美語(yǔ)訓(xùn)練班091

A: 歡迎大家來到這期的美語(yǔ)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! 今天我們要一起來聊聊美國(guó)人熱衷的橄欖球比賽，看看怎么表達(dá)了如指掌，還要告訴你怎么拿別人開玩笑!!

B: Football is an important part of being a guy in U.S. The game it self can be pretty hard to understand at first, lucky for you I happen to be an expert!

A: Haha, I'm not so sure about that...... But it's true that every American guy seems to love football! I don't quite understand it, it seems like the players are just wrestling for a ball to me...

B: (Sigh) oh Yanglin, ok I'll try to put this in as simply as I can. Football is the most important sport in this world, because...

A: 打住打住! 要講咱們等會(huì)再說，現(xiàn)在，我們先來進(jìn)入第一個(gè)單元，learn a word!

Learn A Word 1659 poke fun at

今天我們要學(xué)的詞是 poke fun at, poke is spelled p-o-k-e, poke, fun, f-u-n, fun, at, a-t, at, poke fun at. To poke fun at 意思是拿某人某事開玩笑，調(diào)侃。比如：Stop poking fun at me! 別拿我開玩笑。Prince William poked fun at his younger brother Prince Harry during a recent visit to Cambridge. 英國(guó)威廉王子最近在訪問劍橋的時(shí)候，調(diào)侃了弟弟哈里王子。American comedian Ellen DeGeneres poked fun at a study on the effectiveness of gay-dar. 美國(guó)笑星艾倫.德杰尼勒斯對(duì)一項(xiàng)有關(guān)辨別同性戀能力的研究大肆調(diào)侃。好的，今天我們學(xué)習(xí)的詞是 poke fun at, poke fun at, poke fun at...

A: 這個(gè)詞可說到我心坎里去了，you are always poking fun at me, Mike!

B: I wouldn't do it so often if you didn't make it so easy..... (What?)

Kidding kidding. Well, at least you don't need to run the gauntlet like I do! Every time I try to pitch one of my idea to you guys...

A: 哈哈，我們是幫你加強(qiáng)邏輯思維嘛!! 不過你剛好提到了一個(gè)很特別的說法，run the gauntlet, 咱們一起來聽聽今天的words and idioms, 學(xué)學(xué)這個(gè)習(xí)慣用語(yǔ)的用法!

Words and Idioms 808 RUN THE GAUNTLET

美國(guó)習(xí)慣用語(yǔ)第八百零八講。

我是楊晨。我是 Douglas Johnson。

美國(guó)很多居民小區(qū)都設(shè)有小區(qū)委員會(huì)，編制不大，權(quán)力可不小。我有個(gè)朋友 Amy，她家的小區(qū)委員會(huì)管得就特別寬，從各家各戶房子的顏色到院子護(hù)欄的風(fēng)格，都要經(jīng)過審查。Amy 最近想架個(gè)籃球筐，給兒子練球用，小區(qū)委員會(huì)專門就此開會(huì)，進(jìn)行了激烈的討論。這種情況在英語(yǔ)里叫：

M: Run the gauntlet. Gauntlet is spelled g-a-u-n-t-l-e-t. Run-the-gauntlet. Run the gauntlet.

Gauntlet 在中文里是夾擊的意思。Run the gauntlet 這個(gè)習(xí)慣用語(yǔ)的意思就是受到很多人的批判、指責(zé)或是攻擊。所以說啊，這個(gè)詞用在 Amy 身上特別合適。她為了給兒子裝個(gè)籃球架子，就要接受小區(qū)委員會(huì)的嚴(yán)格審批。She had to run the gauntlet.

在下面的例子里，一名高中校長(zhǎng)提出了一項(xiàng)看似平常的提案，結(jié)果卻受到了很多人的圍攻，我們聽聽看，這是為什么。

M: "When I proposed that our high school eliminate soda machines in the building, I thought I'd have everyone's support. Instead, I was attacked by many parents and teachers for taking away the students' right to choose what they wanted to drink. I never expected to RUN THE GAUNTLET on that issue."

這位校長(zhǎng)說，[我提議取消學(xué)校的飲料販賣機(jī)。本來以為會(huì)得到大家的支持，可是誰(shuí)知道，卻遭到了很多家長(zhǎng)和老師的指責(zé)，說我這是剝奪學(xué)生選擇飲料的權(quán)利。我從沒想到會(huì)因此引火燒身。]

沒錯(cuò)啊，那些飲料反正也沒什么營(yíng)養(yǎng)，取消飲料販賣機(jī)應(yīng)該是件好事，沒想到在這個(gè)問題上大家也會(huì)存在爭(zhēng)議。

最近有消息說，我們當(dāng)?shù)匾患倚W(xué)的校長(zhǎng)，因?yàn)橛X得孩子們玩的追逐游戲 TAG 動(dòng)作越來越粗暴，所以決定禁止這個(gè)游戲，結(jié)果引起了社會(huì)上很多人的指責(zé)。She is still running the gauntlet. 好的，讓我們?cè)賮砺犅犐厦婺嵌卧挕?/p>

M: "When I proposed that our high school eliminate soda machines in the building, I thought I'd have everyone's support. Instead, I was attacked by many parents and teachers for taking away the students' right to choose what they wanted to drink. I never expected to RUN THE GAUNTLET on that issue."

申請(qǐng)工作要經(jīng)過面試。有的時(shí)候，還要經(jīng)過多次篩選，讓我們一起來聽聽下面這個(gè)年輕人的經(jīng)歷。

M: "First, I had an in-depth interview with the personnel director. Then, I was asked to go over my resume with the department manager. Finally, I got questioned at length by the head of guest services. All of this so that I could get a job parking cars at a hotel! I certainly RAN THE GAUNTLET for that position."

這個(gè)人說，首先是人事部主任對(duì)我進(jìn)行了非常深入的面試，然后讓我把簡(jiǎn)歷交給部門經(jīng)理，最后客人服務(wù)部的負(fù)責(zé)人又仔細(xì)地詢問了我的情況。這么繁瑣的程序，其實(shí)我申請(qǐng)的就是一個(gè)在酒店停車的工作，為了這個(gè)工作，我可真是歷經(jīng)磨難。

真是夠不容易的，一定是家五星級(jí)飯店。Run the gauntlet 的用法可以追溯到十七世紀(jì)上半葉，最初是軍隊(duì)里的一種懲罰方式，指士兵們手里拿著鞭杖，面對(duì)面站成兩列，犯錯(cuò)誤的人 從他們中間跑過去，接受士兵們的鞭打。到1661年的時(shí)候，這個(gè)習(xí)慣用語(yǔ)已經(jīng)可以用來比喻各種形式的懲罰了。讓我們?cè)俾犚幌律厦娴睦洹?/p>

M: "First, I had an in-depth interview with the personnel director. Then, I was asked to go over my resume with the department manager. Finally, I got questioned at length by the head of guest services. All of this so that I could get a job parking cars at a hotel! I certainly RAN THE GAUNTLET for that position."

大家學(xué)習(xí)美國(guó)習(xí)慣用語(yǔ)，有問題可以跟我們聯(lián)系，That way, you won't have to RUN THE GAUNTLET of people who say you don't know how to use this expression properly! 這樣才不會(huì)有人說你不會(huì)用瞎用。

好的，這次美國(guó)習(xí)慣用語(yǔ)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.

下次節(jié)目再見。

M: This has been Words and Idioms.

A: 我也來造個(gè)句: I certainly ran the gauntlet when I was interviewed for this position. 我申請(qǐng)這個(gè)職位的時(shí)候可是歷經(jīng)磨難! But something awesome came out of it, I got a job that I love!

B: That makes all the hard work worthwhile, huh? The best part is you got the chance to work with me...

A: Exactly. (Mocking) I love my job! But I just wish I could earn a little bit more...life in DC is really expensive.

B: I know! The high cost of living here almost makes me wish I could be a kid again and just get a weekly allowance from my parents....

A: 哈哈，你又做夢(mèng)了! 好好工作吧! 不過你剛才提到了一個(gè)詞兒， allowance, 這可是美國(guó)孩子最喜歡的詞兒了!

B: Want to know why? Let's check it out!

Learn A Word 1660 allowance

今天我們要學(xué)的詞是 allowance, allowance is spelled a-l-l-o-w-a-n-c-e, allowance. Allowance 零用錢。A recent study reveals that 51% of American parents give their kids an allowance. 最近有研究顯示，美國(guó)51%的父母會(huì)給孩子零用錢。另外還有研究發(fā)現(xiàn)，The average child with an allowance gets $65 per month. 父母給零用錢的孩子平均每個(gè)月能得到65美元。The most common ways kids spend their allowance is by hanging out with friends and purchasing toys. 孩子們通常會(huì)把零用錢花在跟朋友一起玩或是買玩具上面。好的，今天我們學(xué)習(xí)的詞是 allowance, allowance, allowance...

B: This totally brings back memories from when I was a little kid. My parents used to give me 5 bucks every week, and I would save up and go buy video games!

A: No wonder you always win when we play Halo! You've been practicing since you are a little boy!

B: Exactly. Prior planning prevent poor performance!

A: You definitely have gotten a fix on how to beat me in video games! Not that I think it's anything impressive...

B: Don't lie 楊琳，don't lie. (both laugh) You did mention a term: get a fix on something, let's listen to another words and idioms and check it out!

Words and Idioms 809 Get a Fix on

美國(guó)習(xí)慣用語(yǔ)第八百零九講。

我是楊晨。我是 Douglas Johnson。

你喜歡看時(shí)尚雜志嗎?現(xiàn)在的時(shí)尚，每季都在換，一會(huì)兒時(shí)興鮮艷的顏色，一會(huì)兒又時(shí)興復(fù)古的樣子。幸虧我不是服裝設(shè)計(jì)師，否則我肯定無法把握潮流的脈搏。今天我們要介紹給大家的習(xí)慣用語(yǔ)是：

M: Get a fix on. Fix is spelled f-i-x. Get-a-fix-on.Get a fix on.

Fix 做為動(dòng)詞，有修理的意思，比如說 fix the car 修車。不過，fix 也可以做名詞，其中的一個(gè)意思就是定位，get a fix on 這個(gè)習(xí)慣用語(yǔ)用了 fix 作為名詞的定位的意思，指清楚地了解某些人或事。你現(xiàn)在明白我為什么說自己不適合做服裝設(shè)計(jì)師了吧?I wouldn't know how to GET A FIX ON the styles that people might want to buy.

在下面這個(gè)例子里，一名警官解釋了他們對(duì)一起空難事故現(xiàn)場(chǎng)進(jìn)行調(diào)查時(shí)所遇到的困難，讓我們一起來聽聽看。

M: "Our investigation team combed the site of the plane crash for weeks. Finally, after reviewing countless pieces of evidence, we were able to GET A FIX ON the cause of the accident. We've determined that ice on the wings was to blame for the tragedy."

這位警官說，我們的調(diào)查人員對(duì)事發(fā)地點(diǎn)進(jìn)行了好幾個(gè)星期的仔細(xì)搜索，考查了數(shù)不清的證據(jù)，最后才確定了事故的起因，我們認(rèn)為，這次空難是由飛機(jī)機(jī)翼上的冰塊造成的。

說起空難，真是怪嚇人的。我以前特別怕坐飛機(jī)，一上飛機(jī)就緊張，結(jié)果有個(gè)朋友向我推薦了一個(gè)網(wǎng)站，讓我了解到了飛機(jī)的安全系數(shù)。That's where I GOT A FIX ON plane safety. 其實(shí)啊，從統(tǒng)計(jì)學(xué)的角度看，出車禍的機(jī)率要比飛機(jī)掉下來的機(jī)率大得多。好的，讓我們?cè)賮砺犅犐厦婺嵌卧挕?/p>

M: "Our investigation team combed the site of the plane crash for weeks. Finally, after reviewing countless pieces of evidence, we were able to GET A FIX ON the cause of the accident. We've determined that ice on the wings was to blame for the tragedy."

有時(shí)候，能了解某個(gè)人或是某件事對(duì)一個(gè)人的成功有很大的好處，但是反過來，如果怎么也搞不懂的話，就會(huì)感到特別沮喪。讓我們一起聽聽下面這個(gè)年輕人談?wù)勊栏冈滥傅年P(guān)系。

M: "Since we got married, my wife and I have spent a lot of time with her parents. Just about every weekend we all get together for dinner or go out. I feel like I understand my father-in-law pretty well, but not my mother-in-law. I still haven't GOTTEN A FIX ON her."

這個(gè)人說，我們結(jié)婚后，經(jīng)常跟岳父岳母在一起，幾乎每個(gè)周末我們都要一起吃飯或是出去玩。經(jīng)過這些接觸，我覺得我對(duì)岳父這個(gè)人有了比較清楚的了解，但是岳母大人的喜怒哀樂還是讓我模不著頭腦。

Oh- Oh。這個(gè)年輕人真應(yīng)該向我表姐 Jamie 取取經(jīng)。Jamie 最大的本事就是看人。她每次去開會(huì)或是參加活動(dòng)，都會(huì)遇到很多陌生人，但是用不了多久，她就能 GET A FIX ON them 徹底了解他們，不僅知道他們的喜好，甚至還能未卜先知，知道他們可能會(huì)怎么做，難怪她干推銷成績(jī)總是那么好。讓我們?cè)俾犚幌律厦娴睦洹?/p>

M: "Since we got married, my wife and I have spent a lot of time with her parents. Just about every weekend we all get together for dinner or go out. I feel like I understand my father-in-law pretty well, but not my mother-in-law. I still haven't GOTTEN A FIX ON her."

大家肯定都知道世界著名的流行歌手麥當(dāng)娜。時(shí)間如梭，麥當(dāng)娜如今已經(jīng)年近五十，她在全球的唱片銷量也超過了兩個(gè)億。我覺得，麥當(dāng)娜的成功在很大程度上是因?yàn)樗貌粩嗟刈兓约旱耐庑魏吐曇簦偰芙o聽眾帶來新鮮的感覺。She is always GETTING A FIX ON what her fans are looking for next. 她能清楚地把握歌迷們的脈搏，知道他們接下來可能追尋的東西，這可能就是麥當(dāng)娜演出事業(yè)20多年常勝不衰的秘訣吧。

好的，I hope we have helped you GET A FIX ON another colorful expression. 希望我們幫助大家掌握了一個(gè)新的美國(guó)習(xí)慣用語(yǔ)。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.

下次節(jié)目再見。

M: This has been Words and Idioms.

B: So 楊琳，are you ready for the super bowl this Sunday?

A: Super bowl? 橄欖球超級(jí)杯? 我還好啦...I can never get a fix on the rules...so I've never really gotten into football. I DO feel like Americans are all really into football though, why is that?

B: I guess it's the kind of sport that bonds us all together. Football is an American sports, my grandfather loved it, my father loves it, and I started watching when I was a little boy. It's like a family tradition for me.

A: Interesting! 聽起來你是個(gè)鐵桿球迷呀! 在今天的Business Etiquette里，Chris跟同事Ben談起了美式橄欖球，咱們一起來聽聽吧!

禮節(jié)美語(yǔ) American Football I

Chris早上在咖啡間跟同事Ben打招呼。

Chris: Hey, Ben...did you catch the game last night?

Ben: Uh...what game?

C: Baltimore defeated Texas by 17 points!

B: Um...and what sport are we talking about here?

C: Football of course!

B: Oh...football. Football is cool. I usually try to catch the World Cup finals.

Chris 問Ben, Did you catch the game last night? 意思是昨天晚上有沒有看比賽，英語(yǔ)里看比賽，看表演在口語(yǔ)里都可以用動(dòng)詞catch, 比如，Let's go catch a movie. 咱們看電影去。Chris說的是美式足球比賽，football，巴爾的摩烏鴉隊(duì)贏了德克薩斯人隊(duì)17分。Ben說，足球好看, 每次World Cup finals世界杯決賽我都看，他顯然是把soccer和美式足球football混了。Chris說，

C: No, I'm talking about American football. The World Cup is soccer.

B: Oh, I understand. I can't say I'm a big fan. I'm from China, and football doesn't have a really big following over there.

C: So Chinese people prefer soccer or basketball?

B: Yes, I think so. But to be perfectly honest, I'm not really a sports nut. When I was in high school I played on the school volleyball team. Are you a diehard football fan?

Ben說自己不是特別愛看美式足球，I can't say I'm a big fan. 在中國(guó)，美式足球沒有多少球迷。Football doesn't have a really big following. Following 在這里是名詞，指粉絲，追隨者，仰慕者。Ben還說，To be perfectly honest 意思是老實(shí)說，I'm not a sports nut. 這里的nut, n-u-t, nut是俚語(yǔ)，意思是對(duì)某事非常熱衷愛好的人，比如history nut, movie nut 還有Ben所說的sports nut。Ben問Chris是不是鐵桿美式足球球迷，a diehard football fan. diehard is spelled d-i-e-h-a-r-d, diehard 意思是死忠。Chris回答說，

C: Oh, certainly. I wouldn't miss a game for the world. My girlfriend says I have an addiction. And actually, if I had to choose between her and my games...I'd probably pick football.

B: It seems Americans are very passionate about sports. Is this just a part of your culture?

C: Oh, yeah! I think the love of sports starts when kids are very young. Americans come from many different backgrounds so I guess sports are something we can all enjoy together.

Chris承認(rèn)自己是鐵桿球迷，I wouldn't miss a game for the world. 不會(huì)因?yàn)槿魏卧蝈e(cuò)過比賽。not miss something for the world是一種很常見的說法，強(qiáng)調(diào)無論如何都不會(huì)錯(cuò)過，比如，I wouldn't miss your concert for the world. 我絕不會(huì)錯(cuò)過你的音樂會(huì)。Chris說，美國(guó)人熱愛體育，是從小培養(yǎng)的，大家來自不同背景，但是運(yùn)動(dòng)卻能讓彼此走到一起。

A: 原來，Chris是個(gè)鐵桿球迷, a diehard football fan, 不會(huì)因?yàn)槿魏卧蝈e(cuò)過一場(chǎng)比賽，won't miss a game for the world. 相比起來，Ben is not a sports nut, Ben不是個(gè)特別熱衷體育的人。

B: I agree with Chris. Sports are a way for us to bond. It's a social occasion...a way to enjoy the game and each other's company.

A: 恩，就跟我們小時(shí)候看春節(jié)晚會(huì)吃餃子一樣!

B: Exactly. Let's see what Chris has to say about this!

禮節(jié)美語(yǔ)American Football II

Chris跟同事Ben聊起美國(guó)人對(duì)體育運(yùn)動(dòng)的熱愛。Ben問，

B: So sports is a way for people to bond?

C: Yeah. During holidays like Thanksgiving my family will sit around in front of the television and watch a football game together. It's a social occasion...enjoying the game and each other's company.

B: I'm not sure if Chinese people approach sports in the same way. If it's something that can bring glory to China's national team--such as Olympic table tennis or diving--then everyone watches the event together.

在美國(guó)，體育運(yùn)動(dòng)是人際往來的一種紐帶，a way for people to bond. Chris說，逢年過節(jié)，他們一家人都會(huì)圍坐在電視機(jī)旁，enjoy the game and each other's company. 欣賞比賽，共度時(shí)光。Ben說，中國(guó)人看比賽不太一樣，一般都是有奧林匹克等國(guó)際賽事，中國(guó)隊(duì)可能會(huì)拿獎(jiǎng)牌，為國(guó)爭(zhēng)光的時(shí)候，大家才會(huì)聚在一起看比賽。

C: I think in America people are often loyal to their regional team. In college you root for your school's team and then when you settle down somewhere you follow that area's team.

B: So what's your favorite team?

C: I actually have two favorites. I grew up in New York so I'm first and foremost a New York Jets fan, but I went to school in Baltimore so I also like the Baltimore Ravens.

Chris說，美國(guó)人一般住在哪里，就是那個(gè)地方球隊(duì)的粉絲，上大學(xué)的時(shí)候替校隊(duì)加油，畢業(yè)后在哪里安家，就替哪里的球隊(duì)加油，root for 是支持某人，替某人加油助威的意思，Chris說自己喜歡的球隊(duì)有兩個(gè)，小時(shí)候在紐約長(zhǎng)大，所以I'm first and foremost a New York Jets fan, 所以是紐約噴氣機(jī)隊(duì)球迷，first and foremost 意思是首要的，然后又因?yàn)槿グ蜖柕哪ι蠈W(xué)，成了巴爾的摩烏鴉隊(duì)的粉絲。

B: What happens when the teams play against each other?

C: (Chuckle) I usually support the New York Jets. But if the Ravens win it's not too bad.

B: I have to confess I don't actually understand how American football works. It kind of looks like a war to me.

C: Actually, football is like a war. Each team tries to advance the ball through enemy territory to the end zone. It evolved from the English game of rugby which is also kind of like a battle between two armies.

Ben 承認(rèn)，自己看不太懂美式足球，不知道美式足球到底是怎么個(gè)打法。Chris承認(rèn)，football is like a war.美式足球確實(shí)就好像是在打仗，兩只球隊(duì)都設(shè)法穿過敵人的地盤 enemy territory, 攻到 end zone 陣區(qū)里。Chris還說，美式足球是從英式橄欖球發(fā)展而來的，英式橄欖球 rugby is spelled r-u-g-b-y, rugby，他用的evolve is spelled e-v-o-l-v-e, evolve 是發(fā)展演繹的意思。

A: Hmm...maybe I will watch Super Bowl this year, sounds like it's an important step in understanding American Culture!

B: That's the right thing to do! And...you have an expert here in case you don't understand anything!

A:I will take you up on that! 好了同學(xué)們，這次節(jié)目時(shí)間就到這里了。