流行美语 第 17 课

现在大家可能都已经很熟悉Michael 和李华了吧！他们俩都在纽约上大学。纽约
有许多酒吧都是爱尔兰移民开的。今天Michael 要带李华去看一个酒吧。Michael
在讲话时会用两个常用语：to bum¹ 和turn-off。

L: 嗨，这儿好热闹啊！Michael，在爱尔兰酒吧里大家喝些什么呢？
M: People normally drink a large beer that is usually served warm.
L: 我可从来没喝过热的啤酒，一大杯也喝不了，要一小杯行不行？
M: Well, you can order whatever you want, but I need to bum a couple of dollars, if
you don't mind.
L: 随便我要什么都行呀！那好，就来一小杯。对了，你刚才说要是我不在意的话，
你想bum a couple of dollars, 那是什么意思啊？
M: What I mean is, can I borrow a couple of dollars from you.
L: 原来你要问我借几块钱！
M: Yes. But don't use this word for big things. For example, you would not ask your
friend, "Can I bum your car?"
L: 噢，在问别人借大的，象汽车之类的东西时，不能用bum 这个字，bum 只能
用在问人借小东西的时候。
M: Yeah, it's usually used when asking for something small, like a piece of gum or
candy.
L: 哟，你们美国人，怎么一片口香糖，一颗糖还要借啊？难道真的还要还吗？
M: No, small things you don't need to return, such as gum and candies.
L: 这很重要，因为在这种情况下，我们中国人就不说借了，我们大概会说：给一
颗糖吧。
M: You are right Li Hua. But if you feel cold at a friend's home and you asked to bum a
sweater, then you would return it when you were going to leave.
L: 对，要是在朋友家感到冷要借一件毛衣，那一般都应该还的。所以，这要看情
况，对不对？
M: Yes, if you will let me bum a couple bucks² tonight, I promise to pay you back
tomorrow.
L: 行，行，行，就借你两块钱，你问服务员要酒吧，我来付钱。可明天别忘了还
我。
M: Okay. Two beers please!
L: 我以前有一个朋友，每次跟她一起出去，不管去看电影，还是去 喝咖啡，她
总是问我借钱。
M: A girl I used to hang out with acted the same way. Whenever a group of us went out,
she would always ask to bum money. It got to be a real turn-off.
L: 你也碰到过这样的人哪？等等，a real turn-off? 这是什么意思呀？把什么东西
关掉？
M: No, a turn-off is something that repels³ someone.
L: 噢，是一个让人讨厌的什么东西。是不是指一个人的性格里有什么地方让你不
喜欢他？
M: Yes, that's right. Let me give you an example. Your ex-boyfriend always smoked
cigarettes around you, that was a real turn-off.
L: 是啊，我以前的男朋友跟我在一起的时候老是抽烟，那真是讨厌。
M: A girl I once dated always interrupted me whenever I was talking. That was a real
turn-off.
L: 对，你告诉过我，你从前的女朋友老是打断你的话，让你很讨厌。我还有一个
朋友把脏衣服在房间里到处乱扔，that was also a turn-off.
M: See, you've learned how to use turn-off. By the way, I also have dirty clothes lying
around my apartment. Does that bother you?
L: 哼，你也把脏衣服到处乱扔？你要是不打扫乾净的话，别想请 我到你家去。
M: Ok, I'll try to clean it up.

各位听众，今天李华从Michael 那里学到了两个常用语，一个是： to bum，意思
是借钱或其他东西；另一个是：a turn-off，意思是让人讨厌的地方。这次就到此
结束，下次节目再见。

1 bum   

n.臀部；流浪汉，乞丐；vt.乞求，乞讨

参考例句：

• A man pinched her bum on the train so she hit him.在火车上有人捏她屁股，她打了那人。
• The penniless man had to bum a ride home.那个身无分文的人只好乞求搭车回家。

2 bucks   

n.雄鹿( buck的名词复数 )；钱；（英国十九世纪初的）花花公子；（用于某些表达方式）责任v.（马等）猛然弓背跃起( buck的第三人称单数 )；抵制；猛然震荡；马等尥起后蹄跳跃

参考例句：

• They cost ten bucks. 这些值十元钱。
• They are hunting for bucks. 他们正在猎雄兔。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 repels   

v.击退( repel的第三人称单数 )；使厌恶；排斥；推开

参考例句：

• His manner repels me. 他的举止让我厌恶。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Her callous attitude repels me. 她冷酷无情的态度引起我的反感。 来自《简明英汉词典》