【美国习语】376 把事情打乱，掀起风波，滴水不漏，一筹莫展
【节目介绍】:大家只要听写出音频中的例句就可以了，本期一共四段例句。听写不需要打引号，句子间也不用编序号。音频中听到的所有习语，提交后都均可在译文部分找到。hints:
Billhttp://t1.g.hjfile.cn/listen/201212/201212221225451569781.mp3Governor, the state is running out of money, but let's not talk about raising taxes until the election is over, you'll just rock the boat and get the voters upset with you.
Look, you may see things here you don't like. But it's better not to make waves, the big boss doesn't like complaints, and the last guy to make waves got fired the very next day.
The accused said he was out of town at the time of the murder. But his story didn't hold water after the prosecutor showed a videotape of him pointing a gun at the victim.
Bill made good money, but he spent every dollar he made. When he was killed in a car crash, his family was left high and dry with no insurance and not enough money to pay the rent.我们已经连续几次谈了出自水手却在日常生活中被常人采纳的习惯用语。今天要讲的习惯用语都跟水有某种关联。
第一个是： rock the boat。 Rock在这儿当动词，意思是摇动。那么rock the boat可不就是左右晃动船只了吗？划过船的人都知道这不是什么开玩笑的事儿，弄不好就会翻船。这一来不仅你本人，同船的其他人都得遭殃。那么习惯用语rock the boat含义是什么呢？我们听个例子。一位州长正展开竞选活动争取再次当选。他的首席顾问提醒他务必回避一个引起反感的问题。
例句-1：Governor, the state is running out of money, but let's not talk about raising taxes until the election is over, you'll just rock the boat and get the voters upset with you.
顾问说：虽然州内资金短缺，但是我们在选举没结束前可别提出加税，不然你会激怒选民把事情搞糟的。
候选人在竞选中时常会以甜言蜜语取悦选民争取选票，如果在这当口上反而提出加税，触犯众怒一定会把竞选计划全盘打翻。所以rock the boat意思就是把事情打乱搞糟。
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我们再学个意义相似的习惯用语：make waves。 Wave是波浪。听到这个习惯用语，有人也许会联想起中国成语"兴风作浪。" Make waves也确实是这个意思，正好比把一块大石头扔进平静的湖水里激起层层波浪一样，make waves用来表示把现状打乱、掀起风波。我们来听个例子。这是办公室的一位老前辈在好心告戒一名新同事：
例句-2：Look, you may see things here you don't like. But it's better not to make waves, the big boss doesn't like complaints, and the last guy to make waves got fired the very next day.
他说：哎，你可能会觉得这儿有些事情看不顺眼，但是你最好别声张。我们的大老板可不爱听怨言。上次兴风作浪的那人第二天就给解雇了。
习惯用语make waves意思是掀起风波、打乱现状。
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我们再学一个习惯用语：hold water。 Hold water是个相当古老的习惯用语，有四百来年的历史了，原来是指坛坛罐罐装水一点儿不漏，后来hold water被转用来表示确实可靠、经得起严密审查，跟中文成语"滴水不漏"的意思正相吻合。我们来听个例子，说的是谋杀案的审判，被告被控在抢劫时扣住并枪杀店员。我们听听是怎么会事。
例句-3：The accused said he was out of town at the time of the murder. But his story didn't hold water after the prosecutor showed a videotape of him pointing a gun at the victim.
他说：被告声称谋杀案发生那天他不在本地，但是检方放出一段他拿枪指着被害人的录象，这一来他的说辞就漏洞百出了。
这里的not hold water意思是漏洞百出，习惯用语hold water解释"滴水不漏"比喻确实可靠经得起严密审查。
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最后再学一个习惯用语: high and dry。 High and dry来自这样的情况：如果你乘坐的船航行时给水下的礁石或者沙堤卡住了，到退潮水位低的时候这艘船就被高高地架在干干的沙石上动弹不得，因为接触不到水，也就无法借助水流的浮力和动力来让你摆脱困境。
High and dry逐渐被广泛应用成为习惯用语。我们听个例子来体会它的意思。这段话里说的Bill没充分考虑应付意外不测情况。
例句-4：Bill made good money, but he spent every dollar he made. When he was killed in a car crash, his family was left high and dry with no insurance and not enough money to pay the rent.
他说：Bill以前收入不错，但是却挣多少花多少，没有积余。所以他在车祸中丧生后，他的家人就陷于一筹莫展的困境，没有保险，甚至连房租也付不起。
显然Bill在世时是家庭的主要收入来源，他虽然挣钱很多，但是却没防到命运不测，既没积蓄也没买保险，所以他一出事，家人就一无依靠生活没着落了，可见习惯用语high and dry是用来描绘处于一筹莫展的困境的。
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