流行美语 第 77 课
时间:2019-02-12 作者:英语课 分类:美国之音《流行美语》
这是一个星期六的下午,Michael 和李华比较放松,他们正在校园里散步。李华会
学到两个常用语:critter 和mug。
L: 今天天气真好,你看那个人在跟他的狗玩,那小白狗真好玩!
M: Yes, he is a cute little critter.
L: Critter 是什么?Critter 是狗的一个品种吗?
M: No, a critter is just an animal, usually one that is relatively 1 small and furry 2. The
word is used a lot in the Southern part of the US.
L: 噢,critter 就是毛耸耸的小动物。那么,松鼠也可以说是个critter,对不对?
M: Yes, squirrels are definitely critters. But you know a lot of people don't like
squirrels. They think that they are dirty and look like rats with bushy tails.
L: 还有人不喜欢松鼠的呀?怎么会说它们象老鼠呢!我觉得它们真可爱,看起来
毛耸耸,软棉棉的。我最喜欢看它们用前面两条腿捧着一颗花生啃。哎哟,那样
子真好玩!
M: Well, I would not try to feed those little critters if I were you, they bite and can
carry diseases.
L: 不要喂它们吃东西?它们会咬人?嗨,你站得远一点扔给它们不就行了吗?我
倒是听说过它们会传染疾病,是要小心点。Michael, 那象耗子那样的小动物也能
够叫做critters 吗?
M: Yes, those are critters, too. Speaking of which, did you hear that my roommate got a
new-born sharpei?
L: 你的室友养了一只刚出生的沙皮狗!那肯定很好玩。
M: I don't think so. As far as I'm concerned, that little critter looks ugly.
L: 你觉得沙皮狗难看啊?不少人家里养沙皮狗都觉得它们可爱。我还没有见过刚
出生的沙皮狗呢!Michael, 你带我去看一看,好不好吗?
M: You want to take a look at that ugly critter? Ok, we'll go.
* *****
M: Look, Li Hua, here is my roommate's sharpei. Look at that furry mug. He looks like
he should be friendly.
L: 哟,这就是你室友的沙皮狗呀!好可爱哟!Michael, 你说什么furry mug?Mug
不是用来喝咖啡或喝茶的杯子吗?沙皮狗和mug 有什么关系呀?
M: No, not a coffee mug. Mug is slang for a face, usually an ugly one. His little mug is
his face.
L: 噢,在这里,mug 不是指杯子的意思,而是指一张脸,而且往往是指难看的脸。
我觉得这只狗的脸挺可爱的。Michael, 我能不能摸摸它啊?
M: Go ahead, but I'm sure he'll bite you.
L: 它会咬我?那就算了,我就看看它吧。哎,Michael, 我们能不能把人的脸称为
mug 呢?
M: Of course. For example, my brother has a really ugly mug.
L: 你弟弟的脸很难看? 哎哟,Michael, 你怎么能这么说啊?再说,你弟弟的脸没
准跟你的脸很象啊!
M: I was just trying to give you an example. I don't really think my brother has an ugly
face.
L: 哎哟,你真是的,要给我举例子也得找个适当的例子嘛。怎么能拿你弟弟来举
例子,破坏他的形象呢?对了,我还得弄弄清楚,mug 一般是指难看的脸,是贬
意,对不对?
M: Yeah, we usually don't say a person has a pretty mug. But, if you like the look of
that dog, you can say: "Oh, what a cute mug this little dog has!"
L: 噢,你的意思是,可以用mug 这个词来指一个动物的脸很可爱,但是不能用
来形容人的脸。
M: That's right.
今天李华学会说critter。这是指毛耸耸的小动物。今天她还学会一个词,那就是
mug。Mug 在这里是指动物和人的脸,一般是指难看的脸。
- The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
- The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。