Colloquial American English 地道美語
當別人在你旁邊囉嗦個沒完，你煩透了，說“You are so boring “.(你真煩！)。“Shut up !”（閉嘴！）自然沒錯，可人家受得了嗎？不如來一句“Oh, come on. Give me a break !” (幫幫忙，讓我歇歇吧！)這多地道、多幽默。
要想說人“氣色好”。“You look fine !”當然不錯，可如果你說“You’re in the pink !”就妙得多了，實際上，在英語口語中，表示顏色的詞用起來非常形象生動。
“他精力充沛”美國人說：“He is bouncy.”而不說“He is energetic ”,牢記一些日常對話中的活句式是你一把必備的鑰匙。
如：久仰，“I get mind of you “.比”I heard a lot about you.”輕鬆得多。
代問他人好當然能用“Please remember me to your sister .” 或“Please give my best wishes to your father ”不過，若是很好的朋友，何不說，“Please give my love to Jim。”
在中國可不能隨便說“我想你”，然而，當和西方人分手時說“I will miss you .”要比說“Good-bye”或“See you soon”有趣得多，不妨一試。
有人開會遲到了，你若對他說 “You are late .”，聽起來像是廢話，若說“Did you get lost ?”，則更能讓他歉然，可別說成“Get lost!”那可是讓人滾蛋的意思。
別人徵求你的意見，問能否開窗戶等，你要說“You can do that .”就有點土了，用一句“Do you have the time? ”實際上，問他人的姓名，地址都可以這麼用：“May I have you name?“要比”What’s your name ? ”禮貌得多，不過員警例外。
別人問你不願公開的問題，切勿用“It’s my secret. Don’t ask such a personal question .”回答，一來顯得你沒有個性，二來也讓對方尷尬。你可以說“I would rather not say .”（還是別說了吧！）。
有時候，你想說什麼，可說是想不起來，你可以說“Well …” “Let me see” “Just a moment ”或“It’s on the tip of my tongue.”等，想比之下，最後一個句型是最地道的。
交談時，你可能會轉換話題，不要只說“By the way ”,實際上，“To change the subject” “Before I forget” “While I remember” “Mind you ”都是既地道有受歡迎的表達。
遇到你不懂的問題時可別不懂裝懂，“I know”可能是中國人用得最多，而美國人最不能接受的一句話。當一美國教師向你解釋某個問題時，你如果連說兩遍“I know”可能是中國人用得最多，而美國人最不能接受的一句話。當一美國教師向你解釋某個問題時，你如果連說兩遍“I know”,我敢保證，他不會再跟你說什麼了。用“I know ”或“I got it ”就順耳得多，要是不懂就說“I’m not clear about it .”不過如果你會說“It’s past my understanding”或“It’s beyond me .”你的教師定會驚訝不已的。
要想將地道習語熟練地運用於口語，下面內容，不可不讀：
☆ a black sheep 敗家子
綿羊一般為白色，一旦成了黑色的綿羊，一定是個“敗類”。
Eric is a black sheep ,splashing one million dollars in a few years .
艾瑞克是個敗家子，幾年就揮霍了一百萬美金。 A rough diamond 內秀外粗的人
Rough diamond 指“沒加工的鑽石”，用來指內秀外粗的人，真是妙語！
{脫口說}
The guy is really a rough diamond , and he can get everything right ,although he is a little bit careless .
這傢夥真的是個外粗內秀的人，他什麼都能搞定，雖然他有點大大咧咧的。
☆ Be level-headed (calm and relaxed) 頭腦冷靜的人
可別以為 level-headed 是“小平頭”，“平頭”的英語說法是“crew cut”,他留了個平頭——He wears his hair in a crew cut .
{脫口說}
My boss, John Smith, is the most level –headed man I’ve ever known.
我的老闆約翰.史密斯是我見過的頭腦最冷靜的人。
☆ A greaseball (greasy guy ) 油腔滑調的人，“老油條”
Grease 油脂的意思，greaseball 的意思是塗滿油脂的球，專指那些油腔滑調的人，這類人近似於我們常說的“嘴太貧”的人。
{脫口說}
Mary’s boyfriend is such a greaseball , I don’t know why she is so crazy about him .
瑪麗的男友是個油腔滑調的傢夥，我不明白為什麼她如此地迷戀他。
☆ Weigh on one’s mind 心事重重
{脫口說}
Do you know what has happened to her recently? She seems to have something that weighs heavily on her mind these days
你知道她最近發生了什麼事嗎？她看起來心事很重。
☆ Be green-eyed (be jealousy) 嫉妒的“紅眼病”
源自莎士比亞名劇《奧賽羅》第3幕第3場中的臺詞“O! beware, my lord, of jealousy; / It’s the green-eyed monster… …“
中國人嫉妒時，是“紅眼病”，英美國家的人則“綠了眼”，有意思。在美國，有時直接用green表示嫉妒。
When I got the well-paid job in a foreign company , my friends were somewhat green with envy .
當我在一家外企找了份收入豐厚的工作時，我的朋友都有點嫉妒我。
☆ Your doggy looks quite lovely, doesn’t he ?
（你的狗寶寶看上去真可愛！）
☆ Excuse me ,but your blue coat is pretty beautiful ,Where did you buy it ?
(打擾你了。你的藍上衣真是漂亮，哪兒買的？)
在同外國人士交往過程中，你要注意別人的外表是否有了大的變化或添了新的裝飾，如新髮型、新衣服、首飾等。然後加以適當的讚美,但無須過分,否則就有虛情假意之嫌.即便是對方外觀沒有大的改觀，但比平時略顯精神，你也可以說：
☆ “Ben, you look very good today.”或“Ben, you’re looking energetic these days .”
(本，你近來顯得活力十足。)
在美國，對別人新添置的物品都要習慣地加以讚美，如：
☆ “Hey, I’m crazy about your new bicycle.”
(嘿，我真喜歡你的新自行車。)
☆ “Your new dress has brilliant color!”
(你的新衣服顏色真鮮豔！)
如果被邀請去參觀朋友的住宅、辦公室或公司，對其加以讚美就是比不可少的了。
☆ “I can’t imagine you have such a splendid house!”
(真不敢相信你竟有這麼豪華的房子。)
☆ “How nice your office looks. ”
（你的辦公室看上去不錯。）
要知道，沒人不愛聽這些。
不過在吃飯時，外國人對你菜肴的讚美往往只是禮貌，即使他們吃不慣，他們也會說“The dish is delicious ”可不要拿出中國人的豪爽，沒完沒了給他夾菜，浪費了不說，還常常弄得對方難堪。
表達讚美時需要注意以下情況：
1. 讚美一兩句即可，當別人表示感謝之後就可打住，或進入別的話題。
2. 若別人向你展示新買的衣服等，即便你對它感覺不如意，也要儘量發現你感興趣的地方，如顏色、樣式等加以讚美。
3. 中國人很少當面誇讚別人的妻子長得如何漂亮，而在西方文化中， 對別人妻子的讚美是活躍氣氛並且很受歡迎的。不過，讚美之後，你的眼睛久久不能從那女士的臉上挪開，可就另當別論了。
4. 讚美別人的首飾或衣服之後不要畫蛇添足，
問她一句，“It must be very expensive. How much is it?”（這一定很貴吧？多少錢啊？）
5. 無論別人怎樣讚美你，你只要一句“Thanks a lot.”就足以達到交流的效果，無須中國式的謙虛，“No, No”，會讓讚美你的人莫明其妙，甚至認為你懷疑他的審美觀有問題。
6. 美國老師上課時大多慈悲為懷，只要學生開口，無論怎樣信口開河或者牛頭不對馬嘴，老師都會說“Good job!”；“Very nice!”；“Ok, you have a creative answer!”；“What an original opinion!”。這既能鼓勵學生，又能激發學生參與的積極性。這可是中國老師不妨學學的地方。
7. 在英美國家的各種聚會上，女士們常誇讚自己的丈夫有能力，誇讚自己的孩子如何聰明可愛；男士們也常誇讚自己的妻子溫柔可人，誇讚自己的老闆如何地重用自己，這既能活躍氣氛，又能盡顯自己人性美的一部分。若有機會你參加外國人的ball（舞會），你也不妨收起你的謙虛，將你的讚美適時適度地表達出來。
break one's heart
由break 和heart構成的詞很多，如：heartbreak(極度傷心); heartbreaking(使心碎的)，heart-broken(極度傷心的) ，大家可能注意到都是和"傷心"有關，break one's heart 就是指傷透某人的心。
實戰運用：
A: You look so sad! What happened?
B: I broke up with my girl friend yesterday.
A: Did you? I had the same experience. It almost broke my heart.
B: But luckily you're all right now.
brush to one side
brush的意思是"推、拂"從字面上看，該習語的意思是："把… …拂到一邊去，"，由此引申為"不屑一顧"
實戰運用：
A: Helen's become so proud since she married that rich man.
B: I once talked with her, but she brushed all my suggestion to one side.
A: She'll ask for it.
B: Sure.
butt in
butt 有"沖、撞、冒冒失失地開"的意思。在美國俚語中，butt in 指"干涉、插嘴"。
實戰運用：
A: Don't butt in ,You're still wet behind the ears You know nothing about our business.
B: Why don't you let me air my opinions ? I have no say in this house .
A : What do you know about our business ? Your mum and I have been in trouble .
B: That's why I wanted to know what the trouble is I might be of some help .
by the way
這句話很簡單,也很常用：順便問一下
實戰運用：
A: Do you often keep in touch with Jane?
B: Yeah, we call each other if we have time.
A: I haven't seen her for a long time.
B: She changes a lot.
A: I saw her last nigh. By the way, do you know, she’s married?
B: Yea, with Johnson.
A: It's a little bit surprising, isn’t it?
B: Yes, indeed.
地道美語A
最hot的詞彙，最in的句子，最自然的表達，最地道的口語--這就是地道美語欄目想帶給您的。每期20個精彩短語，讓你出口成章。帶著輕鬆自信的表情，說出擲地有聲地道美語吧！
1. Be on one's high horse 趾高氣揚
2. Fight tooth and nail 猛烈作戰
3. Out of sight and out of mind 眼不見心不煩
4. Face the music 臨危不懼
5. as busy as a bee 極忙碌
6. No pains , no gains 不勞無獲
7. Black and blue 遍體鱗傷
8. Every dog has his day 人皆有得意時
9. A green hand 生手
10. Walls have ears 隔牆有耳
11. Chewing gum 口香糖
12. On top of the world 心滿意足
13. A black sheep 害群之馬
14. A piece of cake 輕鬆的事
15. Look before you leap 三思而後行
16. Easier said than done 說起來容易做起來難
17. Better half 配偶
18. Be all ears 全神貫注地傾聽
19. Failure is the mother of success 失敗乃成功之母
20. Serve one right 活該
地道美語B
1. Is that so? 真是那樣嗎？
2. Don't play games with me! 別跟我耍花招！
3. don't know for sure. 我不確切知道。
4. I'm not going to kid you. 我不是跟你開玩笑的。
5. That's something. 太好了，太棒了 。
6. Brilliant idea! 這主意真棒！
7. Congratulations. 恭喜你，祝賀你。
8. Thanks anyway. 無論如何我還是得謝謝你。
9. It's a deal. 一言為定。
10. Mind you! 請注意！聽著！
11. You can count on it. 你儘管相信好了，儘管放心。
12. I never liked it anyway. 我一直不太喜歡這東西。
13. That depends. 看情況再說。
14. Do you really mean it? 此話當真？
15. You are a great help. 你幫了大忙 。
16. I couldn't be more sure. 我再也肯定不過。
17. I am behind you. 我支持你。
18. I'm broke. 我身無分文。
19. After you. 你先請。
20. I just couldn't help it. 我就是忍不住。
地道美語C
1. Don't take it to heart. 別往心裡去，
2. We'd better be off. 我們該走了
3. Let's face it. 面對現實吧
4. Let's get started. 咱們開始幹吧
5. I'm really dead. 我真要累死了
6. I've done my best. 我已盡力了
7. I couldn't care less. 我不在乎
8. I couldn't agree more. 我完全同意
9. I couldn't please you more. 我儘量使你高興
10. No bones about it. 真實的，誠懇的
11. take it on me！ 這是我的，請用吧！
12. You never know. 天曉得
13. You may say that again. 我同意
14. If you insist. 恭敬不如從命
15. You can count on me. 你可交託給我
16. I wish I could. 我不行
17. I mean it. 我是認真的
18. I am not kidding. 我可不是開玩笑
19. That's really sth. 真了不起
20. I'll be back. 我會回來的
鑽石名句
1. When reports came into London zoo that a wild puma had been spotted forty-five miles south of London，they were not taken seriously.
據倫敦消息報導，一隻野生的美洲獅在距倫敦南面45英里處被發現，這些報告並沒有受到重視。
2. It immediately ran away when she saw it, and experts confirmed that a puma will not attack a human being unless it is cornered.
當她看見美洲獅時，美洲獅立刻掉頭而逃，椐專家證明，美洲豹除非被逼得走投無路，是決不會傷人的。
3. It is disturbing to think that a dangerous wild animal is still at large in the quiet countryside.
想到在寧靜的鄉村裡有一關危險的野獸繼續逍遙流竄，真令人擔心。
4. It must have been in the possession of a private collector.
它一定是屬於一位私人收藏家的。
5. I want give you a surprise. You certainly did give me a surprise.
我想給你一個驚喜。你確實給了我一個驚喜。
6. Some time ago, an interesting discovery was made by archaeologists on the WuHan island of China.
不久之前，在中國的武漢，考古學家們有了一項有趣的發現。
7. The city at one time must have been prosperous, for it enjoyed a high level of civilization.
這座古城肯定一度很繁榮，因為它曾享有高度的文明。
8. Houses - often three storeys high - were built of stone. They had large rooms with beautifully decorated walls.
這些通常有三層高的房子，用石頭修建，裡面房間很大，牆壁裝飾華麗。
9. She stood three feet high and her hands rested on her hips.
她身高3英尺，雙手叉腰。
10. She was wearing a full-length skirt which swept the ground.
她穿著一件拖地長裙。
11. Despite her great age, she was very graceful indeed, but, the archaeologists have been unable to discover her identity.
儘管上了年紀，但體態確實優美，不過，考古工作者至今未能確定這位女神的身份。
12. These days, people who do manual work often receive far more money than people who work in offices.
如今，從事體力勞動的人的收入一般要比坐辦公室的人高出許多。
13. People who work in offices are frequently referred to as "white-collar workers" for the simple reason that they usually wear a collar and tie to go to walk.
坐辦公室的人之所以常常被稱作"白領工人"，就是因為他們通常是穿著硬領白襯衫，系著領帶去上班。
14. This can give rise to curious situations.
這能增加好奇心。
15. He left home dressed in a smart black suit.
他穿著一身漂亮的黑色套裝出了家門。
16. His wife has never discovered that she married a dustman and she never will.
他的妻子從未發現自己嫁給了一個她從來不願意嫁的清潔工。
17. He will be earning only half as much as he used to, but, he feels that he rise in status is well worth the loss of money.
他將來掙的錢只有他現在的一半，不過他覺得，地位升高了，損失點兒錢也值得。
18. Such is human nature, that man like money women like beauty.
這就是人類的本性--男人愛錢，女人愛美。
19. Such is human nature that man always desires to earn more money.
人總有想掙到更多的錢的欲望，這就是人類的本性。
20. Boyfriend leave, tears stream down my face.
男友離開了，我淚如雨下。
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