李阳疯狂英语,高级对话45--50.doc

6. Jenny Is Always Late 珍尼总是迟到 BACKGROUND 背景 A girl is complaining about her friend always being late. 一个女孩在抱怨她的朋友总是迟到。 A: Hi, Ken. 嗨，肯。 B: Hi, Lily. What are you so upset about? 嗨，莉莉。你为什么事这么生气？ A: Im furious with Jenny! Shes always late. 珍尼快气死我了！她总是迟到。 B: Always? Why dont you talk it over with her? Encourage her to be on time, or tell her how much it annoys you? 总是？你为什么不和她好好谈一谈，鼓励她准时一点，或者告诉她你对这件事很恼火呢？ A: Look! Ive talked till Im blue in the face. Its out of the question. 告诉你，我已经费尽口舌，却毫无成效。要说服她真的是不可能的。 B: There must be something you can do. 你一定会有办法的。 A: I doubt it. Last night we went to a concert. Do you know what time we got there? Just in time to go out for the intermission! We missed half of the show! 我很怀疑这一点，昨晚我们去听音乐会。你知道我们什么时候到的吗？正好赶上中间的休息时间，我们误了一半！ B: I guess youre just wasting your breath then. Time means nothing to Jenny. 那我想你确实是徒劳了。时间对珍尼来说是没有用的。 A: Youre right. I guess I should just stop doing things with her. 是啊。我想我以后不跟她交往了。 B: You dont have to go that far. Just dont waste your time waiting for her. 你倒没必要那么过分。只要别再浪费时间等她就行了。 A: I guess youre right. I could just tell her to meet me at the restaurant or movie. 我想你说得对。那我就让她在饭馆或是电影院等我。 B: Right. Then if shes late, its her problem not yours. 对。那样的话，她若迟到就是她的问题而与你无关。 A: Thanks for your advice! I appreciate it! 谢谢你的建议。非常感谢！ 额外成就感 talk something over: discuss谈一谈；讨论 * I always talk things over with my good friends before I make any important decision. 我每次做重要决定之前都要和我的好朋友商量一下。 * If something at work is bothering you, you should talk it over with your boss. 如果工作上有什么困扰的话，你应该跟老板好好谈一谈。 * Do you have a minute? I need to talk something over with you. 你有空吗？我想跟你谈点事。 on time: at the hour designated; not before or after that hour 准时 * Bills very punctual; hes always on time for everything. 比尔总是很准时，做什么事都一样。 * Its extremely important that you be on time for the meeting today. 你今天准时到会非常重要。 * Is this train usually on time? 这趟火车准时吗？ till one is blue in the face: until one can say no more in trying to convince someone of something 尽最大努力劝说，但不奏效 * My father talked to me till he was blue in the face, but it did no good; I quit school anyway. 我老爸费了老鼻子劲劝说我都没有奏效，到头来我还是退学了。 * You can scream till you are blue in the face. Im not changing my mind. 你把脸吵绿了都没有用，我不会改变主意的。 * I tried to convince him until I was blue in the face. 我百般劝解他都不管用。 out of the question: impossible; beyond consideration 不可能 * Your suggestion that we go swimming is out of the question; its too cold today. 我们不可能按你的建议去游泳，因为今天太冷了。 * Borrowing the money is out of the question. 借钱是不可能的。 * Quitting is out of the question. Its too hard to find another job right now. 辞职不可能。现在找个工作太难了。 in time to: be at a place at the right time to do something 正好赶上 * George couldnt come for dinner, but he arrived in time to have dessert and coffee with us. 乔治吃饭没赶上，正好赶上吃甜点和喝咖啡。 * We arrived at the airport just in time to catch our plane. 我们及时赶到机场才赶上了那趟航班。 waste ones breath: speak uselessly, to no purpose 徒劳；白费口舌 * Dont waste your breath try to convince him; hes going to leave anyway. 不要白费口舌劝阻他了，他反正也要走的。 * I told her she needed to work harder, but I was wasting my breath. 我告诫她要努力工作，但那只是白费口舌。 * Dont waste your breath giving me any excuses. I dont want to hear them. 别找借口了。我不想听。7. I Get Cold Feet 畏缩不前 BACKGROUND 背景 One friend is encouraging another to see a dentist. 一个人在鼓励他的朋友去看牙医。 A : Hi, Mike. Whats new? 嗨，迈克。你好吗？ B: Whats wrong with you? Your face is swollen. You look terrible! 你这是怎么啦？脸都肿了。气色很不好！ A : My jaw aches. I dont know why. 我下巴疼，我也不知道是怎么回事。 B: Let me take a look. No wonder it hurts! One of your teeth looks decayed. Youd better see a dentist right away. 让我看一看。难怪疼呀！你有颗牙齿坏了。最好马上去看牙医。 A: Do you think I have to? Ive been putting it off for weeks. To tell the honest truth, dentists scare me to death. I get cold feet when I have to go to one. Even thinking of it makes me shake. 一定要去吗？我都拖了好几个星期了。说实话，我害怕牙医怕得要死。每次去到那里我就紧张得不得了。就连想到牙医我都不寒而栗。 B: Dont be silly. Youd be better off seeing one. Ill make an appointment for you. Only a fool is afraid of the dentist! 别犯傻了。你还是要看医生的。我来帮你预约。只有傻子才怕见牙医呢！ A: Okay. I might as well go. But find me one who doesnt hurt! 好。还是去吧。不过帮我找一个看牙不疼的牙医哦！ B: Come on. Im your best friend. You can count on me. Theres nothing to be afraid of. 好啦。我是你最好的朋友，你就放心吧。没有什么可害怕的。 A: Well, if you say so, Ill take your word for it. 好吧，既然你这么说，我就照你说的做。 额外成就感 no wonder: it isnt surprising 难怪；不足为奇 * No wonder youre tired! You stayed up the whole night. 难怪你这么累，你一个晚上没睡觉。 * No wonder we couldnt find you. You were in America! 难怪我们找不到你呢。你在美国！ * No wonder your husband is mad. I would be too if I were in his shoes. 你老公生气这不足为奇。如果我是他的话也会生气的。 right away: immediately 马上；即刻 * Im sorry I forgot to bring the book for you; Ill take care of it right away. 对不起，我忘了把书给你带来，我马上就去给你拿。 * After I took the medicine, I felt better right away. 我吃完药就马上感觉好多了。 * We need to leave right away or well be late. 我们得赶紧走，要不就迟到了。 put something off: postpone 推迟做某事 * Because of the weather, we have to put the picnic off until next week. 因为天气的原因，我们不得不把野炊推迟到下个星期。 * Dont put off studying until the last minute. 不要把学习的事推到最后。 * I dont want to put off our meeting until next week. 我不想把会议推迟到下个星期。 get cold feet: become very cautious; be afraid to do something 胆怯；局促不安 * Every time I want to ask her out, I get cold feet. 每次我想约她出去，都打退堂鼓。 * I thought you were going to open your own business. What happened, did you get cold feet? 我还以为你要着手开办自己的公司呢。发生了什么事，你不敢了吗？ * She was supposed to get married last month but she got cold feet. 她本应该上个月结婚的，但她又打了退堂鼓。 be better off: be better on a long-term basis （对于做某事来说）较明智 * Do you think Id be better off quitting my job and going abroad? 你觉得我辞去工作出国是不是明智之举？ * Youd be better off going to the office in person instead of trying to call. 你亲自去办公室比打电话要强得多。 * I think Id be better off if I were single! 我要是单身的话会更好一些！ might as well: it is a good idea to do something, although not of major importance 倒不如；满可以 * If youre going to the library, I might as well go with you and return these books. 如果你要去图书馆的话，我倒不如跟你一起去把这些书还了。 * You might as well give me your phone number if youre going to be here a few days. 你要是来这住几天的话，倒不如把电话号码也给我。 * As long as were here we might as well try the Beijing duck. 既然我们来了，倒不如吃北京烤鸭。8. The More the Merrier 多多益善 BACKGROUND 背景 This is a conversation between a husband and wife. 这是一组夫妻之间的对话。 A: Hi, Bill. When did you get back? 嗨，比尔。你什么时候回来的？ B: About an hour ago. Whats new? Did anyone call for me while I was out? 回来有一个小时了。怎么样？我不在的时候有没有人打电话找我？ A: Yeah, someone named Johnson called this afternoon. He left word for you to call him. Hes at the Holiday Inn Hotel. You can get in touch with him there. 有一个叫约翰逊的下午打电话过来。他要你给他回电话。他住在假日酒店。你可以打那里的电话联系到他。 B: Oh,thats my old friend from college, Dave Johnson. I knew he was coming to town. I didnt expect him today, though. I must have got mixed up on the dates. What a great surprise! 哦，那是我的大学同窗好友戴维约翰逊。我知道他要过来。不过没想到是今天。我一定是把日子搞混了。真是个天大的惊喜！ A: Should we ask him to our party tonight? 我们要不要请他来参加今晚的聚会？ B: Id like to. But weve already invited twenty people. And the apartment is pretty small. 我是这么想。但是我们已经邀请了二十个人，房子又很小。 A: Dont worry. We can always make room for one more. The more the merrier you know. 别担心。多一个还是不成问题的。人越多越开心嘛。 B: Thats true. And the other guests will like Dave. Hes very friendly, and he always has funny stories and jokes to tell. 没错。其他客人们也会喜欢戴维的。他很友善，而且总是逗大家笑。 A: Be sure to tell him not to dress up. Its a casual party, you know. 告诉他不要穿得太隆重。你知道这是个非正式的聚会。 B: Okay. Ill go pick Dave up. He doesnt know this city. He might lose his way coming alone. 好的。我开车去接他。他不熟悉这个城市，一个人来可能会迷路的。 A: Okay, Ill stay here and finish getting things ready for the party. 好吧，我留在这里准备聚会的事。 B: Sounds great. Ill see you later then. 这样不错。一会见。 A: Okay. Bye! 好，再见！ 额外成就感 leave word: leave a message 留言 * John had to go, but he left word that you should meet him at the hotel. 约翰走了，但他留言说你可以在酒店和他会面。 * I want to leave word with my secretary that Ill be out for the afternoon. 我要给我的秘书留言，说我今天下午出去。 * Leave word for all the employees that there will be a two day vacation next week for the holiday. 给所有的员工留言，告诉他们下星期过节放两天假。 get in touch with someone: communicate with someone by phone, telegraph, mail, etc. 通过电话、信函等与某人联系 * I cant talk with you now, but Ill get in touch with you tonight by phone. 我现在不能跟你多谈，今晚会给你打电话。 * I havent been able to get in touch with my sister for a long time. 我已经好久没有跟我的姐姐联系上了。 * Get in touch with Jim and set up a meeting for next week. 联系一下吉姆，安排下星期开会。 get mixed up: become confused 搅乱；糊涂 * I always get mixed up with the twins names. 我总是把那对双胞胎的名字搞混。 * I thought I knew where I was going but I got mixed up. 我原以为知道去哪，但我弄混了。 * I speak English well, but get mixed up on exams. 我能说好英语，但考试却一塌糊涂。 make room for something, someone: allow space for; arrange space for腾出、让出空间 * Would you please to make some room for me to sit down? 你们给我腾出些地方来坐好吗？ * We need to make room for the new sofa. 我们要给新沙发腾出点地方来。 * Im trying to make room for my family to visit. 我的家里人要来，我得腾出点地方来。 the more the merrier: large crow of people are more fun 人越多越好 * I invited a hundred people to the party tomorrow. The more the merrier I always say. 我为明天的聚会邀请了一百个人。我总是觉得人越多越好。 * A: Im sorry, I cant go to the picnic this weekend. My nephew is coming to visit me from Florida this week. 很抱歉，这个周末的野炊我去不了了。我侄子这星期从佛罗里达来看我。 B: Bring him with us if he doesnt mind. The more the merrier. 如果他不介意的话就跟我们一起去。人越多越好嘛。 dress up: put on ones best clothes 穿上最好的衣服；盛装 * When you dress up, you are more beautiful than a movie star. 你穿上好看的衣服，比电影明星还漂亮。 * Theres no need to dress up. The restaurant is very casual. 不用盛装打扮。那是个很随意的饭馆。 * I like to dress up for work every now and then. 我有时喜欢穿得整整齐齐地去上班。 lose ones way: go in the wrong direction in trying to find a place and become lost 走错了方向、迷路 * Im sorry to be late, but I lost my way. 对不起，我来晚了。我走错了方向。 * We lost our way to the theater and ended up missing the movie. 我们在去电影院的路上迷路了，结果误了电影。 * If you arent familiar with Beijing, its easy to lose your way. 如果你对北京不熟，会很容易迷路的。9. Hes the Right Man for the Job 他是最佳人选 BACKGROUND 背景 Two people are discussing the mayors speech. 两个人在谈论市长的演讲。 A: Hi, Janice. 嗨，珍妮丝。 B: Hi, Steve. Whats new? 嗨，史蒂夫。有什么好消息吗？ A: Ive just heard a speech by the mayor. Hes an excellent speaker. His speech today was very powerful. 我刚才听了市长的演讲。他是一位优秀的演讲家，演讲很有号召力。 B: Yes, hes a good man. I like him. Although I dont always see eye to eye with him. I still respect him very much. 是的，还不错。我喜欢他。尽管我的观点与他的不尽相同，我还是非常敬佩他。 A: Theres one good thing about him: he isnt behind the times. He knows this is the 21st century 他其中的一个好处是：他不落伍。他知道这是21世纪了。 B: I like the way he got right down to business. Hes a man of action. Right from the start. He doesnt waste time talking about problems. He likes to solve them. 我喜欢他做事果断。从一开始，他就是一个实干家。他不会把时间浪费在谈论问题上。他喜欢解决问题。 A: Thats true. He made a point of going to work immediately. The city has made a lot of progress since hes been the mayor. 的确。他目的一明确，即刻就工作。自从他上任以来，这个城市已经有了很大的改观。 B: Hes very independent. He doesnt rely on others. He finds out everything first hand. Then he takes steps to improve the situation. Thats what I admire in a leader. 他非常独立，不依赖别人，只要取得第一手资料，就马上采取行动改善状况。这才是我所敬慕的领导。 A: Hes the right man for the job. 他是这一工作的最好人选。 B: I couldnt agree with you more. 你说得太对了。 A: Next time he gives speech Ill ask you to come along. 下一次他做演讲的时候，我会邀你同去。 B: That would be great. Thanks a lot. 太好了。多谢。 额外成就感 be behind the times: not be up-to-date, modern in ones thinking 不合时宜的；落伍的 * Hes not a good teacher. Hes behind the times in his methods. 他不是个好老师。他的方法太落后了。 * We cant afford to be behind the times. The competition will destroy us. 我们落后不起，竞争会把我们打垮的。 * Hes so behind the times, he doesnt understand anything we say. 他可真是个老古董，我们说的什么他都不明白。 get right down to something: begin working without hesitation 不犹豫地、迅速地做某事 * After the supervisor declared the start of the test, all the students got right down to writing. 监考老师一声令下，同学们马上开始做卷子。 * Enough of this talk, lets get right down to business! 谈到这儿就够了，我们马上去干活吧！ * I was so hungry, I couldnt wait to get right down to eating. 我饿死了，恨不得马上就吃饭。 make a point of something: do or say something with a definite intention 认为做某事重要；有必要 * I always make a point of introducing myself to everyone I meet. 我总是认为有必要把自己介绍给我遇到的每一个人。 * Make a point of seeing the Great Wall when you are in Beijing. 你去北京的话，长城值得一看。 * I made a point of checking the door to make sure it was locked. 我觉得有必要检查一下门是否锁好了。 firsthand: without assistance from an intermediary; direct 第一手的 * What Im telling you is firsthand information; I didnt hear it from someone else. 我所告诉你的都是第一手的信息，我还没听到别人提及过。 * I want to experience city life firsthand. I dont want to just watch it on TV. 我想亲身体验一下城市生活，不愿只是从电视上看。 take steps: prepare for something and put it into action 采取措施 * The crime in that city became a serious problem. The police had to take steps to correct it. 那个城市的犯罪问题已日趋严重。警方不得不采取措施予以制止。 * Were taking steps to solve the problem right now. 我们马上采取措施解决问题。 * We must take steps to prevent this tragedy from happening again. 我们必须采取措施阻止这类悲剧再次发生。10. I Forgot All about It 我把它忘到了九霄云外 BACKGROUND 背景 One friend is telling the other about his busy schedule. 一个人在告诉他的朋友他有多忙。 A: Hi, Kim. Hows it going? Ive got a problem. 嗨，金姆。进展如何？我遇到了点麻烦。 B: Whats bothering you Stone? You look stressed. 石头，是什么事让你心烦？你看上去心事重重的。 A: I always bite off more than I can chew. I agreed to speak at an international conference in Shanghai next Monday. Now I wont be able to do it. 我总是试图做自己做不来的事。我答应下星期一在上海的一个国际性大会上讲话。现在没法去了。 B: Why not? What happened? 为什么呢？怎么回事呀？ A: Im going to Beijing that day. I have an important speech and TV interview there. I forgot all about it. I dont have the heart to tell the conference now. Its the second time Ive done this. How can I save face? I feel terrible. 那天我刚好要去北京，我有一个非常重要的演讲和电视采访。我全给忘了。现在，我没有勇气告诉上海方面。这可是第二回了。我怎么才能挽回面子呢？我觉得糟透了。 B: Dont worry about it. Theyd have to search high and low to find a better speaker. And they know it. They need someone who can speak good English and Chinese. 别担心，他们会到别处去找个更好的演讲者。而且他们也会理解的。 他们需要一个能说一口流利的英语和汉语的人。 A: Thank you. But I doubt that. Im sure theyd prefer someone who keeps his word. Ive got to talk to my assistant. Hes always messing up my schedule! 谢谢。但我对此表示怀疑。我想他们宁愿要一个守信用的人。我要找我的助手谈谈.他总是把我的计划打乱！ B: Forget it. They know youre not leading them on. Theyll ask you again, Im sure. These things happen. Youre a busy guy. 得了吧。他们知道你不是骗他们的。我确信他们还会再请你的。这种事常有，你也很忙。 A: Thanks for saying that, Kim. I feel a lot better. 金姆，谢谢你这么说。我觉得好多了。 B: Thats what friends are for. Besides, Im sure its not easy being so famous! 这是朋友之间应该做的。再说，名人也不是好当的！ 额外成就感 have the heart: have the courage to do something that will cause others unhappiness or disappointment 有勇气 * I dont have the heart to tell my parents that I failed the exam. 我不敢告诉父母我考试没及格。 * She didnt have the heart to tell her boyfriend the truth. 她没有勇气把真相告诉男友。 * I dont have the heart to watch that explosion one more time. 我不敢再看那爆炸的场面。 save face: maintain ones pride and honor; not be disgraced 挽回面子 * I completely forgot Kims party and tried to save face by sending her flowers the next morning. 我彻头彻尾地忘了金姆同志的聚会，于是在第二天早上送花给她以挽回面子。 * You cant save face by making up lies. Just tell the truth. 编瞎话是不会为你挽回面子的。照实说吧。 * We told him that he failed in private so he could save face. 我们私下里告诉他，他失败了，这样可以留点面子。 high and low: everywhere; in every conceivable place 到处 * Ive lost my ID card. Ive looked high and low for it, but I cant find it. 我把身份证丢了。到处找也没找到。 * We searched high and low for a better place to live, but in the end, we stayed in our old house. 我们到处寻找一个居住条件好的地方，但最后还是留在了老房子里。 * Youll have to look high and low for an original copy of that book. They are extremely rare. 你得好好找一找那本书的原版，很少有的。 keep ones word: be responsible and do what one says one will do 说到做到;信守诺言 * If Jim said hed get that book for you, hell do it; he always keeps his word. 如果吉姆说过要把书给你带来，他就一定会的；他总是说话算话。 * I am counting on you to keep your word. Dont let me down. 我指望着你信守诺言呢。别让我失望。 * She is known for keeping her word. 她以诚信著称。 * I promise. Ill be there. Ill keep my word. 我保证。我肯定会去的。我说话算话。 lead someone on: make someone believe something that isnt true 欺骗；说谎 * Eric gave me a long story about what a good student he was in college. Later I discovered none of it was true; he was just leading me on. 艾立克给我讲了一大堆他在大学里是多么的出色。后来我发现那全是假的，他是在骗我。 * If you dont want to go out with me any more just say so. Dont lead me on. 如果你不想再跟我出去了那就直说。别跟我撒谎。 * He never really cared about her. He was just leading her on. 他从没喜欢过她。他只不过骗她罢了。 * They never planned to sign the contract. They were just leading us on. 他们根本就不想签合同，就是想骗我们。11. Dont Beat around the Bush不要拐弯抹角 BACKGROUND 背景 One friend is telling another bad news. 一个人在向他的朋友讲述坏消息。 A: Ive been waiting for an hour! Where have you been? 我都等了一个小时了！你去哪了？ B: I got stuck in traffic on the way back from Joes office. 我在从乔的办公室回来的路上遇到了塞车。 A: Okay. Tell me exactly what Joe said. Dont beat around the bush. G