流行美语 (Popular American) 347

李华和Larry正在看世界杯足球赛。今天我们要学两个常用语：a long shot¹和to catch a break

LH: Larry, 世界杯终于开始了! 你觉得谁会得冠军？美国队有戏没有？

Larry: I don't think so, Lihua. The U.S. usually doesn't have one of the best teams.

LH: 哎，你怎么这么没信心? 美国队虽然不是夺冠热门，但也是有机会的啊！

L: Well I guess it's possible, but the U.S. is definitely² a long shot.

LH: A long shot? 这是什么意思？

L: You can say that something is a long shot when it isn't very likely.

LH: 哦，a long shot就是可能性很低的事情。你觉得虽然从理论上说，美国对和其它所有球队一样，都有夺冠的机会，但真论起实力来，美国队拿冠军的可能性就很低了。

L: Right! Here's another example. Carolyn's dream has always been to move to Hollywood³ and become a famous movie star, but that's definitely a long shot.

LH: 没错，当电影明星可没那么容易。所以Larry, 你以前踢过足球么？

L: Sure, lots of Americans play soccer when they are kids. I dreamed of becoming a professional⁴ player, but I always knew that was a long shot.

LH: 你说得没错，咱们可不能给人生设置一堆不现实的目标! 话说回来，Larry, 你觉得到底谁能捧走今年的大力神杯呢？

L: Well, Brazil always has a really talented team. I'm sure that they have a good shot this year.

LH: a good shot？ 这是不是和a long shot相反，表示“很有可能的事情”？

L: Exactly. For another example, I could say that my friend Edmund has been doing really well at his job lately, so he has a good shot at getting promotion⁵ soon.

LH: 真的？你觉得他很可能会升职？能升多高？会不会成为公司副总？

L: No, I don't think he will get that good of a promotion. Vice⁶ president is definitely a long shot.

LH: 原来如此。 Larry, 我们还是好好看球吧。对了，美国第一场和谁踢啊？

L: Our first game is against England, who are supposed to be very good.

LH: 英国可是强队! 美国队要踢赢英国队恐怕也是a long shot喽!

L: Well, we will have to watch and find out!

******

LH: Larry，这场比赛踢得真棒！ 双方最后1比1平！

L: Yeah, this is a really close game. But you know, the U.S. is pretty lucky that they're not losing.

LH: 没错。 美国本来0比1落后，可是英国大门失误，让美国队逮着机会，攻进一球。

L: Yeah, the American team definitely caught a break with that goal.

LH: The US team caught a break? 这是什么意思？

L: When something lucky happens for you, you can say that you caught a break.

LH: 哦，to catch a break就是交了好运气，捡了便宜！英国守门员犯了个低级错误，给美国队送分，所以美国队真是幸运!

L: Right. For another example, I could say that my friend Carolyn has been having a hard time becoming an actress in Hollywood, and is waiting to catch a break.

LH: 我明白了，Carolyn想当明星，可一直红不起来，不过她没有放弃，还在等待交好运的那一天。

L: You got it. So Lihua, do you want to watch the USA game against Slovenia with me on Friday?

LH: Larry, 星期五我要上班啊! 我可不能专门请一整天假陪你看球。我老板会疯掉的!

L: Hmm ... good point. Well maybe we will catch a break and your boss will be sick that day.

LH: 咒我老板生病？你可够坏的。 对了，难道你真打算每天看世界杯么？你不用上班啦？

L: Well I was trying to figure out that problem too. But then I caught a break when it turned out my boss loves soccer, and brought a TV into our office.

LH: 你老板也是球迷，所以把电视搬进办公室，让大家一起看比赛？！哇，太让人羡慕了。那礼拜五美国对斯洛文尼亚那场比赛，你觉得美国会赢么？

L: Yeah the U.S. is a better team. But you never know, Slovenia might catch a break and win the match.

LH: 说得对，美国今天踢平英国不就是因为catch a break - 交了好运么？

L: Yeah, that's a pretty good result for the U.S., given that they were a long shot to win.

LH: 那就希望美国队的运气能一直好下去喽！

今天李华学了两个常用语。一个是 a long shot, 表示可能性很低的事情。另一个是to catch a break, 意思是交了好运。
 

1 shot   

n.炮弹，射击，射手；v.射击，发出，发芽；vbl.射击，发出，发芽

参考例句：

• He shot a wild duck.他射中一只野鸭。
• All the children shot out their hands for the money.所有的孩子突然伸出手来要钱。

2 definitely   

adv.一定地，肯定地；明确地，确切地

参考例句：

• The team will definitely lose if he doesn't play.如果他不参加比赛，这个队肯定会输。
• I shall definitely be home before six o'clock.6点以前，我一定回家。

3 Hollywood   

n.好莱坞；美国电影业

参考例句：

• She dreamed of becoming a Hollywood screen goddess.她梦想成为好莱坞的银幕女神。
• The film has a Hollywood happy ending.那部电影有一个好莱坞式的美满结局。

4 professional   

adj.专业的；职业的；n.专业人员；职业运动员

参考例句：

• He is a professional tennis player.他是一名职业网球运动员。
• I need a professional to sort out my finances.我需要专业人士为我管理财务。

5 promotion   

n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传

参考例句：

• The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
• The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级，加了薪。

6 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。