李華和Larry正在看世界杯足球賽。今天我們要學兩個常用語：a long shot和to catch a break

LH: Larry, 世界杯終于開始了! 你覺得誰會得冠軍？美國隊有戲沒有？

Larry: I don't think so, Lihua. The U.S. usually doesn't have one of the best teams.

LH: 哎，你怎么這么沒信心? 美國隊雖然不是奪冠熱門，但也是有機會的啊！

L: Well I guess it's possible, but the U.S. is definitely a long shot.

LH: A long shot? 這是什么意思？

L: You can say that something is a long shot when it isn't very likely.

LH: 哦，a long shot就是可能性很低的事情。你覺得雖然從理論上說，美國對和其它所有球隊一樣，都有奪冠的機會，但真論起實力來，美國隊拿冠軍的可能性就很低了。

L: Right! Here's another example. Carolyn's dream has always been to move to Hollywood and become a famous movie star, but that's definitely a long shot.

LH: 沒錯，當電影明星可沒那么容易。所以Larry, 你以前踢過足球么？

L: Sure, lots of Americans play soccer when they are kids. I dreamed of becoming a professional player, but I always knew that was a long shot.

LH: 你說得沒錯，咱們可不能給人生設置一堆不現實的目標! 話說回來，Larry, 你覺得到底誰能捧走今年的大力神杯呢？

L: Well, Brazil always has a really talented team. I'm sure that they have a good shot this year.

LH: a good shot？ 這是不是和a long shot相反，表示“很有可能的事情”？

L: Exactly. For another example, I could say that my friend Edmund has been doing really well at his job lately, so he has a good shot at getting promotion soon.

LH: 真的？你覺得他很可能會升職？能升多高？會不會成為公司副總？

L: No, I don't think he will get that good of a promotion. Vice president is definitely a long shot.

LH: 原來如此。 Larry, 我們還是好好看球吧。對了，美國第一場和誰踢啊？

L: Our first game is against England, who are supposed to be very good.

LH: 英國可是強隊! 美國隊要踢贏英國隊恐怕也是a long shot嘍!

L: Well, we will have to watch and find out!

******

LH: Larry，這場比賽踢得真棒！ 雙方最后1比1平！

L: Yeah, this is a really close game. But you know, the U.S. is pretty lucky that they're not losing.

LH: 沒錯。 美國本來0比1落后，可是英國大門失誤，讓美國隊逮著機會，攻進一球。

L: Yeah, the American team definitely caught a break with that goal.

LH: The US team caught a break? 這是什么意思？

L: When something lucky happens for you, you can say that you caught a break.

LH: 哦，to catch a break就是交了好運氣，撿了便宜！英國守門員犯了個低級錯誤，給美國隊送分，所以美國隊真是幸運!

L: Right. For another example, I could say that my friend Carolyn has been having a hard time becoming an actress in Hollywood, and is waiting to catch a break.

LH: 我明白了，Carolyn想當明星，可一直紅不起來，不過她沒有放棄，還在等待交好運的那一天。

L: You got it. So Lihua, do you want to watch the USA game against Slovenia with me on Friday?

LH: Larry, 星期五我要上班啊! 我可不能專門請一整天假陪你看球。我老板會瘋掉的!

L: Hmm ... good point. Well maybe we will catch a break and your boss will be sick that day.

LH: 咒我老板生病？你可夠壞的。 對了，難道你真打算每天看世界杯么？你不用上班啦？

L: Well I was trying to figure out that problem too. But then I caught a break when it turned out my boss loves soccer, and brought a TV into our office.

LH: 你老板也是球迷，所以把電視搬進辦公室，讓大家一起看比賽？！哇，太讓人羨慕了。那禮拜五美國對斯洛文尼亞那場比賽，你覺得美國會贏么？

L: Yeah the U.S. is a better team. But you never know, Slovenia might catch a break and win the match.

LH: 說得對，美國今天踢平英國不就是因為catch a break - 交了好運么？

L: Yeah, that's a pretty good result for the U.S., given that they were a long shot to win.

LH: 那就希望美國隊的運氣能一直好下去嘍！

今天李華學了兩個常用語。一個是 a long shot, 表示可能性很低的事情。另一個是to catch a break, 意思是交了好運。