迷你对话学地道口语第339期:造成伤害

　　A: We used to be very friendly, but it seems now that my daughter’s marriage has taken its toll¹ of our relationship.
我和女儿本来感情很好的，可是现在她的婚姻问题似乎破坏了我们的关系。
B: What do you mean?
这话怎么讲？
A: I don’t like her husband, that bad egg, but my daughter insists on marrying him.
我不喜欢她的丈夫，那个坏蛋，但她坚持要嫁给他。
B: She is a grow-up. She can make her own decision.
她是成年人了，她能够自己做决定了。
A: I wish she wouldn’t regret for her decision.
但愿她不会后悔。
第一、 地道表达
地道短语】take its/a toll
解词释义】toll愿意为“通行费”，引申为“代价，损失，伤亡人数”，例如：the toll of road deaths and injuries（车祸伤亡人数），take its/a toll的意思就是“造成损失和危害”。
语法用法】表示在......上造成损失或伤害，在短语的后面用介词on或者是of，即：take its toll on或者是take a toll of。
典型范例】His hard work will eventually take its toll on his health.
他的辛劳工作，最后对他身体会造成伤害。
The war took a heavy toll of human life.
这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。
Every year at Christmas drunken driving takes its toll.
每年的圣诞节都有醉酒驾车的伤亡事故。
The mental strain² and physical pressure of trying to provide for a family at levels that the community regards as desirable³ can take its toll on the health of both parents.
想要按社会公认的必需水平来供养家庭，精神上的紧张与压力会损害父母双方的健康。
第二、 词海拾贝
1. used to be+adj.
释义】过去常常处于......
范例】She used to be terribly shy, but a year abroad have completely transform her.
她过去十分害羞，但在国外呆了一年以後完全变了。
Americans used to like big cars, and gasoline⁴ used to be very inexpensive.
过去美国人喜欢大型轿车，那时汽油很便宜。
2. bad egg
释义】（1）坏家伙，不可信任的人，坏蛋（2）失败的计划
范例】The bad egg tried to nip away but was caught on the spot.
坏蛋想赶紧溜掉，但被当场抓。
We are so worried;our daughter has made friends with a very bad egg.
我们很担忧，我们的女儿交上一个不三不四的朋友。
Wherever he goes, he makes trouble—he is a sheer⁵ bad egg.
无论到哪，他总要闹事，他是个十足的坏蛋。
They were greatly disappointed, for their scheme turned out to be a bad egg.
计划最终失败了，他们大失所望。
3. insist on doing something
释义】坚持，坚决要求，强调
范例】If you insist on leaving now, please go ahead.
你一定要走，那就请便吧。
We'll insist on discussing this issue.
我们将抓住这个问题不放。
Alexander threatens to stand in your way if you insist on taking up the same profession as his.
亚历山大威胁说如果你坚持要从事和他一样的职业，他会从中作梗。
Since they insist on going, we'll simply push the boat with the current and let them go with us.
既然他们坚持要去， 干脆我们就顺水推舟，让他们和我们一同去吧。
4. make one’s own decision
释义】自己做决定
范例】I just want to be able to make my own decision.
我只想能够自己决定。
That's quite true, but everyone should make his own decision.
这很正确，但每个人都应自己拿主意。
5. regret for
释义】对......感到后悔，对......感到遗憾
范例】 We regret for the loss you have suffered and agree to compensate⁶ you by $500.
我们对你方遭受的损失深表歉意，同意向你们赔偿500 美元。
The old man felt regret for the folly⁷ of his youth.（PS:用作名词性短语）
老人很後悔他年轻时的愚行。

1 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

2 strain   

n.紧张，拉紧，血统；v.劳累，拉紧，过份使用

参考例句：

• Strain the fat off before you serve the soup.在上汤前把里面的油滤掉。
• He had a muscular strain.他肌肉过劳。

3 desirable   

adj.值得拥有的；可取的，有利的

参考例句：

• Some reasonable adjustments seem desirable.某些合理的调整似乎是可取的。
• Prolonged negotiation was not desirable.拖长了的谈判并不是大家所想要的。

4 gasoline   

n.(美)汽油

参考例句：

• This car runs 5 miles on a gallon of gasoline.这部汽车一加仑汽油可以行驶五英里。
• There is still some gasoline left in the tank.油箱里还剩下一些汽油。

5 sheer   

adj.绝对的，全然的，峻峭的；v.躲开，躲避，使...避开； adv.完全，全然，峻峭

参考例句：

• He achieved his aim by sheer strength of will.他纯粹靠意志力达到了目的。
• I guess It'sheer waste of time arguing about it.看来争论这件事纯粹是浪费时间。

6 compensate   

vt.补偿，赔偿；酬报 vi.弥补；补偿；抵消

参考例句：

• She used her good looks to compensate her lack of intelligence. 她利用她漂亮的外表来弥补智力的不足。
• Nothing can compensate for the loss of one's health. 一个人失去了键康是不可弥补的。

7 folly   

n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话

参考例句：

• Learn wisdom by the folly of others.从别人的愚蠢行动中学到智慧。
• Events proved the folly of such calculations.事情的进展证明了这种估计是愚蠢的。