流行美語：off-hand 即興的 & shot in the arm 強心針（音頻文字）VOA (ZT)
李華正在幫Larry為麵試做準備。今天我們要學兩個常用語：shot in the arm和off the cuff.
LH: Larry, 明天早上求職麵試，你現在心裏是不是特別激動？
LL: Actually, I'm pretty nervous about this job interview. I really want to work at this company, so I need to make a good impression.
LH: 別緊張，你一定沒問題。再說了，不錄用你是他們的損失，象你這麽出色的人才，想要你的公司多的是。
LL: Thanks Lihua. That encouragement is a real shot in the arm for me.
LH: A shot in the arm?
LL: You can say that something is a shot in the arm if it gives you a lot more confidence and energy.
LH: 哦，就是中文裏說的強心針。你是說我剛才鼓勵你的話大大地增強了你的信心嗎？
LL: Right. For example, I could say that Joe was thinking of dropping out of his economics class because it was so hard. But when he got an A on the midterm, it was a real shot in the arm and he decided not to quit.
LH: 就是說，期中考試得了A，極大增強了Joe對自己修完經濟學這門課程的信心。
LL: Exactly. You know, Lihua, my career hasn't been going well lately, but I think this job could give it a real shot in the arm.
LH: 你現在的工作確實沒什麽發展潛力，換個新工作一定會對你今後的事業發展有好處。對了，我還沒問你，你明天準備麵試的那家公司是做什麽的？
LL: Well Lihua, it's a small company that sells Chia Pets.
LH: 什麽？是一家賣草頭娃娃的零售商？
LL: Yeah, but it hasn't been doing well lately. I hope that with my business experience and passion for Chia Pets, I could give this company a real shot in the arm.
LH: 你當真啊？？？嗨，不管怎麽說，我支持你去追求自己的夢想。
LL: Thanks, Lihua. Did you know that Chia Pets cost about $15 each? If everybody went out and bought one, it would give the economy a real shot in the arm.
LH: 好，為支持你，隻要你得到這份工作，我保證一定去買一個草頭娃娃。
******
LH: 言歸正傳，Larry, 你有沒有想好他們可能會問你哪些問題呢？
LL: Well, just a little. But it would probably be good to practice a little bit.
LH: 那好，我假裝考官，我們來模擬一下怎麽樣？
LL: Sounds good! It's important for me to prepare beforehand, because I'm not good at speaking off the cuff.
LH: Speaking off the cuff? 這是什麽意思啊？
LL: You can say that someone speaks off the cuff when he talks spontaneously without any preparation.
LH: 噢，就是在沒有事先準備的情況下即興發言。
LL: Right. For example, some politicians can speak very well when they have a speech prepared, but don't do well when they have to respond to questions off the cuff.
LH: 我明白了，你還記得上個周末我們一起去看電影，我穿了一件白色大衣，看上去圓滾滾的嗎？你還說我象個大白兔奶糖。
LL: Oh come on Lihua, it was just an off-the-cuff remark! You know I didn't mean it.
LH: 我一點都沒生氣，反而覺得很好笑。Your off-the-cuff jokes are so funny. 對了，我以前聽人說過 "off-hand," Off-hand跟off-the-cuff是同一個意思嗎？
LL: It's very similar. An off-hand comment is something you didn't think about or consider very seriously before you said it.
LH: 忘記告訴你了Larry, 你帶著這副厚厚的黑邊眼鏡活像一隻眼鏡猴。
LL: What? No I don't. I look very smart, like a scholar.
LH: 別生氣啊，It was just an "off-hand" joke. 我是隨便開玩笑的。
LL: Alright Lihua, I understand your point. I won't make any more off-hand jokes about your fashion sense. Now can we please get back to practicing for my interview?
LH: 那好，麵試現在正式開始。 Larry, 你想加入我們公司來賣草頭娃娃嗎？
LL: Of course. I really love Chia Pets.
LH: 這我信，看你留的發型，就知道你是個草頭娃娃的忠實愛好者。
LL: Another off-hand joke, Lihua?
LH: 哈哈哈.....對不起，你的發型跟草頭娃娃實在是太象了。
今天李華學了兩個常用語。一個是shot in the arm, 意思是強心針。另一個是off the cuff, 或是off-hand, 意思是即興的。
Words and Phrases1. A shot in the arm
強心針
For example:
Joe was thinking of dropping out of his economics class because it was so hard. But when he got an A on the midterm, it was a real shot in the arm and he decided not to quit.
期中考試得了A，極大增強了Joe對自己修完經濟學這門課程的信心。
2. Chia Pet
草頭娃娃
3. Speak off the cuff
Someone speaks off the cuff when he talks spontaneously without any preparation.
就是在沒有事先準備的情況下即興發言。
For example:
A). Some politicians can speak very well when they have a speech prepared, but don't do well when they have to respond to questions off the cuff.
B). It was just an off-the-cuff remark.
C). Your off-the-cuff jokes are so funny.
4. off-hand & Off-hand
It's very similar. An off-hand comment is something you didn't think about or consider very seriously before you said it.
5. It was just an "off-hand" joke.
隨便開玩笑的。
流行美語：in one's element 非常自如 & too many cooks in the kitchen 做主的人太多反而會耽誤事（音頻文字）VOA (ZT)
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