這是一個(gè)星期六，Larry 和李華來到學(xué)校附近一個(gè)社區(qū)，那里的住戶當(dāng)天都把家里沒用的東西拿出來廉價(jià)銷售。 李華會(huì)學(xué)到兩個(gè)常用語：shindig 和a steal。

LL: Li Hua, this community yard sale is huge. It is quite a shindig!

LH: 啊，這兒好熱鬧喲。 這么多住家擺攤兒賣舊貨，還有這么多的人來買便宜貨。Larry? 你說這是一個(gè)shindig，什么是Shindig?。縎hindig聽起來好象不象英文詞。

LL: Oh, it is an English word all right.

LH: Okay, 是英文詞，那么shindig到底是什么意思呢?

LL: A shindig is a big, noisy event. It can be a party or any big social occasion where there are lots of people.

LH: Oh, shindig就是規(guī)模很大，很熱鬧的聚會(huì)，或者是某種社會(huì)活動(dòng)。原來如此！這個(gè)社區(qū)定在今天大家一起賣舊貨，吸引了很多人來撿便宜貨。這就成了一個(gè)shindig。那還有什么場合可以稱為shindig？

LL: Remember, last year we went to the party for Professor Jackson's retirement? That was also a big shindig.

LH: 噢，杰克遜教授退休時(shí)搞的那次聚會(huì)確實(shí)可以稱作shindig。 當(dāng)時(shí)，系里的研究生和教授們都到場了，向他表示敬意。那次shindig的盛況確實(shí)難忘；大家又吃，又喝，真是很痛快！

LL: Speaking of shindigs, when are you going to have a shindig at your place, Li Hua?

LH: 你要在我家里搞一個(gè)shindig ? 看來，那么大的聚會(huì)總要等到考試以后才能辦啦。

LL: I can't think of a better time to have a big shindig than after exams. I can help you plan it.

LH: 就是啊，考完試大家都心情輕松，那是舉辦shindig 的最好時(shí)候。你愿意幫我策劃，那太好了。Larry，要是在你家舉行不是更好嗎？你那里地方大呀！

LL: Yeah, but it is also a lot dirtier. I wouldn't want to throw a fancy shindig in my messy place.

LH：那倒也是，你的家呀，雖然大，但確實(shí)是雜亂無章。不過，我可以幫你打掃??！地方大shindig不是可以有更多的人參加嗎？

LL: You're right! I will need your help though!

LH: 嘿， 瞧瞧那些碟子！ 這正是我需要的。

******

LL: Wow, Li Hua. Those dishes are a steal!

LH: Steal？不， Larry，我干嗎要偷呀？那么便宜我當(dāng)然買得起呀！即便我買不起，我也不會(huì)偷呀！

LL: Oh, Li Hua, I know that. But when something is a very good deal we say it is a steal - STEAL.

LH: 噢，原來如此，對不起，我以為你讓我偷吶！原來a steal就是很合算，和便宜的東西。我們中國人會(huì)說，這些碟子簡直便宜得像白撿的一樣，所以就可以說是a steal吧。我把這一套全買下來也只要花五美元！

LL: That is what is great about shopping at a community yard sale. You can find lots of real steals.

LH: 沒錯(cuò)，在這種社區(qū)賣舊貨的地方真能買到便宜貨。Larry， 你看還有別的便宜貨可以撿嗎？Any more steals?

LL: Yeah, look at this lamp. I need a lamp for my living room, and this one is only ten dollars.

LH: 你客廳里需要一盞臺(tái)燈？十塊美元， 我可不敢說這也是個(gè)steal。

LL: Why not, Li Hua? It appears to work.

LH: 這燈是可以用的，可不一定是steal啊。我的碟子是個(gè)steal，那是因?yàn)槲锩纼r(jià)廉，可是這盞臺(tái)燈嘛...

LL: Are you saying that the lamp is ugly?

LL: 唉，說實(shí)話，這燈是夠難看的。

LH: I am glad you are honest with me， Li Hua. Not everything at a yard sale is a real steal. You've just saved me ten bucks!

今天李華學(xué)到了兩個(gè)常用語。一個(gè)是shindig， 意思是規(guī)模很大，人很多，很熱鬧的盛會(huì)。李華學(xué)到的另一個(gè)常用語是a steal， 那是指便宜得象白檢的東西一樣。