本对话选自Desperate Housewives 《绝望的主妇》。Rex与Bree去婚姻顾问那里咨询，试图挽救他们岌岌可危的婚姻。

Rex: Look, all I'm saying is that this whole 'it takes two to mess up a marriage' theory is bull. The problems that we have are because of her.
Bree: That is not true, Rex.
Rex: All right, fine. What have I been doing for the past 20 years that has been so awful? You're not saying anything because I've been a great husband and it kills you to admit that.
Dr.Goldfine: Rex, I'm curious. Do you ever acknowledge the benefits of living with Bree?
Rex: Huh?
Dr.Goldfine: By your own admission, your home is always clean, your clothes are always freshly pressed, sounds like a wonderful cook. Despite her flaw, do you ever remember to say thank you?
Rex: Thank you.
Dr.Goldfine: Yes.

重点知识讲解：

1. mess up 把……弄糟，胡乱地做，搞得乱七八糟
例句：If you cancel now you'll mess up all my arrangements. 如果你现在取消，就会破坏我所有的安排。
2. bull n. (俚语)废话
例句： That's a load of bull! 那是连篇的废话！
shoot the bull (美，非正式)谈天，闲谈，闲扯
They sat around shooting the bull until late at night. 他们围坐着一直闲聊到深夜。
3. acknowledge vt. 表示感谢
例句：The producer wishes to acknowledge the assistance of the Los Angeles Police Department in the making of this film. 制片人希望对洛杉矶警察局在本片拍摄过程中所给予的协助表示感谢。
4. by your own admission 你自己承认的
admmison 是承认的意思，可以与that或of sth 搭配，例如：an admission of guilt∕failure 承认有罪∕失败。
例句：He is a thief by his own admission(=he has admitted it). 他自己供认是小偷。

汉语译文：

Rex: 听我说，我的意思是“两个人才可以破话一桩婚姻”的理论是废话。我们的问题都是因为她。
Bree: Rex,你说的不对。
Rex: 那好。过去20年我做过什么过分的事情么？你什么都不说是因为我一直是个很好的丈夫，而你怎么都不愿承认这一点。
Dr.Goldfine: Rex, 我很好奇。你是否曾经肯定过和Bree一起生活的好处呢？
Rex: 啊？
Dr.Goldfine: 你自己也承认，你们的房间总是干净的，你的衣服总是烫平的，而且Bree厨艺也很好。虽然她也有缺点，你是否记得去感谢她呢？
Rex: 感谢，
Dr.Goldfine: 是的。

课后题目：学习完后，你知道怎样用"mess up" 这个词组吗？