流行美語 第202課

李华需要一个书架，她请Larry 陪她去社区看看有没有卖旧货的。李华今天会学到两个常用语：up for something和spot someone。

LH: Larry ， 我想买个书架， 你陪我去附近社区看看有没有卖旧货的，好吗？对了，报纸上的广告说， 附近就有一家， 走路10分钟就到。

LL: Sure. I'm up for it. Let's go.

LH: Up for it? 这话是什么意思？听起来好象你愿意去。

LL: Right! When someone says he is up for it, that just means they are ready to do what is proposed¹, often some kind of social activity.

LH: 明白了， 你刚才说，"I'm up for it", 意思是你愿意跟我去社区看看卖旧货的情况。那太好了。Larry ， 如果我买到书架， 你能不能帮我把它搬回去呀？

LL: I'm definitely² not up for that. I definitely don't want to do that.

LH: 我要是请你吃晚饭呢？Are you up for it ?

LL: Well, I could be up for that, as long as the furniture isn't too big or heavy.

LH: 瞧你，请你吃饭就原意帮我搬。当然咯，要是书桌太大，太重，你一个人是搬不动的。可是我也不要太大的。

LL： Li Hua, I'd like to get some exercise today, would you be up for going for a run later today?

LH：跟你去跑步？ 好啊。 I'm up for it! 我最近也一直没有运动，体重增加了两磅，正需要锻炼呢！

LL: I meant to ask you, Li Hua, we spend so much time together, do you think your parents are up for you hanging out with me instead of your Chinese friends?

LH: 我父母没有意见， 因为跟你交往， 我既可以提高英语又能更多地了解美国生活。这是件好事呀。 我倒要问问你， 你的父母愿意我们两个作朋友吗？

LL: Of course they are up for it. They like you and you help me improve my Chinese.

LH：我也很喜欢你爸爸妈妈呀！至于帮你学中文嘛，我看成效不大。你看，你从来也不跟我讲中文。

LL：Well, when I have a bigger vocabulary of Chinese characters, I will certainly feel up for speaking Chinese with you.

LH：你总是说等我增加词汇量后再讲。我看，你永远也开不了口！

******

(嘈杂人声)

LH: Larry，你看那家的门口摆了不少东西在卖， 我们去看看。

LL: Yeah, I might even want to get something too, though I didn't bring my wallet. If I see something I like, do you think you could spot me?

LH: 你可能要买东西，但没带钱包。你要做什么？Spot you？ 找你呀！

LL: No, that's not what I meant. If someone asks you if you can spot him or her, it means that he wants to know if you can lend him some money.

LH: 噢，原来spot someone在这里是指借钱给某人。 你要是看到喜欢的东西，我当然可以借钱给你呀！可不能太贵了，否则我买书架钱就不够了。

LL: Hey, look at that bookcase, that would be perfect for your dormitory.

LH: 记得我刚来纽约的时候，在商店里看见过一个特别漂亮的书架，可是价格太贵， 我买不起，当时也不认识什么能够借钱给我的人。

LL: Oh, if only I had known you then, I would have spotted³ you. But you can buy the bookcase here now. It's a real nice one.

LH: 这个书架是挺好，价钱也不贵。 我实在是需要，否则我也不买，因为，你知道，我毕业后回国的时候， 这些东西不是送掉，就是扔掉。

LL: That's right. And you need a lot money to buy airplane ticket and gifts for your family.

LH: 到时候我能向银行借钱吗？Can I ask a bank to spot me?

LL: No. Spot someone usually involves a small amount of money, while bank loans⁴ are often a big sum.

LH：噢，银行贷款一般数额大一些，那spot someone都是借少量的钱。

LL：Right. Li Hua, can you spot me for that badminton racquet over there?

LH: 你要买那羽毛球拍呀？ 才三美元呐，我可以借钱给你，没问题。不过你必须帮我把书架抬到宿舍去。

LL: Sure, I'll help you since you're so nice to spot me for that badminton racquet.

今天李华学到了两个常用语，一个是up for something。意思是愿意作某件事。李华学到的另一个常用语是spot someone。意思是借钱给某个人。
 

1 proposed   

被提议的

参考例句：

• There is widespread discontent among the staff at the proposed changes to pay and conditions. 员工对改变工资和工作环境的建议普遍不满。
• an outcry over the proposed change 对拟议的改革所发出的强烈抗议

2 definitely   

adv.一定地，肯定地；明确地，确切地

参考例句：

• The team will definitely lose if he doesn't play.如果他不参加比赛，这个队肯定会输。
• I shall definitely be home before six o'clock.6点以前，我一定回家。

3 spotted   

adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的

参考例句：

• The milkman selected the spotted cows,from among a herd of two hundred.牛奶商从一群200头牛中选出有斑点的牛。
• Sam's shop stocks short spotted socks.山姆的商店屯积了有斑点的短袜。

4 loans   

n.借出物，借款( loan的名词复数 )v.借出，贷与（尤指钱）( loan的第三人称单数 )；出借（贵重物品给博物馆等）

参考例句：

• They are offering loans at extortionate rates of interest. 他们在放高利贷。
• Government loans have been the salvation of several shaky business companies. 政府的贷款救活了几家濒临倒闭的公司。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》