Lawrence给Jen做媒，让她和自己的另一位朋友William约会。
Professor: Today Lawrence and Jen have met for coffee to talk about how Jen’s date with William went.
Lawrence: So Jen, what did you think of William? Did you guys have a nice time on your first date?
Jen: Oh yeah, it was great! He took me to an Italian restaurant and we had an amazing conversation. I told him about how many kids I want, and how my parents will be so excited to meet him.
Lawrence: You said all that on the first date? Alright …. Well are you two going out again?
Jen: Yeah! I called him after I got home to arrange our next date, but unfortunately his grandma is sick so he has been busy every night visiting her in the hospital.
Professor Bowman，看来这个William还真是a catch! Jen好象对他很满意，甚至提到去见父母和生孩子的事呢！不过，第一次约会就说这么严肃的事儿，会把男生吓跑的。
Professor: Judging from my personal experience, that’s very possible! Did you hear that William’s grandmother got sick right after his date with Jen? That’s a little odd.
就是啊! Jen一约William， William就说自己奶奶病重，哪有这么巧的事？! 八成是他不想再见面，所以找的借口!
Lawrence: William told you that his grandmother is sick, huh? What exactly did he say?
Jen: He said his grandmother got cancer and has only a few weeks to live. It’s really so sad! But when I talked to him on the phone, it sounded like he was holding up really well.
Lawrence: It didn’t sound like he was too upset, huh? What did you tell him?
Jen: I asked if there was anything I could do to help his family, and I told him that I could be a shoulder for him to cry on.
Lawrence: Well I hate to tell you this Jen, but both of William’s grandmothers passed away more than five years ago.
Professor Bowman, Lawrence说William的祖母五年前就“passed away”了， “pass away”不是去世的意思么？
Professor: Exactly. Sometimes people say that someone “passed away” because it sounds nicer than saying “died”.
怪不得William在电话里holding up so well – 没有悲恸欲绝，原来奶奶生病真是他编出来的借口!
Jen: What do you mean his grandmothers are already dead? Wait a minute, you don’t think he’s avoiding me, do you?
Lawrence: Well you know, claiming that your grandmother is sick is the classic excuse used to get out of doing something.
Jen: Oh man, I hate rejection. It really makes you feel terrible, especially when you really liked the person.
Lawrence: Is there anything I can do to help? Just remember that I’m there for you if you want to talk about it.
Professor, 我常听美国人说”being there for somebody,” 这到底是什么意思呢？
Professor: “Being there for someone” is staying close to him and giving him support when he is going through a difficult period.
Oh, being there for someone就是某人遇到困难时在他身边支持他，鼓励他。
Jen: Thanks. Sometimes talking with a friend is a great way to get over something. Do you mind if I vent a little bit?
Lawrence: Of course not. If you’re feeling bad and want to let your emotions out, you can just say whatever you want to me.
Jen: Great, because I am really mad at William. I mean, what kind of an idiot wouldn’t be able to appreciate a smart, beautiful woman like me? Anybody who would be friends with that guy has to be really dumb.
Lawrence: Uh, Jen …. you know I’m friends with William.
Jen: Oh right …. present company excluded, of course!
嗯，遇到挫折时，能有个朋友听你vent倾诉真是一件幸运的事。 不过，professor, Jen说的 present company excluded 是什么意思？
Professor: When you criticize a group of people that the person you are talking to belongs to, you can say “present company excluded,” which means the person you are talking to is excepted from that criticism.
哦， 就是“在场者除外”。如果你批评一群人，而听你说话的人也是其中一员的话，你就可以说“你不算，你跟他们不一样”。唉，Professor Bowman，学了今天这一课，我再次领悟到，天下乌鸦一般黑，男人全都靠不住!
Professor: Ahem??
Oh! 当然啦， present company excluded!
这次的美语三级跳就播送到这里。