Larry答应去跟小燕的父母一起吃晚饭，但是心里觉得很不自在，担心他们觉得自己是在跟小燕谈恋爱。今天我们要学两个常用语：take something the wrong way和rush into something.
(Door knocking).
LL: Just a minute!
XY: (Door opening) Hey Larry! 我能进来吗？
LL: Sure…so how are things? Are you enjoying your new car?
XY: 这辆车开起来过瘾极了，我父母觉得我买的车太贵，可我觉得，物有所值，好车开起来简直就是一种享受。
LL: That’s great, Xiaoyan! Hey, do you mind if I ask you a question? Don’t take this the wrong way, but….
XY: 你说什么？什么wrong way。
LL: Oh. Well, ‘take something the wrong way’ means to misunderstand what another person says, and it makes them think that something is wrong, but it really isn’t.
XY: 我知道了，take something the wrong way就是误解别人的意思。你说吧，我听着，保证不会误解你的意思。I won’t take it the wrong way.
LL: Honestly… I don’t know if I want to meet your family tonight.
XY: 什么？不是都说好了吗？你要打退堂鼓？你是害怕我父母？还是压根儿就不喜欢我？
LL: Ah, see? I was afraid that you would take this the wrong way…
XY: 你不把话说清楚，别人当然会误解。那你倒是说说看，你的理由是什么！
LL: I’m not sure if it’s such a good idea. It might imply…
XY: 暗示？有什么好暗示的，不就是吃顿便饭嘛。我父母在商界熟人多，我觉得对你今后发展有好处。这难道有什么不对吗？
LL: I still think you’re taking this the wrong way. Meeting your parents is a significant step. They may also take this the wrong way.
XY: 你担心我父母误会？ Don’t take THIS the wrong way, 可你怎么越说我越糊涂啊。
LL: (Sigh) Perhaps I’m just thinking too much about this.
XY: 就是嘛，你真的没什么可担心的。我父母特别想见你。
LL: Ok, then. I’m ready. How do I look?
XY: 简直帅呆了。我们走吧！
******
(在车上)
XY: 我父母可能会问你一些问题，你得事先想好怎么回答。
LL: Oh? And what kind of questions do they plan on asking? Professional? Personal?
XY: 其实也没有那么严重，无非是问问你的工作和生活情况，还有我们两人今后的打算。
LL: Oh, that’s not too – WHAT? OUR future plans? Are you serious?
XY: 你也不用告诉他们特别具体的计划，随便说说就行了。
LL: Ok. Wow. Xiaoyan, can we pull over for a minute? I think we need to have a talk. Here’s a spot – you can pull in there.
XY: 你干嘛让我赶快停车啊，你要上洗手间吗？那你可得快点，我父母最不喜欢别人迟到了。
LL: Our future plans? Our future plans? What are you talking about? This is something that I have not considered.
XY: 你今后没有打算吗？我们今后的道路还远着呢，当然得好好规划一下。不过没关系，我可以帮你解释。
LL: Don’t you think we’re rushing into things?
XY: Rush? 我们要是不赶紧上路，我就真得一路飞奔，才能不晚了。
LL: No. I was talking about the relationship. When people ‘rush into things’ in a relationship, they advance or push the levels of seriousness in the relationship too quickly – too early.
XY: 你是说我们的关系发展得太快了吗？我又没说马上就嫁给你。
LL: Wow. That’s REALLY rushing into things, Xiaoyan! I’m talking about meeting your parents. I have been trying to tell you that I don’t feel comfortable meeting your parents because we are not dating. We are just friends.
XY: 朋友也可以一起吃饭啊，跟朋友的父母吃顿饭有什么大不了的吗？
LL: I just don’t think I’m ready to meet your parents. I don’t want to make them think that we are in a romantic relationship.
XY: 你不愿意让他们知道？好，那我们就不谈今后的打算。这总行了吧。你别那么紧张，放松一点，我父母特别随和，晚饭一定会很愉快的。不过啊，我们可真得赶紧走了。
LL: (Reluctantly) Ok…
我们今天学习了两个常用语。一个是take something the wrong way, 是误解别人的意思。另一个是rush into something, 意思是进展太急。