美国之音《流行美语》 373 turn a new leaf

　　李华和Larry在讨论晚饭吃什么。他们会用到两个常用语：turn a new leaf和take baby steps.
Larry: I'm starving, Lihua! What should we eat for dinner today?
LH: 晚饭？只要不吃你的最爱 - 汉堡包和薯条 - 就行!
Larry: What are you talking about? I wasn't planning on eating fast food!
LH: 我才不信呢。不是汉堡包，那一定是炸鸡!
Larry: Nope. Lihua, I know I used to eat a lot of unhealthy fast food in the past, but now I've turned a new leaf - I'm never going to eat fast food again!
LH: You turned a leaf? 什么意思？
Larry: To turn a new leaf means¹ to start over fresh - to totally get rid of bad habits and start over new again.
LH: 哦，to turn a new leaf，就是甩掉坏习惯，从头开始，
Larry: Right. Lately, my bad eating habits have been making me feel just awful. So, I decided² to turn a new leaf and start eating only fresh, healthy foods - starting today.
LH: 你说，因为你一直吃垃圾食品，感觉身体状态很差，所以你要痛改前非，从今天开始吃健康食品！太好了， Larry!
Larry: Lihua, I have been gaining a little weight lately... But, that will all change now that I turned a new leaf and started living a healthy lifestyle!
LH: 哈，你要从头开始，过健康生活! Larry, 你真能做到么？
Larry: No problem, Lihua! When I make a decision, I stay with it!
LH: 是么？我昨天刚买了一大袋你最喜欢的薯片，既然你已经走上了健康生活之路。这些薯片，就由我替你消灭吧！
Larry: Ah? You mean, you bought some Lays Double - Cheese and Sour Cream Potato Chips?
LH: 对啊，就是你最喜欢吃的，双层奶酪加酸奶油口味! 好可惜啊，早知道你turned a new leaf, 我就不浪费钱了。
Larry: Well, wait a minute, Lihua. We can't just let your money go to waste. Maybe I can just eat a little bit now to hold me over until we have dinner...
LH: 什么？你想在吃饭前先来些薯片垫垫底？你刚才还说从今天起再也不吃垃圾食品了呢!
Larry: Oh, Lihua! But I can't just turn a whole new leaf all at once - that would be too difficult. Maybe I can just take baby steps towards my goal.
LH: 你是说，你不可能一下子把生活方式全改变，所以得take baby steps。我猜，这就是慢慢来，循序渐进，对么？
Larry: Yes! I could make slow progress towards my goal. You know, like taking small baby steps.
LH: 可你的“慢慢来”是指多慢？不会要10年吧!
Larry: Lihua, if I take baby steps, even though the whole process will take a lot more time, it will be a lot less difficult. It's like getting into a swimming pool. First, you have to put your foot in to see if the water is cold. Then, put both legs in. Then, slowly...
LH: 这也太慢了!直接跳进游泳池，多痛快!
Larry: I don't know how to swim!
LH: 行啦，Larry! 我看你不用慢慢来，拖拖拉拉地更难受!
Larry: With that bag of chips calling my name over there, I'm already in pain, Lihua! I gotta have some!
LH: 啊？Larry， 你的健康生活呢？这么快就放弃啦？
(抢薯片袋的声音)
Larry: Give me that bag! I promise I'll only eat a little bit! I'm making baby steps towards my goal of eating healthy!
LH: 哼，给你给你!
Larry: Thank you very much! Man, I haven't had these in so long - hey, wait a minute. These are...dried banana chips?
LH: 没错，这些是干香蕉片! Larry, I've turned a new leaf in my live as well.
Larry: Huh? What leaf?
LH: 我以前总是纵容你，给你买垃圾食品，现在，我也要从新来过。我发誓：以后再也不给你买这些不健康的吃的了。咱们就一起努力吧！
今天李华学了两个常用语，一个是to turn a new leaf，意思是“从新开始，痛改前非”。另一个是take baby steps，意思是“慢慢来，循序渐进”。

1 means   

n.方法，手段，折中点，物质财富

参考例句：

• That man used artful means to find out secrets.那人使用狡猾的手段获取机密。
• We must get it done by some means or other.我们总得想办法把它干完。

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。