李華要參加課堂辯論，心里很緊張， 找Larry出主意。他們會(huì)用到兩個(gè)常用語：you're toast和the tables have turned.

LH: Larry，我可怎么辦？這次辯論的成績(jī)占期末成績(jī)的一半呢!

Larry: OK, OK. Calm down for a minute. What's the topic of the debate?

LH: 辯論的題目是國(guó)會(huì)最近通過的醫(yī)療改革法案!我當(dāng)時(shí)沒注意這個(gè)新聞，現(xiàn)在什么都不知道啊!

Larry: Oh, my. That is certainly a complicated topic, even for an American. Are you arguing for or against it?

LH: 我是辯論的正方還是反方？哦...我忘了。

Larry: You don't even know what side of the argument you're on? Well. Looks like you're toast.

LH: I'm toast? 你在說什么??？

Larry: It means you have no chance; you're done for; you're finished. I don't see how you could possibly be prepared for this debate.

LH: "I'm toast" 就是I'm finished? 我完了？沒戲了？哎呀，這門課可是必修課，我必須要通過呀! Larry, you have to help me!

Larry: I don't think I can, Lihua...Although I know I'm going to be toast if I just sit there and be negative. Haha...

LH: 沒錯(cuò)，要是你只顧坐在那里看我出丑，你就死定了!哼!

Larry: Well, I can tell you about the health care bill, but if you don't know what side you are on for the debate, I don't think that will help you.

LH: 雖然我忘了自己在哪一方，可我的老對(duì)頭Susie是我的對(duì)手，我們不在一隊(duì)，而且她特別能辯論。 I really AM toast, Larry.

Larry: Unfortunately, I would have to agree with you. You don't have any friends in that class? Give one a call and see if they remember which team you are on.

LH: 對(duì)! 我給Jennifer打個(gè)電話，看她知不知道我是哪一方的。

******

李華給Jennifer打電話之后，得到了一些好消息。

LH: Larry, 好消息！Susie生病了!

Larry: Huh?

LH: Jennifer說，Susie重感冒，嗓子出不了聲，更別提辯論了! I'm not toast anymore! 我有救啦!

Larry: Oh, I see. What about your team? Do you know what side you need to prepare to argue for?

LH: Jennifer說，我和她都是正方的，支持這個(gè)法案。她還讓我不必?fù)?dān)心，說我們這方有幾個(gè)很牛的人! 這真太棒了!

Larry: That is good news. Looks like the tables have turned in your favor.

LH: The tables have turned? 什么桌子？

Larry: I'm not talking about an actual table. The tables have turned means that the person that used to be ahead is now behind, and the person who used to be at a disadvantage now has an advantage.

LH: 我明白了，the tables have turned就是指形勢(shì)發(fā)生了一百八十度大轉(zhuǎn)彎! 我之前處于弱勢(shì)，可現(xiàn)在忽然處于優(yōu)勢(shì)了!

Larry: Exactly. You can say the tables have turned in your favor. It doesn't look like your grade for this class is toast anymore.

LH: The tables have turned in my favor.風(fēng)水轉(zhuǎn)到我這邊來了! 一切都對(duì)我有利了! 我本來以為I was toast, 但是現(xiàn)在，對(duì)手病了，隊(duì)友強(qiáng)大，The tables have turned! 我真是幸運(yùn)!

Larry: It looks like your classmate Susie is the one who is toast now. And since you don't have to prepare for that debate anymore, I was wondering if you could help me out a little...

LH: 怎么了Larry?

Larry: Well, I need to submit a report on the Chinese market to my boss, and I've been putting it off. It's due tomorrow and I could use someone to help me do some research on Chinese websites...

LH: 你明天要交一分關(guān)于中國(guó)的市場(chǎng)分析報(bào)告，現(xiàn)在還沒怎么寫？你想讓我?guī)兔υ诰W(wǎng)上查資料？哼! 我才不管呢!

Larry: Oh! Lihua, Please! If I don't finish this report in time, well, I'd be...

LH: You'd be toast! 你就完蛋啦! Larry, 幾分鐘前你還不肯幫我準(zhǔn)備辯論呢，現(xiàn)在輪到你求我，我不幫忙了。 哈哈! It seems the tables have turned!

Larry: That situation was a little bit different...I didn't really have any way to help you.

LH: 這倒也是。可是，我也真的幫不了你啊，我又不會(huì)寫市場(chǎng)調(diào)查報(bào)告。

Larry: You're not going to help me? But I'll be toast without your help!

LH: Sorry, Larry! 可我真的沒法幫你，我要和我們辯論隊(duì)的人在圖書館開會(huì)，對(duì)了，你能開車送我去圖書館么？

Larry: Ha, it looks like the tables have turned again...

今天李華學(xué)了兩個(gè)常用語。一個(gè)是you're toast，意思是“你完蛋了”。另一個(gè)是the tables have turned，意思是“局勢(shì)發(fā)生逆轉(zhuǎn)”。