今天我们再来讲两个和 foot 或 feet 有关的俗语。我们曾经讲过： to stand on one's own two feet，这是独立自主，依靠自己的意思。我们还讲过： to throw oneself at someone's feet，这是公开表示对某人的爱慕之情，或是拍马奉承、百般讨好某人。可是，被爱慕或讨好的对象往往会突然感到非常兴奋而不由自主地变得飘飘然起来。这种情景在英文里是这么说的： to be swept off one's feet。下面我们要举的一个例子就可以看出一个人在 throwing himself at someone's feet 以后所可能产生的后果：
例句-1: "Dick was so crazy about Jane that he threw himself at her feet. Jane was swept off her feet and they're getting married next Tuesday."
这句话的意思是：“迪克实在是爱简，他完全拜倒在她的石榴裙下。这一下使得简感到飘飘然，不由自主了。他们竟然决定下星期二就结婚。”
这种闪电式的结婚确实有点过于匆忙。下面一个例子就是一个人在劝他的朋友不要草率从事。这也说明 to be swept off one's feet 这个俗语不一定完全适用于被爱慕的人，也可以用在其他场合：
例句-2: "Hal, I know how anxious you are to get married and start a family. But don't let yourself get swept off your feet by a pretty face: think about what you are doing before you get caught."
他说：“海尔，我知道你是非常急于结婚成家。但是，你不要被一张漂亮的脸弄得昏昏然的。在问题还没有发生前，你得脑子清楚一些，明白自己到底在干什么。”
像结婚这样的事确实应该慎重考虑，不能操之过急。但是有的时候，我们处理事情也不能拖拖拉拉，浪费时间。这在英文里就是： Don't let the grass grow under one's feet。 Grass 是指草。 Don't let the grass grow under one's feet 从字面上来解释，这句话的意思是：不要让草在你脚底下长出来，实际上也就是说，你不要什么事也不干，浪费时间。我们来举一个例子吧：
例句-3: "Right now the house is a real bargain. Don't let the grass grow under your feet -- sign the agreement today before somebody grabs it."
这是一个房产经纪人在对一个买主说话。他说：“现在房产价格实在是非常便宜。你不要浪费时间，最好今天就签合同，免得给别人把这栋房子抢走。”
Don't let the grass grow under your feet 是推销产品的人经常说的话。下面的例子是一个汽车商在对顾客说话：
例句-4: "I tell you, don't let the grass grow under you feet -- this is the last day of this sale and the price on this model goes up a thousand dollars tomorrow!"
他说：“我告诉你，今天是这次减价的最后一天。这种型号的车子，明天就要上涨一千美元。所以你不要犹豫不决，浪费时间。”
上面我们给大家介绍了两个和 foot 或者 feet 这个字有关的习惯用语。第一个是： to be swept off one's feet，这是指一个人由于一件使他兴奋的事而感到不由自主。今天我们讲的另一个习惯用语是： Don't let the grass grow under one's feet，这是劝人不要停止不前，浪费时间。
11/18/2009
流行美语
李华打电话给Larry，提醒他说好了晚上一起看电影。 今天我们要学两个常用语： space cadet和running around like a chicken with its head cut off.
LL: (Pick up phone) Hello?
LH: Hi, Larry.
LL: How are you, Lihua?
LH: 我挺好。你别忘了，说好了一起看电影，还有半个小时开演。
LL: Oh shoot. I'm so sorry Li Hua. It completely slipped my mind. I feel like such a space cadet.
LH: Space cadet? 太空学员？太空学员常忘事儿吗？
LL: Well not real space cadets, but as a saying "space cadet" means someone who is off in space, or often forgets things that they need to do.
LH: 噢，Space Cadet原来是说心不在焉，爱忘事儿的人。那你绝对合格！不然怎么会忘记约好跟我一起看电影呢。
LL: I guess I just got caught up with this project for work. My space cadet coworker forgot to save it earlier, so we are back to square one.
LH: 啊？你们的项目白做了，要从头开始？我以前写论文也出过忘记存盘的事。I've acted like a space cadet before. 那你们要怎么办呢？
LL: It hopefully won't be too big of a problem, but because he was a space cadet we will have to work a bit late tonight.
LH: 就算是这样，你也不能忘了陪我看电影的事儿啊？This is no excuse for you being a space cadet!
LL: I know. I am sorry.
LH: 没关系，谁都有这种时候，我们教授星期一来上课，居然说把我们的作文落在了地铁上。Talk about a space cadet!
LL: I'll say! What did he do?
LH: 最后他找到地铁总站才找到。
LL: Wow, he is lucky that he was able to find them again.
LH: 可他还是很不好意思，所以给我们所有人一律加分。
LL: That sounds like a pretty good trade off to me.
LH: 是不错。看来有个做"space cadet"的教授，也不一定是坏事。言归正传，电影到底还看不看？
LL: Let's shoot for the 8:30 showing. I think I will have the work done by then. Meet you at the theater?
LH: 好，一言为定。
******
Larry和李华在电影院大厅里碰头。
LH: Larry, 你来得正好，电影马上就要开演了。
LL: Yes, though I've been running around like a chicken with its head cut off.
LH: What? 你为什么要说自己象没头公鸡一样跑来呢？
LL: Running around like a chicken with its head cut off means I have been running around frantically all over the place.
LH: 噢，你是说自己忙得跑来跑去，中文里我们说，象没头的苍蝇一样，英文里说象没头的鸡，真有意思。你忙什么？
LL: It turned out that there was more to the project than I originally thought, but I really wanted to come see this movie. I had to rush and wound up running around like a chicken with its head cut off.
LH: 那Larry, 你说鸡真的会砍掉脑袋还跑来跑去吗？
LL: I am not sure Li Hua. But the point is that if they do run around, it is chaotic. Similarly I was running all over the place at my office to try and get this project done.
LH: 这倒让我想起我同学Carrie. 她星期天才知道星期一有项目展示，所以一整天都忙得昏天暗地。She was running around like a chicken with her head cut off!
LL: What do you mean, Lihua?
LH: 她一直在自习室和图书馆之间跑来跑去，手忙脚乱的。
LL: That certainly does sound right. After running around like a chicken with its head cut off, I feel pretty flustered too! How did Carrie's presentation turn out?
LH: 说实话，我还真不知道，整个过程，我都在开小差儿。
LL: It sounds like you were a total space cadet. What about you, have you ever had to run around like a chicken with its head cut off because you left something to the last minute?
LH: 我？怎么可能！我做事从来都是井井有条，绝不会临时抱佛脚。
LL: Sure. Well let's get our tickets and watch this movie.
今天李华学了两个常用语。一个是space cadet, 指心不在焉，爱忘事的人。另一个是running around like a chicken with its head cut off, 意思是忙得象没头的苍蝇一样。
LL: (Pick up phone) Hello?
LH: Hi, Larry.
LL: How are you, Lihua?
LH: 我挺好。你别忘了，说好了一起看电影，还有半个小时开演。
LL: Oh shoot. I'm so sorry Li Hua. It completely slipped my mind. I feel like such a space cadet.
LH: Space cadet? 太空学员？太空学员常忘事儿吗？
LL: Well not real space cadets, but as a saying "space cadet" means someone who is off in space, or often forgets things that they need to do.
LH: 噢，Space Cadet原来是说心不在焉，爱忘事儿的人。那你绝对合格！不然怎么会忘记约好跟我一起看电影呢。
LL: I guess I just got caught up with this project for work. My space cadet coworker forgot to save it earlier, so we are back to square one.
LH: 啊？你们的项目白做了，要从头开始？我以前写论文也出过忘记存盘的事。I've acted like a space cadet before. 那你们要怎么办呢？
LL: It hopefully won't be too big of a problem, but because he was a space cadet we will have to work a bit late tonight.
LH: 就算是这样，你也不能忘了陪我看电影的事儿啊？This is no excuse for you being a space cadet!
LL: I know. I am sorry.
LH: 没关系，谁都有这种时候，我们教授星期一来上课，居然说把我们的作文落在了地铁上。Talk about a space cadet!
LL: I'll say! What did he do?
LH: 最后他找到地铁总站才找到。
LL: Wow, he is lucky that he was able to find them again.
LH: 可他还是很不好意思，所以给我们所有人一律加分。
LL: That sounds like a pretty good trade off to me.
LH: 是不错。看来有个做"space cadet"的教授，也不一定是坏事。言归正传，电影到底还看不看？
LL: Let's shoot for the 8:30 showing. I think I will have the work done by then. Meet you at the theater?
LH: 好，一言为定。
******
Larry和李华在电影院大厅里碰头。
LH: Larry, 你来得正好，电影马上就要开演了。
LL: Yes, though I've been running around like a chicken with its head cut off.
LH: What? 你为什么要说自己象没头公鸡一样跑来呢？
LL: Running around like a chicken with its head cut off means I have been running around frantically all over the place.
LH: 噢，你是说自己忙得跑来跑去，中文里我们说，象没头的苍蝇一样，英文里说象没头的鸡，真有意思。你忙什么？
LL: It turned out that there was more to the project than I originally thought, but I really wanted to come see this movie. I had to rush and wound up running around like a chicken with its head cut off.
LH: 那Larry, 你说鸡真的会砍掉脑袋还跑来跑去吗？
LL: I am not sure Li Hua. But the point is that if they do run around, it is chaotic. Similarly I was running all over the place at my office to try and get this project done.
LH: 这倒让我想起我同学Carrie. 她星期天才知道星期一有项目展示，所以一整天都忙得昏天暗地。She was running around like a chicken with her head cut off!
LL: What do you mean, Lihua?
LH: 她一直在自习室和图书馆之间跑来跑去，手忙脚乱的。
LL: That certainly does sound right. After running around like a chicken with its head cut off, I feel pretty flustered too! How did Carrie's presentation turn out?
LH: 说实话，我还真不知道，整个过程，我都在开小差儿。
LL: It sounds like you were a total space cadet. What about you, have you ever had to run around like a chicken with its head cut off because you left something to the last minute?
LH: 我？怎么可能！我做事从来都是井井有条，绝不会临时抱佛脚。
LL: Sure. Well let's get our tickets and watch this movie.
今天李华学了两个常用语。一个是space cadet, 指心不在焉，爱忘事的人。另一个是running around like a chicken with its head cut off, 意思是忙得象没头的苍蝇一样。
学 个 词
第846课
今天我们要学的词是stump。 Stump, 意思是游说演说。"President Obama stumped for New Jersey governor Jon Corzine's re-election effort," 美国总统奥巴马为新泽西州长柯赞参选连任站台。"Former President Bill Clinton stumped for Democratic candidate Creigh Deeds in Virginia's governor race," 前总统克林顿为维吉尼亚州民主党州长候选人迪兹站台助选。"Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani stumped for current mayor Michael Bloomberg, who is attempting to win a third term," 前纽约市长朱利安尼为现任市长布隆伯格参选三度连任市长的努力站台。好的，今天我们学习的词是stump...
第847课
今天我们要学的词是ups and downs。 "Ups and downs," 意思是时好时坏，起伏波折。"The team had its ups and downs during the season," 这个球队整个赛季的表现时好时坏，起伏不定。"The heavyweight champion had his ups and downs in his boxing career," 这个重量级拳击冠军的拳击生涯有高潮，也有低谷。"We have had our ups and downs like all married couples," 跟所有夫妻一样，我们的婚姻生活也是既有美满也有摩擦。好的，今天我们学习的词是ups and downs...
第848课
天我们要学的词是root。 Root, 做为动词，是为某人打气，捧场的意思。"The whole town is rooting for the local high school football team," 整个小镇都为当地高中橄榄球校队加油。"I always root for the underdog," 我总喜欢为估计会输的一方打气。"Everyone was rooting for the runners at the finish line," 所有人都在终点为参赛选手加油。
今年美国职棒大联盟冠军总决赛是纽约扬基队和费城人队，两个队都是新泽西棒球迷的死敌。"New Jersey baseball fans had to decide which arch-enemy to root for," 新泽西棒球球迷要在两个死敌中间选择为谁助威加油。好的，今天我们学习的词是root...
第849课
今天我们要学的词是frustration。 Frustration, 意思是气馁。美国H1N1甲流疫苗的供应速度低于预期。"President Obama expressed frustration about the slow pace of production of the vaccine," 美国总统奥巴马对疫苗生产速度的缓慢表示气馁。"The fans showed frustration at the team's consecutive losses," 球迷对球员连续输球感到非常气馁。"In some of the states hit hardest by the recession, frustration among voters is mounting," 在一些受经济衰退打击最严重的州里，选民的气馁情绪越发高涨。 好的，今天我们学习的词是frustration...
第850课
今天我们要学的词是get-go。 Get-go, 是开始的意思。"From the get-go," 就是从一开始。"The team controlled the game from the get-go," 这只球队从一开始就控制了比赛的局面。"It was clear from the get-go that the candidate would win," 从一开始就很明显，这个候选人一定会赢。"He was serious about the relationship from the get-go," 他从一开始就对这段感情非常认真。"The proposal was a mistake from the get-go," 这项提案从一开始就是个错误。"He was at a disadvantage from the get-go," 他从一开始就处于劣势。好的，今天我们学习的词是get-go...
今天我们要学的词是stump。 Stump, 意思是游说演说。"President Obama stumped for New Jersey governor Jon Corzine's re-election effort," 美国总统奥巴马为新泽西州长柯赞参选连任站台。"Former President Bill Clinton stumped for Democratic candidate Creigh Deeds in Virginia's governor race," 前总统克林顿为维吉尼亚州民主党州长候选人迪兹站台助选。"Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani stumped for current mayor Michael Bloomberg, who is attempting to win a third term," 前纽约市长朱利安尼为现任市长布隆伯格参选三度连任市长的努力站台。好的，今天我们学习的词是stump...
第847课
今天我们要学的词是ups and downs。 "Ups and downs," 意思是时好时坏，起伏波折。"The team had its ups and downs during the season," 这个球队整个赛季的表现时好时坏，起伏不定。"The heavyweight champion had his ups and downs in his boxing career," 这个重量级拳击冠军的拳击生涯有高潮，也有低谷。"We have had our ups and downs like all married couples," 跟所有夫妻一样，我们的婚姻生活也是既有美满也有摩擦。好的，今天我们学习的词是ups and downs...
第848课
天我们要学的词是root。 Root, 做为动词，是为某人打气，捧场的意思。"The whole town is rooting for the local high school football team," 整个小镇都为当地高中橄榄球校队加油。"I always root for the underdog," 我总喜欢为估计会输的一方打气。"Everyone was rooting for the runners at the finish line," 所有人都在终点为参赛选手加油。
今年美国职棒大联盟冠军总决赛是纽约扬基队和费城人队，两个队都是新泽西棒球迷的死敌。"New Jersey baseball fans had to decide which arch-enemy to root for," 新泽西棒球球迷要在两个死敌中间选择为谁助威加油。好的，今天我们学习的词是root...
第849课
今天我们要学的词是frustration。 Frustration, 意思是气馁。美国H1N1甲流疫苗的供应速度低于预期。"President Obama expressed frustration about the slow pace of production of the vaccine," 美国总统奥巴马对疫苗生产速度的缓慢表示气馁。"The fans showed frustration at the team's consecutive losses," 球迷对球员连续输球感到非常气馁。"In some of the states hit hardest by the recession, frustration among voters is mounting," 在一些受经济衰退打击最严重的州里，选民的气馁情绪越发高涨。 好的，今天我们学习的词是frustration...
第850课
今天我们要学的词是get-go。 Get-go, 是开始的意思。"From the get-go," 就是从一开始。"The team controlled the game from the get-go," 这只球队从一开始就控制了比赛的局面。"It was clear from the get-go that the candidate would win," 从一开始就很明显，这个候选人一定会赢。"He was serious about the relationship from the get-go," 他从一开始就对这段感情非常认真。"The proposal was a mistake from the get-go," 这项提案从一开始就是个错误。"He was at a disadvantage from the get-go," 他从一开始就处于劣势。好的，今天我们学习的词是get-go...