英語早間課堂:話說地道美語 Lesson 25(1)

In general, American teenagers are big spenders. They want to buy things the other kids have: CDs of the latest songs, CD players, videos. video games, electronic gadgets, fashionable clothes, and even cars. A few parents agree to foot the bill, but others don't. Instead, they put their foot down and insist that the kids get a job. After all, that is the best way for them to learn how to stand on their own feet and learn the value of money.

總體來說，美國十幾歲的青少年花錢大手大腳。他們想買其他孩子都擁有的東西：最新的歌曲CD、CD機、電影碟片、電子游戲、電子產品、時裝、甚至是汽車。少數(shù)父母同意付賬，而另一些則拒絕買單，相反他們還果斷決定堅持要孩子找份工作。這畢竟是他們學會自立和認識金錢價值的最好方法。

美國家長對自己孩子在物質上的需求是如何對待的呢?我們先來學三個含有foot這個詞的習語。

1. foot the bill

望文生義，它的意思是腳踩在賬單上，但是美國人在生活中說這個短語的意思是 "to pay for all expences". 中文意思是付賬，買單，承擔費用。我們通過下面的例句來熟悉它的意思和用法：

Eg . When we went to the restaurant last night, my fatherfooted the bill as usual. 昨晚我們去餐館吃飯,像往常一樣,由我父親付帳。(注解：go to the restaurant 去餐館吃飯;上館子 as usual 照例，像平常一樣)

Eg. I am in a jam because I do not have enough money to foot the bill. 我?guī)У腻X不夠付賬，處境很狼狽。(注解：in a jam 處于困境)

Eg. Who's going to foot the bill for all the repairs? 誰來付所有的修理費?(注解：foot the bill for... 為.......付賬)

Eg. I wonder who's going to foot the bill for all the celebration costs. 我正在想誰來付這次慶祝會所花的所有費用了。

2. put one's foot down

望文生義，它的意思是把腳往下放。但是在美國的大街小巷的老百姓們說這句話是“make a firm decision and insist that someone obey”的意思。中文意思果斷行事，堅持立場。我們通過下面的例句來熟悉這個短語的意思和運用。

Eg. Our mother let us go to the party, but when it came to staying overnight, she put her foot down to say no. 母親允許我們去參加晚會, 但要說到過夜, 她可決不答應。(注解：come to sth 指說到某話題 overnight adv. 過夜 stay overnight 在外過夜 say no 不同意)

Eg. She put her foot down and left home with the baby. 她固執(zhí)己見,帶著孩子便離家了。

3. stand on one's own feet

望文生義，它 的意思是站在自己的腳上，但是美國人用說這個短語的意思是“to depend on oneself, not to ask for help or money”。中文意思是自力更生，獨立自主，不依靠他人的幫助或資助。我們通過下面的例句來熟悉這個短語的意思和運用。

Eg. I don't want allowances made for me. I want to stand on my own feet for what I'm worth. 我不需要誰來原諒我，我應該憑本事自力更生。(注解：該句話來源于Gone with the Wind allowance 考慮 make allowance for sb考慮到，顧及，體諒，原諒)

Eg. Now that you' re growing up you must learn to stand on your own two feet. 你既然已經長大成人, 就得學會獨立生活。(注解：now that 既然，由于 引導條件狀語從句)

Foot the bill是“買單”的意思。Put down one's foot是“果斷行事”“堅持立場”的意思。Stand on one's feet是“自立更生”“獨立自主”的意思。