美国习惯用语:815 has had its day

 

我先要考考大家。你们都知道，一美元等于一百美分。谁能说出一美分one cent的另外一个名字?(Tickers, and Buzzer¹ Sound) 时间到!如果你说的是penny, 那就对了。Penny以前还挺值钱的，可如今，早就没人想要了，很多美国人甚至主张让美分退休。这倒提醒了我。今天我们学习的习惯用语就是：has had its day.

如果说什么东西has had its day, 意思就是这种东西已经没什么用，不再受欢迎，不象以前那么成功了。换句话说，就是过时了。什么是你最喜欢的交通工具?让我们听听下面这个记者的报导。

例句-1：Until very recently, travelers in the U.S. have chosen to get on an airplane for quick and affordable² transportation. So has the train had its day? Maybe not. Because of increased security at airports and higher airfares, many passengers have shown a renewed interest in rail service. It may become popular once again.

这个记者说：直到最近一段时间，很多美国人出门旅游，还喜欢坐飞机，因为飞机速度快，价钱又不贵。那是不是说火车已经过时了?这可不一定。由于机场加强安检，机票又不断涨价，很多游客又开始转向火车了。没准火车会重新受到欢迎呢!

没错，我就喜欢坐火车。虽然火车不如飞机快，但是坐火车很舒服，而且现在飞机的燃料价格不断上升，都转嫁到了乘客的身上，机票越来越贵。

还有什么东西是has had its day，过时的呢?比如说，电报，肯定大家都同意。 Telegram has had its day . 再比如说，报纸。估计有一部分人同意。那Internet因特网呢?因特网如日中天，正火呢，肯定不能说it has had its day. 还有啊，现在大家都上网购物，Shopping mall，购物中心是不是过时了呢?那恐怕也不尽然。

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Has had its day这个习惯用语也可以用在人身上，比如说早已没人提起的老电影明星，我们就可以说，She has had her day. 下面让我们听听一名消防队员是怎么说他的老队长的。

例句-2：I have the greatest respect for the fire chief. Over the last thirty years, he's been a courageous³ leader. But, frankly⁴, he has had its day. Firefighting has changed and it's time we appoint a successor who can take on new challenges.

这个消防队员说：我对我们队长有着无限的敬意。过去三十年来，他一直是我们的领导，勇气过人。但是坦率地讲，他那一套已就过时了。消防工作日新月异，他需要一个能够接受新挑战的接班人。

既然有过辉煌的事业，那么急流勇退也没有什么不好。我昨天晚上看电视，是两个喜剧表演的老搭档。我从小就是看他们的节目长大的，可是40年过去的，同样的笑话他们今天还在讲。I really believe they have had their day.

大家可能会问，这种说法是从哪里来的? Has had its day，这个习惯用语最早可以追溯到16世纪。Every dog has its day. 意思是所有人都会有得意的日子，也就是我们常说的风水轮流转。

1 buzzer   

n.蜂鸣器；汽笛

参考例句：

• The buzzer went off at eight o'clock.蜂鸣器在8点钟时响了。
• Press the buzzer when you want to talk.你想讲话的时候就按蜂鸣器。

2 affordable   

adj.支付得起的，不太昂贵的

参考例句：

• The rent for the four-roomed house is affordable.四居室房屋的房租付得起。
• There are few affordable apartments in big cities.在大城市中没有几所公寓是便宜的。

3 courageous   

adj.勇敢的，有胆量的

参考例句：

• We all honour courageous people.我们都尊重勇敢的人。
• He was roused to action by courageous words.豪言壮语促使他奋起行动。

4 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。