第一， 迷你对话

A: You told me that John likes to boast about his capability.

你告诉我约翰喜欢自吹自擂。

B: Yes. He seldom talks about things that are beyond his reach.

是的，他很到谈论他办不到的事情。

A: But when I went to ask him to help me, he kept on poor-mouthing himself.

但是我去叫他帮我，他却很谦虚。

第二， 地道表达

poor-mouth

1. 解词释义

Poor-mouth的意思是“装寒酸，哭穷”。

2. 拓展范例

e.g. The tennis player poor-mouthed that he was used to clay courts and expected to play miserably on the grass.

那个网球运动员谦虚地说自己只是习惯在土地场上打球，在草地上可能打不好。

第三， 咬文嚼字

boast about：自吹自擂

e.g. They like to boast about how smart they are.

他们喜欢自吹他们如何机灵。