解析:如果別人在你旁邊羅嗦個沒完,你感到厭煩了,說“You are so boring!”(你真煩!)。“Shut up!”(閉嘴!)自然沒錯,可人家受得了嗎?不如來一句“Oh, come on. Give me a break!”(幫幫忙,讓我歇歇吧!)這地道幽默吧?
2. You’re in the pink!
解析:要想說人“氣色好”,“You look fine!”當(dāng)然不錯,可如果你說“You’re in the pink!”就妙得多了,實際上,在英語口語中,表示顏色的詞用起來非常形象生動。
3. He is bouncy.
解析:“他精力充沛”,美國人說“He is bouncy.”而不說“He is energetic.”,牢記一些日常對話中的活句式是你一把必備的鑰匙。比如“久仰”,“I've long been looking forward to meeting you.”比“I heard a lot about you.”輕松得多。
4. Please give my love to...
解析:代問他人好當(dāng)然能用“Please remember me to your sister.”或“Please give my best wishes to your father.”不過,若是很好的朋友,何不說“Please give my love to Jim.”
5. I will miss you.
解析:在中國可不能隨便說“我想你”,然而,當(dāng)和西方人分手時說“I will miss you.”要比說“Good-bye.”或“See you soon.”有趣得多,不妨一試。
6. Did you get lost?
解析:有人開會遲到了,你若對他說“You are late.”聽起來像是廢話,若說“Did you get lost?”則更能讓他歉然,可別說成“Get lost!”那可是讓人滾蛋的意思。
7. Do you have the time?
解析:別人征求你的意見,問能否開窗戶等,你若說“You can do that.”就有點土了,可以用“Do you have the time?”。實際上,問他人的姓名、地址都可以這么用:“May I have you name?”要比“What’s your name?”禮貌得多,不過警察例外。
8. I would rather not say.
解析:別人問你不愿公開的問題,切勿用“It’s my secret, and don’t ask such a personal question.”回答,一來顯得你沒有個性,二來也讓對方尷尬。你可以說“I would rather not say.”(還是別說了吧)。
9. It’s on the tip of my tongue.
解析:有時候,你想說什么,可說時想不起來,你可以說“Well…”、“Let me see…”、“Just a moment…”或“It’s on the tip of my tongue.”等,相比之下,最后一個句型是最地道的。
10. To change the subject...
解析:交談時,你可能會轉(zhuǎn)換話題,不要只說“By the way...”,實際上,“To change the subject...”、“Before I forget...”、“While I remember...”或“Mind you...”都是既地道又受歡迎的表達。
11. I got it.
解析:遇到你不懂的問題時可別不懂裝懂,“I know.”可能是中國人用得最多,而美國人最不能接受的一句話。當(dāng)一美國教師向你解釋某個問題時,你如果連說兩遍“I know.”,我敢保證,他不會再跟你說什么了。用“I got it.”就順耳得多,要是不懂就說“I’m not clear about it.”,不過如果你會說“It’s past my understanding”或“It’s beyond me.”你的教師定會驚訝不已的。