例如今天的第一个习惯用语: the real poop。我们听个例子。说话的人听到了关于一对夫妇的流言，正在跟朋友打听虚实。
例句-1：Hey, I heard Bill and Mary are splitting up because Bill"s seeing another woman! Do you know the real poop - is it true or is it just one of those nasty rumors we hear all the time?
他说：嘿， 我听说Bill和Mary要分手了， 因为Bill另有新欢。你知道可靠消息吗？这传闻究竟是真的， 还只是常年少不了的流言蜚语？
这里的the real poop意思是真实可靠的消息。
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Poop这个词约莫在二次大战期间开始成为军队内的俚语，指可靠情报，因为当时快速精确的情报是军事行动成败的一大关键。我们来听一位参战陆军上校在命令一名陆军中士侦察一列德军坦克队是否正冲他而来。
例句-2：Sergeant, we have a report a column of German tanks is only 15 kilometers up that road. We need the straight poop right away - send a patrol up the road to find out if it"s true.
这位上校说：中士，我们得到报告一列德国坦克队在那条路上和我们相距仅十五公里的地方。我们立即需要确切情报，你派遣一支侦察队去那条道路查明这一情报是否确实。
你注意到吗？他在poop前面用了straight， straight poop和real poop都强调情报的确实可信。
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再学个由poop发展而来的习惯用语: poop sheet。 Sheet是纸张，所以poop sheet就是印着信息的文纸，也就是打印成文的信息，或者书面信息。可能是书面通知，也可能是书面指令或指示之类的东西。跟我们刚学到的the real poop一样， poop sheet也可能起源于军方。
我们要听的第一个例子说的就是军队内的事儿。说话的是个海军士兵，他刚在军舰的布告栏读到了舰长的通知，令他十分扫兴。现在正告诉他的伙伴。
例句-3：Did you see the latest poop sheet from the captain? It has ordered us to shave off all moustaches. Hey, I spent six months growing mine. But I guess I don"t have much choice.
他说：你看到舰长发出的告示了吗？他命令所有的人都得把胡子刮干净。唉，我花了六个月时间才留起这些胡子，但是我想我也没多少可选择的余地。
这里的poop sheet是书面告示。
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我们再听个例子，里面的poop sheet不是书面告示，而是书面指示。当前美国有好多生产商经销的商品都是需要顾客买回家后自己动手进行组装的。这便于运输而且对顾客说来也经济实惠。我们来听听一个父亲说自己给儿子组装一辆新自行车的事。他碰到问题了。这就要告诉你问题是什么。
例句-4：When I finished, I had two pieces left over and I"d already thrown away the poop sheet that tells where they go. But the funny thing is the bike seems to work okay without them.
那个爸爸说：我装好后还剩下两个零件没处安，但我已经把组装说明书扔掉了。奇怪的是这辆自行车少了两个部件却好像一切正常。
他话里的poop sheet是组装说明书。他遇上了个时常会发生的问题。他可能还在担心: 这自行车要是有一天正在他儿子骑着的时候突然散架可不得了。
流行美语第282课
Larry早上起来正在看报纸，忽然接到小燕的电话。今天我们要学两个常用语：short fuse和out of this world.
LL: Hello?
XY: Hey Larry! 你起床了？昨天玩到那么晚，我不会把你吵醒了吧！
LL: Hey no problem. I was just reading the newspaper and drinking a lot of water. I have quite a headache. I can"t believe you bought so many beers for me last night!
XY: 我愿意！昨天我可能也喝多了点，当着你的面跟酒吧里的服务生吵架，真不好意思，对不起了。
LL: Well, Xiaoyan, it"s not really a problem at all. I mean, you tend to have a short fuse anyway.
XY: Short fuse这是什么意思啊？你每次都说这些我听不懂的话，真是急死我了。
LL: There"s a perfect example! When a person has a "short fuse," it means that they have a short temper - they get angry very easily! Now don"t get mad because I said this, or you will further prove my point - haha!
XY: 噢，你是说我急脾气啊。这我承认。不过，我更愿意听人家说我是一个“充满激情”的女人。
LL: Having a short fuse can be a good thing, sometimes, but most of the time, I must admit that it can be a bit intimidating or scary. It"s why I try my best to keep you from blowing your fuse - or erupting in anger. It"s ok, my new boss is like this - and I can handle it.
XY: 你真觉得我的脾气有些吓人吗？那我一定改正。对了，你下午有空吗？我请你吃午饭，而且还有新车接送。不是我吹，买车的时候讨价还价，我可是镇定自若，没发脾气。I did not blow my fuse!
LL: I"m impressed, Xiaoyan! Number one, you have a new car. Number two, you didn"t blow your fuse! So what time were you thinking, since you have the car?
XY: 下午一点怎么样？这样你还有时间“梳妆打扮”，以帅哥的形象出现在我的面前。(笑)
LL: Ok. Do you need directions?
XY: 不用，我有全球定位系统。我保证，就算走丢了，我也不会打电话跟你发脾气。
LL: OK, just call me if there"s a problem!
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LL: Wow. Nice car! You must have saved your tip money for YEARS to get such a nice one....
XY: 勤俭节约可是我最大的优点。
LL: Since you"re driving, I"ll pick the joint we"ll go to. There"s a diner just down the street that"s good.
XY: 这家餐馆从外面看起来好象不错，我们进去吧。
LL: So here"s the menu. Their sandwiches are absolutely out of this world.
XY: out of this world? 你吃他们的外星三明治吧。我只要个色拉就行了。Larry, 有的时候，我真怀疑你是不是有点疯狂，也许这就是你吸引人.....
LL: Xiaoyan. "Out of this world" means really, really good. Excellent. Superb. Delicious. The best.
XY: 哦，out of this world意思是好吃得不得了，简直非人间食物。那我可得来一个。既然你对吃的东西这么在行，我能不能说你的品味也是"out of this world" 呢？
LL: Ha ha. Yeah, but you"re the first person to ever tell me that!
XY: 真的吗？那我再告诉你个秘密：我觉得你这个人也不是一般男人能比的: You are out of this world!
LL: Um... (embarrassed) hey hey... now, anyway, with the sandwiches...
XY: 服务生！给我们来两个你们这儿最好的三明治，外加两杯咖啡。希望你们的咖啡也是香浓美味， out of this world!
LL: So, Xiaoyan, I wanted to tell you something...
XY: 你先听我说，我有个绝妙的主意，就是不知道你明天晚上是不是有空？
LL: That depends, Xiayan, because...
XY: 我想带你去见我父母。他们在这里的侨界非常活跃，我想让他们认识一下你。
LL: Are you sure this is a good idea?
XY: (严肃地)当然是个好主意喽！怎么会不是好主意呢？
LL: Well, perhaps they"d get the wrong impression. Perhaps I"m getting the wrong impression from you, too.
XY: 误解？不会有什么误解的。怎么样，星期天下午五点我开车来接你。咱们就这么定了。
LL: (Reluctantly) Ok, Xiaoyan. I must admit - your powers of persuasion are out of this world, as well.
XY: 没错，我最能说服人了，你就听我一次吧！
我们今天学习了两个常用语。一个是short fuse, 意思是急脾气。另一个是out of this world, 意思是极其美妙。
礼节美语042讲
陈豪在北京的ABC美国公司工作，他去找美国同事Amy。
(Office ambience)
CH：Amy, 我有个问题请教你。
A：I"ll be happy to try to answer your question, but I don"t have a lot of time. I have a meeting in a few minutes.
CH：就几句话，是关于回电子邮件的。
A：Can you explain what you mean?
C：今天早上，我收到通知，说要开会，让大家回个email, 看能不能参加。我就"reply to all"说能来。
A：What happened?
C：先后有三个人发电子邮件给我，叫我不要把回复的电子邮件寄给他们，好像挺不高兴的。
A：They have a very good point. When you get a message by e-mail to announce a meeting, you should not reply to everyone else who received the e-mail. Your response should go only to the sender.
C：可我也经常会收到没用的电子邮件，我就觉得无所谓。
A：Your reaction may have to do with your laid-back personality.
C：Laid-back personality?
A：Laid-back means easy-going. No one wants to get unnecessary e-mail like the one you sent. You are not being thoughtful of other people"s time.
C：我真没意识到别人会介意。