生活英语对话 Episode 34: Helen Saves the Day

本单元是关于 Helen 扭转败局的对话

Michal: I told you so!
Tim: Hurry up, I'm getting soaked!
Helen: What's going on here? What a mess! Dad'll kill me.
Michal: It's the water. Tim didn't turn off it before trying to fix the tap.
Helen: Honestly Tim! You're as thick as two short planks¹ sometimes. Michal, turn the water off. Tim, give me the spanner. I'll soon have this sorted.
Tim: What shall I do?
Helen: Get the mop, of course! I want this floor as dry as a bone now! Dad's coming round later to check the flat.
Tim: Is he?
Tim and Michal: Oh no!
Helen: No, I'm just winding² you up!

Vocabulary: 词汇

to get soaked:
to get very wet, often in heavy rain
使弄湿，被倾盆大雨淋湿

as thick as two short planks:
not clever
不聪明

as right as rain:
in normal condition
正常状态

a mop:
similar to a broom but for cleaning a floor with water
拖把

to wind someone up (informal):
to tell someone something that's not true, as a joke
捉弄某人，和某人开玩笑

本单元语言点是 as...as 表明喻的短语，英语里面有许多使用'as ... as ...' 的习惯用法，例如：as dry as a bone - This piece of bread is as dry as a bone. I can't eat it. 在这个句子里，As dry as a bone 的意思是非常干。这种习惯法用非常相似，而且通常带有强调的语气。

Comparative idioms

There are lots of idioms which use 'as ... as ...' as a key structure. For example, as dry as a bone - This piece of bread is as dry as a bone. I can't eat it. As dry as a bone means something is very dry.
These idioms function as similes³ and they often carry an emphatic⁴ meaning.

Idioms describing personality and behaviour:
描述个性和行为的惯用语

As thick as two short planks - very stupid, not at all clever (an informal idiom). Planks are flat pieces of wood, often used in house building

As stubborn as a mule⁵ - very stubborn, obstinate⁶. A mule is an animal similar to a donkey

As good as gold - very well behaved, often used to describe children

As timid as a mouse - very shy and quiet


Idioms describing physical characteristics:
描述生理特征的惯用语

As strong as a horse - very strong

As strong as an ox - very strong. An ox is a strong animal similar to a cow

As pretty as a picture - very pretty, very attractive

As blind as a bat - very poor eyesight, unable to see. A bat is an animal that flies at night and does not use its eyes, it uses sound

As white as a sheet - very pale or white face, because you are unwell or very scared. Sheets on beds are often white

As light as a feather - not heavy, very light in weight. Birds are covered in feathers


Idioms describing the state of things:
描述事物的状态的惯用语

As right as rain - in good and normal condition

As good as new - in very good condition

As safe as houses - very safe, very secure and certain

As sound as a bell - in very good physical condition, e.g. an engine. A bell has to be in good condition in order to make a good ringing sound

1 planks   

（厚）木板( plank的名词复数 )； 政纲条目，政策要点

参考例句：

• The house was built solidly of rough wooden planks. 这房子是用粗木板牢固地建造的。
• We sawed the log into planks. 我们把木头锯成了木板。

2 winding   

n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈

参考例句：

• A winding lane led down towards the river.一条弯弯曲曲的小路通向河边。
• The winding trail caused us to lose our orientation.迂回曲折的小道使我们迷失了方向。

3 similes   

（使用like或as等词语的）明喻( simile的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Similes usually start with "like" or "as". 明喻通常以like或as开头。
• All similes and allegories concerning her began and ended with birds. 要比仿她，要模拟她，总得以鸟类始，还得以鸟类终。

4 emphatic   

adj.强调的，着重的；无可置疑的，明显的

参考例句：

• Their reply was too emphatic for anyone to doubt them.他们的回答很坚决，不容有任何人怀疑。
• He was emphatic about the importance of being punctual.他强调严守时间的重要性。

5 mule   

n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人

参考例句：

• A mule is a cross between a mare and a donkey.骡子是母马和公驴的杂交后代。
• He is an old mule.他是个老顽固。

6 obstinate   

adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的

参考例句：

• She's too obstinate to let anyone help her.她太倔强了，不会让任何人帮她的。
• The trader was obstinate in the negotiation.这个商人在谈判中拗强固执。