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那個要求太離譜了吧——我們可負擔不起呀。
【Andrew's Note】
A tall order is a difficult task. We don't use the phrase "short order" to talk about easy tasks, though; we use it to talk about tasks done quickly: In short order, the girl can have it done totally all alone.苛刻的要求是很難對付的。我們不能用“short order”來表示容易做的事，而是用來表示迅速完成的任務或事情：要不了多久，這個女孩就能獨立處理好這些事情。
[1] Robert was born in a poverty-stricken family. His father was disabled and did odd jobs to earn bread for the family. His mother was a housewife busy with her chores. But at school Robert fell in with some preppies(紈绔子弟; 花花公子) who lived high on the hog. They had their own sports cars, showing off their considerable wealth and lavish lifestyle, hitting on girls left and right. Of course, Robert felt green with envy, wishing that he could have been born with a silver spoon in his mouth.
[2] Anyhow, he couldn't refrain fromthe temptation of the sports car. He tossed in his sleep (翻來覆去睡不著) in bed for a couple of nights in a row before he took his courage in both handsand asked his father to buy him a sports car.
[3] His request struck his parents dumb. They both felt about two inches tall. They didn't take their son to task, but instead they kept calm and apologized to their son, "We are really very sorry, son. That is a tall order — completely beyond our means."
【參考譯文】
[1] 羅伯特出身在一個窮苦的家庭。父親是個殘疾人，打點零星活兒維持家計。母親是家庭主婦，忙于家務活兒。可在學校，羅伯特卻和一幫鋪張浪費的花花公子打得火熱。 他們有自個的跑車，擺闊充大，到處挑逗和招惹女孩子。當然羅伯特非常嫉妒他們，心想他要是出身富貴該多好哇！
[2] 無論如何，他忍受不了跑車的誘惑。連續好幾個夜晚，他都在床上翻來覆去睡不著，最后鼓起勇氣，要求爸爸也給他買輛跑車。
[3] 他的請求把父母給嚇得目瞪口呆，同時他們感到羞愧難當。他們沒有責備兒子，相反冷靜下來，抱歉地對兒子說：“我們真的非常抱歉，兒子。 那個要求太離譜了吧——我們可負擔不起呀?！?/p>
