语言小贴士:In Two Minds

1. If you are in two minds¹, this means²:

a) you can't decide³

b) you have made⁴ a decision⁵

c) you have a headache

2. Nina can't decide between going⁶ out for a walk and what?

Today on Language⁷ Snacks we take a look at the expression⁸ in two minds. Let's listen to the dialogue⁹.

A: What are we going to buy Donna for her birthday? She'll be 15 next Saturday.

B: I've got¹⁰ no idea about teenagers¹¹! What do you think?

A: Well, I'm in two minds. I thought¹² about buying her a CD¹³, but I'm not sure which she'd like. On the other hand, if I give her money, she can choose one herself¹⁴. I can't decide.

B: I think it's safer to just give her the money. Teenagers change their favourite music every week!

A: Hmm¹⁵, perhaps¹⁶ you're right.

Should you have tea or coffee? Go out or stay at home? Keep your hair long or get it cut? When you can't decide between two alternatives¹⁷, you can say that you are in two minds. A variation¹⁸ is to say that you are caught in two minds.

I'm in two minds about what to do right now actually¹⁹. It's a lovely day outside and I really should go out for some fresh²⁰ air. But, on the other hand, there's a great football game on TV this afternoon!

And that's it for now – join us again for some more Language Snacks.

1. a

2. watching football on TV

 

1 minds   

n.想法( mind的名词复数 )；（区别于物质或身躯的）心；智力；理智（与感情相对而言）

参考例句：

• A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds. 令人讨厌的小人物身上有着愚蠢的一致性。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Pornographic literature and art corrupt the minds of young people. 色情文学及艺术腐蚀年轻人的心灵。 来自《简明英汉词典》

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 decide   

vi./vt.决定；下决心

参考例句：

• It's a difficult question to decide.这是个难以决定的问题。
• I can't decide which to choose.我无法决定要选哪一个。

4 made   

v.make的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• They were not made in china.它们不是中国制造的。
• The monkey made a long arm for the peach.猴子伸臂去摘桃子。

5 decision   

n.决定，决心

参考例句：

• Once a decision is made,we must carry it out.一旦做了决定，我们就要执行。
• It was unwise of you to make that decision.你这个决定是不明智的。

6 going   

n.去，离去，地面(或道路)的状况，工作情况；(复数形式）goings: 行为；adj.进行中的，流行的，现存的

参考例句：

• We're going to listen to a report this afternoon. 今天下午我们要去听报告。
• He hates leaving the office and going on holiday.他不愿离开办公室去度假。

7 language   

n.语言

参考例句：

• Is English a hard language to learn?英语是一种难学的语言吗？
• Language is a wonderful thing.语言是极好的东西。

8 expression   

n.表达，表示，表现，表情，措辞，词句

参考例句：

• He looked at me without expression.他毫无表情地看着我。
• Her face was without expression.她的脸上没有表情。

9 dialogue   

n.对话；vi.对话；vt.用对话表达

参考例句：

• Practise the dialogue in pairs.两人一组练习对话。
• The dialogue went on until nine o'clock.谈话一直到九点。

10 got   

v.(get的过去式)得到，猜到，明白

参考例句：

• I just got some bad news.我刚得到一些坏消息。
• I have got far too much work to do.我要做的事太多了。

11 teenagers   

n.少年男女，青少年；青少年( teenager的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There is considerable pressure on teenagers to conform. 年轻人被大力要求守规矩。
• A couple of teenagers were kissing and cuddling on the doorstep. 一对年轻人在门阶上亲吻拥抱。

12 thought   

n.想法，思想，思维，思潮，关心，挂念；v.vbl.think的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• It was just a thought.这仅仅是一个想法。
• She thought he had a cold.她认为他感冒了。

13 CD   

n.光盘(compact disc的缩写)

参考例句：

• I have my CD player.我有CD机。
• Can you tell me how much the CD player is?你能告诉我这激光唱机多少钱吗？

14 herself   

pron.她自己

参考例句：

• The little girl wrote the letter all by herself. 这小女孩自己写了这封信。
• She should do her homework herself.她应该自己做作业。

15 hmm   

int.哼！（踌躇等）

参考例句：

• Hmm......that's very strange.嗯……这很奇怪。
• Hmm.What day is it?嗯，今天是星期几?

16 perhaps   

adv.也许，可能

参考例句：

• Perhaps it will rain in the afternoon.下午可能有雨。
• Perhaps I can help you.也许我能帮帮你的忙吧。

17 alternatives   

选择的余地( alternative的名词复数 )； 可供选择的事物； 取舍； 非传统（或他择性）生活方式的追随者（或鼓吹者）

参考例句：

• You can be paid in cash weekly or by cheque monthly; those are the two alternatives. 你的工资可以按周以现金支取，或按月以支票支取。二者可选其一。
• He was faced with two alternatives -- death or submission. 他面临两种选择--死亡或者投降。

18 variation   

n.变化，变动；变体，变种；变奏(曲)

参考例句：

• The prices for food are subject to variation.食品的价格可能变更。
• The air flow will have some variation of angularity.风的流向将有一定程度的变化。

19 actually   

adv.实际上，事实上，竟然，居然，如今

参考例句：

• he looks young, but she's actually 50.她看上去年轻，可是实际上已五十岁了。
• Actually,that's not quite right.实际上，那不完全对。

20 fresh   

adj.新鲜的；无经验的；淡(水)的；精神饱满的；纯洁无瑕的；生动的；adv.最近地；n.涌流

参考例句：

• The air is quite fresh there.那儿的空气很清新。
• Have you got fresh news?你有最新的消息吗？