美語訓練班第82課:動用關係 吊胃口
A: 歡迎大家來到這期的美語訓練班! 我是楊琳!
B: 我是Mike! 楊琳，來告訴大家今天都要學什麼?
A: 沒問題! 今天我們要領略一下大城市的生活方式，看看怎麼表達動用關係，還要告訴你怎麼說吊胃口!
B: I used to think I was from the "Big city" growing up. Then I went to Beijing and realized how small my hometown really is!
A: I would say Columbus is a medium sized city. I love growing up in Beijing, there’re always so many things going on; you could never ever get bored in Beijing!
B: Yeah, Columbus may not be as big and exciting as Beijing, but there're still tons to do!
A: For example?
B: Well, I mean…you know, there’s…there’s…Oh we had three horses growing up!
A: 哈哈，actually there are advantages to growing up in small towns as well. 但是這個咱們等會再聊，現在，我們先趕快先來進入第一個單元，Learn a word!
Learn A Word1646 questionable
今天我們要學的詞是 questionable, questionable is spelled q-u-e-s-t-i-o-n-a-b-l-e, questionable. Questionable 意思是有問題的，尚未確定的。The quarterback hurt his knee in the first quarter. His return to the game is questionable. 美式足球四分位比賽第一節膝蓋受傷，能不能繼續比賽，現在還不能確定。
Jill Kelley, the woman who sparked former CIA director Petraeus' scandal, founded a questionable cancer charity with her doctor husband. 美國前中央情報局局長彼得雷烏斯醜聞事件的導火索，一個叫吉爾.凱利的女人，跟自己做醫生的丈夫一起開辦了一個很有問題的癌症慈善機構。好的，今天我們學習的詞是 questionable, questionable, questionable....
A: I find something very questionable these days.
B: What's that?
A: So, all the cookies in my second drawer will mysteriously disappear! Especially after you’ve been sitting here helping me write a script…
B: Well…hahaha….I mean…Anyways, are we still going salsa dancing this Friday? I should warn you, I have been practicing!
A: 你又撇開話題！ 去salsa也行，不過最近要寫的稿子實在太多了，如果就光我自己寫的話，我可能寫不完耶….
B: Maybe I can help you out a bit, and then you should be able to go, right?
A: EXACTLY. Don’t worry, there’s not a lot to do. Just finish these three scripts and reply to all the fan emails. Oh, also, my yoga ball seems flat; could you inflate it for me as well? Oh, and then could you……..
B: (Cutting in) Yanglin…I’m not stupid! You are totally stringing me along!
A: Woops! 被你發現了！開個玩笑嘛！不過呢你剛纔提到了一個很好的詞兒，string someone along, 咱們來聽聽今天的words and idioms, 看看這個習慣用語怎麼用！
Words and Idioms 800 String Someone Along
現在播送美國習慣用語第八百講。我是楊晨。我是 Douglas Johnson。
我朋友 Jenny 的老闆實在很糟糕。兩個月來，他一直讓Jenny覺得自己有機會被提升爲部門主管，所以就沒完沒了地加班，自我表現。其實我覺得，她老闆根本就是在欺騙她，牽着她的鼻子走。在英語裏，有一個習慣用語，專門形容這種情況，叫 String someone along.
M: To string someone along. String is spelled s-t-r-i-n-g. String. Along is spelled a-l-o-n-g. Along. To string someone along.
String 是繩子的意思。To string someone along 是指爲了讓別人替自己做事，而愚弄、矇蔽他，或是吊他的胃口。剛纔我們說到的Jenny 的老闆，就是用提升作爲誘餌，讓Jenny加班加點地替他工作。
在生活中，我們經常能遇到這種情況。在下面這個例子裏，一名男子對他女友的真實想法摸不着頭腦。讓我們聽聽他是怎麼說的。
M: "It seems like she's happy, but whenever I bring up our future she always changes the subject. I just bought her this diamond necklace and she told me she loved me, but then she said she's busy this weekend. Do you think she's just "STRINGING ME ALONG?"
他說，[看上去她跟我在一起還是挺高興的。但是每次我一提到我們今後的打算，她就會轉移話題。我剛賣了一條鑽石項鍊送給她，她說她愛我，但又說這個週末沒時間。你覺得她是在吊我的胃口嗎？]
依我看，這個女孩不是真心的。我就聽說過好幾個這樣的女孩，完全是看上了男朋友的錢。有些甚至在取消婚約後，也不把訂婚戒指還給男方。好的，讓我們再來聽聽上面那段話。
M: "It seems like she's happy, but whenever I bring up our future she always changes the subject. I just bought her this diamond necklace and she told me she loved me, but then she said she's busy this weekend. Do you think she's just "STRINGING ME ALONG?"
女：這種男人就象是被拴在線上的木偶一樣，任人擺佈。其實啊，To string someone along 這個習慣用語的就是由此而來的，其歷史可以追溯到二十世紀早期。
我覺得幹推銷員的，都是很厲害的人物，不知道你有沒有同感。他們憑着三寸不爛之舌，總能把商品推銷出去。不過，下面這個例子裏的推銷員卻是被客戶牽着鼻子走。讓我們聽聽看。
M: "I love getting all these free lunches and baseball tickets from this salesman. He really thinks I'm going to buy his computer system. I think I might STRING HIM ALONG just a little longer, so I can get tickets to the playoffs─then I'll say we've changed our mind."
客戶說，[我從這個推銷員那裏得到了很多免費的午餐，還有棒球比賽的球票，真是太棒了。他還以爲我肯定會買他的電腦系統呢！我得再哄他一段時間，等拿到免費的棒球季後賽球票後再告訴他，我們改變主意了。]
女：這人可真夠損的。吃了免費的午餐，看了免費的球賽，最後才告訴別人，你的東西我不買了。好，讓我們再聽一下上面的例句。
M: "I love getting all these free lunches and baseball tickets from this salesman. He really thinks I'm going to buy his computer system. I think I might STRING HIM ALONG just a little longer, so I can get tickets to the playoffs─then I'll say we've changed our mind."
美國人氣頗旺的真人秀《倖存者》，要求參賽者不僅要有一個好身體，還要有過人的情商和爲人處世的技能，要會拉幫結派，挑撥離間，努力堅持到最後，不被別人擠出去。當然了，他們的策略之一就是要 string other people along, 牽着別人的鼻子走。不過，參賽者矇蔽對手的手段一定要高超，否則一不小心，也許自己就成了別人矇蔽的對象。
這次[美國習慣用語]就到此結束。我是楊晨，我是 Douglas Johnson。這次節目的製作人是胡小玲。謝謝各位的收聽。
M: Until next time.
下次節目再見。
M: This has been Words and Idioms.
A: Mike, 我問你一個問題，你要老實回答。
B: I always tell the truth!
A: Have you ever strung a girl along? I bet you have!
B: Me? Of course not! A girl actually strung me along when I was in high school, I thought she really liked me but in fact she just wanted me to do her homework for her!
A: That's awful! 可憐的mike，肯定又心靈受傷了…
B: The result is now I am very careful not to string anybody along. You could probably say its part of my identity.
A: Hmm, I don't know about that, but I think eating non-stop is definitely part of your identity. (B: Hey!) 開玩笑開玩笑，不過既然說到了identity，我們就來學學這個詞兒的用法！
Learn A Word1647 identity
今天我們要學的詞是 identity, identity is spelled i-d-e-n-t-i-t-y, identity. Identity 有個性，個體，個人身份的意思。identity theft 身份盜用。有統計數字顯示，As many as 9 million Americans have their identity stolen each year. 美國每年有多達900萬人身份被盜。There are about 10,000 identity theft rings in the United States. 美國從事盜取身份的團伙就有大約一萬個。爲了保證自己的經濟安全，Roughly 40 million Americans purchased some sort of identity theft protection service in 2011. 2011年美國大約有四千萬人購買了某種形式的防範身份被盜的服務。好的，今天我們學習的詞是 identity, identity, identity....
A: 我記得我剛到美國的時候，就好像有些 identity crisis，身份危機。特別想跟美國朋友混在一起趕快融入美國社會，可是有時候又覺得自己中國生中國長大，怎麼可能融入美國社會嘛！
B：Aww, but now you have a lot of friends from both sides, and you are working to introduce American culture to our Chinese audience. It’s a great use of your language and cultural skills!
A: Thank you Mike! You are never this sweet to me, 我都不知道說什麼了….I’m totally going to pull some strings and help you find a girlfriend!
B: Haha, I mean, who wouldn’t love this handsome face? (A: ugh…) Ok ok, you just mentioned a good phrase, “pull strings”! Let’s listen to another words and idioms
Words and Idioms #801 Pull Strings
現在播送美國習慣用語第八百零一講。我是楊晨。我是 Douglas Johnson。
我的鄰居 Johnson 特別有女人緣，三天兩頭換女朋友。他不僅財大氣粗，而且手眼通天，只要他願意，隨時都可以請人到城裏最好的餐館去吃飯。即使是星期六晚上，而且是在沒有提前訂座的情況下，只要他的一個電話，就能把一切搞定。在英語裏，我們說：
M: To pull strings. Pull is spelled p-u-l-l. Pull. To pull strings.
Pull 是拉的意思。String 是繩子的意思。To pull strings 連在一起，就是通過重要人物，在幕後操縱，在幕後牽線的意思。在下面這個例子裏，一個學生私下裏告訴自己的朋友，說他的一個同學可能是走後門才被學校錄取的。讓我們聽聽他是怎麼說的。
M: "I think Will' father PULLED A FEW STRINGS to get him in here. Do you know his father' an old friend of the college President? It' so unfair. I mean Will' a nice guy, but he should have to work to get in like everybody else."
他說，[我覺得，威爾的爸爸肯定是走後門才讓他被錄取的。你知道嗎，他爸爸是學校校長的老朋友。這太不公平了。威爾其實挺好的，但是他應該跟我們大家一樣，通過努力被錄取進來。]
走後門上大學確實不公平。不過，世界上很多事情就是這樣。在英語裏，有一種說法叫 "It's not what you know, but who you know." 意思是說“重要的不是你知道多少，而是你認識什麼人”。
你能猜到 to pull the strings 這個習慣用語的來源嗎？沒錯，是從木偶來的。To pull the strings 這個習慣用語出現於十九世紀下半葉，最初是指操縱木偶，因爲操縱木偶的人可以讓木偶按照他的意志行事。好的，讓我們再來聽聽上面那段話。
M: "I think Will' father PULLED A FEW STRINGS to get him in here. Do you know his father' an old friend of the college President? It' so unfair. I mean Will' a nice guy, but he should have to work to get in like everybody else."
我侄女不久前申請一家大公司的工作，因爲申請資料寄丟了，所以沒有趕上申請的最後期限。我的一個朋友正好在那家公司工作。He pulled a few strings. 最後讓我侄女有了一次面試的機會。
大家肯定還記得，去年美國的豪門千金帕麗斯?希爾頓因爲酒後駕車、無照駕駛，發生車禍等罪名被判入獄的事情。不過，下面例子中這個著名的演員，卻設法擺脫了牢獄之苦。讓我們聽聽看。
M: It doesn't surprise me at all. I'm sure he knows more than a few politicians. All he had to do was PULL SOME STRINGS and he got special treatment. That's the way it works.
這個人說，[他能躲過牢獄之苦並不讓我吃驚。我敢肯定，他一定認識不少政界人物。只要他打通一下關節，就等得到特殊的對待。不就是這麼回事嘛！]
真希望哪天我遇到難事，也能有人 pull some strings for me.
大家要注意，使用這個習慣用語的時候，通常都是說 pull some strings, 或者是 pull a few strings。好，讓我們再聽一下上面的例句。
M: It doesn't surprise me at all. I'm sure he knows more than a few politicians. All he had to do was PULL SOME STRINGS and he got special treatment. That's the way it works.
我同事的小女兒過生日，臨時找不到舉辦生日聚會的場地。最後還是她媽媽公司的老闆 pulled a few strings, 不僅找到了合適的場地，而且還邀請到了最熱門的少年演唱組合來表演。
能有別人 pull a few strings for you 固然好，不過我倒是覺得，在大多數情況下，憑藉自己的努力得到的東西，才更貨真價實，也更值得珍惜。況且，很多時候，別人 pull a few strings for you 都是指望有回報的。英文裏說，no free lunches. 天下沒有免費的午餐。這種說法肯定有它的道理。好的，這次[美國習慣用語]就到此結束。我是楊晨，我是 Douglas Johnson。這次節目的製作人是胡小玲。謝謝各位的收聽。
M: Until next time.
下次節目再見。
M: This has been Words and Idioms.
B: Well, I don't see what the big deal here is. I pulled some stings to find this job and look how well it has worked out! You got a great co-worker and I get to live in the big city!
A: (sarcastically) Great co-worker huh? Yeah 80% of the time I’m really glad you are my co-worker, the other 20%... (both laugh) 言歸正傳， So what’s your favorite part of living in the city?
B: (thinking while answering) the museums, the cultural events, and…oh oh, all the ethnic food! It's like being able to go on an around-the-world vacation without the expensive plane ticket!
A: 哈哈，就知道你要說吃的！在今天的Business Etiquette裏， Jack和Pete就在討論大城市生活的利與弊，我們趕快來聽聽吧！
禮節美語-- Big City Comparison I
MC: 美國總公司代表Pete來北京視察，由中國僱員Jack接待。
Jack: Good evening, Pete. I trust you had a nice siesta.
Pete: Yes. It was just what the doctor ordered.
J: I'd like you to meet Henry Johnson. Mr. Johnson has been working at our Beijing office for over a year now. I think you two are from the same city.
P: Hey there, Henry. Call me Pete. A New Yorker, eh?
Henry: Born and raised in Brooklyn. Good to meet you, Pete.
Jack 問 Pete 休息得怎麼樣，siesta is spelled s-i-e-s-t-a, siesta 指午飯後的短暫休息。Pete 的回答，it was just what the doctor ordered. 說一件事情 is just what the doctor ordered 意思是這正是最需要的。Jack 給 Pete 引見 Henry, Henry 在北京辦事處工作。Pete和Henry都是紐約人，New Yorker. Henry 說自己是 born and raised in Brooklyn 土生土長的紐約布魯克林區的人。
P: 's a great neighborhood. I'm originally from Queens but moved down to Manhattan a while back. 're an expat in 's life over here working out for you?
H: You know---I really love it. There are frustrations of course, such as traffic, pollution and the language barrier, but all in all, I give China a big thumbs up.
J: Before you two get carried away in conversation let's finalize our plans for the evening. I was thinking of dining at a well-known dumpling restaurant and then hitting a Karaoke bar for some fun!
Henry說，在中國生活，all in all, 總的說來非常棒，I give China a big thumbs up. give something a thumbs up 意思是高度評價。Jack 建議晚上先吃餃子，然後去K歌。
P: Everything sounded good until I heard the word "Karaoke." If there's one thing you don't want to hear, it's me singing.
H: (Chuckle) I sound like a frog that's suffering from a bad cold! But Karaoke is so popular in Asia that I've been dragged to at least two dozen of them so far. I've even learned a Chinese song or two.
Pete 和 Henry 都不是K歌高手，不過，Henry 入鄉隨俗，已經被拽着去唱過很多次歌了，甚至學會了幾首中文歌曲。
J: problem! We're here to have fun and if singing isn't forget it! I assume you like beer.
P: Beer is quite possibly my very favorite liquid.
H: Chinese beer is actually pretty good. I've sampled all of them so I should know!
J: Great! So we'll have dinner and then we'll go down to the bar district. In Beijing there are literally thousands of bars.
P: Sounds like a plan.
Jack說，不去K歌沒關係，可以去酒吧。Henry則說，中國啤酒味道不錯，因爲 I've sampled all of them. 他嘗過所有牌子的。最後大家一致決定，晚上去酒吧喝酒。
A: Henry已經是個中國通，an expat in China。他向Pete介紹說，I give China a big thumbs up, 中國生活非常棒。Pete特別提出他不喜歡karaoke，卡拉ok，Henry提議去酒吧，he’s sampled all of them, 嘗過所有牌子的，知道哪個好，哪個不好。Seems like Henry really likes Beijing!
B: I mean, who’s not going to like Beijing? Great history, great people, great food! I enjoyed the entire time I stayed there.
A: 那當然了！其實我覺得華盛頓跟北京的感覺很像，都是首都，都有很多文化，都有好多小偷！
B: crime rate in big cities is usually a lot higher. Which just so happens to be what Pete and Henry are talking about, let’s see what they have to say!
禮節美語 Big City Comparison II
美國總公司代表Pete來北京視察，Jack和Henry陪他出去吃飯。Jack 說，
J: You two gentlemen wait here for a second and I'll go make reservations and pick up the car.
H: Alright. So t time in China?
P: Second. The first time we spent the whole visit at the factory in Guangzhou. Beijing is good...I like it.
H: Yeah, I'm not so fond of Guangzhou. Too crowded and hot. Beijing is more like New York, I guess.
P: Except New York has a population of eight million while Beijing has like 20 million.
Jack 去訂位拿車的功夫，Henry 跟 Pete 開始閒聊。兩個人都不太喜歡廣州，覺得北京跟自己的家鄉紐約很象，除了北京人口要遠遠多出紐約以外。
H: you having that many people, the city seems to flow quite well.
P: How bad is the crime rate?
H: It's reasonably low. Beijing has crime, of course, but compared to most other 's very safe. You could take a stroll at two o'clock in the morning without worrying.
P: Really! That's pretty amazing. You think it's safer here than back home?
Henry 說，考慮到北京的人口，整個城市管理得還是不錯的。Crime rate is reasonably low. 犯罪率相對低，夜裏兩點在大街上逛都不用擔心。Pete 覺得不可思議，問北京是不是比 back home 美國還安全。
H: Actually, yes. Last time I was in Baltimore...I saw a mugging happen less than 10 feet away from me. One night I could hear gunshots from my hotel room!
P: New York has gotten a lot better over the last 10 years or so. These days I feel pretty safe if I know the neighborhood. But you're right---many places in the States are crazy.
Henry 說，他覺得北京確實比美國安全，上次回美國在巴爾的摩他親眼目睹攔路搶劫，mugging is spelled m-u-g-g-i-n-g, mugging 是攔路搶劫的意思，晚上在旅館還聽到過槍聲。
P: But overall, the cities are safe for tourists and business people?
H: Right. Only once in a blue moon do we hear stories of foreigners becoming victims of crime. It's likely the worst thing that could happen to you is you lose your wallet to a pickpocket. Oh, Jack is back, Hungry?
P: Starving! Let's go eat!
總體上看，外國遊客和商人在中國大城市裏的安全還是有保障的。Henry 說，只有在很偶爾的情況下，纔會聽說外國人成爲犯罪的受害者。他這裏說的，once in a blue moon 是一種習慣用法，意思是很少見的。Henry 還說，做爲外國人，你遇到的最倒黴的事，可能就是錢包給小偷偷走。小偷扒手英語是 pickpocket. p-i-c-k pick 後面加上 pocket, pickpocket 是小偷的意思。正說着， Jack 回來了，三個人一起去吃飯。
B: Chinese cities seemed pretty safe when I was there last. Though part of that may have just been because I was a foreigner, so people just left me alone.
A: Either that or they took one look at the way you dressed and realized that you’re not worth mugging. (B: Ouch! A: Laughing) 好了同學們，這次節目時間就到這裏了。
