美語訓練班061

A: 歡迎大家來到這期的美語訓練班! 我是楊琳!

B: 我是Kat! 楊琳，咱們今天都要學什么呢?

A: 今天，咱們一起去看一場兒童籃球比賽，看看法國盧浮宮的藝術(shù)展，學學怎么說拍馬屁，還要告訴大家用美語怎么說保質(zhì)期!

B: 拍馬屁! I hate those brown nosers! Uh...so disgusting!

A: 好了好了，你先別生氣。咱們言歸正傳，趕快先來進入第一個單元，Learn a Word!

Learn A Word # 1531 lucrative

今天我們要學的詞是lucrative. Lucrative is spelled l-u-c-r-a-t-i-v-e, lucrative. Lucrative指“賺錢的”“合算的”。一些經(jīng)濟學家發(fā)現(xiàn)，在美國搶銀行的劫匪平均每次可以賺到4000美元，四次左右大概就會落網(wǎng)，因此 Bank robbery is not a lucrative profession. 搶銀行并不是個賺錢的行當。The earthquake that struck northern Italy affected production of the lucrative cheese industry. 意大利北部地震對利潤豐厚的奶酪業(yè)生產(chǎn)造成了影響。Those counting on a lucrative career after studying math or science may want to consider a career in nuclear science and technology. 想找高薪工作的數(shù)學和科學專業(yè)學生可以考慮在核科技產(chǎn)業(yè)謀職。好，今天我們學習的詞是lucrative, lucrative, lucrative...

B: We all want lucrative careers, but sometime you just have to choose to do what you love! I'll take happiness over money any day!

A: 嗯，我同意! I can't stand those people who just want to make money and get ahead, and don't care how they do it!

B: Oh yeah, we all know those kinds of people. 馬屁精。They'll say ANYTHING to get what they want and move up the corporate ladder. You think they're nice, but they're actually just trying to curry favor.

A: 聽眾朋友們可能正納悶，這拍馬屁跟咖哩有什么關(guān)系呢? 趕快來聽聽今天的words and idioms你就明白了!

Words and Idioms #970

現(xiàn)在播送<美國習慣用語>第 970講。我是楊琳。

M：我是 Steve Baragona.

平常我跟鄰居很少來往，不過前兩天，她忽然給我送來一籃子新鮮曲奇餅干。我最開始還很高興，不過后來得知，她最近想在院子里修一個籬笆，而這樣做必須得到整個社區(qū)居民的同意，當然也包括我。這也讓我想到了一句習慣用語，那就是:

M: Curry favor. Curry is spelled c-u-r-r-y and favor; f-a-v-o-r. Curry favor.

大家都知道curry做名詞是咖哩的意思，不過在這里curry作為動詞，意思是討好，奉承。而curry favor, 實際上就是拍馬屁。這也就是我鄰居最近的舉動。I know why she came bearing fresh-backed cookies. I think it's an attempt to CURRY FAVOR. 我知道我鄰居為什么給我送新鮮曲奇餅，我覺得她就是想拍我的馬屁。在下面的例子里，這個人對他的市長有什么看法呢? 我們來聽聽看:

M: "Don't assume that the mayor has special fondness for you. If you're influential and can help her deliver on her campaign promises, she'll compliment you, invite you out to dinner and treat you specially. The truth is she CURRIES FAVOR with anyone she considers to be important."

這段話是說：[千萬別認為市長特別喜歡你。如果你有任何影響力，或者能夠幫助她實現(xiàn)競選承諾，她會恭維你，請你吃晚餐，給你很多特殊待遇。但事實是，如果她認為你重要，她就會來拍你的馬屁。]

這聽起來很典型阿! 那天我上高中的侄女跟我說，她們學校里有個女生為了能參加啦啦隊，不惜給教練買了一個特別昂貴的圣誕節(jié)禮物! 好了，我們再來聽聽剛才那段話:

M: "Don't assume that the mayor has special fondness for you. If you're influential and can help her deliver on her campaign promises, she'll compliment you, invite you out to dinner and treat you very specially. The truth is she CURRIES FAVOR with anyone she considers to be very important."

大家都特別討厭愛拍馬屁的人?？墒牵瑢W校里，社會中，到處都是這樣的人。在辦公室里就更不例外了! 下面的例子就談到了這么一個馬屁精，讓我們來聽聽看:

M: "Isn't it obvious why Ralph nominated our boss as "Supervisor of the Year"? He just wants to get himself promoted to foreman and figures the boss might help arrange it if he's recognized for an important award. See? That why he's CURRYING FAVOR with him. It's so disgusting."

[這段話是說: 難道你看不出來拉爾夫為什么提名咱們的老板為“年度最佳領(lǐng)導"么? 他想晉升為領(lǐng)班，而他知道如果老板自己能夠得到這個獎項，可能就會幫助他得到領(lǐng)班的職位。這就是他為什么老是拍老板的馬屁。真令人惡心。]

真是! 辦公室政治真讓人頭疼。碰到這種拍馬屁的人，最好的辦法就是別理他。慢慢他就會被所有同事孤立，我想這也不是個好受的感覺。He's always currying favor with the boss. But in the end, he's quite isolated in the office. 他成天拍老板的馬屁，不過最后，他在辦公室特別孤立。好的，讓我們再來聽聽剛才那段話:

M: "Isn't it obvious why Ralph nominated our boss as "Supervisor of the Year"? He just wants to get himself promoted to foreman and figures the boss might help arrange it if he's recognized for an important award. See? That why he's CURRYING FAVOR with him. It's so disgusting."

今天我們學習的習慣用語是 curry favor，意思是“拍馬屁”。好的，這次[美國習慣用語]就到此結(jié)束，我是楊琳，我是 Steve Baragona。謝謝各位的收聽。

A: Kat, you look so cute today! I love this blue top on you, it matches your blue eyes!

B: Thanks!!!.....Wait....are you attempting to curry favor?

A: 當然不是了，不過你知道，我下個禮拜搬家，需要個幫手...

B: Hmmm...let me think about it...Of course I will help you Yanglin, that's what friends are for!

A: Great, thanks girly! 我還得好好把冰箱清一清，里面肯定很多東西都過了保質(zhì)期...

B: Ugh. I knew you were going to make me do all the dirty work! 你剛才提到了一個有用的詞兒，保質(zhì)期，let's see how to say this in American English!

How to say it in American English

Jessica 在北京學中文，她的中國朋友要是遇到了不知道用美語怎么說的詞，就會來請教她。今天是方方要問的：保質(zhì)期。

FF: Jessica, 你過來幫我看看，這個牛奶是不是過期了呀?

Jessica: Let me see...Hmm, I'm not sure. When did you get this?

FF: 兩周前吧! 那時候牛奶大減價，我就一口氣買了4瓶! 貪便宜, 可是忘了看保質(zhì)期...

Jessica: Milk normally has a shelf life of a week. Shelf is spelled s-h-e-l-f, 是貨架的意思。shelf life 能夠放在貨架上的日子，也就是保質(zhì)期!

FF: 原來是這樣! 那我都買兩個禮拜了，我看這牛奶肯定過期了....

Jessica: I bet you're right. I think this milk is past-date. You'd better throw it away!

FF: Past-date, 這里的date就是盒子上標識的生產(chǎn)日期。past-date 也就是過期了的意思! 真可惜，這可是最好的牛奶，這些牛都是只吃鮮草，聽古典音樂長大的!

Jessica: That sounds like a top shelf product to me! 高檔商品!

FF: Top shelf, 在貨架上最高的地方，就是指高檔貨! 那相對來說，價格便宜的產(chǎn)品又要怎么說呢?

Jessica: It's the opposite of that. We call it a bottom shelf product. Basically less expensive stuff is put on the bottom shelf.

FF:Top shelf product, 高檔貨，bottom shelf product, 便宜貨! 我記住了。

Jessica: 好!那你說說看，What have you learned today?

FF: 今天我們學到的內(nèi)容包括:

第一，保質(zhì)期是shelf life;

第二，過了保質(zhì)期可以用 past-date;

第三，高級貨叫做top shelf product, 便宜貨叫做bottom shelf product!

這次的"美語怎么說"就到這里了。如果你也有不會說的詞，請寫信給Jessica, 電郵請寄[email protected]

A: Yeah....my eyes are bigger than my stomach and I usually end up with a lot of past-date products in my fridge....

B: Haha, my stomach is JUST as big as my eyes. I learned to never go to the supermarket with an empty stomach or else I will end up buying a mountain of food!

A: 對啊，要是這樣還得去鍛煉，太累了....

B: No way! Working out and playing sports can be so much fun!! You know I love anything that lets me compete!

A: You know, you're right- there are lots of ways to get in shape! 在今天的美語三級跳里，我們再帶您去看一場籃球比賽，不過這回不是NBA, 是特別的兒童籃球!

B: Let's listen!

Athletics: Intermediate

大家好!今天我們?yōu)槟コ?ldquo;美語三級跳”節(jié)目“體育運動”單元的中級課程。

Ryan 跟自己的好朋友Alice學習打籃球。今天，Alice帶Ryan去看球賽，好讓他學學比賽規(guī)則。

Professor: That's right, Winnie. Alice is taking Ryan to watch a basketball game, but it's not a professional game like you might think.

不是職業(yè)賽?那是什么比賽呢?

Ryan: Alice, I can't believe you brought me to a children's basketball game! How can I learn how to play basketball watching children?

Alice: Well, Ryan, you're a beginner, and they are beginners too. That will make it easier for you to understand the rules.

Ryan: Ugh ... I guess so. But watching kids is so boring. The professional basketball league is much better.

Alice: OK Ryan, stop complaining and watch what's happening on the court.

啊?原來Alice帶 Ryan去看兒童籃球賽啦!

Professor: I know it sounds silly, but why does Alice say she brought him there?

Alice 說，Ryan是 beginner--初學者，所以，看和他水平差不多的人打球，能更好地了解比賽規(guī)則。對了， professor, Ryan 說 professional basketball league，是指職業(yè)籃球聯(lián)盟么?

Professor: Right, and in baseball, you might hear about the major leagues and minor leagues.

對，在棒球中， major league 就是“大聯(lián)盟”，而minor league 是“小聯(lián)盟”。 讓我們來聽聽，在basketball court--籃球場上，比賽進行地如何吧!

Ryan: Alright Alice, let's watch the game. Which team are we rooting for?

Alice: We are rooting for the home team because my nephew is playing for them.

Ryan: Oh, cool! Does he really like to play basketball with the other kids?

Alice: Oh yeah, these team sports really build their confidence. This is a big game, because they are playing their rivals.

原來，Alice的侄子就在球場上! 他是home team--“主場球隊”的一員，Professor, 和“主場”相對的是“客場”，這要怎么說呢?

Professor: The opposite of the home team is the visiting team. Most people at the game root for the home team.

沒錯!比賽時，主場隊總是人氣更旺! 大部分觀眾都root for it--給主場球隊加油助威。那么，root for除了表示在賽場上支持某只球隊外，還有別的用法么?

Professor: Sure! For example, I am really rooting for the new law to pass, because it would lower my taxes.

哦，root for 表示“支持”，所以我們可以說，root for the new law --支持這條新的法律。Professor, Alice還提到，這兩只隊伍是rivals--這是“勁敵，對頭”的意思么?

Professor: That's right!

Ryan: Wow, these kids are really good! I can't believe how athletic they are.

Alice: Yeah, my nephew practices a lot. He's the captain of the team.

Ryan: He's the captain? He must be the best player on the team. When I was his age, the only sports I played were sports video game.

Alice: Hmm .... well I'm sure playing all those sports video games really gave your fingers a good workout.

怪不得Ryan籃球打得這么臭，他小時候從不運動，唯一的愛好就是play sports video games--在游戲機上玩兒運動游戲!

Professor: Right. And what about Alice's nephew? Is he more athletic than Ryan was?

當然了! Alice的侄子是籃球隊的captain--隊長，他特別 athletic--愛運動!

Ryan: My gosh, Alice, these kids are half my age, and they are so much better at basketball than me!

Alice: Don't get discouraged; with lots of practice, you will be as good as them one day.

Ryan: I don't have that much dedication. Man, getting in shape is so much work!

Alice: Well, you don't have to play basketball. There are lots of other ways to get in shape. Do you have any other ideas?

Ryan: Mmm ... Actually, I have a great idea!

MC:看著小孩子籃球打得比自己強那么多，Ryan有點覺得discouraged--泄氣了。他不想打籃球了，想用另外一種方法來鍛練身體，保持體形。不知道他有什么好主意?

Professor: Well, listen next time to find out!

A: 我可不愛打籃球，太不淑女了! 不如做做Yoga，多優(yōu)雅!

B: Ha. You? Lady-like? If you want to become a lady, you need to work on becoming cultured. You should start going to museums with me!

A: 我啊...那就先從聽聽藝術(shù)開始吧! 今天的business etiquette咱們就繼續(xù)去挑選藝術(shù)品，趕快一起來聽聽吧!

禮節(jié)美語 - BE-248 Art for an Office II

公司主管 James 找到公關(guān)部主任 Felicia 商量購置藝術(shù)作品，美化工作環(huán)境的事。James 說自己偏愛相片，F(xiàn)elicia 表示贊同。

F: I often go to photography exhibitions at the local museum. Sometimes the pictures are of nature--you know--wild animals or sunsets...that kind of thing. But my favorite pictures are of people; sometimes you can catch someone in a private moment and it's a very interesting window into how other people live.

J: Yes, I like to hang out at the museum as well. I'm also a big fan of sculpture. Last time I was in Italy I made a special trip to go see Michelangelo's "David." It's really a very impressive work of art.

F: I'd love to see that! I was in Paris two years ago and I spent half my time there walking around the Louvre Museum...it was amazing.

Felicia 也經(jīng)常去博物館看攝影展，她最喜歡看人物寫真，It's an interesting window into how other people live. 這是觀察到其他人生活的一扇窗子。James說，他也很喜歡泡博物館。I like to hang out at the museum as well. 除了攝影作品外，James 和 Felicia 兩人也都很喜歡雕塑，他們談到了 Michelangelo's "David" 意大利著名雕塑家米開朗基羅的作品大衛(wèi)，以及巴黎的 Louvre Museum 盧浮宮。

J: You know...come to think of it, maybe we should buy some art pieces from the local artists to support the local community.

F: I've got an idea! Let's try to find one very beautiful, very impressive large piece of art--or maybe a mural--to put at the entrance of our offices. Then, instead of buying works of art to hang in the various hallways, we can rent the artworks and rotate what we have on display!

J: Felicia...that's a brilliant idea. I think you just solved our dilemma.

F: Thanks, boss!

James 忽然想到，他們其實應該購買當?shù)厮囆g(shù)家的作品，也算是為社區(qū)做些貢獻。他所說的 come to think of it, 是我忽然想起的意思。Felicia 提議，買一件大的藝術(shù)作品，或是 mural 壁畫，放在辦公室大門口，然后可以租藝術(shù)品掛在走廊的墻上，這樣一來，還可以隔一段時間換一批。James覺得這個主意好。

J: We'll get one major artwork for our entranceway and maybe commission a couple of sculptures for the outside garden area. Then we will find an art rental company and rotate our pictures on a three-month basis.

F: That way, we will eventually get around to everybody's taste in art, and if some people don't like some of the art...well, they won't have to look at it for long.

J: All right, that's our plan! Let's do it. Thanks again, Felicia.

F: Not at all.

James 還說，we can commission a couple of sculptures. commission is spelled c-o-m-m-i-s-s-i-o-n, commission 動詞，在這里是向藝術(shù)家定購作品的意思。James 還說，掛在公司里的藝術(shù)作品，可以每三個月?lián)Q一批，這樣就能滿足員工不同的藝術(shù)品味了。

A: Hmm, James這個主意好! 蘿卜青菜各有所愛! 這樣的話每個人都能欣賞到自己喜歡的藝術(shù)作品，士氣肯定提高了!

B: What a great boss! My sister's boss is like that- once a month everyone in the company gets to bring their pets to work! Happy employees work harder- it's a great way to increase productivity.

A: Oh wow....那辦公室不是成動物園了，真逗!

B: Yeah it is a pet-friendly company....

A: True true! 你剛才提到了個 詞pet-friendly, 咱們來聽聽這個詞兒的用法吧!

Learn A Word # 1539 friendly

今天我們要學的詞是friendly. Friendly is spelled f-r-i-e-n-d-l-y, friendly. 大家都知道，friendly 是友好的意思，如果把 friendly 加在另外一個名詞后面，意思就是對某人，對某事有利的。比如，eco-friendly 有利環(huán)保的，user-friendly 方便用戶使用的，business-friendly 便于企業(yè)發(fā)展的;再比如，This is my favorite restaurant. It's very family-friendly. 這是我最喜歡的餐館，給帶孩子來吃飯的顧客提供了很多便利。一個加拿大健身房規(guī)定，禁止瘦人成為會員。The gym prides itself on creating a "plus-size friendly" environment. 這家健身房專門為“胖友們”提供一個舒心的健身場所，以此為自己的特色。好，今天我們學習的詞是 friendly, friendly, friendly.

B: 楊琳，I have an advice for you.

A: What is it?

B: I think you should become more Kat-friendly, like buying coffee for Kat, bringing cupcakes for Kat, cooking authentic Chinese food for Kat...

A: 同學們，請自動屏蔽Kat! (Kat: 嘿!) 好啦,這次節(jié)目時間就到這里。 如果你對我們的節(jié)目有什么建議，或者想提什么問題，請發(fā)電子郵件到[email protected].

B: Tune in next time for American English Mosaic!

A: See you next time!