73. Don't Be a Fish out of Water p.504

　　Do you sometimes have a hard time understanding what Americans are talking about among themselves? Doyou want to know why? The answer is, Americans are crazy about using slang¹. They tend to overdo² it, though.
Otherwise, slang is fun to use. You should try it. And some slang is easy to understand. For example, ifsomeone is "off the hook³," it means that he is no longer in trouble. The "hook" is a fish hook. If a fish ison the hook, of course, it is in trouble. If it is "off the hook," then it is out of danger. Didn't we tellyou slang is fun? Besides, it should at least help you feel more at home and not like a fish out of waterwhen you speak to Americans.

 

slang 不可数   a slang experssion  or  two slang expressions   不说：a slang
feel like a fish out of water 觉得别扭，不舒服
I have a hard time (in可省略) writing this love letter.     difficulty,trouble 不可数   problem 可数
be crazy about 疯狂喜爱
to over do it 做得过火     Old people shouldn't over do it when (they are) excerising.
To work with him is fun. = He is fun to work him.
Bruce was in trouble, because he broke the window.
The table hooked⁴ my shirt and tore it.
feel at home 自由自在
 

1 slang   

n.俚语，行话；vt.使用俚语，辱骂；vi.辱骂

参考例句：

• The phrase is labelled as slang in the dictionary.这个短语在这本字典里被注为俚语。
• Slang often goes in and out of fashion quickly.俚语往往很快风行起来又很快不再风行了。

2 overdo   

vt.把...做得过头，演得过火

参考例句：

• Do not overdo your privilege of reproving me.不要过分使用责备我的特权。
• The taxi drivers' association is urging its members,who can work as many hours as they want,not to overdo it.出租车司机协会劝告那些工作时长不受限制的会员不要疲劳驾驶。

3 hook   

vt.钩住；n.钩子，钩状物

参考例句：

• The blacksmith forged a bar of iron into a hook.铁匠把一根铁条锻造成一个钩子。
• He hangs up his scarf on the hook behind the door.他把围巾挂在门后的衣钩上。

4 hooked   

adj.钩状的，弯曲的

参考例句：

• I first got hooked on scuba diving when I was twelve. 12 岁时我开始迷上了带水肺潜水。
• He hooked his arm round her neck and pulled her head down. 他一只胳膊钩在她的脖子上，把她的头拉低。