評論
打印
A: 美語訓練班上課啦！我是楊琳！
B: 我是Kat! 咱們今天學什么呢，楊琳？
A：咱們比賽吃漢堡，要去向朋友借車，要聊聊肢體語言，還要告訴大家怎么用美語說“大片兒”。
B: But first we have to "Learn a Word". Right?
A: 沒錯！先來學個詞兒！
Learn A Word: cater to
今天我們要學的詞是 cater to. Cater is spelled c-a-t-e-r, cater; and to, t-o, to; cater to. Cater to 意思是迎合需求。隨著美國嬰兒潮人口的老齡化，Thousands of physicians are catering to the 78 million baby boomers who are hoping to feel younger, and who are willing to pay for the privilege. 很多醫生都在努力迎合美國7千8百萬嬰兒潮人口的保健需求，這些人希望能讓自己繼續年輕，并愿意為此買單。Malaysian aviation magnate AirAsia is trying to build "small, fun and affordable sports cars" which cater to Asian consumers. 馬來西亞航空業巨頭亞洲航空正在嘗試著研發符合亞洲消費者口味的“小巧、有趣和價格適中”的跑車。好的，今天我們學習的詞是cater to, cater to, cater to.
A: cater to 迎合需求。現在有很多商家都推出手機購物客戶端，to cater to the consumers who use smartphones to shop.
B: Yes, some people say this will change the entire retail landscape. Do you think that's right？
A: 手機購物帶來零售業的革命？我看有這個可能！記得以前大家問一個商家，會問“Where is your store?" 后來這個問題變成 "what's your web site?" 現在已經變成 "Do you have an app?"
B: Exactly! My gut feeling is that shopping on smartphones is the way to go!
A: Your gut feeling? 正好，我們下面的流行美語節目也用到了這個說法！Let's listen!
Popular American 389
各位聽眾，現在播送《流行美語》。李華去Larry家，幫他收拾屋子，他們會用到兩個常用語：gut feeling和out of the woods.
（knocking on door)
LH: Larry, 快開門。
Larry: OK, OK, I'm coming! I'm coming! (door opens)
LH: 你怎么還穿著睡衣？？都快中午了，難道你還沒有起床啊？
Larry: Hm? Oh, I must have slept in or something...
LH: 你睡過頭了？咱們今天不是要大掃除嗎？你的好哥們兒不是明天從紐約來看你嗎？你看你這屋子還亂七八糟的呢。
Larry: Hmm... it is a bit messy in here, isn't it? Well, no matter... I have a gut feeling my friend isn't coming tomorrow.
LH: Your "gut" has a feeling? 你的腸子有感覺？你要拉肚子嗎？
Larry: No, no. A "gut feeling" refers to someone's intuition. To say you have a gut feeling about something means that you have a feeling about the outcome of something before it happens.
LH: 哦，原來 gut feeling 就是直覺的意思。你是說，你有個直覺你朋友不會來了。為什么這么說呢？
Larry: Well, sometimes it's hard to explain why you get a gut feeling about something. But in this case, there are a few things that tell me he's not going to come.
LH: 哦？比如說？
Larry: For one thing, this friend of mine has been meaning to visit me for years, and every time, right before he's supposed to come, something happens and he cancels the trip.
LH: 原來，這個人以前每次說要來看你都沒能成行，老是因為這樣那樣的事兒改變計劃。
Larry: Right, and that's not the only reason I have a gut feeling he won't come... I was on the phone with him last night...
LH: 你們在電話里說什么了？
Larry: Girl trouble.
LH: 怎么，他跟女朋友吵架了？
Larry: (sigh)...That's right. He was pretty upset. I was talking to him until four o'clock in the morning!
LH: 你跟他聊到凌晨4點鐘？難怪你今天這么晚都起不來！
Larry: Yep. that's why I have a gut feeling he's going to cancel his trip once again. I was hoping to help him with his problems, but I have a gut feeling that he and his girlfriend are not out of the woods quite yet.
LH: 等一下！你說，你直覺覺得，他和他女朋友還沒有out of the woods? 他們倆去森林里干嘛？
Larry: Ha... no, they aren't literally in the woods. What I meant is, I don't think their problems are totally solved. My advice may have helped him somewhat, but I don't think they're totally out of the woods yet.
LH: 哦，They aren't out of the woods yet 意思是說，他們之間的問題還沒有徹底解決，對嗎？
Larry: That's right. I have a gut feeling they might even break up.
LH: 你覺得他們會分手？要是真這樣，那我也有個 gut feeling, 他呀，八成是不會來了。
Larry: Yep. So, (yawns) I might as well get back to bed and catch up on some sleep.
LH: 等一下！ Larry, you're not off the hook! 你別以為這樣就沒事了！你屋里太亂，你得收拾收拾！
Larry: Aw, Lihua, I'll do it later! I'm exhausted from staying up last night! Besides, my buddy isn't going to come down tomorrow.
LH: 哎？這個你也不能確定啊！ 你不只是憑直覺覺得人家不來么，這怎么能算數？
Larry: I'm pretty sure about my gut feeling this time, Lihua. (phone rings) Oh, here's my friend calling now. I bet he's going to cancel.
LH: 你快聽聽看，你朋友是不是真的不來了。
Larry: (answers phone) Hi, Steve, good morning... Oh, I slept fine, don't worry..Mm-hmm.Mm-hmm...Oh, Really? You got back together with your girlfriend?? Oh, I had a gut feeling you two would work things out! Oh, you're coming a day early? Tonight? You're already on your way?? Uhh, great. we'll see you soon, then. Bye!
LH: 什么？你朋友不僅沒有取消行程，而且還要提前一天到？這下傻眼了吧！看來你的gut feeling很不靠譜！得啦！咱們開始大掃除吧！
