流行美语 第 18 课

大家到现在都认识 Michael 这个美国学生了，他不断在学中文，他很喜欢听他的
中国同学李华讲中文。李华呢，在和Michael 接触中也学了不少英文。现在他们
俩刚上完课，正从课堂里走出来。今天李华会学到两个常用语： lucky break 和
mellow¹。

L: 今天教授把考卷发回给我们了，Michael，你考得好吗？
M: I did much better than I expected. It was a lucky break that I knew most of the
answers.
L: 你考得比你预期的好，那太好了。不过，你说什么又是lucky，又是break 的？
Lucky 不是好运气吗？Break 是休息，对不对？
M: Lucky break together means² something good that happens that you were not
expecting.
L: 噢，lucky 和break 这两个词放在一起，它的意思就是没有预料到的好运气。
Michael，你刚才那句话是怎么说来着？
M: I said: it was a lucky break that I knew most of the answers.
L: 我懂了。你是说，你没有想到运气会那么好，大多数考题的答案你刚好都知道。
M: Yeah, that's right. If you understand, give me an example.
L: 哼，我当然懂了，你还要考考我呐？那天我开车开的飞快，警察让我把车停下
来。可是他只给了我一个警告，而没有给我罚单，我可没想到会有这种好运气。
这可以说是一个lucky break 吧？
M: That was a lucky break. I think it was because the police officer found you
attractive.
L: 警察因为看我漂亮才不给我开票？你别开玩笑了！不过，那次可 运气，否则
至少要罚我五十美元。让我想想还有什么例子可以 用lucky break 这个说法的。
M: Well, the paper that's due³ in two days, I.....
L: 对了，教授要我们在两天后交报告，Michael，你还没有开始动手 吧！幸好教
授推迟了限期，让我们下星期一交。这对你来说真是个lucky break 吧？
M: Let's go to lunch to celebrate our good luck.
L: 好呀，去吃午饭，庆祝我们的好运气。
(Michael 和李华到了吃饭的地方)
L: 啊呀，这个地方太闹了！
M: Yeah, you're right. It'll be hard for us to have a conversation here. Let's go to a place
that's more mellow.
L: 对，在这里讲话都听不到。到别的地方去吧。Michael，你刚才讲什么more
mellow?
M: I said that let's go to a place that's more mellow, meaning someplace more calm and
relaxing.
L: 噢，more mellow 的意思是比较平静，比较放松。那也就是说到一个不太闹的
地方去，对不对？
M: Yeah, you can use the word mellow to describe a person too.
L: Mellow 也可以用来形容一个人，那今天我们的教授很平静，我可不可以说：
She was mellow today!
M: Yeah, let's go the cafe⁴ near the library.
L: 太好了，这个地方很安静。我们来看看菜单。哟，你看，再过五分钟就开始减
价了，三明治今天半价。我们运气可真好呀！
M: Well, we found the mellow place and we pay half price. Really a lucky break.
Worth celebrating too.
L: 对，找到安静的地方，还只付半价。真值得庆祝。你多吃点吧，晚饭就别吃了。
M: Ok. Good idea!

这俩个小年轻还在狼吞虎咽地吃三明治。今天他们在讲话中用了lucky break 和
mellow 这两个常用语，这是美国人在日常生活中经常用的，大家不妨也在口语中
试着用用。今天的[流行美语]就到此结束，谢谢大家，我们下次再见。

1 mellow   

adj.柔和的；熟透的；v.变柔和；(使)成熟

参考例句：

• These apples are mellow at this time of year.每年这时节，苹果就熟透了。
• The colours become mellow as the sun went down.当太阳落山时，色彩变得柔和了。

2 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。

3 due   

n.应得物；adj.预定的，应付的，到期的，应有的

参考例句：

• I received nothing except what was due to me.除了我应得的东西，我并未接受任何东西。
• The rocket is due to lift off at noon on Friday.火箭定于星期五中午发射。

4 cafe   

n.小餐馆；咖啡厅

参考例句：

• I always go to the cafe to have a rest.我经常去那家咖啡馆休息。
• Is there a cafe near by?请问附近有没有咖啡店？