常春藤生活英语【54】House Hunting 购屋大作战

House Hunting　购屋大作战

Dialogue A

Zoe and Burt are looking for a new house.

Zoe:Look! I found some great houses in the newspaper we can visit.
Burt:OK. I'll look at them later.
Zoe:You agreed that we would move to a bigger house, but it seems like I'm the only one who has kept the ball rolling.
Burt:I know. I guess I'm just nervous about it right now.
Zoe:Well, I still want to move, but we need to decide on this together. The ball is in your court now. Let me know when you make up your mind.

柔依和伯特正在找新房子。

柔　依：你看！我在报纸里找到一些好房子，我们可以去看看。
伯　特：好。我等会儿再看。
柔　依：你答应说我们要搬到大一点的屋子，不过好像只有我在找而已。
伯　特：我知道。我想现在我只是对这件事情有点紧张罢了。
柔　依：嗯，可是我还是想搬家，不过事情要我们两人一同决定。现在就看你要怎么做了。你决定好再告诉我吧。

Dialogue B

The next day, Burt apologizes to Zoe.

Burt:I'm sorry I wasn't being helpful. I know I originally¹ said we would look for a new house together.
Zoe:Yes, you did. Frankly², I was really excited about decorating a new house. I think we would have a ball.
Burt:You're right. It would be great. I promise that from now on, I'll be on the ball.
Zoe:I'm so happy to hear that! Now go get the newspaper. I bet³ there are some new houses in it today.

隔天，伯特向柔依道歉。

伯　特：很抱歉我都没帮上忙。我知道原先我说过我们会两个人一起找新房子。
柔　依：是啊，你是这么说过。坦白讲，我对装潢新房子这件事真是超兴奋的。我想我们会做得很开心。
伯　特：妳说得没错。一定会很好玩。我保证从现在起，我会更投入。
柔　依：我真高兴听到你这么说！现在快去拿报纸吧。我敢说今天报上一定有一些新房子。

Building Your Vocabulary

1.apologize vi. 道歉，谢罪
You must apologize for the trouble you caused.
你必须为你惹出来的麻烦致歉。

2.frankly adv. 坦承地，坦率地
Frankly, I don't agree with your opinion.
老实说，我不同意你的意见。

Phrases⁴ for Learning⁵

1.keep the ball rolling　　使事情继续进行
While the boss was on vacation, his son kept the ball rolling with the project.
老板去度假的时候，这个企划的执行就由他儿子负责。

2.the ball be in + 所有格 + court　　现在轮到某人（做出反应或采取行动）
I left Fiona a note. Now the ball is in her court.
我留了一张便条给菲欧娜。现在就看她怎么做了。

3.have a ball　　玩得很开心
Josie and May had a ball in Las Vegas.
乔西和阿梅在拉斯韦加斯玩得很开心。

4.be on the ball　　投入的，有反应的
Randy wasn't on the ball because he didn't sleep well last night.
兰迪有点没进入状况，因为他昨晚睡得不太好。

Tips In Use

I bet there are some new houses in it today.
（我敢说今天报上一定有一些新房子。）

本句虽然用了 bet 这个字，却没有要跟任何人打赌的意思。"I bet..."在口语中表『我敢肯定……』。以下为各位读者介绍其它跟 bet 有关的常见口语用法：

1.You bet!　　的确∕当然∕一点不错！

A: Would you like some ice cream?
B: You bet!
（甲：你要吃点冰淇淋吗？　　乙：当然啰！）　

2.You can bet your bottom dollar + that 子句　　有把握∕确信……

You can bet your bottom dollar that it'll rain this afternoon.
（今天下午铁定会下雨。）　

1 originally   

adv.本来，原来，最初，就起源而论，独创地

参考例句：

• Originally I didn't want to go.我本意不想去。
• After much discussion they settled on the plan originally proposed.他们讨论了很久，然后确定了原来提出的那个计划。

2 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

3 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。

4 phrases   

n.短语( phrase的名词复数 )；成语；说法；乐句

参考例句：

• Sports commentators repeat the same phrases ad nauseam. 体育解说员翻来覆去说着同样的词语，真叫人腻烦。
• Television sports commentators repeat the same phrases ad nauseam. 电视体育解说员说来说去就是那么几句话，令人厌烦。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。