感恩节的早晨，读书的女儿在公用电话亭给母亲打来电话。虽说是家人，但互相所用的语汇非常客套，彬彬有礼，任何情景下都可以套用。我们也可以从中了解西方人的礼貌传统。

Mother: Hello?
你好。

Daughter: Hi, Mom.
你好，妈妈。

Mother: Oh, Gina. Hi, how are you, sweetie?
噢，吉娜。你好，你怎么样，宝贝？

Daughter: I'm fine. How are you?
我很好，你呢？

Mother: I'm good, I'm OK. Everything's OK here.
我很好，还不错。家里一切都好。

Daughter: Yeah, listen, don't do all the work tonight 'cause I wanna be there when you're doing it.
听我说，今晚别把事都做完了，因为我想在你做事的时候回来帮你手。

Mother: OK, I promise.
好的，我答应。

Daughter: And tell Anthony to get off his flabby butt and help you out.
告诉安东尼别一天到晚懒坐着，帮帮你的忙。

Mother: OK, I will … he … everything … he'll be good, he's fine, he's trying very hard. Listen, I'm very glad you're bringing your boyfriend with you.
好的，我会的……他……一切……他会听话的，他会好的，他正努力呢。听着，我很高兴你带男朋友回来。

Daughter: You're gonna really like him, Mom.
妈妈，你会喜欢他的。

Mother: One more thing. There's a lot of traffic tomorrow, so drive safely, OK?
还有件事。明天路上车会很多，所以小心开车，好吗？

Daughter: Listen, the change is running out, so I'm gonna get going. Now don't work too hard.
听我说，投币快没了，我得走了。别太累了。

Mother: Bye.
再见。

Daughter: OK, love you.
好的，我爱你。

重点注释

get off 从...下来，离开，出发，动身
Jason saw me and got off the horse immediately.杰逊看到我，立即从马上下来。
We will get off after breakfast.我们将于早餐后出发
What time will you get off tomorrow?你明天什么时候动身?

get off 还有一个意思是“免于遭受...”，例如：

A good lawyer might be able to get you off.请位好律师有可能使你免受追究。
He got off with a small fine.他交了一小笔罚款了事。

这里还要再介绍一下另一个短语go off.短语go off 的含义十分丰富，且用法灵活：

1.爆炸；怦然发射；（枪）走火。如:
The balloon went off with a crack.气球啪的一声炸了。
The gun went off by accident.那枪走火了。

2.离去，动身。如:
I don't know why he went off without saying goodbye.我不知道他为什么不辞而别。

3. (食物)变质，坏掉。如:
Meat and fish go off quickly in hot weather.肉和鱼在热天很快就会变质。

4.水、电等断掉，灯熄灭。如:
Lights will go off if no one is in the room.若房间里没人，灯会自动熄灭。

flabby a.软弱的;松弛的

butt n. 屁股

change n. 零钱;找头