英语中有几种“忙”

 　　Donny在北京学中文。他的中国朋友要是遇到了不知道用美语怎么说的词，就会来请教他。今天是杨琳要问的：忙。

　　Donny：Hi 杨琳，what's up? I haven't seen you in ages.

　　YL: 别提了，我最近特别忙，I am really busy! 忙得四脚朝天，怎么说...four feet up!

　　Donny: four feet up? I can imagine. But in English, we don't say that...You can say I'm up to my neck in work.

　　YL: I'm up to my neck... in work ? 工作太多，堆到和脖子一样高?被工作压得喘不过气来。这个说法太形象了! 还有别的吗?

　　Donny: There is another expression¹ that also has to do with body parts. It is "I've got my hands full".

　　YL: I've got my hands full。我明白了，就是说两手都没闲着。

　　Donny: Exactly. Oh, I just thought of another one---"I have a lot on my plate".

　　YL: I have a lot on my plate? plate, p-l-a-t-e, plate 不是盘子么?说盘子里有很多东西，那一定是...忙着吃呢吧?

　　Donny: That's possible! Anyway, when you say you have a lot on your plate, it means² you're busy.

　　YL: 我知道了。哎呀，我快迟到了，快，再教最后一个。

　　Donny: Okay, this one will be easier to remember-- I've got a million things to do!

　　YL: 太夸张了吧! I've got a million things to do! 有一百万件事情等着我去做。

　　Donny: Right! Now, Yang Lin, tell me what you've learned³ today!

　　YL: 今天学到的还真不少。形容特别忙可以说，I'm up to my neck in work，工作堆到脖子了;I've got my hands full, 两手都占着呢;I have a lot on my plate，盘子里堆得满满的。哎呀! 我得赶紧走人了，I've got a million things to do!

1 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。

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 learned   

adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。