2013年ESL之日常生活 22 Being Tidy and Messy

 

Being Tidy and Messy

Carole: It is beyond me how you and Oscar can be roommates. You’re very tidy and he’s, well, a slob. 

Felix: It’s not always easy, but we’re making it work. 

Carole: Isn’t Oscar really messy all the time? Whenever I see him, his clothes are rumpled¹ and his hair is unkempt. 

Felix: His room is really cluttered², but he keeps the common areas in passable condition. I do have to straighten up fairly often, and I sometimes have to pick up after him, but that’s because I’m pretty nitpicky. 

Carole: That’s very tolerant of you. 

Felix: Well, we have set up a system so that if things get too messy, I have some recourse. 

Carole: Really, what’s your system? 

Felix: Oscar and I agreed that every time he leaves a big mess, I can fine him. 

Carole: That seems kind of drastic, but maybe it works for you guys. 

Felix: Yeah, it keeps the place pretty clean. 

Carole: Still, knowing Oscar, you must have had to fine him a lot. 

Felix: Let’s just say that my next vacation will be in Monte Carlo! 

 

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse 

1 rumpled   

v.弄皱，使凌乱( rumple的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She rumpled his hair playfully. 她顽皮地弄乱他的头发。
• The bed was rumpled and strewn with phonograph records. 那张床上凌乱不堪，散放着一些唱片。 来自辞典例句

2 cluttered   

v.杂物，零乱的东西零乱vt.( clutter的过去式和过去分词 )；乱糟糟地堆满，把…弄得很乱；（以…） 塞满…

参考例句：

• The room is cluttered up with all kinds of things. 零七八碎的东西放满了一屋子。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The desk is cluttered with books and papers. 桌上乱糟糟地堆满了书报。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》