纽约英语口语网新版
流行美语
第 192 课:shindig / a steal

这是一个星期六,Larry 和李华来到学校附近一个社区,那里的住户当天都把家里没用的东西拿出来廉价销售。 李华会学到两个常用语:shindig 和a steal。

LL: Li Hua, this community yard sale is huge. It is quite a shindig!

LH: 啊,这儿好热闹哟。 这么多住家摆摊儿卖旧货,还有这么多的人来买便宜货。Larry? 你说这是一个shindig,什么是Shindig啊?Shindig听起来好象不象英文词。

LL: Oh, it is an English word all right.

LH: Okay, 是英文词,那么shindig到底是什么意思呢?

LL: A shindig is a big, noisy event. It can be a party or any big social occasion where there are lots of people.

LH: Oh, shindig就是规模很大,很热闹的聚会,或者是某种社会活动。原来如此!这个社区定在今天大家一起卖旧货,吸引了很多人来捡便宜货。这就成了一个shindig。那还有什么场合可以称为shindig?

LL: Remember, last year we went to the party for Professor Jackson's retirement? That was also a big shindig.

LH: 噢,杰克逊教授退休时搞的那次聚会确实可以称作shindig。 当时,系里的研究生和教授们都到场了,向他表示敬意。那次shindig的盛况确实难忘;大家又吃,又喝,真是很痛快!

LL: Speaking of shindigs, when are you going to have a shindig at your place, Li Hua?

LH: 你要在我家里搞一个shindig ? 看来,那么大的聚会总要等到考试以后才能办啦。

LL: I can't think of a better time to have a big shindig than after exams. I can help you plan it.

LH: 就是啊,考完试大家都心情轻松,那是举办shindig 的最好时候。你愿意帮我策划,那太好了。Larry,要是在你家举行不是更好吗?你那里地方大呀!

LL: Yeah, but it is also a lot dirtier. I wouldn't want to throw a fancy shindig in my messy place.

LH:那倒也是,你的家呀,虽然大,但确实是杂乱无章。不过,我可以帮你打扫啊!地方大shindig不是可以有更多的人参加吗?

LL: You're right! I will need your help though!

LH: 嘿, 瞧瞧那些碟子! 这正是我需要的。

******

LL: Wow, Li Hua. Those dishes are a steal!

LH: Steal?不, Larry,我干吗要偷呀?那么便宜我当然买得起呀!即便我买不起,我也不会偷呀!

LL: Oh, Li Hua, I know that. But when something is a very good deal we say it is a steal - STEAL.

LH: 噢,原来如此,对不起,我以为你让我偷呐!原来a steal就是很合算,和便宜的东西。我们中国人会说,这些碟子简直便宜得像白捡的一样,所以就可以说是a steal吧。我把这一套全买下来也只要花五美元!

LL: That is what is great about shopping at a community yard sale. You can find lots of real steals.

LH: 没错,在这种社区卖旧货的地方真能买到便宜货。Larry, 你看还有别的便宜货可以捡吗?Any more steals?

LL: Yeah, look at this lamp. I need a lamp for my living room, and this one is only ten dollars.

LH: 你客厅里需要一盏台灯?十块美元, 我可不敢说这也是个steal。

LL: Why not, Li Hua? It appears to work.

LH: 这灯是可以用的,可不一定是steal啊。我的碟子是个steal,那是因为物美价廉,可是这盏台灯嘛...

LL: Are you saying that the lamp is ugly?

LH: 唉,说实话,这灯是够难看的。

LL: I am glad you are honest with me, Li Hua. Not everything at a yard sale is a real steal. You've just saved me ten bucks!

今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是shindig, 意思是规模很大,人很多,很热闹的盛会。李华学到的另一个常用语是a steal, 那是指便宜得象白检的东西一样。