流行美语 第133课 - Dibs / Shotgun

今天Larry和李华要到朋友Bob家里，Bob因为要搬家，所以把他的立体音响卖给Larry。今天李华会学到两个常用语：dibs和shotgun.

LL: I'm really glad that Bob gave me first dibs on his stereo¹. He knows I've always admired it, but I couldn't afford to buy a new one just like it.

LH: 我知道你一直很喜欢Bob的立体音响，可是又买不起全新的。现在他要卖给你，怪不得你那么兴奋。哎，可是你说Bob给了你first dibs, 那是什么意思？是不是说Bob第一个先卖给你？

LL: Something like that. To have first dibs on something is to have the opportunity to decide if you want it before anyone else.

LH: 所以我真猜对了。First dibs就是有优先的机会来决定是不是要买。Bob让你优先决定是否要买他的音响设备，也就是给了你first dibs.

LL: Exactly. For example: I know that you like my car, so if I ever decided² to sell it, I would give you first dibs.

LH: 真的吗？我可以有优先买你车子的权利？Larry你真好！这样吧，我记得你爱吃我做的蛋糕，下回我再做的时候，你可以优先享用，you'll get first dibs on it.

LL: I like the sound of that. While we're on the subject, "dibs" has another use, too. If I say I have dibs on the last piece of cake, then that means³ that I claim it for myself.

LH: 噢！Dibs还可以用来表示某种要求或权利。好，那我先说了，这块糖是我的。I have dibs on this candy bar.

LL: Hey, that's the last one! We won't be able to get lunch until after we bring the stereo back to my apartment. Can't you share it with me?

LH: 嘿！我已经说了，I have dibs on it. 这块糖就是我的。

LL: That's not very generous⁴. You know I would share it with you.

LH: 好啦！好啦！我是开玩笑的。你可以和我一起分这块糖。

LL: Thank you. You can have first dibs on the next candy bar you find.

LH: 对了，Bob还有那么多东西要卖。他有没有也让你优先决定呢？

LL: He gave me first dibs on some of his furniture, too, but I don't really need anything right now. Well, we're here. Let's go get my new stereo.

******

LL: I'm sorry, Li Hua, but you don't get to ride shotgun on the way home. I need you to sit in back and hold the stereo.

LH: 你要我坐在后座抱住你的音响啊？可以啊！可是你怎么说我不能坐shotgun？我本来就没想拿枪呀！

LL: You don't get to ride shotgun means that you can't sit in the front passenger seat. The front passenger seat is often referred to as "shotgun."

LH: 原来shotgun就是指前面驾驶座旁的座位啊？好奇怪！为什么要用“枪”来形容一个座位呢？

LL: Have you ever seen an old Western movie about cowboys⁵ and Indians?

LH: 西部电影，我当然看过啊！只是我觉得西部电影都挺暴力的，我不是很喜欢。

LL: In the old days, it wasn't very safe, so there was often a person who sat next to the driver of the horse-drawn carriage. This person carried a shotgun to protect the carriage.

LH: 原来如此。过去由于不安全，所以为了保护马车的安全，坐在马车前排的人手上都拿着枪。前排那个座位就被称为shotgun. 真有意思！

LL: Exactly. Do you mind if you can't ride shotgun on the way home?

LH: 没问题！我可以坐在后面保护你的音响。反正我经常坐在前座，偶尔换换坐后面，也没关系！

LL: Thanks, Li Hua. From now on, you always have first dibs on shotgun, no matter who else is riding with us.

LH: Larry！你说了就得算数哟！以后不管跟谁一起坐车，我都可以有优先权坐在前座。太好了！Larry，我们可不可以去吃午饭？那半块糖根本不够，我好饿噢！

LL: I agree. Let's go.

今天李华学到两个常用语。一个是: first dibs, 就是有优先权。另一个常用语是shotgun. 这是指汽车驾驶座旁的那个座位。

1 stereo   

adj.有立体视觉的，立体声的；n.固定形象，立体声

参考例句：

• She had the stereo on at full blast.她把立体声音响开到了最大音量。
• This program is being broadcast in stereo.这个节目正用立体声播放。

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 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。

4 generous   

adj.慷慨的，大方的，慷慨给予的

参考例句：

• She was kind and generous.她心地善良，宽容大量。
• She was generous with her money.她很乐于仗义疏财。

5 cowboys   

n.牧牛工( cowboy的名词复数 )；牛仔；冒失鬼；（尤指无能的）缺德的商人

参考例句：

• children playing a game of cowboys and Indians 玩美国西部牛仔与印第安人游戏的孩子们
• There are too many cowboys in the business these days. 近来商界中，瞎吵胡闹的家伙太多。 来自《简明英汉词典》