第一，迷你对话

A: Who plays a more important role in your education, you father or your mother?

是你父亲还是你母亲对你教育更多些呢？

B: My mother, of course.

当然是我母亲。

A: How about your father?

那你父亲怎样呢？

B: He turns out once in a blue moon.

我很少见到他。

第二，地道表达

once on a blue moon

1. 解词释义

Blue moon是指“不可能或稀有的时期或事情”，once in a blue moon这个短语的意思是“千载难逢，极为罕见”。

2. 拓展范例

e.g. We only go home to visit my folks once in a blue moon.

我们难得回家去看我父母。

e.g. It's only once in a blue moon that you get an opportunity like that.

像那样的机会，你能得到的实在是太少了。

e.g. It snow here once in a blue moon.

这里几乎不下雪。

e.g. He got her letter once in a blue moon.

他很少收到她的来信。

第三，视野拓展

1. play a role：扮演角色，发挥作用

e.g. They played a shameful role in this farce.

他们在这场闹剧中扮演了可耻的角色。

e.g. She would only play a role if she could identify with the character.

她只愿扮演她能认同的角色。

e.g. The young captain played a decisive role in the success of the revolutionary war.

这位年轻的上校在革命战争胜利中起着决定性的作用。

2. turn out：出现，出席，参加

e.g. Thousands of people turned out for the funeral.

数千人参加了葬礼。

e.g. I wish I hadn't to turn out in this cold, foggy weather.

在这寒冷而多雾的天气里，我要是不必外出该有多好。