李阳疯狂英语,高级对话45--50

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: I’m furious with Jenny! She’s always late.

珍尼快气死我了！她总是迟到。

B: Always? Why don’t 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! I’ve talked till I’m blue in the face. It’s 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 you’re 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: You’re 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: Y ou don’t have to go that far. Just don’t 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 you’re 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 she’s late, it’s 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☆☆☆

* Bill’s very punctual; he’s always on time for everything.

比尔总是很准时，做什么事都一样。

* It’s 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. I’m not changing my min d.

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; it’s 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. It’s 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 couldn’t 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 one’s breath: speak uselessly, to no purpose

徒劳；白费口舌☆☆☆☆

* Don’t waste your breath try to convince him; he’s 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。

* Don’t waste your breath giving me any excuses. I don’t 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. What’s new?

嗨，迈克。你好吗？

B: What’s 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 don’t 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. You’d 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? I’ve 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: Don’t be silly. You’d be better off seeing one.I’ll 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 doesn’t hurt!

好。还是去吧。不过帮我找一个看牙不疼的牙医哦！

B: Come on. I’m your best friend. You can count on me. There’s 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, I’ll 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 isn’t surprising 难怪；不足为奇☆☆☆

* No wonder you’re tired! You stayed up the whole night.

难怪你这么累，你一个晚上没睡觉。

* No wonder we couldn’t 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☆☆☆

* I’m sorry I forgot to bring the book for you; I’ll 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 we’ll 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。

* Don’t put off studying until the last minute.

不要把学习的事推到最后。

* I don’t 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 I’d 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？

* You’d 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 I’d 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 you’re going to the l ibrary, 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 you’re 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 we’re here we might as well try the Beijin g 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. What’s new? Did anyone call for me wh ile 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. He’s 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,that’s my old friend from college, Dave Johnson. I knew he was coming to town. I didn’t 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: I’d like to. But we’ve 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: Don’t 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: That’s true. And the other guests will like Dave. He’s 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. It’s 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. I’ll go pick Dave up. He doesn’t 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, I’ll 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 g reat. I’ll 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 I’l l 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 can’t talk with you now, but I’ll 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 haven’t 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 twin’s 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。

* I’m 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: I’m sorry, I can’t 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 doesn’t 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 one’s 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。

* There’s 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 one’s way: go in the wrong direction in trying to find a place and become lost 走错了方向、迷路☆☆☆

* I’m 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 aren’t familiar with Beijing, it’s easy to lose your way. 如果你对北京不熟，会很容易迷路的。

9. He’s the Right Man for the Job

他是最佳人选

BACKGROUND 背景

Two people are discussing the mayor’s speech.

两个人在谈论市长的演讲。

A: Hi, Janice.

嗨，珍妮丝。

B: Hi, Steve. What’s new?

嗨，史蒂夫。有什么好消息吗？

A: I’ve just heard a speech by the mayor. He’s 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, he’s a good man. I like him. Although I don’t 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: There’s one good thing about him: he isn’t 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. He’s a man of action. Rig ht from the start. He doesn’t 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: That’s true. He made a point of going to work immediately. The city has made a lot of progress since he’s 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: He’s very independent. He doesn’t rely on others. He finds out everything first hand. Then he takes steps to improve the situation. That’s 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: He’s the right man for the job.

他是这一工作的最好人选。

B: I couldn’t agree with you more.

你说得太对了。

A: Next time he gives speech I’ll 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 one’s thinking

不合时宜的；落伍的☆☆☆☆

* He’s not a good teacher. He’s behind the times in his methods.

他不是个好老师。他的方法太落后了。

* We can’t 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。

* He’s so behind the times, he doesn’t 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, let’s 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 couldn’t 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 I’m telling you is firsthand information; I didn’t 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 don’t 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。

* We’re 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. How’s it going? I’ve got a problem.

嗨，金姆。进展如何？我遇到了点麻烦。

B: What’s 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 won’t 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: I’m going to Beijing that day. I have an important speech and TV interview there. I fo rgot all about it. I don’t have the heart to tell the conference now. It’s the second time I’ve 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: Don’t worry about it. They’d h ave 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. I’m sure they’d prefer someone who keeps his word. I’ve got to talk to my assistant. He’s 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 you’re not leading them on. They’ll ask you again, I’m sure. These things happen. You’re a busy gu y.

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: That’s what friends are for. Besides, I’m sure it’s 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 don’t 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 didn’t have the heart to tell her boyfriend the truth.

她没有勇气把真相告诉男友。

* I don’t have the heart to watch that explosion one more time.

我不敢再看那爆炸的场面。

save face: maintain one’s pride and honor; not be disgraced

挽回面子☆☆☆☆

* I completely forgot Kim’s 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 can’t 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☆☆☆

* I’ve lost my ID card. I’ve looked high and low for it, but I can’t 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。

* You’ll have to loo k 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 one’s word: be responsible and do what one says one will do

说到做到;信守诺言☆☆☆☆☆

* If Jim said he’d get that book for you, he’ll do it; he always keeps his w ord.

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. Don’t 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.