【英语趣味课堂】糟糕的工作-Bad Jobs

Todd: OK, Monica, today we're going to be talking about jobs.

 

Monica: Oh, OK.

 

Todd: And first we're going to talk about worst jobs ever. Jobs that we had in the past that we hated, so I'll go first. The worst job I've ever had was actually working in construction. And I used to do construction with my father when I was young and I hated it. It was always cold and windy and you were outside, and I just knew instantly¹ that would never do construction. It just was not for me. Mainly because I hated working outside, especially when it was cold. When it was warm in the summer or spring it was good, but, ah, it was not good doing construction out in the cold.

 

Monica: OK, so it was only the cold you didn't like?

 

Todd: Well, mainly. Then, plus well, working for your dad.

 

Monica: It's not nice.

 

Todd: is always not the funnest thing, but yeah, it wasn't for me. How about you? What's a job that you hated growing up?

 

Monica: Well, I didn't really enjoy working on some orchards³ that I had to work on when I was young.

 

Todd: Yeah, you worked in an orchard²?

 

Monica: Yeah, quite often I would work on an orchard during school holidays or during holidays while I was at varsity, and some of the jobs were OK, but some involved getting up very, very early, and I didn't like that. Getting up at maybe five o'clock in the morning, and getting in my car and then going out to the orchard and then having to pick apples for maybe four or five hours. It could be very tedious⁴ and boring.

 

Todd: Yeah, I bet⁵, I bet.

重点词汇：

 

Learn Vocabulary from the Lesson

not for me

 

Construction was not for me.

 

When something is not for you, that means you do not like it. We only use this phrase in the negative. For example you can say, "jazz music is not for me", but not the opposite. Here are some more examples using "not for me".

 

Raw fish is just not for me.

My wife likes the ballet, but it is not for me.

not the funnest thing

 

Working for your dad is not the funnest thing.

 

Here the phrase "not the funnest thing" expresses how something is not enjoyable. It is a softer way of saying you do not like doing something. Here are a few more examples:

 

Studying English is not the funnest thing to do for some students.

Cleaning is not the funnest way to spend a Saturday.

grow up

 

What is a job you hated growing up?

 

The verb phrase "to grow up" refers to a time a person has from childhood to adulthood⁶. People become "grown up" when they get about 20 years old. Growing up also often refers to one's teen years. Notice the following:

 

I liked growing up in the countryside.

It can be awkward⁷ growing up in a house full of adults.

work on

 

 

I had to work on an orchard.

 

We work "on" an open place outside. We work "in" or "inside" a building. So you work "on" a farm, but you work "in" a factory. Notice the following:

 

He works⁸ on a farm.

I hope to work on a oil rig⁹.

I bet

 

 

Yeah, I bet, I bet.

 

When you "bet" on something, you expect it to happen. You think it is more likely to happen than not. It is similar to "I think". When people gamble¹⁰ on sports, they bet on who is going to win. Here are a few examples:

 

I bet you are tired of studying all day.

I bet he comes late to class.

1 instantly   

adv.立即，立刻

参考例句：

• She was used to having her orders instantly obeyed.她习惯了让人即刻服从她的命令。
• Though he slept soundly,he awoke instantly.他虽然睡得很香，但是马上就醒了。

2 orchard   

n.果园，果园里的全部果树，(美俚)棒球场

参考例句：

• My orchard is bearing well this year.今年我的果园果实累累。
• Each bamboo house was surrounded by a thriving orchard.每座竹楼周围都是茂密的果园。

3 orchards   

（通常指围起来的）果园( orchard的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They turned the hills into orchards and plains into granaries. 他们把山坡变成了果园，把平地变成了粮仓。
• Some of the new planted apple orchards have also begun to bear. 有些新开的苹果园也开始结苹果了。

4 tedious   

adj.冗长的，沉闷的，乏味的

参考例句：

• The tedious job simply ate me up.那单调乏味的工作简直把我烦死了。
• He was not used to the tedious of life in a small country town.他不适应这种乡村小镇的单调生活。

5 bet   

v.打赌，以(与)...打赌；n.赌注，赌金；打赌

参考例句：

• I bet you can't do this puzzle.我敢说，你解决不了这个难题。
• I offered to bet with him.我提出与他打赌。

6 adulthood   

n.成年，成人期

参考例句：

• Some infantile actions survive into adulthood.某些婴儿期的行为一直保持到成年期。
• Few people nowadays are able to maintain friendships into adulthood.如今很少有人能将友谊维持到成年。

7 awkward   

adj.笨拙的，尴尬的，使用不便的，难处理的

参考例句：

• John is so shy and awkward that everyone notices him.约翰如此害羞狼狈，以至于大家都注意到了他。
• I was the only man among the guests and felt rather awkward.作为客人中的唯一男性，我有些窘迫。

8 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

9 rig   

n.装备，帆具，服装；v. 装配，装扮，垄断

参考例句：

• They rig their domestic markets in favour of local businesses.他们操纵国内市场以使当地企业受益。
• Our camping rig includes cooking pots and sleeping bags.我们的野营装备包括锅子和睡袋。

10 gamble   

n.冒险；v.赌博，孤注一掷

参考例句：

• Setting up this business was a bit of a gamble.开办这样的公司有点冒险。
• Drive carefully and don't gamble with your life.小心驾驶，别拿你的生命冒险。