各位好,欢迎来到《可可茶话会》,我是Canace。每一期讲解三个实用的句子,积累点滴英语。今天我们要分享的三句话其实意思有相近的地方,表达却不一样。
1. It's a long shot, but I should say she's about forty.
Shot基本意思是“子弹”“投射”,在口语中常常有试一试的意思,短语give it a shot就是“试一试”,比如:我从没打过网球,但我要试试,看看我行不行-I've never played tennis before, but I'll give it a shot to see if I'm good. A long shot就是指“不大会成功的尝试”。虽然希望很渺茫,但有时还是值得一试哒。John was a long shot for mayor. 约翰竞选市长,当选的希望是很小的。再来说一个情境吧。别人要你猜一个人的岁月,你拿捏不准,但是还是试一试,于是这么回答了:It's a long shot, but I should say she's about forty. 这不好猜,但我猜她大约是四十岁左右。
2. I could dance with you till the cows come home.
Cow是牛,Till the cows come home字面意思就是直到或者除非牛回家。来自于一个小故事:从前奶牛每年都有不产奶的时候。在产奶时期,它们乳房充盈,不挤奶会很不舒服,所以会主动回家让人挤奶;但是,在不产奶时期,要让它们从草地上晃晃悠悠走回家,就不知道要等多久了。所以俚语till the cows come home就是说“等到花儿也写了”。不管你怎么努力,某件事儿八成没戏了,所以就是说:要我和你跳舞,除非母牛回家,或者说除非太阳打西边儿出来,或者理解为要我和你跳舞,那你可有得等了。I could dance with you till the cows come home. If you're waiting for a bus, you'll have to wait till the cows come home. 这里明明几乎没有公交来往,那如果你在等公共汽车,那你可有得等了。
3. If your work doesn't improve it will be curtains for you.
如果你工作不改进,你就完蛋了。Curtain是“窗帘”的意思,还可以指“大幕”,要是谁被拉上了大幕,也就意味着“完了”、“没戏了”。例句的意思是说:如果你工作不改进,你就完蛋了-If your work doesn't improve it will be curtains for you. When I saw he had a gun, I thought it was curtains for me. 当我发现他有枪时,我想这下完了。
这里是《可可茶话会》,今天为大家分享了三个表达:A long shot, till the cows come home, curtains for sb.。 还记得意思吗?温故而知新,知识才能学得更牢,学得更多。今天的节目就到这里,感谢收听,再见!
背景音乐:Reagan James - Where Did You Go
本节目属可可原创,未经许可请勿转载