迷你对话学地道口语第60期:咬紧牙关

　　迷你对话：
A:I don't know what I can do now. I'm down and out.
我现在不知道怎么办。我穷困潦倒。
B:You are not the gray train, I guess. But bite the bullet¹ and you'll soon be in the chips again.
我想你现在有很大的挣钱的机会，要紧牙关挺住，会有钱的。
A:I hope so. But I'm always caught short.
我希望是如此，但是我总是搞得紧巴巴的。
B:But the darkest hour is the nearest dawn. I bet² you'll soon turn the table.
但是黑暗的时刻就是光明的来临，我肯定局面会扭转过来的。
词海拾贝：
1.down and out：穷困潦倒的
Eg.Her father has been down and out ever since the factory closed.
自从工厂关闭后,她的父亲一直贫困潦倒,灰心丧气。
Eg.Mr Foley was down and out after he lost many friends.
佛利先生失去许多朋友之后，穷困潦倒。
Eg.Sarah was down and out after losing her job and her apartment.
萨拉丢掉工作和房子后变得穷困潦倒。
Eg.Although that writer has been down and out, he still keeps on writing.
那个作家虽然已经穷困潦倒了，但他还是继续写作。
2.bite the bullet：咬紧牙关（忍受痛苦）Eg.We have to bite the bullet when we face this difficult situation.
我们必须勇敢地面对这种困难情况。
Eg.The president called the people to bite the bullet and make personal sacrifices.
总统号召人民忍受痛苦，作出个人牺牲。
Eg.Somehow it had taken us ten years to bite the bullet on that one, which had never earned us a dime³.
对这一桩从未给我们挣一分钱的买卖，我们苦苦容忍了十年。
Eg.Taking everything into consideration，I decided⁴ to bite the bullet and accept the tough job.
对所有因素作了全面考虑之后，我决定咬紧牙关，接受这份棘手的工作。
3.in the chips：有钱，富裕，富有
Eg.Within a short time I will be in the chips again.
用不了多久我又会有一大笔钱的。
Eg.He is in the chips——so much money so that he can buy anything he wants.
他有钱——如此有钱。所以他可以买任何他要的东西。
Eg.I want to get married; preferably to a man who is in the chips.
我想结婚，最好是找到一位有钱人。
Eg.That handsome fellow is in the chips and many hopeful⁵ girlfriends.
那个英俊的家伙是一个又有钱又有许多想成为他女友的人。
4.turn the table：转变局势，扭转局势，转败为胜
Eg.He says his friend is confident in turning the table.
他说他的朋友很有信心扭转局面。
Eg.The tables are turned.
局面扭转过来了。
Eg.On such occasions⁶, small gestures can turn the table.
这种时候，小小的一个手势能大大地扭转局面。
Eg.He never knew when everything was lost, and if it was, he would turn the table.
对他来说，毫无指望的情况是没有的，即使遇到那种情况，他也要扭转局面。
5.be caught/taken short：短缺，缺乏
Eg.Joe was caught short of clothes when he had to go in a trip.
乔要去旅行时，衣服不够穿了。
Eg.Mrs Hobbs was caught short when the newspaper boy came for his money a day early.
报童提早一天来收报费，霍布斯太太的钱不够交付。
Eg.There is some meat in the freezer and we are not caught short.
电冰箱里有肉，我们就不会急需时作难了。
Eg.Will it be all right if I pay you next week? I'm rather caught short.
我下星期付钱给你行吗? 我手头缺钱。
名言警句：
The darkest hour is the nearest dawn.
黑暗的时刻就是光明的来临。

1 bullet   

n.枪弹，子弹

参考例句：

• The bullet wound in his shoulder was opened up for treatment.切开他肩上的枪伤进行治疗。
• The bullet missed me by a hair's s breadth.那颗子弹差一点就打中了我。

2 bet   

v.打赌，以(与)...打赌；n.赌注，赌金；打赌

参考例句：

• I bet you can't do this puzzle.我敢说，你解决不了这个难题。
• I offered to bet with him.我提出与他打赌。

3 dime   

n.（指美国、加拿大的钱币）一角

参考例句：

• A dime is a tenth of a dollar.一角银币是十分之一美元。
• The liberty torch is on the back of the dime.自由火炬在一角硬币的反面。

4 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。

5 hopeful   

adj.有希望的，怀抱希望的，保持乐观的；n.有希望之人，有前途之人

参考例句：

• This is a hopeful news.这是个鼓舞人心的消息。
• We are hopeful about the future.我们对未来抱乐观态度。

6 occasions   

n.机会( occasion的名词复数 )；时刻；原因；需要

参考例句：

• The prosecution stated that intercourse had occurred on several occasions. 控诉方称发生过数次性交。
• He has been late on numerous occasions. 他已经迟到过无数次了。