A: 美语训练班上课啦!我是杨琳!
B: 我是Kat! 咱们今天学什么呢,杨琳?
A:咱们比赛吃汉堡,要去向朋友借车,要聊聊肢体语言,还要告诉大家怎么用美语说“大片儿”。
B: But first we have to "Learn a Word". Right?
A: 没错!先来学个词儿!
Learn A Word: cater to
今天我们要学的词是 cater to. Cater is spelled c-a-t-e-r, cater; and to, t-o, to; cater to. Cater to 意思是迎合需求。随着美国婴儿潮人口的老龄化,Thousands of physicians are catering to the 78 million baby boomers who are hoping to feel younger, and who are willing to pay for the privilege. 很多医生都在努力迎合美国7千8百万婴儿潮人口的保健需求,这些人希望能让自己继续年轻,并愿意为此买单。Malaysian aviation magnate AirAsia is trying to build "small, fun and affordable sports cars" which cater to Asian consumers. 马来西亚航空业巨头亚洲航空正在尝试着研发符合亚洲消费者口味的“小巧、有趣和价格适中”的跑车。好的,今天我们学习的词是cater to, cater to, cater to.
A: cater to 迎合需求。现在有很多商家都推出手机购物客户端,to cater to the consumers who use smartphones to shop.
B: Yes, some people say this will change the entire retail landscape. Do you think that's right?
A: 手机购物带来零售业的革命?我看有这个可能!记得以前大家问一个商家,会问“Where is your store?" 后来这个问题变成 "what's your web site?" 现在已经变成 "Do you have an app?"
B: Exactly! My gut feeling is that shopping on smartphones is the way to go!
A: Your gut feeling? 正好,我们下面的流行美语节目也用到了这个说法!Let's listen!
Popular American 389
各位听众,现在播送《流行美语》。李华去Larry家,帮他收拾屋子,他们会用到两个常用语:gut feeling和out of the woods.
(knocking on door)
LH: Larry, 快开门。
Larry: OK, OK, I'm coming! I'm coming! (door opens)
LH: 你怎么还穿着睡衣??都快中午了,难道你还没有起床啊?
Larry: Hm? Oh, I must have slept in or something...
LH: 你睡过头了?咱们今天不是要大扫除吗?你的好哥们儿不是明天从纽约来看你吗?你看你这屋子还乱七八糟的呢。
Larry: Hmm... it is a bit messy in here, isn't it? Well, no matter... I have a gut feeling my friend isn't coming tomorrow.
LH: Your "gut" has a feeling? 你的肠子有感觉?你要拉肚子吗?
Larry: No, no. A "gut feeling" refers to someone's intuition. To say you have a gut feeling about something means that you have a feeling about the outcome of something before it happens.
LH: 哦,原来 gut feeling 就是直觉的意思。你是说,你有个直觉你朋友不会来了。为什么这么说呢?
Larry: Well, sometimes it's hard to explain why you get a gut feeling about something. But in this case, there are a few things that tell me he's not going to come.
LH: 哦?比如说?
Larry: For one thing, this friend of mine has been meaning to visit me for years, and every time, right before he's supposed to come, something happens and he cancels the trip.
LH: 原来,这个人以前每次说要来看你都没能成行,老是因为这样那样的事儿改变计划。
Larry: Right, and that's not the only reason I have a gut feeling he won't come... I was on the phone with him last night...
LH: 你们在电话里说什么了?
Larry: Girl trouble.
LH: 怎么,他跟女朋友吵架了?
Larry: (sigh)...That's right. He was pretty upset. I was talking to him until four o'clock in the morning!
LH: 你跟他聊到凌晨4点钟?难怪你今天这么晚都起不来!
Larry: Yep. that's why I have a gut feeling he's going to cancel his trip once again. I was hoping to help him with his problems, but I have a gut feeling that he and his girlfriend are not out of the woods quite yet.
LH: 等一下!你说,你直觉觉得,他和他女朋友还没有out of the woods? 他们俩去森林里干嘛?
Larry: Ha... no, they aren't literally in the woods. What I meant is, I don't think their problems are totally solved. My advice may have helped him somewhat, but I don't think they're totally out of the woods yet.
LH: 哦,They aren't out of the woods yet 意思是说,他们之间的问题还没有彻底解决,对吗?
Larry: That's right. I have a gut feeling they might even break up.
LH: 你觉得他们会分手?要是真这样,那我也有个 gut feeling, 他呀,八成是不会来了。
Larry: Yep. So, (yawns) I might as well get back to bed and catch up on some sleep.
LH: 等一下! Larry, you're not off the hook! 你别以为这样就没事了!你屋里太乱,你得收拾收拾!
Larry: Aw, Lihua, I'll do it later! I'm exhausted from staying up last night! Besides, my buddy isn't going to come down tomorrow.
LH: 哎?这个你也不能确定啊! 你不只是凭直觉觉得人家不来么,这怎么能算数?
Larry: I'm pretty sure about my gut feeling this time, Lihua. (phone rings) Oh, here's my friend calling now. I bet he's going to cancel.
LH: 你快听听看,你朋友是不是真的不来了。
Larry: (answers phone) Hi, Steve, good morning... Oh, I slept fine, don't worry..Mm-hmm.Mm-hmm...Oh, Really? You got back together with your girlfriend?? Oh, I had a gut feeling you two would work things out! Oh, you're coming a day early? Tonight? You're already on your way?? Uhh, great. we'll see you soon, then. Bye!
LH: 什么?你朋友不仅没有取消行程,而且还要提前一天到?这下傻眼了吧!看来你的gut feeling很不靠谱!得啦!咱们开始大扫除吧!