美国之音《流行美语》 363

　　Larry在家里和朋友们联网打游戏，李华则在书房里写作业，他们会用到两个常用语：epic 1 fail和learn your lesson。

(网络游戏声音)

Larry: OK, guys. There are only two enemies left. Everybody stay calm! We almost have this round won.

LH: Larry，你在跟我说话么？

Larry: Oh wait, there's an enemy sneaking 2 up behind Mike. Mike! Watch out! He's gonna kill you!! Noooooo!!!

LH: Larry!怎么啦？

Larry: Epic Fail. We almost won.

LH: Epic fail? 什么意思？

Larry: "Epic fail" means an unfortunate occurrence 3. People say that when something bad unexpectedly happens - especially in video games. In this case, we had almost beaten the other team, until someone sneaked 4 up on my friend Mike at the last minute... it was such an epic fail.

LH: 哦，epic fail就是惨败。你是说，你和朋友们本来在游戏中要赢了，结果却遭到对方的突袭，结果惨败。 不过，你说话的声音太大了吧？我作业都写不下去了！

Larry: I'm sorry, Lihua. I just get so involved with these video games...

LH: (叹气) 算了，是我自己太紧张这篇论文了。要是明天交不上去，我就完了，it will be an epic fail!

Larry: Here, sit down. Let me show you one of my favorite websites. It's a collection of epic fails.

LH: 好吧，我也放松一下。

Larry: Look - here's a video of a guy trying to jump over a car on his bicycle. Look, there he goes...and at the last second, he misses the ramp 5 and - (撞碎的声音) - he broke the car's window with his bike.

LH: 我的天！表演飞车最后却被车撞！还好这个人没有受重伤！

Larry: but I'm sure he's embarrassed after that epic fail.

LH:是啊，这么丢脸的失败，好窘啊! 为什么要干这么危险的事嘛！

*******

Larry: You would be surprised how many people are willing to try dangerous things like that. Hopefully, after that epic fail, he learned his lesson.

LH: Learned his lesson？你是说，他撞了车还要去上学？

Larry: No, not quite. I don't mean lesson as in something a teacher tells you at school. That phrase can also mean something you learn in life after making a mistake.

LH: 我明白了，learn his lesson就是吸取教训的意思。嗯，这个人的确应该长点记性，以后别干这种事儿了。我就不会像他一样，明知道最后结果是个epic fail，大失败，何必还要做呢？

Larry: Oh really? I can remember an epic fail you had just last week.

LH: 不会吧？

Larry: Remember last Friday when it was really windy outside and you were carrying that briefcase 6 full of papers?

LH: 呵呵，那倒是，我公文包没锁好，结果里面的论文全飞出来，被风刮得满地都是，我当时都快疯了！这算是个epic fail! 大失策！

Larry: And did you learn your lesson?

LH: 那当然！ 我可是吸取教训了! 每次都会检查公文包锁好了没有。Larry， 你看! 网站上又有个视频，还是刚才那个飞车男! 这回他要骑车从房顶飞到游泳池里去！

Larry: Wow, looks like he didn't learn his lesson. I'm almost afraid to watch...

LH: 是啊! 哎呀! 游泳池旁边有堆树杈，他可别摔在那上面！(撞在树杈上的声音，水花飞溅的声音). 还是撞上了!

Larry: Yea. It was also an epic, epic fail. And look - this kid has 15 more videos!

LH: 啊？还有15个视频？I guess he'll never learn his lesson. 真是不长记性! 好了，我要回去写作业了!

Larry: Sounds good. I should get back into the game; my team is probably waiting for me. I'll try to be quieter this time.

LH: 没关系，我会戴着耳机，边听音乐边写。你不会吵到我的！

Larry: Smart idea. ...Hey, wait a minute. Where's my headphones? Lihua!

LH: Larry, 我把你的耳机拿走了，你就凑合一下，别用了。

Larry: No headphones? But then I won't be able to hear my teammates.

LH: 啊...不管，我先拿到的! 你就认倒霉吧! This is an epic fail for you, 你失算了， 哈哈!

Larry: An epic fail indeed.

今天李华学了两个常用语。一个是epic fail，表示“惨败，非常失策”。另一个是learn your lesson, 意思是“吸取教训”。