VOA流行美语 Unit 287:born yesterday; head over heels..
日期:2009-03-28 11:31

(单词翻译:单击)

李华和Larry讨论情人节的安排。今天我们要学两个常用语:born yesterday和head over heels.

LL: So, Lihua, I know you said that you didn't want me to buy a Valentine's Day gift for you, but I wasn't born yesterday. I can tell you're expecting something romantic.

LH: 我情人节唯一的愿望就是能跟你一起渡过!我们可以一起做晚饭,然后去看电影。你刚才说自己wasn't born yesterday是什么意思啊?

LL: Saying someone was born yesterday, means that they are very easy to fool. I said that I wasn't "born yesterday" because you can't fool me.

LH: 我知道了,说什么人was born yesterday意思就是说这个人容易受骗,有点象中文里说的“三岁小孩。”

LL: That's right. Even though you won't admit it, I think you would love to receive some flowers or chocolates for Valentine's Day.

LH: 你心真细!不过,我确实不想要什么礼物,跟你在一起就足够了。不过你别生气,我可不是说你傻。

LL: No, you didn't call me foolish. In the US, stating that you "weren't born yesterday" is a way to joke around with friends. If you say that you "weren't born yesterday," you're expressing that you aren't gullible.

LH: 我明白了,you said you weren't born yesterday ,是因为你觉得我肯定想要你送情人节礼物给我。

LL: We both know I wasn't really born yesterday. What I meant was that I have known you for so long that I can tell you are looking forward to a romantic Valentine's Day gift.

LH: 你可真够固执的。那你说,born yesterday什么时候才会带有贬义呢?

LL: If you are speaking with someone, for example one of your students, who don't know who Zhang Ziyi is, and you say 'Were you born yesterday? She's a famous Chinese movie star!

LH: 那别人肯定会不高兴。这就等于是说,你怎么连这都不知道!

LL: That's right. Asking someone if they were "born yesterday" implies that they misunderstood a subject that is rather simple to understand or that is common knowledge.

******

LL: Lihua, did you get the flowers I sent to you for Valentine's Day? You know I'm head over heels for you, so tonight when we make dinner together I have another special gift to give you.

LH: 你真是太浪漫了。我早就说过,情人节最好的礼物就是能跟你在一起。你刚才说head over heals? 你摔到哪里了吗?

LL: No, that's not what I meant to say. I didn't literally fall down. I said I'm "head over heels" for you, because you are very special and I like you a lot.

LH: 我也很喜欢你,粉红色的玫瑰花是我最喜欢的,不过我还是不明白,head over heels怎么能用来形容爱慕之情呢?

LL: In the US, it is most common to say that you have fallen "head over heels" in love for a person. This is an exaggerated way to say that you have fallen in love.

LH: 真有意思,中文里说,一下子陷入爱河不能自拔,叫“神魂”颠倒,可是英语里却用头和脚来形容, head over heels。可是这也讲不通啊,头明明是在脚上面啊。

LL: It is obvious that the term "head over heels" doesn't make literal sense, but it still communicates a state of being so smitten with a person that one could jump and flip for joy.

LH: 没想到,Larry, 你在这方面还挺在行的。那你知道这种说法是什么时候出现的吗?

LL: This phrase actually originated in the 1400's as "heels over head," and didn't have anything to do with expressing love-struck devotion. But over the years it became "head over heels," and is only used to express feeling suddenly smitten for a boyfriend or girlfriend.

LH: 不管怎么说,head over heels这种说法用在情人节,简直是太恰当不过了。 Larry, 你送的玫瑰太美了,You've really shown that you are "head over heels" for me. 这是我渡过的最浪漫的情人节。

今天李华学了两个常用语。一个是born yesterday, 意思是三岁小孩。还有一个是head over heels, 意思是为某人神魂颠倒。

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重点单词
  • phrasen. 短语,习语,个人风格,乐句 vt. 措词表达,将(
  • obviousadj. 明显的,显然的
  • literaladj. 逐字的,字面上的,文字的 n. 错误字体
  • romanticadj. 浪漫的 n. 浪漫的人
  • understandvt. 理解,懂,听说,获悉,将 ... 理解为,认为
  • gullibleadj. 易受骗的,轻信的
  • exaggeratedadj. 言过其辞的,夸大的 动词exaggerate的
  • devotionn. 虔诚,祈祷,献身,奉献,热爱
  • misunderstoodadj. 被误解的 v. 误解,误会(misunders
  • flipvt. 掷,弹,轻击 vi. 翻转 n. 空翻,浏览 a