雙語故事：自作聰明的人

這個故事講述了一個自作聰明的人在聚會上不知道何時適可而止。閱讀這個故事，學習文中的習語，並利用後面的定義解釋增進理解。試着閱讀下面的故事，第一次時，在不看後面定義的前提下去理解故事梗概。最後，完成故事末尾的測試。

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Wise Guy

Last week I was at a party having a great time when a wise guy really started to bother me.

上週，我在一個聚會上玩得十分開心，直到被一個自作聰明的人弄得興致全無。

The party started off very nicely, there were lots of people and plenty of good food and, of course, everybody was drinking quite a bit. My friends and I were chewing the fat about the past week when this guy joined our conversation. We continued our conversation and everything was very pleasant. A friend of mine was letting off steam about some problems he was having at work. Suddenly, the wise guy asked a loaded question about one of our colleagues. We thought he was horsing around, so we really didn't answer his question. I mean, it's not a good idea to take a dig at a colleague no matter how much you might dislike him. We continued our conversation although it was clear that the new guy really wanted to have a run-in because he kept asking stupid questions.

聚會一開始進展得十分順利，賓客如雲，美食衆多。當然，人們都舉杯暢飲。在這個傢伙加入我們的談話前，我和朋友們聊着上週發生的事。我們繼續着談話，一切都那麼美好。我的一個朋友抱怨着工作上遇到的煩心事。突然，這個自作聰明的人問了我的同事一個別有用心的問題。我們覺得他是在找茬，就沒有回答他的問題。我的意思是說，不管你多麼不喜歡你的同事，挖苦他也是不好的。雖然這個傢伙很顯然想插嘴，因爲他不停地問一些愚蠢的問題，但我們仍繼續着自己的談話。

It became clear that we weren't going to answer any of his questions. This led him to start talking big about all his projects, business deals and how important he was.

顯而易見，我們不準備回答他的任何問題。於是他開始吹噓起自己所有的項目、生意和本事。

In other words, the guy was full of hot air. In fact, he seemed to be a sitting duck for someone. It didn't take long. One of my friends decided he wouldn't pull his punches and started to make fun of everything the guy said. It just got worse and worse. Finally, my friend told the guy to put a sock in it.

換句話說，這個傢伙滿嘴都在跑火車。事實上，對於別人來說，他似乎就是一個容易被打擊的對象。沒過多久，我的一個朋友決定挫挫他的銳氣，開始取笑起他說的話。結果玩笑越開越大。最後，我的朋友告訴這個傢伙讓他閉嘴。

Still, the guy continued on about what a fantastic life he had, the great vacations he had taken, the amazing job offers he got every week, on and on he went. The last straw was when he told us about the brand new hot car he had bought. My friend turned to the man and told him that everything he had told us was a snow job. He obviously didn't have a job, friends or a fancy car. He was, in fact, a wise guy. He had hit the bull's-eye. It was rather sad, but you could see how embarrassed the poor guy felt. It was all rather sad.

但是他仍然吹噓這自己過着多麼有趣的生活、享受這多麼棒的假期，以及每週收到多好的工作機會。我朋友告訴他，他所說的一切都是謊言。顯而易見，這個傢伙既沒有工作，朋友，也沒有豪車。事實上，他就是在自作聰明。這真是一針見血。雖然很悲慘，但你可以看到這個可憐蟲有多麼窘迫。真是太慘了。

Idioms Used in the Story

故事中的習語

talk big = to speak about your own successes or plans in an exaggerated way

用誇張的方式談論自己的成功或計劃

take a dig at someone = to criticize someone

批評某人

last straw = something that happens that makes someone take action

使某人的忍耐突破極限的某事

put a sock in it = shut up, be quiet

閉嘴，安靜點

hot air = conversation is exaggerated and not true

大話

horse around = to joke and do silly things

胡鬧，做蠢事

hit the bull's-eye = to be right about something

掌握事物的關鍵

sitting duck = to be an obvious target for criticism

容易攻擊的對象

chew the fat = to discuss, have a chat

討論，聊天

have a run-in = to have a disagreement with someone

不贊同某人

let off steam = to say or do something in order to relax

說或做某事以舒緩壓力

loaded question = a question that means to trap someone into saying something

別有用心的問題

wise guy = a person who tends to joke and exaggerate too much

開玩笑，誇大其詞的人

snow job = a lie or false story

謊言或騙局

pull one's punches = to not criticize although you could - often used in the negative

故意不猛烈打擊——常用於否定句

測驗

I wish you would ______________. I can't hear myself think.

Let's have a drink and _________.

We like to ____________ at work sometimes. My colleagues are pretty fun.

I can't answer that because I think it's a _____________.

That's a __________. Don't believe a word of it.

That's right! You've _____________.

If

you keep doing that you'll be a ___________ for criticism.

I like to ___________ by going hiking.

答案

put a sock in it

chew the fat

horse around

loaded question

snow job

hit the bull's-eye

sitting duck

let off steam

聲明：本雙語文章的中文翻譯系原創內容，轉載請註明出處。中文翻譯僅代表譯者個人觀點，僅供參考。如有不妥之處，歡迎指正。