来看看美国人认为做哪些事是不地道的,令人生厌的。
Session III: That's Not Nice(真不够哥们)
1. Drive Someone Up a Wall = annoy someone greatly
可以用 drive someone up a wall 来表达惹恼某人,就象把某人赶上墙一样。
范例对话:
A: Wow! What a great set of drums!
B: Yeah, they're great, but I can't play on them when my folks are at home. They say I drive them up a wall with all the loud banging.
A: I get the same thing at home. My folks tell me that I annoy them and get them really angry whenever I turn up the volume on my stereo.
2. String Someone Along = lead someone on dishonestly
带欺骗性质地引诱某人,就像用绳钓鱼一样。。
范例短文:
Liz had high hopes of marrying Dean. When he ran off with another woman, she realized that he was just string her along. She had felt very strongly about him and was really hurt to see that he was deceiving her and had no intentions of ever marrying her.
3. Sell Someone Down the River = betray someone
出卖某人给警察。
范例对话:
A: I heard that poor Jud Landed up in jaid.
B: Yeah. His so-called girlfriend sold him down the river and claimed the reward on him.
A: I can't understand that. I thought she was devoted to him.
B: She couldn't have been very devoted to him if she betrayed him and informed the police about his hiding place.
A: That just goes to show you what people will do for money.
4. Leave Someone High and Dry = abandon someone
把某人丢在一边不管。
范例对话:
A: Say, Jill. I thought that John was going to help you do the dishes tonight.
B: So did I. But he left me high and dry.
A: Where did he go?
B: Well, he got a call from some of his pals at work to go bowling, and he left me alone to do all this work without any help at all!
5. Spill the Beans = reveal a secret
泄密。
范例对话:
A: Did you know that Harry was going to take Kathy on a Caribbean cruise?
B: Yes, I did. He was planning on surprising her with the tickets for their anniversary, but someone spilled the beans.
A: What a shame! That was supposed to have been a surprise.
B: Yes, it's too bad that someone told her about the trip beforehand and ruined Harry's surprise.
A: That's OK. Her enthusiasm was not dampened in the least!