迷你对话

A: I wish you would not be so selfish.

我希望你不要太自私。

B: Selfishness is one human being‘s instincts. It is very difficult to get it out root and branch.

自私是人类的本性之一，想连根拔除是很难的。

A: But you should at least consider your future.

但是你起码要为你儿子的未来着想。

B: His mother, not me, should do this.

是她妈妈应该这么做，不是我。

对话精讲

第一、 地道表达

1. 习惯用语

root and branch

2. 解词释义

Root本义是“根”，branch是“树枝”。把一种植物连根带枝拔出，就是把它彻底除掉了。因此，用root and branch来形容“彻底地，完全地，根本地”的意思。

3. 支持范例

e.g.These evil practices must be destroyed root and branch.

这些恶习必须彻底根除。

e.g.Our enemies have been destroyed root and branch.

我们的敌人完全被歼灭了。

e.g.The police are trying to put an end to smuggling root and branch.

警察正在试图彻底禁绝走私。

e.g.The medicine was so effective that it cured his disease root and branch.

这种药非常有效，把他的病根治了。

第二、词海拾贝

1. human being：人类

e.g. Each human being has to die, but mankind goes on world without end.

每个人都会死, 但人类却永无止境。

e.g.Money is not an inherent part of the human being.

钱财身外物。

e.g.Each human being has his share of rights.

每个人都有他自己的一份权利。

e.g.I never heard you speak ill of a human being in my life.

我生平从来没听见你说人家的坏话。

2. get out：除掉，废除

I want to get out of an agreement with that organization.

我想中止与那个公司的协议。

3. at least：至少，起码

e.g.At least we don't have to worry about Harbour Pointe any more.

起码来说，我们不必再为波因特港工程劳心费力。

e.g.At least we can fall back on candles if the electricity fails.

停电时我们至少可以使用蜡烛。

e.g.I'm beginning to think you have at least a trace of talent.

我现在认为你起码是有些才华的。

e.g.He was in fact worth at least three-quarters of a million.

他至少拥有75万英镑的财产。