Larry和李華在看世界杯美國(guó)對(duì)加納的比賽。今天我們要學(xué)兩個(gè)常用語(yǔ):haunt someone和turn the corner.
LH: Larry, 美國(guó)今天如果贏了加納,就進(jìn)8強(qiáng)啦!我可緊張死了!
L: Me too! But I kind of have a bad feeling, because it was Ghana that eliminated the U.S. from the tournament in 2006.
LH: 啊?2006年世界杯美國(guó)就是被加納淘汰的?那今天就是美國(guó)報(bào)仇的時(shí)候啦!我覺(jué)得,美國(guó)隊(duì)在比賽開(kāi)始的時(shí)候就得設(shè)法趕快進(jìn)球,不要總讓別人領(lǐng)先。
L: I agree. If they keep letting the other team score early in the game, eventually it will come back to haunt them.
LH: Haunt them? 什么意思?
L: When a mistake in the past causes you trouble in the present, you can say it comes back to haunt you.
LH: 哦,comes back to haunt you就是說(shuō)從前犯的錯(cuò)誤到如今還在給你帶來(lái)麻煩。你是說(shuō), 如果美國(guó)隊(duì)在比賽開(kāi)始的時(shí)候失球,那就可能輸?shù)舯荣悾蠡谀啊?/p>
L: Exactly. For example, Joe decided not to buy car insurance, but that decision came back to haunt him when he had a major accident.
LH: Joe決定不買(mǎi)汽車(chē)保險(xiǎn),結(jié)果后來(lái)出了大車(chē)禍,之前的錯(cuò)誤決定就讓他陷入了麻煩之中。
L: You're right, now let's have fun and watch the game. Do you have some popcorn and soda?
LH: Larry,這些食品不健康,少吃為妙!
L: That's true, an unhealthy diet can come back to haunt you later if it causes you health problems.
LH: 對(duì)啊,吃不健康的東西會(huì)影響到你的身體。啊, Larry, 我真希望咱們現(xiàn)在在南非,看世界杯現(xiàn)場(chǎng)!
L: Yeah, it would have been so much fun to go. If the U.S. makes it into the finals, that decision is really going to come back to haunt me.
LH: 對(duì)啊,如果美國(guó)隊(duì)進(jìn)了決賽,你一定會(huì)后悔自己沒(méi)去南非!哎?Larry,你這個(gè)電視怎么這么清楚?。侩y道你換了新電視機(jī)?
L: That's right, I bought it just to watch the U.S. play in the World Cup! Although that decision will come back to haunt me if they lose today.
LH: 是啊,要是美國(guó)今天就被淘汰,你這臺(tái)電視就白買(mǎi)了,你肯定得后悔!看,比賽開(kāi)始了!
L: Great, let's watch!
******
比賽結(jié)束了,Larry和李華都很失望。
LH: 唉,美國(guó)隊(duì)輸了!不過(guò),這場(chǎng)比賽打得很激烈,一直打到了加時(shí)賽呢!
L: Well I'm pretty disappointed that the U.S. lost, but at least they played well and improved from 2006.
LH: 是啊,2006年時(shí)美國(guó)都沒(méi)能進(jìn)16強(qiáng)!
L: Yeah, they have been getting better. Hopefully 2014 will be the year that they turn the corner.
LH: Turn the corner? 這是什么意思?
L: When you turn the corner, that means you pass a critical turning point.
LH: 哦,就是出現(xiàn)轉(zhuǎn)機(jī),實(shí)現(xiàn)突破。 你是說(shuō),希望美國(guó)隊(duì)2014年世界杯能突破自己,成為強(qiáng)隊(duì)!
L: Right! Here is another example. Joe spent two years studying Chinese in America, but he never really turned the corner until he went to live in China.
LH: 哦,Joe在美國(guó)學(xué)了兩年中文,一直學(xué)得不怎么樣,直到去中國(guó)留學(xué),他的中文水平才有了突破。哎, Larry, 你買(mǎi)的這個(gè)電視真是越看越好!
L: Thanks, Lihua.
LH: 這電視一定很貴。你最近是不是發(fā)財(cái)了?
L: Yeah, my investment in the stock market wasn't going very well for a long time. But it really turned the corner recently.
LH: 我這學(xué)期不知怎么了,兩門(mén)課成績(jī)都不是很理想,真不知道什么時(shí)候才會(huì)有轉(zhuǎn)機(jī)。
L: Don't worry Lihua, I'm sure that before long you're going to turn the corner and start getting straight A's.
LH: 哪有那么簡(jiǎn)單!不過(guò),既然美國(guó)隊(duì)已經(jīng)被淘汰了,我就可以專(zhuān)心學(xué)習(xí)了!
L: Well, I hope all this time watching soccer instead of studying doesn't come back to haunt you during your final exams.
LH: 沒(méi)關(guān)系,為了四年一次的世界杯,考不好也值!
今天李華學(xué)了兩個(gè)常用語(yǔ)。一個(gè)是haunt someone, 表示以前的錯(cuò)誤如今還在對(duì)某人產(chǎn)生影響。另一是turn the corner, 意思是出現(xiàn)轉(zhuǎn)機(jī),實(shí)現(xiàn)突破。