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美国人平时生活上所用的一些口头禅,其实字句都很简单,但是如果不加说明,往往还会让人一知半解或似懂非懂。下面所举的例子,即是常常听到的一些美语口头禅。
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1. I couldn't care less.
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这句话的意思是“我不在乎”,“缺乏兴趣”(lack of interest),也就是:I don''t care at all. 或 I don''t give a hoot. 例如: ' o$ H$ f# M) u1 y4 J) R
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人家如果问: What do you think of the budget-cut?(你对预算削减有何看法?)
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! Z- }8 v: _$ V8 j% w 你回答: I couldn't care less.(我毫不在乎)
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How do you like Mr. Lee's political point of view?(你喜欢李先生的政见吗?) / Y7 n! j0 z/ g0 U8 t% y3 }7 o
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I couldn't care less.(我才不在乎呢!) + _" y3 d, X* s2 t9 n
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但是有时说话者也有口是心非: 例如: 9 E' }/ k; Y5 Z- m. k" B2 u
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I couldn't care less about the promotion or pay raise.(我不在乎升级或加薪)
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+ Z8 j$ \( Y! u3 d 而实际上他是根本在乎升级和加薪的,那么人家也许就会回答说: Yes, you do(care). + \5 a( y# ]. f0 C* x6 y) p! ^4 w, E
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至于 I couldn't care more. 就是“我很在乎”(I care a lot.)或 I care deeply. 同理:
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I couldn't agree more.=I totally agree.(我完全同意) . O: z: g) L1 K) Y+ V2 h$ {5 h
! m$ T* o+ l: X) w! N! Y0 |( J" v0 Q I couldn't please you more.=I did my best to please you.(我尽量使你高兴)
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6 }4 e/ J$ M0 X2 ] I couldn't be more right.=I am totally right. ! A4 k a% L( L* U$ s
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但是老外为了自尊,不愿强调自己的错误,所以很少人说: 9 c4 C9 [3 j- J$ a' B
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I couldn't be more wrong.
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0 k( t( F' Y; A5 O8 M- e/ N/ c# \ 注意:一般人都用否定句,但也有老外把肯定句与否定句互用。 , S+ A! _5 B- N3 B6 o
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不过,严格来说,I could care less. = I care to some degree.(care 的程度可能减少)
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. Q1 L4 n: X. ]( h I could care more.=I care some.(care的程度也许增加)(主词可用任何人称代名词:he, she, you, we, they 等。但只用 could,不用 can。)
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. I% h" e- ~/ Z$ ^& P 2. No bones about it. $ l. @( i% d& p+ E
7 h; s% W- G! z# F 意思是:真实的,诚恳的(truly, sincerely or exactly),也就是 to make no bones about it.(bone 要加 s, it 是指 something)例如:
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* x% M. Y% M" Q His wife is beautiful;no bones about it.(他的太太真是很漂亮)
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/ i o% J/ u8 c+ t# X/ q2 J- ~ Mr. A made no bones about it when he talked about abortion issue.(当 A 先生谈到堕胎问题时,他是诚恳的。) 5 S1 |) u: X6 ^! D
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When I spoke on the topic,he said, "No bones about it."(也就是他同意我的看法) ' f- ~. B2 W: u; }
, ?5 k- C% ]7 r( I$ f0 ]* S No bones about it;the weather is very chilly today.(今天是真的太冷了) ( j/ u2 n m7 v$ }, @8 b1 A2 e
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3. take it on me! , H$ l2 W6 H7 j" C" Q( L$ R
, L. N8 S( L6 s. V i) O9 W7 R 意思是:“这是我的,请用吧!”“这是免费的”(help yourself to it; it is free),这多半是指吃的东西或一些不贵重的东西。例如:
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3 P4 {2 e! P; k/ ^. X7 U, ~, Q Here are some candies from England; take one on me. (这是来自英国的糖果,尝一个吧!) (one = candy) % C3 S' I8 h7 V+ Y# `3 s
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The restaurant owner said to me, "Take the dessert on me." (餐馆老板对我说:“尝尝我的甜点吧!”) 8 A! j7 Q( c) c$ W& Z
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Please take these pencils on me.(取用一些我的铅笔吧!) (也许铅笔上刻有名字,做为宣传之用而免费。)
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可见 take 后面的 it,是指 something,而 on 的后面通常不指别人,所以多半也只用在第一人称单数 me。
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1 d! C3 J9 {* S ? (假如夫妇在一起,也可以说:Take it on us.)
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4. I am from Missouri.
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这句话有时后面要加一句:“I need to be shown.”或“You have got to show me.”,意思是 Missouri 州的人很固执 (stubborn),不太信任别人,一定要人家证明一下(prove it to me),所以密苏里州也被称为“The Show Me State”。 ; F, A9 Y6 m! b& S
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据说这句话所以流行 (尤其在美国中西部) 是因为美国一些名人都住过密苏里州,包括 Harry Truman, Mark Twain, Walt Disney 等。后来老外不轻易相信别人时,就使用这句话。(也有半开玩笑性质) 例如:
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' Z6 V/ z9 {$ h1 `9 k He is not easily convinced because he is from Missouri. (他是来自密苏里州,所以不容易说服他。) I, r d$ [# d3 T7 M3 ^9 f
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Don''t try to fool me; I am from Missouri.(You have got to show me.) (别愚弄我,我是来自密苏里州。)
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We are all from Missouri; we need to be shown. ) J8 l" }* j7 ~* A' ?) W/ y' Q
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As Mr. Smith is a tough guy; he must be from Missouri. (Smith先生是位倔强的人,他一定是来自密苏里州。) |
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