生活英语对话 Episode 23: New Year's resolutions

本单元是关于新一年愿望的对话。

Alice: Oh it's nearly the New Year. Has everyone got their champagne¹ glasses ready? There's still time to think about our New Year's resolutions. Tim, you go first.
Tim: OK, this year I'm going to work really hard and try and get promoted! What about you, cousin Michal?
Michal: I'm going to give up fast food and be much more healthy. Helen?
Helen: I've got to start really studying. My finals will be here before I know it. Alice?
Alice: My resolution is to find love. I want to meet someone who's gorgeous, funny and rich! Look look, look, it's almost midnight! Let's start counting down: five, four...
All: Three, two, one. Cheers, cheers. Happy New Year everyone!
Tim: Marvellous...


Vocabulary:

to snog (v, informal): to kiss passionately²
to give something up (v): to stop doing something (which is bad for us, for example smoking)

本单元的语言点是关于圣诞节和新年的词汇，看看下面的词汇你都知道吗？

Christmas and New Year Vocabulary


We can use these words with or without 'Christmas' before them:

A lot of Christmas vocabulary can be used with or without the word 'Christmas' in front of it. For example we can talk about 'Christmas crackers⁴' or just 'crackers'
a cracker³ (n): a small paper tube which is pulled from each end by two people at Christmas time. It makes a sharp bang (or 'crack') when it is pulled and inside there is a toy and a joke written on a small piece of paper
a carol (n): a religious song (hymn) or non-religious song about Christmas
wrapping paper (n): specially⁵ decorated paper (usually with pictures of snowmen, Christmas trees, Santa Claus (etc.) used to wrap Christmas gifts
a card (n): a greeting card (like a birthday card) which you send to your family and friends around Christmas time
a tree (n): a pine tree (an evergreen⁶ tree) with leaves like needles which people put in their house around Christmas time and decorate with fairy lights, ornaments⁸ and tinsel
a wreath (n):a circle of fresh or dried flowers or leaves which people hang on their front door around Christmas time
a pudding (n): a traditional dessert made of dried fruit soaked in alcohol, eaten on Christmas day
an ornament⁷ (n): a decoration (a small ball, toy or piece of chocolate) which is hung on a Christmas tree

We can't leave out 'Christmas' with these words:

a white Christmas: when snow falls on Christmas day
Christmas lights: outdoor lights, usually in town squares or main streets which are put up and lit during the Christmas period
Father Christmas (also knows as Santa Claus): an imaginary person who brings presents to children on the night before Christmas Day. Traditionally he is an old man with a red suit and white beard

We don't use 'Christmas' before these words:

fairy lights: small lights which are hung on a Christmas tree
tinsel (n): lengths of glittered string which are hung on a Christmas tree
Secret Santa: people who work together put everyone's names in a hat and each person picks out one name. They have to keep the name a secret from everyone else and buy a small gift for that person
mistletoe (n): a small green flower which is hung from the ceiling around Christmas time. When people are under the mistletoe at the same time, they have to kiss each other
Boxing day: The day after Christmas day
the festive⁹ period: the time around Christmas and New Year when there are lots of parties and Christmas activities


New Year vocabulary:

Scottish people are famous for the ways they celebrate the coming of the New Year so it's no surprise that a lot of words connected with New Year are Scottish.
Auld¹⁰ Lang Syne¹¹ (Times gone by): a Scottish song that people sing at New Year to remember old friends
to first foot (v): to be the first person to visit friends or relatives in the New Year. Traditionally if the visitor is tall, dark and handsome, he (or she!) will bring the people in the house good luck for the rest of the year
Hogmanay (or New Year's Eve): The evening before New Year's Day
a New Year's resolution: A promise we make at New Year to improve ourselves
The Bells: traditionally, bells ring out at midnight to signal that the New Year has arrived. In the UK, radio and TV often broadcast the chiming of the bells from Big Ben in London

1 champagne   

n.香槟酒；微黄色

参考例句：

• There were two glasses of champagne on the tray.托盘里有两杯香槟酒。
• They sat there swilling champagne.他们坐在那里大喝香槟酒。

2 passionately   

ad.热烈地，激烈地

参考例句：

• She could hate as passionately as she could love. 她能恨得咬牙切齿，也能爱得一往情深。
• He was passionately addicted to pop music. 他酷爱流行音乐。

3 cracker   

n.（无甜味的）薄脆饼干

参考例句：

• Buy me some peanuts and cracker.给我买一些花生和饼干。
• There was a cracker beside every place at the table.桌上每个位置旁都有彩包爆竹。

4 crackers   

adj.精神错乱的，癫狂的n.爆竹( cracker的名词复数 )；薄脆饼干；（认为）十分愉快的事；迷人的姑娘

参考例句：

• That noise is driving me crackers. 那噪声闹得我简直要疯了。
• We served some crackers and cheese as an appetiser. 我们上了些饼干和奶酪作为开胃品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 specially   

adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地

参考例句：

• They are specially packaged so that they stack easily.它们经过特别包装以便于堆放。
• The machine was designed specially for demolishing old buildings.这种机器是专为拆毁旧楼房而设计的。

6 evergreen   

n.常青树；adj.四季常青的

参考例句：

• Some trees are evergreen;they are called evergreen.有的树是常青的，被叫做常青树。
• There is a small evergreen shrub on the hillside.山腰上有一小块常绿灌木丛。

7 ornament   

v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物

参考例句：

• The flowers were put on the table for ornament.花放在桌子上做装饰用。
• She wears a crystal ornament on her chest.她的前胸戴了一个水晶饰品。

8 ornaments   

n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The shelves were chock-a-block with ornaments. 架子上堆满了装饰品。
• Playing the piano sets up resonance in those glass ornaments. 一弹钢琴那些玻璃饰物就会产生共振。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 festive   

adj.欢宴的，节日的

参考例句：

• It was Christmas and everyone was in festive mood.当时是圣诞节，每个人都沉浸在节日的欢乐中。
• We all wore festive costumes to the ball.我们都穿着节日的盛装前去参加舞会。

10 auld   

adj.老的，旧的

参考例句：

• Should auld acquaintance be forgot,and never brought to mind?怎能忘记旧日朋友，心中能不怀念？
• The party ended up with the singing of Auld Lang Sync.宴会以《友谊地久天长》的歌声而告终。

11 syne   

adv.自彼时至此时，曾经

参考例句：

• The meeting ended up with the singing of Auld Lang Syne.大会以唱《友谊地久天长》结束。
• We will take a cup of kindness yet for auld lang syne.让我们为了过去的好时光干一杯友谊的酒。