流行美语 第 197 课：make a big stink / to be creamed

李华今天请Larry到家里来一起看电视转播的世界杯比赛。今天是美国队对捷克队。李华会学到两个常用语：make a big stink和to be creamed。

(sound of knocking door)

LH：请进来！ Come on in, Larry!

LL: Oh, hey there, Li Hua, I see the game has started. What's the big stink?

LH: 球赛刚开始。你说这儿有臭味？我没有闻到什么臭味呀！

LL: No, I don't mean your apartment is stinking. I was asking why the soccer players are making a big stink. Big stink means making a big fuss or complaining.

LH: 噢，你是问电视上这些球员在吵什么？嗨，美国队踢进了一个球，可是没有得分，因为裁判判定失误，所以就吵了起来。

LL: So, the players are mad, and the U.S. soccer coach is making a big stink by arguing with the referee.

LH: 是啊，美国队个个气得火冒三丈。美国教练通常比较低调， 这次也忍不住跟裁判争执，表示强烈不满。

LL: Yeah, but I don't think making a big stink about the call is going to change the referee's mind.

LH: 我也这么想呢，大吵大闹是不会改变裁判的决定的，还不如就算了，接着比赛就好了嘛。

LL: This reminds me of when I played baseball as a kid. Every once in a while a parent would get upset with the umpire and make a big stink.

LH: 这不仅是你小时候打棒球的情况，现在也是那样。美国家长特别重视孩子的体育活动，有比赛必到现场，为孩子打气。觉得不公平还会对裁判大喊大叫。 我父母只有在我学习成绩不好的时候才会严厉批评。

LL: Li Hua, weren't you the perfect student? I can't imagine your parents having anything to make a stink about.

LH: 谁说他们不生气？我上中学的时候，有个学期我的数学成绩很差。我父母就特别生气。这对他们来说才是件大事。

LL: Well, they had your best interests at heart. Say, you know what I want to make a big stink about now?

LH: 我当然知道他们是为了我好。You want to make a big stink？有什么事让你不满意呀？

LL: Where is the snack food? You can't watch soccer without having some snacks.

LH: 嗨，你们美国人呀，看球就非得吃零食。不过，这不是什么大事。You don't have to make a big stink。厨房里有好多吃的，你自己去拿吧。

*******

LL: Have some chips, Li Hua. Hmm... it looks like the U.S. is getting creamed.

LH: Creamed? Cream不是奶油吗？

LL: No, creamed mean getting beaten. And badly.

LH：噢，creamed在这里的意思是被打败，而且是惨败。

LL：That's right. Say, Li Hua, why are you rooting for the U.S. team, anyway?

LH: 我为什么帮美国队呀？你忘啦，中国队在亚洲地区赛中输给了科威特队，根本没有资格参加世界杯赛。

LL: Oh, yeah, I remember that. They were creamed pretty badly - Six to one, as I recall.

LH: 没错，输给科威特六比一！别说了，一提起中国队的惨败， 我就伤心。所以现在我支持美国队，因为我在美国留学，可没想到美国队也要输了。The US team is going to be creamed!

LL: The Czech Republic team is really good. I am not surprised the U.S. is getting creamed.

LH: 美国队看来是输定了，我们别看球了。出去玩吧。

LL: It's a nice day, Li Hua. Let's go out and play some badminton.

LH: Larry，打羽毛球你可不是我的对手，说不定会被打得一败涂地呦。I'm sure you'll get creamed.

LL: I tell you what, Li Hua, if you cream me at badminton, I promise...

LH: 你保证什么？

LL: I promise not to make a big stink about it!

今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是make a big stink, 意思是大吵大闹、表示强烈不满。李华学到的另一个常用语是to be creamed意思是被击败。