DON'T GET YOUR HOPES TOO HIGH

Dialogue 17

laurance--They'll never help us.You know that old saying,
          "You can't get blood out of a turnip¹."
soony--I know,I know.But that's no reason not to ask them.
laurance--We asked them last year and what did they say?
soony--actually,they didn't say anything.
laurance--Yeah.They didn't say anything and they didn't do
          anything.
soony--I think they might do something this year.I was
       talking to Gail last week and I thought I detected
       a more friendly attitude.
laurance--There you go with your optimism²!Don't get your
          hopes too high!
soony--I won't,but it doesn't hurt to expect the best.
       Sometimes you get it!

注解：
1）turnip：萝卜。
2）Gail：人名。
3）detect：察觉。
4）attitude：态度。
5）optimism：乐观主义（态度、情绪）
6）Don't get your hopes too high.=Don't expect too much.
high是宾语补足语。high hope是“奢望”。
7）It doesn't hurt to expect for the best：it是形式主语，
不定式短语to expect for the best是真正的主语。

1 turnip   

n.萝卜，芜菁

参考例句：

• The turnip provides nutrition for you.芜菁为你提供营养。
• A turnip is a root vegetable.芜菁是根茎类植物。

2 optimism   

n.乐观，乐观主义

参考例句：

• Don't pour cold water on their optimism.别给他们的乐观态度泼冷水。
• Optimism made him alive through the hard days.乐观主义使他在艰难的岁月里活了下来。