流行美語: critter ; mug

這是一個星期六的下午， Michael和李華比較放鬆，他們正在校園裏散步。 李華會學到兩個常用語：critter和mug。

L: 今天天氣真好，你看那個人在跟他的狗玩，那小白狗真好玩！

M: Yes, he is a cute little critter.

L: Critter是什麽？Critter是狗的一個品種嗎？

M: No, a critter is just an animal, usually one that is relatively small and furry. The word is used a lot in the Southern part of the US.

L: 噢，critter就是毛聳聳的小動物。那麽，鬆鼠也可以說是個critter，對不對？

M: Yes, squirrels are definitely critters. But you know a lot of people don't like squirrels. They think that they are dirty and look like rats with bushy tails.

L: 還有人不喜歡鬆鼠的呀？怎麽會說它們象老鼠呢！我覺得它們真可愛，看起來毛聳聳，軟棉棉的。我最喜歡看它們用前麵兩條腿捧著一顆花生啃。哎喲，那樣子真好玩！

M: Well, I would not try to feed those little critters if I were you, they bite and can carry diseases.

L: 不要喂它們吃東西？它們會咬人？嗨， 你站得遠一點扔給它們不就行了嗎？我倒是聽說過它們會傳染疾病，是要小心點。Michael, 那象耗子那樣的小動物也能夠叫做critters嗎？

M: Yes, those are critters, too. Speaking of which, did you hear that my roommate got a new-born sharpei?

L: 你的室友養了一隻剛出生的沙皮狗！那肯定很好玩。

M: I don't think so. As far as I'm concerned, that little critter looks ugly.

L: 你覺得沙皮狗難看啊？不少人家裏養沙皮狗都覺得它們可愛。我還沒有見過剛出生的沙皮狗呢！Michael, 你帶我去看一看，好不好嗎？

M: You want to take a look at that ugly critter? Ok, we'll go.

******

M: Look, Li Hua, here is my roommate's sharpei. Look at that furry mug. He looks like he should be friendly.

L: 喲，這就是你室友的沙皮狗呀！好可愛喲！Michael, 你說什麽furry mug？Mug不是用來喝咖啡或喝茶的杯子嗎？沙皮狗和mug有什麽關係呀？

M: No, not a coffee mug. Mug is slang for a face, usually an ugly one. His little mug is his face.

L: 噢，在這裏，mug不是指杯子的意思，而是指一張臉，而且往往是指難看的臉。我覺得這隻狗的臉挺可愛的。Michael, 我能不能摸摸它啊？

M: Go ahead, but I'm sure he'll bite you.

L: 它會咬我？那就算了，我就看看它吧。哎，Michael, 我們能不能把人的臉稱為mug呢?

M: Of course. For example, my brother has a really ugly mug.

L: 你弟弟的臉很難看? 哎喲，Michael, 你怎麽能這麽說啊？再說，你弟弟的臉沒準跟你的臉很象啊！

M: I was just trying to give you an example. I don't really think my brother has an ugly face.

L: 哎喲，你真是的，要給我舉例子也得找個適當的例子嘛。怎麽能拿你弟弟來舉例子，破壞他的形象呢？對了，我還得弄弄清楚，mug一般是指難看的臉，是貶意，對不對？

M: Yeah, we usually don't say a person has a pretty mug. But, if you like the look of that dog, you can say: "Oh, what a cute mug this little dog has!"

L: 噢，你的意思是，可以用mug這個詞來指一個動物的臉很可愛，但是不能用來形容人的臉。

M: That's right.

今天李華學會說critter。這是指毛聳聳的小動物。今天她還學會一個詞，那就是mug。Mug在這裏是指動物和人的臉，一般是指難看的臉。

(ZT)