有一天,日理萬機的CEO請秘書去干洗店取回洗好的西裝。秘書回辦公室后,對著他冷冷地說:That does it!(搞定了。)他沒有多想,僅以點頭道謝。沒想到,當天下午,秘書的辭呈就放在桌上了。問題原來出在That does it這類的雙關語。
1 That does it! 是“搞定了”,也是“受夠了”
若是前者,通常的對話會是這種邏輯:
Mary: Here's the last screw.(瑪麗:這是最后一根螺絲釘了。)
John: Okay, that does it.(約翰:了解,搞定了。)
若是后者,通??梢詮那昂笳Z句看出說話者不滿或不平之意。例:
That does it! Please get out of my apartment immediately!(我受夠了!請立刻滾出我的公寓?。?/p>
2 How do you like that? 可以是“真心詢問”,也可以是“假意反諷”
若是前者,通常的對話會是這種邏輯:
This is our new slogan. How do you like that?(這是我們的新口號。你喜不喜歡?)
若是后者,通常前后語句帶有假設情境或警告意味。例:
If you keep postponing the deadline, we'll terminate the contract. How do you like that?(如果你一再延后工程期限,我們將中止合約。你喜歡那樣嗎?)
3 Take it easy 既指“放輕松”,也指“要保重”
若是前者,通常文句是這種邏輯:
I have been too busy lately. I think I need to take it easy for a while.(我最近太忙了,我想自己需要放輕松一段時間。)這里是指,放慢步調(diào),少一點兒緊張感。
若是后者,通常前后語句帶有道別的意味。例:
Take it easy! I will call you tomorrow.(保重!我明天會打電話給你。)這里是指,雙方道別時,請對方凡事小心、多珍重。