美語訓練班第13課:"幕後"和"放我一馬"怎麼說?
Donny代班!
A:大家好！我是楊琳！Jessica, 你剛從中國回來，怎麼樣，這次玩兒的不錯吧？
B:The trip was terrific! 有意思的事情可多了，我待會兒慢慢給你講。
A:好！那咱們先來說說今天節目要教的內容吧。
B:Sure! 今天，我們要聊聊好朋友一起組樂隊的事兒, 要告訴大家在公司會議上如何纔能有效地表達自己的意見，要看看騎自行車有什麼講究, 還要告訴大家怎麼用美語說“幕後”和“放我一馬”。
A:不過在講這些之前，咱們還是先花一分鐘，學一個詞！
Learn A Word cope with
今天我們要學的詞是cope with. Cope is spelled c-o-p-e, cope; and with, w-i-t-h, with; cope with. To cope with處理，對付。挪威7月22日發生致命襲擊事件後，The country is struggling to cope with the tragedy. 整個國家努力應對這場悲劇。金融危機期間，A lot of companies are trying to cut positions to cope with losses from slow sales. 很多公司通過裁員來應付銷售疲軟。美國官員最近說，Washington is confident that Iraqi forces can cope with the challenges their country is facing after U.S. forces withdraw. 美國撤軍後，伊拉克部隊能應付伊拉克面對的挑戰，美國政府對此有信心。好的， 今天我們學習的詞是cope with, cope with, cope with.
A:Jessica，你這次去了中國好幾個城市，肯定沒少坐飛機。我聽說現在飛機晚點挺嚴重的，So how did you cope with flight delays and cancellations?
B:Well. I just try to be patient and understanding.
A:啊？合着你就是逆來順受啊！
B:What else can I do? 我又不能自己開飛機！
A:這倒也是，而且航空公司改變飛機行程的原因很多，比如天氣，空中管制，機械故障什麼的。有時候就連它們自己也控制不了飛機起飛的時間。
B:That's right. So I'd rather lay back and not ask what's going on behind the scenes.
A:既然你說到"behind the scenes," 那我們下面就來講講這個短語的意思。
B:請聽 words and idioms.
Words and Idioms:Behind the scenes
各位聽衆，現在播送<美國習慣用語>第 938講。我是楊琳。<美國習慣用語>
我是 Douglas Johnson.
我們社區委員會上週末舉行選舉，結果，一個默默無聞的人當上了委員會主席。後來我聽說，這個人在選舉前一直在家裏辦宴會，把好多委員請去吃飯，拉關係，拉選票。這讓我想到了一個習慣用語，那就是：
Behind the scenes. Behind is spelled b-e-h-i-n-d, and scenes; s-c-e-n-e-s. Behind the scenes.
Behind the scenes 是“幕後”的意思。我們社區委員會的選舉就是這樣，候選人請委員會成員吃飯，說服他們把票投給自己，可我們這些普通居民根本不知道這些事情。It was done behind the scenes. 這事是瞞着大家，暗中進行的。
在下面這段話中我們要談到一個叫Wikileaks的組織，中文叫維基泄密。它到底泄露了那些祕密呢？我們來聽一聽：
M:"WikiLeaks is an international organization that publishes secret information from a variety of unnamed sources. Its release of several pages of sensitive e-mails from U.S. diplomats caused a lot of concern. Many in the government claim that such communications should remain private. They warn that it could harm national security and international relations to let the public learn what goes on BEHIND THE SCENES. "
這段話是說：[維基泄密是一個國際組織，專門公開來自各種匿名渠道的祕密信息。這個組織向公衆泄露了長達數頁的美國外交官收發的電子郵件的內容，這些敏感的信息引發了很多人的關注。許多政府人士說，這些郵件的內容不應該曝光。他們警告說，讓公衆瞭解到政府私下裏進行的活動會給國家安全和國際關係帶來傷害。]
不過從另外一方面說，公衆是有知情權的。我們不是用“無事不可對人言”來形容行爲磊落，心胸坦蕩的人麼？好了，我們再來聽聽剛纔那段話：
M:"WikiLeaks is an international organization that publishes secret information from a variety of unnamed sources. Its release of several pages of sensitive e-mails from U.S. diplomats caused a lot of concern. Many in the government claim that such communications should remain private. They warn that it could harm national security and international relations to let the public learn what goes on BEHIND THE SCENES. "
我們常說“沒有不透風的牆”。如果不想讓別人知道你的祕密，唯一的辦法就是不要把這個祕密告訴別人，不管是寫信、電子郵件還是打電話、聊天。下面這個例句就證明了這一點，我們來聽一聽：
M:"Whenever players on the team were interviewed, they expressed their admiration and support for Coach Green. BEHIND THE SCENES, however, they complained bitterly about his lack of experience. Soon enough, their dislike of him became well-known. That's when fans called for the Coach to resign."
這段話是說：[隊員們在接受採訪時，總是表達他們對格林教練的敬仰和支持。可是，在背後，他們總是非常不滿地抱怨這位教練缺乏經驗。很快，隊員們對教練的反感就變得盡人皆知了。於是，球迷們要求教練下課。]
behind the scenes 還可以放在一起當形容詞用，表示幕後的，後臺的。比如 A behind the scenes look at a fashion show, 時裝秀的後臺情況，a behind the scenes video of how a car is manufactured 揭密汽車製造過程的錄像。好，我們再來聽聽剛纔那段話：
M: "Whenever players on the team were interviewed, they expressed their admiration and support for Coach Green. BEHIND THE SCENES, however, they complained bitterly about his lack of experience. Soon enough, their dislike of him became well-known.. That's when fans called for the Coach to resign."
各位聽衆，今天我們學習的習慣用語是behind the scenes，意思是“不公開的，幕後的”。好的，這次[美國習慣用語]就到此結束，
B:楊琳，這次我去中國，通過朋友介紹，去參觀了茅臺酒公司！I got to see some really interesting behind-the-scenes work at the company's brewery.
A:啊？你看到了茅臺酒不爲人知的釀造過程？怎麼樣？學會了沒有？能在你們家做出點兒茅臺麼？
B:別鬧了，我哪有這本事！不過話說回來，去茅臺酒廠參觀後，My friend treated me to a nice dinner!
A:那肯定少不了請你喝茅臺嘍！
B:沒錯！I love 茅臺，but it's too strong for me! 我可不想喝醉！
A:哈哈！那你只能求大家，在酒桌上放你一馬啦！
B:對！咱們繼續聽節目，看看“放你一馬”用美語怎麼說！
How to say it:let someone off the hook
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。今天是吳瓊要問的是：放我一馬。
Jessica:吳瓊, let's hit the gym tonight!
WQ:哎喲，我上次做瑜珈的時候差點把脖子拉傷！你就放我一馬吧！對了，這在美語裏該怎麼說呢？
Jessica:You want me to let you off the hook again? Uh-uh, 我每次叫你，你都推三擋四的，這次絕對不行！
WQ:哦，放我一馬就是 let me off the hook. Jessica, could you please let me off the hook? just this once? I'm begging you!
Jessica:That's really cute, but NO, you HAVE to come with me. You're not getting off the hook this time.
WQ:瑜珈真不是我強項，要不，咱們還是去打網球吧？上次打網球，我輕而易舉就打敗你了！I beat you......
Jessica:Yeah, you beat me hands down! I do recall!
WQ:剛想問你輕而易舉怎麼說，原來是 hands down! Yes, I beat you hands down last time! 我把你打敗，讓你輸得五體投地！
Jessica:Fine, we'll find a sport that we both like.
WQ:好啊，快走吧，再不走數學課就要遲到了！
Jessica:數學課啊。。。All of a sudden I'm not feeling well.
WQ:啊? 怎麼突然不舒服? 你是不是又想翹課 pe....
Jessica:Wuqiong, 翹課英語是 play hooky，H-O-O-K-Y, hooky, play hooky, 翹課！
WQ:Well, you shouldn't play hooky! Let's go.
Jessica:Do I really have to go? It's so boring.....
WQ:Yes, you do, and I am not letting you off the hook!
Jessica:Okay, let's see what you've learned today.
第一，放我一馬是let someone off the hook；
第二，形容輕而易舉是 hands down；
第三，翹課是play hooky！
B:Unfortunately my host in China refused to let me off the hook.
A:Did you get wasted? 你是不是喝多了？
B:可不，沒兩杯我就趴下了。That was hands down one of the most embarrassing moments of my life.
A:喝趴下不丟人！我以前逃學被老師抓到，那才丟人呢！
B:I can't believe you played hooky! 你不是好學生嗎？
A:就那麼一次！我最好的朋友自己組了個樂隊在酒吧表演，我去捧場，只好逃了一次課，誰知......
B:你也夠講義氣的！好了，咱們來聽聽下面的這個“美語三級跳”吧，講的就是組樂隊！
GoEnglish:Music─beginner
各位聽衆，大家好！今天我們爲您播出“美語三級跳”節目“音樂”單元的初級課程。
Winnie:Ernie和Beth是大學同學，倆人想組個樂隊。 不過，他們要先了解一下彼此的音樂口味是否相同。
Professor:So, let's find out what kind of music they like.
Ernie:So Beth, what kind of music do you listen to?
Beth:I listen to a lot of hip hop. What about you?
Ernie:I mostly listen to pop music, but I like a lot of different stuff.
Beth:Yes, me too. I mostly listen to hip hop, but there are many genres of music I like.
Professor:So Winnie, did you hear the music genres each of them likes?
Winnie:Professor Bowman, 我正想問您，"genre"是什麼意思啊？
Professor:It means "style" or "kind." For example, you can say a "music genre" or a "movie genre."
Winnie:噢，原來 "genre" g-e-n-r-e就是類型，流派的意思。這麼說，Beth 常聽的是"hip hop"，也就是嘻哈音樂。而Ernie常聽 "pop," 流行樂。Hmm ... 我覺得他們的口味差得挺遠的。
Professor:But are those the only kinds of music they listen to?
Winnie:那倒不是。他們倆人都喜歡很多其它類型的音樂，也許還是能找到共同之處的。
Professor:Well, let's see. In the next section listen for the phrase "to get into something," which means to start to like something.
Ernie:How did you get into hip hop?
Beth:Well, all my friends listen to it, so I became a big fan too.
Ernie:Who is your favorite hip hop artist?
Beth:I'm a big fan of Snoop Dogg.
Professor:Winnie, why does Beth like hip hop?
Winnie:她說，她喜歡上嘻哈樂是因爲她的朋友都愛聽這種音樂。而且，她還是 Snoop Dogg “史努比狗狗”的粉絲。我可不喜歡 Snoop Dogg，我覺得他早就過時了。
Professor:Well, even though you don't like him, Snoop Dogg is still popular. Now let's find out why Ernie likes pop music.
Beth:What about you, Ernie? How did you get into pop music?
Ernie:Well I always hear it on the radio, so I started to get into it.
Beth:Yeah, if something is on the radio it must be really good.
Ernie:I totally agree!
Professor:So did you hear how Ernie got into pop music, Winnie?
Winnie:他呀，是因爲老聽廣播裏播的流行歌曲，所以就喜歡上了。要讓我說啊，他跟Beth都沒有什麼音樂鑑賞能力，只會跟着別人走，人云亦云。
Professor:So if they started a band, you wouldn't go to see them?
Winnie:肯定不會！不過，我們還是先來聽聽他們喜歡什麼樂隊吧！
Beth:What are the pop groups that you like?
Ernie:Oh, there are so many good ones! I loved the Spice Girls. They were so cool!
Beth:I agree! I cried for a week when they broke up.
Ernie:I was really sad too, but at least I can still listen to their CDs.
Winnie:什麼什麼？ Ernie 最喜歡的樂隊居然是辣妹組合！他們倆的音樂品味還真是有問題。不過，Professor Bowman, 一個樂隊難道也能像情侶那樣 "break up", 分手麼？
Professor:Yes. When a band decides not to play together anymore, you can say it "broke up."
Winnie:我明白了，break up 在這裏是 “解散”的意思。難道Ernie 就沒想到，辣妹組合解散是因爲她們太爛嗎？
Professor:I don't know ... some of their songs were good.
Winnie:Wait, professor Bowman, 難道你也是她們的粉絲？
Professor:Of course not! I was ... uh ... just listening to some of their songs to prepare for this class.
Winnie:Sure ...
Beth:You know Ernie, it seems we both like the same artists.
Ernie:Yes, we do. I think we have the same musical tastes.
Beth:But if we're going to start a band, we have to be able to sing and dance. Can you do that?
Ernie:I'm not a very good singer, but I'm a really great dancer! I love hip hop dancing.
Beth:Great! I'll sing, and you can dance in our band.
Professor:Winnie, is Ernie a better singer or dancer?
Winnie:他說自己歌唱得一般，可舞跳得特別棒。不過，我看Beth和Ernie的音樂品味都不怎麼樣，肯定沒人去看。
Professor:Well, we'll have to listen next time to find out!
A:看來，Ernie and Beth have the same music tastes. 喜歡相同的音樂，這就是他們組樂隊的理由。
B:Although their tastes are questionable....
A：是，他們喜歡的東西太大衆化了，沒新意。對了，JESSICA, what genre of music do you like?
B:當然是搖滾──rock and roll了！在北京那會兒， I got to see a Chinese rock band's performance. Those guys were so talented!
A:沒看出來啊，在你斯文的外表下隱藏着一顆rocker的心....
B:嗯？你是在誇我還是在損我？
A:這個你自己慢慢體會吧。下面咱們來聽聽“禮節美語”，看如何在公司會議上有效地發表意見。
Business Etiquette:Get your point across
Amanda在走廊遇到Sarah，Sarah顯得很沮喪。
A:Hey Sarah, are you all right? You look upset.
S:As a matter of fact, I am a bit upset. I just came out of a meeting and it didn't go very well.
A:What happened?
S:No one would listen to any of my suggestions. Instead, they just kept arguing with each other.
A:Who was chairing the meeting?
S:Bob.
A:Well, I can tell you from experience that Bob might come off a little strong sometimes.
S:That's exactly what happened! He kept interrupting everyone with his own suggestions and did not want to hear what others had to say. Then he expected everyone to agree with him.
原來，Sarah不高興是因爲剛纔開會時，沒人願意聽她的建議。Amanda說，根據她的經驗，主持會議的 Bob有時會顯得過於強硬，come off a little too strong。come off 是表現出，顯得的意思。Sarah 說沒錯，開會時Bob不停地打岔，kept interrupting everyone. Interrupt is spelled i-n-t-e-r-r-u-p-t, interrupt, interrupt指打斷別人的談話。Amanda說，
A:What was the meeting about?
S:We were trying to come up with ideas to streamline the office's workflow to make it more efficient.
A:It's ironic that the meeting was anything but efficient.
S:Exactly. I had tons of ideas that I wanted to share, but they just wouldn't let me finish. What should I have done to get my point across?
這次開會目的是討論如何簡化工作流程，streamline the office's workflow. streamline意思是精簡，目的是提高效率，make it more efficient. workflow是工作流程。Sarah問Amanda, What should I have done to get my point across? 我該怎麼做才能把我的想法傳遞給別人呢？to get something across在這裏意思是把自己的想法告訴給別人。Amanda有什麼好建議嗎？
A:You have to keep things short and sweet. When you get a chance to speak, try not to get into too many unnecessary details.
S:Short and sweet? But what if I have to explain something complicated?
A:You can always bring up the main points during the meeting and speak to those who are directly involved after the meeting. Not everyone needs to know all that information.
S:That's a good idea, I think I will try that at the next meeting.
Amanda告訴Sarah, 話要說得 short and sweet。Short and sweet 是個習慣用語，意思是簡單明瞭。Amanda建議，開會的時候，應該揀主要的說， bring up the main points, 不用加太多不必要的細節，unnecessary details. 這樣別人纔會比較容易瞭解並接受她的意見。
A:很多人可能都有跟Sarah類似經歷，明明有一肚子好建議，but nobody would listen to you, 但沒人聽你說， It's hard to get your point across. 很難讓別人把你的想法聽進去。
B:Amanda suggested Sarah keep her words short and sweet to make the best use of her chance to speak in a meeting.
A:對，在會上有機會發言，就必須把話說得簡單明瞭，這樣別人纔會有興趣，聽得進去。
B:好了！下面咱們輕鬆一下，聊聊騎車。Let's listen to American Sports English.
American sports English:Cycling
Y:Wow Patrick, look at you.
P:Why are you looking at me like that? Is there anything wrong with my outfit?
Y:It's too tight. 在辦公室穿這麼緊的衣服。Aiyaya.
P:Yang Chen. For your information I'm training for cycling race. These clothes make me more visible and cut on wind resistance. You know, 減少阻力。
Y:Ah cycling，你在訓練騎自行車。
P:I'm training to get faster. Do you ride a bike?
Y:Yes I do. 誰不會騎自行車?
P:So you ride a bike. Are you any good?
Y:I'm OK. 不過我騎車是爲了get around ， 當交通工具， not for a race， 不是爲了參加比賽。Unless I'm going to get lunch, then I'm unbeatable.
P:I wouldn't want to get in your way then.
Y:哎，你訓練要用什麼樣的自行車啊?
P:I ride a 10-speed road-bike. That means it has two gears on the front and five on the back to make it easier to pedal.
Y:前面兩個檔，後面五個。我的自行車只有三個檔，only three gears.
P:For going slow, slower and slowest?
Y:Oh, very funny. Who asked for a comedian?
Anyway, 你今天訓練得怎麼樣?
P:It was pretty good, but I dropped my chain.
Y:Dropped your chin? 下巴掉下來了?
P:No, not my chin, C-H-I-N, I dropped my chain, C-H-A-I-N, the chain on the bicycles' gears came off of its track, which meant I had to stop and get it back on.
Y:你的自行車鏈子掉下來了。
所以你修自行車修得渾身是油。
P:Yes, the bike chain is pretty greasy.
Y:And dirty. When is your race?
P:Next week, you should come watch.
Y:我會去的。不過，Don't drop your chin, I mean, chain.
B:楊琳，中國以前不是被稱爲“自行車王國”嘛？不過這次我發現，大城市裏騎車的人比以前少多了。
A:是啊，現在汽車多，公交地鐵發達，騎自行車的人越來越少了。也許有一天，在北京騎車也要像美國似的，穿上緊身衣，戴上頭盔，還來個10-speed road bike. 好了，今天的節目時間差不多了。這次的撰稿人是曉北，編輯是蔚然。同學們，我們下次的美語訓練班再見!
B:Bye!
