跟着Gossip Girl学英语(三)
作者自述:这可能是我写过的同类文章中最长最详细的了。这类文章写了很多,以前往往都注重分析比较“邪门”的东西,这次我更注重生活和工作中的实用英语的解析,并做了更多的联想和延伸。看这些东西自然能够进步,不过对于英语基础薄弱的朋友来说,学英语就像学功夫,站好马步是最重要的一步,而不能一上来就练把式,热衷学习花里胡哨的东西,整一些没用的。有功夫还是要多看看语法,对于你理解任何文体都是很有帮助的。1. X.O.X.O. gossip girl
这是片头独白中的一句。X.O.X.O.是什么意思呢?原来=hugs and kisses
(亲亲抱抱)。关于这个词的来源,大家不妨看看下面的解释:
Even as little as a hundred and fifty years ago, not many people could read
or write. The "X" at the bottom of a document took the place of a signature.
They would kiss the "X" as a crucifix or bible was kissed to emphasize the
importance of the mark. It was this practice that lead to the "X" representing a
kiss.
There isn't much known about the beginnings of the "O". It is a North
American custom. The "O" represents the arms in a circle around another person.
Arms crossed in front of you do not mean the "X" as a hug! The "O" is the
hug.
2. A few simple tips to beat the heat. 告诉你几条解暑的小贴士。
Beat the heat 直译过来并非“战胜暑气”,在这里,beat-=avoid。所以beat the
heat的意思是“躲避暑气”,也就是所谓的“避暑”了。根据它的context,理解成“解暑”、“降署”会更贴切。Beat the traffic/rush
就是“避开(交通,上下班)高峰”。
而后来Serena问Dan到底在怕什么,Dan开玩笑说是heatstroke(中暑)。中暑也可以用sunstroke表示。说“他中暑了”,可以说He
suffers (from) heatstroke.
3. Try these on. 穿上试试。
说衣服合不合身用“fit”。比如:These Jeans fit you like a glove.
这条牛仔裤你穿上很合身(简直像量身定做一样)。
“量身定做,非常合适”可以用tailor-made 或customer-made 表示。
后面Blair的妈妈说了句“It’s hot and late. We will finish your fitting
tomorrow.”这里的fitting也是“试衣”的意思。
4. I knew it! 我就知道(会这样)
5. I ran into Jenny out on the street. 我刚才在街上撞见/碰见Jenny。
Ran into的意思是“偶然遇见,不期而遇”,类似的说法还有come across,bump
into,see,正式点的说法是encounter。
“事先约好”可以用schedule an appointment,fix a date来表达。
Street前面的介词用in和on皆可,office前面也是用in
或者at都可以。其实我们学英语是为了自己让对方明白,所以有时候是不必太钻牛角尖的,一般人其实没必要在一些细枝末节上花太多精力。
后面Vanessa说了句Nate is running late=Nate’s gonna be late. 如果说时间要用光了: Time is
running out,如果说车的汽油快用光了:Gas is running out, 如果说电池快没电了: Battery is running
low;电池没电了是battery is dead,后面Jenny 说她的手机没电了:My phone died.
说到这,我想起前段时间看的一份香港报纸,介绍“走地鸡(放养的鸡)”英语中叫做free-range chicken, 而肉鸡(笼养鸡)就是battery
chicken。如果是竞选总统:run for presidency, 管理一家公司:run a company, 叫人拼命跑,赶紧逃命:run for
your deal life.
6. Dan’s Father: You two have worked out all your issues?
你们俩的问题现在都解决了吧。
Dan: Yeah, got’em all squared away
是的。都说清楚了。
Square away 这里相当于finish。
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