流行美语 (Popular American) 293

Larry跟李华开车去朋友家参加派对。今天我们要学两个常用语：BFF和Take the wheel.

LL: Lihua, we got a really good deal on these gifts for the party. I know my BFF very well, and I'm certain that this type of wine and this kind of cheese are his favorites.

LH: 太好了。BFF一定是你朋友名字的缩写吧。他全名叫什么？

LL: No, Lihua. BFF is not my friend's name. BFF is an acronym¹. Do you know what an acronym is?

LH: Acronym不就是首写字母的缩写吗？我经常说FYI，意思是for your information. 没错吧？

LL: Well, Lihua, for your information, BFF is an acronym that stands for "Best friend forever."

LH: 我明白了，BFF不是你朋友的名字，而是"Best friend forever"的缩写，用中文说，就是一辈子最铁的哥们。

LL: Exactly. We're BFF's because we went to elementary school together and have been friends for almost 20 years. It's common for young Americans to refer to that kind of long-time friend as a "BFF."

LH: Larry，你太让我失望了，我还以为我是你的BFF呢！I didn't even know you had another BFF! BFF能有好几个吗？

LL: Of course you can have more than one BFF, Lihua. But our relationship is different because you're my girlfriend, which can be turned into an acronym too, the word "girlfriend" can be shortened² to "GF."

LH: 我是你的女朋友，girlfriend, 简称GF；那你是我的男朋友，boyfriend, 就是BF喽？

LL: That's right, Lihua. I'm your BF. You're my GF. And we're going to my BFF's party.

LH: 慢点，你说得我都快糊涂了。我是你的女朋友，GF；你是我的男朋友，BF； 我们一起去你最铁的哥们家，他是你的BFF.

LL: You're a quick learner, GF!

LH: Thanks, BF!

LL: So, Lihua, do you have a BFF, best friend forever?

LH: 有啊。她的名字叫郭小倩，我们俩的妈妈就是BFF。我们同一年出生，一起长大，经常在一起玩，自然也就成了BFF。

LL: Where does your BFF, Guo Xiaoqian, live now?

LH: 小倩现在也在美国，是一家公关公司的部门经理。

LH: Well, after you meet my BFF tonight at his party, I look forward to meeting Guo, your BFF.

******

LL: Well, Lihua, we're almost at the party. You know I've realized that I'm the one who ends up driving when we go out together. When are you going to get behind the wheel?

LH: 站到车轮子后面，那不是很危险吗？你要轧到我，那我怎么办？

LL: No, Lihua, that's not what I mean. "Get behind the wheel" means to get behind the car's steering³ wheel and drive. I think you should practice driving more often since you just recently got your driver's license⁴.

LH: 哦，你说的get behind the wheel意思是开车。是啊，新考下来驾照，每次开车我都是一手冷汗，恐怕是得多练练。

LL: Exactly. And that reminds me of another similar phrase, which is "take the wheel."

LH: "Get behind the wheel"和"take the wheel"不是一个意思吗？

LL: No. Those two phrases are completely different. You already know that "get behind the wheel" means "to drive." But the phrase "take the wheel" means "to start taking responsibility for something."

LH: 我还是不懂，方向盘跟承担责任有什么关系呢？

LL: I'll give you an example for "take the wheel." A few of my co-workers were laid off this week, so until we can afford to hire more employees, I have to "take the wheel" on finishing the work they left behind.

LH: 最近我们学校也有好几个老教授退休，所以剩下的老师只好接管了他们带的博士生的论文。这也是take the wheel吧？

LL: That's right. "Take the wheel" is just another way to say someone is expected to take responsibility.

LH: 我还记得小时候，父母经常加班，不在家，我只好take the wheel，照顾妹妹，还要给我们俩人煮饭吃。

LL: I didn't know you could cook! I wish you would "take the wheel" on making dinner for me every once in a while!

LH: 给你煮饭吃？可以考虑考虑。不过条件是，吃完饭你也要take the wheel请我出去看电影才行！

今天李华学了两个常用语。一个是BFF, 一辈子最要好的朋友。另一个是take the wheel，意思是承担起责任来。
 

1 acronym   

n.首字母简略词，简称

参考例句：

• That's a mouthful of an acronym for a very simple technology.对于一项非常简单的技术来说，这是一个很绕口的缩写词。
• TSDF is an acronym for Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facilities.TSDF是处理，储存和处置设施的一个缩写。

2 shortened   

v.弄短，缩短( shorten的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She shortened the skirt by an inch. 她把裙子缩短了一英寸。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Vacations have lengthened and the work week has shortened. 假期延长，工作周就缩短了。 来自辞典例句

3 steering   

n.操舵装置

参考例句：

• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration. 他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。
• Steering according to the wind, he also framed his words more amicably. 他真会看风使舵，口吻也马上变得温和了。

4 license   

n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许

参考例句：

• The foreign guest has a license on the person.这个外国客人随身携带执照。
• The driver was arrested for having false license plates on his car.司机由于使用假车牌而被捕。