新浪首页 > 新浪教育 > 点点英语四六级专栏 > 美国人生活中的口头禅

美国人生活中的口头禅
http://www.sina.com.cn 2004/12/08 16:41  点点英语

  美国人平时生活上所用的一些“口头禅”,其实字句都很简单,但是如果不加说明,往往还会让人“一知半解”或“似懂非懂”。下面所举的例子,即是常常听到的一些美语“口头禅”。

  1. I couldn't care less.

  这句话的意思是“我不在乎”,“缺乏兴趣”(lack of interest),也就是:I don't care at all. 或 I don't give a hoot. 例如:

  人家如果问: What do you think of the budget-cut?(你对预算削减有何看法?)

  你回答: I couldn't care less.(我毫不在乎)

  How do you like Mr. Lee's political point of view?(你喜欢李先生的政见吗?)

  I couldn't care less.(我才不在乎呢!)

  但是有时说话者也有“口是心非”: 例如:

  I couldn't care less about the promotion or pay raise.(我不在乎升级或加薪)

  而实际上他是根本在乎升级和加薪的,那么人家也许就会回答说: Yes, you do(care).

  至于 I couldn't care more. 就是“我很在乎”(I care a lot.)或 I care deeply. 同理:

  I couldn't agree more.=I totally agree.(我完全同意)

  I couldn't please you more.=I did my best to please you.(我尽量使你高兴)

  I couldn't be more right.=I am totally right.

  但是老外为了“自尊”,不愿强调自己的错误,所以很少人说:

  I couldn't be more wrong.

  注意:一般人都用否定句,但也有老外把肯定句与否定句互用。

  不过,严格来说,I could care less. = I care to some degree.(care 的程度可能减少)

  I could care more.=I care some.(care的程度也许增加)(主词可用任何人称代名词:he, she, you, we, they 等。但只用 could,不用 can。)

  2. No bones about it.

  意思是:真实的,诚恳的(truly, sincerely or exactly),也就是 to make no bones about it.(bone 要加 s, it 是指 something)例如:

  His wife is beautiful; no bones about it.(他的太太真是很漂亮)

  Mr. A made no bones about it when he talked about abortion issue.(当 A 先生谈到堕胎问题时,他是诚恳的。)

  When I spoke on the topic, he said, "No bones about it."(也就是他同意我的看法)

  No bones about it; the weather is very chilly today.(今天是真的太冷了)

  3. take it on me!

  意思是:“这是我的,请用吧!”“这是免费的”(help yourself to it; it is free),这多半是指吃的东西或一些不贵重的东西。例如:

  Here are some candies from England; take one on me. (这是来自英国的糖果,尝一个吧!) (one = candy)

  The restaurant owner said to me, "Take the dessert on me." (餐馆老板对我说:“尝尝我的甜点吧!”)

  Please take these pencils on me.(取用一些我的铅笔吧!) (也许铅笔上刻有名字,做为宣传之用而免费。)

  可见 take 后面的 it,是指 something,而 on 的后面通常不指别人,所以多半也只用在第一人称单数 me。

  (假如夫妇在一起,也可以说:Take it on us.)

  4. I am from Missouri.

  这句话有时后面要加一句:“I need to be shown.”或“You have got to show me.”,意思是 Missouri 州的人很固执 (stubborn),不太信任别人,一定要人家“证明一下”(prove it to me),所以密苏里州也被称为“The Show Me State”。

  据说这句话所以流行 (尤其在美国中西部) 是因为美国一些名人都住过密苏里州,包括 Harry Truman, Mark Twain, Walt Disney 等。后来老外不轻易相信别人时,就使用这句话。(也有半开玩笑性质) 例如:

  He is not easily convinced because he is from Missouri. (他是来自密苏里州,所以不容易说服他。)

  Don't try to fool me; I am from Missouri.(You have got to show me.) (别愚弄我,我是来自密苏里州。)

  We are all from Missouri; we need to be shown.

  As Mr. Smith is a tough guy; he must be from Missouri. (Smith先生是位倔强的人,他一定是来自密苏里州。)


发表评论

爱问(iAsk.com)

评论】【论坛】【收藏此页】【 】【多种方式看新闻】【下载点点通】【打印】【关闭


教育频道意见反馈留言板 电话:010-82628888-5747 欢迎批评指正

新浪简介 | About Sina | 广告服务 | 联系我们 | 招聘信息 | 网站律师 | SINA English | 会员注册 | 产品答疑

Copyright © 1996 - 2005 SINA Inc. All Rights Reserved

版权所有 新浪网
北京市通信公司提供网络带宽