时间:2018-12-16 作者:英语课 分类:美国习惯用语


英语课

   我今天是特别忙,要为一个退休的同事开欢送会,但是事先又不能让她知道,要给她一个惊喜,所以欢送会的一切准备工作都要背着她。我们今天要学的习惯用语,the coast is clear, 就特别适合这个场合。


  Coast是海岸的意思;clear有很多用法,在这里是没有任何障碍和危险的意思。The coast is clear, 作为习惯用语,就是没有人阻碍,危险已经过去,可以开始行动的意思。
  这回你明白了吧。我因为想给同事一个惊喜,所以在布置欢送会的时候,就一定得保证the coast is clear. 下面这些人好像跟我一样,也要认准the coast is clear. 他们是出于什么动机呢?还是让我们来听听下面这名记者的报道吧。
  例句-1:The thieves waited until 3 A.M. for the bank parking lot to be deserted 1. Once they thought the coast was clear, they backed a truck up to the ATM, ready to haul 2 it away. But they didn't realize the police had been watching the crime unfold; within minutes they were arrested.
  他说:小偷们一直等到凌晨三点,他们确定银行的停车场彻底没人了,才把卡车倒着开到自动取款机前面,准备把它拉走。他们没想到,警察一直在盯着他们,立即就把他们抓走了。
  真没想到有人会开着卡车去偷自动取款机。看来被钱迷了心窍的人,真是什么招数都想得出来。
  ******
  一种说法是,the coast is clear这个习惯用语最早是海盗和走私犯开始用的。他们要保证海岸上没有执法人员,才能开始行动。可以肯定的是,the coast is clear早在15世纪后期就很常用了,一直到今天。让我们看看下面这个中学生准备干些什么!
  例句-2:Even though my parents grounded me, I have to see my girlfriend tonight. My plan is to sneak 3 out of the house when mom and dad go next door to play cards. I'm not sure when the coast will be clear, but they should be leaving soon.
  他说:虽然父母罚我不许出门,但是今天晚上我一定要去会女朋友。我打算等爸爸妈妈到隔壁去打牌的时候偷偷溜出去。我不知道他们到底什么时候走,但估计是快了。
  我想,很多人象他这么大的时候,可能都干过一些不计后果的事情。我哥小时候,就常跟一些大孩子在外面混。有一次去偷邻居家的鸡,他年纪最小,负责望风,to see if the coast is clear. 结果被人抓住,被我妈狠狠教训了一顿。

1 deserted
adj.荒芜的,荒废的,无人的,被遗弃的
  • The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。
  • The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。
2 haul
vt./n.(用力)拖,拉,(用车等)拖运,运送
  • It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长,到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
  • The rope stood up under the strain of the haul.这绳子经受不住紧拉。
3 sneak
vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝);偷偷摸摸做;n.潜行;adj.暗中进行
  • He raised his spear and sneak forward.他提起长矛悄悄地前进。
  • I saw him sneak away from us.我看见他悄悄地从我们身边走开。
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-osin
a perfect ten
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adrenochrome monosemicarbazone salicylate
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