VOA流行美語（1-50集）
VOA流行美語（1-50集）
2008-1-31流 行 美 語(Popular American)--- 聽美國之音 學流行美語
流行美語(Popular American),這個短小精悍的英語教學節目每次五分鐘，生動活潑，幽默輕鬆。節目通過兩個大學生的對話來教授美國年輕人常用的俚語，有的在字典上還查不到。
01 bummed; chilled out
02 ditch; to hit the spot
03 big gun; to quarterback
04 broke; lame
05 shot; damage
06 drag; trip
07 choke; money
08 hang out; hard-headed
09 all-nighter; cram
10 drained; wired
100 blast; lighten up
11 kick back; one-track mind
12 ticked off; close
13 keep cool; screw up
14 pig out; bigmouth
15 what『s up; no brainer
16 goof off; to hit the sack
17 bum; turn off
18 lucky break; mellow
19 neat; sharp
20 jerk; street smart
21 hit; to roll
22 couch potato; nuts
23 bomb; mess up
24 take a hike; to blow off
25 cop; to freak out
26 ace; peanuts
27 buck; whatever
28 rip off; straight answer
29 loser; to bug
30 play hooky; to snap
31 sketchy; sucker
32 fishy; to luck out
33 wimps; guts
34 nerd; cheesy
35 wasted; to get a kick...
36 chip in; snail mail
37 uptight; to get it
38 flip out; off my back
39 veg out; in my face
40 to be into; geek
41 psycho; laid back
42 take it easy; to chew out
43 rule; to blow money...
45 packed; hype
46 no way; to bet
47 busted; creep
48 redneck; in the sticks
49 under the weather...
50 piece of junk; cheap
流行美語第1課
今天我們開始播送[流行美語]。在這個節目里，我們要請大家聽Michael 和李華的對話，他們倆都是紐約大學的學生。 Michael 是美國人，但是他聽得懂中文。他和李華在這個新學期 里不約而同地都選了攝影課。現在是清早7:50，倆人在課堂門口碰到了。請注意他們講話中用的兩個常用語：bummed 和 chill。
M: Hey, Li Hua, what are you doing here? You taking this class too?
L: 對，我選了攝影課。可是這節課那麼早，我最討厭起大早。
M: Yeah, I『m really bummed that I have to get up so early! I『m also bummed out that Dr. Johnson is teaching this class. I『ve heard she『s really tough.
L: 嗨，Michael, 什麼是 bummed? 我記得Bum 不是指無家可歸的人嗎？
M: Yeah, that is true. But here I used bummed and bummed out. They both mean to be unhappy or upset.
L: 噢，你看，就這一個字就把我弄糊塗了。原來是 bummed， 或者是 bummed out， 意思是不高興，感到煩惱。嗨，Michael, 你剛才說什麼來著？
M: I『m really bummed that I have to get up so early! I『m also bummed out that Professor Johnson is teaching this class.
L: 現在我清楚了，你是說要那麼早起床實在叫你不高興， Johnson博士教這門課也讓你不高興，因為她很嚴格。 嗨，要是女同學拒絕你的邀請，那你就會更難受， 對不對?
M: Ha ha. Very funny. But you are right, if I got turned down for a date I『d be bummed. I『m also bummed that summer vacation is over.
L: 嘿，我可了解你，要是遭到女同學的拒絕，你肯定會垂頭喪氣的。 你連暑假結束也會感到煩惱。不過，這個單詞很有用。我希望學期結束時，我不會因為分數不好而感到 bummed out。
M: Me too. Hey, I got an idea. Let『s go to the student center and relax after class.
L: 我當然知道 Johnson 博士有多嚴格。好吧，下了課我們去學生中心休息一下。
M: Glad class is over! I『m ready to chill for the rest of the morning. I haven『t had a chance to chill out these last few days, getting ready for school and all.
L: 什麼？ 你說上完課很高興，但是為什麼一上午你會發冷呢？
M: Oh, no! Chill or chill out here means to relax. Chill,
L: 噢，chill 或者chill out 在這裡是指休息。剛才你還說開學前沒有機會 chill out， 到底是什麼意思？
M: I said: "I haven『t had a chance to chill out these last few days getting ready for school."
L: 原來你是說：過去幾天為了準備開學而沒有機會休息。
那你能說去打棒球，休息一下？
M: You normally go someplace calm and peaceful where you can relax. I like to chill out at the cafe with a book sometimes. And I know that you like to chill at the museum.
L: 打棒球不能說是 chill out。不錯，要到比較安靜的地方才能休息。 每個人還不一樣，你喜歡坐在咖啡館裡看書，你知道我喜歡到博物館去。能不能說到酒吧間去 chill out?
M: Sure, but we usually only say that if the bar is quiet and not too crowded.
L: 對，要是酒吧間人不多，也不鬧，那就能這樣說。這個單詞太好了。謝謝你教我。我想今晚我到我的朋友家去 chill out。
M: Sounds great! Ah, look at the time. I need to go meet my friend at the bookstore. Sorry that I have to go, I『m really bummed to have to leave you!
L: 得了，你要去書店跟朋友一起買書，你就走吧，別說什麼跟我分手很難受這種話。走吧，下回我們到別的地方去玩。
M: Cool. Have fun chilling tonight at your friends『. See you later!
L: 我今晚在朋友家肯定會玩得很高興， Bye!
Michael和李華在對話里用了兩個常用語，一個是：bummed 或者是 bummed out, 意思是不高興，煩惱；另一個是：chill 或者是 chill out, 意思是休息，放鬆，或者玩。
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pa2.txt
流行美語第2課
今天李華和Michael在對話里使用的兩個常用語，一個是：to ditch，另一個是：to hit the spot。現在Michael 正在圖書館裡做功課，李華來找他。
L: 嗨，Michael， 功課做得怎麼樣了？
M: I can『t think. It『s too noisy. Let『s ditch this place.
L: 你沒法動腦筋，因為這兒太鬧。你還說什麼來啦？Ditch this place，什麼意思呀？
M: Ditch! To ditch means to quickly leave a place you no longer want to be.
L: 噢，to ditch 就是你不想再呆在那個地方，想趕快離開。你的意思就是要馬上離開圖書館。不對啊，ditch 這個字不是可以解釋為地上挖的溝嗎？你說的 ditch 是同一個字？
M: Yes, it is. Same word, same spelling, but a different meaning.
L: 原來是同一個字，同樣拼法，但意思不同。噢, Michael, 再舉個例子給我聽，好嗎？
M: If we want to get away from someone you could say, "Let『s ditch him," which means to leave someone behind.
L: 你的意思是 to ditch 不僅可以指地方，還能指人。 上次我們跟 Mary 一起去看電影，看完電影我們倆沒跟 Mary 打招呼就走了，這就可以說：We ditched Mary，對不對？
M: That『s correct.
L: 要是你幹活干膩了，不想幹了，那該說。。。
M: To ditch work.
L: 不想去開會。。。
M: To ditch the meeting. You can also say: to ditch the concert.
L: 我知道，那是不想去音樂會。要是和朋友約好了，可是又不想去了，那該怎麼說呀？
M: To ditch my friend. Hey, can we ditch the library now! I am really tired and could use some coffee.
L: Ok, ok。讓我們離開這圖書館吧。你累了，想喝咖啡。走，去校園外的那個咖啡館吧。
L: 好，咖啡館到了。
M: Yep, here『s the coffee shop. Li Hua, what do you want, my treat this time.
L: 你請我啊？ 那太好了。我要一杯咖啡就行了。
M: Sounds good. Two coffees please. Here『s your coffee, Li Hua.
L: Thanks!
M: No problem. Oh, so hot! Be careful. Good coffee, really hits the spot. I feel more awake now.
L: 對，咖啡是不錯，你已經覺得清醒點兒啦！我可不信咖啡的作用就那麼快！對了，剛才你說: " It really hits the spot? To hit the spot 不是擊中要害嗎？ 你剛才說的好象不是這個意思。你怎麼老是說一些怪裡怪氣的話。
M: Hit the spot means to satisfy one『s need. I really needed some coffee earlier so it really hit the spot.
L: 原來hit the spot 就是滿足一個人的需要。你剛才很想喝咖啡，喝了就感到非常過隱，很痛快。Hit the spot 是哪三個字組成的？
M: Hit-the-spot. For example, if you are hungry and go eat you could say, "That food really hit the spot."
L: 中文裡也有這個說法。肚子非常餓的時候去吃飯。吃飽了就感到心滿意足。洗個熱水澡真痛快，那該怎麼說？
M: A hot bath would hit the spot.
L: 吃個漢堡包真過隱，該怎麼說？
M: A burger would hit the spot. Let『s go, I『m hungry.
L: 好傢夥， 喝了咖啡，又肚子餓了， 要去吃漢堡包。這回我可不奉陪了， I have to ditch you now. 再見了！
M: Ok. Bye. 再見。
Michael 和李華在對話中用了to ditch 和 to hit the spot. To ditch表示 要離開某個人，因為你不想跟他在一起了；或表示要馬上離開一 個不想再呆的地方。To hit the spot 是感到過隱，覺得很痛快。這次[流行美語]就播講到這裡。下次節目再見。
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pa3.txt
流行美語第3課
Michael是紐約大學的美國學生，他同時也在一家建築公司實習。他的中國同學李華今天要去他的公司看他。Michael聽得懂中文，但是說還有點困難。Michael和李華在今天的對話里會用兩個常用語，一個是：big gun; 另一個是to quarterback。Michael現在在辦公室門口和李華打招呼。
M: Hey, Li Hua, Come on in. How『re you doing?
L: 我挺好。你怎麼樣？對了,你下午想幹什麼？
M: Ah, I『ve got a meeting with the big guns this afternoon. They want to talk to me about continuing to work here after graduation.
L: 我聽懂了你後面的一句話，他們要跟你談關於畢業後回來工作的 事。那真是太好了。可是，你剛才說今天下午要跟誰開會？
M: Yea, I 『m meeting with my bosses. Sometimes we call them the big guns of the office.
L: 噢，你要跟你的幾個老闆開會。你們把老闆叫做the big guns!
M: It『s an expression that can be used to describe powerful people.
L： 噢， 那是指權力很大的人， 也就是大人物。那麼，總統的顧問能 稱為big guns嗎？
M: Yes, a president『s advisors are big guns. But it can also be used in sports. In soccer the stars of a team are the big guns.
L: Big guns 還能用在體育方面。
M: OK, let me show you around the rest if the office.
L: 你要帶我去看看這公司的大樓，那太好了。Let『s go!
M: This is the conference room. We had a meeting here yesterday on our plan for a new building. The project leader quarterbacked the meeting.
L: 等等，你說這是會議室，你們昨天在這裡開了一個會， 討論蓋 一 棟新樓的計劃。可是，你還說那項目主任是踢美式足球的，是quarterback，四分衛，對不對？
M: No, no, no! Quarterback here is a verb, meaning to lead. The word quarterback is borrowed from American football, where the quarterback leads the team.
L: 噢，quarterback 在這裡是動詞，意思是領導。你說這裡的 quarterback 是從美式足球里借來用的，因為quarterback在球隊里是 主力。你剛才是怎麼說的？
M: The project leader quarterbacked the meeting.
L: 現在我聽清楚了，你剛才說的是：項目領導人主持會議。
那麼，to quarterback 還能用在別處嗎？
M: To quarterback is business slang. If someone is responsible for a group working on a new project that individual is quarterbacking the team.
L: 知道了，to quarterback 是用在商業方面的。要是某人負責一個新 項目，這個人就是在領導這個項目的小組。要是某人在一個法律事務所主持會議，那該怎麼說呢？
M: Someone quarterbacked the meeting at the law firm.
L: 你們公司的一位重要領導主持會議，討論公司的收入報告，這又 該怎麼說？
M: The company『s big gun quarterbacked the meeting about their revenue report. Hey, I need to get back to work. I『ll call you later.
L: 好吧，那就再見吧！希望你將來成為a big gun.
M: Oh, yea, I『m sure soon I『ll be quarterbacking every meeting and every project.
L: 你真的當真吶！ 還想主持所有會議，總管所有項目。得啦，再 見吧！
Michael 和李華在對話中用了兩個常用語， 一個是：the big guns， 意思是大人物，對決策有重大影響的人；另一個是：to quarterback，意思是主持會議，或總管項目。這次[流行美語]就播講到這裡。下次節目再見。
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pa4.txt
流行美語第4課
[流行美語]又和大家見面了。Michael和李華這兩個大學生今天在 紐約的百老匯逛馬路。那裡戲院很多。李華看到一個 劇院在演歌 舞劇[音樂之聲]，於是她苦苦哀求Michael陪她去看。Michael 在學中 文。他喜歡李華跟他講中文，可以讓他練習聽力。他在今天的對話 里會用到"broke"和「lame"這兩個詞。
L： Michael，你看，這個劇院在演[音樂之聲]！我一直想看這個歌 舞劇。
M: I know, it『s a popular show.
L: 誰都喜歡[音樂之聲]。Michael，今天晚上我們沒有功課，我們去 看，好嗎？
M: Sorry, Li Hua, I『m broke. Maybe another time.
L: Broke? 你受傷啦？
M: No, no, no! I did not break anything. Here broke means to have no money.
L: 噢，你沒有摔斷骨頭，把我嚇一跳。Broke在這裡的意思是沒有 錢。上回我媽媽出了車禍，花了好多錢修車，她就沒錢了。 這也可以說 ...
M: Yes, your mom was broke!
L: 我哥哥付了學費，還買了好多書，他現在也是沒錢了。
M: Your brother is now broke! I know your sister spent all her money to buy a computer, so she is now broke too.
L: 你怎麼知道我姐姐買了一台電腦，把所有的錢都花完了？
M: You told me yourself, you just forgot!
L: 我告訴過你?我真是忘了。可是我不信你沒有錢，你不是剛開始 給一個公司打工，前幾天還發了工資嗎？
M: Ok, ok, I『m not broke. We can go see the show.
L: 我知道你有錢！太好了，太好了，謝謝你Michael。
(Michael和李華進了劇院)。
L: 這兩個座位還挺好的。
M: Yea, pretty good. Li Hua, do you know why I didn『t want to come to the show? Because I think musicals are lame.
L: Lame? Lame 是什麼意思呀？
M: When you say something is lame you mean that it is silly or it is uninteresting.
L: 噢，說什麼東西 lame 就是說沒有意思，無聊。還有什麼事情你 覺得是無聊的？
M: Saturday morning classes are lame!
L: 你是說星期六早上上課是個餿主意？
M: Yes, having class on a weekend is lame because it『s a silly idea.
L: 對，我也同意，周末上課太沒勁了！誰出的這個主意，是夠傻的。
對了，Michael, 上回你交不出家庭作業也找了個很牽強的借口， 你當時是怎麼對教授說的？
M: I told our professor that my dog ate my homework. Yes, I agree, that was a lame excuse.
L: 對了，你對教授說你的狗把你的家庭作業給吃了。誰都不會相信 你這種話。那你剛才不想來看歌舞劇，借口說沒錢，那也是 lame excuse?
M: Yes, it was an inadequate excuse because I do have money.
L: 我知道你有錢，只是為了不想看歌舞劇而找個借口才說沒錢的。
M: You can also say...
L: 行了，行了，我懂了。別說話了，演出開始了。
M: Ok, but don『t give me any lame excuses next time I want to do something!
L: 下回不管你要幹什麼，我絕對不會用這種牽強的借口。
M: Seriously, after buying these tickets I really am broke!
L: 買了這兩張票，你真的沒錢啦？ 得， 下回我請客。
Michael 和李華在今天的對話里用了broke這個詞， broke在這裡的意 思是沒有錢了。他們還用了一個詞：lame, 意思是無聊，沒有 意思，或者是不合適的。這次[流行美語]就學習到這裡，我們下次節目再見。
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pa5.txt
流行美語第5課
今天Michael和李華要開車去新澤西州看一個朋友，跟他一起過周末。 新澤西州緊挨著紐約，開車只要一個小時就到了。請注意他們倆人講話當中用的兩個詞： shot 和 damage。現在他們正準備上車。
M: Hey, Li Hua, are you ready to go?
L: 行，我準備好了，可以走了。
M: Ok, let『s go!
L: 喲，怎麼啦？
M: I think my engine is shot. This is not good.
L: 什麼？ 有人開槍把你車打壞啦？
M: No! You『re right, shot does mean to have used a gun, but here shot means something is broken.
L: 對啊，shot是指開槍，原來這兒的意思不同，這兒是指什麼東西壞了。那我的電腦壞了，也能用shot這個字啊？
M: Sure. My computer is shot. You can say almost anything is shot.
L: 什麼東西壞了都能這樣說？
M: Yes, if you hurt your knee, you can say: My knee is shot, or if you hurt your shoulder, you can say: My shoulder is shot.
L: 噢， 要是你的膝蓋受傷了，你就可以說：My knee is shot; 要是你的肩膀受了傷，那你就說：My shoulder is shot.
M: Let『s go rent a car. I don『t want our whole day to be shot.
L: 對，還是去租一輛車吧。 噢，毀了一整天也能這樣說呀！
M: Yep. Let『s go!
(Michael和李華租了一輛車，現在他們在開往新澤西的路上)。
L: Michael, 這輛車真不錯，挺穩的。再開半小時就到了，太好了！
M: Yeah, I『m glad too, but the damage for renting the car is pretty bad.
L: 什麼？這輛租的車也壞了？喲，那怎麼辦吶！
M: No, the rental car is not damaged! The word damage does mean that, but damage here means the amount of money needed to pay for something.
L: 租的車沒有壞，真把我嚇一跳。原來又是我的英文有問題。 Damage 這個字很普通，大家都知道是指什麼東西壞了。可你指的是為什麼東西付的錢。
M: Yes, renting the car is expensive, so the damage is bad. We usually say the damage is bad or not bad.
L: 我知道了，價錢貴就是：the damage is bad。 價錢不高，那就是： the damage is not bad. 再給我舉個例子吧。
M: When you pay for dinner at a restaurant, you can ask: What『s the damage?
L: 噢，在飯店裡吃完晚飯要付錢的時候可以問：「What『s the damage?" 所以租車很貴，the damage is bad. Michael, 別擔心，我可以幫你付一點。
M: You don『t have to, Li Hua. I know the damage for your new computer was pretty bad.
L: 你真好心，知道我買新電腦花了不少錢，所以不要我幫你付。 Michael, 沒關係，我能付一點，你還要去修車，也很貴的。
M: Thanks, Li Hua. But I hope the damage for fixing my car won『t be too bad.
L: 我也希望你修車不至於太貴。得了，別說錢了，趕快開吧。
M: OK, I『ll drive fast so that the rest of our day won『t be shot.
L: 對了，別浪費時間了，我也不想把一天的時間全浪費了。
今天Michael 教了李華兩個年輕人常用的詞，一個是shot。 Shot 是指什麼東西壞了，或者人體的某個部位受傷了；另外一個詞 是damage。這裡的damage不是指損壞，而是指為某樣東西，或某個交易付的錢。謝謝各位和我們一起學習[流行美語]，下次節 目再見。
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pa6.txt
流行美語第6課
今天，Michael 和他的中國同學李華約好了在中央公園見面。他們在對話中會用到兩個詞：drag 和 trip。
L: 對不起， Michael，我遲到了。地鐵誤點了。
M: Hey, Li Hua. Don『t apologize, it『s a nice day to just sit here and relax.
L: 對，坐在這裡休息休息是挺好的。我也很喜歡這個公園。不過,我們得到大都市藝術博物館去看攝影展覽吶！
M: Oh, do we have to go? I hate going to the museum on such a nice day, it『s such a drag.
L: 喲，你覺得這麼好的天氣去博物館太沒意思，就不想去了？ Michael，你答應過我，要是我到這兒來，你就跟我一起去。你說什 么drag不drag的，我又沒法把你拽著一起去！
M: No, to call something a drag means it is tiresome.
L: 噢，在中文裡就是沒勁，沒意思。Michael，drag不是拉東西的拉嗎？ 你說的drag跟這個drag是同一個字嗎？
M: Yeah, Li Hua, same word. As another example, we could also call our professor Dr. Smith a drag.
L: 噢，還可以說我們的教授Smith博士沒勁，沒意思。這我可不知 道，我並不覺得他枯燥無味。
M: Of course you would say that. After all, on the first day of class all you did was talk about how cute he was.
L: 你說我第一天上完他的課後，口口聲聲誇他長得帥？你別瞎說八道了。
M: Oh, Li Hua, you『re such a drag. You did say he『s cute.
L: 非要說我認為他很帥。還說我沒勁。算了,不跟你說了。 Michael，我去看展覽了,不管你去不去。
M: All right, all right, I『ll come.
( Michael 和李華看完了攝影展)。
L: 這個攝影展覽真好，可是我還在生你的氣呢！
M: Ok, I『m sorry. Actually, I really enjoyed the photography exhibit. I thought it was a trip.
L: 我也很喜歡這種超現實主義的藝術。等等，你為什麼把看展覽叫/ 做旅行呢？我們又沒有離開紐約。
M: No, the word trip does mean travel, but here it means something that is unusual, in a good way.
L: 對，trip這個字很普通，是指旅行。原來你說的trip是指不尋常， 但又很好的意思。 噢，我想起來了。以前有一個教授告訴過我， 美國年輕人在60和70年代盛行反潮流的行為。Trip 這個詞就來自 那個時候，是指吸毒後產生的幻覺。對不對？
M: Yeah, but its meaning has changed.
L: 現在的意思不一樣了。可我現在就知道我們剛才去看的攝影展覽可以說是a trip，中文可以說是與眾不同吧。其他還有什麼也能用trip這個詞來形容的呢？
M: Well, look at that guy over there, sitting on the bench. The long hair and wild clothes. I really like his outfit, so I would call him a trip. But some people may not like this.
L: 噢，坐在長板凳上的那個留著長頭髮，穿著很怪的男人？ 你喜歡他的衣服，所以你認為他與眾不同，別有風味。對不起，我可不欣賞。
M: That『s ok, everyone is different.
L: 對，每個人的愛好不一樣。你再給我舉個例子吧。
M: I would also call our photography class professor a trip, her style is a trip.
L: 對，她是與眾不同，她上課的時候總是很激動，跟別的教授不一 樣。我的男朋友是學小提琴的，他常常練琴練得忘了吃飯，他也能算是個trip吧？
M: Yeah, he is also a trip. I can『t imagine you would like someone who is a drag.
L: 這你可說對了。你要是一個枯燥無味的人，我才不跟你一起出去玩呢。得了，我們該回去做功課了，儘管沒勁，書還得念吶。
M: Ok, let『s go!
今天Michael教了李華兩個常用的詞，一個是：drag，意思是沒意思， 枯燥；另一個是：trip，意思是與眾不同，別出心裁，但是含有褒意。 今天的[流行美語]就學習到這裡，我們下次節目再見。
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pa7.txt
流行美語第7課
Michael和李華今天去看籃球比賽。球賽是在紐約大型室內體育館[麥迪遜廣場花園]舉行，這場比賽是華盛頓的球隊對紐約的球隊。 Michael到中國去學過中文，他讓李華跟他講中文，以便練習聽力。 現在他們倆正在排隊進入體育館。今天他們在對話中會用choke和 money這兩個詞。
L: 嗨，Michael，謝謝你買到這麼好的票！我真高興能到[麥迪遜廣場]來 看球。這可是有名的體育館喲！
M： No problem! I am really happy you could come. Yeah, I love coming to the Garden to watch basketball games.
L: 你也喜歡來這裡看籃球比賽啊，那太好了。今天是紐約隊比華盛頓隊， 你看結局會怎樣？
M：Well, Li Hua, I think
L: 你說紐約隊會輸？ 你還說什麼 choke? 你是說他們吃飯時會噎著啦？ 這跟輸球有什麼關係，我不懂。
M：No, no, no! They『re not going to choke on their food! It『s the same word with the same spelling, but it has a different meaning. Here, choke means to fail under pressure.
L：噢，我懂了。 你說的choke 是指紐約隊會抵擋不住華盛頓球隊的壓力而輸掉， 對嗎？
M: Yes! And choke has many uses. How else do you think it can be used?
L: Choke 可以用在很多地方。考試考糟了，可以用choke 這個字吧？
M: Yes! In fact, I choked on a test last week.
L：你上星期考試考糊了？嘿，Michael， 我還知道怎麼用choke這個字。你 不是老想請那個姑娘出去玩嗎？你請她，她連電話都不回，這可真讓你choked了，對不對？
M：It seems like you really understand this word! Yeah, but it doesn『t matter with that girl because I don『t like her anyway.
L: 噢，你說得可真輕鬆，沒關係，因為你不喜歡她。好，那你告訴我你喜歡哪個女孩吶？
M：Oh, that doesn『t matter. Let『s go to our seats！
L: 好，好， 去找位置吧！
(Michael和李華找到了自己的座位)
L: Michael，你看，紐約隊看來不會輸，他們贏了兩個球，現在還剩十秒了。只要紐約隊不失去球，他們就不會輸。
M：I think that
L：你也認為紐約隊可能不會輸？等等，你看， 紐約隊丟了球！這下他們完 了！華盛頓隊要求暫停，他們還有贏的機會。
M：
L: 你認為華盛頓球隊會贏，Michael Jordan 會投進最後一個球。你說 "He is money "是說他會賺錢嗎？
M：No, by money, here I mean that he performs consistently at a high level.
L: 噢，這兒的money不是指錢，是指他打球一直保持在高水平上，一直打得很棒。
M：Yes, you could say Yao Ming is money too.
L: 姚明當然很棒，所以也可以說：Yao Ming is money。那我們班的 Steven，他考試總是考得很好，也能說，He is money?
M：Yup. He『s money. You can also call things money. For example, this pizza we are eating is money.
L: 原來凡是好的東西都可以說是money。我們正在吃的比薩餅是很好吃， 所以也可以說是money.
M：Do you think the coffee shop we like to go to is money?
L: 我們常去的咖啡館當然非常好，我一有空就想去。
M: Michael Jordan won the game! I told you he is money!
L: Michael Jordan贏得了比賽，他就是棒。
M：Let『s get going, though. I have to study for a test. I don『t want to choke on the test again.
L: 好吧，你快回去準備考試吧，我知道你要再考糊，就麻煩了。
Michael和李華今天在對話里用的兩個詞意思是相對的。 To choke是糟糕，失敗的意思；而money是保持高水平，非常棒的意思。最好大家都不要choke，都成為money，那就太棒了。今天的[流行美語]就到此結束， 我們下次再見。
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pa8.txt
流行美語第8課
[流行美語]又和大家見面了。Michael今天和李華約好了去紐約中國城吃飯。李華剛剛到Michael的住處。他們在對話中會用到 hang out和hard headed這兩個常用語。
L：嗨，Michael， 走吧！
M：I『m coming. Hey, come on in for a minute and sit down.
L：還要叫我進來坐會兒呀！不行，快走，我餓了，我要去吃中國飯。
M：I『m not ready yet. Just hang out for a minute.
L：嗨，你真是的，還有什麼事非要現在干吶！你要我給你掛什麼？一張畫？
M：No, no, no!! Just wait for a few minutes.
L：要我等幾分鐘，這跟掛東西有什麼關係呀？
M：No, you don『t understand. Hang out means to pass time while you『re waiting.
L：噢，hang out是等一會兒的意思？
M：Yes, but it can also mean to spend time with your friends. For example, you and I hang out a lot.
L：跟朋友一起玩也能說是hang out，對，我們是經常在一起活動。
M：Ok. So hang out while I go get ready.
L：還要我等呀！行，不過下次不管上那兒去，要是我讓你等一會兒，你可別感到奇怪喲。
M：Ha, ha. Ok, I 『m ready.
L：那就走吧！你喜歡中國城哪個飯館吶？
M：Let『s go to Good Fortune. Do you mind if some of my other friends hang out with us?
L：好，新世界飯館挺好。你說你還有幾個朋友也要跟我們一起吃飯呀？ 當然沒關係了，我一直認為玩的時候人多一些好。
(Michael和李華開車到了中國城)
L：Michael， 你知道該往哪兒走嗎？我想我們還是問一下路吧，你好象是迷路了。
M：I『m not lost. I think I know where we are.
L：還硬說你沒有迷路呢！Michael, 別這麼頑固嘛！問一下路有怎麼啦？你真是討厭。
M：Are you calling me hard headed?
L：我是說你頑固，跟你的頭硬不硬沒有關係。
M：Hard headed does mean stubbon, they have the same meaning. It『s an expression people use sometimes.
L： 我說呢，我剛才還真不懂什麼頭硬不硬。原來hard headed就是頑固。有人用hard headed這個說法？我怎麼沒聽說過？ 不過，你要是問了路我就不會說你頑固了。美國男人吶，都一樣，都很頑固。他們硬著頭皮，就是不肯問路。
M：I know where we are. We『re really close to the restaurant.
L：你還不認為你迷路，你知道離新世界飯館很近了。好吧，那我就聽你的吧。 對了，Michael, 我跟我弟弟說什麼他都不聽，非常頑固，我能說是 hard headed嗎？
M：Yeah, I remember meeting him, he is certainly hard headed.
L：對，你見過他。上回在公園裡，他非要去跟一個不認識的女孩搭訕，我們叫他不要去，他不聽，結果給人瞪了一眼，落個沒趣。這真可以說是hard headed吧？
M：Sure. But remember, hard headed is only an adjetive to describe people.
L：噢，hard headed 只能形容人呀？我看，用hard headed來形容你是再合適不過了。走了那麼多路，飯館在哪裡吶？
M：I think it『s just down this block.
L：你還認為在這條街上。Michael, 你就在這兒等等吧，我去問路。你啊， 真是hard headed, 頑固不化。
今天Michael和李華在談話中用了兩個常用語，一個是：hang out， 意思是等一等，或跟朋友一起玩；另一個常用語是：hard headed， 意思是:頑固，固執。 謝謝大家和我們一起學習[流行美語],下次節目再見。
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pa9.txt
流行美語第9課
[流行美語]又和大家見面了。Michael是一個在紐約上大學的美國年輕人，他經常跟中國學生李華一起玩。Michael向李華學中文，李華向 Michael 學英文。Michael 正在準備考試，有很多功課要做，但是李華要他出去休息休息，兩人約好下午在動物園見面。他們在對話中會用這兩個詞：all-nighter和cram。
L: 嗨，Michael. 我在這兒！
M: Hey, Li Hua. Oh, the elephant house, let『s go in and take a look.
L: 噢，那是大象館啊？ 好， 進去看看。 不行，不行，這兒太臭 了。走吧！
M: Oh, yeah. Let『s get out of here. In fact, I『ve got a lot of studying to do. I『m going to need to pull an all-nighter.
L: 我知道你有很多功課，但是你在準備考試的時候也總得休息休息 嘛。我聽說這次考試會很難。你剛才說 all-nighter 是不是開夜車 的意思呀？
M: Yeah, that『s what I meant. Li Hua, you『re smart!
L: 我是猜出來的， all的意思是整個，全部，nighter和 night 很像。我想一個人要整夜學習，那不就是開夜車嗎？但是，有一點我不太懂，你說：to pull an all-nighter，什麼是pull ?
M: Pull means to get yourself through a difficult time.
L: 噢， pull an all-nighter， 就是迫使自己整夜念書，因為要這樣做是很辛苦的。
M: Yep. You wouldn『t have to pull an all-nighter because you have been studying all semester, I haven『t been.
L: 這你可說對了。我不需要開夜車，因為我整個一學期都在學習。 你要開夜車，因為你平時不學習。
M: I know, I know, you『re a better student than I am.
L: Michael, 我真喜歡紐約的秋天， 空氣很清新。你要是能跟我一起玩，不用回去念書，那該多好啊！
M: I don『t want to go study either, but I should.
L: 對啊， 你 要是上星期多花點時間念書不就好了嘛。現在你得臨時抱佛腳了。
M: I perform better on tests when I cram.
L: Cram? Cram是把什麼東西塞進去的意思，跟學習有什麼關係呢？
M: Well, it『s sort of the same meaning. I『m going to do a lot of studying at the last minute, that『s what it means to cram.
L: 意思差不多？噢，我知道了！Cram就是我們中文裡說的填鴨式方法，就是硬把食品塞給鴨子吃，這樣鴨子就長得肥。北京烤鴨 就是用這種鴨子做的。你說的cram 是臨時抱佛腳，在考試前猛記猛背，把知識往腦子裡塞。你還認為這是好辦法？
M: Well, everyone『s different. Cramming works for me.
L: 你認為臨時抱佛腳對你來說行得通。可是，Michael，想把半學期的內容在一個晚上記住，這樣做可真傻。
M: Stop being my mother, Li Hua!
L: 我才不想當你媽呢， 你不聽我的話，那就算了。Michael, cram這個詞是否還能用在別的場合呢？
M: Not really. It『s only used to describe studying for a test, usually college or high-school level.
L: 噢，只能指大學生或中學生在考試前開夜車，臨時抱佛腳。
M: And that『s what I need to do, right now. It『s getting late and I know I will have to pull an all-nighter.
L: 好吧，我明天早上給你打電話。
M: No, don『t worry about me, I『m sure I will still be cramming.
L: 喲，你還準備開夜車開到天亮吶？ Ok, well, good luck!
今天李華向Michael學了兩個常用語，一個是：all-nighter, 意思是開夜車；另一個是：cram, 這是指中學生或大學生在考試前臨時抱佛腳。 今天的[流行美語]就學習到這裡，我們下次再見。
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pa10.txt
流行美語第10課
Michael和李華都在紐約上大學，最近他們結束了期中考試，今天准 備坐火車去華盛頓參觀訪問。現在Michael正在火車站等李華。今天 他們在談話中會用到兩個常用語：drained和wired.
L：嘿，Michael。這火車站好大，總算找到你了。
M：The train is just about to leave. Good thing you got here in time.
L：我當然會準時到，我什麼時候遲到過？嗨，火車就要開啦？要多少時間才能到華盛頓吶？
M：Only about four hours. I『m probably going to sleep the entire way.
L：(train leaving station, announcer in background) 你想在火車上睡覺？ 不行，你睡覺我跟誰說話吶？
M：Li Hua, you are full of energy. But I『m drained, I『m going to sleep.
L：我是精力充沛。可你說你是什麼？ Drained?
M：Yeah. Drained, it means exhausted.
L：Drained就是累的意思。那drained這個詞還能用在其他什麼場合呢？
M：The word can be used two ways. To be physically drained and emotionally drained. For example, if a couple fight all the time, they would be emotionally tired, which you can also call drained.
L：噢，drained可以指體力很累，也可以指一個人在情緒上壓力很大。要是一對夫婦老是吵架，那肯定情緒很不好。你是這個意思吧？
M：Yeah, you understand. You don『t even seem drained after the mid-terms.
L：考試倒沒讓我覺得累，可是，兩天前我跟我哥哥為了他的女朋友吵了一架。他那女朋友很任性，還老想管別人，真討厭。跟我哥哥吵完後，我真是感到很累。
M：Yeah, you were emotionally drained. Well, if you don『t want me to sleep on the train, we『d better go get more coffee. Let『s go to the Cafe Car.
L： 那好呀，走，去食品車廂買咖啡！
M：This coffee is going to keep me awake the entire trip.
L：這杯咖啡就能讓你一路上不困啦？ 我可不行，到華盛頓之前，我至少還要喝兩杯。
M：Geez, Li Hua, I don『t think I will be nearly as wired as you are.
L：Wired？ 我猜這是說我精力旺盛， 是不是？
M：You are right. This word has a couple of meanings. One means to be energetic and the other means to have nervous energy.
L：這麼說，wired可以指對某件事很興奮，也可以說對某件事感到緊張而努 力去做。 要是我精力充沛，可以說：I am wired; 要是在大考前我感到很緊張而抓緊時間複習功課，也可以說：I『m wired。 是這個意思嗎？
M：Yeah, that『s right. But it has one other meaning as well. Wired means to be connected to something, such as being wired into the Internet, or being wired into a discussion.
L：噢，跟什麼東西聯繫在一起也可以說是wired， 例如和網際網路連接。你最後說的 wired into a discussion 我不太懂，那是什麼意思啊？
M：You have been participating in the meetings to make decisions about our college, right?
L：對啊！我是參加一些會議，討論有關學校的某些決定。
M：Ok, your participation in the college『s meetings and being involved in those decisions means you are wired into the discussion.
L：噢，我參加這些會議，參預決策的討論，這就可以說：I『m wired into the discussion.
M：Yep. After all this coffee I have had, I don『t feel so drained. In fact, after the next cup, I think I『m going to be pretty wired.
L：喝了咖啡你就不感到那麼累了。再喝一杯，你就精神百倍了。那好，我 再去給你買一杯， 要不要？
M：Thanks so much, Li Hua!
今天Michael和李華在談話中用了兩個意思相對的詞，一個是drained，意思是非常累；另一個是wired，意思是精力充沛. 這次[流行美語]就到此結束，下次節目再見。
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pa11.txt
流行美語第11課
Michael和李華今天在華盛頓的國家建築博物館參加一個建築會議。今天，請大家注意他們對話里用的兩個常用語：kick back和one track mind 。
L: 期中考試完了有這麼一個周末真不錯，儘管我們得參加這次大會， 我也覺得挺不錯。
M: I『m glad we made it to DC. It『s a good time to just kick back and relax.
L: 我也很高興能到華盛頓來，正好可以休息一下。不過，你剛才說 kick back是什麼意思呀？ 肯定不是要踢什麼東西吧？
M: No, I don『t! I just mean to relax with my friend, you.
L: 噢，跟朋友一起玩， 也就是說跟我玩。你是說，kick back 就是把 腿蹺起來，痛痛快快地休息，是這個意思嗎？
M: Yes. Last weekend we were in
L: 對，上個周末我們是去紐約跟我的朋友一起玩了。不過，我以前 也聽人說過kick back，但那是指貪污受賄。
M: Yeah, it can be used that way as well. When one person pays someone else in return for a job or a contract.
L: 這麼說，kick back可以解釋為休息，也可以解釋為給某人一些錢， 以換取一個工作職位或其他好處。這兩個意思完全不同。
M: When you mean corruption, kickback is one word. When it means to relax, kick back is two words.
L: 在指賄賂的時候，kickback是一個字，在指休息，輕鬆的時候， kick back 是兩個字，就差這麼一點點。對，我那天在 報上看到一 個公司總裁把合同給了一個給他回扣的承包商。
M: Yeah, that company executive got a kickback. Well, enough about kickback. Do you want to go to any of the panels this afternoon?
L: 你問我下午要不要去參加 小組討論？ 去那個討論東方建築特色的小 組吧！ 儘管我很想到咖啡館去休息休息。
M: Ok, maybe once we are done with the panel we can go out and do something fun.
L: 好主意， 小組討論會結束後我們可以出去玩。
(小組討論會以後)
L: 好了，Michael，會開完了。我們得計劃一下今天上哪兒去。不過， 我先得喝杯咖啡。
M: Ok, ok. Geez, you have such a one track mind sometimes. Do you know what a one track mind is?
L: 我不知道，但是我知道你在取笑我。
M: No, I『m not making fun of you. One track mind means you are only thinking about one thing all the time. Today all you have been thinking about is coffee. You should remember this phrase, it『s commonly used.
L: 噢，one track mind還是常用的說法，所以我得記住。你認識我的 朋友王光吧？ 她成天工作，從來不想別的事。你能說她是one track mind 嗎？
M: Yeah, you can say that. It『s amazing how much she works, never does much of anything else.
L: 對，她就是這樣，工作狂。你們男人也都是one track mind。腦子 里總是想著女孩子。
M: Yeah, there『s one particular girl I think about.
L: 你老想一個女孩子？ 誰呀？
M: Here『s your coffee shop, two coffees please!
Michael和李華今天在對話中用了kick back。當kickback作為一 個詞的時候，意思是貪污受賄；當kick back用作kick和back兩個字的 時候，意思是休息，和某人一起玩。他們在對話中還用了one track mind，意思是腦子裡光想一件事。 這次[流行美語]就學習到這裡，我們下次再見。
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pa12.txt
流行美語第12課
在紐約上大學的Michael和李華今天在華盛頓參觀名勝古迹。他們在對話里會用到兩個常用語：ticked off ，另一個是close。
L: Michael, 大家都說紐約人開車不守規矩，我看華盛頓的人也好不了多少。剛才那輛車差一點撞到我！
M: Yeah, I saw that. Crossing the streets in
L: 對，在紐約和華盛頓穿馬路是很危險。你說什麼對我沒好處？ Ticked off?
M: Yes, Ticked off means to get angry or annoyed at something. Getting angry at the drivers will not do you any good.
L: 噢，ticked off的意思是為什麼事情生氣。 你剛才說的是我對開車的人生氣沒有什麼好處。看來讓我ticked off的事還挺多。
M: Yeah, like when your boyfriend broke up with you right before we started classes.
L: 你還提醒我這事！我以前那男朋友剛開學就跟我分手，當時我真的非常生氣。不過，Michael，我覺得你也很愛生氣。
M: Well, I got pretty ticked off a few days ago when the professor gave me a low score on the exam.
L: 對，和你同班的中國同學王光告訴我你那天非常生氣，因為那個教授給你的考試判分判得很低。Ticked off這個說法很好，以前我就知道用angry這個字。
M: Hey, are you hungry? We haven『t eaten in a while.
L: 剛才好生氣，連肚子餓也忘了。走，去吃點東西吧！
(Michael和李華吃完飯以後)
M: Now that we have eaten, let『s walk to the White House. It『s not too far from here.
L: 到白宮去？太好了，除了照片外，我還沒有看到過真的白宮呢！
M: Watch out Li Hua! Get back!
L: 喲！ 我的天哪！我的天哪！真嚇死我了！我以為這下我可完了！
M: Oh, my god! Are you okay? Geez, that was really a close call.
L: Michael, 我都差一點被車撞了， 而你還在說什麼close call，這跟打電話根本沒有關係！
M: No, that『s not what I meant by close call. I meant that the car nearly hit you.
L: 對啊，那車差一點就撞上我了，這就是 close call？
M: Actually, Li Hua, close call means that you narrowly avoided danger. Something bad could have happened to you, but you narrowly avoided a bad situation.
L: 原來close call就是說，差一點發生倒霉的事，我算是逃避了這倒霉事。我可以說，今天我差一點沒被汽車撞了。對不對？
M: Yeah, that『s right.
L: 那close call是不是一定用在跟生命危險有關的場合呢？
M: Not really. Let me give you another example. The paper you and I turned in this week was almost late. That was also a close call.
L: 對，那個教授讓我們在星期二前把學術報告交給他，我們是星期一晚上去交的，差一點就過了限期，這也可以說是close call。 下回我可再也不敢這麼做了。
M: Here we are! The White House!
L: 太好了！ 白宮到了, 那我們趕快走把。
今天 Michael 和李華在對話中用的一個常用語是ticked off， 意思是為了什麼事情生氣； 另一個是close call，意思 是差一點沒發生倒霉的事，或是差一點完不成該做的事。 [流行美語]就學習到這裡， 我們下次再見。
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pa13.txt
流行美語第13課
Michael和李華已經從華盛頓返回紐約。今天是星期六，他們一起到紐約的 Meadowlands去看冰球。Michael和李華這兩個大學生，一個講英文，一個講中文，旁邊的人聽起來很奇怪，可是他們自己已經習慣了這種方式。今天他們在談話中會用兩個常用語：keep cool和screw up。
L：Michael，謝謝你帶我到Meadowlands來看冰球，Meadowlands可是有名的地方吶！ 而且我從來還沒有看過冰球呢！
(Starting buzzer)
M：Sometimes these games get really rough!
L：我也聽說了，他們說冰球比賽有時很粗暴，經常會打架。
M：Wow, look at them! It『s only five minutes into the game and they are already pushing and shoving.
L：是啊，他們已經開始推推攘攘，真的打起來了。人們都說冰球比賽有時會很粗暴，但是才開始五分鐘就打架，這可是不多見。
M：Yeah, they really need to keep cool out there.
L： Michael, 這是冰球，在冰上打球，當時是冷的咯，你在說什麼呀？
M：Li Hua, that『s not what I meant. Keep cool means to calm down。Keep, means to hold and cool, meaning cold.
L： 噢，keep cool就是要冷靜一點, 你是說這些球員不要火氣那麼大，需要保持冷靜。對，他們要是老打架，最好的球員就會被禁止打球的。
M：Yeah. Another example, remember last week when you got into an argument with the professor over your mid-term grade?
L：我才不會忘記上星期的事吶。那個教授給我期中考試打那麼低的分數，我當然要跟他爭嘛。
M：Right now Li Hua, you need to keep cool.
L：是，一說起這件事，我就會生氣。得了，得了，不談這個了吧！
M：I can『t believe how poorly they are playing.
L：你說他們打得不好呀？ 說實話，我根本看不懂。我只知道當地的球隊輸了三分，這就輸了很多啦！
M：Yeah, they have really managed to screw up this game.
L："Screw up"? 我不懂，這是什麼意思？
M："Screw up" means not to play well. The home team is certainly messing up.
L：噢，"Screw up" 就是打得不好。
M："Screw up," it means to mess up.
L：是不是只能說打球時，或參加運動比賽時犯了錯誤？
M：No, it can be used to describe a lot of things. For example, I screw up on tests all the time.
L：噢，你考試老考糟也能用screw up來表示呀！這麼說，"screw up" 可以用的範圍很廣。 要是說一個人工作沒有做好呢？
M：He screwed up at work.
L：你老是和別人的關係搞不好，也能說是screw up吧？
M：Yes, that『s why I don『t date anymore. Because I screw up all the time.
L：原來是因為老跟別人搞不好關係，所以你就不交女朋友了。 Michael，你也別跟自己太過不去了。
M：I do screw up a lot; I make mistakes all the time.
L：我們都犯錯誤的，誰能不犯錯誤啊！我來給你介紹個女朋友吧！
M：Look, they are playing like that! What is wrong with these players.
L：嗨， 這些球員真的很糟糕，你看，他們已經輸了四分啦！
M：I hate this! They can『t manage not to screw up tonight.
L：Michael, 儘管他們screw up，我們還是要keep cool! 也許還有希望扭轉局勢。
李華今天從Michael那兒學到了兩個常用語， 一個是：keep cool，意思是：冷靜一些，別太激動；另一個常用語是：screw up， 意思是把事情弄糟了。今天的[流行美語]就學習到這裡，我們下次再會。
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pa14.txt
流行美語第14課
Michael 和李華這兩個大學生，一個講英文，一個講中文，旁邊的人聽起來很奇怪，可是他們倆已經習慣了。今天他們來到中央公園，李華會學到兩個常用語：pig out 和 bigmouth。
L: Michael, 感恩節你過得好嗎？
M: It was good to be with my family, but I was disappointed that you couldn『t be there.
L: 我知道，跟家人在一起總是高興的事。謝謝你邀請我，但是我早就答應了另一個朋友，所以沒法去你家，明年我一定去你家。
M: Ok, well. It was a great meal, we all pigged out.
L: 你們感恩節吃豬肉呀？我還以為感恩節都是吃火雞呢。
M: Yeah, most people do have turkey. Pig out means to eat a large amount of food, not that we actually ate pig.
L: 噢，pig out就是吃好多東西， 不是指吃豬肉呀？
M: Yes, pigs eat a lot and that『s where the expression pig out comes from. I did eat like a pig on Thanksgiving.
L: 我猜也是， pig out肯定是因為豬吃好多東西而形成的常用語。 Michael，我看你呀，不僅是感恩節，你平時就吃好多。上星期， 你每天晚上都吃得象頭豬一樣。
M: Um, I certainly did.
L: Pig out這個說法只能指吃東西啊？能不能用在別的地方？
M: No, not really. But don『t forget that when you use it in the past tense, pig out should be pigged out.
L: 那是過去時態，要是說你到了聖誕節假日又要大吃大喝了，那該怎麼說？
M: You will pig out during the Christmas holidays.
L: 嗨，我是在說你，我才不會吃那麼多東西呢！
Michael, 是不是每年都有這麼多人來中央公園滑冰？
M: Yes, it『s free. My friend Josh said he would be coming to ice-skate with his girlfriend Emily today. Oh, By the way, Li Hua, did you tell Simon that Josh and Emily are getting married soon? I just need...
L: 是，那天我不小心告訴了Simon。我知道Josh和Emily現在還不想 公開他們準備結婚的計劃，不過我真不是故意的。
M: Geez, Li Hua, you have such a bigmouth!
L: 你生氣了？肯定是罵我。說我是bigmouth，大嘴巴！你是說我吃 很多東西嗎？
M: No, I『m saying you talk a lot about other people『s business!
L: 噢， 你不是說我嘴巴大，而是說我多嘴，愛嚼舌頭，談論別人。
M: That makes you a bigmouth.
L: 我們女孩子都喜歡談論別人。不過，Michael，我從來沒在書上看 到過這個詞，是不是一般在口語里用？
M: Yes, it is usually used in informal speech.
L: Michael，我真不應該那麼多嘴，把 Josh和Emily準備結婚的事告訴 別人。
M: Well, don『t worry about it. I tend to pig out and you『re a bigmouth. Everyone has their faults.
L: 喲，你倒是想得開，人人有缺點，你愛象豬那樣吃，我愛談論別人。這樣就好象什麼事也沒了！
M: Just don『t be a person who eats like a pig and also is a bigmouth.
L: 對，這兩個缺點都有那就糟了。 走吧，該會學校去念書了。
今天Michael和李華在紐約中央公園，一面看許多人滑冰，一面聊天。李華從Michael 那兒學到了兩個常用語，一個是pig out，就是吃很多東西的意思；另一個是bigmouth，就是多嘴的人。今天的[流行美語]就學習到這裡，我們下次節目再會。
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pa15.txt
流行美語第15課
你們大家可能都已經認識了Michael和李華這兩個大學生了。Michael講英文，李華是個中國學生，能講英文，但是她還在不斷地跟Michael學。大家可千萬不要認為這兩個在紐約的大學生老是到外面去玩。其實他們學習都很努力，現在他們就要在李華的宿舍里一起念書，準備考試。李華今天會學到兩個常用語，一個是：what『s up，這是一個用來打招呼的通俗說法。 另一個是： no brainer，意思是某件事很容易， 不用動腦子就能做成。
L: 嗨，Michael，快進來。
M: Hey, Li Hua, what『s up?
L: 什麼？
M: What『s up? What are you doing?
L: What『s up? 我倒是聽人這麼說過，可是我還沒有弄清楚這句話到 底是什麼意思，我應該怎麼回答？
M: What『s up is really a common greeting.
L: 噢，what『s up就是一般打招呼，不是指我的頭上是什麼吶？
M: No. It『s like saying, "What is happening in your life?"
L: 我知道了，what『s up就是中文裡我們說的：怎麼樣？
M: Well, it『s really only spoken language.
L: 要是我去看一個我已經有兩個月沒見的朋友，我在見到她的時 候我可以說What『s up，對嗎?
M: Yes, definitely!
L: 那別人對我說what『s up？, 我又該怎麼回答呢？
M: You can explain what『s going on in your life, or you could say something as simple as: Not much.
L: 要是你問我，What『s up? 我就可以說： Oh， not much, just getting ready for our test. 意思就是：噢，沒什麼，就是在準備我們的考 試。
M: That『s good usage. You can really say anything.
L: 對，你怎麼回答都行。 好吧，我們該學習了。
我真是希望這次考試趕快過去。
M: You stress too much, this test will be a no brainer.
L: 你是說我壓力太大，沒有腦子？ 你知道我腦子很靈的呀！
M: Smarter than me, that『s for sure. What I mean is that this test will be really easy. No brainer means something that reqires little or no thought.
L: 好，你承認我比你聰明。不過，我還得跟你學英文。你說，no brainer就是某件事很容易，不需要動腦子就行呀？
M: Yeah.
L: 我知道了。象我哥哥那天去買車，運氣好，碰到一個公司半價出 售。 在這種情況下決定買不買，不就是no brainer嗎？
M: That『s right.
L: 那次那個漂亮女孩邀你出去玩，你接受不接受邀請不也是很容易 定的嗎？
M: Yeah, that was a really easy decision, could be called no brainer. Of course I would go out with her.
L: 對，決定是容易做，但是你到頭來還是不喜歡她。
M: That『s true. When the University gave you a scholarship to come study here in
L: 當然啦，大學給我獎學金來紐約念書，作這種決定還要動腦筋 啊？更何況我學習成績那麼好。
M: So then why are you bothering to study?
L: 這還用問？ 再聰明的人也得念書嘛！
M: On, ok, let『s get back to work.
李華今天學到了兩個常用語，一個是：what『s up？ 這是一個用來打招呼的通俗說法； 另一個是：no brainer，意思是某件事很容易，不用動腦子就能做成。這次[流行美語]就學習到這裡。再見。
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pa16.txt
流行美語第16課
Michael和李華今天早上都有課，現在正往課堂走。李華今天會學到兩個常用語：to goof off 和to hit the sack。
L: Michael, 別往我頭上扔雪塊，行嗎？你怎麼象個小孩呀！
M: Li Hua, I『m just goofing off.
L: 你就是討厭。 我不懂什麼是goofing off.
M: Actually Li Hua, to goof off does mean that I『m acting stupid and not being serious. Goof is a verb.
L: 噢，to goof off 就是干無聊的事，那你確實很無聊，老向我扔雪 塊。
M: To goof off is a great term. Young people use it a lot. It is often used to describe how young people are behaving.
L: 年輕人經常用to goof off來形容別人的行為？我記得念中學時班 上有個學生老是打斷老師的話，喜歡開玩笑，你可以說這個學生 是goofing off嗎？
M: Yeah, that『s right. Children or young people often goof off. Do you remember when we were at the movies and those high school students threw candy at the screen, you could say they were goofing off.
L: 對，沒錯，小孩和年輕人經常會做一些無聊的事開玩笑。我才不會忘掉我們那次去看電影的事呢。那幾個中學生往銀幕上扔糖果， 真是太無聊了，他們還以為好玩呢。
M: To tell you the truth, when I went to the library in high school with my roommates we would usually waste time and ended up goofing off.
L: 你是說，你念中學時跟同學去圖書館念書，結果在那兒互相扔紙球？
M: Yeah, that『s right.
L: 怪不得你一開始考不上大學呢！ 行，教室到了，下課等我一起去圖書館，可千萬不要goof off。
( Michael和李華下課以後)
L: 這課真是枯燥無味。我最討厭晚上上課，每次上完課，我都感到很累。
M: That『s right. Even though it『s not that late, I『m ready to hit the sack!
L: 你說什麼？你要去捅一個口袋？Sack不是麻袋嗎？我以為你很累了，而你現在要去運動？
M: No, no. It『s a colloquial saying. I mean I『m going to bed. Sack, here means bed, and hit means going to.
L: 噢，原來to hit the sack是指去睡覺，sack在這裡是指床， hit是去 床上睡覺的意思。 那我要坐下，能不能說 to hit the chair?
M: No, not really. This phrase -- to hit the sack -- has a pretty limited meaning.
L: 喲，to hit the sack只能指去睡覺，別的地方還不能用！那要是我 午想睡個午睡，能不能說：I want to hit the sack?
M: No, it『s usually used to talk about going to bed at night, after a long day at work or school.
L: 午睡也不能用，只能指一天工作和學習後晚上去睡覺。那現在我 已經上了一天的學，再加上晚上上了這堂枯燥無味的課，我可 以說：It『s time for me to hit the sack。 對不對？
M: That『s correct, Li Hua. But don『t forget that we have a test tomorrow.
L: 我當然不會忘掉明天的考試。
M: Ok, now go hit the sack, but after tomorrow『s test we will have to study seriously for next week『s test, no more goofing off.
L: 明天考試後你想好好學習，為下星期的考試作準備。沒問題，我 幫你準備，我們倆都會考得很好。
M: Yeah, I『m going to hit the sack. Bye, Li Hua!
Michael 今天教了李華兩個常用語，一個是：to goof off，意思是做一些無聊的事，開玩笑；另一個是：to hit the sack，這是指晚上上床睡覺。這次[流行美語] 今天就學習到這裡，我們下次節目再見。
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pa17.txt
流行美語第17課
現在大家可能都已經很熟悉Michael和李華了吧！他們倆都在紐約上大學。紐約有許多酒吧都是愛爾蘭移民開的。今天Michael要帶李華去看一個酒吧。Michael在講話時會用兩個常用語：to bum和turn-off。
L: 嗨，這兒好熱鬧啊！Michael， 在愛爾蘭酒吧里大家喝些什麼呢？
M: People normally drink a large beer that is usually served warm.
L: 我可從來沒喝過熱的啤酒，一大杯也喝不了，要一小杯行不行？
M: Well, you can order whatever you want, but I need to bum a couple of dollars, if you don『t mind.
L: 隨便我要什麼都行呀！那好，就來一小杯。對了，你剛才說要是我不在意的話，你想bum a couple of dollars, 那是什麼意思啊？
M: What I mean is, can I borrow a couple of dollars from you.
L: 原來你要問我借幾塊錢！
M: Yes. But don『t use this word for big things. For example, you would not ask your friend, 「Can I bum your car?」
L: 噢，在問別人借大的，象汽車之類的東西時，不能用bum這個字，bum 只能用在問人借小東西的時候。
M: Yeah, it『s usually used when asking for something small, like a piece of gum or candy.
L: 喲，你們美國人，怎麼一片口香糖，一顆糖還要借啊？難道真的還要還嗎？
M: No, small things you don『t need to return, such as gum and candies.
L: 這很重要，因為在這種情況下，我們中國人就不說借了，我們大概會說：給一顆糖吧。
M: You are right Li Hua. But if you feel cold at a friend『s home and you asked to bum a sweater, then you would return it when you were going to leave.
L: 對，要是在朋友家感到冷要借一件毛衣，那一般都應該還的。所以，這要看情況，對不對？
M: Yes, if you will let me bum a couple bucks tonight, I promise to pay you back tomorrow.
L: 行，行，行，就借你兩塊錢，你問服務員要酒吧，我來付錢。可明天別忘了還我。
M: Okay. Two beers please!
L: 我以前有一個朋友，每次跟她一起出去，不管去看電影，還是去 喝咖啡，她總是問我借錢。
M: A girl I used to hang out with acted the same way. Whenever a group of us went out, she would always ask to bum money. It got to be a real turn-off.
L: 你也碰到過這樣的人哪？ 等等，a real turn-off? 這是什麼意思 呀？把什麼東西關掉？
M: No, a turn-off is something that repels someone.
L: 噢， 是一個讓人討厭的什麼東西。 是不是指一個人的性格里有什麼地方讓你不喜歡他？
M: Yes, that『s right. Let me give you an example. Your ex-boyfriend always smoked cigarettes around you, that was a real turn-off.
L: 是啊，我以前的男朋友跟我在一起的時候老是抽煙，那真是討厭。
M: A girl I once dated always interrupted me whenever I was talking. That was a real turn-off.
L: 對，你告訴過我，你從前的女朋友老是打斷你的話，讓你很討厭。 我還有一個朋友把臟衣服在房間里到處亂扔， that was also a turn-off.
M: See, you『ve learned how to use turn-off. By the way, I also have dirty clothes lying around my apartment. Does that bother you?
L: 哼，你也把臟衣服到處亂扔？你要是不打掃乾凈的話，別想請 我到你家去。
M: Ok, I『ll try to clean it up.
各位聽眾，今天李華從Michael 那裡學到了兩個常用語，一個是： to bum，意思是借錢或其他東西；另一個是：a turn-off，意思是讓人討厭的地方。這次就到此結束，下次節目再見。
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pa18.txt
流行美語第18課
大家到現在都認識 Michael這個美國學生了，他不斷在學中文，他很喜歡聽他的中國同學李華講中文。李華呢，在和Michael接觸中也學了不少英文。現在他們倆剛上完課，正從課堂里走出來。今天李華會學到兩個常用語： lucky break和mellow。
L: 今天教授把考捲髮回給我們了，Michael，你考得好嗎？
M: I did much better than I expected. It was a lucky break that I knew most of the answers.
L: 你考得比你預期的好，那太好了。不過，你說什麼又是lucky，又是break的？Lucky不是好運氣嗎？Break是休息，對不對？
M: Lucky break together means something good that happens that you were not expecting.
L: 噢，lucky和break這兩個詞放在一起，它的意思就是沒有預料到的好運氣。Michael，你剛才那句話是怎麼說來著？
M: I said: it was a lucky break that I knew most of the answers.
L: 我懂了。你是說，你沒有想到運氣會那麼好，大多數考題的答案你剛好都知道。
M: Yeah, that『s right. If you understand, give me an example.
L: 哼，我當然懂了，你還要考考我吶？ 那天我開車開的飛快， 警察讓我把車停下來。可是他只給了我一個警告，而沒有給我罰單，我可沒想到會有這種好運氣。這可以說是一個lucky break吧？
M: That was a lucky break. I think it was because the police officer found you attractive.
L: 警察因為看我漂亮才不給我開票？你別開玩笑了！不過，那次可 運氣，否則至少要罰我五十美元。讓我想想還有什麼例子可以 用lucky break這個說法的。
M: Well, the paper that『s due in two days, I.....
L: 對了，教授要我們在兩天後交報告，Michael，你還沒有開始動手 吧！幸好教授推遲了限期，讓我們下星期一交。這對你來說真是個lucky break吧？
M: Let『s go to lunch to celebrate our good luck.
L: 好呀， 去吃午飯，慶祝我們的好運氣。
(Michael和李華到了吃飯的地方)
L: 啊呀，這個地方太鬧了！
M: Yeah, you『re right. It『ll be hard for us to have a conversation here. Let『s go to a place that『s more mellow.
L: 對，在這裡講話都聽不到。到別的地方去吧。Michael，你剛才講什麼more mellow?
M: I said that let『s go to a place that『s more mellow, meaning someplace more calm and relaxing.
L: 噢，more mellow的意思是比較平靜，比較放鬆。那也就是說到一個不太鬧的地方去，對不對？
M: Yeah, you can use the word mellow to describe a person too.
L: Mellow也可以用來形容一個人，那今天我們的教授很平靜，我可不可以說：She was mellow today!
M: Yeah, let『s go the cafe near the library.
L: 太好了，這個地方很安靜。我們來看看菜單。喲，你看，再過五分鐘就開始減價了，三明治今天半價。我們運氣可真好呀！
M: Well, we found the mellow place and we pay half price. Really a lucky break. Worth celebrating too.
L: 對，找到安靜的地方，還只付半價。真值得慶祝。你多吃點吧， 晚飯就別吃了。
M: Ok. Good idea!
這倆個小年輕還在狼吞虎咽地吃三明治。今天他們在講話中用了lucky break 和mellow這兩個常用語，這是美國人在日常生活中經常用的，大家不妨也在口語中試著用用。今天的[流行美語]就到此結束， 謝謝大家，我們下次再見。
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pa19.txt
流行美語第19課
[流行美語]時間又到了。Michael和李華都在紐約上大學。Michael對紐約很熟，因此經常帶李華到一些著名的地方去參觀。今天他倆要去紐約的大都會藝術博物館去聽講演。李華將學到兩個常用語：neat和sharp。
L: Michael，我能夠把你拽著一起去聽這個演講，真不容易。今天講 話的這個人在數學和藝術方面都有博士學位。他講話的題目就 是：數學和藝術的關係。
M: I『m sure the lecture will be really neat.
L: 什麼？ Neat? 那不是整齊，乾凈的意思嗎？
M: No. Neat, it『s a word used here to describe something that is good.
L: 噢，neat在這裡是指某樣東西很好，那你為什麼不直接說好，而 非要說neat呢？
M: Neat is very conversational.
L: Neat這個詞很口語化！那是不是任何時候我要說什麼東西好都可以 用neat這個詞吶？
M: Neat can be used to describe an idea, a concept.
L: Neat可以用來指一個好的主意，好的概念。今天講演的內容就是 數學和藝術的會合。這是一個很好的概念。
M: Well, Li Hua, you find the concept interesting, right?
L: 對，我覺得這個概念很有意思。
M: Well, if it holds your interest and you like the idea, then you can call it neat.
L: 噢，只要我有興趣，覺得是個好主意，我就可以說： That『s neat!
M: You『re right.
L: 如果我跟一些朋友出去玩，有人建議去喝茶，聊天。要是我覺得 很好的話，我也可以說：That『s a neat idea.
M: Certainly. Hey, we are running pretty late. Let『s hurry up.
L: 喲，對了，太晚了。趕快走吧！
(演講之後)
L: 我覺得他講得真好。我從來沒有想到數學和藝術有那麼多關係。 他講得很清楚。現在我對這個題目懂了好多。
M: Yeah, I really agree. The speaker was really intelligent, you could say he is sharp.
L: Sharp，不是指一把刀快不快的意思嗎？ 那天有 個人說我很sharp， 當時我也不懂他是什麼意思。那麼說，他是在說我好咯！
M: Absolutely！Sharp is an adjective that can be used to describe a person who is really smart.
L: 你是說，sharp這個詞可以用來形容一個非常聰明的人，也就是 腦子很敏銳的人。那我們的朋友王濤總是得到好分數，我可以 說：He『s very sharp。
M: He certainly is.
L: 那這個詞sharp是不是跟形容刀快不快的sharp是同一個字呢？
M: Same word.
L: 你能不能用sharp這個詞來指一本很好的書？
M: No, it is not used to describe things, only people. You could not call my apartment sharp.
L: 噢，sharp用在這個意思的時候只能形容人，不能指東西。我還不 能說你的宿舍很sharp。 Michael，你那宿舍亂得象豬窩，怎麼打掃 也稱不上sharp了。
M: I know. My mother said the same thing.
L: 你看，我沒說錯吧！連你媽都這麼說。不過，Michael，儘管我老 是跟你開玩笑，我倒覺得你很sharp，腦子很清楚，很快。
M: Thanks, Li Hua. I think you『re very sharp too.
今天李華在跟Michael的談話中學到了兩個常用語， 一個是neat，意思是很好的主意，很好的計劃；另一個是 sharp，意思是一個人腦子很聰明。這次[流行美語]就到此結束，謝謝大家和我們一起學習，下次節目再見。
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pa20.txt
流行美語第20課
Michael和李華今天坐地鐵去書店買書。現在他們正在地鐵上。Michael今天會教李華兩個常用語：jerk和street smart。
L: Michael, 我們是這一站下車嗎？
M: Yeah.
L: 喲，這人怎麼回事呀，直往人群里擠。在紐約，一般人都會站在 一邊好讓別人下車。
M: People are usually a lot more courteous. That one guy was a real jerk.
L: 對，人們一般都很有禮貌的。那個人真是討厭。你剛才說他是什 么來著？
M: Jerk. Jerk is someone who is mean and inconsiderate.
L: 原來Jerk就是很粗魯，不顧別人的人。那依我看哪，好多人都是 jerk。有的人開車，在靠近別人車子很近的地方硬要擠到別人前面 去。這些人也可以說是jerks，對嗎？
M: They certainly are. But be careful, this word is very mean.
L: 噢，叫人jerk是很不禮貌的，那用這個詞的時候可真是要小心。 Michael，謝謝你告訴我，否則我要是隨便叫人jerk，那就會出問題 了。
M: See that man across the street? The one who『s shouting and yelling at the little girl? He must be a real jerk.
L: 看見了。一個大人對著那麼小的女孩大叫大嚷，絕對是個討厭的 人。Michael，雖然你有時候也很討厭，不過我想你還沒到那個程度。
M: Well, thanks, I guess.
L: Michael，我從來沒有在這個站下過車。我們該往哪兒走呀？
M: To the right, this way.
L: 往右拐？ 你知道書店在哪裡嗎？ 好吧，那我就跟著你走。
嗨，Michael，你以前沒去那個書店買過書，你怎麼知道它在哪兒 呢？你好象什麼地方都認識，總是知道要往那裡走。
M: Well, I grew up in the city. I guess you could say I『m street smart.
L: 我知道你是在紐約長大的。你說你是street smart？Street是街道， smart是聰明，這兩個詞放在一起是什麼意思呀？
M: It means I know how city life operates, I know how to deal with different situations.
L: Street smart就是知道在大城市生活該怎麼處置一些事情，應該如何 應付各種不同的情況。那麼，street smart是不是和保護自己，不要被 壞人襲擊也有關係哪？
M: Yes, being street smart also means you know how to be careful, for example, at night time.
L: 噢，street smart也是指一個人知道應該怎樣小心，例如夜晚在外 面活動的時候。要是你在紐約，或在北京都知道在地鐵上如何防 止小偷，那也能稱為street smart，是不是？
M: Yes, that would be street smart. For instance, if you walk at night, you『ve got to be alert if anyone is behind you.
L: 對，晚上在外面走路是要注意後面有沒有人，有的話，要觀察這 個人是不是另有企圖。Michael，你去中國好幾次了，你在中國是 不是也很street smart？ 比如說，在中國買東西的時候往往可以討 價還價。你是一個外國人，他們大概會對你提高價格吧？
M: No way, I had heard about that before I went to
L: 原來你去中國前已經聽說了，所以你知道怎麼樣和別人討價還價。 Michael，我發現你非常street smart，也不是一個jerk。
今天李華學到了兩個常用語，一個是：jerk；另一個是：street smart。這次[流行美語]就學習到這裡，下次節目再見。
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pa21.txt
流行美語第21課
在紐約上大學的Michael明天要考試，可是他的中國同學李華一定要他去參加一個聚會。李華今天學到的兩個常用語是：hit 和to roll。
L：Michael，你答應跟我一起來參加聚會，我得謝謝你呀！ 你知道嗎，我不太習慣在這種場合和那些不認識的人交談。 嗨， Michael，那不是你的朋友Steve嗎？我聽說，只要有party 他一定參加。
M：Yeah, he『s the hit of all these parties.
L：他是什麼？Hit？ Hit不是打人嗎？
M：No, "hit" here means he is the most popular person at these parties. "Hit" is a word used to describe someone or something that makes a favorable impression.
L：啊呀，英文可真難學。一個詞在這裡是這個意思，在那裡又變了意思。你說的hit是指大家都很喜歡的人。那hit用做這個意思的時候能指東西嗎？
M：Yeah, things can also be called a hit. For instance, you can say "that song is a hit with teenagers".
L：對了，有的歌曲非常熱門，這也能稱為hit。 你剛才說：「That song is a hit with teeangers」， 意思是：「青少年特別喜歡的一首歌。」 這麼說，「年輕人喜歡的一首歌」就是。。。
M：That song is a hit with young people.
L： 一個受歡迎的電視節目也能說是hit嗎？
M：Yes, you can! A hit TV program.
L：Michael， 我聽說好多女孩兒都很喜歡你！
M：No, that『s not true!
L：我認識的女孩都說你很帥！我想她們那麼喜歡你，你恐怕還不知道自己是a hit with girls！
M：Oh, stop it, Li Hua! You『re embarrassing me.
L：喲，你還會不好意思吶！得了，去拿點東西吃吧，我餓了。
Music bridge
L：Michael， 我們來了有兩個小時了吧！ 我倒是認識了幾個很有意思的人。
M：Yeah, the people here are pretty cool, but I『m getting tired. I『ve got a test tomorrow that I haven『t prepared for yet. Do you think we can go pretty soon?
L：對，這兒的人都挺好。怎麼啦，你累了，想走了？我知道， 你還沒有準備好明天的考試。其實，我也有點累了。我們隨時都可以走。
M：Okay, let『s roll!
L：什麼？ Let『s roll？ 滾回去啊？
M：Oh no, "let『s roll" here means "let『s leave!"
L：To roll也能表示要離開？
M：Yes, if you『re doing one thing, you can say "to roll" when you want to start something new.
L：等等，讓我看看我是不是懂你的意思了。要是你在做一件事，過了一會兒，你不想繼續做下去，而是想做別的事了，這時你就可以說to roll。
M：That『s correct.
L：怪不得上次開舞會的時候，我們班上的那個高個子George 對他的女朋友說：Let『s roll！ 後來我聽說他們去看電影了。當時我還聽不懂let『s roll是什麼意思。
M："Let『s roll" is very popular, especially among young people. Well, Li Hua, I really do think it『s time to roll.
L：好吧。不過，剛才跟我說話的那個人告訴我，一會兒有一位名歌手會來唱歌。Michael，等他唱完一首歌再走，好不好？
M ：A hit singer will be coming? I『d like to stay, but I really have to prepare for my test.
L：那好吧！
M+L：Let『s roll!
Music bridge
今天李華學的一個常用語是：hit， 這是指受歡迎的，人們喜歡的人或東西；另一個常用語是：to roll， 也就是開始準備做一件事。這次[流行美語]就學習到這裡，下次節目再見。
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pa22.txt
流行美語第22課
Michael是個美國學生，在紐約上大學。他的一個要好同學是從中國大陸來的李華。今天Michael剛好在校園裡碰到李華。李華會在談話中學到兩個常用語：couch potato和nuts。
L：嗨，Michael, 你上哪兒去呀？
M：I『m going to meet Jon at the subway. You『ve met Jon, haven『t you?
L：嗯，是不是上次在一次party上你給我介紹的那個帶眼鏡的人？
M：Yes. I want to drag him out to do something. You know, he『s such a couch potato.
L：他是什麼？ Couch potato? 什麼是couch potato? 他愛吃土豆？
M：No, couch potato is an expression used to describe someone who sits in front of the TV all the time eating junk food, such as potato chips.
L：噢，原來coach potato是指一個人老坐在電視機前吃零食。 這個常用語挺有趣。那couch potato是不是只能指人呀？
M：Yes, it is only used to describe people, those who are lazy and unmotivated.
L：噢，只能指人，指那些懶懶散散，沒有動力的人。好，下回我就叫我哥哥couch potato。他老是看電視，一看就看到三更半夜，吃的東西撒在地毯上，沙發上，到處都是。
M：My father『s like that too. My mother is always angry with him. But he doesn『t care.
L：喲，你爸爸也是這樣呀！要我是你媽，我也會生氣的。
M：But sometimes, after a really hard week at school, I also just want to collapse and be a couch potato.
L：一個星期在學校念書實在很累了，回家當一回couch potato， 我想這還是可以的，只要不是每天這樣就行了。
M： Yes, I agree. Li Hua, would you like to join us? Jon and I are going to play tennis.
L：你們要打網球呀，那太好了，我正在學打網球吶。
M：That『s wonderful. You know, some people think I『m nuts to have a friend like Jon.
L：有的人認為你是什麼？ Nuts？Nuts不是花生，杏仁那樣的果仁嗎？你跟Jon交朋友跟吃花生有什麼關係呀？
M：No, nuts here means someone who is crazy.
L：原來nuts在這裡是說一個人做的事很怪。大概就象中文裡說的：你瘋啦！對嗎？
M：That『s right. Jon can be rude, and he also argues a lot. Sometimes he does drive me nuts.
L：他看起來不象會對別人無禮，愛跟人爭論的人哪！你剛才說drives me nuts 是什麼意思啊？
M：Drives me nuts means he makes me crazy.
L：噢，還可以說drive me nuts， 或者是drive someone nuts。嗨，Michael， 那天我上移民局去辦手續，排隊好長，我站了一小時，我真是火死了。我能說：They drove me nuts 嗎？
M：Of course. You know, my mother used to make me clean my room every night when I was in high school and that drove me nuts.
L：你念中學的時候你媽媽每天晚上要你打掃房間？那是有點受不了。嗨，Michael，你認識我的朋友張紅嗎？
M：Oh, yes, she is nuts. She spent $200 for a dress, and it『s ugly.
L：對，張紅這個人是有點問題，化兩百美元買件難看的衣服。不過，Michael，你總是批評別人買的東西。 You sometimes drive me nuts too.
M：Li Hua, I think you are learning these words too fast.
今天李華學了兩個常用語，一個是：couch potato，指那些常坐著看電視，吃零食的人；另一個是：nuts，就是說一個人不正常，做的事很怪。今天的[流行美語]就到此結束，再見。
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pa23.txt
流行美語第23課
[流行美語]又和大家見面了。Michael這個美國學生今天好象什麼事都不太順當。他的中國同學李華也發現他好象有心事。到底是什麼事呢？你聽了Michael和李華的對話就知道了。他們在對話中會用到兩個美國年輕人常用的說法， 一個是to bomb；另一個是to mess up。
L: Michael, 怎麼啦？你好象有心事。
M: I think I just bombed my history test. I don『t think I『m going to pass.
L: 噢，你怕剛才歷史測驗會不及格。嗨，沒必要，這又不是大考。 Michael，你剛才說什麼"bombed my history test"，bomb不是炸彈，或 是爆炸嗎？你可不要開這樣的玩笑，現在大家對安全問題都很敏感。
M: No, I said I bombed my test, that means I did very poorly, and probably will get a very low mark.
L: 考得不好，分數低，這我都聽懂了，就是那個詞bomb用在這裡 有點怪。我想，這就是中文裡說的考試考糊了。那除了考試外還 能用在哪裡呢？
M: Well, sometimes we might say a movie or a play "bombed". That means that no one wanted to see it, and it probably lost a lot of money.
L: 噢，還可以指電影，或話劇太次，沒有人要看，賣座率太低。我上 星期去看了一次電影，劇院里沒幾個人。後來我才看到報紙評論 說這部電影太糟了。我能不能說："The movie I saw last week bombed"?
M: Sounds like it bombed to me. Remember the play we went to a few weeks ago? The actors were terrible!
L: 對，你說幾個星期前去看的那場話劇，有幾個話劇演員簡直是 太糟了。That play really bombed! 我說得對不對？
M: Absolutely! Hey listen, Li Hua, can we please change the subject? I don『t want to think about failure right now. What would you like to eat? It『s my treat.
L: 你不要再談這種喪氣的事情，沒問題！要請我吃飯，行，我 吃沙拉和三明治。不過，Michael，你真是得省點錢，要是老是考 試不及格，研究院會把你開除的！
M: Please! Don『t mention tests!
L: 跟你開玩笑嘛！
M: Ah, here『s my hamburger. Ack! They messed up my order! There are onions on this burger!
L: 你說什麼呀？ 他們把你的漢堡包怎麼啦？
M: I told them not to put onions on my burger, but they forgot. Therefore I said that they "messed up my order". I can also just say "they messed up."
L: 噢，你叫他們不要放洋蔥，他們忘了。所以，to mess up就是做 錯了事，對嗎？
M: That『s right. Also, "to mess up something" can mean to break or damage something.
L: 噢，to mess up something還可以指把什麼東西弄壞了。昨天，和 我同房間的學生問我借自行車，等她還我的時候，自行車的鏈子 斷了。我是不是可以說："She messed up my bike"？
M: Sure! Hey, you『d better tell her to buy you a new chain.
L: 對啊，我是讓她去買新鏈子，可是她說都是我不好讓她差一點沒 出嚴重的車禍。
M: What? She broke your bicycle, and she『s angry at you? That『s just wrong!
L: 她就是那樣的人，上回她把借來的電視機給弄壞了。
M: She messed up the TV she borrowed? You don『t need a roommate like her.
L: 雖然她弄壞了我的自行車，其他方面她還是很好的。嗨， Michael，你能幫我修自行車嗎？
M: Well, I『m really out of luck today. I bombed my test, they messed up my burger, and now I have to repair your bike!
L: 這也算什麼倒霉呀！沒幾分鐘你就修好了。我先謝謝你了！
M: Ok, ok!
今天李華學到兩個常用語，一個是：to bomb，另一個是：to mess up。這次[流行美語]就到此結束， 我們下次節目再見。
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pa24.txt
流行美語第24課
李華是在紐約上大學的中國學生。現在她正在和Michael這個美國學生談有關她學習方面的問題。今天Michael 會教李華兩個常用語：to take a hike 和 to blow off。
L: Michael，我真煩死了，我們那個經濟學教授非要我們分成小組來完成一個項目，可小組裡一個同學嘛一聲不啃，另一個我說什麼他都反對。
M: If I were you, I would have told him to take a hike.
L: 你要對他說什麼？ Take a hike? 是什麼意思啊？
M: Take a hike is to tell someone to leave, or to tell someone to leave you alone.
L: Take a hike就是叫誰走開，或者是告訴某人不要來打攪我。對嗎？
M: That『s correct. In fact, you told me there『s that one guy who always bothers you in the study hall. You should tell him to take a hike.
L: 我知道你在說誰。我在自修室里念書的時候，那個人經老是要來跟 我說話。可是他往往很不客氣。
M: Why don『t you tell him to take a hike?
L: 我不好意思對別人說這種話。 那樣很不禮貌，是不是？
M: Sometimes you can use "take a hike" in a joking manner. For instance, when my friend kept teasing me about the way I dressed the other day, I told him to take a hike.
L: 我那天是聽見你那朋友在笑話你穿的衣服，可是，當時你說take a hike，我不知道是什麼意思。現在想起來，你好象是用開玩笑的口氣說的。
M: Li Hua, give me an example. I want to see if you know how to use it.
L: 哼，你要考我！ Michael, 你經常跟我開玩笑，說我老買衣服，下次你再要這樣，我就要對你說：Take a hike.
M: Yes, Li Hua, I suppose you could.
L: Michael, 你昨晚上不是說好要跟Bob去看電影嗎？你怎麼一個晚上都呆在家裡呢？
M: Bob and I did make plans to go out last night. But he blew me off. He decided to go out with his girlfriend. It wasn『t the first time he blew me off.
L: 原來說好去看電影，到最後一分鐘打電話給你說要和女朋友出去 玩。Michael，你剛才說了兩遍blew me off ? 是不是取消原定約會的意思？
M: Yes, to blow off means to break off plans you had with someone.
L: 也就是說你和Bob約好去看電影，可是他為了跟女朋友玩而把你給甩了。
M: You『re right.
L: To blow off 還能用在什麼場合呢？
M: If someone has been friendly to you in the past, but he suddenly seems to ignore you, you can say that person blew you off.
L: 噢，to blow off 還可以指某人突然對你很冷淡。
M: Yes. For instance, when I was at a party last weekend,
L: Nancy上個周末在聚會上看見你好象不認識你？這不可能，她不是跟你很好的嗎？
M: Yes, but that『s ok. Li Hua, you can also use this phrase to talk about things you blow off, such as something you don『t want to do.
L: 我不想做什麼事，也可以用to blow off。我不是告訴你我不想參加 那經濟學的小組嗎？可是，要是我blow it off，我這門課就會不及格。
M: Yeah, there are some things in life you just shouldn『t blow off.
L: 唉，生活中有些事是非得做的，就象和你一起吃午飯一樣。
M: Oh, Li Hua, take a hike.
在今天的對話中，Michael教了李華兩個常用語，一個是：take a hike，意思是叫某人走開；另一個是to blow off，這是指取消約會，或者是不做自己不想做的事。這次的[流行美語]就到此結束，我們下次再會。
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pa25.txt
流行美語第25課
李華是在紐約上大學的中國學生。今天她的美國同學Michael 陪她練習開車，準備去考駕照。他們在路上幾次遇到驚險的情況，儘管這樣， 李華還是學到了兩個常用語，一個是：cop; 另一個是：to freak out.
M：Your driving is getting better, Li Hua. Hey, you『d better slow down. This is a 35 mile per hour zone.
L：這地區每小時只能開35英里呀？我是不是開太快啦？喲，我的天吶，警察車跟在我後面，那怎麼辦吶？
M：Calm down, Li Hua. Just find a parking lot and stop the car. The cop will follow us, and come over to your window to talk to you.
L：哪兒有停車的地方呀！ 行，就停在這裡吧！你剛才說誰會過來跟我說話？是警察嗎？
M：That『s right. "Cop" means police officer.
L：警察要來跟我說話！我會不會倒霉呀？我該怎麼辦呢？
M：Calm down! Sometimes the cops stop people just to warn them, not to give them a ticket. You weren『t going very fast anyway.
L： 你說警察可能過來只是警告我一下，不一定會給我罰單呀？但願如此，我好象是沒有開太快。Michael, 你剛才說「cops", 那警車裡到底有幾個警察呀？
M：When I say "the cops", I mean the police in general. I『m not talking about any cop in particular.
L：噢，cop 這個名詞用複數的時候，cops, 可以總的指警察，而不是指某個警察。 我就把車停這兒吧。 Michael, 我能稱呼警察「cop」嗎？
M：No! The word "cop" is too informal. You should show respect when talking to the cops. Call him "officer", don『t call him "cop"!
L：天哪！原來「cop」是很隨便的稱呼，你幹嗎不早告訴我呀！我可不要惹警察生氣！
M：Li Hua, don『t worry. I『m sure this isn『t very serious.
M：See, Li Hua, I was right. The cop didn『t give you a ticket.
L：謝天謝地，他沒有給我罰單。 他要罰我好多錢的話，那我就糟糕了。
M：I told you not to freak out. If a cop sees that you are nervous, he will be even more suspicious of you.
L：你告訴我什麼？叫我別下車？
M：No, I told you not to "freak out". "Freak out" means to panic or to act crazy and excited.
L：是啊， 我經常聽到一些人說 freak out， 原來是指過於激動，顯得非常緊張。對不對？
M：That『s right. Actually, I was the one who should have been freaking out!
L：你才該感到緊張？為什麼？
M：Because this is my car, and you only have a learner『s permit. I『d be responsible if you got in trouble.
L：這我就不懂了。是的，這是你的車，我只有一張學開車的許可證。可是，我開車出了問題，為什麼警察會怪你呀？你為什麼要freak out？
M：Hey! Li Hua, look out for that car!
L：Don『t freak out, Michael. 我看見那輛車了。不過，那車差一點就撞到我們了！
M：Oh, man! that was close! That guy is crazy! I wish the cops were here to see that!
L：對，剛才是夠險的，警察要看到他那麼開車，准要給他罰單。不過，今天已經和警察打過交道了，夠了。再要跟cops打交道，那我可真是要freak out了。
M：Me too. Now, drive carefully!
今天這兩個年輕人真是夠驚險的。不過，李華學到了兩個非常有用的辭彙: cop, 警察；to freak out，非常緊張和激動。這次<流行美語>到此結束，我們下次再會。
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pa26.txt
流行美語第26課
大家可能還記得Michael 這個美國學生以往幾次考試都考糟了，這一次情況可大不相同。今天他和他的中國同學李華約好了在圖書館見面。李華會學到兩個常用語，一個是：to ace；另一個是：peanuts。
L: 嗨， Michael，今天考得怎麼樣？
M: Not bad! I aced today『s history test!
L: 你歷史測驗又考糟啦？那你還那麼高興！
M: No, Li Hua, I didn『t bomb my test. I said "I aced the test". I did very well on it!
L: 你考得很好，那太好了，Michael！最近你每天都到圖書館來念書， 我知道你會考得比以前好的。你剛才用的是哪個字啊？
M: Ace. Here, ace is a verb, and you can add a "d" to make it past tense.
L: 噢，在這裡，ace是個動詞，過去時就是在後面加一個字母 "d"，變成 了aced。這個字是不是和撲克牌里的那張牌A，或者叫「尖子」的那 張牌一樣的呢？
M: That『s right. The "ace" card is usually the highest value in a card game. Therefore, "ace" means to do well.
L: 對，在玩撲克的時候ace往往是價值最高的一張牌，所以ace就是 指某件事做的很好。那ace作為動詞還能用在什麼場合呢？
M: Usually we can use "ace" to describe how we did on a test, or on things similar to tests. For example, I can say I aced my last job interview.
L: 噢，一般都用在和測驗考試之類的情況，你上次找工作去面談談 得很好也能用「ace" 這個詞。再說一遍你剛才說的那句話，好 嗎？
M: I aced my last job interview.
L: 你大概回答問題答得很好，所以老闆就要你了。
M: That『s right. Li Hua, if someone is very good at something, we can call him an "ace". I can say, for example, you are an ace at taking tests.
L: I『m an ace at taking tests, 你說我非常會考試！這也不見得，我考糊 的時候也有的。不過，比你少一點就是了。
M: Yes, you『re right!
L: Michael, 借我$.75 買杯咖啡好嗎？
M: Well, okay. Li Hua, how much money do you earn as a teaching assistant, if you don『t mind my asking?
L: 你當然不在意你問我賺多少錢。 當助教的工資很低，才8美元一 小時。
M: Eight dollars? That『s peanuts!
L: Peanuts? Peanuts不是花生嗎？你是什麼意思呀？
M: That『s really not much! You only make eight dollars an hour? Your wages are very low, so I said that『s "peanuts"!
L: 原來你的意思是我的工資很低。你說的peanuts是不是和我們吃的 花生一個字嗎？
M: That『s right.
L: 我在想另外找個工作呢。我的同學王燕在圖書館工作，一個小時 就有十美元。
M: That『s still peanuts compared with the teaching assistants in other departments. I make about 13 dollars an hour as a graduate assistant.
L: 喲，你一個小時賺13美元吶！ 真不公平，你賺那麼多錢，而我 只賺peanuts.
M: I don『t see how you can live on so little money.
L: 賺那麼點錢是怎麼過的日子呀？我還有獎學金吶，每個月給我四 百美元生活費。
M: Too bad you don『t really make peanuts, at least you can eat those...
L: 你真想要我賺花生，靠吃花生過日子呀。Michael, 你真廢話！
M: I『m just kidding!
今天李華學到兩個常用語，一個是：to ace，就是某件事做得很好，特別是象考試之類的事；另一個是：peanuts，這裡不是指花生，而是指數量很小，價值很低。今天的[流行美語]就學習到這裡，我們下次節目再見。
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pa27.txt
流行美語第27課
Michael和李華都為今天的考試苦苦準備了整整一個星期。他們倆剛考完，都覺得自己考得不錯。倆人決定去看一場電影，輕鬆輕鬆。李華會學到兩個常用語，一個是：buck; 另一個是：whatever。
M: Li Hua, are you going to get any snacks before the movie begins?
L: 你說什麼？噢，電影還沒有開場，你問我要不要買點吃的？嗯， 我本想買一杯可樂，可是買了票，沒錢了，算了吧！
M: Don『t worry about it! I『ll buy you one. It『s only a few bucks.
L: 你說什麼？一杯可樂不是$2.75嗎？你說 "only a few bucks"?
M: Yes. "Buck" is an informal way to say "dollar".
L: 喲，"buck" 就是"dollar"！是非正式的名稱。 嗨，昨天我要買一塊 糖，你給我一美元，那我就可以說：「You gave me a buck"，對不 對？
M: That『s right. And the other day, I lent you a few bucks for lunch. And last week, you borrowed ten bucks so you could buy a chemistry textbook, and...
L: 得啦， 你用不著提醒我，我知道，那天借了你幾塊錢吃午飯， 上星期借你十塊錢買化學書，不就是借了兩回嗎！你怎麼啦，怕 我不還？
M: No, I『m not reminding you, I just wanted to give you some examples.
L: 得了吧！要給我舉例子，跟錢有關的事多著呢，為什麼非要舉我 問你借錢的例子！
M: Ok, don『t be mad at me. Hey, since you now know what "buck" means, why don『t you give me an example.
L: 要我給你舉個例子，行，那還不容易呀！ 你看我這件毛衣，款 式很新型，純毛的，還是名牌，你猜多錢？Five bucks！
M: Five bucks! I can『t believe it!
L: 清倉大減價嘛！ 可是，Michael，我去商店的時候，停車停錯了地 方，吃了一張罰票， it costs me 50 bucks!
M: Oh! So your sweater actually costs you 55 bucks! That『s expensive!
L: 真倒霉！得了，別說了。去買可樂吧！電影都快開場了。
(Michael和李華看完電影以後)
L: Michael，這電影可真棒！
M: What? Are you kidding? That was the stupidest movie I『ve ever seen. I would have rather spent the seven bucks on a good meal.
L: 你從來沒看過這麼傻的電影？你寧可花這七塊錢去好好吃頓飯！ Michael, 你真怪！我非常喜歡Piers Brosnan，他長得多帥呀！
M: Handsome? Whatever! He『s got to be over 50 years old now!
L: Michael, 你說 「whatever"，在這裡是什麼意思呀？比如說：You can buy whatever you want." 意思是：你想買什麼都行。可是，你 剛才說一個字「 whatever」，口氣不同，好象意思也不一樣。
M: The word "whatever" I said is the same as in your example， But when someone says "whatever" like this: "whatever," he is being sarcastic. He thinks what you just said is nonsense.
L: 噢，原來是這麼回事。你說的whatever和我舉的例子里的 whatever 是一個字, 可是，說的語調不一樣就表示說話的人在諷 刺對方，認為對方說的是廢話。好，又學會一個詞。不過， Michael，你不喜歡這部電影是不是你認為Piers Brosnan不夠帥？ 你 是妒忌他吧？
M: Whatever! Piers Brosnan is an old man and he『s getting fat. I couldn『t possibly be jealous of him.
L: 得了吧！對，Piers Brosnan年級不小了，也比以前胖了。可是我 認為他還是很帥。你自己不也比以前胖了嘛。
M: I『m fat? Whatever! This movie was a waste of seven bucks!
L: 唉，非要說看這部電影是浪費七塊美元。 得了，Michael, 你還是 省點錢吧，沒準我下回還要問你借呢！
M: Whatever!
李華今天學到了兩個常用語，一個是：buck，這是指美元；另一個常用語就是：whatever，這是表示說話的人對對方說的話很不以為然，就象中文裡說的「得了吧」。這次[流行美語]就學習到這裡，我們下次節目再見。
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pa28.txt
流行美語第28課
今天是星期六，Michael和李華到購物中心去買東西。李華喜歡買衣服，Michael喜歡看電腦, 所以他們決定各自先去買東西，然後中午在吃飯的地方碰頭。今天李華會學到兩個常用語：to rip off和straight answer。
L: 嗨， Michael, 在這兒！
M: Hi, Li Hua! Hey, what did you buy?
L: 今天我真高興，你看，買了那麼多衣服才花了我七十五美元。那 店要關門了，東西全都半價。Michael, 你買了什麼？
M: I bought a pair of tennis shoes. When I bought them, I thought it was a good deal, but later I saw the same pair at another store for much less. I got ripped off.
L: 你買了一雙網球鞋。讓我看看。挺好的嘛！Michael, 你剛才說的 最後一句話我沒有聽懂，什麼是got ripped off? 是不是上當受騙的 意思？
M: Yes, to be ripped off means to be cheated.
L: 你看，我還猜對了。Michael, 你為什麼不把買的網球鞋去退掉， 再到便宜的店去買呢？
M: I wanted to do that, but when I went back to the first store, I saw a sign that said "All Sales are Final". So, I guess there『s nothing I can really do about it.
L: 喲，還不讓退貨，這可真倒霉。那你買鞋的時候怎麼沒看見不讓 退貨的牌子呢？
M: I was just too eager to buy these shoes. If you buy something and then find out that it is of poor quality, you can also say you were ripped off.
L: 噢，買了東西後發現質量很差也可以說to be riffed off。對了，我上 個月從網上買了一部DVD電影，可是我在看電影的時候好幾次都卡住 了，害得我連結尾都沒看上。
M: I guess I『m not the only one who got ripped off.
L: 買東西真是要小心。得了，我們去買飯吧！
(Michael和李華吃完飯以後)
L: 時間不早了，該回去了。搭地鐵去吧！
M: Sure! That was fun, Li Hua, but I have to stop spending so much money.
L: 我也不該花那麼多錢。嗨，Michael, 你不是申請去一個公司實習， 他們會付你一些工資的嗎？那他們有沒有決定要僱用你啊？
M: No, they just keep telling me that they will let me know soon. I wish the company would just give me a straight answer.
L: Straight answer? 是什麼意思啊？
M: Well, if you are looking for a straight answer, that means you want someone to give you a direct answer and tell you the truth.
L: 噢，straight answer就是直接了當，或者是實事求是的回答。
M: That『s right. For instance, I could see that my last roommate was unhappy living in our apartment, I asked him why, but I could never get him to give me a straight answer.
L: 為什麼你以前同宿舍的人既不高興和你住在一起可是又不告訴你 真正的原因呢？後來他不是搬出去了嗎？
M: Yes, he did give me a straight answer after he moved out. It turned out he wanted to move in with his girlfriend.
L: 他搬出去以後才老實地告訴你他是要搬去和女朋友一起住。 我 還以為他不喜歡你把屋子弄得亂糟糟的呢。
M: Li Hua, I think you are the only one who is bothered by that. Well, this is our stop. Do you still want to come over to my messy apartment? Give me a straight answer.
L: 我才不信只有我一個人批評你把屋子弄得亂七八糟。不管你家亂 不亂，我當然得去呀，我的書還在你哪裡嘛！
今天李華學到兩個常用語，一個是：to rip off，意思是受騙，上當；另一個是：straight answer，意思是坦率，老實的回答。 這次[流行美語]就到此結束，我們下次再見。
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pa29.txt
流行美語第29課
大家都知道Michael這個美國學生正在學中文。他和中國學生李華約好每個星期至少在一起活動一次。今天他們決定到一個公園去滑冰。李華會學到兩個常用語：loser 和to bug。
L: 今天的天氣真好呀！正是運動的好天氣。我已經好久都沒有滑冰 了。
M: You『re a very good skater. I just keep falling down.
L: 學滑冰總是會摔跤的。多練習練習就好了。
M: I know, but I feel like such a loser. I keep getting passed by little kids. They laugh at me.
L: 小孩肯定比我們滑得快，別怕他們笑話你。你剛才說你覺得自己 是什麼？ Loser? 滑冰又不是比賽，怎麼會輸掉呢？
M: I said I feel like a loser, it means that I feel like a failure. It doesn『t mean I lost a game.
L: 你是說loser就是一個人做某件事總是做不好。嗯， 我們在中文 里常說：「我怎麼老學不好，真是個笨蛋」。這跟loser的意思 差不多吧？不過，Michael，我肯定你在滑冰方面不是個笨蛋，你只 要多練習就行了。
M: Thanks for the encouragement, Li Hua. But I『ve always been kind of a loser at sports. Growing up, I was always picked last for the baseball and soccer teams.
L: 原來你在體育方面從小就不行。不過，Michael， 在其他方面你 一點也不笨。
M: What do you mean, Li Hua?
L: 這還不明白嗎？女孩子都很喜歡你呀，你還有其他好多朋友呀。
M: You『re right, I do have a lot of friends. But if they could see how many times I fell down today, I『m sure they would not want be friends with such a loser.
L: 得了吧，Michael，要說笨蛋，那天晚上我們見到的那個人才是呢。 他自以為挺帥，老是想去和女孩子搭訕，可是，誰都知道他是個 沒出息的人，誰都不要和他交朋友。Michael，我們能叫這種人 loser嗎？
M: Yeah, very good, Li Hua. That guy really is a loser. He never studies at all. I think he『s in college just to party.
L: 他從來不念書呀？Michael，你還滑不滑？
M: I guess so...Just wait up for me, in case I fall down again. Okay, let『s go!
(滑完冰以後)
L: Michael，運動一下真舒服。
M: Yeah, you had been bugging me about going skating for so long, I guess it was about time that I came along with you.
L: 什麼是bugging ? Bug不是小蟲子嗎？
M: No, bugging means to bother or annoy someone about something. I didn『t mean it in a serious way, I was just kidding.
L: 噢，to bug就是為了某件事去麻煩別人，讓人討厭。 Michael, 你 再舉一個例子好嗎？
M: Sure. You can say that something is bugging you, such as an assignment that you haven『t been able to finish or a problem that you cannot solve. You could also...
L: 等等，讓我先弄清楚你說的。你是說，我沒能完成的功課， 或者解決不了的問題都可以用to bug這個動詞。那就是說："This assignment is bugging me"，或者是：「This problem is bugging me"，對 不對？
M: Yes, you can also say that a habit someone has really bugs you.
L: 我知道，象Mary，她老是打斷我說話，讓我很煩，很討厭。
M: You could say "It really bugs me when Mary interrupts me in the middle of a sentence." I can also say it really bugs me when you try to tell me what to do.
L: 嗨，我告訴你該怎麼做是為了你好。老實說，it bugs me that you never listen to me.
M: It seems that you『ve learned how to use "loser" and "to bug". Let『s go home.
李華今天學了一個名詞「loser"，指一個人老是不會做某件事；她還學了一個動詞「to bug"，意思是為了一件事老是去麻煩別人，讓人討厭。這次這次[流行美語]就學習到這裡，我們下次再見。
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pa30.txt
流行美語第30課
Michael這個美國學生由於各方面的壓力太大而情緒不太好。 今天他想去找李華一起出去放鬆放鬆。現在他正在敲李華的門。Michael會教李華兩個常用語：to play hooky和to snap。
L：Michael，你在這兒幹什麼？你不是有課嗎？
M：Yes, I『m supposed to be in class right now. But I didn『t read the assignment for class today, and I just didn『t feel like going, so I decided to play hooky.
L：你真夠嗆，沒看今天上課的材料就不想去上課，還想在家玩什麼遊戲！什麼是hooky呀？
M：No, to play hooky means to skip class.
L：噢，原來to play hooky是指逃學，曠課。我還以為是玩什麼遊戲呢！Michael, 你要進來坐會兒嗎？
M：Actually, I was going to the student center to hang out and have lunch. I was wondering if you would like to come with me.
L：你要到學生中心那兒去看看，然後再吃午飯呀？我跟你一起去，我本來就要去吃午飯。不過，我只有一個小時的時間，下午我得去工作。
M：It seems like you have been working a lot lately. I have an idea! Why don『t you call in to work and tell them you『re sick! You can also play hooky from work.
L：我最近工作是很忙。Michael，你的意思是讓我打電話給工作的地方說我生病，這樣就可以不去上班？這也可以說是to play hooky?
M：Yes, you can play hooky from school or from work.
L：你可真能出餿主意！自己逃學還不算，還要我裝病不去工作。不行，我工作的地方星期一總是很忙的，而且上星期我真的生病，請了兩天假。I don『t want to play hooky from work. 我說得對不對，Michael？
M：Yes, very good. I guess you『d better go to work then. It『s too bad I can『t spend more time with you. Well, if you have only one hour for lunch, we『d better hurry.
L：別著急，一個小時來得及。等我拿件大衣。
L：Michael, 你很幸運，沒有象我那麼多的壓力。我得自己賺錢付學費，還要養活自己。你可以隨便play hooky, 我可不行。
M：Hey, I may play hooky once in a while, but I usually study hard. Do you think I don『t feel any pressure to get good grades? If I don『t do well, I won『t get a good job later on.
L：喲，哪兒來那麼大的火氣呀！我知道你不是經常逃學，你學習很努力，爭取得到好分數，將來找一份好工作。你不用發那麼大的脾氣嘛！
M：I『m sorry, Li Hua. I didn『t mean to snap at you. It『s just that right now I『m so stressed. That『s part of the reason why I didn『t go to class today.
L：沒關係，我知道你最近壓力很大。你說 「I didn『t mean to snap at you", 那是什麼意思呀？是不是指你很生氣地跟我說話？
M：Yeah, to snap, s-n-a-p. To snap at someone means to yell at someone or talk to them in an angry way.
L：to snap at someone 就是對某人大聲嚷嚷，或者很生氣地和某人說話。Michael，你一般不對人那麼講話的。我想可能是你最近壓力太大了。
M：Yeah, but that『s no excuse for snapping at you. I know you didn『t mean to make me angry.
L：我是沒有讓你生氣的意思。 沒關係，每個人都有情緒不好的時候嘛！Michael， 我以前好象聽到別人用過to snap at someone， 可不太清楚它的意思。有一次，一個小孩說他打破了什麼東西。。。
M：His mother must have snapped at him when he broke something at home.
L：對，他是說他媽媽罵他因為他打破了一個花瓶。可是，Michael，這裡的snap是過去時，那該怎麼拼呢？
M：Past tense for snap is s-n-a-p-p-e-d. I can say, "I snapped at you but I apologized."
L：得了，不用道歉了。啊呀，不好了，時間到了，我得去上班了。See you later, Michael!
M：Bye, Li Hua!
今天李華又從Michael那兒學到兩個常用語，to play hooky就是逃學，或者裝病不去上班；to snap就是對某人嚷嚷，很生氣地對某人說話。這次<流行美語>播送完了，下次節目再見。
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pa31.txt
流行美語第31課
今天是四月一號愚人節。李華到處去找Michael, 有事商量。今天她會學到兩個常用語，sketchy和sucker。
L：Michael，和我住在一起的小陳今天打電話到我工作的地方。她說警察到家裡去找我。他們說我的簽證有問題。我該怎麼辦？我很害怕。
M：What? I don『t believe her. That story sounds sketchy.
L：你說聽起來什麼？你不信小陳說的話？
M：That『s right. I said her story is "sketchy" . That means it is suspicious and cannot be trusted.
L：噢，sketchy就是可疑，不可信。你怎麼知道小陳說的話不可信？
M： Well, for one thing, the police usually don『t care about visas. They are too busy looking for serious criminals.
L：嗯，對呀，警察抓罪犯還忙不過來呢，他們才不管簽證呢！移民局的人才是管簽證的。這麼說來，小陳的話是有點可疑，sketchy。
M：Also, I don『t think the police or immigration officers would go to your house. That sounds very sketchy.
L： 對，Michael， 你可真行吶！ 要是簽證有問題，移民局一般會先給我一封信，他們才不會到家去找我呢。這真是越說越不可信了。
M：But if you want to know what『s really sketchy, you should remember what day it is.
L：今天是什麼日子呀？噢。。。今天是四月一號愚人節！ 喲，我的老天爺呀，我沒想到小陳會跟我開這個玩笑。
M：Heh heh, your roommate is pretty sketchy too, if you ask me.
L：等等，你也能說一個人sketchy? 你覺得小陳這個人不太可信？對，她的話確實是靠不住。上星期在聚會上見到的那個人，死跟著我不放，楞要送我回家，我能不能說，that guy was very sketchy?
M：Yes, that guy was very sketchy. You have to be careful around sketchy people like that.
L：對了，我得打電話告訴小陳我沒上她的當， 借你的手機用一用，行嗎？
M：Sure!
M：What did you say to your roommate just now? You were talking so fast in Chinese that I couldn『t understand.
L：我告訴她我很生氣，我不想再跟她住在一起了，我告訴她我要搬出去和她哥哥同居了。嘿，她好象真相信我說的話！
M：She believed that? She is such a sucker!
L：她是什麼？你是說她sketchy，是嗎？
M：No, no... a sucker is someone who believes people who lie to her, and can be easily tricked .
L：Sucker這個詞我在學校里經常聽到，可就不是太清楚究竟是什麼意思。原來sucker 是指很容易上當，很輕信別人的人。我一開始相信了小陳的話，那我不就是個sucker咯！
M：Sure, everyone is a sucker at one time or another...
L：那倒是的，每個人有時難免會當傻瓜。我記得你在電腦上收到很多電子郵件的廣告，說你可以在家工作賺很多錢，當時你還很相信這些廣告呢。You were such a sucker!
M： Hey, my phone is ringing. Li Hua, it『s for you. I think it『s your roommate.
L：是小陳？讓我跟她說話。 (李華接電話)是呀！我不管你告訴他什麼。我們相愛，我們要同居。什麼？我不管你說什麼，我不要跟騙我的人住在一起。 (關電話)
M：Your roommate is a real sucker! She still believes your story even after talking to her brother?
L：對，他跟她哥哥通完了電話，但是還相信我要和她哥哥同居了。我看我還是給她打個電話告訴她我是在開玩笑吧，否則她會把我的東西從窗子里都扔掉的。
今天Michael 教李華學會了兩個常用語，一個是：sketchy，意思是一個人，或者是一個人說的話不可信，值得懷疑；另一個是：sucker， 指一個很輕信，很容易上當的人。這次[流行美語]就學習到這裡，我們下次節目再見。
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pa32.txt
流行美語第32課
Michael在紐約上大學，他父母住在華盛頓，這個周末他請李華到他父母家作客。今天，李華會學到兩個常用語：fishy和to luck out。
L: Michael, 謝謝你請我到你家來過周末。有機會和一個美國家庭一 起過周末對我來說是很有意義的。你的爸爸媽媽人真好，我也很 喜歡你的妹妹。
M: She『s not usually so nice. Normally all she does is complain. I think there『s something fishy going on.
L: 噢，你說她平時沒有象這兩天討人喜歡呀？她老是愛抱怨，這我 倒是看不出來。你說，there『s something fishy going on, 那是什麼 意思呀？Fish不是魚嗎？
M: Oh, fishy is fish with a "y". It means there is something suspicious going on.
L: 你的意思是，你妹妹表現得那麼好，和平時不一樣，你覺得有點 可疑。為什麼呢？
M: Because she always acts this way when she is trying to get our parents to let her do something.
L: 對，有些孩子是這樣的。當他們想問家長要什麼的時候就會表現 得出奇的好。要求滿足了， 一切又照常了。
M: I can say something is fishy if I think someone is lying about something.
L: 這我就清楚了，你要是認為某個人在騙你，你就可以說：It seems fishy.
M: That『s right.
L: 比方說，我那天接到一個旅行社的電話，說我得了一個獎。他說我可 以到四個地方去旅行一個星期只要二百美元，但是要我馬上付這筆 錢。我當時就覺得可疑，I thought something was fishy, 對不對？
M: You『re absolutely right. Let me tell you something, the travel company probably doesn『t even exist. After you pay them, you won『t be able to find them anymore.
L: 喲，幸虧我沒上當。原來是騙局，等我付了錢，他們就消失了！ 這可太氣人了！
M: You really have to be careful whenever you smell something fishy.
( Michael和李華在飛機場)
L: Michael， 一個周末過得真快。好象剛到，現在又要搭飛機走了。
M: Look, half of the flights are canceled because of the snow, but ours is still on time. We really lucked out.
L: 噢，因為下雪，所以一半的航班都被取消了，我們的卻還按時飛。 真是運氣。你剛才說的lucked out大概就是運氣的意思吧？
M: Yes, it means we were really fortunate.
L: 那每當我覺得運氣好的時候，我都能用to luck out來表示嗎？
M: Yes, for example, I can say I really lucked out on that test last week. I didn『t study very much for it, but I still knew all the answers on the test.
L: 上星期的考試，我可沒有考好。你沒怎麼念書倒是都能答出考題， you really lucked out on that test. 我可沒有這種運氣。我要不念書就 考不好。
M: Hold on a second, I think they just called my name. I hope nothing『s wrong.
L: 對，我也聽到他們叫你的名字呢，快去看看，有什麼問題。
L: 怎麼回事，Michael, 票子沒有問題吧？
M: No, in fact I lucked out again. I dropped my wallet at the ticket counter. They just wanted to return it to me.
L: 喲，你錢包掉了還不知道，櫃檯撿到了還主動還給你。你哪 來那麼好的運氣吶！You really lucked out this time! 錢包里有多少錢 哪？
M: Not much, only ten bucks! Come on Li Hua, let『s board the plane.
李華今天學到了兩個常用語，一個是：fishy，意思是懷疑對方不老實，有花招；另一個是：to luck out，這是指沒有料到的運氣。 這裡[流行美語]就學習到這裡。我們下次再見。
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pa33.txt
流行美語第33課
李華是一個中國學生，她在紐約上大學，還在大學的中文系當助教。今天她要去和系主任談話，要求增加助教的工資。李華的美國同學Michael陪她一起去。李華會學到兩個常用語：wimp和guts。
L: Michael，我很緊張。我不敢去和系主任談話。。。 我看就算了吧， 我不要去要求加工資了。
M: What? Don『t be such a wimp, Li Hua! You have to talk to her, if you want to get a raise.
L: 你剛才說什麼？ Don『t be什麼？
M: I said don『t be a wimp. A wimp is a weak person, a coward, or someone who can『t take pain. If you don『t talk to your boss, then you are a wimp!
L: 噢，wimp就是軟弱的人，膽小鬼，或者是怕痛的人。所以，你說要是我不和系主任談，我就是膽小鬼。 哎，你這麼說我太不公平了。 你才是a wimp。上星期你去捐血，針還沒有碰到你， 你就哇哇大 叫，你不是wimp是什麼？
M: I was not! You were a wimp when you crashed your bicycle. You cried because you hurt your arm!
L: 我那次騎自行車摔倒，受傷可嚴重了。不管怎麼樣，女孩子哭並不意味著她是一個軟弱的人。
M: But you are a wimp! Remember yesterday, you couldn『t open a bag of potato chips, because you『re so weak!
L: 我昨天打不開一包土豆片，我沒有力氣，這也算是wimp？ 我才不是吶！有一次，我們從學校走回你的家，一共三公里， 你至少在當中休息了兩次。這才是軟弱的表現呢！
M: All right, all right, stop goofing around. You need to go talk to your boss. If you don『t go in there, you『ll be a wimp with no money.
L: 對，我要不進去談就加不了工資，人家肯定會說我沒有骨氣。看來，我別無選擇，我就得進去要求系主任給我們加工資。
(李華和系主任談完話以後)
M: Well, Li Hua, how did it go?
L: 一點問題都沒有。系主任同意我們應該增加工資。她說她會去爭 取足夠的資金給我們提高工資到每小時十二點五美元。
M: Wow! That『s not bad Li Hua. It took a lot of guts to go in there like that.
L: Guts? 進去談要許多什麼？你說我什麼嘛？你可別說我壞話。。。
M: No, no, when I say it took a lot of guts, I mean you had to be brave to do that!
L: 噢，guts就是勇氣。Guts 不就是動物的內臟嗎？是這個字嗎？
M: That『s right! You can say someone has a lot of guts. That means he is brave.
L: 嗯， a lot of guts就是有勇氣。你剛才說it took a lot of guts to go in there。所以，it takes guts to do something就是要做某件事一定要 有勇氣。
M: That『s right. For instance: It took a lot of guts for you to come to the
L: 對，我一個人獨自到美國來是要有勇氣才行的。你上回在我朋友 家唱卡拉OK，這也是要有勇氣的呀！
M: You are right. Americans usually don『t like to sing in public if they can『t sing very well.
L: 好多中國人也不喜歡在大庭廣眾唱歌呀。這確實是要有勇氣的。你那 天是因為喝了酒才敢唱。否則，你就是個wimp!
M: So are you! You only had enough guts today because I was here to support you. Usually you are a wimp!
L: 對，你陪我一起來給我壯膽，所以我才有勇氣找系主任談話。不 過呢，我至少沒有在走回家的路上喘不過氣來。 You are a wimp!
M: I guess we both are!
今天Michael教李華學會用兩個常用語，一個是：wimp，意思是軟弱，沒骨氣；另一個是：guts，這是指有勇氣。這次[流行美語]就學習到這裡，我們下次節目再見。
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pa34.txt
流行美語第34課
Michael和李華白天上了好幾門課，晚飯後又做功課。李華決定到Michael 的住處去休息一下，看一會電視。今天Michael 會教李華兩個常用語：nerd 和cheesy。
M: Are you okay, Li Hua? What『s wrong? Why are you crying?
L: 我沒事。這個電視劇讓人挺傷心的。我一看這種電視劇就會哭，真是 沒辦法。
M: You are such a nerd.
L: 你叫我什麼？A nerd? 我知道那不是什麼好話，可是nerd到底是什 么意思呢？
M: If you call someone a nerd, it means you think he is weird and not cool. It can be used in many different situations.
L: 噢，nerd是指那種跟一般人不一樣，有點怪的人。Nerd可以用在 許多不同場合。那象你今天穿了這套衣服，怪怪的，我就可以 說：You『re a nerd。 對不對？
M: Me? A nerd? Well, yes, you could call me a nerd.
L: 我肯定好多人都叫你a nerd。
M: As a matter of fact, when I was growing up, a lot of kids called me a nerd because I didn『t fit in.
L: 你小的時候不合群，所以許多人都叫你nerd。我看你現在很合 群嘛。看不出你小時候是個nerd。你到底是怎麼個不合群呢？
M: Well, as you know I was never very good at sports, and I never knew how to fit in with the cool kids.
L: 對，你好象告訴過我你從小就不太喜歡體育，跟那些很受歡迎的 同學也合不到一起。所以，你就成了一個nerd。
M: A typical nerd is someone who wears glasses and carries a lot of books.
L: 噢，那就是書獃子的形象，戴著眼鏡，拿著許多書。
M: That『s right. If someone is always studying, or seems to know the answers to everything, you can call him a nerd.
L: 老念書，什麼都知道的人，那不就是書獃子嗎？Michael，我看你 有的時候穿衣服有點怪，也許人家會叫你nerd，可是你絕對不會 成為書獃子。
M: I guess so! Li Hua, That TV show is so cheesy. I don『t know why it『s so popular.
L: 這個電視劇好多人都喜歡，包括我在內 。可你又在說什麼批評的 話， 我不知道cheesy是什麼意思，但是我知道你在說它不好。
M: Cheesy means tacky or dumb. It『s usually used to describe a TV show, movie, or something someone says.
L: 噢，cheesy就是很俗氣，質量很次，很愚蠢。人們經常用cheesy 這個詞來形容電視節目，電影或者某個人說的話。
M: I think the new TV soap opera on Channel 6 is so cheesy. It is fake and the things they say on the shows are so weird. I don『t know why these shows are so popular.
L: 對，我也看了六頻道那個新的電視連續劇。情節是很虛假，對話 也很怪。可是你想知道為什麼那麼多人喜歡看嗎？我來告訴你。看這 種電視劇總想知道結局嘛。我有的時候還會流淚的呢。
M: How can those cheesy TV shows make you cry? You『re such a nerd.
L: 什麼？ 你說我是個nerd?
M: Don『t be mad, Li Hua. But you are a nerd. No one cries while watching these cheesy TV shows！
L: 我才不信呢。你們這些不流眼淚的人缺乏感情，你們才是nerd。 我不 跟你說了，我要回去了。
M: No, no, Li Hua. Wait, at least you have to finish watching this cheesy TV show so that you know who『s going to marry whom.
L: 對了，不看完這個電視劇，不知道結局，我也睡不著。那就看 吧！
看來今天李華真是生氣了，因為Michael說她是個nerd, 也就是說她這個人有點怪。後來她同意繼續在Michael 家看完那個很cheesy的電視節目。Cheesy 就是很俗氣， 沒有水平的意思。這次[流行美語]就學習到這裡。我們下次再見。
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pa35.txt
流行美語第35課
昨天晚上Michael 和一個老同學一起出去玩， 兩個人都喝得酩酊大醉。現在李華來找他一起去看一個新的藝術展覽。李華會學到兩個常用語：wasted和 to get a kick out of something。
L: 嗨， Michael，快走吧，該去看展覽了！
M: Give me a moment, Li Hua. Last night a friend and I went out to a bar and got wasted, so I don『t feel very good right now.
L: Got wasted? 你說你們浪費了好多錢呀？
M: No, Li Hua, when I say we got wasted I mean we got very very drunk.
L: 噢，你們到酒吧去了。你說的wasted意思是喝酒喝得酩酊大醉， 不是指浪費。
M: We were so wasted that we couldn『t even stand up straight.
L: 你們真是要命，喝得站都站不直。幹嗎要喝那麼多呢？這麼喝對你身體不好的。
M: I know. My best friend from high school came to visit, and we usually get wasted when we meet.
L: 中學時的好朋友來看你，一高興就喝多了，這我可以理解。在中國，老同學見面的時候，我們總是會開個party， 往往喝好多酒， 可是我們不見得會醉到象你這種程度。
M: Ugh. It always seems like a lot of fun when I get completely wasted, but the next day, I regret it.
L: 是啊，喝得大醉的時候覺得很好玩，到第二天你就後悔了。得了，你得換換衣服，吃點東西。我們得早點去，否則人會太多了。
M: Eat something? Are you kidding? I can『t even open my eyes without feeling sick.
L: 喲，你睜開眼睛就想吐呀？那是不能吃東西。Michael，幸好今天是星期六，否則你整天就不能上課，什麼事也做不了。
M: Yes, I『m in graduate school, and I can『t afford to miss too many classes.
L: 研究生要缺太多課可不是開玩笑的。得了，我看你還是先洗一個澡，再喝點茶，這樣可能會好些。
M: Okay, I『ll try.
L: Michael，你覺得怎麼樣，好點嗎？快，我們走吧！
M: Li Hua, don『t speak so loudly. I still have a headache. I think you get a kick out of watching me suffer.
L: 你說什麼？你想踢我？
M: No, I said you get a kick out of watching me suffer. That means, you enjoy watching me suffer.
L: 噢，to get a kick out of something意思就是為了什麼事感到很開心。 這個kick跟踢球的kick是同一個字嗎？
M: That『s right.
L: 我幹嗎看見你難受我就高興呢？ 你是自作自受！
M: I know, I know...you『re a good friend. You get a kick out of helping people, not watching them suffer.
L: 這你說得還象樣，我才不願意看見別人難受，我很高興幫助別人。 幫助象你這樣的美國學生學中文我就很高興。
M: I『m so useless. I only get a kick out of doing stupid things, like getting wasted or watching old cartoons.
L: 偶然喝醉一次，看看老的卡通片也不能說自己沒有用嘛。你看到你的學生英語有進步，不也讓你很高興嗎？
M: Yes, I guess I do get a kick out of watching my students learn.
L: Michael, 走吧！ 嗨，看完展覽要不要再去喝個酩酊大醉呀？
M: Arrrgh! Li Hua, you really do get a kick out of tormenting me. I『ll never get wasted for the rest of my life. I promise.
L: 我只是開個玩笑而已。不過，我倒是希望你這輩子再也不要喝那麼多酒了！
別看Michael 昨晚喝醉了，今天還暈乎乎的。可是他教了李華兩個很有用的常用語，一個是：wasted，那是指喝得大醉；另一個是：to get a kick out of something，那就是為某件事感到很高興。這次的[流行美語]就到此結束，下次節目再見。
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pa36.txt
流行美語第36課
Michael和李華好幾天沒見了，今天剛好在校園裡碰到，兩個人就聊起來了。李華會學到兩個常用語：to chip in和snail mail。
L: 嗨，Michael，Bob明天開生日party， 你去嗎？
M: Yes, I『m going with a few friends. We decided to chip in and buy him a leather jacket. He『s been talking about buying a jacket for a long time.
L: 你要和幾個朋友一起去參加 party，還要給他買一件皮夾克。可是皮夾克很貴，你們是不是準備大家湊錢給他買？你剛才說chip in是不是就是這個意思呀？
M: That『s right. To chip in, means to each contribute money to buy something.
L: 那就是我們中國人說的湊錢買東西。
M: Usually you say "chip in" if each person in a group of people gives some money to buy someone a present.
L: 要是每個人都出一些錢給誰買個禮物，人們一般就會說to chip in。
M: To give you another example, my mother said her colleagues always chip in to buy gifts to celebrate someone『s birthday or when someone has a new baby.
L: 你媽媽的同事往往會湊錢買禮物給過生日的同事，或者給剛生孩子的同事。這跟上面你說的幾個朋友湊錢給Bob買皮夾克差不多。To chip in還可以用在其它什麼場合嗎？
M: You can also use "to chip in" if you are going out with a group of people for dinner or a drink.
L: 噢，幾個朋友一起出去吃飯，喝酒，每個人出一些錢來付帳也可以說是chip in。
M: Yes, the guys and I usually each chip in a few dollars when we go out for pizza on Friday nights。Last week, I paid 10 dollars, Bob chipped in $4, John gave $2. There is one guy who never chips in. He『s cheap. It really makes me mad.
L: 等等，上星期五你們幾個人出去吃比薩餅，你付了十美元，Bob出了四美元，John出了兩美元。還有一個小氣鬼，從來不出錢。他真好意思！Why don『t you ditch him, 甩了他不得了！
M: Oh, we『ve been friends for many years, and it『s only a few bucks!
L: 喲，既然朋友多年，也就幾塊錢的事，你不願意甩了他，那你就別生氣啊！Michael, 你手裡拿的是什麼？好象是信吧！現在還有人寫信呀？
M: I got two letters today from a couple of old friends! I hardly ever get snail mail anymore.
L: 你收到兩個老朋友給你的來信。你說什麼？Snail mail, snail不就是蝸牛嗎？mail 就是信。 信和蝸牛又有什麼關係呀？
M: "Snail" is an animal known for its slow movement. "Snail mail" means real letters that you get in your mailbox.
L: 噢，我知道了。蝸牛走的很慢，所以snail mail就是指通過郵局寄的信。以前怎麼沒有聽說snail mail這個說法呢？
M: Well, ever since e-mail became popular, people have used "snail mail" to talk about paper mail, because it is slower than e-mail.
L: 對，郵局寄的信和電子郵件相比真是要慢多了。叫它「蝸牛信」倒也挺形象的。
M: Yes, everyone is so busy nowadays, no one seems to have time to write snail mail anymore.
L: 你說得一點不錯。大家都很忙，沒有多少人還會坐在那兒寫信。郵局裡送來的郵件不是賬單，就是廣告。這些也能叫做snail mail 嗎？
M: No, only a letter written to you by a friend or family member can really be called "snail mail".
L: 噢，人們只有把親友寫的信叫做snail mail。說起寫信，我真是應該給我爸爸媽媽寫信了。
M: I『m just too lazy to write snail mail. I think I『ll go write some e-mails.
L: 你的親友都在美國，都有電腦。我的父母在中國，他們還沒有電腦，所以，I have to write snail mails to them。我得走了，下回再聊吧！
M: Okay, bye!
李華今天學到兩個常用語，一個是：to chip in， 意思是湊錢買什麼東西，或者是湊錢付大家一起吃飯的錢。另一個是：snail mai，這是指通過郵局寄的信。今天的[流行美語]就學習到這裡，我們下次節目再會。
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pa37.txt
流行美語第37課
李華到美國來念書還不到一年，紐約有好多地方她還沒有去過。今天Michael 帶李華到一個夜總會去玩。李華有點緊張，但是她會學到兩個常用語：uptight和to get it 。
M：Hey Li Hua, why are you sitting over here next to the bar? Why don『t you go out and dance?
L：我為什麼坐在這裡，不去跳舞？我。。。有點累。
M：Oh come on! Don『t be so uptight! Everyone is having a good time except for you.
L：你說除了我，每個人都很高興？你叫我不要什麼？什麼是uptight?
M：I said, don『t be uptight. Uptight means tense, irritable, or unable to relax.
L：Uptight 就是緊張，顯得煩躁，不能放鬆。Uptight 這個詞是怎麼拼的？
M：Uptight, u-p-t-i-g-h-t. You really are uptight! We『re at a dance club, and you『re still trying to learn English!
L：在夜總會問你一個英文字就說明我情緒緊張呀？我聽不懂問你還不行嗎？
M：Hmph. You『re never this uptight when you are with your Chinese friends. You『re never afraid to sing karaoke, even it sounds so bad!
L：跟中國朋友在一起我當然不緊張咯，我跟他們都很熟嘛。我知道我唱卡拉OK 唱得很難聽，但是我也不怕。
M：Hmm. Sometimes if I feel a bit uptight, I have a few beers. That helps me relax.
L：Michael， 你得小心，不要在感到緊張的時候為了放鬆而喝酒。這樣你會越喝越多的。
M：I don『t always drink when I feel uptight. Just sometimes.
L：要不是經常的話，那還可以。不過，我現在。。。不想喝酒。
M：Stop being so uptight, have a drink. Come on, I『ll buy you something.
L：行，行。讓我想想。。。我要一個Jack and Coke.
M：Be right back!
M：I don『t get it, Li Hua. I thought You liked to dance.
L：你沒有什麼？Don『t get 什麼？
M：I said "I don『t get it". Don『t - get- it. That means I don『t understand.
L：噢，don『t get it 就是不懂。那要是我想學什麼，可是又弄不清楚，弄不懂，我就可以說：「I don『t get it." 對嗎？
M：That『s right! Like my dog, Ralph. I tried to teach him to sit whenever I tell him to. But he still doesn『t understand me. He doesn『t get it.
L：等等，你要訓練你的狗，叫它坐哪裡就坐哪裡，它弄不懂你的要求，這也能說：He doesn『t get it.
M：Yes. If I tell you a joke, and you understand it, you can say: "I get it."
L：要是我懂你說的笑話，我可以說：「I get it." 可是，Michael, 你說的笑話，我大多數都聽不懂。
M：There you go again...you are always so uptight.
L：聽不懂你的笑話也怪我緊張呀？ Michael, you don『t get it, 我根本就不緊張。
M：Wait, I get it! You『re being uptight because Zhao Lifeng is dancing over there. Everyone says you like him!
L：什麼！說我喜歡趙立封！他在那兒跟別人跳舞，所以我就很緊張。 Michael, you really don『t get it at all. 趙立封是我好朋友的男朋友，我要跟他跳舞，我的好朋友就會生氣。何況我也不喜歡他。
M：Whatever you say, Li Hua. But you still don『t have to be so uptight. You can dance with me.
L：好吧，我跟你跳舞，這樣你就不會再說我uptight 了。 (dance music)
今天李華學到兩個常用語：to get it, or don『t get it 意思是懂某件事，或弄不懂某件事；另一個是：uptight，也就是一個人顯得很緊張。
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pa38.txt
流行美語第38課
李華來laundromat洗衣服，正巧碰上也在那兒洗衣服的Michael. 在他們二人一起洗衣服的時候，Michael教給了李華兩個流行的美語：Flip out和 off my back。
L: Michael,最近你跟鄰居處的如何？他們每天晚上還是吵的很厲害嗎？
M: It』s funny you should mention that. Last night they had their music turned on so loud that I finally just flipped out and went over and yelled at them.
L: 你做的對，你終於去吼他們了。可是你剛才說你flipped out，那是什麼意思啊? 是不是指你氣瘋了的意思？
M：Yeah, to flip out means to go crazy because you are very angry about something. People sometimes flip out because they just can『t stand something anymore.
L: 你在忍了好多個星期整日震天價響的吵聲之後，終於忍無可忍對他們大發雷霆了。
M: Yes. I really don』t like to complain to my neighbors, but it was so loud that my windows were shaking.
L: 我真不敢相信在昨晚之前你早沒有氣瘋。你怎麼能夠讀書呢？更別說晚上睡覺了。
M: Well, it is pretty difficult.
L: 我要是你的話，早在八百年前就發火了。對了，你能不能再給我舉個例子來說明怎麼用 flip out?
M: Let me see. Well, do you remember I told you about the time I left my keys in the door of my apartment overnight? When my roommate found the keys in the morning, he totally flipped out.
L:你是不是說他因為昨晚你把鑰匙整夜忘在公寓門外的鎖上使他大為光火了？
M: Yeah, he was so angry that I thought he was going to kill me. He said that, since we don』t live in a very good neighborhood, I should be more careful. He said I had put both of our lives in danger.
L: 他我想你該更小心點，不過我認為你是無心之失，他實在不必生那麼大氣flipped out。
M: Well, my roommate was always getting angry at me for one thing or another. I am glad he doesn』t live with me anymore.
L: Hey, Michael, 你的衣服是不是洗好了?
M: Yeah, I have to put my clothes in the dryer.
L: So, Michael, 你告訴我你怒氣衝天地對你鄰居大吼大叫，可是你沒告訴我他們的反應是什麼。
M: Not very well. The girl just yelled at me and said 「get off my back」. I think I』m going to have to talk to the apartment company.
L: 我的老天，他們非但沒向你道歉，居然還朝著你吼。不過那個女孩說「get off my back」是什麼意思啊？
M: To 「get off my back」 means to leave me alone or stop bugging me about something.
L: Oh,要是你說「get off my back」, 就是表示：別管我閑事或是說別為了什麼事來煩我。
M: She told me to get off her back, because they were just having some friends over and listening to some music.
L: 說所以當你告訴別人get off your back, 也就是要他別來煩你的時候，同時表示你認為你根本沒做甚麼錯事。
M: That』s right, Li Hua. Well, her roommate was a little more polite to me. She said they would turn down the music a little bit. But a couple hours later, they turned it back up again.
L:現在你要怎麼辦啊？ Michael?
M: I think I』ve got to talk to the apartment company now. I don』t care if that girl told me to get off her back.
L: 我想既然你的鄰居根本不理會你，那就是唯一可行的辦法了。有了什麼結果再告訴我， Michael!
今天在洗衣時，Michael告訴李華說他的鄰居實在太吵了，以致他因為太憤怒flip out而去吼罵鄰居，但是他的鄰居惱羞成怒，要他get off her back，也就是要 Michael別管她閑事，別再煩她。
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pa39.txt
流行美語第39課
星期天，邁可和李華約在一道到戶外市場去買東西。他們很自然地聊起前一天晚上各自做了些什麼事。李華問邁可昨晚上幹嗎？
M: Man, last night I just vegged out in front of the TV all night.
L: 你說什麼? 你說你在電視機前面vegged out? 是不是說你在電視機前面吃生菜？
M: No, no, no It doesn『t have anything to do with vegetables! To veg out, V-E-G O-U-T, means to sit around and do nothing.
L: 噢，原來如此。「to veg out」意思是說無所事事，呆坐在那裡。那你幹嗎不出去呢?
M: I was supposed to go out with some friends, but I was too tired after being at work all day. That『s why I ended up vegging out in front of the TV all day.
L: 啊，原來你是太累了，昨晚你除了呆坐在家裡，什麼也沒幹。那麼veg out 和英語裡面另外一個形容：老是坐在電視機前的人是個couch potato一不一樣呢?
M: Yes, it is similar to being a couch potato. However, if you are vegging out, that does not necessarily mean you are watching TV or eating like a couch potato does.
L: 那樣的話，要是我去了公園，呆坐在那兒，啥事也沒幹, 那還能不能說我在公園裡vegging out呢?
M: No, if you veg out you usually do so at home. You may be reading, listening to music, watching TV or just sitting there. Basically, your are not thinking of anything very complicated.。
L: 所以說要是你veg out的話，通常都是賦閑在家呆坐的。如果你累了一天，或者一直辛苦地在做一件事，看來你多半會翹起二郎腿，什麼事也不做，休閑休閑了。
M: Yes, that『s true. People often veg out after a long day of working or studying. Sometimes, they veg out when they should be working or studying, but then don『t feel like it.
L: 噢，這樣的話，聽起來好像是當一個人該做某件事，卻投閑置散，拖到以後再去做，那就是veg out了。
M: Yeah, you can also say「vegged」for short, as in 「I totally just vegged last night in front of the TV.」
L: 邁可，讓咱們先停下來歇會兒吧。
L: 我真難以相信你星期六還得上班，我以為你是星期一到星期五上班呢。
M: Usually, I do only have to work from Monday through Friday. But my supervisor has really been in my face about getting this project done. I needed to get it done by Monday, so I decided to come in over the weekend.
L: 我懂得，你是說你的領導一直在逼著你做完你的工作。可是你是怎麼說的？ In my face? 那是什麼意思啊？
M: To say that my supervisor was 「in my face」 means that he has been giving me a lot of pressure about finishing the project. Just imagine someone who is standing close to your face, demanding that you finish something.
L: 要是你說某人是in your face的話，聽起來可不是什麼好事。像是他不斷地在提醒你該做什麼事。看來你的領導是個很難處的人啊。
M: Actually, he is not that bad. I really like him as a person. He is just very demanding when it comes to finishing work on time. He has an 「in your face」 personality.
L:這樣說來，你也可以說某人有「in your face」的個性吶。
M: Yes, that means they have a very aggressive, direct personality. Someone like that usually doesn『t care what other people think about their ideas.
L: 這樣形容一個人的個性，聽起來不太尊敬。
M: You』re right, it『s not a very nice thing to say about someone. You probably shouldn『t tell someone directly that you think they have been in your face about something.
L: 談到「in my face」,大太陽正照在我臉上，可真把我曬得夠嗆，咱們到裡邊兒去找個陰涼地方吧。
M: Okay, how about getting some ice cream? There『s an ice cream store right over there.
L: 好主意，咱們走吧。
今天邁可和李華一塊兒去買東西，李華學了兩個新詞兒："veg out"和「in my face」."veg out"是說什麼事也不做，完全輕鬆一下；「in my face」是一種咄咄逼人的態度或者個性。
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pa40.txt
流行美語第40課
這一天邁可準備和李華一起溫習功課，在他們兩人對話的時候，李華學到了兩個新詞兒:「to be into」 和「geek」.
L: Hi邁可! 我馬上要考試了，你幫我溫習一下功課好嗎？Hey, 你在看什麼書啊？ Hmmph! 是本漫畫？
M: Yes, it is a comic book. I really used to be into comic books when I was a high school student, but now I don』t have much time to read them
L: 「Be into」 漫畫書，你是指你總是把頭埋進漫畫書裡邊兒？
M: Well, not exactly. Be. B-E. Into. I-N-T-O. 「to be into」 means to be very interested in something, and to know a lot about it.
L: Oh, 你指的是一種嗜好。可是我以為只有兒童才看漫畫書的。你未免年紀太大了點兒吧？
M: Please! Comic books are not only for children. A lot of people my age are into comic books. And in
L: 我想你對 漫畫書很有興趣也沒什麼不好。而且你還有其它好些興趣。
M: That』s right! I am into dancing. I am also into camping and watching sports。
L: 我就不喜歡看運動節目。我倒是對連續劇興趣很濃。I
M: Why are you still into soap operas? They are soooo boring! At least the people who play sports are real!
L: 你看你的漫畫書，我看我的連續劇。不論如何，我還有些真正的嗜好。舉例來說，我就對中國書法就非常有興趣，只不過，老實說，我的字老寫不好。
M: That』s not true! I think your calligraphy is very good. You have been into calligraphy for a long time, haven』t you?
L: 不錯，我很小的時候，我媽媽就逼著我練字。那時候，我一點也不喜歡，可是現在我真感激她那時逼著我練字。
M: Also, you are into learning English.
L: 那倒也是，不過那可不是我的嗜好。在中國，我們從中學就開始學英語了。
M: Well, at least you are lucky you started young. I have only been into learning Chinese for a couple of years, and my Chinese is terrible!
L: 不，邁可，那你可說的不對，你的普通話說的挺好的。
L: 邁可，你是不是該停下來，別再看那漫畫書，該開始複習功課了。
M: Li Hua, you sound like my mother. Anyway, I can』t put this comic book down. I am such a comic book geek.
L: 你說你是什麼？一個「geek」? 那是什麼意思？
M: Well, a "geek" is soomeone who spends all of their time with their special interests or hobbies. They are mor concerned about their hobbies than being "cool" or making friends.
L: geek是怎麼拼？的這個字聽起來好怪噢。
M: Geek. G-E-E-K.
L: 這樣的話，我能不能說籃球名將Michael Jordan 是一個籃球 geek?
M: Well, not really. Geeks are not usually into playing sports. They like things like comic books, computers, collecting stamps, reading science fiction books。
L: 這樣說來，一個 geek所喜歡的東西別人未必喜歡。他們專心注意的是用腦筋和想像力的東西，但是不需要身體動得太多。
M: That sounds about right. Geeks often put their hobbies before other things, such as their social life, meeting girls, gaining a useful education.
L: Aha! 你就是一個地道的 geek! 你就情願看漫畫書而不肯學習。有的時候你寧願在家玩兒電子遊戲而不肯外出跟朋友們混在一起。
M: Gee, thanks Li Hua. Anyway, I am not completely a geek. I do study hard most of the time. I do like to dance, and I do have a lot of female friends.
L: 好了，好了算你是半個geek. 對了，我有個表弟就是一個geek。他老是看武打電影和玩電子遊戲。他從不穿一件像樣的衣服，他也不在乎找不找到工作。
M: Yes, your cousin sounds like a real geek to me. A lazy geek.
L: 可是他至少不像你那樣是一個漫畫書geek!
M: I am into comic books. So what?
今天邁可和李華二人本來是要在一起溫習功課的，結果聊起了:「to be into」 和「geek」這兩個新詞兒。李華現在明白了「to be into」 就是一個人對一件事物特別有興趣，也對那件事物特別懂。「geek」是說一個人只花時間在他發生濃厚興趣的嗜好上，別的都不管不顧。
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pa41.txt
流行美語第41課
今天李華和Michael一起吃午飯 的時候，聊起了李華的室友小陳。Michael在談話中教給李華兩個年輕人常用的詞：psycho和laid back。
M: Hey Li Hua. You look a little upset about something. What『s up?
L: 哎，還不是我的室友，她今天又找我的麻煩，說是以後再也 不讓我做中國菜，因為她受不了廚房裡的油煙味。
M: She said what? Your roommate is a psycho! She『s crazy!
L: 你剛才說她是什麼？
M: I called her a psycho. P-S-Y-C-H-O.
L: 我猜想，a psycho 就是中文裡常說的「神經病」，對吧？
M: That『 right. Also, psycho was the name of a famous movie about a crazy person who killed people in a hotel.
L: 嗯，我聽說過[驚魂記]這部電影。不過，你說我室友是個 psycho，你不是真的以為她發瘋了吧？
M: Well, I guess she isn『t crazy. Usually we just call someone with strange behavior, and a bad unpredictable temper, a psycho.
L: Bad, unpredictable temper，無緣無故亂髮脾氣，哎呀，這簡直說的 就是我室友嘛。Michael，再給我舉幾個psycho的例子好嗎？
M: Well, my last boss was a real psycho. One time, I came to work one minute late, and he yelled at me in front of everyone.
L: 真的？ 他當著很多人的面罵你啊。這種人真是有毛病。哎，你 可不可以想想看，還有什麼psycho的例子呢？
M: Well, ask any American, and they『ll probably tell you about some famous serial killer, they are psychos.
L: 噢，psycho也可以真的指一個心理變態的殺人狂。
M: That『s right. We might call someone who kills people for no reason a psycho.
L: 這麼說， 我那個室友倒是沒那麼嚴重了，可我總得想辦法和她 好好相處，你說對不對， Michael？
M: Well, when is your apartment lease going to expire? You can always ditch your psycho roommate and find a new one.
L: 好主意，我們公寓的租約還有兩個月就到期了。到時候我就可以 搬出去了。
### ### ###
M: Well, let『s look at the roommate wanted ads in the paper.
L: 你說我們來看看「尋找室友」的廣告啊。讓我來看看，這條廣告 說Wanted: friendly, laid back female roommate to share a two bedroom apartment。Michael，這個「laid back」是什麼意思啊？
M: Laid back, laid, L-A-I-D; back, B-A-C-K. Describes someone who does not get angry or excited easily. This person doesn『t want a psycho roommate.
L: 噢，laid back 是形容一個人個性比較隨和，不會輕易發脾氣。 Michael，你覺不覺得我脾氣很好，很容易相處啊？
M: Well, I guess so. Usually you are laid back. But, not always...
L: 你這是什麼意思，幹嗎吞吞吐吐的，有話直說嘛。
M: Well, remember when you got angry at your roommate for breaking your bicycle and then blaming you?
L: 我承認那次我很生氣，但那是因為我的室友先對我無理取鬧啊。
M: And you certainly weren『t very laid back when she tricked you on April Fool『s day.
L: 就是嘛， 那次也是因為她在愚人節捉弄我才惹我發脾氣的。
M: Well and then your roommate.......
L: 夠了，夠了，別再提我的室友了，我每次生氣都是被她害的。
M: You『re right, Li Hua. She『s the problem, not you. You『d better find a new, laid back roommate.
L: 對，我們趕快看廣告吧。 你看這個廣告說：Asian girl, seeks female roommate for two bedroom apartment. Call Xiaoli Chen. 我的天 哪，這是我室友嘛 。她居然在瞞著我登廣告。真把我氣死了。
今天李華學會兩個新詞，一個是psycho，指的是一個人行為反常，愛發脾氣；另一個是laid back，就是個性比較隨和的意思。
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pa42.txt
流行美語第42課
李華前段時間通過了駕駛執照的考試， 現在可以自己開車了。邁可也坐在她的車裡，從他們二人的對話中，李華學到了兩個常用語： take it easy和to chew out。
L: 考完試了，現在有了駕照真好。我覺得我能夠去任何地方，做 任何想做的事了。
M: I know what you mean. American kids feel the same way when they turn 16 and get their licenses. Too bad you don『t have a car.
L: 那有什麼關係，我可以跟你借啊，對不對？哎呀 Hey! What do you think you are doing? Do you want to be killed? Michael，你看那個 騎自行車的孩子，我差點兒撞了他！
M: Hey, hey, take it easy Li Hua! You really scared that kid. He looked really scared.
L: Michael, 你剛才說什麼？什麼easy?
M: I said take it easy! That means you need to calm down, not get too excited.
L: Take it easy? Take it easy是冷靜下來，別太氣了的意思？ Take是T- A-K-E. It是I-T. Easy是E-A-S-Y，對吧?
M: Yes, you『ve got it. That boy was almost in a very bad accident, and he was startled. You don『t need to make him feel worse.
L: 你說的不錯，看樣子他都快哭了。
M: Hey, Li Hua, you『re going to be driving on your own soon. I hope you learn to take it easy and not get angry at everyone.
L: 你說的對。要是我冷靜開車的話，也許我的車會開的更好。
M: I『m sure you will. You just finished a difficult test. You should take it easy. Let『s go get some lunch, my treat.
L: 你要請客啊？行，我是應該放鬆放鬆了。 我要好好享受今天剩 下的時間。
M: Man, Li Hua, you really chewed that kid out.
L: 你指的是剛才騎車的那個小孩？你說我對他怎麼了？
M: You chewed him out! I mean you yelled and got angry at him. Chewed, C-H-E-W-E-D; Out, O-U-T.
L: 噢，你是說我發脾氣大罵了那個孩子，是吧？
M: That『s right. If someone gets angry and yells at you, and starts criticizing your behavior, they are chewing you out.
L: 原來如此，我也不知道為什麼我大罵那個小孩，大概是當時我也 害怕的緣故。
M: Are you upset about something else? You seem to have a bad temper today.
L: 我是有點氣，因為昨天劉教授對我生氣。因為我該教中文的課， 我去晚了五分鐘。劉教授就對我大發脾氣。
M: That『s too bad. I don『t like being chewed out like that either. Especially when I know I was wrong.
L: Hey, 那可不是我的錯，我自行車的鏈子又脫落了。 為什麼發生 這類事情你總是怪我？
M: Hey, take it easy, Li Hua! Don『t chew me out! I was talking about myself, not you.
L: 我的天，是我不對，不知道我今天是怎麼回事。我想跟每個人 發脾氣。
M: You must be stressed. First, Professor Liu chewed you out, then you almost ran over the kid on the bike.
L: 你說的對，我真不該對任何人都發脾氣。我應該開開心心的。
M: At least you should be happier than I am. Yesterday, my roommate chewed me out. He said I always make a mess in the living room, and he is tired of cleaning up after me.
L: 也許你是把房子弄得很亂，可是你室友也不該對你發脾氣啊。
M: He was right, though. I really need to get rid of my bad habits.
今天李華學到了兩個常用語，一個是Take it easy，意思是冷靜下來，或者放輕鬆些。另一個是to chew out，意思是發脾氣罵人。
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pa43.txt
流行美語第43課
今天是周末，Michael和李華去 打撞球。李華一邊玩一邊還學了兩個年輕人常用的詞：to rule和to blow money on something.
L: 哎呀，我不想玩了。我老是輸給你，這樣玩還有什麼意思啊。
M: Hey! You don『t need to get angry just because I rule at the pool table!
L: 啊？ 你在撞球桌上做了什麼？你是不是耍了什麼花招，怕我生氣啊？
M: Absolutely not! I said that I rule the pool table. That means that I am the best at playing pool. I can defeat anyone. Rule, R-U-L-E.
L: 噢，我明白了， rule在這裡指的是你玩撞球玩得最棒，可以打敗任何人。對不對，Michael？
M: That『s right! I am king of the pool table! I rule!
L: 嘿，你不要那麼得意好不好。你忘了那天打乒乓球，你連連敗在 我的手下。你呀，對乒乓球這種體育運動簡直是一竅不通。
M: Sport? Ping-pong is not a sport! It『s a game! You might rule at that little game. But I rule at pool, a man『s game!
L: 你在瞎說什麼啊。我不跟你爭了。你還是多給我解釋解釋 rule 這個詞吧。
M: Well, I can say "I rule the pool table"; that means that I dominate the game. Or I can say "I rule at" doing something. In either case it means the same thing: I am the best!
L: 好了，好了，就算你是最棒的吧。那 rule 還有什麼別的用法呢？
M: Sometimes we just say something or someone rules without adding any other words. For instance, I can say "Chinese food rules!", that means I think it is great.
L: 噢，那如果我說：Michael Jordan rules!，就表示我認為他是最棒的籃球運動員，對不對？
M: That『s right. When we say a person rules, that means we think they are the best, or at least that they are impressive.
L: 哎，Michael，你看那邊有個人老往我們這邊看，沒準他是想和你比賽，怎麼樣，敢不敢跟他比？
M: Whatever, I rule the pool table, no matter who I play against!
L: Michael，你打得怎麼樣， 輸了還是贏了？
M: Not so well. Say, Li Hua, can I borrow five dollars? I just blew my money on playing pool with them, and I need to put gas in the car so we can get home.
L: 你說你的錢怎麼了？哎呀，你是不是在賭博啊？
M: No, I said I blew my money on pool. That means I spent all of my money very quickly. Blew, B-L-E-W. It『s the past tense for blow.
L: 噢，「blow money on something」就是為了做某件事很快把口袋裡 的錢花光了。
M: That『s right. Like when we were at the mall the other day, and you blew a whole week『s pay on shoes.
L: 我是花了一星期的工資買鞋，可你不覺得我買的鞋價廉物美，所以不能說我浪費啊。
M: Well, I guess sometimes it『s ok to blow one『s money on something useful.
L: 就是嘛。哎，我倒是想起了一個你亂花錢的例子，記不記得你大 學一年級的時候到賭城拉斯維加斯，blew all of your money on black jack。
M: Ha ha ha....what a wonderful memory. but, I『ll never blow all of my money like that again. I am older and wiser now.
L: 得了吧，你年齡的確是越來越大，可腦筋並沒有越來越聰明。要 不然你今天怎麼會玩撞球把錢都花光呢？
M: Those guys are good. They play quickly, and they both beat me several times. Also, we agreed that the loser had to pay for the pool table. So of course I blew all of my money very quickly.
今天Michael可是夠倒霉的，輸了球，還花光了錢；不過李華倒 是收穫不小，她今天學到兩個很有用的詞，一個是：to rule，是很棒的意思，另一個是：to blow one『s money on something，意思是把錢都浪費在了某樣東西上。
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pa44.txt
流行美語第44課
今天李華和 Michael二人一起開車到市中心，他們想要找個停車的空位。在他們二人對話中，李華會學到兩個常用語：a big deal和give it a shot。
M: Man, I hate trying to park my car in this city! There are never any spaces. Hey look! There『s one!
L: 啊！我看到了那個位子。 Um, Michael, 可是我不知道我該不該停 那兒。我的停車技術很 差，我怕出差錯把車給撞了。
M: Don『t worry about it! You have to learn this sooner or later. Give it a shot!
L: 你說什麼？Give what? 我該把車幹嗎？
M: I said give it a shot, that means try or give it a try. We say give a shot when we ask someone to try something they are not sure they can do.
L: 噢，你用的字 shot, S-H-O-T. 就好像開槍射擊的那個 shot，是不 是？
M: That『s right. For instance, when you are taking a test, and you are not sure of the answer to a question, you still have to give it a shot and try to guess the correct answer.
L: 奧，give it a shot原來指的是盡量試試，即使你沒有多大信心。
M: That『s right. Now you try and use this phrase. Go ahead, give it a shot!
L: Hmm， 如果說你想要申請一個很好的工作，可是又怕自己得不到，你就可以說：Give it a shot! 反正你也不會有什麼損失的。
M: You『ve got it.
L: 那還有沒有其它場合可以用shot這個字的？
M: Well, we might also say give it your best shot.
L: 好，所以我們也可以說「give it your best shot」， 意思就是全力以赴去試一下。
M: That『s right. Now you『d better move your car into that space. We shouldn『t sit here in the middle of the road. Go ahead and park, give it a shot!
L: 好，我就試試。
L: 我的天， Michael，我撞到哪裡了？
M: Don『t worry Li Hua, it『s not a big deal. The bumper just hit the parking meter.
L: 你說不大什麼？不管撞倒哪兒都不得了啊。
M: No no, I said its not a big deal. That means it『s not very serious.
L: Oh, 那「big deal」是哪兩個字，怎麼拼?
M: Big, B-I-G; Deal, D-E-A-L. If something is a big deal it is very serious, or very important to someone.
L: 奧，我明白了，當我撞上停車計時錶，你說 its not a big deal，你的意思是說沒什麼大不了的。我並沒有造成多大損害。
M: Yeah, at least I don『t think you did. Maybe you scratched the bumper or the parking meter. You didn『t really damage the car or meter, so it『s not a big deal.
L: 原來如此，但願你說的對。哎，還有，要是不用 not 這個字可以 嗎？
M: Sure you can, for instance, it was a big deal for me when I turned 16 and got a drivers license.
L: 對。對美國青年人來說，拿到駕駛執照可真是一件大事。
M: Looks like you understand how to use this phrase. Why don『t you make another sentence?
L: 好，我就用它造句子： It was a very big deal for Chinese people when
M: It sure was! I remember on TV, I saw a lot of people in
L: 哎呀，別多說了。我得趕快把車停好。
M: Yep, if a cop sees you stopping traffic, he might think it is a big deal. Move out of the space and try to park again. Give it another shot!
今天李華學到了兩個常用語：a big deal 和give it a shot。A big deal是指很重大，或者嚴重的事。Give it a shot 指的是儘力去試。
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pa45.txt
流行美語第45課
今天Michael和李華二人到了紐約一個公園去看煙火，李華學到了兩個新詞：packed和 hype。
L: 我老天，這個公園可真擠，但願我們能夠找到個地方坐下。
M: Yeah, it『s really packed today. I『ve never seen this many people here.
L: 你是怎麼說的？你是說人好多嗎？
M: Yes, I said the park is packed. That means it is crowded, there are a lot of people here.
L: 噢，我懂了，你說的 packed，P-A-C-K-E-D 這個字，就是通常你 說打包的pack那個字吧？
M: That『s right. Here we say "be packed" to show that a place is full of people, just like a box packed full of stuff.
L: 我想我懂了，那中國人口很多，我是不是可以說China is packed？
M: No, that『s not really right:
L: 嗯，原來如此，好像在中國春節期間，每班火車都擠的滿滿的， 那我就可以說：在春節前那個星期the trains are packed，對不對？
M: That『s right. Around Spring Festival, the buses are packed as well, right?
L: 那當然了，事實上，中國的公共汽車永遠都是擠的滿滿的， 很 難找到個座位，至少在各個大都市都是這樣。
M: So, in
L: Well，我記得我去看[泰坦尼克號]那部電影時，電影院是擠的很 滿，好像每個人都要看哪部電影似的。
M: Ewww. I don『t really understand why people liked that movie so much. I thought it was boring.
L: 管它是啥原因，Michael，反正中國各地的電影院總是很擠就 是了。
M: Hey, the show is starting.
L: 哎，Michael，你覺得今天的煙火如何？
M: Well I guess they were ok, but I was hoping they would be better.
L: 你覺得還可以更好一些？可是我覺得已經很好了。
M: But there was so much hype about this show! Every newspaper said it was going to be the greatest fireworks display in
L: 你說太多什麼？你說這次煙火怎麼了？
M: I said there was a lot of hype, H-Y-P-E. Hype means a lot of excitement or praise about something that you might hear about before you see it.
L: Oh，所以hype就是指大家總是把一件事說的比實際情況還要好。 對不對？
M: Yeah, that『s right. For instance, there was a lot of hype about Titanic, but I don『t think it was as good as the hype said it would be.
L: Hmm，你說the hype about Titanic，因此我們就應該說 there is hype about something，對不對?
M: That『s right. For example, I remember hearing a lot of hype about the Forbidden City in
L: 你說什麼？你居然說北京故宮不好，那可是中國保存歷史古迹的 一顆 明珠哎。
M: I didn『t say it wasn『t important to Chinese history. I just didn『t think it was very fun to visit, at least not as fun as all the hype said it would be.
L: Michael，誰管你怎麼想的呢。哎，你說報上對今天的煙火作了很 多宣傳，到底是怎麼說的呢？
M: Well, the newspapers said it was going to be larger and more exciting than anything ever shown in the city before. But really I think that was just hype. This year wasn『t much different from last year.
L: Michael，要是你總是聽人宣傳的話，你一定會失望的。
M: I guess you are right.
今天Michael 和李華到紐約一個公園去看煙火， Michael說這個公園是packed，也就是十分擁擠的意思。另外Michael也不是太喜歡這次的煙火表演，因為他說報紙作了過多的渲染，也就是hype這個詞的含義。
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pa46.txt
流行美語第46課
Michael和李華在複習功課，做完功課後他們準備去看電影。在今天的對話中，李華會學到兩個常用語：no way和to bet。
L: Michael，準備好了嗎？我們要去看電影了。Anna正開車來接我們 呢。
M: Yeah I『m ready...let me get this call though. Hello? Sorry, I can『t come to work right now. I have to pick up a friend from the airport. Yep. Sorry I can『t help out. OK.
L: 哎呀，Michael，你怎麼能騙你同事說你要去機場接人呢？ 我覺 得他們可能真的很需要幫手，你就去吧。我們可以下次再看電影 嘛。
M: What? No way! I『m not going to help him!
L: 你說什麼？no way 是什麼意思啊？
M: No way means that there is no way I will do that. It means that I refuse completely.
L: 噢，我知道了， No, N-O, way, 是W-A-Y, 就是絕對不行的意思， 好象中文裡的門兒都沒有。 你真的不能幫幫他嗎？
M: No way! That guy is just lazy. He is always trying to escape from work and find other people to do his job for him. Nobody trusts him.
L: 可是不管怎麼說，我還是覺得同事之間還是應該互相幫忙啊。
M: Really? Well what if Professor Wang called right now and said he needs you to help him grade Chinese test papers all afternoon?
L: No way! 我才不幹呢，我以前幫過他好幾次忙，可他從來都不付 給我工資，更氣人的是他連聲謝謝都不肯說。
M: Well anyway, Anna and I have been waiting for a long time to see this movie. There is no way I『m changing my plans.
L: 我明白了，我看你是喜歡Anna，不想錯過和她一起看電影的機會 吧。
M: What? No way!
L: 哎，你怎麼又說 no way， 這回我又沒要求你做任何事情啊。
M: Oh, well sometimes no way also means that『s not true or absolutely not. It shows that you disagree with something that somebody said.
L: 得了，我就是覺得你喜歡Anna。
M: No way!
M: Hmm, Anna still isn『t here. I bet the traffic is bad.
L: 啊？你說什麼？
M: I said "I bet the traffic is bad". That means I think, or I『m pretty sure that the traffic is bad. Bet, B-E-T, as in to bet money.
L: 噢，bet 本來的意思是下賭注，例如賭錢，不過在這裡是認為或 相信的意思。
M: That『s right. When you bet money, you can『t always be 100% sure about your bet.
L: 對啊，賭錢的人不可能100% 地預料到下賭注的結果， 所以說， 如果你說「I bet」，表示你是在推測。
M: That『s right. Anyway, I『m not worried about Anna, I bet she 『ll arrive any minute now.
L: I bet you are right. Anna從來不遲到。哎，你覺得這部電影會好看 嗎？
M: I don『t know. It『s an action movie, so I bet you won『t like it very much.
L: 誰說的，其實我也很喜歡動作片啊，當然除了那些爛片子。
M: I bet you『ll say it is stupid no matter how good it really is. You always say action movies are stupid.
L: Whatever. 我聽好多人說這部電影好看，我想今天電影院一定滿 座。
M: Hey, look, there『s a red car down the street. I bet that『s Anna.
L: No way. Anna 的車比這輛車小多了。
M: Looks like I was right. Let『s hurry.
L: I bet Anna 她一定很高興見到你。
M: No way! Stop joking around like that, ok?
今天李華學到了兩個常用語，no way表示不可能；to bet是確信的意思。
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pa47.txt
流行美語第47課
現在Michael和李華正在公寓大樓前看熱鬧。李華會學到兩個新詞，一個是busted；另一個是creep。
L: Michael，發生什麼事兒啦，為什麼有這麼多警察在這兒啊？
M: The police just busted someone for trying to steal my neighbor『s car.
L: 你說警察把那個小偷怎麼樣了？ 把他打傷了嗎？
M: No, they busted him. Busted, B-U-S-T-E-D. Busted is the past tense of to bust; it means to catch someone doing something they shouldn『t be doing.
L: 噢，原來 busted someone for doing something 就是幹壞事的人被抓到 了。
M: That『s right. You can say "They busted him for something", or you can just say "they busted him".
L: Michael，你認識那個小偷嗎？
M: Sure! They busted the man who lives in the apartment above mine!
L: 他就住你家樓上啊？
M: Yes, I saw the police put him into a car and drive away.
L: 哎呀，好可怕。原來你樓上一直住著個小偷。哎，Michael，bust 這個詞是不是只能指警察抓罪犯呢？
M: Not at all. Anyone who catches someone doing something wrong is busting them.
L: 噢，我們普通人抓到別人幹壞事也可以說「busted someone doing something wrong」。哎，我可不可以說「The teacher busted my classmate for cheating on the English test.」
M: Yes, that『s perfect. When you were little, did anyone ever bust you for doing something wrong?
L: 當然了。有一回我逃課去逛街被阿姨看到告訴了我媽媽，害得我 挨了一頓罵。
M: That『s not too bad. Once when I was in school, the teacher busted me for selling candy to my classmates.
L: 啊？你向同學兜售糖果，幸虧你被抓到了，要不然不知道你還會 幹什麼壞事呢。
L: Michael，想想真是奇怪，你樓上住了個罪犯你居然一直都不知道。
M: Yeah, but I『m not surprised. I always thought that guy was a creep.
L: A creep? 是小偷的意思嗎？
M: No, that『s not what I said. I said he『s a creep, C-R-E-E-P. A creep is someone who looks and acts in a way that makes people suspicious and uncomfortable.
L: 噢，a creep 就是指一個人鬼鬼祟祟，令人懷疑。那你為什麼覺得 那個人是個 creep 呢？
M: Well, he was never a friendly neighbor. He was always frowning, and wouldn『t say hello to people. That『s one reason I thought he was a creep.
L： 可是這也不能說他就是個 creep 啊。 因為有很多人平常都是皺 著眉頭，從來不和別人打招呼，可是不一定有什麼壞心啊。
M: Sometimes he would try to sell us things. And even though we refused to buy his stuff, he just wouldn『t leave us alone. That『s why my neighbors didn『t like him. They all thought he was a little weird.
L: 啊，他還硬向你們推銷東西。難怪你們懷疑他有什麼不良動機。 所以你才說他是個 creep。
M: You『ve got it. You give me an example.
L: 我們班有個男生很討厭，所有的女生都覺得他是個 creep。
M: Ok. Why is he a creep?
L: 他看人的眼神不對頭，還有啊，他臉上總是一副皮笑肉不笑的表 情，喜歡和女生開那種很肉麻的玩笑。
M: Yes, he definitely sounds like a creep to me.
L: 哎，Michael，我今天早上看到你和Alice在咖啡廳喝咖啡，你早上 不是有上課嗎？
M: Oh, you busted me! Please keep quiet about that, ok? I told my professor I had to visit a sick aunt in the hospital.
L: 什麼？你這個人哪，遲早有一天會被教授抓到你說謊。
今天李華學會兩個新詞，一個是 busted，就是做壞事被抓到的意思，另一個是 creep ，指的是一個人的行為舉止鬼鬼祟祟。
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pa48.txt
流行美語第48課
今天李華從 Michael那兒學到了兩個新詞 redneck 和 in the sticks。
M: Come in!
L: Hi Michael! 真抱歉，我沒先告訴你就來了。你的電話一直佔線， 所以我沒法打電話給你。
M: That『s no big deal. I was on the phone with my friend Bob who lives in
L: 原來這樣。對了，你把你朋友叫什麼來著？你說他是什麼啊？
M: I said he『s a redneck, R-E-D-N-E-C-K.
L: 一個紅的脖子？ 這是什麼意思啊？
M: A redneck is someone from the countryside who lives a country lifestyle.
L: 所以你叫一個人 redneck就是說他是鄉下人或很土氣。哎，這樣 說別人很不禮貌吧。
M: Well, maybe. If you call someone a redneck, it means you think that they are not very cultured or sophisticated.
L: 你就因為你朋友住在鄉下，你就開他玩笑說他是redneck ，未免 不太好吧。
M: I『m not really making fun of him. Some people are proud to be rednecks. Bob likes to call himself that.
L: 你說叫他redneck，Bob他還很得意呀。那我就不懂了。在中國， 大多數住在鄉下的人都巴不得往城裡跑呢。
M: Well, the
L: 那麼rednecks到底像什麼呢？你來說說。
M: Let me see, how can I describe them? When we say someone is a redneck we mean they are from the south, and speak with a southern accent。
L: 現在我懂了， redneck 呢一般是指美國南方人，或者說話有南方 口音的人。不過說真的，那些南方口音我真的聽不太懂。
M: Also, rednecks like life in the countryside. They enjoy sports such as hunting or fishing. They like living in areas with lots of open space.
L: Hmm, rednecks他們不住在 城市，他們更享受鄉下的生活。
M: Exactly. Also, most rednecks have blue-collar jobs, or work on a farm. By the way, Li Hua, be careful how you use this word. Some people might get angry if you call them a redneck.
### ### ###
L: 哎，對了，Michael，你那個紅脖子朋友Bob為什麼事打電話給你 啊？
M: Well, he asked me if I wanted to visit him this summer. I『m not sure if I really want to go though.
L: 真的嗎？ 為什麼你不想去呢？
M: He lives out in the sticks. There『s nothing for me to do out there.
L: 他生活在那兒？The sticks 是什麼地方啊?
M: Oh, when I say in the sticks, that just means in a rural area, far from a big city.
L: 噢，原來是指鄉下啊。哎喲，只不過離開城市幾天，這樣你也受 不了啊？
M: Well, I am used to city life. I don『t know how to fish or hunt, and I really don『t like farm work. I don『t think I would like living in the sticks.
L: 你覺得你不適合鄉下的生活啊，不過偶爾去呼吸一下新鮮空氣不 是挺好的嗎？
M: I guess. Maybe I should visit him.
L: 要是有人自稱是 redneck 的話，他也許覺得生活在鄉下 in the sticks 也是很值得自豪的了？
M: Actually, the phrase in the sticks is not very polite. You shouldn『t tell someone that they live in the sticks unless you are just joking with them.
L: 奧，說別人 live in the sticks 並不是很好，除非你是在開玩笑啊？
M: You are right. Usually when you say something is in the sticks you mean it is far from anything civilized.
L: 其實美國人並不懂得什麼是真正的鄉下。就算他們住在鄉下好了， 只要一開車就到城裡了嘛。
M: That『s true. Still, some places out in the sticks are pretty far from a big city, even if you drive a car.
今天李華學到了兩個新詞：redneck 和 in the sticks 。Redneck 是指鄉下人。 In the sticks 則是指遠離城市的農村地區。
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pa49.txt
流行美語第49課
在今天的對話中Michael會教李華兩個常用語：一個是under the weather，另一個是to grab a bite to eat。
M: Hello?
L: 喂，Michael，你今天怎麼了？我怎麼在學校沒看到你，打電話到你上班的地方也沒人接。你沒事兒吧？
M: Oh, its nothing. I am just a little under the weather today, so I decided to take the rest of the day off and really rest.
L: 什麼？你說天氣不好，所以你就請一天假。天氣好好的嗎，你幹嗎撒謊呢？
M: No no, I said "I am under the weather today". Under, U-N-D-E-R; The Weather, W-E-A-T-H-E-R. Under the weather, it means sick.
L: 噢，under the weather就是生病的意思啊，那你還不趕快看醫生啊？
M: Oh, don『t worry. It『s not very serious. Usually when someone says that they are under the weather, they mean they feel bad, but are not very sick.
L: 你的病不嚴重，那我就放心了。可是你為什麼今天覺得under the weather呢？
M: Last night I went out to eat with a friend. After dinner, it started to rain heavily. We didn『t have umbrellas, and I had to walk to a long way back to my car in the rain. I think I caught a cold, so now I feel under the weather.
L: 難怪了，你吃完飯就淋著雨走了那麼長的路。哎呀，你以後可千萬小心，萬一得了什麼大病那該怎麼辦呢？
M: It『s ok, Li Hua. I can take care of myself. That『s why I am resting at home. That reminds me, how is your mother doing? Didn『t you say she was under the weather last week?
L: 噢，我媽媽現在好多了。不過上星期可真把我們嚇壞了。上星期一她突然說不舒服，提前下班，第二天就開始咳嗽，渾身發軟。
M: Oh no! You must have been worried she had SARS.
L: 沒錯，我家裡人都擔心她感染了薩斯。所以每個人都嚷著自己 under the weather，不過啊，第二天我媽媽的情況好轉，他們每個人也都覺得自己好了。
M: They were all thinking about SARS, so they also felt under the weather. In fact, they were all ok.
L: 就是啊，他們覺得自己under the weather，我看純粹是心理作用。
M: So why were you trying to call me at work today?
L: 我打電話想問問你今天晚上要不要一快去吃飯。
M: Well, I『d like to, but I really think I should stay at home tonight. Maybe this weekend we can grab a bite to eat.
L: 你說我們這個周末吃什麼？
M: I said we can "grab a bite to eat". Grab, G-R-A-B; a bite, B-I-T-E; to eat, E-A-T. It means we can go out and have a quick meal somewhere this weekend.
L: 噢，grab a bite to eat就是隨便到那個餐館吃一頓，對不對。
M: That『s about right. To be exact, it means to find some quick and simple food, like fast food.
L: 啊？尤其指吃快餐啊，我可不想這樣隨便grab a bite to eat 。我想去個有氣氛的好餐館。再說了，Michael，你也不應該老吃垃圾食物。
M: I know, I know. It『s just that I often don『t have a lot of time between classes and work. So at lunchtime, I usually have to go to a fast food place and grab a bite to eat. I don『t have time to go anywhere else.
L: 如果你覺得中午時間很緊，那你就因該在家裡把午飯準備好帶到學校。你看，你每天到外面grab a bite to eat，那樣你的開銷多大啊。
M: I don『t always grab a bite to eat at fast food places. Sometimes I make lunch at home. But it takes a lot of time in the evening, and sometimes I am busy then, too.
L: Michael，你真是太不會照顧自己了，冒著雨亂跑，整天吃垃圾食品，難怪你會under the weather，以後你真的要好好照顧自己呢。
今天Michael身體有點不舒服，就是under the weather:Michael約李華等他身體好了一起去grab a bite to eat，也就是隨便到外面吃點快餐。
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pa50.txt
流行美語第50課
piece of junk
cheap
今天李華到Michael家裡借用他的電腦。李華會學到了兩個新詞兒：piece of junk 和cheap。
M: Ok Li Hua, let me see if I can find that webpage for you.
L: Wow, 你的電腦上網真夠慢的, 不知道是哪兒出問題了。
M: Actually, it『s not the Internet connection, it is my computer. Its an old piece of junk and it is very very slow.
L: 它是一片什麼啊？你的電腦出什麼問題啦？
M: I said it『s a "piece of junk". Piece, P-I-E-C-E; of junk. J-U-N-K. A piece of junk is something that is old and broken, or just doesn『t work well.
L: 噢！我想起來了，junk就是你要丟掉的廢物，像是舊的車胎或破爛的自行車。
M: That『s right. In fact, I『d say my car is a piece of junk too. It『s ten years old, it doesn『t start half the time, and pieces are always falling off of it.
L: 你的車可不是一堆破爛呢。你倒是應該好好保養它。我叔叔在中國有輛用了二十多年的舊車，到現在還不是走得挺好的。
M: Well, some older cars are more simple in design, and easier to fix. It is hard to find parts for my car, and it isn『t really worth the cost to fix it.
L: 嗯，那倒是。現在好些東西過幾年之後就變成廢物了，就好像我的『隨身聽』一樣。
M: Your walkman is a piece of junk? I『ve had a Sony walkman for ten years, and it still works well!
L: 我的那一台可真的不行了，現在一動也不動；有的時候還把我的錄音帶給弄壞了。我真是應該買個新的了。
M: Yes, you probably should. If it damages your tapes, it『s not worth using.
L: 別管我的了，你的電腦該怎麼辦？ 為什麼不去買個新的來呢？像你這樣的學生可得有台好電腦才行啊。
M: I might. Hey, wait a minute! What would I do with my old piece of junk computer? Maybe give it to a certain friend of mine?
L: 嘿，我可沒那麼說，不過要是還能用的話，我倒樂於拿走，也許我還可以用它來做功課。
******
L: 哎，Michael, 現在你不想換電腦了是不是？
M: Well, I could, but I am also too cheap to spend money to buy a new one.
L: 等等，你說你是便宜的？我以為只能說東西是便宜的，你是不是說你太窮了啊？
M: No no, that『s not what I mean, even though that is true. When I say that a person is cheap, that means that they always try to avoid spending money, or always buy the least expensive thing they can find.
L: 噢，原來說一個人cheap就是說他很摳啊。嘿，那我還真得說你是夠cheap的了。Michael, 你就是那種在餐館裡為了省一兩塊錢只叫杯白水當飲料的人。
M: What? You are calling me cheap!
L: 怎麼了？ 這句話冒犯你了嗎？
M: Oh, sorry. I should have told you: it is not very nice to call a person cheap. It also means that someone is not generous, or doesn『t understand quality.
L: 噢，原來cheap還有愛撿便宜的意思。難怪你不喜歡被人說 cheap。
M: Anyway, I could say you are cheap, because you always use old things that other people give you. Like your bicycle, or that watch you have..
L: 可是，單單因為我不肯花錢，並不表示我就cheap啊。我只是個窮學生嘛。
M: Yeah, I shouldn『t say you are cheap, that『s not very nice. My roommate is really cheap, though. Nobody likes to go out to eat with him.
L: 真的嗎？他怎麼啦？
M: Well, if three or four of us order a pizza together, he always adds up exactly how much each person owes. He counts every cent!
L: 哇，那他也真夠嗆的，算那麼清楚啊。
M: And he also never gives a full tip to restaurant waiters. He always gives them a little bit less than he should.
L: 他不肯給服務員該給的小費？我想我從這傢伙身上了解到cheap的含義了。
今天李華從 Michael那兒學到了兩個新詞兒。Piece of junk就是指沒用的廢物；cheap在這裡指小氣、不肯花錢。
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