李華在Larry辦公大樓門口遇到他。Larry看上去十分疲倦。今天我們要學兩個常用語： back to square one和hankering.

LH: Larry, 你昨天晚上是不是又熬夜加班了？看上去一臉疲憊。

LL: Did I ever! I was here all night doing work on this new marketing project, but ultimately I did not get anywhere. I may have to change the ad's concept completely, even though that would mean going back to square one.

LH: 你要去square one出差？遠嗎？

LL: Square one is not an actual place. It means going back to the beginning.

LH: 我明白了，square one就是從頭開始的意思。那上星期我寫論文忘了存盤，結果電腦死機全丟了，只好從頭再來，這種情況就可以說I was back at square one. 對不對？

LL: Yes, that's right, Li Hua. Because you had to go back to the beginning and all of the earlier work was deleted, you had to go back to square one.

LH: 我手里還有一篇論文要寫，但是還沒有下筆，能不能說I am only at square one?

LL: You can use "square one" that way, but usually people say, "back to square one." This means that they did a lot of work, but it did not help them get any closer to their goal.

LH: 這么說，我可不愿意go back to square one.

LL: Exactly, I'm very frustrated that all of my work last night did not get me anywhere. Even though I was here all night, I'm back to square one.

LH: 這么說，你的新市場營銷計劃如今又回到了起點，要從頭開始，你下一步打算怎樣辦？

LL: You know, to be honest, I am really not sure. I think maybe I need some sleep to help clear up my head.

LH: 我對你深表同情。不過我比你還慘。上星期論文都快打完了，結果沒存，I got sent back to square one. 更糟糕的是，第二天就要交。

LL: That does sound stressful, luckily I have still got a few weeks before this project is due, so I think that I am going to go home and get some sleep before starting again at square one.

LH: 你重新開始之前要不要一起吃點東西？

LL: That sounds great Li Hua, but first I need to get some rest. How about we meet here at noon, grab something to eat and then I get back to work?

LH: Sounds great!

LH: Larry, 你一覺醒來，一定是精神飽滿，干勁十足。

LL: Yes, I had a very good nap, and now I have a hankering for some Italian food.

LH: A hankering? 你是說你想吃意大利飯嗎？

LL: Exactly, Li Hua! To have a hankering, for something means that you want that thing. Usually someone would say they have a hankering for a type of food or drink.

LH: 意大利飯也有很多種啊，你想吃意大利面，比薩餅，還是肉醬千層面?

LL: You know, lasagna sounds really good to me, but what do you have a hankering for Li Hua? What are you in the mood to have for lunch?

LH: 我也說不清楚想吃什么。要不吃個三明治，還是去吃中國飯？

LL: It doesn't really sound like you have a hankering for anything in particular at all.

LH: 肚子餓的時候，當然是吃什么都香。

LL: Maybe you should compare the types of food that you have a hankering for to decide what you want to eat.

LH: 一方面，我特別想吃辣的，可另一方面，我又怕麻煩。

LL: Either food that you choose is fine by me. Italian, Chinese, sandwiches...

LH: 現在聽起來，我好象又都不那么想吃了。

LL: No? Then it looks like we are back at square one then.

LH: Yes, we are back at square one. 不過，我已經知道要吃什么了。

LL: Well what do you want to have for lunch?

LH: Sushi! 快走吧，我已經在流口水了。

今天李華學了兩個常用語。一個是back to square one意思是回到起點。另一個是hankering，意思是特別想要。