流行美语11-20.doc

第十一课Michael和李华今天在华盛顿的国家建筑博物馆参加一个建筑会 议。今天，请大家注意他们对话里用的两个常用语：kick back和one track mind 。L: 期中考试完了有这么一个周末真不错，尽管我们得参加这次大会， 我也觉得挺不错。M: Im glad we made it to DC. Its a good time to just kick back and relax.L: 我也很高兴能到华盛顿来，正好可以休息一下。不过，你刚才说 kick back是什么意思呀？ 肯定不是要踢什么东西吧？M: No, I dont! I just mean to relax with my friend, you.L: 噢，跟朋友一起玩， 也就是说跟我玩。你是说，kick back 就是把 腿跷起来，痛痛快快地休息，是这个意思吗？M: Yes. Last weekend we were in New York and kicked back with your friends, remember?L: 对，上个周末我们是去纽约跟我的朋友一起玩了。不过，我以前 也听人说过kick back，但那是指贪污受贿。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: 这么说，kick back可以解释为休息，也可以解释为给某人一些钱， 以换取一个工作职位或其他好处。这两个意思完全不同。M: When you mean corruption, kickback is one word. When it means to relax, kick back is two words.L: 在指贿赂的时候，kickback是一个字，在指休息，轻松的时候， kick back 是两个字，就差这么一点点。对，我那天在 报上看到一 个公司总裁把合同给了一个给他回扣的承包商。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: 你问我下午要不要去参加 小组讨论？ 去那个讨论东方建筑特色的小 组吧！ 尽管我很想到咖啡馆去休息休息。M: Ok, maybe once we are done with the panel we can go out and do something fun.L: 好主意， 小组讨论会结束后我们可以出去玩。L: 好了，Michael，会开完了。我们得计划一下今天上哪儿去。不过， 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, Im 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, its commonly used.L: 噢，one track mind还是常用的说法，所以我得记住。你认识我的 朋友王光吧？ 她成天工作，从来不想别的事。你能说她是one track mind 吗？M: Yeah, you can say that. Its amazing how much she works, never does much of anything else.L: 对，她就是这样，工作狂。你们男人也都是one track mind。脑子 里总是想着女孩子。M: Yeah, theres one particular girl I think about.L: 你老想一个女孩子？ 谁呀？M: Heres your coffee shop, two coffees please!Michael和李华今天在对话中用了kick back。当kickback作为一 个词的时候，意思是贪污受贿；当kick back用作kick和back两个字的 时候，意思是休息，和某人一起玩。他们在对话中还用了one track mind，意思是脑子里光想一件事。 这次流行美语就学习到这里，我们下次再见。第十二课在纽约上大学的Michael和李华今天在华盛顿参观名胜古迹。他们在对话里会用到两个常用语：ticked off ，另一个是close。L: Michael, 大家都说纽约人开车不守规矩，我看华盛顿的人也好不了多少。刚才那辆车差一点撞到我！M: Yeah, I saw that. Crossing the streets in New York and Washington is dangerous. But getting ticked off about it wont do you any good.L: 对，在纽约和华盛顿穿马路是很危险。你说什么对我没好处？ 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的意思是为什么事情生气。 你刚才说的是我对开车的人生气没有什么好处。看来让我ticked off的事还挺多。M: Yeah, like when your boyfriend broke up with you right before we started classes.L: 你还提醒我这事！我以前那男朋友刚开学就跟我分手，当时我真的非常生气。不过，Michael，我觉得你也很爱生气。M: Well, I got pretty ticked off a few days ago when the professor gave me a low score on the exam.L: 对，和你同班的中国同学王光告诉我你那天非常生气，因为那个教授给你的考试判分判得很低。Ticked off这个说法很好，以前我就知道用angry这个字。M: Hey, are you hungry? We havent eaten in a while.L: 刚才好生气，连肚子饿也忘了。走，去吃点东西吧！(Michael和李华吃完饭以后)M: Now that we have eaten, lets walk to the White House. Its not too far from here.L: 到白宫去？太好了，除了照片外，我还没有看到过真的白宫呢！M: Watch out Li Hua! Get back!L: 哟！ 我的天哪！我的天哪！真吓死我了！我以为这下我可完了！M: Oh, my god! Are you okay? Geez, that was really a close call.L: Michael, 我都差一点被车撞了， 而你还在说什么close call，这跟打电话根本没有关系！M: No, thats not what I meant by close call. I meant that the car nearly hit you.L: 对啊，那车差一点就撞上我了，这就是 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: 原来close call就是说，差一点发生倒霉的事，我算是逃避了这倒霉事。我可以说，今天我差一点没被汽车撞了。对不对？M: Yeah, thats right.L: 那close call是不是一定用在跟生命危险有关的场合呢？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: 对，那个教授让我们在星期二前把学术报告交给他，我们是星期一晚上去交的，差一点就过了限期，这也可以说是close call。 下回我可再也不敢这么做了。M: Here we are! The White House!L: 太好了！ 白宫到了, 那我们赶快走把。今天 Michael 和李华在对话中用的一个常用语是ticked off， 意思是为了什么事情生气； 另一个是close call，意思 是差一点没发生倒霉的事，或是差一点完不成该做的事。 流行美语就学习到这里， 我们下次再见。第十三课Michael和李华已经从华盛顿返回纽约。今天是星期六，他们一起到纽约的 Meadowlands去看冰球。Michael和李华这两个大学生，一个讲英文，一个讲中文，旁边的人听起来很奇怪，可是他们自己已经习惯了这种方式。今天他们在谈话中会用两个常用语：keep cool和screw up。L：Michael，谢谢你带我到Meadowlands来看冰球，Meadowlands可是有名的地方呐！ 而且我从来还没有看过冰球呢！(Starting buzzer)M：Sometimes these games get really rough!L：我也听说了，他们说冰球比赛有时很粗暴，经常会打架。M：Wow, look at them! Its only five minutes into the game and they are already pushing and shoving.L：是啊，他们已经开始推推攘攘，真的打起来了。人们都说冰球比赛有时会很粗暴，但是才开始五分钟就打架，这可是不多见。M：Yeah, they really need to keep cool out there.L： Michael, 这是冰球，在冰上打球，当时是冷的咯，你在说什么呀？M：Li Hua, thats not what I meant. Keep cool means to calm down。Keep, means to hold and cool, meaning cold.L： 噢，keep cool就是要冷静一点, 你是说这些球员不要火气那么大，需要保持冷静。对，他们要是老打架，最好的球员就会被禁止打球的。M：Yeah. Another example, remember last week when you got into an argument with the professor over your mid-term grade?L：我才不会忘记上星期的事呐。那个教授给我期中考试打那么低的分数，我当然要跟他争嘛。M：Right now Li Hua, you need to keep cool.L：是，一说起这件事，我就会生气。得了，得了，不谈这个了吧！M：I cant believe how poorly they are playing.L：你说他们打得不好呀？ 说实话，我根本看不懂。我只知道当地的球队输了三分，这就输了很多啦！M：Yeah, they have really managed to screw up this game.L：Screw up? 我不懂，这是什么意思？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：是不是只能说打球时，或参加运动比赛时犯了错误？M：No, it can be used to describe a lot of things. For example, I screw up on tests all the time.L：噢，你考试老考糟也能用screw up来表示呀！这么说，screw up 可以用的范围很广。 要是说一个人工作没有做好呢？M：He screwed up at work.L：你老是和别人的关系搞不好，也能说是screw up吧？M：Yes, thats why I dont date anymore. Because I screw up all the time.L：原来是因为老跟别人搞不好关系，所以你就不交女朋友了。 Michael，你也别跟自己太过不去了。M：I do screw up a lot; I make mistakes all the time.L：我们都犯错误的，谁能不犯错误啊！我来给你介绍个女朋友吧！M：Look, they are playing like that! What is wrong with these players.L：嗨， 这些球员真的很糟糕，你看，他们已经输了四分啦！M：I hate this! They cant manage not to screw up tonight.L：Michael, 尽管他们screw up，我们还是要keep cool! 也许还有希望扭转局势。李华今天从Michael那儿学到了两个常用语， 一个是：keep cool，意思是：冷静一些，别太激动；另一个常用语是：screw up， 意思是把事情弄糟了。今天的流行美语就学习到这里，我们下次再会。第十四课Michael 和李华这两个大学生，一个讲英文，一个讲中文，旁边的人听起来很奇怪，可是他们俩已经习惯了。今天他们来到中央公园，李华会学到两个常用语：pig out 和 bigmouth。L: Michael, 感恩节你过得好吗？M: It was good to be with my family, but I was disappointed that you couldnt be there.L: 我知道，跟家人在一起总是高兴的事。谢谢你邀请我，但是我早就答应了另一个朋友，所以没法去你家，明年我一定去你家。M: Ok, well. It was a great meal, we all pigged out.L: 你们感恩节吃猪肉呀？我还以为感恩节都是吃火鸡呢。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就是吃好多东西， 不是指吃猪肉呀？M: Yes, pigs eat a lot and thats where the expression pig out comes from. I did eat like a pig on Thanksgiving.L: 我猜也是， pig out肯定是因为猪吃好多东西而形成的常用语。 Michael，我看你呀，不仅是感恩节，你平时就吃好多。上星期， 你每天晚上都吃得象头猪一样。M: Um, I certainly did.L: Pig out这个说法只能指吃东西啊？能不能用在别的地方？M: No, not really. But dont forget that when you use it in the past tense, pig out should be pigged out.L: 那是过去时态，要是说你到了圣诞节假日又要大吃大喝了，那该怎么说？M: You will pig out during the Christmas holidays.L: 嗨，我是在说你，我才不会吃那么多东西呢！Michael, 是不是每年都有这么多人来中央公园滑冰？M: Yes, its 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，那天我不小心告诉了Simon。我知道Josh和Emily现在还不想 公开他们准备结婚的计划，不过我真不是故意的。M: Geez, Li Hua, you have such a bigmouth!L: 你生气了？肯定是骂我。说我是bigmouth，大嘴巴！你是说我吃 很多东西吗？M: No, Im saying you talk a lot about other peoples business!L: 噢， 你不是说我嘴巴大，而是说我多嘴，爱嚼舌头，谈论别人。M: That makes you a bigmouth.L: 我们女孩子都喜欢谈论别人。不过，Michael，我从来没在书上看 到过这个词，是不是一般在口语里用？M: Yes, it is usually used in informal speech.L: Michael，我真不应该那么多嘴，把 Josh和Emily准备结婚的事告诉 别人。M: Well, dont worry about it. I tend to pig out and youre a bigmouth. Everyone has their faults.L: 哟，你倒是想得开，人人有缺点，你爱象猪那样吃，我爱谈论别人。这样就好象什么事也没了！M: Just dont be a person who eats like a pig and also is a bigmouth.L: 对，这两个缺点都有那就糟了。 走吧，该会学校去念书了。今天Michael和李华在纽约中央公园，一面看许多人滑冰，一面聊天。李华从Michael 那儿学到了两个常用语，一个是pig out，就是吃很多东西的意思；另一个是bigmouth，就是多嘴的人。今天的流行美语就学习到这里，我们下次节目再会。第十五课你们大家可能都已经认识了Michael和李华这两个大学生了。Michael讲英文，李华是个中国学生，能讲英文，但是她还在不断地跟Michael学。大家可千万不要认为这两个在纽约的大学生老是到外面去玩。其实他们学习都很努力，现在他们就要在李华的宿舍里一起念书，准备考试。李华今天会学到两个常用语，一个是：whats up，这是一个用来打招呼的通俗说法。 另一个是： no brainer，意思是某件事很容易， 不用动脑子就能做成。L: 嗨，Michael，快进来。M: Hey, Li Hua, whats up?L: 什么？M: Whats up? What are you doing?L: Whats up? 我倒是听人这么说过，可是我还没有弄清楚这句话到 底是什么意思，我应该怎么回答？M: Whats up is really a common greeting.L: 噢，whats up就是一般打招呼，不是指我的头上是什么呐？M: No. Its like saying, What is happening in your life?L: 我知道了，whats up就是中文里我们说的：怎么样？M: Well, its really only spoken language.L: 要是我去看一个我已经有两个月没见的朋友，我在见到她的时 候我可以说Whats up，对吗?M: Yes, definitely!L: 那别人对我说whats up？, 我又该怎么回答呢？M: You can explain whats going on in your life, or you could say something as simple as: Not much.L: 要是你问我，Whats up? 我就可以说： Oh， not much, just getting ready for our test. 意思就是：噢，没什么，就是在准备我们的考 试。M: Thats good usage. You can really say anything.L: 对，你怎么回答都行。 好吧，我们该学习了。我真是希望这次考试赶快过去。M: You stress too much, this test will be a no brainer.L: 你是说我压力太大，没有脑子？ 你知道我脑子很灵的呀！M: Smarter than me, thats 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，你承认我比你聪明。不过，我还得跟你学英文。你说，no brainer就是某件事很容易，不需要动脑子就行呀？M: Yeah.L: 我知道了。象我哥哥那天去买车，运气好，碰到一个公司半价出 售。 在这种情况下决定买不买，不就是no brainer吗？M: Thats right.L: 那次那个漂亮女孩邀你出去玩，你接受不接受邀请不也是很容易 定的吗？M: Yeah, that was a really easy decision, could be called no brainer. Of course I would go out with her.L: 对，决定是容易做，但是你到头来还是不喜欢她。M: Thats true. When the University gave you a scholarship to come study here in New York, it was a no brainer for you too.L: 当然啦，大学给我奖学金来纽约念书，作这种决定还要动脑筋 啊？更何况我学习成绩那么好。M: So then why are you bothering to study?L: 这还用问？ 再聪明的人也得念书嘛！M: On, ok, lets get back to work.李华今天学到了两个常用语，一个是：whats up？ 这是一个用来打招呼的通俗说法； 另一个是：no brainer，意思是某件事很容易，不用动脑子就能做成。这次流行美语就学习到这里。再见。第十六课Michael和李华今天早上都有课，现在正往课堂走。李华今天会学到两个常用语：to goof off 和to hit the sack。L: Michael, 别往我头上扔雪块，行吗？你怎么象个小孩呀！M: Li Hua, Im just goofing off.L: 你就是讨厌。 我不懂什么是goofing off.M: Actually Li Hua, to goof off does mean that Im acting stupid and not being serious. Goof is a verb.L: 噢，to goof off 就是干无聊的事，那你确实很无聊，老向我扔雪 块。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: 年轻人经常用to goof off来形容别人的行为？我记得念中学时班 上有个学生老是打断老师的话，喜欢开玩笑，你可以说这个学生 是goofing off吗？M: Yeah, thats 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: 对，没错，小孩和年轻人经常会做一些无聊的事开玩笑。我才不会忘掉我们那次去看电影的事呢。那几个中学生往银幕上扔糖果， 真是太无聊了，他们还以为好玩呢。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: 你是说，你念中学时跟同学去图书馆念书，结果在那儿互相扔纸球？M: Yeah, thats right.L: 怪不得你一开始考不上大学呢！ 行，教室到了，下课等我一起去图书馆，可千万不要goof off。L: 这课真是枯燥无味。我最讨厌晚上上课，每次上完课，我都感到很累。M: Thats right. Even though its not that late, Im ready to hit the sack!L: 你说什么？你要去捅一个口袋？Sack不是麻袋吗？我以为你很累了，而你现在要去运动？M: No, no. Its a colloquial saying. I mean Im going to bed. Sack, here means bed, and hit means going to.L: 噢，原来to hit the sack是指去睡觉，sack在这里是指床， hit是去 床上睡觉的意思。 那我要坐下，能不能说 to hit the chair?M: No, not really. This phrase - to hit the sack - has a pretty limited meaning.L: 哟，to hit the sack只能指去睡觉，别的地方还不能用！那要是我 午想睡个午睡，能不能说：I want to hit the sack?M: No, its 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，只能指一天工作和学习后晚上去睡觉。那现在我 已经上了一天的学，再加上晚上上了这堂枯燥无味的课，我可 以说：Its time for me to hit the sack。 对不对？M: Thats correct, Li Hua. But dont forget that we have a test tomorrow.L: 我当然不会忘掉明天的考试。M: Ok, now go hit the sack, but after tomorrows test we will have to study seriously for next weeks test, no more goofing off.L: 明天考试后你想好好学习，为下星期的考试作准备。没问题，我 帮你准备，我们俩都会考得很好。M: Yeah, Im going to hit the sack. Bye, Li Hua!Michael 今天教了李华两个常用语，一个是：to goof off，意思是做一些无聊的事，开玩笑；另一个是：to hit the sack，这是指晚上上床睡觉。这次流行美语 今天就学习到这里，我们下次节目再见。第十七课现在大家可能都已经很熟悉Michael和李华了吧！他们俩都在纽约上大学。纽约有许多酒吧都是爱尔兰移民开的。今天Michael要带李华去看一个酒吧。Michael在讲话时会用两个常用语：to bum和turn-off。L: 嗨，这儿好热闹啊！Michael， 在爱尔兰酒吧里大家喝些什么呢？M: People normally drink a large beer that is usually served warm.L: 我可从来没喝过热的啤酒，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 dont mind.L: 随便我要什么都行呀！那好，就来一小杯。对了，你刚才说要是我不在意的话，你想bum a couple of dollars, 那是什么意思啊？M: What I mean is, can I borrow a couple of dollars from you.L: 原来你要问我借几块钱！M: Yes. But dont use this word for big things. For example, you would not ask your friend, “Can I bum your car?”L: 噢，在问别人借大的，象汽车之类的东西时，不能用bum这个字，bum 只能用在问人借小东西的时候。M: Yeah, its usually used when asking for something small, like a piece of gum or candy.L: 哟，你们美国人，怎么一片口香糖，一颗糖还要借啊？难道真的还要还吗？M: No, small things you dont need to return, such as gum and candies.L: 这很重要，因为在这种情况下，我们中国人就不说借了，我们大概会说：给一颗糖吧。M: You are right Li Hua. But if you feel cold at a friends home and you asked to bum a sweater, then you would return it when you were going to leave.L: 对，要是在朋友家感到冷要借一件毛衣，那一般都应该还的。所以，这要看情况，对不对？M: Yes, if you will let me bum a couple bucks tonight, I promise to pay you back tomorrow.L: 行，行，行，就借你两块钱，你问服务员要酒吧，我来付钱。可明天别忘了还我。M: Okay. Two beers please!L: 我以前有一个朋友，每次跟她一起出去，不管去看电影，还是去 喝咖啡，她总是问我借钱。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: 你也碰到过这样的人哪？ 等等，a real turn-off? 这是什么意思呀？把什么东西关掉？M: No, a turn-off is something that repels someone.L: 噢， 是一个让人讨厌的什么东西。 是不是指一个人的性格里有什么地方让你不喜欢他？M: Yes, thats 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时候老是抽烟，那真是讨厌。M: A girl I once dated always interrupted me whenever I was talking. That was a real turn-off.L: 对，你告诉过我，你从前的女朋友老是打断你的话，让你很讨厌。 我还有一个朋友把脏衣服在房间里到处乱扔， that was also a turn-off.M: See, youve learned how to use turn-off. By the way, I also have dirty clothes lying around my apartment. Does that bother you?L: 哼，你也把脏衣服到处乱扔？你要是不打扫乾净的话，别想请 我到你家去。M: Ok, Ill try to clean it up.各位听众，今天李华从Michael 那里学到了两个常用语，一个是： to bum，意思是借钱或其他东西；另一个是：a turn-off，意思是让人讨厌的地方。这次就到此结束，下次节目再见。第十八课大家到现在都认识 Michael这个美国学生了，他不断在学中文，他很喜欢听他的中国同学李华讲中文。李华呢，在和Michael接触中也学了不少英文。现在他们俩刚上完课，正从课堂里走出来。今天李华会学到两个常用语： lucky break和mellow。L: 今天教授把考卷发回给我们了，Michael，你考得好吗？M: I did much better than I expected. It was a lucky break that I knew most of the answers.L: 你考得比你预期的好，那太好了。不过，你说什么又是lucky，又是break的？Lucky不是好运气吗？Break是休息，对不对？M: Lucky break together means something good that happens that you were not expecting.L: 噢，lucky和break这两个词放在一起，它的意思就是没有预料到的好运气。Michael，你刚才那句话是怎么说来着？M: I said: it was a lucky break that I knew most of the answers.L: 我懂了。你是说，你没有想到运气会那么好，大多数考题的答案你刚好都知道。M: Yeah, thats right. If you understand, give me an example.L: 哼，我当然懂了，你还要考考我呐？ 那天我开车开的飞快， 警察让我把车停下来。可是他只给了我一个警告，而没有给我罚单，我可没想到会有这种好运气。这可以说是一个lucky break吧？M: That was a lucky break. I think it was because the police officer found you attractive.L: 警察因为看我漂亮才不给我开票？你别开玩笑了！不过，那次可 运气，否则至少要罚我五十美元。让我想想还有什么例子可以 用lucky break这个说法的。M: Well, the paper thats due in two days, I.L: 对了，教授要我们在两天后交报告，Michael，你还没有开始动手 吧！幸好教授推迟了限期，让我们下星期一交。这对你来说真是个lucky break吧？M: Lets go to lunch to celebrate our good luck.L: 好呀， 去吃午饭，庆祝我们的好运气。(Michael和李华到了吃饭的地方)L: 啊呀，这个地方太闹了！M: Yeah, youre right. Itll be hard for us to have a conversation here. Lets go to a place thats more mellow.L: 对，在这里讲话都听不到。到别的地方去吧。Michael，你刚才讲什么more mellow?M: I said that lets go to a place thats more mellow, meaning someplace more calm and relaxing.L: 噢，more mellow的意思是比较平静，比较放松。那也就是说到一个不太闹的地方去，对不对？M: Yeah, you can use the word mellow to describe a person too.L: Mellow也可以用来形容一个人，那今天我们的教授很平静，我可不可以说：She was mellow today!M: Yeah, lets go the cafe near the library.L: 太好了，这个地方很安静。我们来看看菜单。哟，你看，再过五分钟就开始减价了，三明治今天半价。我们运气可真好呀！M: Well, we found the mellow place and we pay half price. Really a lucky break. Worth celebrating too.L: 对，找到安静的地方，还只付半价。真值得庆祝。你多吃点吧， 晚饭就别吃了。M: Ok. Good idea!这俩个小年轻还在狼吞虎咽地吃三明治。今天他们在讲话中用了lucky break 和mellow这两个常用语，这是美国人在日常生活中经常用的，大家不妨也在口语中试着用用。今天的流行美语就到此结束， 谢谢大家，我们下次再见。第十九课流行美语时间又到了。Michael和李华都在纽约上大学。Michael对纽约很熟，因此经常带李华到一些著名的地方去参观。今天他俩要去纽约的大都会艺术博物馆去听讲演。李华将学到两个常用语：neat和sharp。L: Michael，我能够把你拽着一起去听这个演讲，真不容易。今天讲 话的这个人在数学和艺术方面都有博士学位。他讲话的题目就 是：数学和艺术的关系。M: Im sure the lecture will be really neat.L: 什么？ Neat? 那不是整齐，乾净的意思吗？M: No. Neat, its a word used here to describe something that is good.L: 噢，neat在这里是指某样东西很好，那你为什么不直接说好，而 非要说neat呢？M: Neat is very conversational.L: Neat这个词很口语化！那是不是任何时候我要说什么东西好都可以 用neat这个词呐？M: Neat can be used to describe an idea, a concept.L: Neat可以用来指一个好的主意，好的概念。今天讲演的内容就是 数学和艺术的会合。这是一个很好的概念。M: Well, Li Hua, you find the concept interesting, right?L: 对，我觉得这个概念很有意思。M: Well, if it holds your interest and you like the idea, then you can call it neat.L: 噢，只要我有兴趣，觉得是个好主意，我就可以说： Thats neat!M: Youre right.L: 如果我跟一些朋友出去玩，有人建议去喝茶，聊天。要是我觉得 很好的话，我也可以说：Thats a neat idea.M: Certainly. Hey, we are running pretty late. Lets hurry up.L: 哟，对了，太晚了。赶快走吧！L: 我觉得他讲得真好。我从来没有想到数学和艺术有那么多关系。 他讲得很清楚。现在我对这个题目懂了好多。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吗？ 那天有 个人说我很sharp， 当时我也不懂他是什么意思。那么说，他是在说我好咯！M: Absolutely！Sharp is an adjective that can be used to describe a person who is really smart.L: 你是说，sharp这个词可以用来形容一个非常聪明的人，也就是 脑子很敏锐的人。那我们的朋友王涛总是得到好分数，我可以 说：Hes very sharp。M: He certainly is.L: 那这个词sharp是不是跟形容刀快不快的sharp是同一个字呢？M: S