在英語(yǔ)里,這就叫, let slide. Slide是下滑、滑落的意思。To let something slide, 意思是說(shuō)對(duì)某事采取放任的態(tài)度,聽其自然。盡管Amy把紙用光了,沒有填紙,讓我很不高興,但是我知道,她這么做不是故意的,而是迫不得已。So you chose chose to let it slide. 我決定還是不跟她計(jì)較了。
在下面這個(gè)例子里,房東一開始對(duì)房客的處境還是挺同情的。讓我們聽聽他是怎么說(shuō)的。
例句-1:After my tenant lost his job, I understood why he didn't have the rent on time. I decided to let it slide for a couple of weeks. Then I told him that he'd have to pay or plan to move out. I couldn't overlook what he owed me.
房東說(shuō):我的房客丟掉工作后,我知道他為什么會(huì)拖欠房租,所以頭幾個(gè)星期一直沒有催他。再后來(lái),我告訴他說(shuō),如果再不付房租,就得搬走了,我不能再對(duì)他欠的房租不聞不問了。
我覺得這個(gè)房東已經(jīng)算得上是仁至義盡了。雖說(shuō)有的事情不用過(guò)份計(jì)較,但是在教育孩子的問題上,我可是絲毫也不放松。
我女兒最近在學(xué)校里學(xué)會(huì)了罵人,這在我們家可是絕對(duì)行不通的。每次發(fā)現(xiàn)她說(shuō)臟話,我們都會(huì)嚴(yán)加管教,We're not letting it slide. 我哥哥就不一樣,他覺得說(shuō)臟話也是小孩子成長(zhǎng)的一部分。因此大部分時(shí)間,He lets it slide. 他往往都會(huì)聽其自然。
我的一個(gè)鄰居,特別注意鍛煉身體。鍛煉固然是件好事,但是即使生病,他也不間斷,我覺得這就有問題了。他的醫(yī)生同意我的看法,讓我們一起聽聽他是怎么說(shuō)的。
例句-2:When you're not feeling well, it's easy to let exercise slide. In fact, you should forget about working out for a while. What's important is to get proper rest so that your body can fully recover. Soon enough, you'll be ready to get back to your routine.
醫(yī)生說(shuō):[身體不舒服的時(shí)候,很容易在鍛煉上懈怠。病人其實(shí)就應(yīng)該暫停鍛煉,重要的是好好休息,盡快讓身體康復(fù)。這樣用不了多久,就能恢復(fù)日常鍛煉了。
這倒是提醒了我,我該跟醫(yī)生預(yù)約,去檢查身體了。定期的身體檢查對(duì)保健非常重要,絕對(duì)不能懈怠。You can't let it slide. 定期去看牙也是一樣。我父親牙齒不好,但是又不肯去看牙醫(yī),結(jié)果不到七十歲,牙齒都掉光了。Perhaps if he hadn't let his dental care SLIDE, he'd have all his teeth today! 如果他沒有在牙齒保健上推延懈怠的話,他現(xiàn)在還有滿口好牙呢!
聽了上邊這些例子,我倒要問問大家。如果聽到別人在背后辱罵你的朋友,你會(huì)怎么辦?Would you let it slide? 你會(huì)假裝沒聽見嗎?如果你發(fā)現(xiàn)同事把辦公文具拿回家,Would you let it slide? 如果你看見有人打孩子巴掌,Would you let it slide? 再比如,如果你的鄰居好幾個(gè)星期時(shí)間不割草,Would you let it slide?