李华前段时间通过了驾驶执照的考试,现在可以自己开车了。迈可也坐在她的车里,从他们二人的对话中,李华学到了两个常用语:take it easy和to chew out。
L: 考完试了,现在有了驾照真好。我觉得我能够去任何地方,做任何想做的事了。
M:I know what you mean. American kids feel the same way when they turn 16 and get their licenses. Too bad you don't have a car.
L: 那有什么关系,我可以跟你借车啊,对不对?哎呀 Hey! What do you think you are doing? Do you want to be killed? Michael,你看那个骑自行车的孩子,我差点儿撞了他!
M:Hey, hey, take it easy Li Hua! You really scared that kid. He looked really scared.
L:Michael, 你刚才说什么?什么easy?
M:I said take it easy! That means you need to calm down, not get too excited.
L:Take it easy? Take it easy是冷静下来,别太气了的意思?
M: That boy was almost in a very bad accident, and he was startled. You don't need to make him feel worse.
L:你说的不错,看样子他都快哭了。
M:Hey, Li Hua, you're going to be driving on your own soon. I hope you learn to take it easy and not get angry at everyone.
L:你说的对。要是我冷静开车的话,也许我的车会开的更好。
M:I'm sure you will. You just finished a difficult test. You should take it easy. Let's go get some lunch, my treat.
L:你要请客啊?行,我是应该放松放松了。我要好好享受今天剩下的时间。
******
M:Man, Li Hua, you really chewed that kid out.
L:你指的是刚才骑车的那个小孩?你说我对他怎么了?
M:You chewed him out! I mean you yelled and got angry at him.
L: 你是说我发脾气大骂了那个孩子,是吧?
M:That's right. If someone gets angry and yells at you, and starts criticizing your behavior, they are chewing you out.
L:原来如此,我也不知道为什么我大骂那个小孩,大概是当时我也害怕的缘故。
M:Are you upset about something else? You seem to have a bad temper today.
L: 我是真有点气,因为昨天刘教授对我发脾气。因为我该教中文课, 我去晚了五分钟。他就对我大发脾气。
M:That's too bad. I don't like being chewed out like that either. Especially when I know I was wrong.
L: 那可不是我的错,我自行车的链子又脱落了。 为什么发生这类事情你总是怪我呢?
M:Hey, take it easy, Li Hua! Don't chew me out! I was talking about myself, not you.
L:我的天,是我不对,不知道我今天是怎么回事。我想跟每个人发脾气似的。
M:You must be stressed. First, Professor Liu chewed you out, then you almost ran over the kid on the bike.
L:你说的对,我真不该对任何人都发脾气。我应该开开心心的。
M:At least you should be happier than I am. Yesterday, my roommate chewed me out. He said I always make a mess in the living room, and he is tired of cleaning up after me.
L:也许你是把房子弄得很乱,可是你室友也不该对你发脾气啊。
M:He was right, though. I really need to get rid of my bad habits.
今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是Take it easy,意思是冷静下来,或者放轻松些。另一个是to chew out,意思是发脾气骂人。