VOA流行美语 Unit 146: smack-dab/ring a bell

李华和Larry正在超级市场买菜。今天李华会学到两个常用语：smack-dab和ring a bell.

(Ambience sound in supermarket)

LH: Larry, 你在笑什么啊？

LL: Didn't you see that lady walk smack-dab into the fruit display? She knocked all of the oranges over. What a mess!

LH: 哎哟，那位太太把那水果摊撞翻了。真是的，你看，地上到处都是桔子。她是怎么回事呀？你说她什么来着？

LL: I said that she walk smack-dab into the fruit display. Smack-dab means exactly or right. That means she walked right into the fruit display.

LH: 噢，smack-dab是很精确，很准确的意思。你刚才是说，她一直对着那个水果摊走过去，结果把水果摊撞倒了。幸好她只是撞翻了一些水果，而不是撞到什么有危险性的东西。

LL: Yeah, luckily the fruit display doesn't have any sharp edges. Once my friend walked smack-dab into a glass door and broke her nose.

LH: 我的天啊！你的朋友撞上一扇玻璃门，还把鼻子都撞伤了？难道他没看到那扇门吗？怎么可能撞上去呢？

LL: Well, the door was really clean and it was in the evening, so she just didn't see the glass there.

LH: 那倒是可能的，玻璃门擦得很干净，而且又是晚上。你那朋友当时一定觉得很尴尬吧？

LL: Oh, she was humiliated.

LH: 要是我的话，我也会很不好意思的。

LL： Hey, Li Hua, what's that on your sweater?

LH：怎么啦？我毛衣上有什么？

LL: Well, I just noticed that you have a brown spot smack-dab in the middle of your sweater.

LH: 什么？我毛衣上有一块咖啡色的脏东西？哎呀！肯定是我早上吃巧克力时滴在衣服上的。你说的对，这还恰恰在我毛衣的正中间。

LL: Oh, it's not that bad. You can change into another sweater when you get home.

******

LL: Hey, Li Hua, does the name "Laura Wilson" ring any bells for you?

LH：Laura Wilson？不是那个上星期我们在网球场上碰到的那个金发女孩嘛？她为什么要为我打铃呀？她和打铃有什么关系？

LL：Oh, no! If someone asks you if something "rings a bell," then he is asking if you remember it. I just got a phone message from Laura Wilson and I can't remember who she is.

LH: Larry， 你年纪轻轻，怎么那么健忘！Laura Wilson上星期在网球场上还跟我们说她准备去当职业网球手。

LL: Oh, now I remember who she is. Once you mentioned her plan to be a professional tennis player, then her name rang a bell with me.

LH: Larry, to ring a bell这个说法很有意思。你刚才问我，Laura的名字有没有ring a bell，就是在问我记不记得Laura。那也就是说，要是我记得的话，那我脑子里就会个铃声。

LL: It's a very vivid expression and easy to remember. Right?

LH: 对，我们和她说好下个周末一起打网球，你还记得吗？Does that ring a bell?

LL: Yeah, that rings a bell. What time were we supposed to meet her?

LH: 我记得我们约好了下午4点种在网球场碰面的。

LL: That rings a bell, too. I had better write that down so that I don't forget again.

LH: Larry, 这个星期五是2月11号，怎么样，那是什么日子啊？Does that ring a bell?

LL: It rings a bell, but I'm not sure why. Could you refresh my memory?

LH: Larry! 我真不敢相信你居然忘记了！

LL: I'm just kidding, Li Hua. Of course, I remember that Friday is your birthday.

今天李华学到两个常用语。一个是smack-dab，意思就是不偏不歪、恰恰正好的意思。另一个常用语是ring a bell，也就是记得的意思。