美語訓練班第55課:"普通人"和"人脈"用英語怎麼說?
A: 噹噹噹! 本週美語訓練班上課啦！我是楊琳！
B: Welcome to American English Mosaic, 我是Kat！楊琳，快說說咱們今天都要學什麼？
A: 好! 今天，咱們要去看看有機食品的好處，學學怎麼接受媒體採訪，看看怎麼說大力整頓，還要告訴大家怎麼用美語說"普通人"和"人脈"！
B: 人脈很重要呀！Yanglin, don't you feel lucky to have a friend like me—someone who has a very diverse social circle? 跟我混你能認識好多人吶！
A: OMG... 對對對, 臭美冠軍！好了好了，不貧嘴了，我們趕快先來進入第一個單元，Learn a Word!
Learn A Word underwater
今天我們要學的詞是underwater. Underwater is spelled u-n-d-e-r-w-a-t-e-r. Underwater本意是“水下的”，但用在商業上可以指資不抵債。美國房屋市場次貸危機產生了許多underwater mortgage，就是指房屋按揭額超過房屋市值的貸款。最近的統計發現，Despite rising home prices, more than 30% of borrowers were underwater on their mortgage during the first quarter of 2012. 雖然房價在上漲，但在2012年第一季度，美國貸款買房者中依然有百分之30的人的房子資不抵債。不過，Most underwater homeowners are still paying their mortgages on time. 大部分資不抵債的購房者依然在按時繳納按揭。好的，今天我們學習的詞是underwater, underwater, underwater.
B: Underwater mortgage? Buying a house is not something I see happening any time soon! When you mention the word "underwater," the only thing I can think of is jumping into the pool!
A: 哈! 對啊，我現在就天天在社區游泳池裏遊！解暑又減肥！
B: Oh wow, there's a pool at your apartment complex? Can I go swimming with you, PLEASE?
A: Look at those puppy eyes, haha! 可以是可以，不過可能得等過一陣， They're serious about the rules and are cracking down on non-residents using the pool ... 咱們先避避風頭……
B: Oh god... 那好吧! 不過你剛纔提到了一個很好的詞兒，crack down, 咱們一起來看看這個習慣用語的用法！
Words and Idioms crack down (on)
現在播送<美國習慣用語>第 967講。我是楊琳。
M：我是 Steve Baragona.
家長都希望孩子在學校成績優異，所以會在功課上不遺餘力地輔導和幫助孩子，不過，學校似乎覺得這種幫助得有個度。最近，我朋友收到孩子學校寄來的一份合 同，要求家長在上面簽字，保證以後不能替孩子寫作業，孩子必須交上獨立完成的東西。學校的這種做法讓我想到一個習慣用語，那就是：
M: Crack down. Crack is spelled c-r-a-c-k, and down; d-o-w-n. Crack-down. Crack down.
Crack down的意思是“大力整頓，嚴格管制”。上面說到，校長不願意家長過份插手孩子的作業，所以試圖嚴格限制這種做法，在這裏就可以用 crack down. 在下面的例子中，小鎮警方將採取行動，解決一個愈來愈嚴重的問題，我們來聽一聽：
M: "For months, motorists had been speeding down Main Avenue. They caused a number of accidents including pedestrians being hit. That's when more police officers were assigned to enforce the law. It's worked. Since we CRACKED DOWN on speeding, there have been fewer problems."
這段話意思是：[幾個月來，開車的人總是在主街大道上超速飛車，結果發生了好多起交通事故，還有行人被撞到。爲此，警方在那裏增加了警力，加強執法。這種大力管制很有效，管制開始以來，事故的數量減少了。]
女：其實還可以在事故頻發的路口安裝攝像頭，這樣既節省了警力，又能更清楚有效地抓到違反交規的人。違章超速的司機本來洋洋自得，覺得沒有警察管，可是會突然在某天接到罰單，因爲被“電眼”逮到了！好的，言歸正傳，我們再來聽聽剛纔那段話：
M: "For months, motorists had been speeding down Main Avenue. They caused a number of accidents including pedestrians being hit. That's when more police officers were assigned to enforce the law. It's worked. Since we CRACKED DOWN on speeding, there have been fewer problems."
剛纔說了學校對學生、警察對違規者的嚴格管理和整頓，現在咱們來看看工作場所。一個嚴格的老闆會怎麼做呢？
M: "I know the employee manual says that we only have an hour for lunch. But once in a while I have an errand to run and I get back a few minutes late to the office. My new boss is so strict about the rules. She's taking notes on anyone who's not at his desk on time. She's really CRACKING DOWN ON us."
這段話是說：[我知道員工守則上說我們的午飯時間只有一個小時，不過有時我有些雜事要辦，也會晚個幾分鐘回辦公室。我的新老闆對這條規定特別叫真兒。所有沒按時回到辦公桌前的員工都被她注意到。她管我們真是嚴格無比。]
大家看到了，如果在crack down 後面加人或物時，需要加介詞on, to crack down on somebody or something意思就是大力整頓或者打擊某事。另外，把crack 和down這兩個詞放在一起，就變成名詞了crackdown，意思一樣，也是打擊，鎮壓。比如，The government began a crackdown on piracy. 政府開始大力打擊盜版活動。 好的，讓我們再來聽聽剛纔那段話：
M: "I know the employee manual says that we only have an hour for lunch. But once in a while I have an errand to run and I get back a few minutes late to the office. My new boss is so strict about the rules. She's taking notes on anyone who's not at his desk on time. She's really CRACKING DOWN ON us."
今天我們學習的習慣用語是 crack down，意思是“大力整頓，嚴格管制”。好的，這次[美國習慣用語]就到此結束，我是楊琳，我是 Steve Baragona。謝謝各位的收聽。
B: I hope the crackdown is going to end soon! I can't wait to go swimming! 你看我們普通人住不起高檔公寓……
A: 別裝可憐了，我不吃這一套！
B: Oh uh, 被發現了。不過剛纔我提到普通人，這個詞在美語裏也有個說法，咱們一塊去聽聽看！
How to say it in American English
Jessica 在北京學漢語，她的中國朋友要是遇到了不知道用美語怎麼說的詞，就會來請教她。今天是Jimmy要問的：普通人。
Jessica: Jimmy! I heard you got the scholarship from Cambridge University! 你真厲害啊！
Jimmy: 嘿嘿，沒什麼大不了的。
Jessica: But that scholarship is very hard to get. After you graduate from Cambridge, 你就是“精英”啦！
Jimmy: 哪裏! 我也就一普通人，ordinary person!
Jessica: Hmmm... I wouldn't call a Cambridge graduate an average Joe.
Jimmy: An average Joe? 我知道 average, a-v-e-r-a-g-e, average 是普通，平均的意思，an average Joe 就是指普通人，平頭百姓麼？
Jessica: That's right. I think it's because the name "Joe" is very common in English, just like 張三李四 in Chinese.
Jimmy: 對，我就和張三李四一樣，你把我往人堆裏一放，就找不着啦！
Jessica: Haha! that's a very vivid expression. We have a similar phrase in English. You can say you're "just another face in the crowd".
Jimmy: Just another face in the crowd? 人羣中的又一張臉？這個說法好，人海茫茫，你不過就是其中一個而已。對了，說了半天普通人，要是形容那些不同尋常的人，該怎麼說呢？
Jessica: You can use "stand out from the crowd" to describe someone who is unusual.
Jimmy: stand out from the crowd, 比別人都站得高，他就明顯，這就是不尋常!
Jessica: That's right. Now let's see what you've learned today!
Jimmy: “普通人”在美語裏叫 "an average Joe"；還可以說 just another face in the crowd； 不同尋常則叫 stand out from the crowd!
這次的“美語怎麼說”就到這裏了。如果你也有不會說的詞，請寫信給 Jessica, 電郵請寄
B: Well, since we can't go to the pool at your place, do you want to go to the beach with me?
A: 那當然了! 對了，你不就在海灘小鎮長大的嗎？
B: 對啊! 而且，如果我們去海灘，we can not only swim, but can also enjoy the sun and eat tons of delicious BBQ!
A: That sounds GREAT! I'm definitely in! 我可以帶一些有機玉米去烤，特別好吃！
B: 難道你也是個有機食品控？
A: 沒錯! 下面的美語三級跳裏就談到了這種有機食品，Organic food，我們一起來聽一聽！
GoEnglish: Food (Intermediate)
今天我們爲您播出“美語三級跳”節目“食物”單元的中級課程。
Professor: Doug and Liz are at a supermarket buying food to cook for dinner. In the last episode they ate a lot of fast food, so now they want to buy some healthy organic food.
不過，professor Bowman, organic food——有機食品價格比較貴，不知道 Doug和Liz 舍不捨得買。
Professor: Let's listen and find out.
Liz: Alright Doug, first we need to buy some produce. What kinds of fruits and vegetables should we get?
Doug: Wow, look how big those oranges are! Let's get some of those.
Liz: No let's not get those. They put all kinds of artificial things into them to make them grow that big. Let's get some organic ones.
Doug: But the organic ones are much smaller and more expensive.
Liz: Doug, it's worth it to pay more for healthy food.
Doug想買那些又圓又大的橙子， 可Liz說，這些橙子是人工助長的，不健康，她想買純天然的有機食品。對了，Professor, 什麼是produce?
Professor: "Produce" is a general word for fruits and vegetables. If you go to a store and want to buy fruits and vegetables, you can ask where the produce section is. 我明白了，produce就是蔬菜水果這些農產品。
Liz: Alright, next we have to go to the dairy section. We need milk and cheese.
Doug: Great! I have a coupon for milk. It's only 2 dollars per gallon!
Liz: No way! I want all-natural milk. The Happy Cow Milk Company gives its cows massages every day and lets them listen to music.
Doug: Yeah, and it's three times more expensive! Who cares if the cows are really happy and relaxed?
Liz: A happy cow is a healthy cow, and a healthy cow produces the best milk!
Professor Bowman, dairy在這裏是指奶製品吧？
Professor: Exactly. And remember, in America, milk is usually sold in gallons.
噢，在美國，牛奶按“gallon”，“加侖”賣。Doug 說，他有一張牛奶的coupon——優惠券，可是 Liz不要這種便宜牛奶，她要一家給乳牛按摩、聽音樂的公司出的牛奶。
Professor: Can you believe that? I think buying organic food is good, but massages for cows are a little ridiculous.
Liz: Alright, now let's go get some soap. Can you go get me some all-natural deodorant?
Doug: All-natural deodorant? Oh come on, Liz. Deodorants with chemicals in them work much better.
Liz: No way! All those chemicals are really bad for your health. I don't want to get cancer.
Doug: Yeah, but I don't want to have a girlfriend who smells really bad. Liz, you can buy all-natural food, but I draw the line at personal hygiene. 哇，Liz 連deodorant——香氛劑都要all-natural——純天然。
Professor: She seems to be worried that the chemicals in other deodorants will give her cancer.
可Doug說“draws the line at personal hygiene”是什麼意思呢？
Professor: Winnie, when you draw the line at something, it means you will not tolerate it. For example, it's good for people to be nice to their pets, but when they treat them like children, that's where I draw the line.
MC: 我明白了， draw the line at something就是“拒絕接受”的意思。Doug 說，Liz可以買全天然食物，但不能買全天然的香氛劑，因爲沒有化學成分的香氛劑根本不香，Liz會變得臭臭的，Doug可受不了這樣的女朋友。
Professor: Exactly. Now let's listen to them paying the cashier.
Cashier: Would you like paper or plastic?
Doug: We'll take plastic bags.
Liz: Doug, what are you doing? We can't use plastic bags. They're bad for the environment!
Doug: OK fine. Can you put them in paper bags please?
Liz: Doug, paper is bad for the environment too! They have to cut down trees to make paper bags.
Doug: Well what are we going to do? We need some kind of bag to bring the groceries home.
Liz: Let's buy a cloth bag that's reusable. They're only 10 dollars.
Doug: I was afraid you would say that!
Professor: So Winnie, why doesn't Liz want to put the groceries in paper or plastic bags?
MC: 她覺得塑料袋和紙袋都對環境有害，所以要買個可以反覆用的布袋子。Professor，Doug和Liz買這麼多菜，不知道會做些什麼好吃的！
Professor: Listen next time to find out!
A: 好吧! 我都等不及了！咱們趕快來計劃一下咱們的海灘之行吧！
B: This is going to be so much fun! But remember to bring your sun block- last time I was on the beach, there was a camera crew interviewing people about their summer plans. This one guy was bright red, head to toe! 太丟人了!
A: You really do want to be famous Kat- 你是不是老琢磨着打扮好隨時接受採訪啊？
B: A girl's always gotta be prepared to look great, Yang Lin!
A: 哈哈，沒錯! 面試或者接受採訪之前，可千萬得注意自己的形象! 這不，下面的business etiquette裏，爲了接受媒體採訪，公司主管還特別請人來給他培訓呢！
B: Let's listen and learn some tips for your next big break!
禮節美語 Preparing for a Media Interview I
公司主管 Lenny 要接受媒體採訪，讓祕書 Jessica 幫他請了一個諮詢顧問，預先做準備。Lenny 打電話問 Jessica:
Lenny: Hey, you set up that appointment with the media consultant?
Jessica: I sure did, boss. I expect her any minute now.
L: Good. I'm kind of jittery about this interview. I'm new at this and the idea of going on television gives me butterflies in my stomach.
J: Don't worry sir, I'm sure you'll do just , here's the consultant!
Carl: Hi, I'm Carl Anderson from Plus 1 Media Consultants.
J: Hi Carl. Mr. Lee is waiting for you in his office. Please come this way.
祕書Jessica告訴老闆，諮詢顧問約好了，隨時會到。I expect her any minute now. Lenny承認，他以前沒接受過採訪，I'm new at this. 所以感覺很緊張，I'm kind of jittery about this interview. jittery is spelled j-i-t-t-e-r-y, jittery 意思是緊張，心裏打鼓，也可以說 The interview gives me butterflies in my stomach. to have butterflies in one's stomach 也是心裏緊張，七上八下的意思。正說着，諮詢公司的Carl到了，Jessica 帶她去見 Lenny.
C: Good morning, Mr. Lee. Nice to meet you!
L: Hello Carl. So...I hear you can help me nail this upcoming interview.
C: Our company specializes in media matters. We can help you learn how to put your best foot forward, what pitfalls to avoid and how to sound friendly without sounding insincere.
L: Those would be good , let's hear what you got.
C: For starters, let's talk about the news organization that's going to be interviewing you. Business Watch International or BWI is a hard-hitting business news channel. They won't make it too easy for you.
Carl工作的諮詢公司做的就是跟媒體有關的事情。They specialize in media matters. specialize is spelled s-p-e-c-i-a-l-i-z-e, specialize是專門從事的意思，後面跟介詞 in. Carl能教 Lenny 如何 put your best foot forward 展現出自己最好的一面，讓他顯得友好但又不虛僞。Carl說，準備採訪Lenny的媒體 BWI is a hard-hitting business news channel. hard-hitting意思是力度大，毫不客氣的。Lenny問：
L: So no softball questions, huh?
C: Actually, the interviewer will probably start off with a couple of really easy and complementary questions. But don't let these fool you into a false sense of security. Right after the interviewer butters you up, he or she will throw you a curve ball.
L: Okay, so in the beginning I'll try to remain guarded.
Carl說，採訪Lenny的記者上來會先問幾個簡單的問題，這種問題也可以叫 softball questions，相對於 hardball questions, 刁難人的題。但是Carl警告Lenny說，Don't let these fool you into a false sense of security. 別上當，錯誤地覺得自己安全了。to fool someone into a false sense of security 意思是給人錯覺，讓人覺得自己很安全。Carl 還說，Right after the interviewer butters you up, he or she will throw you a curve ball. 這裏所說的 to butter someone up 意思是恭維某人，throw a curve ball at someone 意思是出其不意地刁難某人。看起來，Lenny一定得保持警覺，remain guarded. 或者也可以說，He cannot let his guard down. 不能放鬆警惕。
A: Hmm, 不管是採訪還是面試，要是我我就不緊張! 我最愛跟人面對面交流了!
B: You are definitely a people person, girl! 我也同意，就拿找工作來說，I think I can tackle interviews, the hard part is how to get the opportunity to have an interview!
A: 那當然就得看你的人脈啦！
B: Exactly. That's especially true with today's competition in the job market!
A: 沒錯! 這不，在下面的美語怎麼說裏，我們就來看看人脈這個詞兒的美語說法！
How to say it in American English
Donny在北京學漢語，他的中國朋友要是遇到了不知道用美語怎麼說的詞，就會來請教他。今天是方方要問的：人脈。
Donny: 方方，聽說你找到一個特好的實習？
ff: 還不錯啦! 現在競爭激烈，多虧我人脈廣！對了，美語裏“人脈”怎麼說啊？
Donny: I think you can use the word "connection". c-o-n-n-e-c-t-i-o-n, connection.
ff: 原來connection 就是“人脈”。那我說自己路子野，人脈廣，就是 I have a lot of connections. 對麼？
Donny: That's right. 你還可以說：I'm well-connected. c-o-n-n-e-c-t-e-d, connected。
ff: connected? 這詞兒我知道，意思是“連在一起”，所以well-connected就是和很多人連在一起，也就是人脈廣嘍！
Donny: Right! Connections are important. 有人說，找工作時，What really counts is not what you know, but who you know.
ff: "Not what you know but who you know?" 不是看你知道什麼，而是看你認識誰？我覺得，也不能這麼絕對！關係固然重要，但自己還是要有真本事！
Donny: Certainly! So it should be "what you know plus who you know"!
ff: 對，肚子裏有學問，人脈又廣，二者結合在一起，你就無敵了。不過，像我這種剛出校門的，社交能力還不行，需要磨鍊!
Donny: Don't worry. You'll have plenty of time to work on your networking skills.
ff: 哦，networking skills 就是社交技巧。
Donny: Right. With strong networking skills, you'll develop more connections. 到時候，我找工作可得靠你幫忙了！
ff: 哈哈，我期待這一天！
Donny: 先別美！Tell me what you've learned today!
ff: 第一，"人脈"在美語裏就是 connection；
第二，形容"人脈廣"用 well-connected；
第三，社交技巧， 是 networking skills!
這次的美語怎麼說 就到這裏。如果你也有不會說的詞，請寫信給 donny, 電郵請寄
B: So you see, my network of broke friends from college will totally come in handy one day! Wanna learn how to cook ramen? CHECK. Mend your own shoes? CHECK. Sew your own clothes? CHECK.
A: 啊……你說的是這種人脈呀……我還是跟同學們好好建立人脈吧! 好了同學們，這次節目時間就到這裏。 如果你對我們的節目有什麼建議，或者想提什麼問題，請發電子郵件到.
B: Tune in next time for American English Mosaic!
A: We will see u next time!
