美語訓(xùn)練班090

A: 歡迎大家來到這期的美語訓(xùn)練班! 我是楊琳!

B: 我是Mike! 楊琳，趕快來告訴大家今天都要學(xué)什么?

A: 沒問題! 今天我們要聊聊繼續(xù)深造需要考慮些什么，看看怎么表達如法炮制，還要告訴你現(xiàn)在最潮的個人設(shè)計師要怎么說!!

B: Having a personal stylist used to be limited to celebrities, but now a lot of ordinary woman are hiring their own personal stylist to look their best!

A: Yep. I've always been interested in the fashion industry. Being a personal stylist sounds like a fun job to me! You can appreciate all the new fashions without spending a dime! 哎呀，這才是我該進入的行業(yè)呀...

B: Hmm....yeah. We...will discuss that later. Now, let's go ahead with our first segment, learn a word!

Learn A Word - 1655 hi-tech

今天我們要學(xué)的詞是 hi-tech, hi-tech is spelled h-i, hi, t-e-c-h, tech, hi-tech. Hi-tech 高科技的。Hi-tech companies 高科技公司。Hi-tech gadgets are sure-fire gifts for the holidays. 過節(jié)送高科技產(chǎn)品的禮物一定不會錯。上星期，The House of Representatives voted to make green cards accessible for foreign students graduating with advanced science and math degrees from U.S. Universities, a step strongly backed by the hi-tech industry. 美國國會眾議院投票決定，允許從美國大學(xué)畢業(yè)，獲取理工科高學(xué)位的外籍學(xué)生申請綠卡，這一做法得到了高科技工業(yè)的強烈支持。好的，今天我們學(xué)習(xí)的詞是 hi-tech, hi-tech, hi-tech...

A: 說起高科技，我最近剛換了新的智能手機, 覺得生活都變了! GPS, 照相機，上網(wǎng)，發(fā)微博什么都能用手機，太方便了!

B: Yeah, the smart phone is a wonderful invention, and with everyone having a smart phone right now, related industries are booming! I have a friend who is a smart phone app developer. After working at Google for two years, he now has his own firm that is in full swing!!

A: 可不!現(xiàn)在IT人才真吃香!我再次感嘆自己入錯了行…

B: The important thing is that you have to be doing what you love. My friend loves hi-tech stuff, so for him, going to work is like having fun!

A: 對對對!找一份自己喜歡的工作，每天都高高興興的才是人生真諦!好了，你剛才提到了一個很好的詞 in full swing, 咱們來聽聽今天的美國習(xí)慣用語，學(xué)學(xué)這個短語的意思!

Words and Idioms 806 IN FULL SWING

美國習(xí)慣用語第八百零六講。我是楊晨。我是 Douglas Johnson。

我的一個朋友正在參加社區(qū)代表的選舉。過去幾個月來，為了幫他拉選票，我貢獻了不少自己的時間，給選民打電話，還要登門拜訪，分發(fā)資料。離投票的日子越近，我就越忙。形容目前的選舉階段，在英語里叫：

M: In full swing. Full is spelled f-u-l-l, and swing; s-w-i-n-g. In-full-swing. In full swing. Full 是全部的，徹底的意思，swing 是搖擺。In full swing 連在一起，就是進入高潮階段，正在全力進行當(dāng)中的意思。說到我朋友參加的選舉，這個習(xí)慣用語恰如其分。The campaign is in full swing.

下面這位新郎的弟弟講述了婚禮招待會的場面，讓我們聽聽看。

M: "When the wedding reception began, it wasn't very lively. But it really picked up once the band started playing some popular favorites. Now everyone's out on the dance floor having a great time. The party is IN FULL SWING."

他說，"婚禮招待會剛開始的時候并不是很活躍，后來樂隊開始演奏一些特別受歡迎的曲子，場面才開始熱烈起來，大家都跑到舞池里面，蹁蹁起舞，盡情享受，使聚會進入了高潮。"

這不禁讓我想起了參加1999年邁進2000年的跨世紀(jì)新年晚會的情景。晚會剛開始的時候，大家都很拘謹(jǐn)，但是隨著午夜的臨近，晚會的氣氛越來越熱烈，直到午夜鐘聲響起，The celebration was in full swing. 好的，讓我們再來聽聽上面那段話。

M: "When the wedding reception began, it wasn't very lively. But it really picked up once the band started playing some popular favorites. Now everyone's out on the dance floor having a great time. The party is IN FULL SWING."

據(jù)語言學(xué)家考察，in full swing 這個習(xí)慣用語大約是在十九世紀(jì)中期出現(xiàn)的。最早的時候，in full swing 是指身體的劇烈搖擺。

剛才我們提到了新年元旦晚會。除了新年以外，美國還有很多人盡皆知的日子。大家肯定知道十一月份最后一個星期四的感恩節(jié)，也就是火雞大餐的日子、12月 25號的圣誕節(jié)、7月四號以煙火表演著稱的獨立日，還有10月31號大鬼小鬼粉墨登場的萬圣節(jié)，可是你知道4月15號是什么日子嗎?如果你猜不到的話，就讓我們一起來聽聽。

M: "As a tax accountant, my busiest time of year is between February and April. That's because working Americans must file their tax documents with the federal government by April 15th of every year. So when my office is IN FULL SWING, I'm expected to stay late and come in on weekends."

這個人說，"做稅務(wù)會計的，一年里最忙的就是二月份到四月份這段時間，因為美國工薪階層每年4月15號以前要向聯(lián)邦政府報稅。在這段時間里，我們公司要全力以赴，晚上和周末都要加班。"

美國著名的政治家和發(fā)明家富蘭克林曾經(jīng)說過一句很經(jīng)典的話，叫 "The only things certain in life are death and taxes." 意思是說生命中只有死亡和稅務(wù)是確定無疑的。讓我們再聽一下上面的例句。

M: "As a tax accountant, my busiest time of year is between February and April. That's because working Americans must file their tax documents with the federal government by April 15th of every year. So when my office is IN FULL SWING, I'm expected to stay late and come in on weekends."

報稅確實是一件很讓人頭疼的事情，所以我寧可花點兒錢，也要請別人幫我報稅，這就是社會分工的好處!

今天我們學(xué)到，在說起政治選舉、社交聚會和工作進入高潮的時候，都可以用到 in full swing 這個習(xí)慣用語。如果你是我們節(jié)目的忠實聽眾的話，I bet your learning of new idioms is in full swing. 好的，這次[美國習(xí)慣用語]就到此結(jié)束。我是楊晨，我是 Douglas Johnson。這次節(jié)目的制作人是胡小玲。謝謝各位的收聽。

M: Until next time.

M: This has been Words and Idioms.

A: 我也來造個句，with the presidential inauguration coming next Monday, the operations are all the news agencies are in full swing!

B: Exactly. Everyone in the building is busy preparing for the swear-in ceremony! Luckily with all the hi-tech cameras and phones out there, we can just ask the audience to send in clips of the event!

A: 沒錯，we need to make full use of our hi-tech devices! I don’t know if I want to go to the event myself though, it’s going to be freezing standing outside in 0 C temperatures.

B: Of course you want to go! This only happens every four years and you can’t guarantee you are going to be in DC next time! Come on!

A: 也是!而且，我也想看看Michelle Obama穿什么衣服!每次她出席這些場合的時候都好優(yōu)雅, 不知道這次她的造型師是誰…

B: Exactly. Whatever the reason, you have to go!

A: 哈哈，好吧好吧。我剛才說到了造型師，咱們就再來聽聽這個詞要怎么說!

Learn A Word - 1657 stylist

今天我們要學(xué)的詞是 stylist, stylist is spelled s-t-y-l-i-s-t, stylist. stylist 設(shè)計師，造型師。Monica is studying to become a hair stylist. Monica正在學(xué)習(xí)，想當(dāng)一名發(fā)型設(shè)計師。"Twilight" actress Kristen Stewart's stylist says that Kristen has always been a "tomboy at heart." 暮光之城女主角克里斯汀.斯圖爾特的造型師說，她本質(zhì)上一直是個假小子。個人造型設(shè)計師如今已經(jīng)不再是有錢人的特權(quán)。Many ordinary women are hiring their own personal stylist to look their best. 很多普通女性也開始雇傭自己的個人造型師，讓自己以最好的形象示人。好的，今天我們學(xué)習(xí)的詞是 stylist, stylist, stylist...

A: Maybe I should consider becoming a stylist…I love fashion and I’ve always been interested in … studying it!

B: Well… From what I have seen, you are really just interested in shopping. Other than that, I don’t see enough talent…

(A: What? ) kidding kidding. Actually, you should consider doing it as a side-job! You have a good sense of fashion, why not use that to make others feel better?!

A: What? You are never this nice to me…I think I’m about to tear up…

B: 哈哈哈, this only happens once in a blue moon, so don’t get used to it! Now let’s go ahead with our show. Another words and idioms!

Words and Idioms 807 Beat Someone at Their Own Game

現(xiàn)在播送美國習(xí)慣用語第八百零七講。我是楊晨。我是 Douglas Johnson。

如今互聯(lián)網(wǎng)這么發(fā)達，什么東西只要一放到網(wǎng)上，就會一發(fā)不可收拾。如果你突然發(fā)現(xiàn)，朋友沒有經(jīng)過允許，就把你的一張很丑陋的照片放到了網(wǎng)上，你會怎么做?我的朋友 Jennifer 就被同事這么捉弄過一回。她也不示弱，立即找出一張同事更丟人的舊照片，發(fā)給了更多的人。這種做法在英語里叫：

M: Beat someone at their own game. Beat is spelled b-e-a-t, and game; g-a-m-e. Beat-someone-at-their-own-game. Beat someone at their own game.

beat 在中文里是打擊的意思，game 是比賽，游戲。beat someone at their own game，就是以其人之道，還治其人之身的意思。我的朋友 Jennifer 如法炮制，把同事一些見不得人的照片放到網(wǎng)上，讓更多的人都看到，就可以說是 She beat them at their own game.

如果說這是一場搞笑的惡作劇的話，那么在下面這個例子里兩家餐館之間的血拼大降價，就沒有這么好笑了。讓我們聽聽看。

M: "The restaurant across the street from ours was running a special. Guests who ordered a dinner entrée could receive another at half price. So we introduced an even better deal: buy one entrée, get the other free. Now our place is packed. We're BEATING THE COMPETITION AT THEIR OWN GAME."

其中一位老板說: "街對面的餐館推出特價活動，點一道主菜，第二道菜半價。我們以其人之道，還治其人之身， 決定買一送一，結(jié)果現(xiàn)在我們餐館里的生意特別紅火。我們在這次較量中戰(zhàn)勝了對手。"

如果是我，我也會光顧這家餐館的。經(jīng)濟不好的時候，商家就更要想方設(shè)法地吸引顧客。商業(yè)競爭真是英語里常說的 "Dog-Eat-Dog"殘酷無情。好的，讓我們再來聽聽上面那段話。

M: "The restaurant across the street from ours was running a special. Guests who ordered a dinner entrée could receive another at half price. So we introduced an even better deal: buy one entrée, get the other free. Now our place is packed. We're BEATING THE COMPETITION AT THEIR OWN GAME."

剛才我們談到了商業(yè)競爭的殘酷無情。不過有的時候，beat someone at their own game 也會給生活增添不少樂趣。讓我們一起來聽聽下面這對夫妻之間的小故事。

M: "I thought taking my wife sailing was a pretty cool birthday surprise. But, for my big day, she took me skydiving in Mexico. Every year is the same. No matter what gift ideas I come up with, hers are cleverer. She BEATS ME AT MY OWN GAME all the time."

這個人說: "我本來以為帶妻子去航海是一個絕妙的生日禮物，但是我過生日的時候，她卻計劃好了一起到墨西哥去跳傘。每年都是這樣，她總能想出更棒的生日禮物來，讓我自愧不如。"

去年冬天，我跟老公學(xué)下國際象棋，怎么也贏不了他，結(jié)果我正好有機會采訪了一位象棋高手，跟他學(xué)了幾招，回家就把老公打敗了。I finally beat him at his own game. 讓我們再聽一下上面的例句。

M: "I thought taking my wife sailing was a pretty cool birthday surprise. But, for my big day, she took me skydiving in Mexico. Every year is the same. No matter what gift ideas I come up with, hers are cleverer. She BEATS ME AT MY OWN GAME all the time."

最近美國經(jīng)濟不景氣，很多公司都在裁員。我前些天做了一個夢，夢見早上去上班，結(jié)果接到通知，說我們被另外一家電臺取代了。They beat us at our own game. 一下子驚醒過來，好在是個夢。

從上面的例子大家肯定已經(jīng)看出，to beat someone at their own game 這個習(xí)慣用語里的 game 可以用來指任何努力和工作。這個習(xí)慣用語可以追溯到十三世紀(jì)中葉，真可以說是歷史悠久了。

好的，這次[美國習(xí)慣用語]就到此結(jié)束。我是楊晨，我是 Douglas Johnson。這次節(jié)目的制作人是胡小玲。謝謝各位的收聽。

M: Until next time.

M: This has been Words and Idioms.

A: Our previous host Kat is super creative. Whatever ideas I had, she would come up with a better one. She always beats me at my own game!

B: You sure that’s because Kat’s creative? Or is it because you are … a little bit slow in some aspect? (A:You…) Whoops…

A: Actually we were just chatting yesterday. She’s thinking about going back to college for graduate school and wanted my advice. I don’t know…just the idea of going back to school gives me a headache! It’s a huge commitment of time and money, and you don’t want to choose the wrong major!

B: True. In today’s Business Etiquette, Lisa is asking Shirley for advice about going to graduate school, let’s check it out!

BE 202 Continuing education I

Lisa請Shirley吃飯，有事征求Shirley的意見。

Lisa: Hey, Shirley! Want to join me for lunch...my treat!

Shirley: Wow! Sure!

Lisa: I must confess I have an ulterior motive for asking you to lunch.

S: Oh....that's OK....as long as you're buying!

L: I really want to pick your brain about something I've been thinking a lot about.

S: I'd love to help if I can.

請別人吃飯，可以說 my treat, 也可以說 it's on me. 原來，Lisa請Shirley吃飯別有用心，She has an ulterior motive. motive是動機，ulterior is spelled u-l-t-e-r-i-o-r, ulterior意思是暗藏的，別有用心的。Lisa告訴Shirley, I really want to pick your brain about something. to pick someone's brain意思是跟某人交談，獲取信息，征求意見。

L: Well, as you know, I have a Bachelor's degree in English literature and that's served me well so far, but I've always wanted to do some post-graduate work...maybe even get a Doctorate!

S: Wow! Just the idea of going back to school fills my head with pain.

L: But you have a Master's degree...hasn't that helped your career?

S: Yeah, I'd have to say it has. But I'm still paying for it, you know.

L: I know education is expensive, but it's been my lifelong dream. Call me crazy, but I've always wanted to have that PhD at the end of my name.

原來，Lisa是考慮要回去上學(xué)。她已經(jīng)有了a Bachelor's Degree學(xué)士學(xué)位，想再拿個Master's Degree碩士學(xué)位，甚至是a Doctorate博士學(xué)位，這是她的lifetime dream這輩子夢寐以求的。Shirley承認(rèn)，碩士學(xué)位確實對自己的事業(yè)有幫助，但是在美國接受高等教育很貴，I'm still paying for it.我上學(xué)的錢到現(xiàn)在還沒有還清。Shirley還說，

S: Well, getting a Doctorate degree would mean close to a decade of school. Can you afford that? Can you survive that?

L: I certainly can't afford it, but I'm sure I could find some good student loans.

S: I think you need to separate the dream of having a PhD from the reality of years of more schooling. It's not as romantic as you might think.

L: Yeah....I keep thinking about what I'll do with a Master's or Doctorate. I love language but I don't think there are a lot of well-paying jobs out there for experts on Shakespeare.

S: Uh huh, that's for sure. You might find that your only career choice is teaching other graduate students.

Shirley勸Lisa不要把回去讀書想得太好，要看自己經(jīng)濟上能否承擔(dān)得起，Can you afford that? 還要看自己能不能堅持下來，Can you survive that?Lisa會不顧一切卻追求夢想嗎?我們下次繼續(xù)聽。

A: Lisa請Shirley吃飯，想要pick her brain，征求她的意見。Shirley覺得, 雖然繼續(xù)深造是有幫助的，可是要想清楚自己經(jīng)濟能否負(fù)擔(dān)。Shirley is still paying for her master degree, Shirley還在為自己的碩士學(xué)位買單。

B: Exactly. Higher education in the U.S. is really expensive. I know a lot of people who are still paying for it 7 or 8 years after they graduated.

A: You also want to be really careful when choosing your major. 你可能特別喜歡歷史，可是市場上不需要那么多歷史學(xué)家。

B: Let's see if Shirley can offer Lisa some good advice!

Lisa請Shirley吃飯，說自己想回學(xué)校去讀個碩士或是博士學(xué)位，征求Shirley的意見。Shirley說，

Shirley: I got my Master's in Business Management. It's helped my career, but it took several years of hard studying. If I didn't have a supportive family and a husband with a good job, I don't think I could have done it.

L: So you're counseling me against this idea?

S: Not necessarily, but I do recommend taking a slow approach. Can you take some night classes or find some way to keep working while you go back to school?

L: Might be difficult.

Shirley念的商業(yè)管理碩士學(xué)位，她覺得，自己之所以能讀下來，靠的是家人的支持，和老公的高收入。Lisa問Shirley是不是勸她放棄這種想法，so you're counseling me against it? to counsel someone against something意思是勸說某人不要做某事。Shirley說，not necessarily那也不一定。她建議Lisa慢慢來，take a slow approach, 看能不能邊工作邊選課。Lisa覺得不太實際。

S: Maybe you could get an MBA or something more marketable.

L: That's worth considering.

S: I got my BA from Brown University. My major was Environmental Studies but that hasn't been as useful as the business courses I took.

L: Or maybe I should just take some courses that I'm interested in, but skip the Master's.

S: That's another idea, but if you really have a dream, don't let anything stop you from going for it! Going back to school is hard, but it's not impossible.

Shirley勸Lisa考慮其他更容易找高薪工作的專業(yè)。不過，她同時也鼓勵Lisa說，if you really have a dream, don't let anything stop you from going for it! 如果這真是你的夢想的話，那就不要讓任何事情阻擋你。

L: You're right! I need to decide if this is truly what I want.

S: And take your time. You're still young. Maybe there's even a correspondence course you can take during your free time.

L: Yeah! Then I could slowly build up credits and maybe later transfer into a university program.

S: There you go! That's some clear thinking.

L: I guess I just love learning! I remember the day my SAT test scores came back....I was so excited!

S: (Chuckle) I don't remember loving school quite so much....most of the time I was either bored or totally stressed out. But like I said earlier, if you have a dream, don't let anything hold you back!

Shirley 說，Lisa甚至可以抽空先選幾門correspondence course函授課程，這樣可以慢慢積攢一些學(xué)分credits, 以后如果真想讀學(xué)位，也可以用得上。她再次強調(diào)說，If you have a dream, don't let anything hold you back. 意思是有夢想，就不要讓任何事情拉你的后腿。

A: Don’t let anything hold you back! 不顧一切，去追求夢想。

B: What exactly is your dream? Buy…more clothes?

A: 當(dāng)然是吃遍全世界了!

B: Actually, I second that!

A: Why I’m not surprised…哈哈， 好了同學(xué)們，這次節(jié)目時間就到這里了。 如果你有什么建議，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!