流行美语 第122课 - on edge / give it a rest

李华和Larry今天又到购物中心去采购圣诞礼物。李华会学到两个常用语：on edge¹和give it a rest.

(Crowded mall FX)

LH: 我真搞不懂耶！还有几个星期就要过圣诞节了，可是有些人看起来好像不是很开心，好像很紧张，很烦躁呢！

LL: Oh, well, when people are busy doing their Christmas shopping, they can sometimes be a little on edge.

LH: 你说他们怎么啦？Edge不是指在某个东西的边缘吗？On edge。那是什么意思呢？

LL: No, no, I said, everyone is on edge that means² everyone is a little nervous or in a bad mood³.

LH: 原来，on edge就是紧张不安的意思。可是我以为大家都喜欢过圣诞节，不是都要高高兴兴的吗？为什么不开心呢？(grumbles) 哎呀！那个小姐挤到我前面了。这里好挤噢！

LL: People do love Christmas, and Americans are always try to be kinder and friendlier this time of year. But people are under pressure⁴ to buy Christmas gifts for all of their friends and family members, which is why a lot of them are on edge right now.

LH: 嗯，忙着采购给每个家人朋友的礼物，是挺有压力的。我其实也有不少压力，学期快结束了，我得交报告，还得买礼物，还要批改学生的考卷。Hey! (yells in English) Watch where you're going!

LL: Calm down Li Hua! I know that you're on edge right now, but try not start any arguments⁶, OK?

LH: 我才没有要和人吵架呢！我只是要那个人小心一点！

LL: Look, everyone's on edge around here, and so are you. It's really easy to start an argument⁵ in this kind of situation. Just calm down.

LH: 好嘛！对不起嘛！我想我真的需要冷静一下。Larry我们能不能找个地方坐下，喝点东西？咦！这儿有张桌子，我们坐这儿吧！

LL: Why don't we come back some other time when it's not so crowded. When you're on edge like this, it's better to stay away from other people.

LH: 那怎么行！我们已经费了这么大功夫到这儿来。没买到礼物就回去呢？你怎么啦？

LL: Sorry, Li Hua, I guess I'm a little on edge myself. I still have a lot school work to do for next week, and I want to finish my shopping early so I can relax during Christmas break.

LH: 好，那我们就尽快把礼物买好，赶快回家罗！

******

LH: 快点，Larry你动作真慢耶！ 我还有一些东西要买呢！

LL: Give it a rest, Li Hua. I told you, I can't move quickly and carry all of your bags as well.

LH: A rest? 你又要休息啦？我们不是半个小时前才坐下来休息的吗？

LL: No, that's not what I said. I said give it a rest that means stop complaining, talking about, or doing something.

LH: Give it a rest，是停止抱怨或停止做某件事。你的意思是我抱怨太多了？哎！是你浪费太多时间，首先，你到我家时就已经迟到半个小时...

LL: Oh, give it a rest, Li Hua, I told you, I had to wait because of a traffic accident.

LH: 因为交通事故你迟到，这还说得过去。可是我们来购物中心的路上，你又迷路了3次！

LL: Give it a rest, Li Hua. We finally got here. Anyway, you weren't much help.

LH: 好啦，好啦！算了啦！我也受不了在这么挤的地方逛。我今天实在不应该来的！

LL: Well, I'm starting to get tired of carrying stuff⁷ for you. These bags are heavy!

LH: (In English) Give it a rest, Larry! 你是大男生耶！这些东西对你来说不算什么啦！

LL: Look, I'm tired, I'm a bit on edge, and I have a lot of work to finish this weekend. Can't we just give it a rest and go shopping next weekend?

LH: 好吧！好吧！我们两人今天都有点急躁。也许我们真的应该回家，等有空再来买礼物吧！

今天李华学到两个常用语。第一个是on edge， 意思是紧张不安，脾气急躁。另一个常用语是give it a rest。意思是停止抱怨或是停止做某件事。

1 edge   

n.边(缘)；刃；优势；v.侧着移动，徐徐移动

参考例句：

• Sight along the edge to see if it's straight.顺着边目测，看看直不直。
• She lived on the extreme edge of the forest.她住在森林的最边缘。

2 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。

3 mood   

n.心情，情绪，心地，兴致

参考例句：

• You must change your mood.你一定要改变你的情绪才行。
• She was in a bad mood yesterday.她昨天心情不好。

4 pressure   

n.压力，压迫，压强；vt.迫使，使增压，密封

参考例句：

• He changed his mind under the pressure from others.他在别人的逼迫之下改变了主意。
• This type of sheet steel could stand high pressure.这种薄钢板能抗高压。

5 argument   

n.辩论，争论，论据，理由

参考例句：

• Whatever your argument,I shall hold to my decision.不论你如何争辩，我将坚持我的决定。
• When the argument started I wanted to dive in.争论开始时，我也想加入。

6 arguments   

n.争论( argument的名词复数 )；争吵；说理；论据

参考例句：

• It was a debate which aroused fervent ethical arguments. 那是一场引发强烈的伦理道德争论的辩论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• His arguments in favour of a new school are very persuasive. 他赞成办一座新学校的理由很有说服力。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 stuff   

n.原料，材料，东西；vt.填满；吃饱

参考例句：

• We could supply you with the stuff in the raw tomorrow.明天我们可以供应你原材料。
• He is not the stuff.他不是这个材料。