流行美語:snap ; spaced out

今天Larry和Li Hua一起打保齡球，Li Hua會學到兩個常用語：snap和spaced out.

(SFX of bowling alley)

LL: Hey, Li Hua, you look nervous. Have you ever bowled before?

LH: No, 我從來沒打過保齡球，所以當然緊張啦！

LL: Don't worry, Li Hua, bowling is a snap. You'll figure it out in no time.

LH: 你說bowling是什麽 - a snap? To snap不是對別人嚷嚷、說話態度很凶的意思嗎？

LL: That's right. "To snap at someone" is to speak rudely, but snap can also be used as a noun. If we say something is a "snap" that means it's very easy and can be learned quickly.

LH: 噢，我懂了，snap用作動詞的時候，意思就是對人很凶，不過你剛才說的snap是用做名詞，要是我們說something is a snap, 意思就是很容易就能學會的事，哎，那不就是我們中文裏所說的"小菜一碟"嗎？

LL: Yes. So, now you'll understand what I meant by saying "bowling is a snap!"

LH: 你說"保齡球容易學"？可是，我怎麽覺得挺難的呢？

LL: Well, if you think bowling is hard, then what do you think is a snap?

LH: 讓我想想 -- 騎自行車挺容易的。我一個下午就學會了。

LL: So you think riding a bike is a snap -- I agree, once you learn how to ride a bike, it's a snap. Hey, Li Hua, you know what else is a snap?

LH: No, what else?

LL: Beating you at bowling is a snap. Look, I'm 50 points ahead of you.

LH: 這太不公平了！我以前從來就沒有打過保齡球，你可能已經打過幾百次了！我能打到那麽多的pins就算不錯了。

LL: You're right, Li Hua. It's not fair. Here, I'll teach you. Then you'll see what a snap it is.

(Sound of ball being thrown)

******

LL: Li Hua, did you enjoy bowling?

LH: Yes, 保齡球挺好玩的，可是也挺累人的。

LL: Yeah, I agree. I feel kind of spaced out.

LH: 你說你覺得怎麽樣了 - spaced out? Larry, 你是身體不舒服嗎？

LL: No, no. Feeling spaced out means feeling kind of detached and unfocused. I sometimes feel spaced out when I'm tired.

LH: 噢，我懂了，feeling spaced out意思就是"覺得昏昏沉沉的，注意力難以集中"。就是啊，一個人太累的時候是會感到昏昏沉沉，周圍發生什麽事都不知道。

LL: Yeah, but sometimes it might be for no reason. For instance, I might feel spaced out at class - I would be thinking about baseball, instead of listening to the teacher.

LH: 你上課的時候還會想起棒球賽呀！哎呀，那你走神兒也走得太厲害了吧！

LL: All right, Li Hua. Now don't tell me you've never felt spaced out yourself.

LH: 我當然也有迷糊的時候啦，比如上星期，我心不在焉地去上課，結果走錯了教室。

LL: Last week, I was really stressed over the exams. I was so spaced out that I forgot my father's birthday. I felt terrible.

LH: 什麽，因為要考試，你緊張得連你爸爸的生日也忘記啦？那你爸爸肯定很生氣羅？

LL: No, he knows me very well - bowling is a snap for me; but exams always make me very nervous.

今天李華從Larry那兒學到兩個常用語。snap用作名詞，意思是"輕而易舉的事"。Spaced out就是"昏昏沉沉、注意力不集中"。

(ZT)