美語訓練班第88課:如何開始新人生 灰色地帶
A: 歡迎大家來到這期的美語訓練班! 我是小北!
B: 我是Mike!
A: 楊琳，你快給我回來主持節目!
B: That's right! End your vacation and fly back to DC!
A: 沒錯，趕快飛回來! 自己在北京探親渡假，讓我在這兒頂班!豈有此理!
B: Calm down, Xiaobei. You know what they say: the show must go on. Let's go ahead and preview today's show, shall we?
A: 唉，說得也是。那就來介紹一下節目吧! 今天，我們要聽聽別人失業之後的心聲，談談如何開始新人生，還要來學怎麼說灰色地帶!
B: But first, let's learn a word!
Learn A Word impersonator
今天我們要學的詞是 impersonator, impersonator is spelled i-m-p-e-r-s-o-n-a-t-o-r, impersonator. Impersonator 假扮別人的人。The couple was robbed by a police impersonator. 這對夫婦被一個假警察給搶了。The doctor impersonator who scammed pharmacies was arrested. 那個假冒醫生，從藥房騙錢的人被抓住了。在美國，假冒貓王已經成了一種職業。很多電影裏都有這樣的場景。A young couple went to Las Vegas and got married by an Elvis impersonator. 年輕戀人跑到拉斯維加斯，由貓王模仿者主持婚禮結婚。Professional Elvis impersonators work all over the world as entertainers. 世界各地都有職業貓王扮演者客串表演。好的，今天我們學習的詞是 impersonator, impersonator, impersonator...
A: Impersonator, 模仿者。那我現在給楊琳代班，Should I be a Yang Lin impersonator? (學嗲聲...)
B: 呃 can just be your awesome self, Xiaobei.
A: What do you think Yanglin is doing right now in Beijing?
B: I bet she's eating 羊肉串兒 all day long, relaxing, hanging out with friends and having a good time.
A: 同意! 大吃大喝是肯定的了! 不過她那麼怕發胖，應該管管自己的嘴。
B: Yep. She should go easy on all the home-made heavy meals.
A: 在下面的words and idioms中，我們就來學學這個Go Easy On.
Words and Idioms Go easy on
美國習慣用語第 998講。我是曉北。我是Dan
我的小侄女在學鋼琴，她媽媽對她要求嚴格，每天練琴5個小時，彈不完不能出去和朋友玩兒。在鋼琴比賽中，侄女得了第二名，要說已經是很厲害了，可是卻被她媽媽訓了一頓，因爲沒拿冠軍。這種嚴厲的方式我可真看不慣，也讓我想到一個習慣用語，那就是:
Go easy on. Easy is spelled e-a-s-y. Go-easy-on. Go easy on.
Easy是容易的意思，To go easy on someone or something的意思是溫和有耐心地對待某人或某事。如果是我的女兒在鋼琴比賽中得了第二名，我絕對不會批評她。I'd go easy on her. 我會和顏悅色地對她。我可不想當個tiger mom，虎媽。在下面的例子裏，我們要聽聽一本介紹美國曆史上著名罪犯阿爾·卡彭的書。
"In this book, Al Capone is almost celebrated as a businessman who makes generous contributions to charities. The author GOES EASY ON his subject. The truth is that Capone was a gangster who made money smuggling illegal alcohol. He also engaged in gambling and prostitution. And let's not forget he had several people murdered!"
這段話是說: 在這本書中，阿爾·卡彭幾乎被歌頌成了一個對慈善事業慷慨解囊的商人。書的作者顯然對他所描寫的人物心慈手軟了。其實，阿爾·卡彭是個黑道人物，靠走私非法酒賺錢，還參與賭博和賣淫。另外，別忘了他手上還有很多條人命呢。
阿爾·卡彭在美國可是著名歷史人物，而且是小說電影等藝術作品很青睞的人物。不可否認，雖然他不是好人，但卻是個有意思的人物。好的，我們再來聽聽剛纔那段話:
M: "In this book, Al Capone is almost celebrated as a businessman who makes generous contributions to charities. The author GOES EASY ON his subject. The truth is that Capone was a gangster who made money smuggling illegal alcohol. He also engaged in gambling and prostitution. And let's not forget he had several people murdered!"
Go easy on something還有一個意思，就是“少量地用某物”。 我們一起去聽聽下面這個例句。
"I grew up in Mexico, where the food can be really spicy. When I cook for my American friends, however, I have had to remember that some people prefer milder flavors. I've GONE EASY ON the hot chilies I knew from when I was a boy. I only put a lot of them in a dish when I know my guests appreciate the bolder taste."
這段話是說：我在墨西哥長大，那裏的飯菜特別辣。不過，當我給美國的朋友們做飯時，我得提醒自己有些人不喜歡吃太辣。我現在做飯時的辣椒用量已經比我小時候吃的少多了。只有當我的客人都喜歡更辣更重的口味時，我纔會在菜裏放很多辣椒。
除了口味上的考慮，有時出於健康原因我們也要少吃某種東西。比如，我媽媽的醫生就建議她減少鈉的攝入量。That's why she's been going easy on the salt when she cooks or eats out. 因此她做飯或者在外面吃的時候都要少吃鹽。朋友胃酸過多，So she was advised to go easy on sodas and coffee. 所以醫生建議她少喝汽水和咖啡。
好，我們再來聽聽剛纔那段話:
M: "I grew up in Mexico, where the food can be really spicy. When I cook for my friends, however, I have had to remember that some people prefer milder flavors. I've GONE EASY ON the hot chilies I knew from when I was a boy. I only put a lot of them in a dish when I know my guests appreciate the bolder taste."
今天我們學習的習慣用語是Go easy on, 意思可以是耐心溫和地對待某人，或者少用某物。
A: Mike, 現在還沒出蛇年正月，我得給你拜年啊! 過年好!
B: 恭喜發財! 紅包拿來!
A: 嘿! 就知道紅包! 要說過年，也是有人歡喜有人愁。
B: Why? Chinese New Year should be all about happiness!
A: 你可不知道，你去親戚家串門，三姑六婆對你的大拷問，你可招架不住!比如我有個朋友，他剛剛失業了，本來就鬱悶，這個春節還不免要把這個壞消息一一告訴親戚朋友，多煩人啊!
B: That's right. As if losing a job is not bad ally in today's Business Etiquette, we will listen to the story of a person who just got fired.
Business Etiquette Losing a job (I)
Suzanne 約朋友 Mickey 一起吃午飯。
Suzanne: Mickey! Good to see you! It's been too long!
Mickey: Hi, Suzanne! you're right, it has been too long.
S: Did you find something on the menu that interests you? Sorry I'm late for our lunch. Traffic was horrific.
M: Yeah....I think I'll have the chicken Caesar salad.
S: That sounds pretty good.... hey, is everything okay? - You seem kind of down.
M: I got laid off last Friday.
S: Oh....I'm so sorry to hear that.
Suzanne 跟 Mickey 很久沒見面，發現 Mickey 心事重重，情緒不高，seem kind of down. Down 在這裏是形容詞，意思是情緒低落。原來，Mickey 上星期五被炒了魷魚，He got laid off. 也可以說，He was let go. 丟了工作，難怪心情沮喪，我們來聽聽這是爲什麼。
They said it had nothing to do with my performance. They just need to try and save on costs. So they're axing a bunch of jobs.
S: Ouch! Losing a job is such a nasty experience.
M: sure is. I guess I have been a bit depressed.
S: I remember when I got fired from my job as a senior manager with a Web design company. I felt awful for weeks. But you know something? Getting fired turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me.
Mickey 被解僱是因爲公司要削減開支，所以 they axed a bunch of jobs. Ax is spelled, a-x, 或者 a-x-e, 做爲動詞，是砍的意思。他丟了工作，心情十分抑鬱，depressed. Suzanne 安慰他說，自己也曾有過類似經歷，好幾個星期緩不過來，但是最後證明，getting fired turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me. 被開除是她這輩子最幸運的事。怎麼可能，我們繼續聽。
M: And why was that?
S: It gave me a jolt that I really needed. I was just coasting along in my position day in and day out, never really thinking about my life or my career.
M: So getting fired helped you reflect on these things?
S: Absolutely! I started asking myself what I really wanted to do.
M: That makes sense. Our daily routines can turn into habits. I've been working at this company for almost 8 years and I have kind of been running on autopilot.
Suzanne 說，失業 gave me a jolt. Jolt is spelled j-o-l-t, jolt 在這裏是震動的意思。Suzanne 說，有工作的時候，她從來都是 coast along day in and day out. Coast along 做爲詞組，意思是不用花一點努力隨波逐流， day in and day out 意思是日復一日，年復一年。過着這樣的生活，怎麼還會想着如何進取呢？被解僱後，她纔開始思考這些問題，to reflect on things 意思是反思。Mickey 深有同感，說自己在原來的公司已經幹了將近八年了，I have been running on autopilot. Autopilot 自動駕駛，工作已經成了一種習慣，順手就幹了，就好象是 run on autopilot. 現在沒有工作了，Mickey 下一步有什麼打算呢？
A：人們說：樹挪死，人挪活。這麼看來，失去工作倒是給人生打開了一個新的契機。
B: Yep. That means you have to get out of your comfort zone now and start from scratch again. It is a challenge, but an opportunity as well.
A: 沒錯，挑戰與機遇並存嘛。咱們就來把剛纔的對話聽完，看看Suzanne是怎麼把失業變成一件好事兒的。
Business Etiquette Losing a job (II)
Mickey 剛失業，跟朋友Suzanne 一起吃飯，Suzanne 勸他說，這未必不是件好事。她說，
S: Back at my old job there were some days where I barely used my brain at all! I just did the same thing over and over again.
M: So what happened after you got fired? Did a new opportunity come your way?
S: Not exactly. It took me about a year to figure out that opportunities weren't going to come my way.... I learnt that you have to create your own opportunities.
M: So that's when you started your company.
S: Yeah! I always had an interest in gardening, so I thought to myself: There must be a lot of people who also have this interest and would like to have a garden but don't have the time to set one up.
Suzanne說，原來工作的時候，總是同樣的工作來回做，did the same thing over and over again. 完全不用動大腦，失業後，她用一年的時間才發現，機會不會自己找上門來，opportunities weren't going to come my way, 還不如自己去創造機會。於是她決定自己開公司，幫助那些喜歡園藝但是沒有時間整理花園的人整理花園。
M: So now you go around making custom-designed gardens for homes and offices, right?
S: Yes! I never would've thought in a million years that my interest in gardening would turn into a career! If I hadn't gotten fired, I would've never found my calling!
M: That's it does offer me some hope. I guess I need to do some thinking about what I really want to do.
S: I'm not saying it's going to be easy.... I spent almost one year doing odd jobs and trying to figure out what I wanted to do. Not having a stable income can be difficult.
因此，Suzanne 開了一家公司，專門爲公司和家庭 custom-design 量身定做花園。她說，要不是被解僱，她死也不會想到自己的愛好竟然會成爲職業，in a million years 是一種誇張的說法，就是無論如何也不會的意思。正是被解僱，才讓她最終找到了自己的 calling, calling is spelled c-a-l-l-i-n-g, calling, 一個人最適合的職業。Suzanne 說，不過，這個過程也很艱難，她足足打了一年零工才走出低谷，odd jobs 是零工的意思。Mickey 聽後深受啓發。
M: t now I have some savings so I'll be good for about six if I can't find something after that it's going to start getting tough.
S: Do you have a "dream" or something you've always wanted to do?
M: Well, I have always had the idea of opening a bicycle store. I'm talking about selling rare, vintage or special custom-made bicycles.
Mickey 說，自己存款有限，撐半年還行，再久就扛不住了。Suzanne 問他有沒有什麼夢想。Mickey 說，他一直想開一家自行車店，專賣那些不多見，古香古色，或是訂做的自行車。他在這裏用的 vintage is spelled v-i-n t-a-g-e, vintage 意思是老式的，古典的。
S: Interesting! Cycling is quite a trend these days and if you can find bicycles that no one else just might work!
M: I've always been interested in bicycles and I know a lot about them. I never thought I would have a chance to open a bike store.
S: Give it some thought! This could be your calling in life!!
M: I'll think about it! Thanks, Suzanne! Now let's eat!
Suzanne 說， Mickey 想開自行車店的夢想很有意思，因爲現在很流行騎車， it's quite a trend. Suzanne 覺得 Mickey 可以認真地琢磨琢磨， give it some thought 好好想想，沒準真能行。Mickey 聽了很受鼓舞，說從來沒想到，自己這輩子真能有機會開一家自行車店，實現夢想。
B: If Mickey opens up a bicycle shop, then his interest in collecting vintage bicycles can also be his career. That's fantastic!
A: 沒錯! 興趣變成職業，一舉兩得!我們下面要學的這個詞，就能用在這裏，咱們聽一聽!
Learn A Word dual
今天我們要學的詞是dual. Dual is spelled d-u-a-l, dual. Dual 雙重的。A number of Taiwan residents who hold dual citizenships have chosen to renounce their American citizenship to avoid paying taxes under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act. 一些擁有雙重國籍的臺灣人決定放棄美國國籍，以免交按照海外帳戶稅收法案必須繳納的稅款。In a new book, two doctors claim that the rising cost of medical care in the U.S. is a dual threat to our health and pocketbooks. 兩個醫生在發表的新書中說，美國不斷上漲的醫療開銷是對民衆健康和錢袋的雙重威脅。好的，今天我們學習的詞是 dual, dual, dual...
A: Mike, 你說楊琳這裏回國探親休假，會不會順便相親找個男朋友？
B: Wow, if that's the case, the trip will service a dual purpose.
A: 可不是麼。要不咱們打個電話問問她吧!
B: Good idea! But does that make us nosey?
A: 不會吧，這不是關心同事麼？
B: Hmmm, I'm not 's first listen to a new episode of "words and idioms" and talk about this later.
Words and Idioms
美國習慣用語第 999講。我是曉北。我是Dan。
美國大選結束了，各種拉票和選戰活動也終於告一段落。就拿我們家附近的教會來說，他們現在不用再向教友推薦應該給哪個候選人投票了。美國禁止宗教機構支持某一候選人，不過有些教會會打擦邊球。他們不明確支持某個人，卻以“推薦”的方式幫這個人拉票。這兩者之間的界限很模糊，讓我想到一個習慣用語，那就是:
Gray area. Gray is spelled g-r-a-y, and area; a-r-e-a. Gray-area. Gray area.
Gray area，灰色地帶，也就是不明確，不清楚的狀態。While there are laws that prohibit a church from directly supporting a particular politician, offering suggestions for how to vote is more of a gray area. 雖然法律明令禁止教會直接支持某個政客，但向教友建議如何投票卻屬於合法性模糊不清的做法。好的，我們再來聽另外一個例句：
"Sports trainers at the professional, college and even high school level are becoming more involved whenever a head injury occurs. But what about when kids who play sports get hurt? That's still a GRAY AREA. It's unclear how carefully anyone is paying attention to that age group."
這段話是說: 在職業、大學甚至高中，遇到有球員在運動中頭部受傷的事情，教練都比以前更上心了。不過，如果是小孩子在運動中傷了頭呢？這還不好說。目前還說不清人們對這個年齡層的受傷情況到底給予了多少注意。
頭部受傷的確應該得到重視。特別是家長們，應該馬上帶孩子去醫院檢查。有句話說"better safe than sorry," 就是說 “寧可事先謹慎過頭，也好過事後後悔”。好的，我們再來聽聽剛纔那段話:
"Sports trainers at the professional, college and even high school level are becoming more involved whenever a head injury occurs. But what about when kids who play sports get hurt? That’s still a GRAY AREA. It’s unclear how carefully anyone is paying attention to that age group."
很多計算機機房房都禁止人們帶吃的和飲料進去，這是因爲食品的碎屑和飲料中的糖分對電腦鍵盤的損傷非常大。不過，Bottled water seems to represent a gray area, 瓶裝水在這個問題上似乎沒有定論。有的機房讓帶，有的不讓。好的，讓我們聽一個新的例句。
"When you're driving for a company, can you talk or text on your phone? Most employers never had a specific policy. That's no longer true. Because of too many accidents and lawsuits, there are now rules that everyone can understand. There's no GRAY AREA: using electronic devices is absolutely not allowed while on the job."
這段話是說：如果你是司機，在開車的時候能講電話或者發短信麼？以前，大部分僱主都沒有確切規定。現在情況不同了。由於大量事故和官司的出現，現在有了人人都能明白的規定。再也沒有什麼模棱兩可的了：在工作開車時絕不能使用電子設備。
在我看來，不光司機開車不能打電話發短信，任何人在開車的時候都應該精力集中，不能玩兒手機。不然，一個疏忽大意，害人害己。好的，我們再來聽聽剛纔那段話:
"When you’re driving for a company, can you talk or text on your phone? Most employers never had a specific policy. That's no longer true. Because of too many accidents and lawsuits, there are now rules that everyone can understand. There’s no GRAY AREA: using electronic devices is absolutely not allowed while on the job."
今天我們學習的習慣用語是gray area, 意思是模糊不清的狀態，灰色地帶。好的，這次美國習慣用語就到此結束，我是小北，我是Dan。
B: I guess asking Yang Lin whether she's going on blind dates will be a gray area between we care and we're nosey.
A: But it's more like on the "we care" side, isn't it? 走，這就打電話拷問楊琳去! 同學們，節目就到這裏了，拜拜了...
B: Xiaobei, we still need to end the show properly...
A: 走吧走吧!
B: See you next time!
