To be swamped means to have too much work to do.
LH: 噢，我懂了，swamp一般是沼泽地的意思，你说swamped with work就是工作太多，好象陷进了沼泽地一样，让你觉得喘不过气。那他们到底给你什么样的工作？
LL: It‘s all relatively simple stuff like filing, typing, copying. It‘s just that there are piles of it and everyone wants it finished right now.
LH: 啊！归档、打字、复印都是很简单的事，可要是办公室每个人都要你做这些事，每个人都要你马上给他做，这确实难以对付。Larry，也许你该建议他们再多雇个人来帮你啊！
LL: I doubt that. Besides, I don‘t want them to think I‘m lazy. I guess I just have to accept the fact that I‘ll be swamped with work for the rest of the summer.
LH: 真是的。一个暑假就陷在这些繁琐的工作里，太没劲了。我只想在暑假里轻松轻松。
LL: I was hoping to relax a little, too, but it doesn‘t look as though that‘s going to happen.
LH: 不过Larry，虽然你白天在公司里工作很忙，可是你晚上回到家可以轻松一下啦，因为你不必像学期当中忙于写作业或交报告！
LL: That‘s true, but I‘m so tired by the time I get home from being swamped all day that I don‘t have the energy to do anything fun.
LH: 这你就跟我不一样了。我呀，再累也没有关系，只要一听到玩，我就精神百倍了。不过，Larry，我真希望能帮你一点忙。
LL: Oh, it‘s not your fault, Li Hua. I‘m sorry for complaining like this.
******
LH: 嗨！Larry！你的暑期工作现在怎么样了！还是很忙吗？
LL: It‘s even worse than ever! The management just axed one of the other employees and now they‘re giving me all of his work!
LH: Ax不是斧头吗？你说你公司把那个雇员怎么啦？Axed？不是把他砍了吧？听起来好吓人的！
LL: To ax someone is to fire them. The other guy was really unreliable so management decided to ax him.
LH: 噢，我明白了，to ax someone就是把某人开除的意思。你真倒霉。公司把那个不可靠的人开除了，他的工作也就落在你头上。你们公司有没有考虑雇用新人来接替他的工作？
LL: I have no idea. In the mean time, I have so much work that I‘m running around all day long.
LH: 你真可伶，每天忙得晕头转向的。也许你可以问问他们什么时候会雇用一个新人啊？
LL: I want to ask, but I‘m afraid of getting axed, too.
LH: 你不过问问而已嘛！他们为什么要开除你呢？
LL: Well, I guess they wouldn‘t fire me, because I‘ve been doing a good job although I‘m swamped with work. I just don‘t want them to think that I‘m lazy or that I‘m complaining.
LH: 我肯定他们不会开除你。他们也不傻，知道你做很多工作，而且还做得很好。你要不说，他们绝对不会再顾一个人。这样不是省钱嘛！
LL: I guess you are right. I‘m more likely to get axed for messing up rather than telling them I‘m overworked.
LH: 没错。老老实实地告诉他们你太忙，总比你忙不过来，把事情搞砸了要好。
LL：Li Hua, you‘re so smart!
今天李华学到两个常用语。第一个是swamped，是指陷入大量工作，或其他什么事。另一个常用语是to get axed，就是被开除的意思。
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pa161.txt
流行美语第161课
李华打电话问Larry，想不想到动物园参观新的熊猫展览。今天李华会学到两个常用语：to putz around和worrywart。
LH: 嘿，Larry，你在做什么？忙不忙？
LL: Not really. I was just putzing around the apartment, cleaning up a little and putting some things away. Why? What do you have in mind?
LH: 噢，你在家打扫，整理东西。你还在家干什么啦？什么是putzing around？那是什么意思？
LL: To putz around is to behave idly, without anything very urgent or important to do. I don‘t have anything special to do, so I‘m just putzing around doing minor things.
LH: To putz around就是没有什么迫切或重要的事做，只是在家东晃晃，西摸摸。嗨，既然你没什么重要事做，要不要一块儿去动物园。我想去看新来的熊猫。
LL: Sure. We can putz around the zoo and look at the animals. The weather is beautiful today, so it will be nice to go outside.
LH: 就是啊，今天天气这么好，待在家里太可惜了，还不如到动物园去逛逛，看看动物。
LL: Yeah, it‘s much better to putz around outside in the sunshine. It‘s so great to have time to relax.
LH: 没错。前一阵子我忙得连睡觉的时间都没有，更别说四处闲晃了。说实话，我还真喜欢闲逛，I like to putz around。
LL: When do you want to leave?
LH: 嗯，你半小时内能出门吗？我听说熊猫在下午的时候比较活跃，这时候去最有意思！
LL: Sure. I‘ll meet you at the university gate in half an hour.
LH: 没问题！一会儿见！
******
LH: Larry，快点！我怕我们会错过这班公共汽车，太晚了我们就看不到熊猫了！
LL: Calm down, Li Hua. Don‘t be such a worrywart. We have plenty of time to catch the bus and the pandas aren‘t going anywhere.
LH: 嘿！你又说我什么了？什么是worrywart？
LL: A worrywart, very simply, is a person who worries too much.
LH: A Worrywart，就是指一个人不是担心这事，就是担心那事，而这些都是一些微不足道的事情。那不就是我们中文里说的“杞人忧天”吗？Larry，我真的是这样的人吗？
LL: Sometimes, you can be a worrywart. For instance, you worry a lot about your grades.
LH: 可是，担心成绩不好。这很正常啊！很多人都会担心他们的成绩，学习成绩可不是什么微不足道的事呢！
LL: Most people worry about their grades, but you worry more than most people.
LH: 我比别人担心更多！我才不信呢。你自己也不是老担心工作，老担心你老板和同事对你印象不好。
LL: I don‘t worry too much about work! I have a healthy concern for what my boss and my co-workers think, but I don‘t think I‘m a worrywart.
LH: 噢，我担心就是过份。你担心就是正常的！你自己想想，你应该8点上班，可上星期你每天早上5点就起床，就怕迟到。这不是过份么？
LL: Yeah, I guess that is a little extreme. I think I‘ll get more relaxed at work once I‘ve gotten more settled in. I‘m still new.
LH: 我知道。你是刚到那家公司去工作，所以特别紧张。等到你习惯以后就会放松一些的。得了，我们还是好好享受今天这么棒的天气，去看熊猫喽！
今天李华学到两个常用语。第一个是to putz around，就是四处闲晃，无所事事的意思。另外一个常用语是worrywart，是指一个人担心个没完，就像中文里所说的“杞人忧天”。
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pa162.txt
流行美语第162课
李华在房门上发现一张纸条，可是字体写的很潦草，看不清写的是什么，也不知道是谁写的。今天李华会学到两个常用语：gibberish和google。
LH: Larry，你能不能帮我看看这张字条上到底写些什么？
LL: I can‘t read it, either. It looks like gibberish to me. Are you sure someone didn‘t leave it as a joke?
LH: 为什么有人要跟我开玩笑留这张字条？你说这看来像gibberish。那是什么语言？
LL: Gibberish means language that doesn‘t make any sense.
LH: Gibberish就是写得乱七八糟，没有人看得懂的意思。那不就是胡言乱语吗？为什么有人要写这张奇怪的字条，还放在我门上呢？
LL: I don‘t know. That doesn‘t make any sense to me.
LH: 我想这字条应该很重要，不然这个人不会千里迢迢到我的楼里，在我门上留下这张字条。
LL: Well, it wasn‘t important enough for them to write in plain English. I wouldn‘t worry about it if I were you.
LH: 那倒也是，要是很重要，这个人应该写清楚一点嘛！我只希望这个留字条的人不要认为我没礼貌，不给他回复。
LL: Hey, it‘s not your fault that the note was all gibberish. Besides, if it‘s really important, whoever it is will try to contact you again.
LH: 没错，如果真有什么重要的事，这个人会再和我联系的。对了，Larry，你知道我还在哪里见过这种写得乱七八糟的东西吗？
LL: No, but I‘m sure you‘re going to tell me.
LH: 一些美国人喜欢在身上刺中文刺青或穿带有中文字的衣服。可是有时候这些中文根本就不对，看不清是什么字。所以也算是gibberish。
LL: Yeah, I‘ve seen people do that, too. But the truth is, I saw the same thing in China: People would wear clothes with English writing on them that was pure gibberish.
LH: 嘿嘿，这真有意思。我想都是因为大家对外国语言似懂非懂吧？
******
LH: Larry，又有人在我门上留条了，不过这一次，还有个公司商标在上面。你听说过一个叫West的公司吗？
LL: No, I‘ve never heard of it, but you can find out what sort of company it is by googling it.
LH: 你要我做什么？Google？那是什么意思？
LL: You know that there is an internet search engine called Google, right?
LH: 我当然知道因特网的搜索引擎Google。中文叫古狗网站，我经常用。
LL: Well, people use it so often, that now it has become a verb meaning to do an internet search using Google.
LH: 噢，因为大家经常用古狗网来查询，所以现在google已经成了一个动词，意思是上网用古狗网查资料或信息！你是要我上网去google一下，查查这家公司？
LL: That‘s my advice. It will only take a minute. Googling stuff is so convenient. I can‘t imagine what life was like before Google.
LH: 就是啊，要是从前找一家公司，不知道要花多少时间翻电话本，现在只要上网，一下子就找到了。
LL: Sometimes when you google something, you get a lot of unnecessary information, but you can look through it relatively quickly.
LH: 没错，我刚开始google的时候，我总觉得不到点上。现在我看谁都得google，因为它实在是很方便。好，我现在就上网来看看这家West公司到底是做什么的。
LL: Good luck. I hope you get an answer to the question of who has been leaving mysterious notes full of gibberish on your door.
LH：嗨，Larry，要是我google碰到问题，我还得请你帮忙呐！
LL：Oh, google is so easy, you won‘t have any problems.
今天李华学到两个常用语，第一个是gibberish，就是写的乱七八糟，看不清的字，或者是胡言乱语，让人听不懂得话。另一个常用语是google，是指上网查某个信息或资料。
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pa163.txt
流行美语第163课
Larry和李华正在纽约苏活区吃午饭。两人聊起了自己的暑期工作。今天李华会学到两个常用语：bang for the buck和number crunchers。
LL: Did I tell you that my boss has decided to advertise his business online? He says newspaper advertisements are too expensive and believes the Internet will reach more people.
LH: 你老板的主意很好啊。在因特网上登广告当然比在报纸上登广告要便宜，而且看到的人还会多很多呢。
LL: Yes it does. He figures that for a fraction of the cost, he will get more bang for his buck!
LH: 花一点点钱就能怎么啦？More bang for his buck?那是什么意思呀？
LL: More bang for your buck... Bang for the buck is when someone gets more value for the money they put into something. "Buck" is another way of saying dollars or money.
LH: 我懂了！Bang for the buck就是※花最少钱取得最大效果§。也就是成本低，收效高，很合算的意思啦。就像我们现在吃的自助餐，每人只要4美元，就可以吃到各式各样的菜色，还有可口的点心，像冰淇淋、蛋糕等等。
LL: That‘s right Li Hua, by paying less and eating more you are getting more bang for your buck.
LH: 这么说来，昨天我到艾尔加油站去加油，也是很合算的。I got more bang for my buck!
LL: How‘s that?
LH: 那个加油站昨天在大促销啊！一加仑汽油只要1块5美元呢！
LL: US$
LH：没错，有的加油站都快要三美元一加仑了。你好象没有听说过艾尔加油站。我明天带你去，so that you can get more bang for you buck too!
LL：That sounds good!
******
LH: 对了，Larry，你还没说你老板决定在那个网站上登广告？
LL: He says he would like to put his advertisement on the Website for the New York Times. Of course, that really depends on what his number cruncher says about the idea.
LH: 你老板想把广告登在纽约时报的网站上。不过，什么是number cruncher？那是什么意思？
LL: A number cruncher is someone who is good with numbers, like an accountant.
LH: 等，等。Number就是数字；cruncher这个词来自crunch，就是在嘴巴里咀嚼，crunch后面加上e, r, 就成了咀嚼的人。咀嚼数字...？噢，我知道了，a number cruncher就是会摆弄数字的人，也就是象会计那样会算帐的人。你的老板一定很信任公司的会计。
LL: Who happens to be his wife.
LH：原来你们公司的会计就是你老板的太太呀？
LL：When he and his wife first started their business he was in charge of the finances. That didn‘t last long. When they found themselves $
LH: 公司开办时，你的老板管帐，结果一下就亏了一万美元呀！所以后来才让他太太来管帐的。
LL: Yes. In six months, she helped turn the business around and now they are making as much as $
LH: 哟， 你老板的太太真厉害。她不但扭转了亏损，现在一个月就能赢利一万美元哪！我可最怕数字的。
LL：I am not a number cruncher either. She‘s a real number cruncher。
今天李华学到两个常用语。第一个是bang for the buck，意思是花最少钱得到最大的效果，也就是合算，划算的意思。另一个常用语是number cruncher，这是指对数字很在行，很能算计的人。
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pa164.txt
流行美语第164课
Larry和李华正在中央公园等着听音乐。那里举行的户外摇滚乐演唱会马上就要开始。今天李华会学到两个常用语：Boss和Mob scene。
LL: Hey, Li Hua, I can‘t wait for the band to start playing. The last concert I went to by this band was totally boss.
LH: 你说上回去听这个乐队演出怎么啦？Boss？那不是指监督工作的老板吗？
LL: Right, but when I said the concert was boss, I meant it was really great.
LH: 啊？Boss在这里是形容演唱会很棒的意思，可是Boss跟很棒有什么关系呀？
LH: You know how a boss is above his employees and tells them what to do? Something that is boss is above the others. And better than the rest.
LH: 噢，因为老板，也就是boss比其他人更能干，指挥手下人干活，所以就是棒！那我很喜欢星际大战电影里的特效，我能不能说they were boss?
LL: The special effects in the new Star Wars movie were boss. They were much better than in the older Star Wars movies.
LH: 对，我同意。新的星际大战里面的特效比以前的星际大战更棒。Larry，你看到Rick 买的新车吗？
LL: Yeah, it is nice, isn‘t it? Fire engine red with leather seats and a sunroof. That is definitely one boss car.
LH: 我可不喜欢那大红颜色，象救火车。可是皮座垫和天窗我倒很喜欢。Larry，要是我认为一样东西不太棒，那该怎么说呀？
LL: If you don‘t think something is that great, you can say something is not so boss.
LH: 要是今天的演出很棒，我就可以说：They are boss! 但是上星期的表演不怎么样，那就是：They weren‘t so boss.
LL: You are right, in fact. Last week‘s act wasn‘t so boss. I was there.
LH: 嘿！你看！乐团出来了。哇！他们的服装好棒噢！So boss!
LL: And wait until you hear the lead guitarist start playing. I think you‘ll find he is pretty boss, too.
LH: 你说那吉他手很棒呀？那他肯定很有名，是吗？嘘！要开场了。别说话了！
******
LL: What a mob scene! The concert is over and now there are people everywhere.
LH: 就是，演唱会一结束，大家都抢着要回家，你瞧这人群哪！哎，Larry, 什么是mob scene?
LL: Well, a mob scene, is a big group of people, who are acting in a random and disorderly way.
LH: 噢，mob scene就是指乱糟糟的一大群人。上星期我去看星际大战电影的首映，买票的人排着队打闹说笑，有票的人在门口等着开场。That was a real mob scene.
LL: Yes, the theaters were mobbed for the opening of Star Wars. I am going to wait a few weeks to see it when the lines will be shorter.
LH: 早知道首映的时候会那么多人，我也该象你这样等几个星期再去看，就不必排那么长的队了。Larry, 我们该往哪儿走呀？我们得脱离这个mob scene才行，不然我们什么时候才能到家呀！
LL: Well, the subway will probably also be mobbed. It will be just as much of a mob scene on the train as it is here.
LH: 啊？连地铁也会象这里一样挤满人啊？那我们别去和人挤了。我们先走一段路吧！
LL: Okay, Li Hua, I‘ve got an idea about how to get away from this mob. Follow me. I know a shortcut!
LH：哟，你还知道小路呐。你早说呀！
今天李华学到两个常用语。第一个是boss，这是很棒，很好的意思。另一个常用语是mob scene，这是指人很多的场面。
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pa165.txt
流行美语第165课
李华请Larry到家来帮她修理堵塞的澡盆。今天李华会学到两个常用语：gross和in a pinch。
LL: Oh, Li Hua, look at the hair clogging your drain. How gross!
LH: 我知道是头发把澡盆给堵死了。不过， Gross是什么意思哪? 你是说这里有很多头发啊？
LL: No, I‘m not referring to the quantity. I mean it is disgusting and sickening!
LH: 原来gross在这里是指让人看到难受，令人恶心，不舒服的意思。堵住下水道的东西当然都是很脏的，看见了让人恶心。不过，上回我在你家看到你的冰箱，那才叫恶心呢！
LL: What do you mean?
LH: 我是说，你冰箱里的食物有的已经发霉了。That was gross!
LL: I‘ve cleaned out my refrigerator since then, and I don‘t think it is that gross any more.
LH: 你清理过你的冰箱啦？过两天我去看看。还有，你把脏衣服到处乱丢，that‘s gross, too!
LL: All right, Li Hua, I‘m the first to admit that I‘m not the best housekeeper. I‘ve been so busy lately, that my whole apartment is pretty gross right now, to tell you the truth.
LH: 你能老实承认自己不会理家。那还算不错的。一般男生都不会整理家。这样吧！Larry，过两天我去你家帮你打扫干净，作为对你今天的帮忙表示感谢。请人来修要花好多钱哪！
LL: Yeah, the amount the plumber will charge you will be pretty gross, I am sure. What tools do you have?
LH: 让我看看，工具可能都在水槽下的柜子里。Ooh, gross! 有只大蜘蛛！
LL: Oh, Li Hua, it is a tiny spider, and I think it is cute. I don‘t think it is gross at all.
LH：哎哟，你还说那只大蜘蛛看起来挺好玩呐！It is gross， Larry。
******
LH: Larry, 我找到那个通马桶的工具了！用这个来清除这些头发行吗？
LL: It will have to do in a pinch.
LH: In a pinch? 那是什么意思？
LL: You know, a pinch is a tight spot in which you can‘t move around or a difficult situation in which you don‘t have many options.
LH: Pinch就是很小的地方，没有什么周转余地，或者是处于困难的情况下，没什么选择余地。我的厕所是很小，可是也足够你站在里面修澡盆呀！
LL: I meant that we don‘t really have a choice about whether or not I use the plunger. I‘ll either have to use your plunger, or call the plumber.
LH: 噢，原来你说的in a pinch是指我们别无选择的意思，要就用这个工具，否则就得请人来修。那你就用这个工具试试看哪！
LL: Well, then let me try to get us out of the pinch we‘re in. Let me use the plunger.
LH: 对，用这个工具试试，没准你能解决这个难题！
LL: Yes, it is working. The tub is draining now.
LH: 水开始流啦？哇！太棒。太谢谢你了，帮我解决了这个大麻烦。You really get me out of this pinch!
LL: It is my pleasure. I am always glad to help a friend in a pinch.
LH: 我们都知道你是乐于帮助朋友解决困难的。好，现在要想办法解决你的问题了。
LL: Yes, if I don‘t get that apartment cleaned before my parents come to visit, I am going to be in a real pinch.
LH: 你要在你爸妈来之前打扫干净你的公寓，否则你也只好让他们看到你那肮脏恶心的家了。
LL: Exactly, so now it is your turn to help me out of the pinch I am in.
LH：我一定帮你打扫干净。
今天李华学到两个常用语。第一个是gross，这是指看到的东西让人感到很恶心，很不舒服。另一个常用语是in a pinch，这是指陷入困境，没有选择余地。
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pa166.txt
流行美语第166课
Larry和一个朋友约好碰面，但眼看自己就要迟到了。他向李华借手机打电话让他朋友等一会儿。今天李华会学到两个常用语：cell和the 411。
LL: Hey, Li Hua can I borrow your cell?
LH: 你要借我的什么来着，cell？
LL: You know your cell. Your cell phone.
LH: 噢，原来cell就是cell phone手机的简称。你当然可以借用我的手机。拿去！
LL: Thanks. Having a cell is so convenient. I just need to give Rick a call and let him know I am going to be late to meet him.
LH: 手机是很方便。你看，你现在快要迟到了，有手机就可以打个电话告诉Rick，否则他会以为你不来了呢！
LL: (Larry makes phone call) Hey, Rick, it‘s Larry. I‘m running a bit late. I‘ll meet you at the library in about half an hour. OK? See you then, Bye! Thanks, Li Hua, here‘s your cell back.
LH: 你半小时就能到图书馆见Rick? 那你就快走吧！对了，Larry，你不自己也有手机吗？
LL: I am embarrassed to say my apartment is such a mess that I can‘t find my cell. I am sure it is there somewhere under a pile of clothes.
LH: 你找不到你的手机啦？没错，肯定是埋在那堆衣服里了。没问题，今晚我给你手机打个电话，你听到铃声就知道手机在哪里了。
LL: Right, when my cell starts ringing, I‘ll be able to find it. I‘ll just follow the sound of the ring. Good idea!
LH: 好，那你把你手机的号码给我，我输入我的手机里，今晚就可以给你打电话。
LL: Okay, it is
LH: Larry，我得用一下我的手机，Mary给我留了话，不知道她找我做什么？
******
LL: So, what was the call about? Give me the 411.
LH: 你在说什么奇怪的东西啊？什么是give me the 411?
LL: You know you dial 411 to reach the information operator, right? Well, when I said to "give me the 411," I meant for you to give me information just like the operator gives you the number you are looking for.
LH: 对呀，要查电话号码就打411，然后他们就会把你要的号码告诉你。所以，你说“give me the
LL: Hmmm....I don‘t know Mary. What is the 411 on her?
LH: 噢，你要知道有关Mary的情况？Mary她人很好，也很用功。你想不想跟我去参加明天的读书会。这样你就能见到Mary了！
LL: I‘d really like to meet Mary, but I‘ve been invited to a party tomorrow evening.
LH: 你明晚要参加一个party？什么party， give me the 411?
LL: One of the guys I work with - Fred - has been given a big promotion. He has invited several of us from work to meet him at a pub to celebrate.
LH: 噢，你的朋友被提升要请你们去庆祝。这个party听起来很棒耶！Larry，我能跟你一起去吗？
LL: Sorry, Li Hua. According to the 411 I have, this is a co-workers only event. Fred wants to express his thanks to the people that have helped him at work.
LH: 哼，只有同事才能参加啊。好吧。对了，这个Fred是个什么样的人？What is the 411 on Fred?
LL: He‘s a great guy. Oh, Li Hua, I‘ve got to go! I‘ve got to meet Rick at the library. I‘ll give you more 411 on Fred some other time.
LH：你下回可别忘了告诉我有关Fred 的情况。
今天李华学到两个常用语。第一个是cell，也就是cell phone 手机的简称。另一个常用语是the 411，意思是有关某人或某件事的信息。今天的流行美语就播送到这里。谢谢大家收听，我们下次节目再见！
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pa167.txt
流行美语第167课
Larry和李华在海滩享受温暖的阳光。不过李华有点心事，因为她的朋友Joe向她借了钱，却一直没还。今天李华会学到两个常用语：deadbeat和cool it。
(Ambience sound on the beach)
LL: Li Hua, relax and enjoy the day. Joe isn‘t a deadbeat. He‘ll pay you back as soon as he can.
LH: 我也希望Joe会还我钱。你说Joe不是一个deadbeat，那是什么意思啊？
LL: A deadbeat is someone who does not pay his/her debts or fulfill his/her obligations. Joe is not a deadbeat. He always pays people back.
LH: A deadbeat就是一个故意赖帐的人。你说Joe不是那样的人，可要是他一直不还我钱，那我该怎么跟他提这件事，又不伤他的自尊心呢？这事真麻烦！
LL: You‘re right; money is an awkward subject. I usually just avoid lending people money altogether. That way I don‘t have to worry about deadbeats.
LH: 唉，我也不喜欢借钱给别人，可我是真的想帮他忙。
LL: Yeah, I know what you mean. Just be careful who you help in the future: there are a lot of deadbeats out there.
LH: 我知道，下回我再要借钱给别人，一定会格外小心，因为借钱不还的人还是有的。对了，Larry，我还听过别人说deadbeat dads。那是什么意思啊？
LL: Well, after a divorce, a man is supposed to send money to his ex-wife to help her support their children. A man who doesn‘t send money is a "deadbeat dad."
LH: 噢，我懂了，A deadbeat dad就是离婚后不肯负担孩子抚养费的父亲。
LL: Exactly. I know a guy whose father was a deadbeat dad. The poor guy‘s mother had to work three jobs to support her children.
LH: 这个妈妈要做三份工来抚养她的孩子，就是因为爸爸不肯抚养孩子。难道法律都不惩罚这些不负责任的父亲吗？
LL: Well, the courts can tell a deadbeat dad that he needs to pay child support, but that doesn‘t mean that he actually will.
LH: 什么！法庭告诉他们要付钱，他们不付也没事呀？唉，真是糟糕！
******
LL: Wow! Those kids over there are really loud. I wish they‘d cool it.
LH: 那些孩子是挺吵的。你要他们怎么着，cool it？什么意思呀？
LL: I wish they would "cool it" means calm down. It can also mean to stop what one is doing.
LH: 噢，cool it就是安静下来，或者停止做某件事的意思。你的意思是要这些孩子别再吵了。
LL: Exactly. I wonder where their parents are? I‘m surprised that their parents haven‘t told them to cool it yet.
LH: 就是啊，那些孩子在那里鬼吼鬼叫好一会儿了。他们的爸妈到底听见了没？怎么不好好管教自己的孩子呢？
LL: It‘s hard to enjoy the day with such noisy kids around. I‘m considering going over there myself and telling them to "cool it."
LH: 啊？你想自己过去叫那些孩子安静一点？我不知道这样做好不好呢。
LL: Why not? Their parents obviously aren‘t going to do it and those kids are ruining the day for a lot of people.
LH: Larry，也许你该冷静一点，cool it，别跟那些孩子一般见识了。不然，我们可以搬到远一点的地方坐。
LL: Yeah, that‘s probably a good idea.
LH: 来吧，我们把东西收一收，搬到海滩的另一边去好了。
LL: Okay, let‘s go.
今天李华学到两个常用语。第一个是deadbeat，是指借钱不还，故意赖帐的人。另一个常用语是cool it，是指安静下来，或停止做某件事。
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pa168.txt
流行美语第168课
Larry和李华正在讨论星期六要干什么。李华要去逛街，但是Larry想去打篮球。今天李华会学到两个常用语：whatever floats your boat和up a creek。
LH: Larry，我真的很想去逛街嘛！这个周末在购物中心有大特卖耶！
LL: I don‘t understand why you like shopping so much, but hey, whatever floats your boat.
LH: Boat？你在说什么啊？我是想去逛街买衣服，不是要去乘船玩啦！
LL: No, "whatever floats your boat" is an expression. Whatever floats your boat means that you should do whatever you like doing. It also implies that everyone likes to do different things.
LH: 噢，whatever floats your boat就是说你爱干什么就干什，而且还有每个人爱好不同的意思。好，那我星期六去逛街！
LL: Fine then. You should do whatever floats your boat. However, I think I‘ll go play basketball instead.
LH: 行，你想去打篮球，那就去吧！ Whatever floats your boat!
LL: I guess we won‘t be spending Saturday together. We could still meet for dinner, though.
LH: 没问题，晚上一起吃晚饭，那你想去哪里吃饭呢？
LL: I don‘t have any preferences. Whatever floats your boat is fine with me.
LH: 真的吗？由我来决定去哪儿吃饭啊？
LL: Yep, the decision is yours.
LH: 嗯... 这样啊，我们能不能去学校附近那家新开的泰国餐厅？我朋友告诉我，他们的菜很好吃！
LL: If that‘s what floats your boat, then it‘s fine with me.
LH: 好，没问题。那我们星期六晚上6点半在餐厅见喽！
LL: Okay, I‘ll see you then.
******
LH: 怎么啦？Larry，出了什么事吗？
LL: I lost my keys when I went to play basketball today. Now, I‘m really up a creek.
LH: 你把钥匙弄丢了？哎呀，那可真是麻烦了。不过，这跟a creek有什么关系哪？ Creek那不就是小溪吗？
LL: If someone is "up a creek" it means that he or she is stuck in a bad situation without an obvious solution.
LH: 噢，我懂了，up a creek就是说一个人碰上难题，而且还没有办法来解决。也就是我们中文里说的“陷入困境”。唉，你现在真的是碰上大难题了。那你打算怎么办呢？
LL: I don‘t know. I can‘t get into my apartment or my car without my keys.
LH: 对，你没有钥匙就进不了家，也进不了你的车。那你能不能打电话问你房东，或许他有多一把钥匙。
LL: My landlord is out of town for the weekend, so I‘m up a creek until he gets back on Monday.
LH: 什么？你的房东出远门，要到星期一才会回来？那可真麻烦了。也许你可以找个锁匠来开锁？
LL: I think that might be my only solution, but it‘s going to be expensive.
LH: 我知道请锁匠来开锁，可能要花一点钱，可是那总比你一个周末被关在家门外，不得其门而入要好吧？
LL: Yeah, you‘re right. I have no idea what to do about my car keys, though. They‘re a little bit more difficult to replace.
LH: 不好意思，我不开车，所以不知道上哪儿能找到新的车钥匙。看来你真是up a creek, 陷入困境了。
今天李华学到两个常用语。第一个是whatever floats your boat，意思就是你爱干什么就干什。另一个常用语是up a creek。这是形容一个人陷入困境。
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pa169.txt
流行美语第169课
LH: 嘿！Larry，我想去看琼斯教授和他太太。他们的女儿Sarah现在也应该有几个星期大了！
LL: Aren‘t you worried they are too wiped out to have company?
LH: Wiped out？你说琼斯教授他们怎么样了？
LL: Too wiped out means they must be really tired. I am sure they haven‘t gotten much sleep with a new baby in the house.
LH: 噢，Wiped-out就是很疲乏的意思。添了小宝宝他们俩可能都睡不好。不过我想，我们早一点去拜访他们，坐一会儿就走，应该没问题吧。我听说baby Sarah真的很可爱呢！
LL: OK, That sounds good, but we should call before we go. You know, I am amazed Professor Jones is still teaching classes considering how wiped out he must be.
LH: 就是啊，虽然很累，琼斯教授还来上课呢！真是让人佩服！我啊，只要想到去上课都会累，更何况我还没有小宝宝呢。
LL: You‘re right! Just going to work every day wipes me out. I can‘t imagine what it must be like to have to get up so many times in the middle of the night to feed the baby and change diapers.
LH: 没错，半夜里要起来好几次喂奶，换尿布，真是难以想象。我可受不了。
LL：Wait until you have your own baby, you wouldn‘t mind to be wiped out.
LH：我想是这样，有了自己的孩子再累也不在乎。 好吧，那我们就给琼斯教授打个电话，看他们什么时候方便让我们过去，顺便看看小宝宝。
LL: And before we go we probably should stop somewhere and get a card and present for the baby. You aren‘t too wiped out to do a little shopping first, are you?
LH: 说到逛街买礼物，我才不会觉得累呢！特别是买那些可爱的小宝宝衣服。我再累也愿意去！
LL: I should have known!
LH: 好，那我现在给琼斯教授打电话！
******
LH: Larry，你觉得baby Sarah是不是真的好可爱？
LL: She was indeed. She was a real cutie-pie!
LH: A cutie-WHAT? 你怎么说她是个派？Pie那不是一种点心吗？
LL: Well, a "cutie-pie" isn‘t actually a pie like the desert, but means someone who is very cute.
LH: 原来如此，cutie-pie不是指点心，而是指人长的很可爱。小宝宝Sarah眼睛大大的，再加上圆圆的脸蛋，真可爱！She is certainly a cutie-pie!
LL: And little Sarah certainly takes after her mother. Professor Jones‘s wife is a cutie-pie, too!
LH: 哎，Larry，琼斯教授的太太可是已婚妇女噢！就算你觉得她长的可爱，恐怕也没机会了。我劝你啊，还是多注意身边是不是还有其他可爱的女孩吧！
LL: Do you have any one in mind?
LH: 说起来，我还真有几个长的很可爱的女朋友，或许可以给你介绍一个，让你们出去吃个饭或看电影什么的。
LL: Well, you would be a real sweetie-pie if you would give one of them a call and say nice things about me.
LH: 哎。等等，我以为你刚才教我的是cutie-pie, 怎么你现在又说我是个sweetie-pie?
LL: Sweetie-pie just means you are a very nice person. "Cutie-pie" and "sweetie-pie" are both often used to describe young children.
LH: Sweetie-pie和cutie-pie往往是形容小孩。那我是不是可以叫你"oldy-pie"？因为你可不年轻了。
LL: Sorry, Li Hua, it is just "sweetie-pie" or "cutie-pie." That‘s it.
LH: 我知道，跟你开个玩笑而已，而且你也不老。Larry，你这么热心教我英语，真是个sweetie-pie。
今天李华学到两个常用语。一个是wiped out，是形容一个人很疲乏。另一个常用语是cutie-pie，是形容一个人长的很可爱。Sweetie-pie则是指一个人心地善良，热心助人。
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pa170.txt
流行美语第170课
Larry在告诉李华关于他们的一个同学最近和女朋友闹别扭的事。今天李华会学到两个常用语：high maintenance和dating 101。
LL: You know, Li Hua, I feel bad for Tom. His girlfriend is so high maintenance.
LH: 什么？High maintenance不就是指一些需要精心维护的机器吗？
LL: Exactly. And in this case, Rachel is very complicated, and Tom needs to put a lot of efforts into maintaining his relationship with her.
LH: 嗨，把high maintenance这个说法用在人的身上！不过也有道理，要是一个人需要high maintenance，那不就是很难伺候嘛！我和Rachel不熟，但是她看起来好象是个很好的人啊！为什么你认为她很难伺候呢？
LL: Well, she gets upset if Tom doesn‘t call her every day. If he takes her out to eat, it has to be to a very expensive restaurant or she‘ll complain. It is hard for Tom to keep her happy.
LH: 真没想到她那么难伺候。不每天给她打电话，不去高级餐馆就要生气。听起来倒是和我的朋友美玲很像。美玲也是个需要high maintenance的人。
LL: Yeah, Meiling is a high maintenance friend. I know she doesn‘t like it when you spend time with me and not her.
LH: 就是。她经常抱怨我花太多时间和你一起。我得经常向她解释我是在跟你学英语，还得跟她道歉。对了，Larry，你觉得我会不会像他们一样很难伺候？
LL: Of course not, Li Hua, you are a very relaxed and easy-going person. In fact, as friends go, you are pretty low maintenance.
LH: Low maintenance，你是说，和我交朋友，你不需要为了避免我生气而费尽心思。那就好。我可不想变成朋友心目中很难搞的人呢。
******
LL: Well, Li Hua, I just talked to Tom. Rachel just broke up with him. It is back to Dating 101 for Tom.
LH: Tom和Rachel分手啦？！你说Tom需要上约会101的课？我怎么没听说学校有开这门课呢？
LL: Of course the university doesn‘t offer such a class! But it does offer History 101, English 101, and Chinese 101. These are all basic classes.
LH: 噢，像历史101，英语101都是指一些基本课程，所以dating 101就是指学习有关约会的一切，就好像他到学校里修一门基础课学习怎样约会。
LL: Right. And Tom isn‘t the only one who needs to take Dating 101. I haven‘t had a date in a long time.
LH: 嘿！Larry，说到约会，你还记得我很喜欢的那个男孩，上星期我和他出去一次。我们去一家气氛不错的餐厅，可是他的话实在不多。
LL: Sounds like he needs to enroll in Conversation 101. He should at least be able to keep a conversation going through dinner.
LH: 没错，看来他的确需要修一门对话101的课程。不过他人是真的很好，就是非常害羞。
LL: Then maybe what he needs is Confidence-Building 101, instead.
LH: Larry，你真有意思，居然说他该上一门建立自信的基础课，Confidence-Building101！
LL: And as for you Li Hua, you could use a little Relaxation 101. You are always so worried about your grades.
LH: 没错，我是很担心学习成绩，所以你建议我修一门学会放松的基础课，Relaxation 101。你呀！我看你应该修一门有关整理家务的101课，看你的房间乱得那样。
LL: Well, as you probably guessed, I failed Housekeeping 101. Dating 101 is a lot more fun.
今天李华学到两个常用语。一个是high maintenance。这是形容一个人需要别人小心谨慎来对待，否则就会不高兴，也就是很难伺候的意思。另一个常用语是dating101。这是指有关约会的最基本知识。
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pa171.txt
流行美语第171课
Larry和李华正在吃午饭。Larry好像心情不太好。今天李华会学到两个常用语：crummy和sack out。
LH: Larry，怎么啦？你好像不太开心，是什么事惹你不高兴？
LL: Oh, I‘m just having a really crummy day. My crummy computer crashed again and my crummy air conditioner isn‘t working.
LH: 你的电脑坏了，连你的空调也坏了。你可真倒霉耶！不过，你说了好几个crummy，那是什么意思啊？
LL: When you‘re talking about a situation, crummy means miserable. When you‘re talking about an object, crummy means cheap and poor quality.
LH: 噢，crummy形容一个情况，是指非常难受、很惨。要是形容一个东西，就是指这个东西很次，质量很差。Larry，你真可怜，有没有什么我能帮忙的？
LL: Not unless you can fix my crummy computer and my crummy air conditioner.
LH: 抱歉，我真希望我能帮忙，可是我既不会修电脑，也不会修空调。你有没有通知你的房东，要他来修空调呢？
LL: Yeah, but he‘s not a very good landlord. He takes forever to fix anything, and even when he finally fixes something, he usually does a crummy job.
LH: 嗨，这样的房东！要就不给你修，就是修也修得不怎么样。这可真糟糕呢！What a crummy situation!
LL: You said it. I brought my computer to the repair shop and they say that they will have to keep for a week and it will cost $100 to fix.
LH: 什么！要在修理的店里放一个星期，还要一百美元？
LL: Yes, I hope they don‘t do a crummy job of fixing it. Well, if they do a crummy job the first time, then they should fix it the second time for free.
LH: 当然喽，如果一次没修好，他们当然得免费再帮你修。不过如果他们修理的技术太差，要我的话，可不想再回去找他们。
LL: That‘s understandable. Well, hopefully, they‘ll do a good job.
******
LL: I think part of the reason I‘m having a crummy day is because I‘m tired. I think I‘ll go home and sack out for an hour or two.
LH: 你累了？可你要回家做什么？什么是sack out?
LL: To sack out is to go to sleep. I want to go home and sleep for a while.
LH: 噢，原来to sack out就是睡觉。那不就和hit the sack意思一样嘛？
LL: That‘s right. If I sack out for a couple of hours, then I should wake up in a better mood.
LH: 对了，Larry，你怎么会这么累啊？
LL: Well, I didn‘t sack out until around 2 this morning because I was trying to fix my crummy computer.
LH: 哇！修电脑修到清晨两点，怪不得你那么累！你真应该早点休息！
LL: I know. It was so hard to get out of bed and go to work this morning.
LH: 那当然啦，半夜两点才睡觉，早上肯定不想起床。如果你现在回家睡觉，那你今晚还睡得着吗？
LL: I‘m so tired that I don‘t think it will be a problem. I could probably sack out now and not wake up until tomorrow morning.
LH: 你累到这种程度呀？现在回家睡觉，可以一觉睡到明天早上？看你这个样子，你再要这样熬夜早晚得生病的！
LL：I don‘t believe you sack out at regular hour every night. You stay late too.
LH：嗯，我有必要时当然也会开夜车，但没有象你这么经常呀！你得自己注意身体嘛。
LL：You‘re right! I‘ll try not to sack out too late.
今天李华学到两个常用语。第一个是crummy, 可以指情况很糟糕，也可以指一样东西质量很差。另一个常用语是sack out，就是睡觉的意思。
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pa172.txt
流行美语第172课
Larry和李华今天去逛街买衣服。Larry看到李华买了一大包衣服，简直吃惊。今天李华会学到两个常用语：clotheshorse和shell out。
LL: Wow, Li Hua! How many clothes do you need? You‘re a real clotheshorse, aren‘t you?
LH: 哎哟！这些衣服都在大减价，不买可惜耶！对了，你又在说我什么啦？什么是clotheshorse?
LL: A clotheshorse is someone who is concerned about fashion and likes to collect a lot of clothes.
LH: Clotheshorse就是指爱时髦，喜欢买很多衣服的人。我不觉得我是clotheshorse啊！我来美国念书后，胖了很多，旧衣服已经穿不下了，所以我才需要买些新衣服嘛！
LL: I think that‘s just an excuse to go shopping! You don‘t look like you‘ve gained weight to me.
LH: Larry，是真的，我没有骗你，我真的胖了不少！
LL: I guess I‘ll take your word for it. Are you sure you‘re not a clotheshorse? Didn‘t you just go shopping a few weeks ago?
LH: 我几个星期前去买衣服了？ 你弄错了人吧。我已经有一年多没有买衣服了！再说，我也不是什么追求时髦的人，你怎么能说我是个clotheshorse？
LL: I‘m just teasing you. My mother is a true clotheshorse. She has a huge, walk-in closet and it is completely filled with clothes. She loves to buy clothes.
LH: 你妈妈这么喜欢买衣服啊？难怪她总是打扮的很漂亮，而且她的衣服看来都很新。
LL: It‘s funny, but my sister didn‘t inherit my mother‘s tendencies. She‘s not a clotheshorse at all.
LH: 你妹妹不喜欢买衣服吗？ 女孩子不喜欢买衣服，那可不多。
LL: My sister hates going shopping. She would be happy if she could wear the same t-shirt and jeans every day of the year.
LH: 真的？你妹妹宁可每天穿同样的T恤和牛仔裤？看来，不是每个女人都是clotheshorse。
******
LL: Hey, Li Hua, how much money did you shell out to buy clothes today?
LH: Shell out？那是什么意思？
LL: To shell out money means to pay for something.
LH: 噢，to shell out money就是花钱的意思，你是问我今天花了多少钱买这些衣服？其实每件衣服都打了折扣，所以我没花太多钱。
LL: I‘m just curious how much you have to shell out to fill up that huge shopping bag with women‘s clothing.
LH: 你好奇？这可奇怪了，你怎么会突然间对女人衣服的价钱感兴趣？你也想买一些啊？
LL: No! I‘m just curious, that‘s all. I‘ve heard that women‘s clothes are more expensive than men‘s clothes.
LH: 你只是想知道女装是不是比男装贵。其实只要你懂得怎么找减价的衣服，你并不需要花大笔钱买衣服啊！
LL: Next time I have to buy clothes, I‘ll ask you for help. I never bother to look for sales and I always end up shelling out more than I should.
LH: 没问题！买衣服，找折扣品，我最在行了，我一定帮你！
LL: Well, while we‘re at the mall, why don‘t you help me find a good deal on a pair of jeans.
LH: 找牛仔裤？没问题！你通常都花多少钱买一件牛仔裤？
LL: I usually shell out around $40.00.
LH: 40块啊？我能帮你找到一件20块的牛仔裤，怎么样？
LL: That‘s awesome!
今天李华学到两个常用语。一个是clotheshorse，是形容一个讲究穿着，喜欢买衣服的人。另一个常用语是shell out，也就是“付出”，尤其指付钱买东西的意思。
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pa173.txt
流行美语第173课
Larry和李华刚看完一部最新的恐怖片，两人在离开戏院时还在讨论这部电影。今天李华会学到两个常用语：go overboard和guzzle。
LH: 这电影好恐怖，真吓人噢！
LL: Actually, I think it was kind of disappointing. I think the director went a little overboard with some of the special effects.
LH: 你是在说导演和电影里的特效，但是你说的“went a little overboard"，我可不懂。那是什么意思？
LL: To go overboard with something is to go too far with it or use too much of it. I think the director relied too much on special effects.
LH: 噢，原来to go overboard就是做得过头了，太过份了。所以你刚才是说这部电影的导演用了太多特效，对吗？
LL: Exactly. I think the writers went a little overboard, too.
LH: 啊？连编剧都做过头了，为什么呀？
LL: Well, the writers created a main character who is a pilot, a linguist, a professor, and an expert in martial arts. That sounds a little overboard to me!
LH: 那倒也是。他们把主角写成是一个飞行员、语言学家兼教授、而且还是武术高手，是有点太夸张了！一个角色有这么多才能，好像有点不真实了。
LL: Yup. Of course, maybe I‘m going a little overboard by analyzing a movie so much. After all, it is just a movie.
LH: 你觉得你对这部电影的分析太过份啦？我倒没有这种感觉。是的，这只不过是一部电影。但是看完电影大家不是都讨论分析吗？
LL: Aaaagh?
LH: Larry，你怎么啦？
LL: My stomach hurts. I think I went overboard with the popcorn.
LH: 我刚才就告诉你别吃那么多爆米花，你看，现在胃开始疼了吧？
******
LL: Aaaagh (groan).
LH: Larry，怎么啦，你的胃还在疼呀？
LL: Well, I pigged out on popcorn and then I was really thirsty, so I guzzled a large soda. Now, I‘m really uncomfortable.
LH: Guzzle a large soda? 你是说你喝了一大杯汽水，是这个意思吗？
LL: Yeah, to guzzle something is to drink it quickly. The salt in the popcorn made me really thirsty, so I guzzled a bunch of soda.
LH: Guzzle就是很快喝下去的意思。我知道，那就是说，你大口大口地喝了好多汽水。哼，你吃了那么多爆米花，那玩意儿又干又咸的，你口渴了就往下灌汽水。这么吃胃不疼才怪呢！
LL: I know. I know. I‘m suffering the consequences of my actions.
LH: 对了，你毫无克制地吃爆米花，接着大口地喝汽水。你现在知道这么做的后果，吃苦头了吧！你真是自作自受！
LL: Yes, I know. Usually I don‘t guzzle soda like that.
LH: 是呀，我从来没有见你喝过那么多汽水 - guzzle so much soda。
LL：Yes, I‘ve never done that before. I just suffered a temporary lapse in judgment.
LH：我看也是，你真是一时糊涂。好啦，看你这么难受，我们赶快回家，让你吃点药，看能不能好一些。
LL: That‘s a good idea. I have some Pepto Bismol in my medicine cabinet. That should make me feel better.
LH: Larry，你家里老有这种叫Pepto Bismol的药呀？我知道那是胃不舒服的时候吃的药。听我的劝，Larry，下回再口渴，还是喝白水好！
LL：You‘re right!
今天李华学到两个常用语。第一个是go overboard，就是指做什么事做得太过头，太过火的意思。另一个常用语是guzzle，是指很快喝下什么饮料。
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pa174.txt
流行美语第174课
李华看到报上登出的有关公寓的广告，租金比较便宜，于是她和Larry一起去看那公寓。今天李华会学到两个常用语：dump和ham。
LL: Oh my God! This place is a dump! You couldn‘t possibly live here!
LH: 这地方真够糟的！Larry，你说这是个dump，那是什么意思啊？
LL: "Dump" as in "garbage dump." I mean that this place is far too dirty and poorly maintained for you to live in it.
LH: 所以dump就是指像垃圾堆一样，很脏，各种条件都很差....哎呀！有一只大蟑螂刚跑过去。这地方真的是个dump，怪不得租金这么便宜。
LL: The paint is peeling off of the walls, the ceiling leaks, and the refrigerator looks 50 years old. I don‘t think I‘ve ever seen such a dump.
LH: 你说的没错，这里墙上的油漆都剥落了，天花板在漏水，冰箱看起来又旧又脏。算了算了，我们还是走吧！别在这儿浪费时间，我可不想住在这种地方。 It‘s really a dump。
LL: Are there any other apartments that you were planning to go and see today?
LH: 还有一个地方我想去看，离这儿只有几条街，但愿那个地方不像这里那么差劲。
LL: I don‘t know, Li Hua. This really isn‘t a very good area of the city. Maybe you should look at apartments somewhere else.
LH: 这个区域不好，我想也是，否则这里的公寓租金不会这么便宜！ 不过，要是到别处去找，那租金可能比我现在付的更高。
LL: That‘s possible. In that case, I think that maybe you should stay in your current apartment.
LH: 是吗？你认为我该继续住在我现在的公寓里？也许你说的对，我的公寓租金其实也不算太贵，而且也很舒服呢。
LL: Your apartment is a palace compared to this dump.
LH: 那倒是，和这里比起来，我的公寓可算是皇宫了。我还是打消搬家的念头吧！
LL: That‘s a good idea.
******
LL: Hey, Li Hua, are those pictures from the party last weekend?
LH: 没错，这些是上礼拜开party时照的照片，昨天才刚洗出来。嘿！你看，Sally真会抢镜头，几乎每张照片都有她。
LL: Yeah, Sally‘s a real ham. She loves attention.
LH: She‘s a ham? Ham不是火腿吗？那是一种猪肉嘛！噢！你是说Sally像一只猪啊？
LL: (Laughing) No, I‘m not saying she looks like a pig. Ham is slang for someone who loves attention. People who are hams especially love being videotaped or having their picture taken.
LH: 噢！Ham在这里是指一个喜欢吸引别人注意的人。这种人特别喜欢录像，照像。照这么说，Sally绝对是个ham，她特喜欢别人给她照相。
LL: If we videotape the party, I‘m sure she would have played a starring role.
LH: 没错，要是那天我们录像的话，她肯定会象个明星一样，到处都是她了。对了，Larry，你知道还有谁也可以算是个ham吗？
LL: I think Jane is a real ham. She‘d do anything to attract people‘s attention.
LH：对，Jane也特别喜欢照像。她也可以说是个ham。你再猜猜谁是个ham?
LL：No. Who?
LH: 你没有注意到呀？我那猫咪小雪球啊！她也想尽办法让别人注意她。只要有人走进来，她立刻会冲上去，要别人看看她，摸摸她。
LL: My parents‘ dog is a real ham, too. He won‘t leave you alone until you pet him and give him his fare share of attention.
LH：这些小动物都要别人注意它们。我的朋友说，要是她出门时间长了，她的小狗会很不高兴的。
今天李华学到两个常用语。第一个是dump，是指一个像垃圾堆，很脏，条件很差的地方。另一个常用语是ham，是指一个很喜欢别人注意，喜欢抢风头的人。
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pa175.txt
流行美语第175课
Larry下课后在校园里碰到李华。他问李华需不需要去邮局。今天李华会学到两个常用语：fixing to do something和tricked-out。
LL: Hey, Li Hua, I‘m fixing to go to the post office to mail a package. Do you need to buy stamps or mail something?
LH: Larry，你要去邮局寄包裹。这和修理东西有什么关系？为什么你说fixing to go to the post office？是不是你去邮局前，要先修什么东西啊？
LL: No. Fixing to do something means that you are getting ready to do it. "I‘m fixing to go to the post office" means that I‘m getting ready to go to the post office.
LH: 啊！我懂了，fixing to do something就是准备要做什么事。Larry，我从来没听过这种说法。
LL: It‘s used all over the
LH: 原来这是在美国南方常用的说法。Larry，我很想和你一块儿去邮局，不过我准备去图书馆，我想在晚饭前看点书。I am fixing to go to the library to study before dinner. Larry，我这么说对吗？
LL: Absolutely! Hey, did you notice how tired Professor Smith looked in class today? He looked as though he was fixing to fall asleep in the middle of his lecture.
LH: 是呀，今天Smith教授看起来好累，在课堂上讲课时好想要睡着一样。不过你知道吗？他正在为下个月参加马拉松赛跑作准备，也许他锻炼过度，所以才这么累。
LL: I didn‘t know that he‘s fixing to compete in a marathon? Wow, that‘s impressive.
LH: 就是啊！我真难以想像他怎么能在上课之余还能找出时间来锻炼呢。
LL: No wonder he‘s tired. I‘d be exhausted.
LH: 嗯，对了，我得去图书馆了，一会儿见！
LL: Yeah, I‘m going to go and mail this package before post office closes. They should be fixing to close up soon, so I had better hurry.
LH：那就快走吧！ 否则邮局关门了。你这包裹就寄不出去了。
******
LL: Hey, Li Hua. On the way to the post office, I saw Bob‘s new car. It‘s awesome! It‘s totally tricked-out with every accessory you can imagine.
LH: What? 你说Bob的新车怎么样？什么是tricked-out？
LL: If a car, or boat, or other machine is "tricked-out", it means that it has all kinds of luxury accessories.
LH: 噢，tricked-out就是说汽车、船、或其他任何机器有各式各样的豪华设备。所以你刚才是说Bob的新车有各种新式的装置，很酷，是吧？
LL: Exactly. It has a satellite radio system, big speakers, special wheels, and an amazing paint job. It has a super turbo-charged engine, too.
LH: 哇，车上有卫星收音系统、大的扩音器、特殊的轮子....啊呀，我可不懂这些东西，但是听起来真的很酷！Bob‘s new car really is "tricked-out."
LL: I can‘t imagine what he paid for it. It must have been really expensive. I can‘t wait until I can afford such a tricked-out car.
LH: 嗯，肯定是很贵。你想要这样的车呀？我可不一定想买这种豪华车。我比较喜欢实用的车子，价钱比较便宜，问题可能也比较少。
LL: A simple car would be less expensive than a tricked-out one. But why do you think it would have fewer problems?
LH: 当然啦！你车上的装置越多，就越容易出故障，修理起来一定也很贵。 这是必然的。
LL: That‘s true. It‘s probably more expensive to maintain a really tricked-out car because there are more things that could go wrong with it.
LH: 对呀，要维护一辆高级车肯定是很贵的。我的要求是价钱便宜，问题要少。
今天李华学到两个常用语。第一个是fixing to do something, 就是准备要做某件事。另一个常用语是tricked-out，是形容一样东西很豪华，有各种新式的装置。
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pa176.txt
流行美语第176课
今天是星期一，Larry和李华约好上完课一块儿吃午饭。Larry告诉李华他周末做了些什么事。今天李华会学到两个常用语：set of wheels和the pits。
LL: Bob gave me a ride in his new set of wheels on Saturday. That car is so awesome. It rides like a dream!
LH: 你说Bob让你坐他新的什么？Set of wheels？你是在说Bob的新车吧？
LL: Yeah. "Set of wheels" or just "wheels" is a slang term for car. Or you can just say wheels. Bob‘s new wheels are really cool.
LH: 噢，所以set of wheels或者wheels都可以用来指汽车。对了，Bob有没有告诉你，他花了多少钱买那辆新车？
LL: He didn‘t say and I thought it would be rude to ask; but I know that a car like that costs at least $35,000.
LH: 那样的车至少要三万五千美元？那可真是一大笔钱哪！
LL: I suppose it‘s worth it if you have that much money to spend. For people like us, who are still studying, it seems like a lot of money.
LH: 是啊，像我们这种穷学生，对这么贵的车，可是想都不敢想。不过，Bob有一份好工作，钱赚的多，所以才能买这么贵的车。
LL: Just imagine, in a few years, you and I will be able to afford wheels like that.
LH: 嗯，就算以后我能赚这么多钱，我大概也不会用来买那样的车。
LL: Why not? I‘d buy a set of wheels like that if I had enough money.
LH: 我认为你不必花那么多钱就能买辆不错的汽车，而且你还可以把剩下的钱买别的东西，像是买房子啊！
LL: That‘s true. I guess it depends on your priorities. If it‘s really important to you to have a fancy set of wheels, then it seems worth it.
LH: 每个人的优先考虑都不一样，如果有一辆豪华车对你来说是重要的，那就值得。我呀，宁可把钱存起来，或用在其他东西上。
******
LL: Bob got into an accident and ruined his new car. Isn‘t that the pits?
LH: 啊！Bob撞车啦！好可怕， 那他受伤了吗？
LL: He had minor infuries, but he‘ll be okay.
LH: 噢，受了轻伤，那倒还算好。Larry，你刚才说the pits，那是什么意思？
LL: If something or someplace is "the pits" it means it is the worst situation or place imaginable.
LH: 噢，the pits，是指最糟糕，最差劲的意思。就是啊，Bob那么贵的新车就这样撞烂了，真是太糟糕了！还好他受的伤并不严重。
LL: I visited him yesterday and he‘s kind of depressed. Fortunately, his insurance will pay for a new car.
LH: 你昨天去看他啦？他情绪低是可以想象的。不过，保险公司会出钱帮他买新车，那太好了！那Bob什么时候可以拿到新车？
LL: He has to special order another car like his and it will take several months. Until then, he won‘t have a car to drive.
LH: 他为什么要定做一辆和他一样的车呢？这不但要等上好几个月，而且几个月没有车开。That‘s the pits! 要是我，换一辆车不就行了吗？
LL: I know. His injuries won‘t allow him to walk very well and now he doesn‘t have a car to drive either. That really IS the pits.
LH: 真可怜。Larry，我们可以带Bob去吃晚饭，让他开心一点啊！我们可以去学校附近那家新餐馆。
LL: No, I tried that place last week and it‘s really the pits. Let‘s take him somewhere a bit nicer.
LH: 你说那家餐馆很差劲。好吧，那我们就让Bob自己决定上哪儿吃饭喽！
今天李华学到两个常用语。第一个是set of wheels，就是指汽车，你也可以说wheels。另一个常用语是the pits，是指最糟糕，最差劲的意思。
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pa177.txt
流行美语第177课
Larry在告诉李华这个星期他办公室发生的一场争论。今天李华会学到两个常用语：to have a beef with someone和hit pay dirt。
LL: The boss still wants to fire Jim because they had a beef over the last sales report.
LH: 老板要开除Jim，因为他们有什么？A beef？你是说他们为了一些牛肉在吵架？
LL: No (laughing), not beef as in the beef that you eat. To have a beef with someone means to have a disagreement. The boss and Jim had a disagreement over the sales report.
LH: 噢，哈哈，原来have a beef with someone就是和某人有争执。这和我们吃的牛肉一点关系也没有。你老板为什么会和Jim吵架呢？
LL: Well, the boss felt that Jim had done a really bad job of preparing the report and Jim felt that the boss did not give him enough time to do the report properly.
LH: 噢，老板觉得Jim写的报告太差，而Jim觉得老板没给他足够的时间，所以两人就这么吵起来啦？Jim had a beef with the boss。我说得对吗？
LL: Yep. Now, the boss is making everyone else miserable because of his beef with Jim.
LH: 他是和Jim闹不开心，这跟其他人有什么关系呢？
LL: He‘s just been in a really bad mood and he‘s being tough on everyone. It‘s not fair. His beef is with Jim, not the rest of the people in the office.
LH: 他不高兴就对办公室里每个人都特别厉害。这是很不公平。他是跟Jim吵架，又不是和全办公室吵架。
LL: Exactly. I‘m worried that the situation will go too far and there will be major problems in our office.
LH: 你怕情况发展下去办公室会出大问题呀？你们为什么不让Jim向老板道个歉。这不就完了吗？
LL: I don‘t think he‘ll do that.
LH: 他不会道歉？啊呀，你劝劝他嘛。关键在他身上， 道了欠紧张气氛就化解了，对大家都有好处。
LL: It‘s worth a try. Maybe Jim will be willing to sacrifice his own interests and resolve his beef with the boss.
******
LL: Hey, Li Hua, you really hit pay dirt with that suggestion you made. Jim apologized to the boss and everybody is happy now.
LH: Jim和你们老板道歉啦？那太好了！不过，Larry，你说hit pay dirt是什么意思，我听不懂耶！
LL: To hit pay dirt means that you found something that turned out to be profitable or beneficial.
LH: To hit pay dirt就是发现了很有好处的东西。所以你刚才的意思是我的建议非常有用。不过，这三个词hit, pay, dirt合在一起挺怪的。这说法是从哪里来的？
LL: When miners would dig for gold, they would say that they had hit pay dirt when they found dirt that contained gold.
LH: 噢，原来是采金矿的工人在挖到含黄金的矿石时，他们就会说hit pay dirt，这样一解释，我就懂了。
LL: They sometimes say "strike pay dirt". Anyway, LI Hua, I also hit pay dirt today.
LH: 你今天也挖到宝啦？怎么说？
LL: I got a job offer for after I graduate.
LH: 你已经找到毕业后的工作啦！那太好了！是哪家公司要雇你呢？
LL: Actually, the office I‘m working in offered me the job.
LH: 真的？就是你现在打工的这家公司？不过你真的想在那儿工作吗？
LL: At first, I wasn‘t that interested, but when they told me what my salary would be, I realized that I‘d really hit pay dirt.
LH: 哇，太棒了，你很快就能把你的破车卖了，买一辆高级车，a nice set of wheels。我们一块儿出去庆祝庆祝吧！
今天李华学到两个常用语。第一个是have a beef with someone，就是和某人争吵，关系紧张的意思。另一个常用语hit pay dirt，也可以说strike pay dirt，就是指发现了有价值的东西。
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pa178.txt
流行美语第178课
Larry和李华正准备出门，到Larry父母家去过周末。今天李华会学到两个常用语：hit the road和have a hissy fit。
(Knock on door)
LL: Come on, Li Hua. It‘s time to hit the road! We‘ve got a long drive ahead of us.
LH: 进来，进来，着什么急呀！对了，你说It‘s time to hit the road? Hit是打的意思，我们为什么要打马路？
LL: To hit the road means to leave. It‘s time for us to leave.
LH: 噢，to hit the road就是出发，上路的意思。哎呀，我的包还没装好耶!
LL: Li Hua, I told you that we need to hit the road by 9:00 am if we‘re going to make it to my parents‘ house before dark.
LH: 我知道！你说过要在天黑以前到，9点前就必须出发。我再有几分钟就好了。
LL: All right, but please hurry up. I hate driving on country roads after dark. It can be dangerous.
LH: 好啦，好啦，别催我啦! 对了。 Larry，我们可不可以先去吃个早餐？
LL: I don‘t want to stop right after we hit the road. You can have a snack now and then we‘ll stop for lunch.
LH: 什么？你要我先吃点零食，等到中午才吃午饭啊？可是我现在好饿噢！而且我家里什么吃的都没有。
LL: How about this: If you can be ready to hit the road in five minutes, then we can stop for breakfast. Otherwise, you‘re just going to have to wait until lunch.
LH: 你怎么还要讲条件呐！五分钟内出发我就能吃早饭，否则就得等到中午再吃饭。没问题，我只要三分钟就够了。
LL: Are you sure you have everything you need?
LH: 嗯，我想应该都带齐了吧。好啦，我们走吧！Let‘s hit the road!
LL: It‘s about time! I‘ll go and put your bag in the car.
LH: 你去把我的包放到车里呀？那就麻烦你了。别忘了，breakfast before we hit the road！
******
LH: Larry，你开过麦当劳啦！不是说好了先去吃早餐的吗？
LL: Sorry, I missed the turn. We can turn around and go back. There‘s no need to have a hissy fit.
LH: 你在说什么？Have a hissy fit？那是什么意思？
LL: To have a hissy fit means to get really upset about something and throw a tantrum.
LH: To have a hissy fit就是发脾气的意思。我没有生气，我只是以为你是故意不去麦当劳的。
LL: Well, look, I‘m going to stop. See? You‘re going to get what you want, so there is no need to have a hissy fit.
LH: 我跟你说了，我没有生气嘛！你干嘛一直这样说我啊？
LL: Oh great. Now, you‘re going to have a hissy fit because I asked you not to have a hissy fit.
LH: 等等，等等，你说什么？我发脾气是因为你叫我别发脾气？你都把我搞糊涂了。
LL: Yeah, let‘s just forget about the whole thing and go get some breakfast. I‘m actually a little hungry, too.
LH: 就是啊，别再说什么生气不生气了。我好饿噢，快坐下来吃早餐吧！
LL：Hey Li Hua, look at that little boy. He‘s having a hissy fit!
LH: 那个孩子呀？噢，那边那个男孩。我们进来的时候他就已经在闹了。也许他没有拿到麦当劳的玩具。
今天李华学到两个常用语。一个是hit the road,就是出发，上路的意思。另一个常用语是to have a hissy fit，就是发脾气的意思。
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pa179.txt
流行美语第179课
Larry正开车和李华一起到他父母家过周末。两人在车上讨论这个周末的活动。今天李华会学到两个常用语：have a ball和tizzy。
(Highway traffic)
LH: 我希望你妈妈会喜欢和我一块儿去逛街。
LL: Oh, I‘m sure that the two of you will have a ball if you go shopping together. You both love to shop.
LH: Have a ball? 哎，我是要和你妈逛街，不是和她去打球?
LL: To have a ball means to have a lot of fun. I think you and my mother would have a lot of fun shopping together.
LH: 噢，原来如此。To have a ball就是玩的非常开心，所以，Larry你的意思是我和你妈会逛的很开心。嗯，我也这么觉的。
LL: I plan on watching some football with my dad and playing baseball with my cousins. That‘s my idea of having a ball.
LH: 和你爸爸看球赛，又和你表弟打球，这些对你来说就是玩得过瘾啦！不过啊，我是一点兴趣也没有。
LL: While I‘m doing that, you and my mom can go and have a ball shopping. It works out perfectly.
LH: 对了，Larry，你家有游泳池，对吧？
LL: Yep, they have a big pool in the backyard. My cousins have a ball splashing around in it.
LH: 嗯，我想我和你的表兄妹一样，一定会在游泳池里玩的很开心！我已经有好久好久都没有游泳了！
LL: Yeah, I wouldn‘t mind going swimming either. This hot weather is great for hanging out in the pool.
LH: 啊，我觉得这个周末一定会玩的很开心！
LL: Yep, everybody is going to have a ball.
LH: 我们还有多久才会到呢？
LL: Another three or four hours.
******
(Cell phone ringing)
LH: Larry，你妈怎么一直打你的手机呢？她有什么急事吗？
LL: Oh, she‘s in a tizzy because she‘s excited that we‘re coming home for a visit. She misses me while I‘m away.
LH: 我知道你妈盼望着你回家。我也知道她很想你，可是她怎么啦？She‘s in a what? Tizzy? 那是什么意思啊？
LL: A tizzy is a state of nervous excitement. My mom is excited about us coming home, but she‘s nervous because she wants to make sure everything is ready for us.
LH: 所以tizzy就是指很紧张，很兴奋。你妈妈知道你要回家，所以她很兴奋，我妈也是这样，每次我要回家，她都会把家里打扫的一尘不染，还买一大堆我喜欢吃的东西。
LL: My mom does the same thing. Be prepared to eat a lot this weekend. My mom gets in such a tizzy that she cooks enough to feed an army.
LH: 哇，你妈妈一兴奋就会作好多饭菜啊？她做的菜好吃吗？
LL: My mom is a great cook! You‘re going to have some old-fashioned American food.
LH: 嗯，听起来好诱惑人噢！我快等不及了。说真的，我也有点tizzy，兴奋又紧张了。
LL: Why are you in a tizzy?
LH: 我很兴奋因为可以到一个美国人的家庭过周末，吃道地的美国菜。可是我又很紧张，因为我想让你家人对我有好印象啊！
LL: Don‘t worry about that! You know my family thinks you‘re great!
LH：你们家的人都对我很好。这我知道。
今天李华学到两个常用语。一个是to have a ball，就是玩的很痛快，很开心。另一个常用语是tizzy，这是形容一个人很紧张，很兴奋。
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pa180.txt
流行美语第180课
Larry的新邻居非常吵闹，经常吵的他晚上睡不着。Larry问李华有没有什么好办法可以解决这个问题。今天李华会学到两个常用语：to knock it off和to conk out。
LL: My neighbors are still making a bunch of noise. I wish that they would just knock it off so that I could get a few hours of sleep. I‘m exhausted.
LH: 你的新邻居还是那么吵啊？你只睡几个小时当然会感到疲倦啦！你说希望他们怎么啦？Knock it off?那是什么意思？
LL: Knock it off. When someone says "knock it off" it means that they want you to stop whatever you‘re doing, most likely because what you‘re doing is annoying.
LH: 噢，knock it off就是要人停止做某件事，特别是让人讨厌的事。你的邻居这么吵，所以你希望他们安静下来，别再吵了。
LL: Exactly. They have been yelling, singing, and watching TV nonstop for days. I would give anything if they would just knock it off.
LH: 整天都在大吼大叫，又是唱歌，又是看电视的，难怪你会受不了。那你有没有跟他们说过叫他们别再吵了？
LL: I‘ve thought about it, but I don‘t want to get into an argument with them. I‘ve even thought about calling the landlord.
LH: 你不想和他们吵，所以你还没说啊？或许你说的对，先和你的房东谈谈，让他去告诉你的邻居。
LL: But they‘ll probably guess that I‘m the one who complained.
LH: 就算他们猜到是你去向房东抱怨的，那又怎么样？你管他们生不生你的气？
LL: You‘re right, I guess it doesn‘t matter if they‘re mad at me as long as they knock it off.
LH: 就是啊，只要他们不再吵了，谁管他们高兴还是生气？我的邻居经常会把他的垃圾丢在我家门口。
LL: Did you tell him to knock it off?
LH: 当然喽，我很客气的请他不要再把垃圾放在我家门口。他现在不再那么做了。
LL: That‘s great. I wish my neighbors were as cooperative.
LH: 你要邻居合作，你就得跟他们讲，客气点就行了嘛。Larry，我觉得你很爱抱怨耶。也许你也应该knock it off.
LL: Very funny, Li Hua.
******
LH: Larry, 你好像很困，是不是刚起床啊？
LL: I must have really conked out. I fell asleep on the couch a few hours ago. I was so tired that my neighbors couldn‘t keep me awake any longer.
LH: 你在沙发上睡了几个小时，连你那邻居也没有把你吵醒。你肯定睡得很沉。Larry，你说你conked out? 是睡得很死的意思吧？
LL: Right. To conk out is slang for falling into a deep sleep.
LH: 你看，我猜对了吧！我知道你过去几天有多累，能好好睡一觉总是好的。
LL: Yeah, it was wonderful to finally conk out for a few hours. I really needed the sleep.
LH: 我也希望我能像你一样，conk out a few hours - 睡上几个小时。可惜我还不能睡；我还有很多功课要做。
LL: Maybe you could conk out early tonight and do your homework in the morning before class.
LH: 啊？你要我早点去睡，明天早上再起来做功课？不行，不行，我如果还有功课没做完，我是睡不着的。
LL: You‘re a little too conscientious, Li Hua. Sometimes, you have to relax and take care of yourself.
LH: 你觉得我太认真呀？别人也是这么说。看来我真应该放松一点。嗯，(yawn)，好吧，那我就去睡了，I‘ll try to conk out now.
李华今天学到两个常用语。第一个是to knock it off，意思是要人停止做一件事，通常是令人讨厌的事。另一个常用语是to conk out，就是睡的很深，很沉的意思。
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pa181.txt
流行美语第181课
Larry和李华正在商量如何帮助他们的朋友Jane，因为Jane在工作上碰到了困难。今天李华会学到两个常用语：a can of worms和cut one‘s losses。
LL: I think that maybe we should just be supportive of Jane. It‘s best not to open a can of worms by trying to give her advice.
LH: 当然我们应该支持Jane。你说我们不要什么？Open a can of worms? Worms是虫子，支持Jane，给她提建议和一罐虫子有什么关系？而且哪儿有什么罐子里装虫子的？
LL: "To open a can of worms" means to do something that results in a complicated situation full of problems.
LH: 我说呢，open a can of worms是个比喻，不是真的开一罐虫子。所以To open a can of worms 是指做了某件事会把问题弄得更复杂。可是，Larry， 我不懂，为什么给Jane提一些建议反而会造成更多问题呢？
LL: Well, if she follows your advice and it doesn‘t solve her problem, then she might blame you.
LH: 这倒也是，如果Jane听了我们的建议，但是问题解决不了，她可能会反过来怪我们。还有，我们也可能因为不了解情况而给她错误的建议呀！
LL: Right. There are so many things that could go wrong when you give people advice that I usually avoid opening that can of worms.
LH: 这是没错，给人提建议是很可能会出问题的，因为你毕竟不了解他的情况。可是，你也不能因为这样就避免给人提建议，不能因咽废食。给朋友出主意也是应该的嘛。对了，Larry, 你还不知道，那天在课堂上我才真的是opened a can of worms.
LL: What did you do?
LH: 我问教授为什么不讨论第13章，结果教授要全班回家读第13章，而且星期一还要考试呢！
LL: I bet that everyone in your class is unhappy with you right now.
LH: 就是啊，现在全班同学一定在骂我。更惨的是，连教授也生我的气，因为这本来是他的疏忽，可给我指明了。所以喽，我真的是招惹了更多麻烦。
LL: Wow, that‘s a tough situation. You really did open a can of worms.
LH: 就是啊，所以我现在很后悔，早知道什么都别说就好了。
LL: Unfortunately, sometimes keeping your mouth shut is the only way to avoid opening a can of worms.
******
LL: Well, Jane decided to cut her losses and quit her job. She‘s going to start looking for a new job tomorrow.
LH: 真的？Jane决定要辞掉那个工作啦？Larry，什么是cut her losses?
LL: To cut one‘s losses means to give up and withdraw from a losing situation.
LH: Cut one‘s losses就是看到形势对自己不利就决定改变方向，这样可以减少损失。所以Jane决定宁可辞职，也不要再浪费时间去解决工作上的问题。是这个意思吗？
LL: Exactly. She didn‘t see any way to improve her relationship with her co-workers, so she decided to cut her losses and leave.
LH: 嗯，要是根本没有希望改善和她同事的关系，那还不如趁早离开，免得再继续受罪。
LL: Sometimes, there‘s nothing you can do to improve a situation. All you can do is cut your losses and try to find a better situation.
LH: 说的也是。人生有许多事情真的是你再怎么努力，也没办法改善的。像我一位朋友，她是研究生化专业的博士生，可是她和她的指导教授关系很差。
LL: What happened?
LH: 跟了那个教授三年后，决定不能再浪费时间了。所以她决定cut her losses，拿了个硕士学位就走人。博士学位也不要了。
LL: She gave up on her PhD?
LH: 她实在没别的选择，就只能放弃喽！
今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是to open a can of worms，意思是做了某件事会造成更多问题。另一个常用语是to cut one‘s losses，这是指及时从对自己不利的局面里撤出来，以减少损失。今天的流行美语就进行到这里，谢谢大家收听，我们下次节目再见。
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pa182.txt
流行美语第182课
Larry的车子正在厂里修理。今天李华陪他去取车。李华会学到两个常用语：grease monkey和fender bender。
LL: I hope my car is ready. The grease monkey said it would be fixed by 3:00 this afternoon.
LH: The grease monkey? Larry，你的车不是送到修车厂了吗？修车厂怎么会有猴子呢？
LL: (Laugh) No, there aren‘t any monkeys like the monkeys in the zoo. Grease monkey is a slang term for auto mechanic.
LH: 你们把汽车修理工叫grease monkey？真有意思。所以你是说，修车的工人告诉你，车子在3点以前会修好。
LL: Right, but I doubt it will be ready. Every time a grease monkey tells my car will be ready, he‘s wrong.
LH: 你不相信那修车的人？为什么每次他们说的时间都是错的？
LL: Well, last time I had my car fixed. The mechanic said it would be ready the next day. As it turned out, my car wasn‘t ready until three days later.
LH: 原来上回修车你就受骗过。说好第二天可以取车，结果拖了三天才修好。怪不得你不相信他们了。对了，Larry，我们可以当着修车工的面叫他们grease monkey吗？
LL: Some mechanics wouldn‘t care, but others might not like being called a grease monkey. If I mean it as a joke, it‘s okay; however, it can also be used negatively.
LH: 有些人不在乎，有的人会不高兴。这也是很自然的。要是叫他们grease monkey是开玩笑的话，我想应该不会有什么问题。
LL: Yeah, but it can be an insult.
LH: 那么到底怎么样才算是开玩笑呢？
LL: Well, my sister tried to fix her car and got covered in grease. After that, my father jokingly called her his little grease monkey.
LH: 哈哈，你妹妹自己想修车，结果搞的全身油污，你爸爸叫她my grease monkey。那你呢？你有没有自己修过车？
LL: No, I‘m not very good at fixing cars. I would be a lousy grease monkey.
******
LH: Larry, 你还没告诉我，为什么你的车要送去修啊？
LL: I was in a little fender bender the other day and my tail light needed to be fixed.
LH: 你的车怎么啦? A fender bender? 那是什么东西啊？
LL: A fender bender is a minor car accident. Usually, no one is seriously hurt in a fender bender and the cars are not damaged too badly.
LH: A fender bender就是小事故。Larry你撞车啦，怎么都没有告诉我呢？
LL: It was just a fender bender, so I didn‘t think it was important enough to tell you about.
LH: 小事故也可能会受伤啊。你怎么样？你没什么事吧？
LL: I‘m fine. I didn‘t even get a scratch.
LH: 你没事就好。对了，你怎么会和别的车擦撞呢？
LL: The girl in the car behind me was talking on her cell phone and she wasn‘t paying attention. She drove into the back of my car.
LH: 一面开车一面打手机真的很危险的。那个从后面撞上你的女孩，如果开车速度再快一些，你们都有可能受伤呢！
LL: Fortunately, she wasn‘t driving very fast, so it turned out to be just a minor fender bender.
今天李华学到两个常用语。一个是grease monkey, 是指修理汽车的工人。另一个常用语是fender bender, 这是指小车祸，通常没有人受伤的事故。
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pa183.txt
流行美语第183课
李华开始在图书馆打工，但是她告诉Larry她担心自己不能胜任这份工作。今天李华会学到两个常用语：learn the ropes和put a lid on it。
LH: 我实在搞不清楚怎么用图书馆的电脑系统。我好怕我会做错什么事情。
LL: Don‘t worry, Li Hua. You‘ll figure it out. It takes a little while to learn the ropes at a new job.
LH: Larry, 你在说什么啊？To learn the ropes? 我是在图书馆工作，又不是在体育馆里呢。我干吗要学习拉绳索。再说，图书馆里也没有绳索啊？
LL: No (laughing). "To learn the ropes" is an expression. It means to learn how to do something, especially something related to work.
LH: 噢，to learn the ropes就是学会怎么做某件事，特别是指跟工作有关的事。这个用法好奇怪噢。你知道这个常用语是怎么来的吗？
LL: The expression is related to sailing. When sailors first started working on a boat, they had to learn which ropes were attached to which sails.
LH: 原来这是从航海而来。没错，这水手一开始学必须学会哪条绳索是控制哪个风帆的。我也希望我能赶快学会图书馆的一套工作，不然我可能要被开除了！
LL: Don‘t worry, Li Hua. Everyone needs some time to learn the ropes at a new job. I‘m sure your boss knows that.
LH: 对，每个人到一个新的工作岗位都需要时间才能熟悉自己的工作。可是我真想表现好一些，不让我老板失望。
LL: I‘m sure you won‘t. When I started my most recent job, it took me about three weeks to learn the ropes.
LH: 你花了三个星期才学会你现在的工作啊？那你在那三个星期里有没有犯错呢？
LL: Of course, but no one minded because they knew that I was still learning the ropes.
LH: 你的同事真好。他们知道你是新人，所以你犯错，他们都很包容。那如果你现在还犯错，他们会怎么样？
LL: I don‘t have that excuse anymore, but my boss is still relatively understanding. He knows that everyone makes mistakes from time to time.
LH: 你现在再犯错误就没有借口了。可是，你的老板真好，很能理解工作人员。我希望我的老板也能如此。不过，谢谢你的安慰，Larry!
******
LH: 今天有个人来图书馆拿他订的书，可是书还没到。他对我好凶噢。我吓的都不知道该怎么办才好。
LL: I would have told him to put a lid on it. After all, it‘s not your fault.
LH: Put a lid on it? Lid那不是盖子的意思吗？我要他盖盖子做什么？
LL: Telling someone to "put a lid on it" is the same as telling him or her to shut up.
LH: 什么！Put a lid on it就是叫人闭嘴？我可不能那样做，那是很不礼貌的！
LL: Well, it sounds as though he was being really rude to you.
LH: 他虽然对我没礼貌，但我可不能学他那样。我是在那儿工作的，我可不能叫他闭嘴。
LL: Yeah, you‘re probably right. It wouldn‘t be very professional to tell the guy to put a lid on it.
LH: 我啊，只希望那个家伙再也别来图书馆了！
LL: If he does, you can give me a call and I‘ll come over and tell him to put a lid on it myself.
LH: 你别担心我啦。那个人要是再来找麻烦，我就直接找我的老板去和他谈喽！
LL: That‘s a good idea.
今天李华学到两个常用语。一个是learn the ropes，就是学习，掌握诀窍的意思，通常是指工作方面的事。另一个常用语是put a lid on it，这是叫人闭嘴的意思。
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pa184.txt
流行美语第184课
Larry和李华正在商量要去看哪部电影。李华想看一部新的法国片，但是Larry却想看别的电影。今天李华会学到两个常用语：rattle on和third degree。
LH: Larry，我真的很想看那部法国电影嘛!
LL: I‘m sorry, Li Hua, but I don‘t like French movies. The characters always rattle on and on about philosophy and nothing interesting ever happens.
LH: 你说法国电影怎么啦？Rattle on那是什么意思？
LL: To rattle on about something means to talk about it for a long time without really saying anything interesting or important.
LH: To rattle on就是唠叨个没完没了，可是又没说出什么有意思的，或重要的事。你说法国电影都在滔滔不绝地谈哲学，才不是这样呢！我之所以喜欢法国电影就是因为他们探讨的都是很重要的议题，而且也不是象你说的rattle on and on.
LL: I think they do.
LH: 那你喜欢看英国电影吗？我知道最近在上演一部新的英国片。
LL: Sorry, but I think British movies are the same as French movies. The characters rattle on about fashion, manners, and society and don‘t really do anything.
LH: 什么！你觉得英国片也经常夸夸其谈地说时装、礼貌、社会风尚，可是却没有什么行动？嗨，那你是不是只爱看武打片？
LL: No, but I do prefer a movie in which people act on their beliefs rather than just rattling on about them.
LH: 你喜欢电影里的角色要为自己的信仰努力，而不喜欢它们唠唠叨叨的空谈。那我同意！那你到底想看哪一部电影嘛？
LL: I wasn‘t rattling on. I was just expressing my opinion. How about this movie about the American Revolution? Is that okay with you?
LH: 那部有关美国革命的电影啊？可以啊，不过我希望电影里的人不要滔滔不绝地讲爱国主义，该不会都rattle on and on吧？
LL: Maybe a little, but there should be a lot of action, too.
******
LH: Larry，你跑哪里去了，怎么这么晚才来嘛！我买好电影票在这里等你等了20分钟了！
LL: Hey, don‘t give me the third degree! I‘m a little late because my mom called, that‘s all.
LH: 原来是你妈妈打电话给你。对了，你又说我什么啦，我给你third degree?那是什么意思？
LL: To give someone the third degree means to question that person aggressively in order to get him/her to confess to something.
LH: To give someone the third degree就是盘问某人的意思。我可没有盘问你的意思。我只是等你等了很久，都快发火了嘛！
LL: Sorry. I didn‘t expect my mom to call. My mom gave me the third degree, too. She wanted to know why I haven‘t called her in such a long time.
LH: 你妈也质问你为什么这么久没打电话回家。那你是怎么跟她说的？
LL: I just told her that I‘ve been really busy. The truth is that I avoid calling her, because every time I do call her, she gives me the third degree about something.
LH: 你也别这样，我想你妈不是真的在骂你，或生你的气；她只是很关心你，很担心你嘛！
LL: You‘re probably right, but sometimes she asks so many questions that it really feels like I‘m getting the third degree.
LH: 如果你怕你妈问东问西的，也许你应该经常打电话给她。这样她就不会这么操心，也不会老是追问你一堆问题喽！Then she won‘t give you the third degree.
LL: You know, Li Hua, that‘s a good idea!
今天李华学到两个常用语。第一个是rattle on，这是形容唠唠叨叨，讲一些无关紧要的事情。另外一个常用语是third degree，这是有质问，盘问的意思。
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pa185.txt
流行美语第185课
李华和Larry正在讨论在报纸上看到的几个犯罪案件。今天李华会学到两个常用语：bottom feeder和bounce。
LH: Larry，你有没有看到报上说的那个被警察逮捕的毒贩？
LL: Yeah, that guy is a real bottom feeder. I hope that he goes to jail for a long time.
LH: 嗯，像这种坏人真应该被抓到牢里关起来。Larry，你刚才还说这家伙是个真正的bottom feeder，bottom是底层，feeder不是饲养员吗？这两个字怎么能合在一起，它们和那些坏人有什么关系？
LL: A bottom feeder is a really low, despicable person. That guy was selling drugs to kids, so he definitely counts as a bottom feeder.
LH: 噢，bottom feeder是形容一个很低下、很卑鄙的人。没错，报上说的那个人专门卖毒品给年轻孩子，简直太可恶了。我认为所有的毒贩都是bottom feeders.
LL: Unfortunately, there are a lot of bottom feeders in the world.
LH: 就是啊，这个世界还是有不少这种卑鄙的坏人。对了，Larry，这个bottom feeder是不是只能用来形容犯罪分子？
LL: It can be used to describe other people, too, but it‘s a very negative term.
LH: Bottom feeder还能用来形容其他人？那Larry，你给我举个例子。
LL: Well, some people think that lawyers are bottom feeders because they benefit from other peoples‘ misfortunes.
LH: 对，好多人都不喜欢律师，认为律师很卑鄙。我还听到过好多耻笑律师的笑话呢！可是，Larry，律师不也会保护我们的权利吗？
LL: That‘s true, but some people are upset by the fact that many lawyers get rich defending criminals.
LH: 噢，我明白了，人们之所以讨厌律师，是因为律师经常帮犯罪分子辩护，靠着打这种官司来赚钱。嗯，可是不管怎么说，我还是认为有的律师不能算bottom feeders。
LL: Some people think that tabloid journalists are bottom feeders because they invade the privacy of celebrities and they don‘t always verify stories before they publish them.
LH: 这我绝对同意，那些专门报道名人私生活的狗仔记者，真是够恶劣的。他们经常捏造有关名人的一些很荒谬，不确实的报道。只有卑鄙的人才会写出这样的东西来！ They are real bottom feeders!
******
LL: Hey, Li Hua, it was fun discussing the news with you, but I‘ve got to bounce. I have to be at the doctor‘s office by 2:00.
LH: 噢，你两点钟还得去看医生啊？那你得赶快走了。你说你要bounce，是那个拍皮球bounce a ball的bounce吗？
LL: "Bounce" can be slang for leave. I‘ve got to bounce means that I have to leave.
LH: 噢，我懂了，to bounce就表示，得走了。你说你得要bounce，是因为你得赶着去那个医生诊所了。
LL: Hey, don‘t you have to bounce if you‘re going to make to class on time?
LH: 我的老天，现在都快两点了，谢谢你提醒我，我差点儿忘了得去上一堂课呢！看来我得赶紧bounce，赶快走喽！
LL: Well, I have a little bit of time. If we bounce right now, I can drive you to campus.
LH: 你肯定有时间把我送到学校？那就太好了，要不然，等我走到学校可能就要迟到了。
LL: Okay, are you ready to bounce now?
LH: 嗯，等一会儿，我只要进去把我的书和背包拿出来。
LL: Okay, I‘ll go start the car. Just come on outside when you‘re ready to bounce.
LH: 没问题，你先去发动车子，我拿了包就来！
今天李华学到两个常用语。一个是bottom feeder，这是形容那种下流卑鄙的人。另一个常用语是bounce，这是指要离开，要走的意思。
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pa186.txt
流行美语第186课
Larry和李华正在户外吃午饭。突然他们看到一只很大的蟑螂。今天李华会学到两个常用语：freaky和wig out。
LL: Wow! That was freaky! I‘ve never seen such a big cockroach before!
LH: 哎哟，那么大一个蟑螂！真是恶心死了！Larry，你刚才说freaky，那是什么意思啊？
LL: Freaky means scary or really weird. That bug was definitely freaky.
LH: 噢，freaky是形容很可怕或者很怪。一点都没错，那只大蟑螂真的是既恶心又可怕。我最怕蟑螂，尤其是这么大的！
LL: What do you think of spiders?
LH: 蜘蛛？我觉得蜘蛛比蟑螂更可怕！
LL: Yeah, I don‘t like spiders very much either. My friend has a pet tarantula, which is a really big hairy spider, and it is the freakiest thing I‘ve ever seen.
LH: 我真搞不懂，像你朋友那样的人怎么会养蜘蛛当宠物，毛茸茸的蜘蛛想起来就让人头皮发麻，怎么还能当宠物，真是freaky耶！
LL: Pet tarantulas are actually pretty common. You can buy them in any pet shop.
LH: 嗨，我才不管这种蜘蛛宠物是不是很常见。我还是觉得养蜘蛛当宠物真是很怪，很可怕的，very freaky！
LL: There‘s a horror movie about giant spiders that is so freaky that I can‘t even bear to watch it.
LH: 噢，你是说那部有大蜘蛛的电影？嗯，我还记得看过他们的广告。别说去看了，我连想都没想过。如果我真的去看了那电影，大概会做一个月的恶梦。
LL: Yeah, I only watched a few minutes of it before I decided that it was too freaky for me.
LH: 瞧，连你这个大男生都不敢看，那电影一定很freaky。对了，Larry，除了蟑螂、蜘蛛，你觉得蛇是不是也很freaky？
LL: Actually, snakes don‘t bother me that much. Rats don‘t bother me very much, either.
LH: 啊，你不怕蛇，也不怕老鼠。好怪噢！我啊，我觉得蛇跟老鼠就像蜘蛛一样恐怖！
******
LL: Hey, Li Hua, would you wig out and refuse to come to my apartment if I got a pet rat?
LH: 你想在家里养老鼠当宠物，还问我会不会wig out，那是什么意思啊？
LL: To wig out means the same as to freak out. It means to get very excited or upset.
LH: 噢，wig out跟freak out意思一样，就是让人激动，或者把人吓坏了。哎，Larry，你是真的想养一只老鼠当宠物啊？
LL: They actually make good pets and they are relatively easy to care for.
LH: 你觉得养老鼠当宠物比较简单，那你就去养，我管不着，不过，我可能再也不敢去你家了。
LL: That‘s what I was afraid of. I wouldn‘t mind having a pet rat, but I don‘t want to make all of my friends wig out, either.
LH: 嗯，听你这么一说，我倒强烈建议你别养老鼠。我想很多人，特别是女孩子，大概会被你的宠物吓跑。这样你想交女朋友的希望就更加渺茫喽！
LL: I hadn‘t thought of that. Yeah, I don‘t want to meet a nice girl then cause her to wig out when she finds out that I have a pet rat.
LH: 就是啊，为了一只老鼠，吓跑了女朋友，那就不上算了。不过话说回来，Larry，你要是真的很想养宠物，就别太在意别人的想法嘛！
LL: I know, but I don‘t want people wigging out every time they come to my apartment.
LH: 你又想养宠物，又怕朋友被吓跑。对了，或许你可以考虑养鱼啊，一般人不会怕鱼，有的鱼还非常好看呐！
LL：That‘s a good idea!
今天李华学到两个常用语。第一个是freaky，是形容很可怕，很怪的意思。另一个常用语是wig out，这是指让人激动，或者使人很害怕的意思。
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pa187.txt
流行美语第187课
这是一个星期五的晚上，Larry和李华两人经过一个星期紧张学习后都很累，现在正在一起吃晚饭。今天李华会学到两个常用语：let off steam和oops。
LL: Wow, it‘s nice to relax and let off some steam after a long week at work.
LH: 就是啊，放松一下，感觉真好！Larry，你说要let off steam？Steam是蒸气，你还会放气呀？
LL: No, not literally. To let off steam can mean to relax or it can mean to express pent-up feelings, usually of anger.
LH: 原来如此。To let off steam就是放松，也可以是发泄积压在心里的感情，通常是火气。所以你是说一个星期紧张地学习和工作后放松一下，感觉很好。Larry，这个常用语跟steam， 蒸气有什么关系呢？
LL: It‘s a metaphor. One has to ease the pressure in a steam engine by releasing - or letting off - steam. Otherwise the engine might overheat and explode.
LH: 原来是从蒸汽机的原理来的。没错，蒸汽机如果不定时释放一下的蒸气，那就可能会爆炸。 Larry，如果你一直不放松的话，你该不会爆炸吧？
LL: No, I‘m not going to explode. However, letting off steam is important to a person‘s mental health.
LH: 嗯，我同意，一个人如果没有放松的机会，那对心理健康有很大影响。我通常就是用跑步运动来让自己放松的。
LL: A lot of people exercise to let off steam. Other people prefer quiet activities like reading.
LH: 对，每个人疏解压力的方法都不一样。所以Larry，你是通过看书来让自己放松的？
LL: I like to do exactly what we‘re doing now. I let off steam by relaxing and having a nice meal with a friend.
LH: 和朋友吃吃饭，聊聊天是挺放松的。可是如果你真的很生气，非常生气，那你怎么发泄你的怒气呢？
LL: Sometimes it helps to talk to someone. It‘s usually better to let off some steam before dealing with the issue directly.
LH: 那倒是，先跟别人谈谈。火气很大的时候，最好别去处理那事。
******
LL: Oops! I forgot that I have to work on Sunday. That just ruins my whole weekend.
LH: Oops? 我常听到人们这么说，Larry，这是什么意思啊？
LL: People usually say oops to acknowledge that they have made a mistake or have had a minor accident. I mistakenly thought I had the whole weekend off, when I actually have to work on Sunday. Oops.
LH: 原来oops就是发现自己犯了小错误或出了一点没有意料的小插曲时说的，有点像中文里的“哎呀，糟了”。所以你是说，你差点儿忘了星期天还得上班。还好现在是星期五，你要到星期一再想起来，那可真是糟了。恐怕说Oops都太晚了。
LL: That‘s true. Oops! I just dropped my fork on the floor.
LH: 叉子掉在地上不是什么大事，叫服务员再拿个干净的就是啦。
LL: That‘s okay. There‘s an extra one on the next table. I‘ll just take that one.
LH: 拿那个桌上的叉子也行，反正哪儿没人坐。Oh no, 这回轮到我要说oops了。我想起来了，今天晚上我该给我妈妈打电话了。
LL: You still have time. We should be finished here soon and you can go right home to call your mom.
LH: Oops! 吃完饭赶回家也没用，我忘了买电话卡了。没电话卡，我怎么打电话呢？
LL: I have a calling card. You can use it to call your mom. I don‘t mind at all.
LH: 啊，幸好你有张电话卡，Larry，真是太谢谢你喽！
今天李华学到两个常用语。第一个是let off steam，是指发泄怒气或其他情绪。另一个常用语是oops，这是一种语气词，通常是在当一个人犯了小错误时会说的。
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pa188.txt
流行美语第188课
李华和Larry正在讨论他们刚才看的电影。今天李华会学到两个常用语：shrink和gross out。
LH: Larry，刚才电影里的男主角说他需要看一个shrink是什么意思呀？Shrink当动词用的时候是指缩水，但是在这里好像不是这个意思。他到底在说什么啊？
LL: Shrink is a somewhat negative slang term for a psychiatrist. If you tell someone that he needs to see a shrink, it means that you think he‘s crazy.
LH: Shrink是指心理医生啊！你要是说要去看心理医生，别人就会觉得你这个人脑袋有问题，精神不正常。
LL: Yeah, but shrink isn‘t usually a nice way to refer to psychiatrists.
LH: 噢，shrink是指心理医生，但是是带贬意的。为什么呢？
LL: Well, for instance, if my dad were a psychiatrist, I wouldn‘t describe him to other people as a shrink.
LH: 你爸爸要是个心理医生，你就不会说他是个shrink，为什么？你爸爸是个很糟糕的医生？
LL: No, it‘s because shrink is just not a very respectful word.
LH: 我懂了，所以shrink就是对心理医生不尊重的称呼。对了，Larry，你看过心理医生吗？
LL: Are you trying to imply that I‘m crazy, Li Hua?
LH: 没有啦，我当然知道你脑子没有问题。不过，在美国好像很多人都去看心理医生耶！
LL: It is more acceptable nowadays, but a lot of people are still very uncomfortable about the idea of seeing a shrink.
LH: 是呀，好象这是很普遍的事。原来在美国还是有很多人觉得不能接受，他们觉得去看心理医生的都是有些问题，脑筋不太正常的人吧！
LL: No, shrinks help people who are depressed or are having family problems. Actually, most of the people who see a shrink probably aren‘t what we would call crazy.
LH: 是啊，现代人生活这么紧张，很多人都得了忧郁症，这时候心理医生就能帮上很大的忙。对了，Larry，你认不认识什么心理医生啊？
LL: Actually, my Dad‘s best friend is a shrink. He works with children that have social disorders.
LH: 真的啊？你爸爸的好朋友就是一个心理医生？而且专门治疗小朋友不合群的问题？Larry，你小的时候有没有什么问题，去看过这医生吗？
LL: Very funny, Li Hua.
LH: 我是跟你开玩笑的啦！
******
LL: Hey, Li Hua, were you grossed out by the murder scene in that movie?
LH: 你说电影里那段谋杀的情节怎么样？什么是gross out？
LL: Grossed out means disgusted. So, did that scene gross you out?
LH: Gross out就是让人感到恶心，你这么一说我就想起来，那段剧情真是够可怕的，有好多血噢！我是真的觉得gross out！
LL: Yeah, me too. Usually scenes like that don‘t bother me too much because I know they‘re fake, but that one was particularly nasty. I was really grossed out.
LH: 我啊，一看到血就受不了了。前几天，我不小心摔伤了膝盖，看到血流出来，我差点儿没昏倒 - I almost grossed out.
LL: I guess that it‘s a good thing you decided not to be a surgeon. Otherwise, you‘ll be grossed out all the time.
LH: 是呀，我妈妈一心想要我当医生，可是我这种一看到血就恶心的人，怎么能进医学院嘛！
LL: Yeah, in medical school, you have to study dead bodies.
LH: Larry，你别再说了，你越说我越害怕，也越觉得恶心了。别再说了啦！
LL: Wow, I guess you do get grossed out easily.
今天李华学到两个常用语。第一个是shrink，这是指心理医生，但是是一种非常不礼貌的称呼，所以大家在应用时要小心。另一个常用语是gross out，就是让人恶心的意思。
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pa189.txt
流行美语第189课
Larry和李华在教室里等琼斯教授把改完的考卷发下来。今天李华会学到两个常用语：bad vibe和wake up call。
LL: Li Hua, I have a really bad vibe about this test.
LH: 你觉得你考的怎么样？Bad vibe? 那是什么意思啊？
LL: A vibe is a feeling. Since I don‘t think I did very well on this test, I have a bad vibe about the grade I am going to get.
LH: 噢，vibe就是一种感觉，你觉得你这次考试考得不好，所以有种不祥之兆，也就是你所谓的bad vibe。
LL: (Gets test back) Ooh. You see, my bad vibe was right. I got a C.
LH: 嗨，C不算太糟啦，这门课很困难，而且琼斯教授批分数一贯都很严。
LL: Yeah, I actually had a bad vibe about this course before the class ever started. Some of my friends told me it was difficult and I‘d have to work hard.
LH：其实我在上这门课之前也有点担心，因为上过这课的人都说很难，要下很多功夫。
LL：So, what did you get?
LH: 嗯，我得到了A。这次考试算是不错，不过我很担心下星期要交的那份报告。I have a bad vibe about that paper.
LL: Why do you have a bad vibe about the paper?
LH: 因为我觉得用英文写报告是最难的。英文不是我的母语，每次写完英文报告，我总觉得好像有很多不通顺的地方。
LL: Li Hua, you can always ask me or another student to look over your paper before your turn it in. I am sure you‘ll do fine. About that, I have a good vibe.
LH: 真的？Larry，你愿意修改我的报告？你真好，谢谢你。
LL: Uh-oh. I have a bad vibe about the look Professor Jones is giving us right now.
LH: 对，嘘，琼斯教授在看我们了，别说了，下课后再聊吧。
******
LL: (After class) You know, Li Hua, getting a C on the test in Professor Jones‘ class was a real wake-up call.
LH: 你说拿了C是wake-up call，哎，这个wake-up call不是叫人起床吗？难道你在上课的时候睡觉啊？
LL: No, no, a wake-up call is not like an alarm clock that wakes you up from your sleep. What I meant was the grade I got woke me up to the fact that I have to work harder for this class.
LH: 噢，wake-up call在这里不是指闹钟叫人起床，而是指一个警告。所以你是说，这次考试成绩不好提醒你要在这节课上加把劲，要更用功！
LL: Yeah! Professor Jones gave me a wake-up call in the form of a bad grade. Now that class is over, I‘m going to go home and study. Hey! Li Hua! Look out for that bike!
LH: 哎哟！那个骑自行车的人差点儿撞上我。
LL: Yeah, that was a wake-up call for us to be more careful about walking across campus.
LH: 说的也是，这就提醒了我们，在校园里走路也得小心注意，不然很可能会受伤的。
LL: We should be more careful. Say, Li Hua, where are you going now?
LH: 嗯，我想利用下午没有课的时间，到体育馆的健身房去锻炼锻炼。
LL: Why the sudden interest in physical fitness? You don‘t usually go to the gym, do you?
LH: 嗨，别说了，你也知道我这个人是从不上健身房的。还不是上回健康检查时，医生说我体重有点超重，所以喽，that was a wake-up call.
LL: You don‘t look overweight to me.
LH: Larry，你心地真好，还安慰我看起来不胖。其实我倒不是那么在意外表看起来胖不胖，主要还是担心肥胖会影响健康吧！
LL: And maybe it was a wake-up call that you and I shouldn‘t go out to have ice cream so often.
LH: 啊？什么？要我放弃吃冰淇淋？我愿意每天上健身房，但是我一定得吃冰淇淋！
今天李华学到两个常用语。第一个是bad vibe, 就是不好的感觉，不详的预感。另一个常用语是wake-up call，这是指一个提醒或警告。
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pa190.txt
流行美语第190课
Larry和李华正在一家洗衣店里洗衣服。今天李华会学到两个常用语：whoa和booboo。
LL: Whoa, Li Hua, don‘t put so much detergent into the washing machine!
LH: 我放太多洗衣粉啦？那下回我就少放一些。对了，Larry，你刚才说whoa，那是西部牛仔经常说的话吗？你刚才说whoa是什么意思呀？
LL: Li Hua, have you been watching Westerns lately? You are right. Cowboys say "whoa" when they want their horses to slow down.
LH: 原来我还真猜对了。在西部电影里，那些牛仔经常会说whoa，就是要他们的马儿慢下来。所以你刚才说whoa，就是要我慢点，别倒太多洗衣粉下去。
LL: Right. Whoa, Li Hua, look at all the laundry that guy just brought in!
LH: 等等，Larry，那个人是拿了一大包脏衣服进来，你说whoa是要他慢慢洗吗？ 你又不认识他，跟你又有什么相干哪！
LL: No, this time I used "whoa" to express amazement. I was amazed at the piles of laundry that guy just brought it. "Whoa" is an exclamation and depending on how you say it, it can mean different things.
LH: 噢，这儿的whoa 是表示惊奇。你说了两次whao， 可是意思完全不一样。看来，这个whao 可以表达不同的意思。
LL：You‘re absolutely right!
LH：Whoa, Larry，你没有必要摺衣服摺那么快嘛！我们还有很多衣服要洗，得在这儿等上好长时间呢！
LL: Hey, that was a good use of "whoa."
LH: 还是得谢谢你这位老师的指导啊！Whoa, Larry，你看到那个人换了多少硬币要来洗衣服啊？
LL: The guy with all the laundry? He‘s going to need a lot of quarters to do all of that laundry. Oh, hey, my next load of laundry is done. Let me take it out.
LH: Whoa, Larry, 你的白衬衫怎么全变成粉红色啦？
LL: I think you‘ve mastered the use of "whoa," Li Hua.
LH: Whoa, Larry, 我不过是用你刚教的常用语开开玩笑嘛。不过，你的白衬衣是变成粉红色啦！
******
LL: Oh, boy, Li Hua, I made a big booboo.
LH: 你做了什么？A booboo?
LL: Yeah, a booboo means a big mistake! I left a red sock in with my white t-shirts and underwear. Now everything is pink.
LH: Booboo就是犯了个大错误。原来你把一只红袜子丢进去和白衬衫一块洗，怪不得现在它们都成了粉红衬衫了。没关系啦，Larry，犯错误的人多着呐，我昨天也犯了个大错 - a booboo。
LL: What was that?
LH: 我啊，把钱包和钥匙放在厨房的桌子上，走出家才想起来，所以就把钥匙给锁在家里了。
LL: That was a booboo, all right. How did you fix your booboo?
LH: 还能怎么办，只好请锁匠来开门。当然啦，就是得花钱，破财消灾喽！Larry，我来帮你把这些粉红衬衫放到烘干机里吧！
LL: Thanks. Hey, Li Hua, do you see that kid over there with the booboo on his knee?
LH: The kid with a booboo on his knee? 你是说坐在那儿，那个膝盖上贴绷带的小孩啊？
LL: Yeah, I saw him fall down earlier and get a booboo. He just scraped his knee a little. He cried, but his mom cheered him up.
LH: 噢，你看到他摔下来，膝盖受了伤啊？等等，Larry，这么说，booboo除了指错误，也可以指受伤，对吗？
LL: Right, but not a serious injury. . . Oh, Li Hua, watch out for the door of the dryer!
LH: Ow! 好痛噢， 我的手指给烘干机的门夹到了。
LL: Oh, let me see. Look, you‘ve got a booboo, too!
今天李华学到两个常用语。第一个是whoa，这个词有几种意思，它可以指“嘿，慢点”。也可以表示“很惊奇”。李华学到的另一个常用语就是：booboo。Booboo也有两种意思。一个是指错误，另外也可以指受伤。
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pa191.txt
流行美语第191课
Larry和李华在谈一位最近刚找到工作的朋友。今天李华会学到两个常用语：cushy和legit。
LL: Hey, Li Hua, did you hear about Kelsey? She just got a cushy new job.
LH: A "cushy" job? 我知道Kelsey最近找到了新工作，但什么是cushy job？那是不是她找到了很理想的工作？
LL: Oh, yeah. A "cushy" job a cushy job is one that isn‘t hard to do and has lots of benefits. A cushy job is soft and has a lot of padding like a cushion.
LH: 我懂了，cushy就是从cushion软垫子这个词来的。所以cushy job就是很舒服的工作，就是钱多事少的好差事。Larry，快告诉我，Kelsey的工作到底是什么性质，为什么能够这么cushy？
LL: Well, she‘ll be working as an interpreter for a local businessman who does a lot of work with Chinese companies. Her salary is very high, she‘ll get to travel regularly to China, and her other benefits are good, too.
LH: 哇，帮美国商人做翻译，不但薪水高，还有机会到中国出差。真好！Kelsey的中文很好，个性又活泼，我想这个工作对她来说应该不难。 真是一个cushy job!
LL: Doesn‘t it make you want to find a new job, Li Hua? Being a teaching assistant isn‘t the cushiest job.
LH: 就是啊，当助教一点也不舒服，每星期我得花很多时间备课，和学生面谈，上课，批改作业，但是助教的薪水却少的可怜。It isn‘t a cushy job at all.
LL: But you know, the teaching assistant job gives you valuable experience, and maybe some day you will have a cushy job as a Chinese professor at a major university.
LH: 我也希望如此啊。希望我这个助教工作能为我将来能到名牌大学当教授打下基础，那可就是个cushy job了。Larry，那你呢？你希不希望你的暑期工作也是个舒服的好工作呢？
LL: Well, it isn‘t hard to do, but I am hardly being paid anything, so I don‘t think you can call it a cushy job.
LH: 工作虽不难做，可是工资微薄。那没什么意思。 那你想找个新工作吗？ 你可以去问问Kelsey 她是怎么找到的，没准那公司还要人呢！
LL: Yeah, I am going to talk to Kelsey. Maybe she has some good advice for me.
******
LL: Well, Li Hua, I talked more to Kelsey about her new job, and now I am a little concerned that it isn‘t legit.
LH: 你说，Kelsey的工作怎么样？什么是legit？
LL: Legit. It‘s short for legitimate. I am afraid Kelsey‘s new job may not be legitimate.
LH: 噢，legit就是合法的意思，是legitimate这个词的简化。你是说，你担心Kelsey找到的工作不合法？为什么呢？
LL: Kelsey told me she hasn‘t actually started her job yet, and she had her interview in a coffee shop.
LH: 嗯，在咖啡厅里面谈，这也不奇怪啊，很多公司觉得在办公室外面谈比较放松一些嘛。
LL: But, I tried to look up the company name in the phone book and couldn‘t find it. If a company is legit, it should have a listing in the phone book.
LH: 那倒也是。你在电话本里找不到这公司的名字？一个合法的公司应该在电话本里有它的名字呀。或许是你把公司的名字拼错了？
LL: I am pretty sure that I got it right. The more I think about the job it seems too good to be true.
LH: Larry，我知道你是为Kelsey担心，不过Kelsey很聪明，这个工作到底合不合法，我想她自己心里应该很明白。
LL: I guess you‘re right. Maybe it is my concerns that aren‘t legit.
LH: 不过话说回来，Larry，你替好朋友担心，这也是很正常的。
LL: Well, that‘s true. I should stop worrying about Kelsey.
LH: 好啦，现在什么都别担心了，我们一起去吃冰淇淋好不好？
LL: Now, that is a business we KNOW is legit!
今天李华学到两个常用语。第一个是cushy。这是形容很软，很舒服的意思，用来形容一个工作，就是轻松容易的工作。另一个常用语是legit。这是指合法的，正确的意思。
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pa192.txt
流行美语第192课
这是一个星期六，Larry 和李华来到学校附近一个社区，那里的住户当天都把家里没用的东西拿出来廉价销售。 李华会学到两个常用语：shindig 和a steal。
LL: Li Hua, this community yard sale is huge. It is quite a shindig!
LH: 啊，这儿好热闹哟。 这么多住家摆摊儿卖旧货，还有这么多的人来买便宜货。Larry? 你说这是一个shindig，什么是Shindig啊？Shindig听起来好象不象英文词。
LL: Oh, it is an English word all right.
LH: Okay, 是英文词，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就是规模很大，很热闹的聚会，或者是某种社会活动。原来如此！这个社区定在今天大家一起卖旧货，吸引了很多人来捡便宜货。这就成了一个shindig。那还有什么场合可以称为shindig？
LL: Remember, last year we went to the party for Professor Jackson‘s retirement? That was also a big shindig.
LH: 噢，杰克逊教授退休时搞的那次聚会确实可以称作shindig。 当时，系里的研究生和教授们都到场了，向他表示敬意。那次shindig的盛况确实难忘；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: 你要在我家里搞一个shindig ? 看来，那么大的聚会总要等到考试以后才能办啦。
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，考完试大家都心情轻松，那是举办shindig 的最好时候。你愿意帮我策划，那太好了。Larry，要是在你家举行不是更好吗？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，虽然大，但确实是杂乱无章。不过，我可以帮你打扫啊！地方大shindig不是可以有更多的人参加吗？
LL: You‘re right! I will need your help though!
LH: 嘿， 瞧瞧那些碟子！ 这正是我需要的。
******
LL: Wow, Li Hua. Those dishes are a steal!
LH: Steal？不， Larry，我干吗要偷呀？那么便宜我当然买得起呀！即便我买不起，我也不会偷呀！
LL: Oh, Li Hua, I know that. But when something is a very good deal we say it is a steal - STEAL.
LH: 噢，原来如此，对不起，我以为你让我偷呐！原来a steal就是很合算，和便宜的东西。我们中国人会说，这些碟子简直便宜得像白捡的一样，所以就可以说是a steal吧。我把这一套全买下来也只要花五美元！
LL: That is what is great about shopping at a community yard sale. You can find lots of real steals.
LH: 没错，在这种社区卖旧货的地方真能买到便宜货。Larry， 你看还有别的便宜货可以捡吗？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: 你客厅里需要一盏台灯？十块美元， 我可不敢说这也是个steal。
LL: Why not, Li Hua? It appears to work.
LH: 这灯是可以用的，可不一定是steal啊。我的碟子是个steal，那是因为物美价廉，可是这盏台灯嘛...
LL: Are you saying that the lamp is ugly?
LL: 唉，说实话，这灯是够难看的。
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!
今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是shindig， 意思是规模很大，人很多，很热闹的盛会。李华学到的另一个常用语是a steal， 那是指便宜得象白检的东西一样。
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pa193.txt
流行美语第193课
Larry和李华正在开车去看朋友，可是在纽约皇后区迷了路。李华今天会学到两个常用语：make a u-ey和step on it。
LL: Uh, Li Hua, I think we are going the wrong way. I think we need to make a u-ey.
LH: 什么， 我们走错路了啦？要make a u-ey，那是什么意思啊?
LL: To make a u-ey is to take a u-turn. U-ey - U-EY. I think you can make a u-ey up at the light ahead
LH: 往回开是对的。但是，Larry，你没看见在灯前面有不让调头的牌子嘛！
LL: Oh, you are right, Li Hua. We can‘t make a u-ey there. There is a "No U-turn" sign.
LH: 是啊，这里明明写着“不许调头”。
LL: Yeah, if a cop had seen you, he would have given you a ticket for making a u-ey there.
LH: 我们还是小心点吧，给警察看见一定会罚款的。
LL: Hey, Li Hua, do you see that 7-11 on our right? You can make a u-ey in the parking lot. There is no problem with turning around in a parking lot.
LH: 这是个好主意，右转到7-11杂货店的停车场；再在那儿调头。这肯定没有问题。 Larry， 你好聪明呦。
(Sound of driving car)
LL: Nice work! Now we should be headed in the right direction.
LH: 方向是对了，可是你千万不要大意，我可不想再u-ey 了。
LL: Uh...Li Hua, I have some bad news.
LH: 什么，又有什么坏消息？
LL: I think we passed the street we need to turn down again. I‘m afraid we‘ll be making another u-ey after all!
LH: 你说什么？我们又错过了该转的路口？天啊，我们又得找地方调头了。
******
LL: We are really running late now, Li Hua. We better step on it!
LH: Step on it? 你要踩什么？
LL: Step-STEP, step on the gas pedal. We need to hurry up and make this car go faster.
LH: 噢，step on it就是踩油门！我们是有点儿晚了，可是我不想 “step on it.”
LL: You don‘t have to speed, Li Hua. Just step on it a little bit. Just go a little faster.
LH: 我可以踩油门，再开快一点。不过安全也很重要呦！
LL: Of course it is important to drive safely, and if you really don‘t feel comfortable stepping on it, then you shouldn‘t. A little late is all right!
LH: 就是嘛！(Siren sound) 哟，不好了，后面来了警车，要我停下来。
LL: Well, now you better step on it!
LH: Larry!你说什么？你让我加速，你疯了吗？
LL: I‘m just kidding, Li Hua. You really should pull over and see what the police officer wants.
LH: Larry，都是你叫我step on it，你还有心思开玩笑？我把车停在路边，让我下车看看警察怎么说。
(Sound of street and talking)
LL: What did the police say? Did he give you a ticket?
LH: 我以为警察肯定会给我罚票。其实呀，警察觉得我们好象迷路了，问我要不要帮忙。Larry，幸亏我没有加速。不然我们就就惨了。
LL: That‘s great, but now we are even later than before. Let‘s step on it!
LH：还要让我step on it! 你真是疯啦？
今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是make a u-ey， 意思是开车的时候调头往回开。李华学到的另一个常用语是step on it， 意思是踩油门，加快速度。
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pa194.txt
流行美语第194课
Larry 刚刚给自己的公寓贴了新的墙纸，可是他觉得效果很不理想。 李华今天会学到两个常用语：diddlysquat和rub it in。
LL: Today, Li Hua, I discovered that I don‘t know diddlysquat about putting up wallpaper.
LH: 什么? diddlysquat？听你的意思，你好象是说你对贴墙纸什么也不懂，是吗？
LL: That‘s right. I don‘t know diddlysquat means I don‘t know anything.
LH：噢，Don‘t know diddlysquat就是什么也不懂，一窍不通。
LL：Right. When I was wallpapering my apartment, I didn‘t get the pieces perfectly straight before I put them on, and now the pattern doesn‘t line up.
LH: 我也对贴墙纸一窍不通。不过，贴之前好象总得把墙纸弄直了。否则，墙纸的花样怎么对得起来呢！
LL: Yeah, but it is harder to do than you might think. I really needed to read instructions in a how-to book before I started, but I didn‘t do diddlysquat to prepare.
LH: 原来你什么准备都没有做就开始贴墙纸呀！美国有很多关于如何装修房屋的书，你什么没看就动手啦？你胆子也够大的。得了，你来帮我点忙， 分散一下注意力，心情就会好一些。好吗？
LL: Sure, how can I help?
LH: 我昨天买了一个新的电脑硬盘，可我在这方面什么也不懂，I don‘t know diddlysquat about computer。 你来帮我装一下，好吗？
LL: You are just like my mom, Li Hua. She doesn‘t know diddlysquat about computers either─but I am happy to help out. When should I come by?
LH: Larry，你能帮我装上，那太好了。午饭以后可以过来吗？
LL: OK, I‘ll do that. But maybe you can come help me remove the wallpaper I put up.
LH: 帮你撕墙纸，I don‘t know diddlysquat about that! 让我看看再说吧。
******
LH: Oh, Larry, 这墙纸还真是没对齐。
LL: Yeah, I know. Please don‘t rub it in.
LH: 不要抹进去？我们不是要把墙纸撕下来吗？
LL: No, no. By "rub it in", I didn‘t mean rub the wallpaper into the wall. I meant that I already know the wallpaper doesn‘t line up, so you don‘t need to tell me again and make me feel worse.
LH: 我明白了， rub it in的意思是在伤口上抹盐，令人更难堪。 墙纸没贴好，你已经很难过了，我又提起这件事，就是rub it in - 让你更难受，对吗？
LL: Yeah, especially when it is something you are not happy about. "Rubbing it in" just makes a person feel worse.
LH: Rub it in，只会让人更难过， 所以我们的朋友Rick撞车之后，你并没有对他说， “你怎么这么不小心”，因为你不想让他更难堪。
LL: Right, I didn‘t want Rick to feel even worse about his car.
LH: 上个星期考试，我考得好， 你考得不好，我说，“你本来就该好好复习嘛”。这又是 rubbing it in，往伤口上抹盐，对 不对？
LL: Exactly.
LH: 可是我只是想对朋友提出忠告，并没有 抹盐的意思。
LL: I know you didn‘t mean to rub it in, Li Hua. Well, let‘s go see what we can do about your hard drive.
LH: Great. 好吧，去看看我的电脑吧。
LL: You are really lucky that we are friends! I mean, you don‘t know diddlysquat about computers. You‘d never be able to install the hard drive without me.
LH: 我知道我对电脑一窍不通， 你就别往伤口上抹盐了。You don‘t have to rub it in！
今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是don‘t know diddlysquat about something，意思是对某件事一无所知，一窍不通。李华学到的另一个常用语是 rub it in， 意思是在某个人的伤口上抹盐，令人更加难过。
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pa195.txt
流行美语第195课
Larry正在申请下学期学校的资助，可是到处碰壁。李华今天会学到两个常用语：runaround和take a chill pill。
LL: I am so frustrated! The Financial Aid Office is giving me a real runaround!
LH: Larry，你说资助办公室给你什么？ Runaround是什么呀？
LL: To give someone a runaround means to be deceptive and evasive to someone. They sent me from office to office，but no one can give me the right answers.
LH: 噢， to give someone a runaround意思是对某人很虚假，躲躲闪闪的。你是说资助办公室打发你到这个办公室那个办公室，可就没有人给你一个明确的回答。Larry，那现在怎么办呢？
LL: They are still giving me the runaround. They say I didn‘t turn in my application on time, but I know I did.
LH: 他们说你没有交申请表？瞎说，你肯定交了，我还跟你一起去的。你知道， Larry，每次我申请延长学生签证，他们也是把我象皮球那样踢来踢去，gave me a runaround。
LL: That‘s too bad. Since being given the runaround is no fun, what do you say we go for ice cream somewhere?
LH: 去吃冰淇淋？我不知道能不能去。我今天下午很忙， 要批改很多作文。
LL: How about after you grade your papers?
LH: 批改卷子后，我还要写论文。
LL: Li Hua, are you giving me the runaround?
LH: Larry，看你说的，我怎么是在找借口呢？我看你有点多疑吧。
LL: Well, you aren‘t giving me a direct answer for one.
LH: 没有明确回答你。 好吧， Larry， 我的回答是不能去，对不起我不能跟你去吃冰淇淋。这行了吧？
LL：That‘s OK! Just don‘t give me the runaround anymore. I‘ve had enough of that!
******
LL: I‘ve been so frustrated by this whole financial aid mess. I really need to take a chill pill.
LH: 吃什么药片？吃了这药片就能解决资助问题了吗？
LL: Ha-Ha, very funny. No, to take a chill pill means to calm down. I need to calm down, forget my problems and do something else.
LH: 原来是这个意思。 To take a chill pill是设法平静下来。我看也是，最好的办法是平静下来，做些别的事，先把这事阁一边。Larry，Rick的车给人撞坏了，他气死了。我看他也该平静下来，take a chill pill。
LL: No, Rick did have good reason to be upset. I wouldn‘t have told him to take a chill pill in that case.
LH: 是，他有理由生气。在这种情况下就不能叫他take a chill pill? 那你再举个例子给我听听，什么情况下可以说take a chill pill呢？
LL: Sometimes when you get so worried before a test, Li Hua, I just want to tell you to take a chill pill.
LH: 每次考试前，我是特别紧张。以后你看见我考试前太紧张，你尽管对我说take a chill pill。我不会生气的。我也不知道自己为什么会那么紧张。
LL: You always study so hard. There is no need to be worried. You should just take a chill pill and relax. You know you‘ll do fine.
LH: 我也这么想呀！我是很用功，每次考试成绩也都很好，本来我就不该紧张。不过，有的时候我觉得考试前心情紧张一点反而考的好。
LL：In that case, you don‘t have to take a chill pill. But if I were too nervous before a test, I would be unable to think clearly and would certainly fail the test.
LH: 那倒是可能的。每个人不一样嘛。不过， Larry, 你要是考糊了，你就会非常不高兴。到那时，你就得take a chill pill。 我看哪，你还是应该更用功一点，这样你的成绩会更好。
LL: Oh, Li Hua, take a chill pill!
今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是give someone a runaround， 意思是找借口，躲闪，拖延，特别是对提出要求的人。另一个常用语是take a chill pill， 意思是平静下来。
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pa196.txt
流行美语第196课
Larry和李华刚刚考试完毕。李华告诉Larry，她考得很不好。今天李华会学到两个常用语：Kiss something goodbye和Lose one‘s cool。
LH: Larry! 今天的考试真难，我连三分之一都没做完。
LL: What? That‘s not good. I guess you have to kiss your “A” in that class goodbye.
LH: 你在瞎说八道什么呀？ 我现在很不高兴，还要和谁亲嘴？
LL: No, no, Li Hua, that‘s not what I said! I said “You have to kiss your ‘A’ goodbye". Kiss something goodbye indicates one accepts he or she won‘t or can‘t have something.
LH: 噢，我明白了，kiss something goodbye在这里不是指和谁接吻告别，而是指一个人知道不会得到他要得东西了。你是说，我这门课考试没考好，所以就得不到A了。
LL: That‘s right! Li Hua, did you ever have to kiss something goodbye before?
LH: 我有没有遇到过这种情况呀？我想想...对了。 上次我把手套忘在出租车里了。所以，这手套就再也没有了。I have to kiss my gloves goodbye! 这意思对不对？
LL: That‘s right. But when your bike was stolen last week, I bet you thought you would have to kiss that goodbye.
LH: 没错，我真以为那自行车被偷了，从此就没了。没想到警察帮我把它找了回来， 我就不必跟自行车“kiss goodbye”。
LL: And when you left
LH: 是啊，很久都没有吃到我妈妈烧的菜了，有的时候真想家。Larry，我毕业以后可能会离开纽约到一个小城市去工作，那我就吃不到纽约许多不同的风味小吃了。
LL: I‘m staying here in
LH: 是呀，我要是真的离开纽约， 我就不能跟你经常聊天了。不过，我们可以打电话啊。
LL: That‘s right. Well, anyway, it‘s too bad about that test. I guess you will have to kiss your “A” goodbye.
LH: Kiss my“A” goodbye，我可真不甘心。我得找教授谈一谈。
******
LH: 这就是教授的办公室。
LL: Sure is. OK, Li Hua, when you go into the professor‘s office to talk about that test, remember, don‘t lose your cool!
LH: Don‘t lose your cool! 这是什么意思？难道我会丢失什么吗？
LL: I said “don‘t lose your cool”. Don‘t lose your cool means stay calm, don‘t get angry.
LH: 噢，don‘t lose your cool是要我冷静， 不要生气发火。 Larry， 前天我们开车明明没有超速，可是警察拦住我们， 我当时差一点要发火，可是没有"lost my cool"?
LL: No, you didn‘t lose your cool, you were calm. One time I lost my cool with a bus driver because he didn‘t stop the bus at my stop.
LH：你跟司机发脾气， 当然不会有好结果。
LL: Yep. I had to wait for the next stop and walk back. If I hadn‘t lost my cool and had nicely asked him to stop, I wouldn‘t have had to walk so far.
LH: 你看，和司机法脾气没好处。你得等下一站才能下车，再往回走。看来你要冷静地和他商量，keep your cool，他没准就停下来了。
LL: That‘s true. I heard more people lose their cool in the evening than in the morning, when they are fresh.
LH: 那是可以想象的。人工作了一天累了就容易发火。早上人很清醒，情绪就比较平静。好了， 闲话少说，我得进去找教授了。
LL: Remember, when you go in there you don‘t want to lose your cool, or you can say, you want to KEEP YOUR COOL. Lose your cool and keep your cool are opposites.
LH: 知道了，lose your cool就是失去冷静；keep your cool就是保持冷静。总之，遇事一定要冷静就是了。
LL: That‘s for sure. I‘ll wait out here. See you in a few minutes.
今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是kiss something goodbye, 意思是失去、损失。李华学到的另一个常用语是lose one‘s cool意思是变得不冷静， 或是说keep one‘s cool这是保持冷静的意思。
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pa197.txt
流行美语第197课
李华今天请Larry到家里来一起看电视转播的世界杯比赛。今天是美国队对捷克队。李华会学到两个常用语：make a big stink和to be creamed。
(sound of knocking door)
LH：请进来！ Come on in, Larry!
LL: Oh, hey there, Li Hua, I see the game has started. What‘s the big stink?
LH: 球赛刚开始。你说这儿有臭味？ 我没有闻到什么臭味呀！
LL: No, I don‘t mean your apartment is stinking. I was asking why the soccer players are making a big stink. Big stink means making a big fuss or complaining.
LH: 噢，你是问电视上这些球员在吵什么？嗨，美国队踢进了一个球，可是没有得分，因为裁判判定失误，所以就吵了起来。
LL: So, the players are mad, and the
LH: 是啊， 美国队个个气得火冒三丈。美国教练通常比较低调， 这次也忍不住跟裁判争执，表示强烈不满。
LL: Yeah, but I don‘t think making a big stink about the call is going to change the referee‘s mind.
LH: 我也这么想呢， 大吵大闹是不会改变裁判的决定的，还不如就算了， 接着比赛就好了嘛。
LL: This reminds me of when I played baseball as a kid. Every once in a while a parent would get upset with the umpire and make a big stink.
LH: 这不仅是你小时候打棒球的情况，现在也是那样。美国家长特别重视孩子的体育活动，有比赛必到现场，为孩子打气。觉得不公平还会对裁判大喊大叫。 我父母只有在我学习成绩不好的时候才会严厉批评。
LL: Li Hua, weren‘t you the perfect student? I can‘t imagine your parents having anything to make a stink about.
LH: 谁说他们不生气？我上中学的时候， 有个学期我的数学成绩很差。 我父母就特别生气。这对他们来说才是件大事。
LL: Well, they had your best interests at heart. Say, you know what I want to make a big stink about now?
LH: 我当然知道他们是为了我好。You want to make a big stink？有什么事让你不满意呀？
LL: Where is the snack food? You can‘t watch soccer without having some snacks.
LH: 嗨，你们美国人呀，看球就非得吃零食。不过，这不是什么大事。You don‘t have to make a big stink。 厨房里有好多吃的，你自己去拿 吧。
*******
LL: Have some chips, Li Hua. Hmm...it looks like the
LH: Creamed? Cream不是奶油吗？
LL: No, creamed mean getting beaten. And badly.
LH：噢，creamed在这里的意思是被打败，而且是惨败。
LL：That‘s right. Say, Li Hua, why are you rooting for the
LH: 我为什么帮美国队呀？你忘啦，中国队在亚洲地区赛中输给了科威特队， 根本没有资格参加世界杯赛。
LL: Oh, yeah, I remember that. They were creamed pretty badly - Six to one, as I recall.
LH: 没错，输给科威特六比一！别说了， 一提起中国队的惨败， 我就伤心。 所以现在我支持美国队， 因为我在美国留学， 可没想到美国队也要输了。The
LL: The
LH: 美国队看来是输定了，我们别看球了。出去玩吧。
LL: It‘s a nice day, Li Hua. Let‘s go out and play some badminton.
LH: Larry，打羽毛球 你可不是我的对手， 说不定会被打得一败涂地呦。I‘m sure you‘ll get creamed.
LL: I tell you what, Li Hua, if you cream me at badminton, I promise...
LH: 你保证什么？
LL: I promise not to make a big stink about it!
今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是make a big stink, 意思是大吵大闹、表示强烈不满。李华学到的另一个常用语是to be creamed意思是被击败。
pa198.txt
流行美语第198课
Larry在跟李华讲他办公室里新来的实习生。今天李华会学到两个常用语：eager beaver和grunt work。
LL: A new intern started working in my office today. He sure is an eager beaver, Li Hua!
LH: Beaver不是海狸吗？动物怎么能到办公室实习呢？
LL: No, the new intern isn‘t an actual beaver! But he works hard and is always busy like a beaver building a dam. And he is always eager to do work, so we say he is an "eager beaver.”
LH: 对了，我想起来了。Beaver不仅指海狸，有时也指工作勤劳的人。Eager就是很热情的意思，所以"eager beaver”指的是做事特别努力，特别积极的人。 Larry， 我看你也是个"eager beaver”，早出晚归的。
LL: I am not quite the eager beaver that the new intern is - I‘ve been in the office a while. People are generally eager beavers when they are new to a job and want to impress their bosses.
LH: 没错，一般新到一个地方工作的人会特别热情积极，因为他们要让老板有个好印象。我刚开始教中文的时候， 也特别卖力，每天都花很多时间备课。
LL: And would you say you still are an eager beaver when it comes to teaching Chinese?
LH: 现在呢，不像刚开始那么卖劲了。像你一样， 我也不是以前的eager beaver了。
LL: That‘s OK, Li Hua. While being an eager beaver can be a good thing, someone can also take it too far.
LH: 勤奋当然是好事呀！居然还会有的人勤奋过头？这是什么意思？
LL: Well, the intern in my office is such an eager beaver he wants to do everything! He ends up making my work more complicated.
LH: 这个实习生什么都要做，这不是很好吗， 怎么会给你添麻烦呢？
LL: Yeah, that‘s right. He always wants to help, but sometimes I work better on my own.
LH: 你要是有的时候喜欢自己做，不要别人插手的话，你不能对他说你不需要帮忙嘛！对了，Larry，也许你可以 想办法让他作一些你不喜欢作的事呀。
LL: What a good idea!
******
LL: Thanks to your advice, Li Hua, I‘ve now got the new intern doing some of my grunt work.
LH: 什么是grunt work? Grunt不是指猪发出呼噜呼噜的声音吗？
LL: Yes, pigs grunt. And people make grunting sounds, too, when they are working really hard at something like digging ditches.
LH: 这我知道。人在做挖沟之类的工作时也会发出表示疲劳的声音。Larry, 那grunt work 是不是就是指繁重的体力劳动？
LL: Not necessarily. Grunt work is basically routine, menial work. There are always some repetitive, boring tasks people working in offices do.
LH: 我明白了，grunt work就是简单的，枯燥乏味的工作。
LL: Yeah, and grunt work generally doesn‘t require a lot of knowledge or experience. That is why I am having the intern do my grunt work.
LH: 做简单的工作当然不需要丰富的知识，也不需要很多经验。Larry，说了半天，你究竟让这位实习生做什么呢?
LL: I am having him reorganize the office files, make new labels for the file folders, filling out forms and typing up letters.
LH: 你还真让他干不少活耶！整理办公室的文件，并把它们存档， 还要为文件夹贴新的标签、填表格、打信件。这些事的确是既费事又枯燥的。这位实习生该不会在意吧？
LL: No, I am sure he won‘t mind doing the grunt work.
LH: 你怎么肯定他不在意呀？
LL: He is such an eager beaver, Li Hua, that he will be delighted to do whatever grunt work I give him!
今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是"eager beaver", 意思是做事特别积极，努力的人。李华学到的另一个常用语是，grunt work意思是简单枯燥的工作。
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pa199.txt
流行美语第199课
Larry和李华的朋友David这个周末要举行聚会。Larry和李华在谈论为什么一个朋友不能参加。李华今天会学到两个常用语：baloney和party animal。
LH: Larry，Laura说她下个周末不能去参加David的聚会，因为她要去看望她的阿姨。
LL: That‘s baloney. She‘s just making up an excuse not to go to the party.
LH: Laura是在找借口？ 我想不会吧！对了，Larry，你说"That‘s baloney"，这是什么意思呀？Baloney不是做三明治用的一种大香肠吗？
LL: Yes, literally, baloney is a lunchmeat; however, in this case, baloney means "nonsense."
LH: 在这种情况下，baloney是指胡说，废话。你的意思是Laura在胡说。嗨，Laura不去就不去吧， 为什么要骗人呢？
LL: She doesn‘t want to go to the party either because her ex-boyfriend Jack will be there and doesn‘t want to be rude.
LH: Larry，婉言谢绝邀请也没有什么不礼貌。另外，Laura上次对我说她和Jack虽然分手了，可还是好朋友。我不相信Laura是在找借口。
LL: Now, that‘s really baloney. The two of them don‘t even speak to each other anymore.
LH: 他们俩现在见了面都不理睬，也不说话？这跟Laura说的完全相反，是谁告诉你的呀？That‘s baloney!
LL: That‘s what Jack told me the last time I spoke with him. He seemed very disappointed that they weren‘t getting along. He sounded really sincere.
LH: 他对和Laura 分手感到很失望！That‘s baloney! 要是他感到惋惜，Laura又说他们还是朋友，那为什么他告诉你两人见了面象仇人那样不理睬， 不说话的？我才不相信Jack!
LL: Come on, Jack is a good guy. He wouldn‘t tell me something that is baloney.
LH: 可是Laura也不是坏人，她也不是说谎的人哪！。
LL: Okay, okay. Forget what I said! It was all just a bunch of baloney, anyway!
******
LL: Even if Laura isn‘t coming, I am glad Tom is coming to David‘s party. Tom is a real party animal!
LH: Larry， 你说什么？Tom是party animal？ Tom是人，不是什么动物！
LL: Yes, he is a human being, but he is a human being that loves to go to parties! People that love to party are party animals.
LH: 原来party animal指的是特别喜欢参加聚会的人，也就是聚会狂。Tom哪一次聚会都不错过，要这么说，他的确是个party animal。 Larry，我看你也是一个喜欢参加聚会的人，也是个party animal！
LL: Yeah, but I am not as much of a party animal as Tom.
LH: 你倒挺谦虚的，觉得自己还比不上Tom。你说说，你哪一点比Tom差呢？
LL: Well, Tom goes out to parties nearly every weekend. I‘ve got too much to do, and I really can‘t go out all the time.
LH: 那倒是，Tom确实每个周末都去参加聚会，你还没到这个程度。Larry，David平时很严肃，还很害羞，没想到他会举办这个聚会。他绝不是象你和Tom那样的party animal。
LL: Well, you might be surprised! Sometimes at a party David relaxes and acts just like Tom - like a real party animal!
LH: 我才不信呢！David参加聚会时比平时更放松一点是可能的，但绝不会象Tom那样活宝。我看见过Tom在聚会上的样子， David不可能是个party animal。
LL: Sure, he laughs, tells jokes and has a good time - and some times he gets crazy and does the funniest things.
LH: 这可出乎我的意料。David居然还会如此谈笑风生，讲笑话，做逗人笑的事。说明我对他还不了解。
LL: What about you, Li Hua? Are you a party animal?
LH: Larry, 你别胡扯了！ 你看我像聚会狂吗？
LL: Let‘s just say if someone said to me "That Li Hua is a real party animal" - I‘d say that is baloney!
今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是baloney, 意思是骗人的鬼话，胡扯。李华学到的另一个常用语是party animal， 指的是特别喜欢参加社交聚会的人。
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pa200.txt
流行美语第200课
Larry最近一直在忙着帮老板准备讲话稿。李华到Larry的办公室来看望他。李华今天会学到两个常用语：holed up和come up for air。
LL: It is so nice to see you Li Hua. I‘ve been holed up in the office for days trying to get this presentation done for my boss.
LH: Larry，我知道你忙着给你老板准备报告，可你说在办公室好几天干什么来啦？Hold up，这不是抢劫吗？
LL: No, not a hold up. I said "holed up". Well, when I said I had been holed up here in the office, I meant I hadn‘t left my office in days,
LH: 原来如此。你是说你在办公室好几天没出去。Holed up就是由于某种原因呆在一个地方很久没法出去。
LL: Right. I‘ve been holed up here for three whole days now. I feel kind of like a rabbit sleeping in his rabbit hole for the winter.
LH: 你觉得自己好象是只兔子钻在洞里过冬！说得真形象。对了，我是有好几天没见到你了，好象不止三天哪！
LL: When you were holed up working on your thesis, Li Hua. I didn‘t see you for a long time.
LH: 那到也是。我在赶论文的那段时间常常好几天都不出门， 真有钻进了洞里的感觉。
LL: Well, if you have to be holed up somewhere, your apartment is a pretty good place. At least it is comfortable.
LH: 这倒是真的。 我呆在家里好几天，是觉得很舒服，不象你这办公室，累了连个躺的地方都没有。
LL: There is a sofa in the break room. I‘ve been taking naps there.
LH: 你在休息室里的沙发上睡个午睡就行啦？ Larry, 你还要多久才能准备好你老板的报告呀？你这么老呆在这里不回家，对你的身体不好。
LL: Never mind, I‘m strong. I‘ll finish my boss‘s presentation in a few days.
LH: 还要几天才能完成这报告呀？这样做，时间长了你会生病的。生了病，你可就真的不能出门了。You‘ll be holed up at home。
LL: At this point, being holed up at home sounds a lot better than being holed up here at work.
LH: Larry, 还是跟我出去呼吸一下新鲜空气，你再回去继续干。
******
LL: Thanks for getting me out of the office, Li Hua. I just had to come up for air.
LH: 你不用谢我，我写论文的时候，你也把我拽出来休息休息。Larry，你说"come up for air" 大概是指换换环境，呼吸点新鲜空气，休息一下，是吗？
LL: Right, I felt like I was drowning under all that work. Coming up for air was just what I needed.
LH: 我跟你有同样的感觉。学期结束前我赶着写一篇报告时候，好几天没出门；我觉得自己真的好象被那些书和笔记本给淹没了。
LL：I know. You looked so pale and evenly sickly. That‘s why I practically dragged you out to come up for air.
LH: 我当时确实感到好象要生病的样子。幸亏你拉我出去换换空气，休息了一下。好吧，你现在想做些什么呢？
LL: Well, I remember when you were working on your thesis, Li Hua, I‘d get you to come up for air by asking you to go for a walk in the park.
LH: 我记得你带我去的那个公园。那里有各式各样的花。好吧，我们上那公园去散步。
LL: OK, let‘s go for a walk in the park for a little while. I know I‘ll work better after coming up for some air.
LH: 我敢肯定你散步，休息后工作起来会更有效的。对了，明天我要说服我的同Lisa 也出来休息一下。
LL: Why? What is she working on?
LH: 她正在找工作，所以忙着在网上，报上查招聘广告，寄几十份履历给公司，填写申请工作的表格...... 她已经有一个星期没有出门了。
LL: Sounds like she does need to come up for some air. If she wants to come out for air tomorrow, maybe I can join you too.
LH：那太好了。你们俩都应该注意休息。You two should come up for air sometimes!
今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是" holed up", 意思是一个人由于某种原因在一个地方不能出门。李华学到的另一个常用语是"come up for air", 意思是换换环境，休息一会儿。
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