美語訓練班第123課:實體店會不會在未來生活中消失
B: Welcome to American English Mosaic, I'm Mike Bond!
A: And I'm Lin Yang.
B: What kinds of topics should you avoid in conversations? Do you know the social faux pas in western culture? We will offer you some tips in today's business etiquette.
A: 實體店會不會在未來生活中消失? 我們在下面節目中爲你介紹。
B: And in words and idioms, we will learn what "out of hand" and "take a turn for the better" means!
A: All coming up on this edition of American English Mosaic!
B: Now let's go into our first segment, learn a word!
Learn A Word 1860 showroom
今天我們要學的詞是 showroom. Showroom is spelled s-h-o-w-r-o-o-m, showroom. Showroom 是陳列室，展示廳的意思。日本東京獲得2020年夏季奧運會主辦權後，The number of visitors to apartment showrooms in the area where the Olympic Village will be built saw a big jump. 計劃籌建奧運村的地區，去看公寓樣品房的人數大增。我們現在日常生活中的哪些東西在不久的將來會消失呢？美國一家研究未來發展趨勢的機構就此發表報告，報告中提到，Brick-and-mortar stores as we know them will likely become nothing more than showrooms. 現在生活中的實體店將來很可能也就起個展示商品的作用。好的，今天我們學習的詞是 showroom, showroom, showroom...
A: I totally prefer shopping in a real store to shopping online. I never really trust what I’m getting unless I can see it first hand, especially when it comes to clothes.
B: I think E-commerce is extremely convenient. You just look online and pick whatever you want.
Buying is just a click away! A lot of times you don’t even have to pay for shipping!
A: But it’s also really easy to let things get out of hand. Sometimes when you are shopping online, you feel like you are not spending very much, but you end up maxing out your credit cards!
B: I guess that’s something I need to pay attention to. And…you just mentioned a good idiom: out of hand. Let's listen to today's words and idioms and check it out!
Words and Idioms 883 out of hand
美國習慣用語第 883 講
每次家裏人聚會，最高興的就是孩子。我有好幾個侄子、侄女，都是八、九歲上下。小時候，他們總要鬧得雞飛狗跳，但是這兩年好多了，更懂事，更聽話了。這也讓我想起一個習慣用語，叫：
M: Out of hand. Out is spelled o-u-t. Out. Hand is spelled h-a-n-d. Hand. Out of hand.
大家都知道，hand 是手的意思。out of hand 這個習慣用語就是很難管，很難控制的意思。比如說，幾個半大不小的孩子在一起，鬧得天翻地覆，就可以說是 out of hand. 再比如，開會的時候兩個人脣槍舌戰，最後吵了起來，就可以說當時的局面 got out of hand. 在下面這個例子中，一羣大學生開派對，最後爲什麼招來了警察？我們一起聽。
M: "Everything was going fine until these guys got into a fight for some reason, then their drunk friends all joined in, then some idiot threw a chair through a window. It really got OUT OF HAND. The police had to come by and break it up."
這段話意思是：本來一切都是好好的，可是這幫人後來不知道爲什麼原因打了起來，他們那些喝醉了的哥們兒也都過來幫忙，不知哪個傻瓜居然把椅子從窗戶扔了出去。當時的情況真是徹底失去了控制，最後只好叫警察來，才把他們拉開。
聽起來真是夠亂的。It really got OUT OF HAND. 我家對面的房子就出租給了幾個大學生，每到週末都開派對，有時半夜三更還有人唱歌。
說起局面失控，我昨天看到兩個拳擊選手比賽前開記者會，結果當場差點兒打起來。The situation almost got out of hand. 好在雙方教練馬上把他們拉開了。好的，讓我們再來聽聽上面那段話。
M: "Everything was going fine until these guys got into a fight for some reason, then their drunk friends all joined in, then some idiot threw a chair through a window. It really got OUT OF HAND. The police had to come by and break it up."
Out of hand 這個習慣用語由來已久，大約八百年前，就有人開始說 in hand, 意思是處於掌控之中。後來，大約十六世紀的時候，又出現了跟 in hand 意思恰恰相反的 out of hand, 意思是失去了控制。
這一輪經濟衰退，使很多人都開始反省美國人的信用卡消費文化。讓我們一起聽聽下面這個人是怎麼說的。
M: "My wife and I had to cut up our credit cards. We kept buying things we couldn't afford and our credit debt was getting OUT OF HAND. Now we're just trying to pay everything off."
這個人說：我和太太不得不把我們所有的信用卡都剪掉。我們沒完沒了地買那些根本負擔不起的東西，因爲刷卡而欠下的債務已經失去控制了。我們現在要努力把欠的錢都付清。
刷卡真的很容易一發不可收拾 get out of hand，尤其是信用卡債務一般都有很高的利息，用不了多久，就能欠一大筆錢。這次經濟衰退，讓很多美國人意識到理財的重要性，知道了不能讓信用卡上的債務變得 out of hand. 好，我們再來聽一下上面那個例句。
M: "My wife and I had to cut up our credit cards. We kept buying things we couldn't afford and our credit debt was getting OUT OF HAND. Now we're just trying to pay everything off."
每年年底前後，我都會接二連三地開派對，體重也跟着往上躥。所以一過元旦，我就要開始控制飲食，加緊鍛鍊，爲的就是不讓體重 get out of hand. 好的，這次美國習慣用語就到此結束，去健身房的時間也到了。
M: Until next time.
下次節目再見。
M: This has been Words and Idioms.
A: I do think using cash will help you save. It helps make you more aware of how much you are spending, so it’s easier to make adjustment if you overspend in one particular area.
B: I agree. But for me…I’m just so easily tempted by food! If I see something exotic, I desperately want to try it. Unfortunately, dining in DC is expensive.
A: That’s true. Look at those love handles…
B: Let me remind you again, talking about weight is a very sensitive topic in western culture…
A: I’m kidding, kidding! Speaking of sensitive topics, we will talk about some social faux pas in today’s business etiquette!
B: So you won’t make inappropriate comments. Let’s go check it out!
禮節美語 BE-255 Sensitivity Training Money I
晚宴結束，Jason跟同事Harold一起往外走。Jason說：
Jason: That was a lovely party, wasn't it?
Harold: Yes, it was. The food was pretty good, too.
J: I was a little puzzled about something, though.
H: What was that?
J: At one point in our conversation, Mr. Jones gave me a really funny was almost like I'd broken some sort of a rule.
H: Oh, you did ask him how much he paid for his apartment.
J: And? What's wrong with asking someone how much they paid for a piece of property? Back in China everybody talks about buying and selling apartments.
Jason是從中國來的，在晚會上問東道主Mr. Jones公寓是多少錢買的。Mr. Jones gave me a really funny look. Mr. Jones 看他的表情有些奇怪，好象他這樣問犯了什麼大忌。a funny look意思是說不清楚的奇怪表情。Jason 說，在中國，大家見面就是談房子，因此他不懂，What's wrong with asking someone how much they paid for a piece of property? 問別人買房子花了多少錢有什麼不妥呢？Harold解釋說：
H: Yeah, I in many Western societies, talking about money in public is a faux pas.
J: What's a faux pas?
H: It's a French term that means a social blunder. Questions like that are considered a little bit impolite.
J: Really? I had no idea. Back in China, it's not generally a problem to ask about how much something costs.
H: I know you meant no offense. When I was assigned to Guangzhou for 6 months, people frequently ask me how much my monthly salary is.
Harold解釋說，在很多西方國家，公開談錢是 faux pas, faux pas is spelled f-a-u-x, faux and pas p-a-s, pas, faux pas 也就是 social blunder 在社交上忌諱做的事，屬於失禮的行爲。Jason聽了覺得很出乎意料，說自己完全不知情，I had no idea. 因爲在中國，詢問財物的價錢完全不是問題。Harold說，I know you meant no offense. 我知道你不是故意冒犯 Mr. Jones. Harold說自己派駐廣州半年時，就經常有人問他每個月的工資是多少。Jason說：
J: That's funny, because Western society seems so open. People talk about all kinds of private things that we wouldn't bring up in China. Buy money is a no-no, huh?
H: If your Western friend buys something for a really good price, he or she might mention it to you by saying something like, "Take a look at this camera that I got on sale for only $99 dollars." But unless the person is a close friend, we almost never ask how much something costs.
J: So, do you avoid talking about money so that people with less money don't feel bad?
Jason 覺得很有意思的是，西方社會如此開放，對很多中國不敢涉獵的私人問題都可以拿到檯面上來說，但是 money is a no-no. 錢的問題卻是個禁區。no-no 兩個no連在一起，中間加個連接線，是一種非正式用法，名詞，意思是不可以，不被接受的事情。西方人迴避談錢，是因爲怕刺激沒錢的人嗎？我們下次繼續聽。
A: Jason說，東道主Mr. Jones gave him a funny look，看他的表情很奇怪。Harold說，這是因爲Jason問他房子是多少錢買的，在西方國家，隨便談錢是a faux pas, 社交禁忌，雖然很多其他事情都可以談, but money is a no-no,錢的問題是個禁區。
B: When I was in China, I got asked about how much I make or how much I pay for rent, like ALL THE TIME. At first it was annoying, but later I just tried to answer briefly and change the topic to something more interesting.
A: I guess you have to develop some canned answers for certain questions like that if you spend enough time in a foreign country.
B: True. Let’s keep listen to Harold and see how he’s going to explain this to Jason!
禮節美語 BE-256 Sensitivity Training Money II
晚宴結束，Jason跟同事Harold一起往外走。Jason是從中國來的，對西方人交往時迴避談錢的問題感到不解，問這樣做是不是爲了不去刺激那些沒什麼錢的人。Harold回答說：
Harold: Yes, I think you hit the nail on the head. Also, I think many Westerners believe that if you're rich, you should be quiet about it. In fact, I believe many wealthy people in the West feel a little bit guilty.
J: Why would they feel guilty?
H: Because so many other people work very hard, but never become successful. When the wealthy turn on TV, they see so much pain and suffering.... but their own lives are so comfortable.
J: Ah....I can understand that. If I were a wealthy person I think I'd feel the same way.
Harold說Jason, you hit the nail on the head. 你說得一點沒錯。to hit the nail on the head 意思是一下子就說到了點子上，還有兩種類似的說法，一種是 you are right on. 另外一種說法是 you are right on the money. 都是同樣的意思。Harold說，因爲西方很多人不喜歡炫富，有些人還會因爲自己太有錢，而其他人生活貧苦而感到內疚。Harold 說：
H: It's interesting that some of the most successful entrepreneurs such as John D. Rockefeller and Bill Gates ended up setting up charity organizations and giving away a large portion of the money they made.
J: So you're saying that Bill Gates, for example, doesn't necessarily think he deserves all the money he knows a part of it was luck, right?
H: Yeah. Bill Gates is a computer genius, but he was there at the right place and the right time.
J: That's a good attitude. It's good to remember that hard work and good luck often go hand-in-hand. Okay, so one more 's the etiquette when it comes to talking about money with Westerners?
Harold說，這也就是爲什麼比爾.蓋茨和洛克菲勒這種成功的企業家最後都會 end up setting up charity organizations 成立慈善機構，把錢捐出去。雖說比爾.蓋茨是電腦天才，但他的成功在很大程度上也是靠機遇，He was there at the right place and the right time. 他在正確的時間出現在了正確的地方，類似中文裏說的天時地利人和。Jason很欣賞這種心態，因爲 hard work and good luck often go hand-in-hand. 勤奮和運氣二者往往必須兼備才能成功。
H: If the person doesn't volunteer information about how much something 't bring it up. Don't ask about personal savings or salary.
J: Is it OK to comment on or praise someone's possessions? If you have a really nice car, can I say, " car?"
H: Yes, that's fine. It only gets complicated when you start talking about specific prices.
J: I see your point. Topics like that could lead to embarrassment.
H: Exactly. Maybe Mr. Jones' apartment was really expensive, but his company paid for maybe he overpaid and got a bad either case, it's easier for everyone if we don't discuss it in public.
Harold最後總結說，在西方，除非別人主動告訴你，否則不要問人家賺多少工資，有多少存款，買東西花了多少錢這類問題，可以誇別人的東西好，但不要詢問價錢，免得彼此尷尬。
A: Harold解釋說，在西方, 富人一般don’t show off不會炫富，很多成功的企業家都會set up charity organizations,成立慈善機構。所以除非主人主動提起，一般不要get into specifics, 不要具體問一個東西多少錢。
B: I agree. You can complement someone on their personal possessions, but unless you are talking to your best buddy, don’t bring up the topic of money.
A: It’s indeed fascinating to see how different western and eastern cultures are.
B: That’s what makes the world a more interesting place, diversity! Alright, enough about faux pas, let's go ahead with our class.
A: Let's listen to another learn a word!
Learn A Word 1862 Seasonally
今天我們要學的詞是 seasonally. Seasonally is spelled s-e-a-s-o-n-a-l-l-y, seasonally. Seasonally，受季節影響地。美國房地產市場仍然波動頻繁，但是 Overall, housing market rose at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 0.9%。考憚7b季節調節因素，房地產市場以每年0.9%的速度增長。營養專家建議，我們應該吃應季的食物。Experts suggest eating seasonally because our bodies require different nutrients throughout the differing seasons. 專家建議應該吃應季的食品，因爲我們的身體在不同季節需要不同的營養成分。好的，今天我們學習的詞是seasonally, seasonally, seasonally.
A: Eating seasonally is healthy; your body needs different kind of nutrients at different times of the year. 像我們中國人說, 冬季吃羊肉進補，夏季吃羊肉上火，就是這個意思！
B: True. But I totally prefer frozen meals. You just slap it in the microwave! It’s super easy and saves a lot of time!
A: That’s why you still have those love handles, Mike! Eating fresh is going to help you get better nutrients and maintain a good shape! You should learn how to cook, take a turn for the better…
B: Haha, luckily my girlfriend is so good at cooking! And you just mentioned what we are going to learn next: take a turn for the better.
A: 我們來聽今天的美國習慣用語，學學這個短語的用法！
Words and Idioms 886 TAR WITH THE SAME BRUSH
美國習慣用語第 886 講
前兩天，我和朋友逛街時路過一家PIZZA連鎖店，我想進去吃飯，可朋友說，她在這個品牌的另外一家店吃過，那裏的服務糟透了，所以，這家店的服務一定也很差。她說什麼也不在這裏吃。雖然PIZZA沒吃到，但朋友的做法讓我想起了一個習慣用語，那就是：
M: Tar with the same brush. Tar is spelled t-a-r, and brush; b-r-u-s-h.. Tar-with-the-same-brush.
Tar 這個詞不太常見，當名詞時是“焦油”的意思，當動詞是指“塗抹焦油”；BRUSH，大家比較熟悉，是“刷子”的意思。To Tar somebody or something with the same brush，字面的意思是“用同一把刷子塗焦油”，其實是指“因爲某人或某物不好，就誤以爲和他們類似的人或物都不好”，也就是“一杆子打翻一船人”。比如，我這位朋友因爲看到一家連鎖店的服務不好，就斷定另外一家連鎖店的服務也不好，這就是Tar it with the same brush，一杆子打翻一船人了。畢竟，兩家店雖然是一個品牌，但服務員的素質可能並不相同。
在生活中，這種一概而論的事經常發生。比如，下面這個老闆在招聘員工時的態度：
M: "One of the applicants for a part-time sales position came with good references. Yet my boss didn’t want to hire him because he was still in high school. Apparently, he’d had a bad experience with a teenaged employee. To me, he TARRED HIM WITH THE SAME BRUSH. Why did he blame him because of another teen’s poor performance?"
這段話意思是：在應聘兼職銷售員的人中，有個人條件不錯，獲得以前僱主的強力推薦。可是，我們的老闆不想僱他，因爲他還是個高中生。很顯然，老闆以前僱過高中生，可那個孩子表現不好。這下，老闆一杆子打翻一船人，凡是高中生，他都不僱了。我覺得，這對應聘人來說是不公平的。
這個老闆顯然在招聘過程中有歧視行爲! 因爲一個人的年齡而不給他工作機會，這在美國可能被人告上法庭! 讓我們再來聽聽上面那段話。
M: "One of the applicants for a part-time sales position came with good references. Yet my boss didn’t want to hire him because he was still in high school. Apparently, he’d had a bad experience with a teenaged employee. To me, he TARRED HIM WITH THE SAME BRUSH. Why did he blame him because of another teen’s poor performance?"
在日常生活中，如果你常常對人對事一概而論，可能會錯過很多機會。比如，在挑選戀愛對象時，就應該有個開放的態度，不能隨便把對方臉譜化。讓我們來聽聽下面這段話：
M: "My buddy thinks that I shouldn’t ask Jean out because she’s divorced and he’d dated divorcees who seemed desperate. But I’m not going to TAR HER WITH THE SAME BRUSH. I’m not about to fault Jean because of my friend’s bad dating experience with other divorced women. It isn’t fair."
這個人說：我的一個哥們兒覺得，我不應該和Jean 約會，因爲她離過婚，而我這位哥們兒交往過離婚女人，覺得她們的人生態度都很消極。不過，我不會一概而論，不會因爲我朋友同離婚女人合不來就覺得Jean不好，這麼做對Jean是不公平的。
說到一概而論，我想到我的表姐。她家那個市的市長貪污公款被判了刑，因爲這個，她就決定再也不在選舉中投票了。這麼做太過了吧! 我承認，一些政客的確是腐敗的，但也不能因此就Tar them with the same brush，一杆子打翻一船人，覺得他們個個都壞。
讓我們再聽一遍剛纔的話：
M: "My buddy thinks that I shouldn’t ask Jean out because she’s divorced and he’d dated divorcees who seemed desperate. But I’m not going to TAR HER WITH THE SAME BRUSH. I’m not about to fault Jean because of my friend’s bad dating experience with other divorced woman. It isn’t fair."
說到Tar with the same brush的起源，最初是牧羊人把焦油塗在羊的傷口上，給羊治病。後來，同一羣羊就都被塗了焦油，受到了同樣的對待。到了19世紀初，這個短語開始被用在人的身上。
M: Until next time.
下次節目再見。
M: This has been Words and Idioms.
A: Well, I think our show is going to take a turn for the better after the New Year!
B: Really? But I’m going on an extended leave right after the New Year.
A: Exactly…….好了同學們，這次節目時間就到這裏了。
B: Tune in next time for American English Mosaic!
A: See you next time!
