流行美语 (Popular American) 344

李华和Larry要去健身房锻练身体。今天我们要学两个常用语：a slim chance和set in stone.

LH: Larry, 咱们好久没去健身房了，今天总算是行动起来了，怎么样，高兴吗？

L: I'm excited about getting in shape, but not about paying gym membership¹ fees. Why can't we just run outside on the street?

LH: 这你就不懂了！健身房的会员费有一个好处，就是能迫使你坚持锻练。你想啊，你总不愿意白交钱吧!

L: Well I guess that is true. For most people, there is a slim chance they will continue to exercise without some kind of motivation.

LH: A slim chance? 这是什么意思？

L: When you don't think that something is likely to occur, you can say that there is only a slim chance of it happening.

LH: 哦，就是希望不大的意思。你是说，如果没有外力推动，大部分人都不大可能自觉地坚持锻练。

L: Right. For another example, I decided² not to bring an umbrella today because there is only a slim chance it will rain.

LH: 意思是今天下雨的可能性不大，所以你没带伞。Larry, 等到了健身房，我打算先去跑步机上慢跑半个小时，希望锻练的人不多，没把跑步机都占了。

L: Most people don't go to the gym right now, so there's only a slim chance it will be crowded.

LH: 那倒是。对了，你说如果你想用的运动器材都被别人占了，健身房会不会退你一些钱？

L: No way! The gym is always trying to get more of your money, so there's a fat chance of that happening.

LH: 什么？ 你说a fat chance? 这是不是和a slim chance相反，表示很有可能？

L: Actually, it's used the same way. It is a sarcastic³ way of saying that something is very unlikely⁴.

LH: 哦，是在说反话啊，还是表示希望不大，不太可能。

L: Right. For example, my friend John is very unreliable. He said he would help me move this weekend, but there's a fat chance that he actually comes.

LH: 哦，John这个人说话不靠谱，所以他不太可能来帮你搬家。对了Larry, 你说健身房会不会给咱们免费提供健身教练啊？

L: Fat chance of that, Lihua. The gym charges you extra for everything!

LH: Larry, 你今天气儿怎么这么不顺! 希望咱们明天来锻练时你能高兴点儿!

L: Fat chance of that, Lihua. I'm sure my muscles will be so sore tomorrow I won't even be able to walk!

******

LH: Larry, 我要去找跑步机了，你打算干什么？举杠铃么？

L: Hmmm ... First I'm going to find a McDonalds. I need to eat something to get some energy for my workout!

LH: 吃麦当劳？Larry，你别开玩笑了！吃一堆垃圾食品，你不就白锻练了么？想有好身材就得控制饮食！

L: Sure, but there are some exceptions⁵ to that rule, right? It's not set in stone.

LH: Set in stone? 这是什么意思？

L: You can say that something is set in stone if it is impossible to change.

LH: 噢，就像中文里说的“板上钉钉”，表示绝对不变。你是说，虽然要保持身材通常得注意饮食，但这也不是绝对的，也有例外。

L: Right. Here's another example. I asked my boss if she could give me a raise, but she said that because the company wasn't doing well, my salary was set in stone for this year.

LH: 我明白了，你是说，因为公司效益不好，所以你的工资今年都不会变，涨工资没戏了。

L: Right. So Lihua, what do you think of this gym?

LH: 还可以吧，不过有些设备有点陈旧，有的员工态度也不太好。

L: Well if you don't like it, we can always change to another gym. Our decision to come here isn't set in stone.

LH: 我们先试试这家吧。对了，咱们的会员资格也可以升级吧？从普通会员变成高级会员？

L: Sure! The membership isn't set in stone. I'm sure you can upgrade⁶ it without much trouble.

LH: 太好了！ Larry, 我们制定一个健身计划，每个礼拜一三五都来锻练，怎么样？

L: That sounds good, but it won't be set in stone. Sometimes I will have to miss a workout if I have to work late.

LH: Larry，你就别拿加班当借口了！

今天李华学了两个常用语。一个是a slim chance, 表示不太可能。另一个是set in stone, 意思是板上钉钉，绝不改变。
 

1 membership   

n.成员资格，会员全体，从属关系

参考例句：

• I must renew my membership of the sailing club.我必须延续我的航海俱乐部会员的资格。
• He made up his mind to apply for membership in the Party.他决心申请入党。

2 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 sarcastic   

adj.讥讽的，讽刺的，嘲弄的

参考例句：

• I squashed him with a sarcastic remark.我说了一句讽刺的话把他给镇住了。
• She poked fun at people's shortcomings with sarcastic remarks.她冷嘲热讽地拿别人的缺点开玩笑。

4 unlikely   

adj.未必的，多半不可能的；不大可能发生的

参考例句：

• It was very unlikely that he would do that.他不见得会做那种事。
• It is unlikely that she will come. 她不大可能来了。

5 exceptions   

例外( exception的名词复数 )； 不包括在内的人（或物）； 规则的例外； 例外的事物

参考例句：

• Most children like sweets, but there are some exceptions. 大多数孩子喜欢吃糖果，但也有一些例外。
• Such exceptions do not invalidate the rule. 这些例外并不证明此规则无效。

6 upgrade   

vt.提高，加强，改善；n.提高，改善

参考例句：

• We need to upgrade the status of teachers.我们需要提升老师的地位。
• To upgrade a clerk to manager.将办事员提升为经理。