例句3: No, we are not going to buy a new car right now. The old one still runs fine. Besides, the simple truth is we don"t have the money and that"s the long and short of it.
这个爸爸说：不，我们现在不买新车。那辆老车还挺好用。另外，事实上，我们没有钱去买新车。这就是基本的现实。
买一辆新车是很贵的。当然，这还要看你想买什么样的车。最便宜的就目前的价钱来看也至少要大约一万美元。要买名牌汽车的话，五六万美元是并不是最高的价格。年轻人喜欢的跑车也比一般车要贵。是有一些美国人每隔几年就要换一辆新车，但大多数人恐怕难以做到。
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有不少美国大学生都在学校附近找房子住。比如说，两个学生一起租一套两房一厅的公寓房子，然后各人付一半房租。这样个人既有自己的房间，又比较便宜。但是，住在一起也会发生问题和纠纷。下面这个例子就是一个学生在对他合住的同学说话。
例句4: If you want to go on sharing this apartment with me, you"ve got to stop having parties everyday and playing music loud after midnight. If you think you"re not able to observe these rules, you can move out anytime - that"s the long and short of it!
这个学生说：要是你想继续跟我一起住在这里的话，你不可以再每天请客、聚会，也不能半夜三更大声放音乐。要是你认为你不能遵守这些规矩的话，那你可以随时搬出去。我已经把话都说清楚了。
流行美语第213课
Larry和李华在谈李华教中文的事。李华会学到两个常用语：dumb down和win-win。
LL: So, when you teach first year Chinese you must really have to dumb down the material for the students.
LH: 什么？Dumb down? 这是什么意思呀？
LL: Yeah. To dumb down is to take something difficult and make it easy.
LH：噢，To dumb down就是把难学的教材简化，让学生容易学一点。是啊， 一年级的学生都刚开始学中文， 我必须用简单一些的教材。Larry，dumb就是苯；down就是下降，dumb down这说法是不是有贬义呀？
LL: Well, sometimes you dumb something down because it is really hard, and in those cases, to dumb down doesn"t really have a negative sense to it.
LH: 那倒是。把过分复杂的内容简化一些是好的，所以在这种情况下，dumb down确实不应该属于贬义。
LL: Sometimes the person you are trying to teach isn"t very smart - and you have to dumb it down so they can begin to understand. In that case, it does have a negative meaning.
LH: 这我太清楚了。有的学生就是教不会，脑子不太聪明，遇到这种情况你也只好一点一点教，从最简单的开始。
LL: Of course - and at work, when I explain the software to people who have never used it, I generally dumb down my instructions so they don"t get confused.
LH: 那我跟你办公室的同事差不多。你要教我用新的电脑软件，你非得讲得简单易懂，否则我会糊涂的。就像我教那些脑子不太快的学生一样。
LL: So, you don"t have to dumb it down for those bright students?
LH: 教聪敏的学生当然就不需要dumb down我的教材咯！有的学生可真聪敏，一教就会，而且还不需要我每次重复。
LL: That is amazing! If you didn"t have to dumb it down, you must be a really good teacher.
LH: 那还用说呀！当然是教导有方了，严师出高徒嘛。 Larry, 我想请你帮个忙， 不知道你能不能教我使用刚买的绘画软件。
LL: Sure, Li Hua, I"d be happy to.
LH: 我刚才说了，我对电脑不太精通。 你可要用简单的词汇来讲解 - You are really going to have to dumb it down for me!
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LL: Hey, Li Hua. Speaking of teaching Chinese, I"ve got a proposal for you - and I think it is a real win-win situation.
LH: 我知道，win-win situation就是双赢。也就是对双方都有好处。Win就是赢或输的赢。对了，Larry，你要给我提什么建议呀？
LL: Oh, I met someone who studied Chinese years ago and wants to practice their Chinese. I thought you would be a perfect choice to help her out.
LH: 你认识的这个人以前学过中文， 现在想练习中文， 我当然可以帮助她了。不过，如果只是我帮助她，这好像并不是双赢的局面呦。
LL: Well, she is an editor for a magazine, and I thought she could help you by editing your dissertation - and you could help her practice her Chinese. It"s a win-win situation for both of you.
LH: 原来如此，她是一个杂志的编辑，可以帮我修改博士论文。 这样，我帮她练习中文，她帮我改论文，这真是一个win-win situation。 谢谢你，Larry， 你知道花钱请人修改论文是很贵的。
LL: As can hiring a Chinese tutor. I am sure my friend will think it"s win-win as well.
LH: 当然，请人辅导中文也不便宜。 你把她的电话给我，我和她联系一下。Larry, 我也有一个双赢的建议给你。
LL: Okay, just what is your win-win proposition?
LH: 我刚才不是请你教我使用刚买的绘画软件吗？这个周末给你做顿中国饭怎么样？
LL: Well, I like the idea! You are a great cook and I"m happy to buy the food, and you"ll learn how to use the software. A perfect win-win partnership!
LH: 你也是个很棒的双赢夥伴。可是，Larry， 吃完饭后别忘了洗碗。
LL: Me do the dishes, too? That seems a little less win-win to me!
LH：But it"s a win-win to me!
今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是dumb down，意思是把教材、讲解等简化，让学的人更容易懂。还有一个常用语是win-win，意思是双赢。
流行美语第214课
Larry和李华都对他们的朋友Dave感到很同情，因为Dave最近刚同他的女朋友分手。李华会学到两个常用语：get a life和happy camper。
LL: Ever since Dave"s girlfriend broke up with him, Dave has been staying in his apartment doing nothing but playing video games and eating pizza. He really needs to get a life!
LH: 我也听说了，自从Dave同女朋友分手后他成天灾家里玩电子游戏，什么事也不做。不过，Larry, 你说Dave needs to get a life， 我不太懂，他不是还活着，有生命啊。
LL: Well, when I said Dave needed to get a life I meant Dave needs to stop thinking about his old girlfriend and get on with his normal life.
LH: 我明白了。 你的意思是说他现在的生活不正常，头不梳，脸不洗的，天天只吃pizza。他确实应当设法忘掉那女朋友，振作起来过正常的生活。
LL: Yes. The other day I told one of my co-workers in the office to get a life, too.
LH: 你怎么老是让人get a life? 你的同事又怎么了？
LL: Well, this one person I work with complains all the time. No one ever does anything right, nothing is ever good enough, and she never has anything nice to say.
LH: 这种人我见得多了！他们对什么事都不满意，总是发牢骚。要跟这种人接触多了，你也会被他弄得情绪低落的。
LL: Yeah, she was upset because the chairs around the table in the meeting room were not pushed in. I couldn"t believe she was bothered by something so minor, so I told her to get a life.
LH: 椅子没放好， 她也不高兴。 这种人呀，算了吧。让她找点真正有意思的事做。 Larry，我有一个同学也需要get a life。他书不好好地念，可整天泡在酒巴里。
LL: Well, Li Hua, at least we know that isn"t going to happen to you. You study all the time.
LH: 是啊， 我太用功了，只念书，不休息，也不娱乐， 或许我也应当平衡一下- get a life。
LL: Oh, I wouldn"t worry about it, Li Hua. You are doing just fine. I don"t think you need to get a life. Li Hua, how about some ice cream?
LH: 不行，我在减肥，不能吃冰淇淋。
LL: Oh, come on, Li Hua, get a life!
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LL: Have you seen Dave lately, Li Hua? He sure is a happy camper!
LH: 什么？Happy camper，快乐的露营者？
LL: No, no. A happy camper is just someone who is really happy.
LH: 噢，A happy camper指的是很快活的人。Dave现在很快活吗？
LL: Dave got back together with his girlfriend. And ever since then he"s been smiling and laughing.
LH: 难怪Dave最近笑口常开，原来和女朋友言归于好了。 我真为他高兴。
LL: I"m a happy camper, too. That woman who was always complaining at work got transferred to another office.
LH: 你办公室那爱发牢骚的同事调走了啦？那太好了。 Larry ，看来你的运气也很不错。
LL: But I feel bad for the people who will be working with her. When they find out how much she complains, they won"t be happy campers.