礼节美语123讲

中国雇员Cathy要去美国考察，她找美国同事Mark了解美国文化，以免在待人接物的时候在礼节方面闹笑话。

K: If I`m using public transport...should I give up my seat if I see elderly people?

M: Yes. I think that`s proper behavior pretty much everywhere in the world. Give up your seat to pregnant women, senior citizens and people with small children.

K: A friend told me that Westerners don`t like it when people blow their nose.

M: Actually, that`s true. In the West many think blowing your nose in public is a bit rude. Of course, if you have to do it, then you may - just turn as far away from people as possible and do it quietly. It would be even better to get up and move away before blowing your nose.

K: Wow...that`s good to know. I might have committed a real "faux pas."

坐公交车给老人、小孩和孕妇让座，到哪里都不会错。在大庭广众之下擤鼻子会被认为是举止粗鲁。It is a bit rude to blow your nose in public. 如果迫不得已，最好尽量离别人远点，或者索性站起来，到旁边去擤鼻子。

M: And of course, spitting is always a no-no.

K: Yeah. I agree with that one. It`s disgusting when someone coughs and spits in public. In the movies it seems like all Westerners wear their shoes indoors, is this true?

M: Many people in America do wear their shoes in the house. You should wipe off your shoes on the doormat before you go inside. But...more and more Western people are beginning to follow the Asian tradition of removing your shoes in the house.

Mark说，随地吐痰是绝对不行的。 Spitting is always a no-no. 美国人在家也穿鞋？Mark说，不少美国人在家确实穿鞋，但是去别人家作客，最好wipe off your shoes on the doormat before you go inside，进去以前最好在门垫上把鞋底擦干净。

K: My boss told me that it`s a super big faux pas to be late in Japan. Is that true in America as well?

M: Yes...but we are a little more flexible. If you arrive within five minutes of a meeting time it might be OK. But it`s always best to be on time or be early.

K: When I was in London last year I was eating with my Chinese friend. She whistled for a waiter to come over and when the man came over, he looked so angry!

M: Oh, yes...that`s a major faux pas. NEVER snap your fingers or whistle at any kind of service personnel. It`s considered very impolite!

K: Mark...I can`t thank you enough for your tips! I really appreciate it!

M: Sure! Let`s chat again before you leave.

迟到在日本是大忌，a super big faux pas。 Mark说，在美国虽然没那么严格，迟到五分钟也算正常，但最好还是准时或是提前到。还有，在西方，招呼任何服务人员，都不能打响指或是吹口哨。NEVER snap your fingers or whistle at any kind of service personnel. 这样做被认为是非常不礼貌的。

流行美语第347课

李华和Larry正在看世界杯足球赛。今天我们要学两个常用语：a long shot和to catch a break

LH: Larry, 世界杯终于开始了! 你觉得谁会得冠军？美国队有戏没有？

Larry: I don`t think so, Lihua. The U.S. usually doesn`t have one of the best teams.

LH: 哎，你怎么这么没信心? 美国队虽然不是夺冠热门，但也是有机会的啊！

L: Well I guess it`s possible, but the U.S. is definitely a long shot.

LH: A long shot? 这是什么意思？

L: You can say that something is a long shot when it isn`t very likely.

LH: 哦，a long shot就是可能性很低的事情。你觉得虽然从理论上说，美国对和其它所有球队一样，都有夺冠的机会，但真论起实力来，美国队拿冠军的可能性就很低了。

L: Right! Here`s another example. Carolyn`s dream has always been to move to Hollywood and become a famous movie star, but that`s definitely a long shot.

LH: 没错，当电影明星可没那么容易。所以Larry, 你以前踢过足球么？

L: Sure, lots of Americans play soccer when they are kids. I dreamed of becoming a professional player, but I always knew that was a long shot.

LH: 你说得没错，咱们可不能给人生设置一堆不现实的目标! 话说回来，Larry, 你觉得到底谁能捧走今年的大力神杯呢？

L: Well, Brazil always has a really talented team. I`m sure that they have a good shot this year.

LH: a good shot？ 这是不是和a long shot相反，表示“很有可能的事情”？

L: Exactly. For another example, I could say that my friend Edmund has been doing really well at his job lately, so he has a good shot at getting promotion soon.

LH: 真的？你觉得他很可能会升职？能升多高？会不会成为公司副总？

L: No, I don`t think he will get that good of a promotion. Vice president is definitely a long shot.

LH: 原来如此。 Larry, 我们还是好好看球吧。对了，美国第一场和谁踢啊？

L: Our first game is against England, who are supposed to be very good.

LH: 英国可是强队! 美国队要踢赢英国队恐怕也是a long shot喽!

L: Well, we will have to watch and find out!

******

LH: Larry，这场比赛踢得真棒！ 双方最后1比1平！

L: Yeah, this is a really close game. But you know, the U.S. is pretty lucky that they`re not losing.

LH: 没错。 美国本来0比1落后，可是英国大门失误，让美国队逮着机会，攻进一球。

L: Yeah, the American team definitely caught a break with that goal.

LH: The US team caught a break? 这是什么意思？

L: When something lucky happens for you, you can say that you caught a break.

LH: 哦，to catch a break就是交了好运气，捡了便宜！英国守门员犯了个低级错误，给美国队送分，所以美国队真是幸运!

L: Right. For another example, I could say that my friend Carolyn has been having a hard time becoming an actress in Hollywood, and is waiting to catch a break.

LH: 我明白了，Carolyn想当明星，可一直红不起来，不过她没有放弃，还在等待交好运的那一天。

L: You got it. So Lihua, do you want to watch the USA game against Slovenia with me on Friday?

LH: Larry, 星期五我要上班啊! 我可不能专门请一整天假陪你看球。我老板会疯掉的!

L: Hmm ... good point. Well maybe we will catch a break and your boss will be sick that day.

LH: 咒我老板生病？你可够坏的。 对了，难道你真打算每天看世界杯么？你不用上班啦？

L: Well I was trying to figure out that problem too. But then I caught a break when it turned out my boss loves soccer, and brought a TV into our office.

LH: 你老板也是球迷，所以把电视搬进办公室，让大家一起看比赛？！哇，太让人羡慕了。那礼拜五美国对斯洛文尼亚那场比赛，你觉得美国会赢么？

L: Yeah the U.S. is a better team. But you never know, Slovenia might catch a break and win the match.

LH: 说得对，美国今天踢平英国不就是因为catch a break - 交了好运么？

L: Yeah, that`s a pretty good result for the U.S., given that they were a long shot to win.

LH: 那就希望美国队的运气能一直好下去喽！

今天李华学了两个常用语。一个是 a long shot, 表示可能性很低的事情。另一个是to catch a break, 意思是交了好运。