读者文摘:军人段子分享

How did i know my new coworker was a veteran? When i heard him describe the impending¹ birth of his first child as "when the baby has boots on the ground."

我是怎么知道我的新同事是一个老兵的？就在他这样描述自己的第一个孩子的出生：“这个孩子会在这个时候上战场”。

I was stationed in England with the air force when i went to a local barber.

我驻扎在英国的空军部队时，去了当地的一家理发店理发。

I told him that i had a date that night and asked for a very close shave.

我告诉他，我那晚要去参加一个约会，让他给我刮干净点。

After working his magic, the barber exclaimed, "there you go, yank.

理发师施完他的魔法后说道，“搞定了，英国先生。

If you want it any closer than that, you'll have to bite 'em off from the inside."

如果你想要更近的话，你得从里面咬出来。”

Visiting annapolis, i noticed several plebes on their hands and knees holding pencils and clipboards. "what are they doing?"

在参观安纳波利斯时，我注意到有几个人跪在地上，手拿铅笔和写字板。“他们在干什么？”

I asked our tour guide. "Each year, the upperclassmen ask the freshmen² how many bricks it took to finish paving this courtyard," he said.

我问我们的导游。他说：“每年，学长们都会问新生，铺好这个院子需要多少块砖。”

"So what's the answer?" My friend asked. The guide replied, "one."

我朋友问道，“答案是什么？”导演回答说“一块。”

1 impending   

a.imminent, about to come or happen

参考例句：

• Against a background of impending famine, heavy fighting took place. 即将发生饥荒之时，严重的战乱爆发了。
• The king convoke parliament to cope with the impending danger. 国王召开国会以应付迫近眉睫的危险。

2 freshmen   

n.（中学或大学的）一年级学生( freshman的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• We are freshmen and they are sophomores. 我们是一年级学生，他们是二年级学生。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• University freshmen get lots of razzing, but they like the initiation. 大一新生受各种嘲弄，但是他们对这种入门经验甘之如饴。 来自辞典例句