英语小达人 308 Men's Rules

 　　Men's Rules

　　男人制定的规则

　　If Men Were to Rewrite "The Rules"

　　如果男人们能够重写“规则”

　　Rule 1 Anything we said several months ago is inadmissible in an argument. All comments become null and void¹ after seven days.

　　规则一 吵架中，我们几个月以前说过的话是不能作为证据的。我们说过的所有的话在7天后就无效。

　　Rule 2 If we say something that can be interpreted² in two ways, and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other way.

　　规则二 如果我们说的话有两种理解方式，而且其中的一种会让你们难过或生气，我们的话想表达的意思就是另外那种。

　　Rule 3 It is in neither your best interest nor ours to make us take those stupid Cosmo quizzes together.

　　规则三 一起做《时尚》杂志上那些愚蠢的字谜游戏，既不是你们最大的乐趣也不是我们的。

　　Rule 4 You can either ask us to do something OR tell us how you want it done--not both.

　　规则四 你们可以或者让我们做什么事或者告诉我们你们想要这件事怎样做——不要两样都说。

　　Rule 5 Whenever possible, please say whatever you have to say during commercials or thime-outs.

　　规则五 只要有可能，请在播放广告期间或中场休息时说你们一定要说的话。

　　Rule 6 Christopher Columbus didn't need directions and neither do we.

　　规则六 克里斯托弗·哥伦布不需要人指路，我们也一样。

　　Rule 7 When we're turning the wheel and the car is nosing onto the ramp³, you saying "This is our exit" is not necessary.

　　规则七 当我们已经转方向盘，把车开上坡道时，你就没必要说“这是出口”了。

　　重点讲解：

　　1. neither...nor

　　既不……也不……；

　　eg. She seemed neither surprised nor worried.

　　她似乎既不惊讶也不担心。

　　eg. Neither threats nor promises could change his inflexible⁴ determination.

　　威胁与利诱均不能改变他坚定的决心。

　　2. in one's interest

　　对某人有利；

　　eg. But surely it is in your interest to give up smoking.

　　但是戒烟肯定是为了您自己的利益。

　　eg. The shortest and best way to make your fortune is to let people see clearly that it is in their interests to promote yours.

　　成功的最佳捷径是让人们清楚地知道，你的成功符合他们的利益。

　　3. either...or

　　不是……就是……；要么……要么……；

　　eg. Either you or he has made the mistake.

　　不是你，就是他弄错了。

　　eg. Either dye or paints are used to colour cloth.

　　不论是染料还是颜料都是用来染布的。

　　4. time-out

　　暂停，休息时间；

　　eg. Our team asked for time out to discuss a new plan.

　　我队要求暂停，以便商讨新的对策。

　　eg. Take a brief time-out from the mediation⁵ session if necessary.

　　如果需要，那就来个简短的休息吧。

1 void   

n.空虚，空白，真空；adj.空的，缺乏的，无效的；vt.清空，释放，取消，离开；vi.排泄

参考例句：

• Suddenly the street was void of people.街道上突然间空无一人。
• The treaty has been declared void.条约被宣布无效。

2 interpreted   

v.解释( interpret的过去式和过去分词 )；理解；把…理解为；演绎（按自己的感觉演奏音乐或表现角色）

参考例句：

• He quickly interpreted to us what the Russian was saying. 他很快把那个俄国人所说的话翻译给我们听。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The figure of the Ancient Mariner has been variously interpreted. 对于《古舟子咏》中的人物，一直有着各种各样的理解。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 ramp   

n.暴怒，斜坡，坡道；vi.作恐吓姿势，暴怒，加速；vt.加速

参考例句：

• That driver drove the car up the ramp.那司机将车开上了斜坡。
• The factory don't have that capacity to ramp up.这家工厂没有能力加速生产。

4 inflexible   

adj.不可改变的，不受影响的，不屈服的

参考例句：

• Charles was a man of settled habits and inflexible routine.查尔斯是一个恪守习惯、生活规律不容打乱的人。
• The new plastic is completely inflexible.这种新塑料是完全不可弯曲的。

5 mediation   

n.调解

参考例句：

• The dispute was settled by mediation of the third country. 这场争端通过第三国的斡旋而得以解决。
• The dispute was settled by mediation. 经调解使争端得以解决。