【英语时差8,16】不愿意当邻居宠物的保姆

 Dear Annie:

My neighbors ask us to pet-sit their dogs every holiday, vacation, etc. This started 10 years ago, when my young son was friends with their son. Both boys are now grown and don't live at home.

These neighbors have an elderly dog that can barely walk, and they also have a puppy. Taking care of these dogs entails¹ at least three or four daily visits to their house to walk and feed the animals. The last few times they asked, I made excuses that we were too busy, but they persist. They are nice people, but we are not otherwise close. We have a dog, too, but have never once asked our neighbors to care for it. We put Fido in a kennel² when we go away. Why can't these people get the hint? － Frustrated³ NeighborDear Neighbor:

Stop pussyfooting around and tell them directly that you no longer have the time or energy to take care of their dogs. Give them the name and phone number of the kennel. Say you've found the place trustworthy and suggest they try it next time. Don't let them guilt⁴ you into changing your mind.

1 entails   

使…成为必要( entail的第三人称单数 )； 需要； 限定继承； 使必需

参考例句：

• The job entails a lot of hard work. 这工作需要十分艰苦的努力。
• This job entails a lot of hard work. 这项工作需要十分努力。

2 kennel   

n.狗舍，狗窝

参考例句：

• Sporting dogs should be kept out of doors in a kennel.猎狗应该养在户外的狗窝中。
• Rescued dogs are housed in a standard kennel block.获救的狗被装在一个标准的犬舍里。

3 frustrated   

adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧

参考例句：

• It's very easy to get frustrated in this job. 这个工作很容易令人懊恼。
• The bad weather frustrated all our hopes of going out. 恶劣的天气破坏了我们出行的愿望。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 guilt   

n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责

参考例句：

• She tried to cover up her guilt by lying.她企图用谎言掩饰自己的罪行。
• Don't lay a guilt trip on your child about schoolwork.别因为功课责备孩子而使他觉得很内疚。