-
(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
Rob: Hi Helen. I thought I would pop round to talk to you about today's Authentic1 Real English but …err … it looks like you're busy … what are all these police cars doing here?
Helen: Quick, come in, shut the door…now this is very serious. There has been murder, 凶杀事件。
Rob: What?
Helen: A murder. I know it's not very nice….but to be honest the police can't find any blood or a body. 这个凶杀事件到底是怎么回事谁也不知道,仍然是个谜 – I say Rob, it's like a murder mystery.
Rob: Hmm, we need to do our own investigation2. So what exactly happened?
Helen: Well, my friend came to see me this morning …
Rob: I see….
Helen: …. and we were having a nice chat when she said I could murder a coffee –她想杀掉一杯咖啡 – and then she disappeared and I haven't heard from her since.
Rob: Right. Well Helen, relax, I think she's still alive and everything is ok.
Helen: There's no murder?
Rob: No. When people say they could murder something it's an informal way of saying they are starving or thirsty and are desperate to have something to eat or drink.
Helen: 啊。原来这是一种夸张的说法表示一个人饥渴到了极点,需要吃点东西或喝点什么东西。 But murder is a strong word.
Rob: Yes. A direct translation would mean you are so desperate for something you would kill it! But in reality, we don't go that far.
Rob: Here are some more examples:
It's been a really tough day at work, I could murder a beer or two – anyone want to join me at the pub4?
I'm starving, I could murder a curry5.
Helen: 这个英语单词很有意思,用凶杀这个词来形容一个人处于极度饥渴的状态。
Rob: People also describe a situation or a feeling as murder – but again there is no killing6 involved – they are just trying to explain that something is bad or uncomfortable.
Helen: Murder 还有另一个意思表示不舒服甚至痛苦. Such as Rob?
Rob: Such as in these examples:
Running a marathon is murder on my knees.
I've been decorating all day and my back is murder.
Don't go on the London underground during the rush hour, it's murder!
Rob: So by saying 'it's murder' he means it's awful; it's terrible. Anyway Helen, now we know there's not been a real murder, I think we should tell these policemen to go home now.
Helen: Good idea. Excuse me…there's been a terrible misunderstanding. There's not been a murder so you can all go home.
Policeman: Oh right. So we've been wasting our time then? But hold on…I think there might be another murder soon.
Helen: Oh, why's that?
Policeman: Well, I could murder a cup of tea!
Helen: …of course.
Rob: I'll put the kettle on.
Helen & Rob: Bye.
Policeman: Milk, two sugars please.
1 authentic | |
a.真的,真正的;可靠的,可信的,有根据的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
2 investigation | |
n.调查,调查研究 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
3 goodness | |
n.善良,善行,美德 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
4 pub | |
n.[英]旅馆,小店,酒馆 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
5 curry | |
n.咖哩粉,咖哩饭菜;v.用咖哩粉调味,用马栉梳,制革 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
6 killing | |
n.巨额利润;突然赚大钱,发大财 | |
参考例句: |
|
|