课堂详说

各位亲爱的朋友们，欢迎再次乘坐话说地道美语的航班，我是此航班乘务长Juliet。我们此次航班的话聊室开放的话题是如何表达一个花钱大手大脚的人，挥金如土的人，挥霍无度的人。我想参与了我们第一讲学习的人对这个表达很熟悉了。没参与的也没关系，我们先来回顾一下：

In general, American teenagers are big spenders. They want to buy things the other kids have: CDs of the latest songs, CD players, videos. video games, electronic gadgets, fashionable clothes, and even cars. A few parents agree to foot the bill, but others don't. Instead, they put their foot down and insist that the kids get a job. After all, that is the best way for them to learn how to stand on their own feet and learn the value of money.

文中用到的是a big spender。短语中的spender是a person who spends money in the particular way mentioned的意思，译为花钱的人。Big 是large in extent的意思，是指在程度上大的，多的。A big spender就是a person who spends a lot of money的意思，一个用钱量很大的人，也就是花钱大手大脚的人，挥金如土的人，挥霍无度的人。像这样的说法还有a big eater，它的意思是a person who eats a lot,译为饭量很大的人，吃的很多的人。下面我们通过具体情景具体来看下a big spender如何运用。

您发觉没有有些女孩子不想stand on their own feet，就靠攀着着个大款生活，因为这些大款可以帮他们买衣服，买昂贵的金项链，手镯等等，那么旁人是如何看待的呢？Juliet曾经在日记中写到：

She is head over heels in love with this guy because he is a big spender. And it is not a true love, I think, sooner or later, she will be left by that guy. After all, a girl who doesn't stand on her own feet is to be looked down on, including his boyfriend, and even his friends and relatives. 她疯狂地爱上这个男孩，因为这个男孩是个挥金如土的人。但是我认为这不是真爱，迟早会被甩掉。毕竟，不独立主生活的人是被别人看不起的，甚至包括他们的亲朋好友。

注解1：Head over heels意思是完全地, 深深地。例如：I'm head over heels about the dress. 我极喜欢这件衣服。The newly-weds are head over heels in love. 这对新婚夫妇正情溶意蜜。I'll be head-over-heels in debt. 我将台债高筑。Tom was soon head over heels in love with her.汤姆一下子就爱上了她,而且为之倾倒。

注解2：sooner or later是迟早的意思。例句：He hasn't got any money, so he's bound to turn up sooner or later.他没有钱，所以，他必定会出现的。You should tell her, because she'll find out sooner or later. 你还是告诉她吧，因为她迟早会发觉的。He cheated Underwood and Underwood threatened to pay him back sooner or later. 他欺骗了安德伍德，安德伍德扬言迟早要对他进行报复。

注解3：look down on是看不起，轻视，蔑视的意思。例句：Don't look down on such activities.不要小看这些活动。Looking down on women is wrong.轻视妇女是错误的。I look down on man who vents his anger on his family after having a bad day at work. 我瞧不起那些工作不顺心就拿家里人出气的男人。

有的人是诚心诚意对别人好，在别人的生日或是重大节日的话，无论如何都想送贵重的礼物以表心意。可是，有时候事与愿违。我们就来看下面的这句话：

Moreover, you are still a student. If you buy a gift to me costed you an arm and a leg, my parents will think you are a big spender. 再说，你还是个学生。如果你卖给我的礼物太昂贵的话，我父母反而会认为你是个花钱大手大脚的人。

注解1：An arm and a leg是个副词性短语，意思是非常昂贵，相当于very expensively。

注解2：Costed an arm and a leg是过去分词做后置定语，修饰gift。

此外，在注意几下几个有用的固定短语，在我们的口语和写作中都有用。

1. In general 大体上, 一般来说, 通常

Eg. In general her work has been good, but this essay is dreadful.总的说来，她的作品不错，不过这篇文章糟透了。In general, people don't like to be made fun of. 大体上讲，人们都不喜欢被捉弄。

2. After all 毕竟, 到底, 终究

Eg. The old methods proved best after all.采用老方法结果反而是某事物最好。He did climb down after all.最终他屈服了。

好，亲爱的朋友们，我们此次航班已经抵达目的地。下期我们将要谈论的话题是美国青少年要独立自主找工作的事情。最后给您一个小小的课后功课，请您用标准英语改写下面的这段话。答案将在下期公布，敬请关注。感谢您乘坐本次航班，欢迎再次乘坐本航班，朋友们，下次再会。

课后功课

请用标准英语改写下面的段落。

In general, American teenagers are big spenders. They want to buy things the other kids have: CDs of the latest songs, CD players, videos. video games, electronic gadgets, fashionable clothes, and even cars. A few parents agree to foot the bill, but others don't. Instead, they put their foot down and insist that the kids get a job. After all, that is the best way for them to learn how to stand on their own feet and learn the value of money.