流行美语 第 135 课:gang up on somebody / basket case Larry和李华到博物馆去看中国艺术品的展出,不过Larry好像心情不太好。今天李华会学到两个常用语:gang up on someone和basket case.
(Indoor crowd in a museum)
LH: Larry, 怎么啦?你好像很不开心?
LL: No, it's true!
LH: 嘿!Larry,你和你家人谈过了吗?他们还在气你不常打电话吗?
LL: They aren't mad at me anymore, but my mom is a basket case because my sister will be graduating soon.
LH: 你妈妈怎么啦?basket case?Basket是篮子的意思,你妹妹快要毕业。这和basket有什么关系?
LL: Oh, a basket case is someone who is really upset or nervous. My mom is upset that my sister is graduating and will be leaving home for college.
LH: 噢,原来basket case就是指一个人很紧张,很不高兴。你妹妹高中毕业后,很快就要到外地念大学;你妈妈紧张不安是可以理解的。
LL: That's true. However, I think my sister will be just fine. There's no need for Mom to be such a basket case.
LH: 那倒是,你妈妈没有必要那么紧张。我刚来美国的时候,也是个basket case。我那时好紧张,因为我的英语还不是很好,我担心听不懂别人讲的话而犯错误。
LL: That's pretty normal. How about now? Are you still a basket case? Or have you adjusted to life in the U.S.?
LH: 嗯,现在我只有在考试的时候才会紧张。每学期总是有一个礼拜,我会紧张得睡不着,吃不下。
LL: I didn't realize that exams turned you into such a basket case. Why do you worry so much when you always get good grades?
LH: 我也不知道为什么我那么在乎考试成绩。但我也没办法控制,只要考试一来,我就马上成了个basket case。我想我大概是对自己信心不足吧!
LL: Well, next time you feel yourself turning into a basket case, let me know and I'll make you learn to be relaxed.
今天李华学到两个常用语。一个是gang up on someone, 就是合伙对付某个人的意思。另一个常用语是basket case, 是指一个人很紧张,很担心。