流行美语 第 59 课
时间:2019-02-12 作者:英语课 分类:美国之音《流行美语》
李华和Michael 正坐在咖啡馆里喝咖啡。李华在看报。今天李华会学到两个常用
语: check something out 和to call something。
M: What's in the news today, Li Hua? (sound of newspaper rustling)
L: 有些什么新闻啊?噢,我没有在看新闻。我在看招聘人的广告,想找个临时工,
赚点钱。
M: Hmm, let me take a look. Hey, check this one out!
L: 等等,让我看看。(read slowly) 招聘辅导两个孩子,要母语是中文的家庭教师。
对了,Michael, 你刚才说什么:check this one out, 你是叫我把这报纸借出去啊?
这儿又不是图书馆,而且,这报纸是我自己买的!
M: No, I said "Check this one out!" "To check something out" means "to look at
something closely 1".
L: 噢,check something out 就是"仔细看一看"的意思!那不就是"从图书馆里借书"
的意思吗?
M: Well, that 's the formal meaning of "to check something out." However, the
informal meaning is to have a look at something.
L: 原来to check something out 可以指从图书馆借书,可是在不正式的场合就是"
仔细看一看"的意思。那,这大概是非常口语的说法,对不对?
M: Right! Ok, check this advertisement out.
L: 看这个广告呀?Hmmm, 不行,不行,他们要找的家庭教师必须住在他们的地
下室,还得要带孩子。算了算了吧!
M: You know, Li Hua, you can also use "check it out" when you want someone to
notice something, or pay attention. It pretty much means, "Whoa, look at that!"
L: 噢,所以,你要让人注意什么事的时候也可以用check it out。是不是就象我们
中文里说的:"你看哪!你看哪"的意思啊?
M: That's right. Whoa, check it out, Li Hua! That building across the street is on fire.
M: 什么?马路对面哪栋楼着火啦?哎,对呀,你看,那儿来了三辆救火车。哎
哟,但愿没有人在那房子里。
******
M: Hey, check this out! Oh, I call this one!
L: 让我看看! (sound of paper rustling) 招聘一位研究生,带几个孩子去参观纽约
的博物馆和参加文艺活动。报酬优厚!嗨,这个工作太好了!
M: No way, Li Hua! I already called this job!
L: Michael, 你说什么?你已经给他们打过电话啦?
M: No, that's not what I mean. I said, "I call this job." Whoever says "I call
something" first has the first claim on whatever they called.
L: 噢,Call something 就是谁先说要这样东西,那这样东西就归谁?你先说你要
这份工作,所以这工作就是你的!嗨,Michael, 你可别忘了,你是在帮我找工作!
M: Actually, no one can call this job. We can both apply and see who gets it.
L: 就是嘛,没有人可以call this job. 谁都能申请这份工作的!
M: I know, I was just teasing 2 you.
L: 哎,好了,Michael, 你再给我举一个to call something 的例子好不好?
M: Heheh, Ok. When I was little, before my family went somewhere in the car, I would
always yell 3, "I call the front seat!" My brother and I would always fight over who got
to sit in the front seat.
L: 啊,你小时候还和你弟弟抢汽车座位呀! 你呀,要是call the front seat, 你就
可以坐在前面。吓,你还真好意思呢!
今天李华又从Michael 那儿学到两个常用语。一个是to check something out, 在非
常口语的情况下,to check something out 是"仔细看看"的意思;另一个是to call
something, 意思是:"谁先说,谁就有优先权得到某样东西"。
- We shall follow closely the development of the situation.我们将密切注意形势的发展。
- The two companies are closely tied up with each other.这两家公司之间有密切联系。
- Don't get upset—I was only teasing. 别不高兴,我只是在逗你玩。
- I didn't think you meant that seriously;I thought you were teasing. 我未想到你是当真的,我原以为你是开玩笑的。 来自《简明英汉词典》