B: Time to learn American English! 美语训练班上课啦! 我是Kat!
A: 我是杨琳！Kat, how was your weekend?
B: Not bad. I went fishing with my sister and we caught quite a few fish!
A: 够棒的!今天咱们节目也要带大家去钓鱼, 还要去逛街买礼物，要想想去哪儿渡假, 还要告诉大家怎么用美语说“抓狂”。
B: 听着不错!
A: 节目一开始，还是来学个词儿吧！
Learn A Word #1368 virtual
今天我们要学的词是virtual. Virtual is spelled v-i-r-t-u-a-l, virtual. Virtual , 虚拟的，模拟的。美国和伊朗没有正式外交关系，不过美国国务卿希拉里.克林顿表示，The United States plans to open a virtual embassy for Iran by the end of this year. 美国计划今年年底以前开设一个虚拟的美国驻伊朗网上大使馆。研究人员最近对网上虚拟大学的教学水平提出质疑。Experts at the University of Colorado asserted that full-time virtual schools are largely unregulated. 科罗拉多大学的专家认为，全日制网上学校很大程度上不够规范。A lot of web sites now provide virtual assistants to help customers with what they want. 现在很多网站提供虚拟助手，满足顾客的需要。好的，今天我们学习的词是virtual, virtual, virtual.
A: 现在虚拟的东西越来越多了，There’s already a virtual world on the Internet!
B: That’s true, but sometimes you still need the real thing. For example, when you’re hungry, staring at virtual food won’t help.
A: On the contrary, it’ll make you more hungry!
B: Haha, exactly! Okay, now let’s move on to the next program.
A: 好，一起来听今天的 Words and Idioms, 美国习惯用语。
Words and Idioms 947
女：各位听众，现在播送<美国习惯用语>第 947讲。我是杨琳。
M：我是 Douglas Johnson.
女：昨天我开车回家的时候，在我们家的小路口险些撞到一辆自行车！这个路口的设计特别差，上个月又出了一起事故，两辆车相撞，车里的人都受伤了。这里真的应该树一块警示牌了! 这也让我想到一个习惯用语，那就是：
M：Bring to a head. Bring is spelled b-r-i-n-g, and head; h-e-a-d. Bring to a head.
女: Bring something to a head 意思是，使某件事情到了非做决定的紧急关头。这个短语通常用来形容比较坏的情况，形容使一件事情到了迫在眉睫，必须做出决定，加以改变的地步。比如上面的例子中，交通路口的情况太糟，车祸使警察到了要决定是否立一块警示牌，以改变这种情况的时候了。The car crash will BRING TO A HEAD the need for a stop sign at the intersection. 这次车祸使警方开始考虑在交叉路口安装警示牌的必要性。下面的例子里，是什么促使人戒烟? 我们来听听看:
M: “Cindy had been trying to persuade her husband to quit smoking. But he never made a serious effort to stop until last month. When he became short of breath playing with his grandson, he realized that his bad habit had to end. It BROUGHT TO A HEAD his addiction to cigarettes. He’s been tobacco-free ever since.”
这段话是说：辛迪一直试着劝她丈夫戒烟。但他从没认真尝试过，直到上个星期他陪孙子玩儿的时候气都喘不上来，他才意识到，是时候改改抽烟这个坏毛病了。这件事使他意识到他烟瘾的危害。自从那以后，他一直没有碰过香烟。
女：祝贺他! 改掉抽烟这个毛病可不容易。一些人戒烟说不抽就不抽了，不是一点一点来，也不靠外界帮助，我们可以说 cold turkey 断然戒掉烟瘾。It is difficult, but possible to quit smoking cold turkey. 虽然很难，但是断然戒烟是可能的。好，让我们再来听听刚才那段话。
M: “Cindy had been trying to persuade her husband to quit smoking. But he never made a serious effort to stop until last month. When he became short of breath playing with his grandson, he realized that his bad habit had to end. It BROUGHT TO A HEAD his addiction to cigarettes. He’s been tobacco-free ever since.”
女：那天我妹妹告诉我，她们公司最近走了一大批人，这些人都已经在公司工作超过40年了，很难找到经验跟他们匹配的新员工。我们来听听看:
M: “Our best trained workers are all over 60 years old. And they’ve been leaving the company faster than they’re being replaced. The CEO ought to recognize what’s happening. Retirements are BRINGING our labor shortage problem TO A HEAD. So he’d better come up with a solution quickly. “
这段话是说：我们公司最优秀的员工现在都超过60岁了。他们退休的速度远远超过了新员工的招聘速度。我们的CEO需要认识到现在的情况。老员工退休使劳动力短缺的问题迫在眉睫。老板得尽快找到解决方法。
女: 现在美国面临的很大的一个问题就是劳动人口老龄化。1945年到1961年“婴儿潮”时期出生的人现在都慢慢开始退休了，而这也给政府为他们提供的福利出了个大难题: Baby boomers’ retirement has BROUGHT concerns about funding TO A HEAD. 婴儿潮一代人的退休使解决政府福利的融资问题变得迫在眉睫。好，我们再来听听刚才那段话:
M: “Our best trained workers are all over 60 years old. And they’ve been leaving the company faster than they’re being replaced. The CEO ought to recognize what’s happening. Retirements are BRINGING our labor shortage problem TO A HEAD. So he’d better come up with a solution quickly. “
女：各位听众，今天我们学习的习惯用语是Bring to a head，意思是“使解决某事迫在眉睫”。好的，这次[美国习惯用语]就到此结束，我是杨琳，我是 Douglas Johnson。谢谢各位的收听。
A：最近我生活中也有件事迫在眉睫。
B: Which is?
A：搬家！我邻居太讨厌了，每天晚上拉小提琴，那叫一个难听，吵得我没法睡觉。今天一早我已经喝了三杯咖啡提神，要不眼睛都睁不开了。It brings to a head the need to find a new place.
B：I see. Have you asked your neighbor to keep it down?
A: 说了好多次了，没用！He’s driving me crazy! 我要抓狂了！
B: 先别！Don’t you want to know how to say 抓狂 in American English?
A: 嘿！我都气成这样了，哪儿还有心思学英语啊？
B: 啊？So….do you want to skip the next segment of the show?
A: 呵呵，也不用。行吧，咱们就来听今天的 “美语怎么说”。
How to say it in American English: over the deep end
MC：Jessica 在北京学汉语，她的中国朋友要是遇到了不知道用美语怎么说的词，就会来请教她。今天是Lulu要问的：抓狂。
Jessica: Morning Lulu!
Lulu: Jessica!! 我必须跟你说说，我都快气死了!
Jessica: 你怎么啦?
Lulu: 还不是我室友! 她特别不自觉，我所有的洗发水，擦脸油都随便用，还动不动就带男友回家! 我都快要抓狂了! 抓狂! scratch crazy!
Jessica: haha… 抓狂不是 scratch crazy, 你可以说，she’s pushing me over the edge.
Lulu: over the edge?
Jessica: 对，edge is spelled e-d-g-e,edge 边缘。My roommate always brings her boyfriend over to our apartment. I feel like I’m living with a couple. It’s really pushing me over the edge.
Lulu: push somebody over the edge, 就是使某人抓狂。这么说来，她可真是 push me over the edge! 昨天她又把男朋友带会公寓，我警告她说，这是最后一次了! 这又该怎么说呢?
Jessica: Oh, You can say: that’s the final straw.
Lulu: final straw, 这个说法真形象! 好，我今天回去就再这么告诉她一次!
Jessica: You know what Lulu, my roommate is actually doing the same thing. She always uses my things, it’s really annoying! You and I are in the same boat.
Lulu: in the same boat? 我们在一条船上? 哦我明白了，就是说我们处境相同，对不对?
Jessica: That’s right! We both have annoying roommates– we’re in the same boat. Now, tell me what you’ve learned today!
Lulu: 第一：使某人抓狂叫 push sb over the edge; 第二，警告说这是最后一次，可以讲 that’s the final straw；第三，处境相同，叫 in the same boat.
A: My neighbor is pushing me over the edge!
B：I know you’re upset, 杨琳。Maybe you should report the problem to the building’s manager and let him sort things out.
A：You’re right. There must be other people in the building who are in the same boat with me! We should all go to the manager and complain. 大家一起去告他的状！
B: I’m sure things will work out. Now let’s talk about something else. My Mom’s birthday is coming. Do you have any gift ideas?
A：Hmm, 送礼物给妈妈？你以前都送什么？
B: Home-make cakes, flowers, skin care products, gift cards…. I mean, I’ve given her almost all kinds of gifts a Mom would want. I’m out of ideas this year.
A: Don’t worry. 只要你去商场逛一逛，肯定会发现适合送妈妈的礼物，只有你想不到的，没有商家做不出的！
B: Okay. I’ll go shopping then!
A：说到逛商场买礼物，今天的“美语三级跳”就要讲一个男朋友给女朋友买生日礼物的故事。
B: How sweet!
A：嘿嘿，你想别急着夸这个男朋友，听了节目你就知道是怎么回事了！
GoEnglish: Shopping (beginner)
MC : 各位听众，大家好！今天我们为您播出“美语三级跳”节目“购物”单元的初级课程。
MC: Kevin 准备在女友生日的时候跟她出去浪漫约会，为此，他特意到商场，打算买身儿精神的衣服。
Professor: Winnie, I think Kevin must be a very good boyfriend. It’s nice of him to buy a new suit for his girlfriend’s birthday.
MC: Oh come on, Professor Bowman, 如果他真是个好男友，就该把钱花在女朋友身上，而不是给自己买新衣服！
Professor: Well, that’s true. Let’s listen and we will see who is right!
Salesperson: Hello sir, can I help you find something?
Kevin: Yes, I’m looking for a new suit.
Salesperson: What is your size?
Kevin: I usually wear a size 42.
Salesperson: Alright, I’ll show you the rack where we have our size 42 suits.
Professor: So Winnie, did you hear what size suit Kevin usually wears?
MC: 他一般穿42号的西装。对了，Professor Bowman, “rack, r-a-c-k, ”是货架的意思么？
Professor: That’s right. If you can’t find something you want “on the rack,” you can ask someone at the store if they have it “in the back.”
MC: 这么说，那些“on the rack”的衣服是摆在店面的货架上，让顾客挑选，而“in the back”就是那些放在后面库房里的衣服。
Salesperson: Do you see anything you like?
Kevin: Hmm … I really like this black suit.
Salesperson: Yes, you would look great in that suit. Do you want to try it on?
Kevin: Sure. Where are your dressing rooms?
Salesperson: The dressing rooms are downstairs. I’ll show you where they are.
MC: Kevin 看上了一套黑色的西装，打算 try it on，试穿看看。
Professor: Exactly. When you find something you like at a store, you can always tell the store employee, “I want to try this on.”
MC: 这位店员很会说话，她说 Kevin “would look great in that suit”，就是说他穿上那套西装一定很帅。
Professor: Exactly. You can also look good in a color. For example, you can say “you always look great in blue.”
MC: 就是说蓝颜色很适合你。Kevin试穿效果如何？我们继续听。
Kevin: Oh, this is a really great suit! It’s totally my style. What do you think?
Salesperson: Uh … I think that suit is too tight, sir. You need one size larger.
Kevin: No way! I love it. Really tight suits are the European style.
Salesperson: Well alright … but if you rip it when you sit down, you can’t return it.
MC: Hmm … Kevin的品味好象有问题。店员明明告诉他西装太紧，应该换大一号，可他却坚持要紧身的，还说这是欧洲流行的风格。
Professor: Right. Kevin says the suit “is totally my style.” You can say something is “my style” if you think you really look good in it.
MC: 看来，Kevin觉得很满意！ 不过店员说，如果因为衣服太紧，一坐下就撕了的话，人家可不给退。
Professor: Well, let’s find out how much the suit costs.
Kevin: So, how much is this suit?
Salesperson: That one is $1,000.
Kevin: $1,000? Umm … do you think it will go on sale anytime soon?
Salesperson: No. We only sell that suit for the full price.
Kevin: Well, it’s very expensive. But I’m willing to sacrifice for my girlfriend so that I look really great on our date!
MC: 啊？我没听错吧？Kevin说，他豁出去了，花1000块买这套西装，就算是为女友做的”sacrifice”–牺牲！这么一来，他还有钱给女友买生日礼物吗？
Professor: But that is her present: A really well-dressed boyfriend on their special date.
MC: 你不会是当真的吧？男人真会这样想吗？
Professor: Uh … I won’t try to answer that question. But Winnie, can you guess what it means when something is “on sale”?
MC: 这个难不住我！On sale就是打折，减价的意思。可惜，Kevin买的这身儿衣服不打折，只按full price–原价出售。
Professor: Exactly. I’m afraid after buying this expensive suit, Kevin will have to buy something on sale for his girlfriend.
MC: 我猜也是。你看，Professor Bowman, 我说对了吧？Kevin根本不是合格的男友！对自己大方，对女友小气，不知道他会给女友买个什么便宜的礼物。
Professor: Listen next time to find out!
B: Did I hear it wrong? Was this guy really shopping for his girlfriend’s birthday gift? All he bought was some fancy suit for himself!
A：Not only that, he also said spending a thousand dollars on that suit was for his girlfriend’s sake! 算是为女朋友而作出的牺牲！
B: 这个男朋友真奇怪。
A: 没错。不过Kat， 我有个馊主意，你也可以花很多钱买个你喜欢的东西，然后就跟你妈说，这是为了庆祝她的生日，你作出的牺牲！
B: So….I’m celebrating my Mom’s birthday by pampering her favorite daughter, which is me? Er….I don’t think your mom is gonna buy that theory.
A: 呵呵，我也这么觉得。
B: Okay. Let’s leave gift shopping for later, and talk about vacation now.
A：好，咱们一起来听“礼节美语”， 看看Jerry打算去哪儿度过他五个星期的长假。
Business Etiquette: Vacation II
Jerry跟同事Paula和Will聊天，说到telecommuting远程上班。Paula说：
Paula: Twenty years ago, many people thought that by this time, no one would be working in offices and everybody would have a more flexible schedule.
W: Well, that certainly hasn’t happened.
J: Not yet….but it could still be the wave of the future. Then again, you know the famous saying: “Old habits die hard.” Most bosses like to keep tabs on their employees and they think the best way to do that is by having them come into an office.
Paula说，20年前，很多人都以为社会发展到今天，大家都不用去办公室，可以在家上班了，and everyone would have a more flexible schedule. 大家都有更灵活的工作时间，但这种情况显然没有出现。Jerry 说，It could still be the wave of the future. the wave of the future 意思是未来的发展趋势。不过，老话说得好，”Old habits die hard.” 积习难改。Jerry说，Most bosses like to keep tabs on their employees 大多数老板都想严格控制员工，to keep tabs on someone or something 是密切注意某人某事的意思。要想控制员工，最好的办法当然就是让他们来办公室上班，在老板眼皮底下工作。
J: I have to say I’m looking forward to my long vacation. I think you need at least three or four weeks of doing nothing before you can truly relax.
W: I thought you said you had months and months of vacation time available. Why are you only taking five weeks off?
J: Five weeks was the best I could negotiate with my boss. She says she knows I’ve earned the time, but she begged me not to take more than five weeks.
P: Five weeks should be long enough! Who knows? Maybe you’ll get bored and come back early!
J: (laugh) I doubt it.
Jerry虽然有好几月的假期，但老板最多只让他休五个星期， 看来他一定是很能干。Paula开玩笑说，五个星期也足够了，搞不好用不了五个星期Jerry就觉得实在无聊，提前回来上班了呢！Jerry休假准备到哪里去呢？
W: So, where are you going?
J: I can’t decide if I want to go with a more relaxing trip, or if I want to explore cities.
W: If you were to choose the more relaxing option, where would you go?
J: I’m thinking of the island of Bali in Indonesia. I hear it’s a very relaxing and cheap vacation destination.
P: And what’s your second option?
J: I was thinking of traveling around Europe, starting with Paris. I could take trains and visit other nearby major European cities as well. It’s a tough call.
W: I’m so jealous of you!
P: Me too! Don’t forget to bring us back some souvenirs!
J: I won’t!
Jerry 说，他有两种选择，一个是印度尼西亚的巴厘岛，去那里更放松 more relaxing, 另外一种选择是去欧洲，第一站是巴黎，然后可以从巴黎坐火车到其他欧洲城市去玩。Jerry 说，It’s a tough call. 意思是他很难在这两种选择之间做出决定。Will 和 Paula 都很羡慕 Jerry, 提醒他一定要带 souvenirs 纪念品回来送给他们。
A: If I were Jerry, I’d go with option two–visiting famous cities in Europe by train. That’s classic!
B: So the Island of Bali doesn’t sound as attractive to you?
A：巴厘岛也好，可那里是情人度假圣地，I’m saving it for my honeymoon!
B：Wow, you’re thinking way ahead! 你想得还真远。
A：那是自然！对了，你周末不是钓鱼去了么？今天咱们也要在“体育美语中”聊聊fishing!
B：Let’s listen!
American sports English: Fishing
Y: My gosh Patrick, I don’t feel so well. 我晕船。
P: Don’t worry Yangchen, once we’re back on shore tonight eating the delicious fish we caught today, being a little sea sick will be totally worth it.
Y: A little sea sick? 我快要晕死了。而且我们要是一条鱼都钓不到怎么办?
P: Trust me, we’ll catch something. I’m an expert.
Y: An expert on what?
P: On fishing, of course. Hey, I think I caught something!
Y: Go Patrick! Catch him!
P: Don’t worry, I won’t let him off the hook.
Y: Let him off the hook? That must mean 脱钩。
P: Exactly. Actually, any time you let someone escape punishment, you can say you let them off the hook.
Y: For example?
P: Well, for example, if my girlfriend forgets that it is my birthday, I won’t let her off the hook with a simple apology. She would have to give me a REALLY expensive present to make up for it.
Y: 就是不能轻易地放过什么人。Well Patrick, if you don’t catch any fish and I am starving to death, I’m not going to let you off the hook.
P: You are not letting me off the hook. So how are you going to punish me?
Y: You have to take me to a nice restaurant and buy me a huge dinner!
P: No need for that, look, I got one!
Y: Uh 这么一条可怜的小鱼，塞牙缝都不够。
P: Oh come on, this one is a keeper.
Y: A keeper? 我知道 salmon， bass 什么的, 从来没听过a keeper fish.
P: No no, a keeper is a fish that is big enough to keep, rather than throw it back.
Y: And you think this is a keeper?
P: Actually, any time you find something that you really like, you can say that it’s a keeper.
For example, when I was single I had to go out with 15 girls before I found a keeper.
Y: Aha, 那我可以说 I had to try 100 lame sports with you before I found a keeper?
P: Lame? You think fishing is lame? If there is another sport you can play that will also provide you with dinner, I’d like to hear about it.
Y: That’s easy. Hotdog eating contest，吃热狗比赛。
P: Oh, that’s a keeper. Let’s do it next time!
A: 钓鱼对我没太大吸引力，太闷了。
B: Fishing isn’t always just sitting there and waiting for the fish to bite. Have you heard of big-game fishing? There you’ll get on a boat and sail to offshore area and try to catch huge fish. It’s very exciting!
A: 那….掉下去怎么办？我可不想被鱼吃掉！
B: Don’t worry. Big-game fishing doesn’t involve sharks!
A：那我就放心了! 好了，节目时间又到了，这次的撰稿人是晓北，编辑是蔚然。同学们，我们下次的美语训练班再见!
B: Bye!