美語訓練班055

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禮節(jié)美語 EARLY ADOPTERS II

Henry買了最新的超小電腦Orange SuperCom 4，拿給同事Sara和Mark看。Sara問他：

Sara: So did you already own an Orange SuperCom 3?

Henry: Yeah, I sold it on eBay last week.

M: I used to rush out and buy the latest gadgets as well, but I discovered that first generation products often have a lot of bugs in them.

H: Actually, Mark is right. Even this Orange SuperCom 4 is not quite up to snuff. The connection to the Internet is a bit slow, and it seems like the computer has a little trouble multitasking.

Mark說，他原來也是科技潮人，一出什么新玩藝兒，the latest gadgets, 馬上跑去買。gadget is spelled g-a-d-g-e-t, gadget 是小玩藝的意思，常指科技類產(chǎn)品。不過，Mark發(fā)現(xiàn)，很多第一代，第二代產(chǎn)品都有很多 bugs, bugs在這里指技術方面的漏洞。Henry承認，他新買的SuperCom4 is not quite up to snuff. 也不是樣樣都好， up to snuff 意思是符合標準，相當于 up to standard.

M: The problem is that many times in the beginning they haven't quite ironed out all the wrinkles in the software. By the third or fourth generation the company's engineers have a better idea of what works and what doesn't.

S: I'm generally pretty content just to stay with the same system until it becomes obsolete. I still play my old cassette tapes at home.

M: That's one way to go. You know the old expression: "If it ain't broke...don't fix it."

S: Exactly, I use things until they literally fall apart.

H: I prefer the expression: "Out with the old and in with the new!"

Mark 說，問題關鍵是，第一、二代產(chǎn)品時，很多軟件中存在的小問題還都沒有得到解決。They haven't ironed out all the wrinkles in the software. to iron out 意思是抹平，解決。Sara說，她在這方面從不趕時髦，家里的東西都得用到過時。英語里有一種說法叫：If it ain't broke...don't fix it. 沒壞就不要去修它。Henry 崇尚的則是另一種境界：Out with the old and in with the new! 舊的不去，新的不來。

M: I guess the world needs both kinds of people. Early adopters of technology like Henry help pave the way into the future.

S: And people like me try to keep the pace of change down to a reasonable speed.

H: I have to tell you though...despite all its faults, the new Orange SuperCom 4 is really quite an amazing machine!

M: Maybe after work I can take a quick look at your new toy.

H: Sure! I love showing off my new gadgets! Sara, care to join us?

S: That's OK...I think I'll stay at home and play my cassette tapes. You guys have fun!

Mark 說，Sara和Henry這兩種人，都是不可缺少的。他問Henry下班能不能去擺弄一下他的新玩具。Henry欣然同意，說：I love showing off my new gadgets! 我就喜歡顯擺我的新玩藝，to show off 是顯擺的意思，他還問Sara, care to join us? 要不要一起來。Sara開玩笑說，她還是選擇回家去聽她的磁帶錄音機。

B: See, THOSE guys tend to spend every dollar they have on new gadgets! Compared to them, my enthusiasm for beautiful, elegant bags is nothing!

A: 嘿! 就你能找借口!

B: 嘿嘿，再說了，這也能為我增添人氣啊。Today, for example, I'm carrying this brand new style of LV bag. A bunch of people on the street stopped to compliment me on my bag! I'm practically a local star.

A: Now that might be true. 這倒是個增添人氣的方法哈! 說到這里，咱們?nèi)タ纯慈藲膺@個詞兒用美語怎么說!

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么說的詞，就會來請教他。今天吳瓊是要問的：人氣。

Donny: Hi, Wuqiong, do you want to go to this concert with me?

WQ: 演唱會?讓我看看是哪個歌星開的。哇! 這個人現(xiàn)在是人氣天王! 我當然愿意跟你去啦。哎?人氣在英文里怎么說?

Donny: 人氣就是受歡迎的程度。So you can use the word "popularity", p-o-p-u-l-a-r-i-t-y, popularity.

WQ: popularity 就是人氣。這個詞就是 popular 的名詞形式嘛。

Donny: Exactly. I've heard about this singer's rising popularity. That's why I want to go to his concert.

WQ: 演唱會的表演嘉賓，guest stars，都有誰?

Donny: Well, here's the guest star list. Most of them are popular too, but who's this person on the bottom of the list? 我怎么沒聽說過。

WQ: 讓我看看，讓我看看。哦，這個女明星幾年前很紅，可后來過氣了。

Donny: No wonder I've never heard about her. She's a has-been. The word "has-been" means someone who is no longer popular.

WQ: has-been? has 和 been放一起就是過氣的人，過時的東西。This guest star used to be famous and popular, but now she's just a has-been.

Donny: 對。

WQ:這么說，她可能想借著當嘉賓的機會重新走紅嘍?

Donny: That's possible. This concert will be a good opportunity for her to stage a comeback.

WQ: comeback, c-o-m-e-b-a-c-k, comeback 就是東山再起，咸魚翻身的意思吧?If this singer makes a comeback, she will regain her popularity!

Donny: Exactly. Now let's see what you've learned today!

WQ: 第一：人氣叫 popularity;

第二：過氣、過時的人或物是 a has-been;

第三：東山再起是 a comeback.

這次的"美語怎么說"就到這里結(jié)束了。如果你也有不會說的詞，請寫信給 Donny, 電郵請寄[email protected]

A: I hope my popularity will increase after all this serious hosting. I should get SOME kind of reward for dealing with YOU all day....

B:哈哈，趕快去查查你微博的粉絲人數(shù)漲沒漲?

A: 哈哈，我這就去!(笑) 好了，這次節(jié)目時間就到這里。同學們，如果你對我們的節(jié)目有什么建議，或者想提什么問題，請發(fā)電子郵件到[email protected].

B: Tune in next time for American English Mosaic!

A: See you next time!