常春藤生活英语【54】House Hunting 购屋大作战
时间：2018-11-30 作者：英语课 分类：常春藤生活英语
House Hunting 购屋大作战
Dialogue A
Zoe and Burt are looking for a new house.
Zoe:Look! I found some great houses in the newspaper we can visit.
Burt:OK. I'll look at them later.
Zoe:You agreed that we would move to a bigger house, but it seems like I'm the only one who has kept the ball rolling.
Burt:I know. I guess I'm just nervous about it right now.
Zoe:Well, I still want to move, but we need to decide on this together. The ball is in your court now. Let me know when you make up your mind.
柔依和伯特正在找新房子。
柔 依：你看！我在报纸里找到一些好房子，我们可以去看看。
伯 特：好。我等会儿再看。
柔 依：你答应说我们要搬到大一点的屋子，不过好像只有我在找而已。
伯 特：我知道。我想现在我只是对这件事情有点紧张罢了。
柔 依：嗯，可是我还是想搬家，不过事情要我们两人一同决定。现在就看你要怎么做了。你决定好再告诉我吧。
Dialogue B
The next day, Burt apologizes to Zoe.
Burt:I'm sorry I wasn't being helpful. I know I originally 1 said we would look for a new house together.
Zoe:Yes, you did. Frankly 2, I was really excited about decorating a new house. I think we would have a ball.
Burt:You're right. It would be great. I promise that from now on, I'll be on the ball.
Zoe:I'm so happy to hear that! Now go get the newspaper. I bet 3 there are some new houses in it today.
隔天，伯特向柔依道歉。
伯 特：很抱歉我都没帮上忙。我知道原先我说过我们会两个人一起找新房子。
柔 依：是啊，你是这么说过。坦白讲，我对装潢新房子这件事真是超兴奋的。我想我们会做得很开心。
伯 特：妳说得没错。一定会很好玩。我保证从现在起，我会更投入。
柔 依：我真高兴听到你这么说！现在快去拿报纸吧。我敢说今天报上一定有一些新房子。
Building Your Vocabulary
1.apologize vi. 道歉，谢罪
You must apologize for the trouble you caused.
你必须为你惹出来的麻烦致歉。
2.frankly adv. 坦承地，坦率地
Frankly, I don't agree with your opinion.
老实说，我不同意你的意见。
1.keep the ball rolling 使事情继续进行
While the boss was on vacation, his son kept the ball rolling with the project.
老板去度假的时候，这个企划的执行就由他儿子负责。
2.the ball be in + 所有格 + court 现在轮到某人（做出反应或采取行动）
I left Fiona a note. Now the ball is in her court.
我留了一张便条给菲欧娜。现在就看她怎么做了。
3.have a ball 玩得很开心
Josie and May had a ball in Las Vegas.
乔西和阿梅在拉斯韦加斯玩得很开心。
4.be on the ball 投入的，有反应的
Randy wasn't on the ball because he didn't sleep well last night.
兰迪有点没进入状况，因为他昨晚睡得不太好。
Tips In Use
I bet there are some new houses in it today.
（我敢说今天报上一定有一些新房子。）
本句虽然用了 bet 这个字，却没有要跟任何人打赌的意思。"I bet..."在口语中表『我敢肯定……』。以下为各位读者介绍其它跟 bet 有关的常见口语用法：
1.You bet! 的确∕当然∕一点不错！
A: Would you like some ice cream?
B: You bet!
（甲：你要吃点冰淇淋吗？ 乙：当然啰！）
2.You can bet your bottom dollar + that 子句 有把握∕确信……
You can bet your bottom dollar that it'll rain this afternoon.
（今天下午铁定会下雨。）
- Originally I didn't want to go.我本意不想去。
- After much discussion they settled on the plan originally proposed.他们讨论了很久，然后确定了原来提出的那个计划。
- To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
- Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。
- I bet you can't do this puzzle.我敢说，你解决不了这个难题。
- I offered to bet with him.我提出与他打赌。