【美国习语】355 改变主意，改变论调，改弦易辙

英语自学网

【节目介绍】:本节目每天早上9点更新，介绍美国的习惯用语，让大家有更开阔的语言视角。适合各个阶层的人学习，难度中等。大家只要听写出音频中的例句就可以了，本期一共三段例句。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:
Tom
VOA
Joe
Sally
注：本期只读一遍。Tom almost resigned from VOA but changed his tune in a hurry when he learned he'll get a promotion soon. But I still wonder how much longer he can put up with his domineering boss.
Now that he's been elected governor, he certainly sings a different tune about big business. Now he refuses to tighten regulations on chemical wastes although he promised to during the campaign.
Before he got married, Joe used to be really wild. he spent all his salary going out and having a good time. But he's dancing to another tune now with his beautiful wife Sally and two kids.我们上次讲了几个由tune这个词组成的习惯用语。今天要讲的习惯用语也都有tune这个词。上次说过tune作名词的时候解释曲调。例如在下面的习惯用语里: change your tune。 Change your tune按照字面意思来解释就是改换曲调。它和其它习惯用语一样，应用范围大大扩展。Change your tune作为习惯用语由来已久。实际上它最初出现在近四百年前的一首民谣里，咏唱侠盗罗宾汉劫富济贫的故事。
那么这个习惯用语究竟表达什么意思呢。让我们通过一个例子来琢磨。这段话说的是Tom原来打算辞职，后来又决定留下。我们来听听是什么原因促使他改变主意的。
例句-1：Tom almost resigned from VOA but changed his tune in a hurry when he learned he'll get a promotion soon. But I still wonder how much longer he can put up with his domineering boss.
他说：Tom原来乎已经辞去了美国之音的工作，但是他说自己即将被提升就忙改变主意留下来了。然而我还是拿不准他对那位飞扬跋扈的上级能忍受多久。
他原来决意辞职，后来又留下没走，是即将要提升他让他改变主意的。所以这里的changed his tune意思就是他改变了主意或者决定。
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Change one's tune意思是改变主意或者决定。还有一个习惯用语也表示类似的意思。它是: sing a different tune。 Sing a different tune按照字面意思是唱不同的调子。它和change one's tune都可以用来表示改变主意或者决定，但是sing a different tune作为习惯用语更为古老，来自十四世纪的年代。Sing a different tune往往还含有某人的言行一反既往的意思。例如在我们将要听的例子里就是这样。这段话说的是在政治舞台上再三重演的一段老故事。
例句-2：Now that he's been elected governor, he certainly sings a different tune about big business. Now he refuses to tighten regulations on chemical wastes although he promised to during the campaign.
他说：如今他已当选州长，对待大企业当然就改变了论调。虽然他在竞选时曾经答应要对大企业的化学废料处理严加规定，但是现在他却拒绝这样做。
所以这里的sings a different tune意思就是改变论调。我们也可以说sing another tune或者sing another song来表示同样的意思。
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我们再来学一个意义相近的习惯用语: dance to another tune。 Dance to another tune如果直译就是: 跟著另一支曲子起舞。大家也许猜得到这个习惯用语跟刚才学的几个习惯用语一样也是用来比喻改变以往的作为和态度的。
让我们来听个例子，说的是一个名叫Joe的小伙子。他原来象个浪荡公子，但是现在却面目一新。我们来听听是什么因素使得他痛改前非的。
例句-3：Before he got married, Joe used to be really wild. he spent all his salary going out and having a good time. But he's dancing to another tune now with his beautiful wife Sally and two kids.
他说：Joe结婚成家前可真是荒唐。他出外寻欢作乐把工资花得一干二净。但是如今他有了漂亮的太太Sally和两个孩子，彻底改过自新。
Joe从一个浪荡公子变为安于家庭生活的人。这是个很大的改变，所以dance to another tune解释一改以往作风。它的意思相当于中国成语"改弦易辙。"