第一, 迷你對話
A: I heard that housing prices will drop in the near future.
我聽說不久房價會跌下來。
B: I think they are just dangling a carrot in front of us.
我覺得這只不過在我們面前說空話。
第二, 地道表達
dangle a carrot
1. 解詞釋義
Dangle a carrot中的dangle意為“使搖晃著懸掛”,carrot是指“胡蘿卜”,其字面意思是“是胡蘿卜搖晃著懸掛著”,比喻為“開空頭支票”“以實現(xiàn)不了的諾言誘惑”。用來指一個人承諾了一件事情,可是讓其他人覺得他無法做到。俚語詞典解釋道:To dangle a carrot in front of someone means to tempt someone with an item that is not attainable.
2. 拓展范例
e.g. My boss promised me a raise but I know he is just dangling a carrot in front of me.
老板許諾要給我加薪,可我知道他是在開空頭支票。
e.g. Dad is trying to persuade Jim by dangling the carrot of higher allowance.
爸爸以增加零用錢為餌企圖說服吉姆。
e.g. The boss told me lf I perform well on the job; we’ll talk about a salary increase next year. But I think he's just dangling a carrot in front of me.
老板告訴我,如果我工作表現(xiàn)出色,明年加工資就有商量了。但我想他這不過是開了一張空頭支票。
第三, 咬文嚼字
1. in the near future:在不久的將來
e.g. She would miss the company of men in the near future.
在最近的將來,她沒有機會和男人接觸。
e.g. I believe man will conquer the weather in the near future.
我相信人類在不久的將來將征服天候。
2. in front of sb.:在某人面前,當著某人的面
e.g. He enjoys posturing in front of an audience.
他喜歡在觀眾面前裝腔作勢。
e.g. The good harvest scene emerges in front of us.
豐收景象在我們面前展現(xiàn)出來。
3. housing prices是指“房價”??陬^上經(jīng)常說“房價跌了。”就可以這樣說:The housing prices is dropping.