美国之音《流行美语》 363

　　Larry在家里和朋友们联网打游戏，李华则在书房里写作业，他们会用到两个常用语：epic¹ fail和learn your lesson。
(网络游戏声音)
Larry: OK, guys. There are only two enemies left. Everybody stay calm! We almost have this round won.
LH: Larry，你在跟我说话么？
Larry: Oh wait, there's an enemy sneaking² up behind Mike. Mike! Watch out! He's gonna kill you!! Noooooo!!!
LH: Larry!怎么啦？
Larry: Epic Fail. We almost won.
LH: Epic fail? 什么意思？
Larry: "Epic fail" means an unfortunate occurrence³. People say that when something bad unexpectedly happens - especially in video games. In this case, we had almost beaten the other team, until someone sneaked⁴ up on my friend Mike at the last minute... it was such an epic fail.
LH: 哦，epic fail就是惨败。你是说，你和朋友们本来在游戏中要赢了，结果却遭到对方的突袭，结果惨败。 不过，你说话的声音太大了吧？我作业都写不下去了！
Larry: I'm sorry, Lihua. I just get so involved with these video games...
LH: (叹气) 算了，是我自己太紧张这篇论文了。要是明天交不上去，我就完了，it will be an epic fail!
Larry: Here, sit down. Let me show you one of my favorite websites. It's a collection of epic fails.
LH: 好吧，我也放松一下。
Larry: Look - here's a video of a guy trying to jump over a car on his bicycle. Look, there he goes...and at the last second, he misses the ramp⁵ and - (撞碎的声音) - he broke the car's window with his bike.
LH: 我的天！表演飞车最后却被车撞！还好这个人没有受重伤！
Larry: but I'm sure he's embarrassed after that epic fail.
LH:是啊，这么丢脸的失败，好窘啊! 为什么要干这么危险的事嘛！
*******
Larry: You would be surprised how many people are willing to try dangerous things like that. Hopefully, after that epic fail, he learned his lesson.
LH: Learned his lesson？你是说，他撞了车还要去上学？
Larry: No, not quite. I don't mean lesson as in something a teacher tells you at school. That phrase can also mean something you learn in life after making a mistake.
LH: 我明白了，learn his lesson就是吸取教训的意思。嗯，这个人的确应该长点记性，以后别干这种事儿了。我就不会像他一样，明知道最后结果是个epic fail，大失败，何必还要做呢？
Larry: Oh really? I can remember an epic fail you had just last week.
LH: 不会吧？
Larry: Remember last Friday when it was really windy outside and you were carrying that briefcase⁶ full of papers?
LH: 呵呵，那倒是，我公文包没锁好，结果里面的论文全飞出来，被风刮得满地都是，我当时都快疯了！这算是个epic fail! 大失策！
Larry: And did you learn your lesson?
LH: 那当然！ 我可是吸取教训了! 每次都会检查公文包锁好了没有。Larry， 你看! 网站上又有个视频，还是刚才那个飞车男! 这回他要骑车从房顶飞到游泳池里去！
Larry: Wow, looks like he didn't learn his lesson. I'm almost afraid to watch...
LH: 是啊! 哎呀! 游泳池旁边有堆树杈，他可别摔在那上面！(撞在树杈上的声音，水花飞溅的声音). 还是撞上了!
Larry: Yea. It was also an epic, epic fail. And look - this kid has 15 more videos!
LH: 啊？还有15个视频？I guess he'll never learn his lesson. 真是不长记性! 好了，我要回去写作业了!
Larry: Sounds good. I should get back into the game; my team is probably waiting for me. I'll try to be quieter this time.
LH: 没关系，我会戴着耳机，边听音乐边写。你不会吵到我的！
Larry: Smart idea. ...Hey, wait a minute. Where's my headphones? Lihua!
LH: Larry, 我把你的耳机拿走了，你就凑合一下，别用了。
Larry: No headphones? But then I won't be able to hear my teammates.
LH: 啊...不管，我先拿到的! 你就认倒霉吧! This is an epic fail for you, 你失算了， 哈哈!
Larry: An epic fail indeed.
今天李华学了两个常用语。一个是epic fail，表示“惨败，非常失策”。另一个是learn your lesson, 意思是“吸取教训”。

1 epic   

n.史诗，叙事诗；adj.史诗般的，壮丽的

参考例句：

• I gave up my epic and wrote this little tale instead.我放弃了写叙事诗，而写了这个小故事。
• They held a banquet of epic proportions.他们举行了盛大的宴会。

2 sneaking   

a.秘密的，不公开的

参考例句：

• She had always had a sneaking affection for him. 以前她一直暗暗倾心于他。
• She ducked the interviewers by sneaking out the back door. 她从后门偷偷溜走，躲开采访者。

3 occurrence   

n.发生，出现，事件，发生的事件

参考例句：

• Two things account for its occurrence.发生这件事的原因有两个。
• For a military commander，winning or losing a battle is a common occurrence.胜败乃兵家常事。

4 sneaked   

v.潜行( sneak的过去式和过去分词 )；偷偷溜走；（儿童向成人）打小报告；告状

参考例句：

• I sneaked up the stairs. 我蹑手蹑脚地上了楼。
• She sneaked a surreptitious glance at her watch. 她偷偷看了一眼手表。

5 ramp   

n.暴怒，斜坡，坡道；vi.作恐吓姿势，暴怒，加速；vt.加速

参考例句：

• That driver drove the car up the ramp.那司机将车开上了斜坡。
• The factory don't have that capacity to ramp up.这家工厂没有能力加速生产。

6 briefcase   

n.手提箱，公事皮包

参考例句：

• He packed a briefcase with what might be required.他把所有可能需要的东西都装进公文包。
• He requested the old man to look after the briefcase.他请求那位老人照看这个公事包。