笔记：

part 1：

Everyday Expression

见面寒暄是一门艺术，根据时间、空间、关系的远近，所要完成的交流功能大相径庭。成功的开场是展开一个精彩话题的基础，记住把握你自己的机会。

Small Talk 1:

Sam: Hi, how is it going?

Ted: Pretty good, Sam. Only the awful weather, you know.

Sam: That's right. I've never really liked it since I got here.

Ted: Me either, but I'm dealing with it anyway.

Small Talk 2:

A: I'm glad to have had the opportunity to meet you here.

B: I trust you're keeping well?

A: I'm doing great, thank you.

B: So we can get down to business.

Small Talk 3

A: Ah, Bob. Just the person I wanted to see.

B: So what is it?

A: You gotta help me out this time, buddy.

B: Another tough thing, I guess.

Small Talk 4:

A: Hi, it is a pleasant surprise!

B: Yeah, it's been ages! So how have you been?

A: Couldn't be better. And you?

B: Just as usual, you know.

Small Talk 5:

A: Susan? What brings you here today?

B: Well, I've got some papers due.(eg.I got to run,my books are due in the library. Excuse me,when is this due?It's due on Tuesday.)

A: Really? So what's the news?

B: Not too good yet. Better than I was though.

part 2：

Dialogue

B的房客给B带来了很多麻烦，A对B表示同情，并建议B直接找房客谈一谈。

A: Are things still going badly with your houseguest?

B: ⑴It's getting worse. Now ⑵he's eating me out of house and home. I've tried talking to him but it all goes in one ear and out the other. He makes himself at home, which is fine. But what really ⑶gets me is that yesterday he walked into the living room ⑷in the raw and I had company over! ⑸That was the last straw.

A: Jim, I really think you're beating around the⑹bush with this guy. I know he used to be your best friend in college, but I really think it's time to lay down the law.

B: You're right. Everything is probably going to come to a head tonight. I'll keep you informed.

⑴It's getting worse.：重读worse，表示心中很郁闷。

⑵He's eating me out of house and home：美国俚语，意思是“把屋里所有的东西都吃光了”。

⑶get me：这是口语的不完整说法，应为“gets me angry”。在口语中，双方的交

流在没有完整语法的情况下，也一样能完成，这要靠人的共通性。

⑷in the raw：这里的意思是“裸体”。

⑸That was the last straw：美国俚语，意思是“That was all I could tolerate—我再不

能忍受了”。

⑹bush：意思是“矮树丛”。

思维解析

1. You're beating around the bush

这是美国的俚语，意思是说“你太含蓄了”。事实上，美国人是非常外向型的，但也有含蓄的。多数美国人对含蓄持否定态度，因为他们认为那样会使本来很复杂的社会变得更复杂。

2. I know he used to be your best friend in college, but I really think it's time to lay down the law

这句话很好地体现美国人做事的原则，我们中国也有类似的理念，如：“亲兄弟，明算帐”，但我们在执行时，就和美国人有本质的差别。