本對話選自Desperate Housewives 《絕望的主婦》。Rex與Bree去婚姻顧問那里咨詢，試圖挽救他們岌岌可危的婚姻。

Rex: Look, all I'm saying is that this whole 'it takes two to mess up a marriage' theory is bull. The problems that we have are because of her.
Bree: That is not true, Rex.
Rex: All right, fine. What have I been doing for the past 20 years that has been so awful? You're not saying anything because I've been a great husband and it kills you to admit that.
Dr.Goldfine: Rex, I'm curious. Do you ever acknowledge the benefits of living with Bree?
Rex: Huh?
Dr.Goldfine: By your own admission, your home is always clean, your clothes are always freshly pressed, sounds like a wonderful cook. Despite her flaw, do you ever remember to say thank you?
Rex: Thank you.
Dr.Goldfine: Yes.

重點知識講解：

1. mess up 把……弄糟，胡亂地做，搞得亂七八糟
例句：If you cancel now you'll mess up all my arrangements. 如果你現在取消，就會破壞我所有的安排。
2. bull n. (俚語)廢話
例句： That's a load of bull! 那是連篇的廢話！
shoot the bull (美，非正式)談天，閑談，閑扯
They sat around shooting the bull until late at night. 他們圍坐著一直閑聊到深夜。
3. acknowledge vt. 表示感謝
例句：The producer wishes to acknowledge the assistance of the Los Angeles Police Department in the making of this film. 制片人希望對洛杉磯警察局在本片拍攝過程中所給予的協助表示感謝。
4. by your own admission 你自己承認的
admmison 是承認的意思，可以與that或of sth 搭配，例如：an admission of guilt∕failure 承認有罪∕失敗。
例句：He is a thief by his own admission(=he has admitted it). 他自己供認是小偷。

漢語譯文：

Rex: 聽我說，我的意思是“兩個人才可以破話一樁婚姻”的理論是廢話。我們的問題都是因為她。
Bree: Rex,你說的不對。
Rex: 那好。過去20年我做過什么過分的事情么？你什么都不說是因為我一直是個很好的丈夫，而你怎么都不愿承認這一點。
Dr.Goldfine: Rex, 我很好奇。你是否曾經肯定過和Bree一起生活的好處呢？
Rex: 啊？
Dr.Goldfine: 你自己也承認，你們的房間總是干凈的，你的衣服總是燙平的，而且Bree廚藝也很好。雖然她也有缺點，你是否記得去感謝她呢？
Rex: 感謝，
Dr.Goldfine: 是的。

課后題目：學習完后，你知道怎樣用"mess up" 這個詞組嗎？