The Mean Man's Party

       The notorious cheap skate explaining to a friend how to find his apartment, he said, "Come up to 5M and ring the doorbell with your elbow. When the door open, push with your foot."

       "Why use my elbow and foot?"

       "Well, gosh," was the reply, "You're not coming empty-handed, aren't you?"

吝啬鬼请客

        一个出了名的吝啬鬼在向一个朋友解释怎么找到他家时说：“你上到五楼，找中间那个门，然后用胳膊肘按门铃。门开了之后，再用脚把门推开。”

        “为什么要用我的肘和脚呢？”

        “你的双手得拿礼物啊。天哪，你总不会空着手来吧？”吝啬鬼回答。

First Flight

       Mr. Johnson had never been up in an aeroplane before and he had read a lot about air accidents, so one day when a friend offered to take him for a ride in his own small plane, Mr. Joshson was very worried about accepting. Fianlly, however, his friend persuaded him that it was very safe, and Mr. Johnson boared the plane.

       His friend started the engine and began to taxi onto the runway of the airport. Mr. Johnson had heard that the most dangerous part of a flight were the take-off and the landing, so he was extremely frightened and closed his eyes.

       After a minute or two he opened them agian, looked out of the window of the plane, and said to his friend, "Look at those people down there. They look as small as ants, don't they?"

       "Those are ants," answered his friend, "We're still on the ground."

第一次坐飞机

         约翰逊先生从未坐过飞机，但他读过许多关于飞机事故的报道。所以，有一天一位朋友邀请他乘自己的小飞机飞行时，约翰逊先生非常担心，不敢接受。不过，由于朋友不断保证说飞行是很安全的，约翰逊先生终于被说服了，登上了飞机。

         他的朋友启动引擎开始在机场跑道上滑行。约翰逊先生听说飞行中最危险的是起飞与降落，所以他吓得紧闭双眼。

         过了一两分钟，他睁开双眼朝窗外望去，并对朋友说道：“看下面那些人，他们看起来就像蚂蚁一样小，是不是？”

         “那些就是蚂蚁，”他的朋友答道，“我们还在地面上。”

A: I'm sorry for being late. You see, I was held up by the rain. 对不起，我吃到了。我被大雨困住了。

B: Not at all. 没关系。

                     That's OK.   没什么。

                     It's OK.   没什么。

                     It's all right. 没关系。

                     It's nothing.   没什么。

                     Never mind.   不要紧。

                     Forget it.   别说了。

                     Don't worry.   没关系。

                     Not in the least. 无所谓。

                     Not a bit of it.   一点儿也没什么。

                     That's not a big deal. 没什么大不了。

Ⅰ. Basic Expressions

真对不起。      I am awfully / terribly sorry.

                          A: I'm awfully sorry for the other day. 前几天的事我很抱歉。

                         B: It's OK. 没什么。

                       I feel really bad about ...

                       I beg your pardon for ...

请原谅。        I apologize.

                      Please accept my apology.

                      Will you ever forgive me?

                      May I ask for your forgiveness?

                             A: I'm sorry. May I ask for your forgiveness?

                             B: That's all right. 没关系。

对不起，请等一等。          Excuse me. Back in a moment.

                                         Excuse me. I'll be right back.

                                         Excuse me. Won't be a minute.

对不起，我忘了。      I'm sorry. I quite forget.

                                  I'm sorry. I forget all about it.

                                  It was most thoughtless of me.

                                  Sorry, it slipped my mind.

我不是故意的。       I really don't mean that.

                               I didn't mean to hurt your feelings.

                                     A: I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. 我不是要有意伤害你的。

                                     B: Forget about it. It's not that important. 别说了，没什么。

都怪我。       It's my fault.

                            A: It's my fault.   是我的错。

                            B: That's okay. Don't worry about it. 没关系，别太介意。

                     It's all my fault.

                     It's my bad.

                     I'm to blame.

请原谅我的失礼。       Please forgive my rudeness.

                                         A: Please forgive my rudeness.   请原谅我的失礼。

                                         B: I'll forgive you. 我原谅你。

                                   I'm sorry for my rudeness.

                                   I'm sorry I was rude.

哎呀，我应该早点发现它的:

Oops, I should have thought of that a long time ago.

Oh, how stupid I've been. It could be better if I had thought of that earlier. 哎呀，我怎么做了这么蠢的事。如果能早点发现就好了。

It was careless of me not to find it out. 我太粗心了，没能及时发现它。

A: Susan, it seems some data in the chart are wrong. 苏珊，这个表中的几个数据好像有误。

B: Oops, I should have thought of that a long time ago.   哎呀，我应该早点发现它的。

Oh, how I wish I could find it out earlier. 哎呀，我真希望我能早点发现它。

If only I could put the clock back. 如果时间能够倒流就好了。

对不起，我错了。    Sorry, my mistake.

                                I'm sorry. I made a mistake.

                                I'm sorry I made a slip on my estimates. Please wait while I recalculate.抱歉我估计错了。我重新再计算一次，请稍等。

今天文章竟然是APOLOGIES，太可笑了。呵呵。明天再写吧，累－－！

              

A: How about going out to a movie?

B: Good idea. It's nearly a month since I last saw a picture.

go to pub－泡吧；go fishing－钓鱼；go hiking－远足；go bowling－打保龄球；go surfing－冲浪；go golfing－打高尔夫；dine out－外出吃饭；join in the party－参加聚会；surf on line－上网； go dancing－跳舞

      美国人的party多，除了birthday party, farewell party, holiday party 以外，还有许多。如:super bowl party (超级杯派对)，超级杯总决赛的时候一般不管是不是球迷都会参加，因为一年里最精彩的新广告会在比赛中间播出。

      theme party (主题排队) 很受年轻人的欢迎。定下主题后，根据风格购买衣服，礼物等等。

      surprise party (惊喜派对) 朋友之间经常开，大多数是为某人生日，搬家，乔迁等举行。 party 主角一般事先不知情，被骗到现场后大家从藏身之处跳出来大喊："Surprise!"

      bachelor / bachelorette party (单身汉，单身女郎派对) 为准新郎和准新娘准备的，一般参加的都是单身朋友。

      housewarming party 从字面上解释是把屋子弄热，一般是搬了新家以后开，给新家增加人气，与中国的温居很相似。

Ⅰ. Basic Expressions

你有空吗?    What are you doing next Sunday?

                    Are you free to come tomorrow?

                    Are you doing anything next Sunday?

                   A: Hi, Sue, are you free to join us for a coffee tonight?

                    B: Sorry, Jane. I'm afraid tonight is a bit of problem.

发出邀请:

I'm calling to see you if you would like to ... 我打电话给你,是想知道…怎样?

We should be so pleased if you would come. 如果你能来我们将不胜荣幸.

Shall we have a drink? 出去喝一杯吧?

How about having lunch with me? 一起吃顿午饭怎样?

Would you be interested in coming to the cinema with me tonight? 你今晚有兴趣一起去看电影吗?

I'm inviting you to my birthday party. 我邀请你参加我的生日派对.

How do you think about going out for a meal at the weekend? 周末一起出去撮一顿怎么样?

I'm thinking about going to KTV with my coworkers tonight. Wanna come?我想今天晚上跟同事去KTV唱歌.要来吗?

I'm wondering if you're free for dinner. 不知道你有没有空来吃顿晚饭.

Are you up for a barbecue this weekend? 要不要这个周末去烧烤?

Would you honor us with a visit? 可否赏光来我们这儿?

接受邀请       I'd love to, thanks. 多谢,我很愿意.

                     That's very kind of you, thanks. 多谢, 你真热心.

                     That sounds lovely, thanks. 好极了, 谢谢.

                     What a great idea, thanks. 好主意, 谢谢.

比较正式地接受邀请:

We'd be very much like to accept your invitation. 我们非常高兴接受您地邀请.

We'd be delighted to attend your wedding ceremony. 我们非常高兴参加你们的婚礼.

It would give us the greatest pleasure to spend the weekend with you. 能与你们一起度过周末我们将不胜荣幸.

婉拒邀请:

That's very kind of you, but actually I'm doing something else on Saturday. 您真客气, 但是我已经安排了别的事情.

Well, I'd love to, but I'm already going out to the cinema. 我也很想去,但是我已经准备去看电影了.

I'm very sorry, but can we make it another time? 真对不起, 下次可以吗?

Thank you all the same, but I'm afraid I can't . 谢谢, 不过恐怕不行.

I wish I could, but... 我很想去,不过...

Tomorrow is a bit of a problem. 明天可能不行.

Sorry, I can't. But thanks anyway. 对不起, 我去不了. 不过,还是要感谢你.

Oh, What a pity. I'm leaving tomorrow. 唉, 太可惜了.我明天就要走了.

比较正式的谢绝邀请:

Much as I should like to, I'm afraid I'm already booked up next Sunday. 我非常想去,但下个星期我已经有约在先了.

That's extremely kind of you, but I have got a previous engagement. 谢谢你的盛情邀请, 但我已经有安排了.

It is unlikely we'll be back before the date you suggested. In view of this,we are unable to accept your invitation. 您提议的那个日子我们可能回不来, 所以无法接受您的邀请.

Ⅱ. Dialogues

Dialogue 1.

A: I'm sorry, but I have to cancel our luncheon appointment. 真抱歉,不过我不得不取消我们的午餐约会.

B: I'm sorry to hear that. 真遗憾.

A: I have pressing business to attend to. 我有紧急的事情要处理.

B: No problem. We'll make it later in the month. 没关系, 这个月晚些时候再说吧.

NOTES

pressing: urgent 紧急的; attend to: 处理,解决, 此处还可说 come to grips with (努力对付), deal with, tackle, dispose of, get down to (开始认真对待,处理), grasp the nettle (迎难而上), clear up.

Dialogue 2.

A: If you're free, how about lunch? 有空的话一起吃顿午饭如何?

B: When did you have in mind? 你想什么时候呢?

A: I was thinking about Thursday. 我看星期四不错.

B: That will be fine with me. 没问题.

NOTES

在英美国家的邀请也分为真实的邀请和礼节性的邀请.真实的邀请会说明具体的内容,时间和地点并请求对方答复.而礼节性的邀请则没有明确的时间,通常只用soon, one day, sometime. 例如: Remember to drop in on me whenever you come to Beijing. I think we should have lunch together one day soon.   have sth. / sb. in mind: 心中想着/ 考虑着某人/ 某事. 如: We should have in mind the benefit of the journey as well as the difficulties we might encouter. (我们应该想到旅行的一处, 也哟阿考虑到可能遇到的难处). have...in... 结构在英语中的用法非常广泛, 如: have sth. in one's blood (具有某种世代相传的性格或特点), have sth. in one's pocket (对某事有把握).

Dialogue 3.

A: When can we expect you for dinner? Can you come tonight? 什么时候你能赏光一起吃顿晚饭?今晚行吗?

B: Not tonight. I promised to go to the cinema with my sister. 今晚不行, 我答应和姐姐去看电影了.

A: Well, how about Saturday then? 那就星期六吧.

B: That sounds good. 好的.

A: We'll be delighted to have you. 你能来我们会很高兴.

B: I'll be there. You're still a fabulous cook, aren't you ? 我一定会去的.你的厨艺还是很棒吧?

A: That'll be for you to decide. I've got a new dish. 那得你说了算. 我新学了一招.

B: I'm ready. I think I'll be the first on Saturday. 我拭目以待. 星期六我很早就会到.

NOTES

1, 电影常用的词有: movie, film, flick等. 电影的题材有: comedies 喜剧, sci-fi (secience fiction) 科幻, horror 恐怖, action 动作, adventurous 探险, war 战争, suspenseful 悬念, dramatic 戏剧, gangster 警匪, documentary 纪录, romantic 言情等.

2, fabulous: 好极了, 等于gorgeous, marvelous, fantastic, great, terrific等.

Dialogue 4.

A: This lunch is on me today. 今天这顿午饭我请客.

B: I think you got it last time. 我记得上回也是你请的.

A: It's my pleasure. 我请得心里高兴.

B: Well, shall we split the check? 大家分摊吧.

A: Why don't you let me pick it up? 就让我来付帐好了.

B: Oh, that's not necessary. 啊, 不必这样.

NOTES

1, 通常在请客前,双方已经协商好由谁来付钱: Dutch pay, go Dutch 均表示各自付费. 但是用得更多的表达方法是split the bill. 如果向服务员说: Could we have separate check, please? 服务员将按照每个人点的菜分别开收据.如果要自己付帐, 可以说: It's on me. / It's my treat./ I will pick up the check.

2, 两个人一起去饭店吃饭, 一个非常能吃, 一个食量比较小,那么吃完要付账的时候,那位胖子一定会说"Let's split the cost" , 而瘦子会小心翼翼地这样说"Let's go Dutch". 那么两个句子有什么区别么? 当然有, 但是一翻成汉语又瞎眼了, 因为它们叫做"分账". 但是实际上区别很大, split the cost 表示两人一起点菜,吃完一结帐是200元,各出100元, 而go Dutch 是我们通常说的AA制, 经常用在吃快餐时, 表达的意思是各自为自己点的东西付账.

Dialogue 5.

A: Haven't seen you for ages. Let's have a get-together. 好久没见, 我们聚聚吧.

B: Great! How about tomorrow evening? 太好了, 明天晚上如何?

A: I'd love to make it as soon as possible, but tomorrow is not convinient for me. Is Friday OK with you? 我也想越早越好, 不过明天确实不太方便,星期五行吗?

B: Sure, it's a deal. 可以, 我们一言为定.

NOTES

it's a deal. 一言为定. 用在双方获得结论并约定遵守诺言的时候. 这是比较轻松, 随和的说法, 电影里经常听到it's a deal, that is a good deal等. 例如: It's a deal. I'll scratch your back and you'll scratch mine!一言为定, 我帮你, 你也帮我!

a fair / square 表示"公平交易"

it's no big deal. 没什么大不了的.

A: Well, I'd better to going now. It's a marvelous dinner.

B: I'm glad you liked it. See you later.

Bye.-再见.    See you soon.-回头见.    See you around.-回见.    See ya.-再见.    So long.-再见.    Ciao.-再见.    Later.-回头见.    Take care.-保重.    Take it easy.-再见.    Farewell.-再见.

Ⅰ. Basic Expressions

我要告辞了。     I have to be going now.

                          Well, I must be off now.

                          A: It's late. I must be off now.

                          B: Hope to see you again.

欢迎再来。      Drop in again whenever you have time.        

                                 drop in= 顺便走访,无预约的拜访

                        Look forward to seeing you again.

                        A: Look forward to seeing you again.

                        B: Me too.

祝你万事如意。     All the best. / Best wishes.

◆All the best.是May all the best wishes happen to you.的缩语,用于祝酒,告别等场合,也可用于间接引语中.

请代我向你父母问好。    Please give my regards to your parents.

                                       All my love to your parents.

                                       Regards to your parents.

                                       Send your parent my best.

别忘了我。            Don't be a stranger.

                              Keep in touch.

                              Stay in touch.

                              Don't forget to write to me.

旅途愉快。           Have a nice trip.

                            Have a good journey.

                            Wish you a pleasant journey home.

                            Have a safe landing.

◆Have a safe landing. 即"一路平安", 乘飞机时的祝福语.

你一定要走吗？        Must you go?

                                       A: It's 9:30 on the nose. I'm afraid I have to rush now.

                                       B: Must you go now?

                                 Can't you stay?

                                 I'm sorry that you have to leave so early.

Ⅱ. Dialogues

Dialogue 1.

A: I just dropped in to say goodbye.

B: What time are you leave?

A: I'm going to try to leave by 10:00.

B: Take careful and give my best to your parents.

A: Goodbye. Thanks again for everything.

Notes

1, drop in: 拜访,    drop in on/ at 拜访某人/ 某地.

2, give my best to... : 向…问好. 通常在送别亲朋时, 会让对方转达对其家人和朋友的问候,表达方式多样: Mention me to Jane.向简问好. Remember me to your father. 请代我向你父亲转达问候. Say hello to your family / Please give my best regards to your family. 向你全家问好.

Dialogue 2.

A: Sue, my bus is being announced. I'd better hit the road. Thank you for your kind hospitality.

B: You are welcome. Have a nice trip. Please drop a line after you get there.

A: I sure will. Thank you. So long.

B: Goodbye and take care.

NOTES

1, hit the road: 上路,出发 (多用于陆上交通). hit 在美国口语中极为活跃. 构成了很多生动的短语, 如: hit the books (用于读书, 认真学习), hit the ball (做得很好), hit the bottle (喝酒,酗酒), hit the deck (起床), hit the headline (成为报纸上的头条新闻), hit the right nail on the head (正中要害), hit a shower (洗个澡).

2, have a nice trip 用于离别时, 表祝愿. 除此以外还可以说: Good luck. / All the best. / Take care. / Enjoy yourself. / Enjoy your time there.

Dilogue 3.

A: If you're ever in New York, look me up. I'd love to see you again.

B: Sure, I will. You can count on that. Be seeing you.

A: See you around.

NOTES

1, look sb. up : 看望/ 拜访某人. 此外还有drop in on sb./ call at sb./ pay a visit to sb.

2, count on : 指望, 信赖. You may count on it . (尽管放心好了) 是比较地道的口语表达. count 原意为数一数, 如count the cost (权衡利益得失), count the days/ hours (望穿秋水), count the pennies (斤斤计较,精打细算).

Dialogue 4.

A: I must run along now. I've enjoy this evening very much.

B: It was a pleasure having you.

A: Every sucess with your research project. I hope it goes well.

B: Thanks. Take care then.

NOTES

1, 在英语国家, 结束拜访时通常会表达一下此次拜访的感受.如: It's a nice evening. (今晚我很高兴), Nice to talking with you. (很高兴与你聊天), I had a wonderful time here. (我很愉快)

Dialogue 5.

A: I really should be on my way.

B: Oh, not yet! At least have one for the road.

A: No. Thanks all the same.

B: Well, I'm sorry you have to leave so early.

A: Thank you very much. We really had a good time.

B: Well, Thank you for coming.

NOTES

1, all the same 相当于 just the same 或 thanks anyway (无论如何我还是得谢谢你). 当别人尽力要帮助你却没帮成时, 你就可以用这个短语来表示感谢. 如:

A: Would you should me the way to the post office?

B: Sorry , I don't know.

A: It's doesn't matter. Thanks all the same.