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Lesson Six之习语篇

http://www.sina.com.cn 2003/04/02 12:38 新浪教育

　　辽宁教育出版社于2003年1月出版了《王强口语》系列丛书，丛书共三册，并分别配有语音磁带，适合不同程度的英语学习者使用。以下是《王强口语》第一册第六课的习语篇部分。

　　VCU=Very Commonly Used 很常用

　　SU=Sometimes Used 有时用

　　RU=Rarely Used 不常用

　　Retell the stories in English using the provided expressions, and then paraphrase the highlighted idioms:

　　1. start off on the wrong foot: VCU

　　-昨晚你和Janet的约会进展得怎么样(go)？

　　-结果还不错，but开头有些不太顺利 (turn out, start off on the wrong foot)。

　　-什么意思(mean)？

　　-Well，我去她家接她的时候 (pick up)，我们吵了一架 (get in an argument)，because她觉得我粗鲁，没什么绅士样 (not, gentleman)，so约会一开始不太对劲 (start off，well)。But到了最后(by the end)一切都好起来了，and我们最后(end up)玩得很开心。

　　2. back to square one: VCU

　　-我现在有点沮丧 (frustrated)，我没有签成一个合同 (contract, successful)。三个月谈判 (negotiation)下来我连一个客户 (client)也没得到。我觉得 (feel like) 又回到原地了 (back to square one)。我觉得我又得重新开始了 (start all over)。

　　-别觉得那么糟糕。Maybe你没有找到任何客户(customer)，but你了解到了(learn)很多如何进销售(sales)以及如何进行市场营销(marketing)方面的东西。这是一个很好的经历。至少你已经学到一些东西了。

　　3. start from scratch: VCU

　　-想想看像Apple或Dell Computer这样国际知名的成功企业(internationally,company)一开始全是在车库(garage)或大学宿舍里白手起家的 (start from scratch),这真让人赞叹(impressive)。你能相信他们是从一无所有做起来的吗 (start out )？

　　-Wow! No，我并不知道。一切从零开始建公司一定很难辛 (hard work, build form zero)。他们是怎么做的呢？

　　-Steve Jobs和他的合伙人(partner) 在California 的一个车库里用一个木盒子中造出了第一台苹果电脑(build, out of), and now他都们已成了百万富翁。And Michael Dell是通过在他大学宿舍 (dormitory) 里给同学们装电脑开创了他的著名电脑公司(start, assemble)。Now他也是美国最富有的人之一了。

　　4. second to none: VCU

　　-你在市中心 (downtown) 新开的那家牛排 (steak) 餐馆用过餐吗？

　　-No, 还没有，but我还真想去尝尝 (would like)。我听说他们的牛肉质量最好(beef, excellent quality)，比哪家的都好 (second to none)。

　　-Yes，它的确 (certainly) 是全城最好的馆子。他们的牛排都是当天从Argentina and America进口的 (daily, import )。

　　5. be a drag : VCU

　　Party Host：大家都玩得高兴吗(fun)？开这个宴会真是个 (turn out) 好主意。看那些人谈笑风生(talk and laugh)。每个人看上去都很尽兴 (seem time)。

　　Jack：Actually，我准备(ready)回家了。我过得很愉快，but now很多人都喝醉了，我不再觉得有什么好玩的了。Besides, 明天早上我还要早起。

　　Rose：别这样(come)，Jack，别让人扫兴了 (be a drag)！我们再呆一会儿。每个人都玩的很开心and你是惟一一个想走的人(only, leave)。别那么焦躁不安的(uptight)好不好，咱们还是留下来and开心地玩玩吧(fun)。
　

　　Guess the meaning of the highlighted expression from each context.

　　1.pour oil on troubled water(s): RU

　　- You know, Susan? It seems to me that being a mother is very difficult and tricky sometimes. I see all these kids in the park throwing fits and I often wonder what I would do to handle the situation if I were one of those mothers. What do you do when your daughter starts screaming?

　　- I know what you mean, and believe me, it's not easy. When Susie is throwing a fit I usually play her favorite cartoon video and she calms down immediately. It doesn't solve the problem completely, but at least pours oil on troubled water and gives me time to think of a better solution. The real problem is when she throws a fit and there's no VCR in sight.

　　2. quick and dirty: RU

　　- This project is sure taking a long time. Don't you wish that we could finish it in 3 weeks and then move on to the next one?

　　- Sure, that would be nice. We would be making money faster. But one thing I've learned about this business is that it pays off to be thorough and take your time to finish a project well. If you choose the quick and dirty approach you will finish faster but end up with a product of a much lesser quality. We're better off taking our time.

　　3. whys and wherefores of something:

　　- Have I ever told you about the time when my car broke down in the middle of the highway and I had to wait there for four hours until your mother was able to come and pick me up? Lots of things happened during those five hours, I'm telling you.

　　- Yes, Dad, I'm very interested in hearing that story, but you don't have to getsintosthe whys and wherefores of it. Try to keep it short, please.

　　- Oh, don't worry. Even if I wanted to tell you all the details of why things happened the way they did, I wouldn't remember myself. I wish I did, though, but it's been a long time.

　　Lesson Six相关链接

　　Lesson Six之对话篇

　　Lesson Six之定义篇

　　Lesson Six之抢答篇

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