美国之音《流行美语》 375 make up one's mind

　　Larry在和李华商量去什么地方渡假。他们会用到两个常用语：make up your mind和live within your means¹。
Larry: Lihua, do you want to go to Toronto? I did a little research and found some really cool tours and -
LH: Larry, 我不是很想去多伦多，我想去个有热带风情的地方。
Larry: Tropical²?
LH: 没错!你说加勒比海怎么样？
Larry: The Caribbean? Wow, that is very tropical... actually, I know someone who went there last summer, let me give him a call -
LH: 不过! 我又非常想去泰国，那里的水果和美食太诱人了!
Larry: What?? Thailand? Make up your mind, Lihua!
LH: Make up? 化妆？你在说什么啊？
Larry: No, not the make-up you put on your face. To "make up your mind" means to make a choice and stick to it.
LH: 哦，to make up your mind就是拿定主意。
Larry: Yea. For example, it often takes you a long time to make up your mind when it comes to what to wear when we go out.
LH: 这倒是。出门前我总是不能决定穿哪身衣服。
Larry: And what about your friend at school that couldn't decide which class she wanted to take?
LH: 没错。那个同学特别爱学习，什么课都想选，可是一学期的时间只有那么多，选修课的数量是有限的。 I wish she would make up her mind!我希望她能快点作出决定。
Larry: Yea, exactly. Indecisive people can sure be annoying sometimes...especially when they cause others to waste time...
LH: Larry，你说的indecisive people - 犹豫不决的人，是在说我吧？我也很想定下旅行的目的地，可是...真的是有太多好玩的地方，我实在拿不定主意!
Larry: What about money? We can drive to Toronto. Thailand would be extremely³ expensive. Airfare alone would cost us a couple thousand dollars. We do have to live within our means, after all.
LH: 你说的live within our means，是什么意思？
Larry: The phrase⁴ "living within your means" means to live within the limits of your financial situation. Or, in other words, not spending more money than you can afford to spend.
LH: 哦，to live within your means就是量入为出，不过度消费。
Larry: That's right. And if we are to live within our means, we certainly cannot afford a vacation in Thailand!
LH: 你是说，从我们的经济情况考虑，去泰国花销太高，我们承受不了？可是你工作这么久，不是已经攒些钱了么？
Larry: Not that much money! I'm just an entry-level worker. It will take some years of saving⁵ up money before I can afford things like tropical vacations.
LH: 啊？还得再攒好几年才能来个热带风情之旅？唉，Larry, 这只能怪你平时不知节省。你看，你老去外面饭馆吃饭，比在家里吃贵多了!
Larry: So... if I were living within my means, we'd have enough money for a nice vacation?
LH: 对啊!如果你平时消费节制，我们现在就能去泰国了!
Larry: But, Lihua, I just don't have time to cook. And plus, I'm not that good at it! And there are things about your spending habits that could change, too - like cutting out some of your shopping. That would definitely⁶ help you live within your means.
LH: 啊？你让我也减少支出，少买东西多存钱？这个嘛...
Larry: Make up your mind, Lihua. Do you want to save money or not?
LH: 那好吧，我下决心存钱 (不情愿的口气)。
Larry: Don't sound so depressed⁷, Lihua. We can still go on vacation this year and still be living within our means. We just need to find a place closer to home. But first, let's make up our mind on where we want to go.
LH: 好吧! 希望我们真能做到即能愉快旅行又不让荷包大出血! 不过，我不想去多伦多，我想去海边!
Larry: How about South Carolina? It will take awhile to get there, but we could drive.
LH: 南卡罗莱纳？有美丽的沙滩么？
Larry: Absolutely.
LH: 那....贵么？
Larry: We would still be living within our means if we go there. What do you think?
LH: 是吗？我们能承受得起旅行的花费？让我想想，让我想想....对了! Larry, 我忽然想到，如果我们去海边，我肯定要花很多钱买漂亮的游泳衣、太阳镜、裙子什么的。算了，要不还是去多伦多吧!
Larry: Make up your mind, Lihua!
今天李华学了两个常用语。一个是to make up one's mind，意思是“拿定主意”。另一个是to live within one's means，意思是“量入为出，不过度消费”。
 

1 means   

n.方法，手段，折中点，物质财富

参考例句：

• That man used artful means to find out secrets.那人使用狡猾的手段获取机密。
• We must get it done by some means or other.我们总得想办法把它干完。

2 tropical   

adj.热带的，热带的，炎热的

参考例句：

• You must grow these tropical flowers in a glasshouse.你必须把这些热带花卉种在温室里。
• This disease is widespread in tropical areas.这种疾病在热带地区蔓延很广。

3 extremely   

adv.极其，非常，极度

参考例句：

• The film is extremely good,I just cannot miss it.这部电影太精彩了，我非看不可。
• The old man was extremely difficult to get along with.这个老人极难相与。

4 phrase   

n.短语，词组；成语，习语

参考例句：

• The phrase was caught on and immediately became popular.这个短语被采用后很快就流行了。
• That's exactly the phrase I was looking for.这就是我一直找的那个短语。

5 saving   

n.节省，节约；[pl.]储蓄金，存款

参考例句：

• Energy saving is term strategic policy of our country.节约能源是我国长期的战略国策。
• Old-fashioned housewives were usually very saving.旧时的家庭主妇通常都很节俭。

6 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。

7 depressed   

adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的

参考例句：

• When he was depressed,he felt utterly divorced from reality.他心情沮丧时就感到完全脱离了现实。
• His mother was depressed by the sad news.这个坏消息使他的母亲意志消沉。