Part 1 Can't They Just Keep It Down? 他們就不能小點聲嗎？

Dialogue Script 1 對話原文 1

Peter: What's that awful noise upstairs?
Lisa: It woke me up at five o'clock in the morning.
Peter: It sounds like they're tearing the walls down up there.
Lisa: I think they are, literally. It sounds like they're renovating.
Peter: That's all fine and good, but can't they do it during decent hours?
Lisa: They don't realize that not everyone gets up before the crack of dawn.
Peter: And today's Sunday! I'm going up there to set them straight.

講解：

1. 俗話說，遠親不如近鄰，但是有些時候糟糕的鄰居會讓人很頭疼，比如說對話中的 Peter 和 Lisa 就遇到了這樣的鄰居。一大早上五點鐘，Lisa就被樓上的噪音吵醒了。wake up 這個詞組可以表示“醒，醒來”，比如說，What time do you usually wake up in the morning? 你平常早上幾點鐘醒？I woke early this morning. 我今天早上醒得很早。

2. 而wake sb up 表示“把某人叫醒”，比如說，Try not to wake the baby up. 別把孩子吵醒了。I was woken up by a noise on the street. 街上的聲音把我吵醒了。Peter說聽起來樓上好像是在拆房子似的。tear down 是“破壞，拆除”的意思，美語和中文一樣，都用“拆房子”tearing walls down 來形容巨大的噪音或騷動，而對話中的情形也確實如此。

3. 所以Lisa說 I think they are, literally. 我想他們確實是在拆房子。Lisa回答literally，意思就是說情況和Peter比喻的一樣。literally表示“精確地，準確地”，比如說，Idioms usually cannot be translated literally in another language. 成語一般都不能字對字地翻譯成另一種語言。When he said he never wanted to see you again I'm sure he didn't mean it literally. 當他說他再也不想看見你的時候，我確定他根本就是言不由衷。literally在口語中還有加強語氣的作用，比如說，I was literally bored to death. 我真的膩煩死了！

4. Lisa說樓上聽起來是在裝修，renovate 表示“修繕，修復，整修”，特別是對建筑物的整修，裝修，名詞是renovation，比如說，The college is closed for renovation. 這所學院停課進行整修。The whole building is under renovation. 整棟大樓在重新裝修。Peter說裝修是沒有關系，但是他們就不能在比較適當的時間做嗎？

5. 裝修也不應該打擾別人的休息，decent，在口語中表示“好的，恰當的；像樣的”，at a decent hour就是指“在比較恰當，不打擾他人的時候”。再舉一些例子，The hospital has no decent equipment. 這家醫院沒有像樣的醫療設備。That dress isn't decent for a party. 那件裙子不夠體面，不適合參加派對。

6. Lisa覺得樓上的鄰居根本就沒考慮到不是人人都一大清早就起床，the crack of dawn指“破曉時分”，就是凌晨三四點鐘左右。而且今天還是周日，一般都會睡個懶覺。這讓Peter很生氣，所以他決定上樓去找他們理論一番，set someone straight 指“糾正某人的錯誤”。

Dialogue Script 2 對話原文 2

Jenny: You're the downstairs neighbor---Peter, right? How's it going?
Peter: Could be better. Would you mind keeping it down?
Jenny: I'm sorry. We're working as fast as we can to get it done.
Peter: We can't get any shuteye down there. And Sunday is our only day to sleep in.
Jenny: All right. I'll start later, at ten. OK?
Peter: Actually, I don't think it's appropriate to make noise like that on a Sunday.
Jenny: I can't do it any other day. I'll be done soon. Don't worry.

講解：

1. 對話中，Peter來到樓上找影響別人休息的鄰居Jenny理論。Jenny認得Peter是樓下的鄰居，還挺客氣的，downstairs 除了大家比較熟悉的做副詞的用法以外，還可以作形容詞，表示“樓下的”，比如說，You can use the downstairs toilet. 你可以用樓下的廁所。

2. downstairs還可以作名詞，表示“樓下”，特別是指“一樓”，比如說，The whole downstairs needs repainting. 整個樓下需要重新粉刷。Jenny跟Peter打招呼，問他，How is it going? 你好嗎？Peter回答說，Could be better. 可以更好的。意思就是說，如果沒有你們打擾，我會更好。

3 .Peter接著說，Would you mind keeping it down? 你們能不能小聲一點？keep it down的意思就是“小聲一點，保持安靜”。但是keep it up可不是“大聲一點”的意思，而是指“保持，堅持”，比如說，Good job, Chris – keep it up! 干得好，Chris，要保持下去！

4. 原來Jenny是在趕進度，想快點把裝修弄完，所以才一大早就開工了。但是Peter說在樓下吵得都不能閉會眼，而且周日是唯一可以睡懶覺的一天，can't get any shuteye表示“睡覺”，get some shuteye是“睡覺”的口語說法。sleep in 表示“睡懶覺，起床比平常晚”。

5 .Jenny說他們可以晚一點開始，就十點鐘吧。但是Peter不同意，在星期天制造這么大的噪音就是不合適的，Jenny應該在其他的日子里裝修。但是Jenny表示她沒有辦法在其他時間施工，還勸Peter不要擔心，她很快就會弄好了。

Dialogue Script 3 對話原文 3

Peter: Maybe you should have someone do it for you.
Jenny: Do you know how much that costs?
Peter: I know, but the noise pollution is becoming unbearable. And we've kept quiet about your washing clothes at all house of the night.
Jenny: You'll have to take that up with my roommate.
Peter: If you can't keep that noise down, I'm going to have to take action!
Jenny: You can't sue someone for renovating their house!
Peter: We'll see about that! Then maybe you'll learn some common decency!

講解：

1. Peter建議Jenny找人來施工，而不是自己來做，但是Jenny覺得那樣就會花很多錢。可是噪音污染也讓人難以忍受，unbearable表示“難以忍受的，不能忍受的”。

2. 而且對于Jenny他們整晚都在洗衣服的事情，Peter和Lisa也都沒有吭聲，keep quiet about something，表示“對某事保持沉默”。對話中是指Peter他們對深夜洗衣機運轉的噪音“忍氣吞聲”。

3. Jenny說洗衣服的事情跟她無關，是她的室友做的。take that up with someone ，“和某人討論某事”。take up 的用法很多，今天我們要說的是“討論，處理”這個用法，要和某人討論，或者處理某事，就可以用take something up with someone 這個短語。我們用一個對話來做例子，---If you don't like our service, take it up with our manager! ---I will, and I'll see that you get fired!---如果你對我們的服務不滿意，就去和我們經理說啊！---我會的，而且我保證你會被炒魷魚！

4. Peter說不管是誰，如果Jenny他們再不控制噪音的話，他們就要采取法律行動了！take action表示“采取法律行動，控告”。Jenny辯解說，你怎么可以因為別人裝修房子，就把他們告上法庭呢。

5. sue這個詞表示“控告，起訴某人”，sue sb for sth 表示“因為某事對某人提起訴訟，控告某人”，比如說，If you don't complete the work, I will sue you for damages. 如果你不把工作做完，我就控告你，要你付損害賠償金。

6. Peter說，We'll see about that! 那咱們就走著瞧吧！這句話除了用來威脅別人，當有人對你說的話不置可否的時候，你也可以說“咱們再看看好了”，讓自己有個臺階下。當你對于某個方案、計劃的可行性不確定，需要再評估的時候，也可以說We'll see about that! 么這時候的意思就該解釋為“我們再評估看看”，當然了，如果心存不軌，想看某人笑話，We'll see about that! 這句話也很好用。我們用一個對話來做例子，---I'm going to be the top of our class, just watch! ---We'll see about that! ---我要成為班上的第一名，等著瞧吧！---我們就走著瞧！

7. Peter最后說，Then maybe you'll learn some common decency! 這樣或許你會學到一些基本的禮貌。common decency就是指“一般人應該有的禮貌”。

Dialogue Script 4 對話原文 4

Peter: Are they still pounding and hammering up there?
Lisa: Not today. Jenny came over and brought cookies. It was a nice gesture.
Peter: You're such a pushover. I've had it up to there! Their dog just peed on our plants.
Lisa: Really? I was upset because their car was parked in our spot.
Peter: It's a good thing it's not there now, or I would have keyed their car.
Lisa: Calm down, Peter. Maybe we should just move. They've lived here for so long.
Peter: Maybe we should. Look on the balcony!
Lisa: Oh, no! My clothes.
Peter: She always over-waters her plants! She's getting water everywhere! And soil! My white button-downs!
Lisa: And those clothes were already dry. Now they're soaked!
Peter: I'm going up there again!
Lisa: No, Peter. I'll go. You'll just cause more problems with that temper of yours.
Peter: Fine. But your housewife diplomacy won't get us anywhere.

講解：

1. 看來Peter的強硬政策起了一點作用，今天樓上就沒有再敲敲打打了，pounding and hammering 除了指裝修房屋“敲敲打打”這件事，也用來形容“吵鬧的敲打聲”。

2. Jenny還來看望Lisa并且送給她一些自己做的小甜餅，Lisa覺得It was a nice gesture. 這是一個善意的表示。Peter就跟Lisa開玩笑說，她是個容易受騙的人，pushover就表示“容易受騙的人”。

3. Peter說他受夠了，他說I've had it up to there! 這里的it可以指眼前的人或事，have had it就是“厭煩，受夠了”的意思。up to there 則是指心中的不滿，已經到了極限，累積到快溢出頭頂了。所以說這句話的時候，有些人會同時在頭頂比劃，顯示快到頭頂了。我們用一個對話來作例子，---I've had it up to here! Those kids are too much! ---Let's get a sitter and go out tonight, then. ---我已經受夠了！那些小孩子實在太累人了！---那今晚咱們就找個保姆來，我們出去散散心。

4. Peter為什么會這么生氣呢？因為Jenny的狗在Peter家的盆栽上小便，pee是一個俚語詞，在口語中很常用，表示“小便”，過去式就是在pee后面加上一個字母d。

5. Lisa看見Jenny把車停在他們的車位上，也覺得很生氣。spot表示“地點，位置”，對話中是指“停車位”，也就是parking lot。

6. Peter氣急敗壞地說，還好那輛車現在不在了，不然他就會拿鑰匙去刮他們的車了。這里key作為動詞，表示“用鑰匙劃車”。

7. Lisa覺得Peter太過激動了，讓他冷靜下來，calm down，表示“冷靜”，讀音要和come down區分開，一個是長元音a:，另一個是短Λ。

8. Lisa建議搬走，Jenny他們已經住在這很長時間了，不像會搬走的樣子。Peter突然發現樓上的涼臺上有水滴下來，原來是Jenny他們澆花水澆多了，漏了下來。這下子Lisa洗好的衣服全都白洗了。

9. water作動詞表示“澆水”，那么over-water就表示“水澆多了，過渡澆水”。不止是水，還有花盆里的泥土，整個就是泥水，可以想象Peter會多生氣了，新洗的白襯衫就這樣又弄臟了。Peter氣得又要上去找他們。

10. Lisa說還是她去吧，Peter的脾氣太暴躁，搞不好又要惹出什么事情來。這里temper就是指“容易發怒的脾氣”。不過Peter覺得Lisa太好說話，估計起不了什么作用。housewife diplomacy就是形容女人間柔性訴求，動之以情的協調方式。

11. ...won't get us anywhere的意思是你的某種決定或舉動，對于現狀或是未來的結果，并不會有任何的改變，也就是will not make a difference. 還有，如果你覺得有些事情，不論你再怎么努力，也只會是徒勞無功，這時也可以說It won't get us anywhere.或者It won't make any difference. 我們來用一個對話作例子，---Flattery won't get you anywhere. ---Thank you for your advice. ---阿諛奉承對你不會有任何幫助。---謝謝你的忠告。

Part 2 They Decide to Move out. 他們決定搬走了。

Dialogue Script 1 對話原文 1

Peter: Lisa! I've had it!
Lisa: What now?
Peter: Look! There's someone's garbage in front of our door!
Lisa: And there's a pile of plywood, too!
Peter: I have a pretty good idea whose it is!
Lisa: Don't go blaming them when you don't know. It could be some other neighbor's.
Peter: The other neighbors have class. They couldn't do such a thing.
Lisa: I guess you're right. Jenny's moving it right now.
Peter: Jenny! What are you doing leaving your garbage in front of my door?
Jenny: I had two bags, and they were too heavy to carry. So I left one here.
Peter: You don't just go off and leave your trashing lying around!
Jenny: I'm getting it now, Peter. You must have a lot of stress in your life.
Peter: And what about this plywood! You just threw it in front of our door.
Jenny: I'll clean it up! Watch your blood pressure, Peter. Stress will kill you.

講解：

1. Peter又開始抱怨了，那么現在又發生了什么狀況了呢？原來Peter家門前不知道是誰放了一袋垃圾，Lisa又發現門前還堆著一堆三合板。Peter說他一看就知道是誰的了，他當然是指這又是Jenny干的好事。

2. 大家都知道，I have no idea.這句話表示“我不知道”，那么相反，如果對情況非常了解，就可以說I have a pretty good idea.可不是字面上理解的“我有一個相當好的主意。”的意思。我們來舉幾個例子，---I don't think you know how hard relationships are. ---I have a pretty good idea. I'm divorced. ---你不知道維系愛情關系有多難。---我非常了解，因為我已經離婚了。還有，---I have a pretty good idea how to fix this. ---Thank goodness someone understands computers. ---我修理這東西很在行。---謝天謝地，還好有一個懂電腦的人。在對話中，Peter雖然沒有親眼看見亂扔垃圾的人，但他用這個句子來表示“用膝蓋想也知道”的意思。

3. Lisa勸Peter在沒有確切的證據之前不要妄下判斷，Peter卻一口咬定就是Jenny干的，因為其他的鄰居都很有素質，這里的class表示“氣質，水準，素質”，比如說，She's got a lot of class. 她實在是很有氣質。

4. Lisa看見Jenny在搬那些東西，就知道Peter猜的沒錯。Peter上前質問Jenny為什么要把垃圾放在他們家門前，Jenny解釋說，因為她手里有兩個垃圾袋，太重了，她拿不動，就先留下了一個。Peter指責她說，那也不能把垃圾袋亂丟阿，leave sth lying around 這個短語表示“把某物四處亂放”，She left her magazines lying around the living room. 客廳里鋪天蓋地都是她的雜志。

5. Jenny還覺得很奇怪，不就是個垃圾袋嘛，她現在就去收走，Peter至于這么生氣嗎？所以她猜Peter最近的壓力太大了，所以才會亂發脾氣。她還好心提醒Peter要注意自己的血壓，壓力太高有損健康。

Dialogue Script 2 對話原文 2

Peter: Oh, that woman is driving me crazy!
Lisa: Just let it go, Peter.
Peter: Who knows how long it'll take her to clean this stuff up.
Lisa: You know, your office is far from here...
Peter: Are you proposing that we move?
Lisa: If you want to stick it out, I'll go try to communicate with them again!
Peter: No. I think all this communication has been in vain. They don't listen.
Lisa: That's why I think moving is the best solution. The place near your office is nicer anyway.
Peter: I know. I just dread the thought of moving. It's such a pain in the butt.
Lisa: We've been talking about it for a year. We should get "OFF" our butts and just do it!
Peter: You're right. Oh, geez! There they go again - the drilling!
Lisa: I'll start looking tomorrow.
Peter: And let's find out all bout the neighbors before we move in this time.
Lisa: You read my mind...

講解：

1. Peter要被Jenny逼瘋了，drive someone crazy，表示“把某人逼瘋”，相當于get on someone's nerves，不過程度要強一些。Lisa勸Peter想開一些，Just let it go.

2. let...go的使用情景很多，最基本的用法正是它字面上的意思，“把…放開”，比如說，“放開我的手。” 我們可以說Let go of my hand. 或者有人說他因為很郁悶，想要大叫發泄情緒，你就可以對他說，Let it go! 想叫就叫吧。

3. 上面這個let it go其實還有另外一種解釋，就是要對方放開胸懷，忘了已經發生的事情，別計較太多，可以說成“算了吧。”。比如說---I can't believe Tom dumped me. ---You have to let it go. ---我不敢相信Tom甩了我。---你得把他忘了。

4. 也可以解釋為“放過某人，讓某人離開”的意思，比如說，---Maybe I should go after her. ---Naw, just let her go. ---也許我應該跟著她。---算了，隨她去吧。Peter也不知道Jenny什么時候能把裝修搞好，Lisa覺得他們還是搬家的好。

5. Peter還在猶豫不決，Lisa說如果Peter還想堅持到底的話，她就會繼續和Jenny溝通。stick it out在口語中表示“忍受到最后，堅持到底”，it泛指“任何事情”。Peter覺得溝通也沒有用了，他們不會改變的。in vain這個習語表示“徒勞地，無效地”。比如說，He tried in vain to sleep.他怎么也睡不著。All our work was in vain. 我們做的一切都白做了。

6. 所以Lisa覺得搬家才是治本之道，而且在Peter辦公室附近環境也比較好。Peter也認為是這樣，不過他只是怕搬家，因為搬家很麻煩。a pain in the butt 就是指“令人厭煩的人或者事物”。搬家的事情他們已經商量了一年了，現在是開始實行的時候了。Lisa說We should get "OFF" our butts and just do it! 我們應該采取實際行動了。

7. get off one's butts 是指“某人該動身出發，該做些實際的事情了。”這里是Lisa故意接Peter的話，因為他說搬家這件事是a pain in the butt。Peter也同意Lisa的想法。剛說到這，樓上又傳來了電鉆的聲音，Lisa也忍無可忍了，說明天就開始找房子。

8. Peter說這次搬家之前一定要查清楚鄰居的底細才能搬進去。Lisa完全同意，她說，You read my mind 我們真是心有靈犀阿。