【英语时差8,16】男朋友缺乏餐桌礼仪

Dear Annie:

I have been dating a wonderful man who is very special but has absolutely no table etiquette¹. I know I should try to overlook² it, but I can't.

"Jed" talks with his mouth full, chows down as if he hasn't eaten in a month, uses his fingers to push food onto his fork, holds his fork upright³ as if he's about to carve a turkey and cuts all his meat into pieces before he starts to eat.

This is starting to affect the romantic side of our relationship. One evening, I actually got nauseous. I hate to hurt him. What can I do? － Dating a Caveman

Dear Dating:

Breaking up over this would also hurt, so you may as well say something. Tell Jed you think he is wonderful and you want others to think so, too, but his table manners might give a negative impression, especially to business associates. Ask if he would mind if you gave him a few pointers.

1 etiquette   

n.礼仪，礼节；规矩

参考例句：

• The rules of etiquette are not so strict nowadays.如今的礼仪规则已不那么严格了。
• According to etiquette,you should stand up to meet a guest.按照礼节你应该站起来接待客人。

2 overlook   

v.忽视，忽略，俯瞰，眺望，宽容，宽恕

参考例句：

• How could you overlook paying the rent?你怎么会忘了付房租？
• It was a slight overlook on my part.这是我的一个小疏忽。

3 upright   

adj.直立的；正直的；adv.挺直着，竖立着

参考例句：

• He stood himself upright.他笔直地站着。
• An upright man is respectable.正直的人是值得尊敬的。