A: 欢迎大家来到这期的美语训练班! 我是杨琳!
B: 我是Kat! 杨琳，咱们今天都要学什么呢?
A: 今天，咱们一起去看一场儿童篮球比赛，看看法国卢浮宫的艺术展，学学怎么说拍马屁，还要告诉大家用美语怎么说保质期!
B: 拍马屁! I hate those brown nosers! Uh…so disgusting!
A: 好了好了，你先别生气。咱们言归正传，赶快先来进入第一个单元，Learn a Word!
Learn A Word # 1531 lucrative
今天我们要学的词是lucrative. Lucrative is spelled l-u-c-r-a-t-i-v-e, lucrative. Lucrative指“赚钱的”“合算的”。一些经济学家发现，在美国抢银行的劫匪平均每次可以赚到4000美元，四次左右大概就会落网，因此 Bank robbery is not a lucrative profession. 抢银行并不是个赚钱的行当。The earthquake that struck northern Italy affected production of the lucrative cheese industry. 意大利北部地震对利润丰厚的奶酪业生产造成了影响。Those counting on a lucrative career after studying math or science may want to consider a career in nuclear science and technology. 想找高薪工作的数学和科学专业学生可以考虑在核科技产业谋职。好，今天我们学习的词是lucrative, lucrative, lucrative…
B: We all want lucrative careers, but sometime you just have to choose to do what you love! I’ll take happiness over money any day!
A: 嗯，我同意! I can’t stand those people who just want to make money and get ahead, and don’t care how they do it!
B: Oh yeah, we all know those kinds of people. 马屁精。They’ll say ANYTHING to get what they want and move up the corporate ladder. You think they’re nice, but they’re actually just trying to curry favor.
A: 听众朋友们可能正纳闷，这拍马屁跟咖哩有什么关系呢? 赶快来听听今天的words and idioms你就明白了!
Words and Idioms #970
现在播送<美国习惯用语>第 970讲。我是杨琳。
M：我是 Steve Baragona.
平常我跟邻居很少来往，不过前两天，她忽然给我送来一篮子新鲜曲奇饼干。我最开始还很高兴，不过后来得知，她最近想在院子里修一个篱笆，而这样做必须得到整个社区居民的同意，当然也包括我。这也让我想到了一句习惯用语，那就是:
M: Curry favor. Curry is spelled c-u-r-r-y and favor; f-a-v-o-r. Curry favor.
大家都知道curry做名词是咖哩的意思，不过在这里curry作为动词，意思是讨好，奉承。而curry favor, 实际上就是拍马屁。这也就是我邻居最近的举动。I know why she came bearing fresh-backed cookies. I think it’s an attempt to CURRY FAVOR. 我知道我邻居为什么给我送新鲜曲奇饼，我觉得她就是想拍我的马屁。在下面的例子里，这个人对他的市长有什么看法呢? 我们来听听看:
M: “Don’t assume that the mayor has special fondness for you. If you’re influential and can help her deliver on her campaign promises, she’ll compliment you, invite you out to dinner and treat you specially. The truth is she CURRIES FAVOR with anyone she considers to be important.”
这段话是说：[千万别认为市长特别喜欢你。如果你有任何影响力，或者能够帮助她实现竞选承诺，她会恭维你，请你吃晚餐，给你很多特殊待遇。但事实是，如果她认为你重要，她就会来拍你的马屁。]
这听起来很典型阿! 那天我上高中的侄女跟我说，她们学校里有个女生为了能参加啦啦队，不惜给教练买了一个特别昂贵的圣诞节礼物! 好了，我们再来听听刚才那段话:
M: “Don’t assume that the mayor has special fondness for you. If you’re influential and can help her deliver on her campaign promises, she’ll compliment you, invite you out to dinner and treat you very specially. The truth is she CURRIES FAVOR with anyone she considers to be very important.”
大家都特别讨厌爱拍马屁的人。可是，学校里，社会中，到处都是这样的人。在办公室里就更不例外了! 下面的例子就谈到了这么一个马屁精，让我们来听听看:
M: “Isn’t it obvious why Ralph nominated our boss as “Supervisor of the Year”? He just wants to get himself promoted to foreman and figures the boss might help arrange it if he’s recognized for an important award. See? That why he’s CURRYING FAVOR with him. It’s so disgusting.”
[这段话是说: 难道你看不出来拉尔夫为什么提名咱们的老板为“年度最佳领导”么? 他想晋升为领班，而他知道如果老板自己能够得到这个奖项，可能就会帮助他得到领班的职位。这就是他为什么老是拍老板的马屁。真令人恶心。]
真是! 办公室政治真让人头疼。碰到这种拍马屁的人，最好的办法就是别理他。慢慢他就会被所有同事孤立，我想这也不是个好受的感觉。He’s always currying favor with the boss. But in the end, he’s quite isolated in the office. 他成天拍老板的马屁，不过最后，他在办公室特别孤立。好的，让我们再来听听刚才那段话:
M: “Isn’t it obvious why Ralph nominated our boss as “Supervisor of the Year”? He just wants to get himself promoted to foreman and figures the boss might help arrange it if he’s recognized for an important award. See? That why he’s CURRYING FAVOR with him. It’s so disgusting.”
今天我们学习的习惯用语是 curry favor，意思是“拍马屁”。好的，这次[美国习惯用语]就到此结束，我是杨琳，我是 Steve Baragona。谢谢各位的收听。
A: Kat, you look so cute today! I love this blue top on you, it matches your blue eyes!
B: Thanks!!!…..Wait….are you attempting to curry favor?
A: 当然不是了，不过你知道，我下个礼拜搬家，需要个帮手…
B: Hmmm…let me think about it…Of course I will help you Yanglin, that’s what friends are for!
A: Great, thanks girly! 我还得好好把冰箱清一清，里面肯定很多东西都过了保质期…
B: Ugh. I knew you were going to make me do all the dirty work! 你刚才提到了一个有用的词儿，保质期，let’s see how to say this in American English!
How to say it in American English
Jessica 在北京学中文，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。今天是方方要问的：保质期。
FF: Jessica, 你过来帮我看看，这个牛奶是不是过期了呀?
Jessica: Let me see…Hmm, I’m not sure. When did you get this?
FF: 两周前吧! 那时候牛奶大减价，我就一口气买了4瓶! 贪便宜, 可是忘了看保质期…
Jessica: Milk normally has a shelf life of a week. Shelf is spelled s-h-e-l-f, 是货架的意思。shelf life 能够放在货架上的日子，也就是保质期!
FF: 原来是这样! 那我都买两个礼拜了，我看这牛奶肯定过期了….
Jessica: I bet you’re right. I think this milk is past-date. You’d better throw it away!
FF: Past-date, 这里的date就是盒子上标识的生产日期。past-date 也就是过期了的意思! 真可惜，这可是最好的牛奶，这些牛都是只吃鲜草，听古典音乐长大的!
Jessica: That sounds like a top shelf product to me! 高档商品!
FF: Top shelf, 在货架上最高的地方，就是指高档货! 那相对来说，价格便宜的产品又要怎么说呢?
Jessica: It’s the opposite of that. We call it a bottom shelf product. Basically less expensive stuff is put on the bottom shelf.
FF:Top shelf product, 高档货，bottom shelf product, 便宜货! 我记住了。
Jessica: 好！那你说说看，What have you learned today?
FF: 今天我们学到的内容包括:
第一，保质期是shelf life;
第二，过了保质期可以用 past-date;
第三，高级货叫做top shelf product, 便宜货叫做bottom shelf product!
这次的”美语怎么说”就到这里了。如果你也有不会说的词，请写信给Jessica, 电邮请寄meiyu@voanews.com
A: Yeah….my eyes are bigger than my stomach and I usually end up with a lot of past-date products in my fridge….
B: Haha, my stomach is JUST as big as my eyes. I learned to never go to the supermarket with an empty stomach or else I will end up buying a mountain of food!
A: 对啊，要是这样还得去锻炼，太累了….
B: No way! Working out and playing sports can be so much fun!! You know I love anything that lets me compete!
A: You know, you’re right- there are lots of ways to get in shape! 在今天的美语三级跳里，我们再带您去看一场篮球比赛，不过这回不是NBA, 是特别的儿童篮球!
B: Let’s listen!
Athletics: Intermediate
大家好！今天我们为您播出“美语三级跳”节目“体育运动”单元的中级课程。
Ryan 跟自己的好朋友Alice学习打篮球。今天，Alice带Ryan去看球赛，好让他学学比赛规则。
Professor: That’s right, Winnie. Alice is taking Ryan to watch a basketball game, but it’s not a professional game like you might think.
不是职业赛？那是什么比赛呢？
Ryan: Alice, I can’t believe you brought me to a children’s basketball game! How can I learn how to play basketball watching children?
Alice: Well, Ryan, you’re a beginner, and they are beginners too. That will make it easier for you to understand the rules.
Ryan: Ugh … I guess so. But watching kids is so boring. The professional basketball league is much better.
Alice: OK Ryan, stop complaining and watch what’s happening on the court.
啊？原来Alice带 Ryan去看儿童篮球赛啦!
Professor: I know it sounds silly, but why does Alice say she brought him there?
Alice 说，Ryan是 beginner–初学者，所以，看和他水平差不多的人打球，能更好地了解比赛规则。对了， professor, Ryan 说 professional basketball league，是指职业篮球联盟么？
Professor: Right, and in baseball, you might hear about the major leagues and minor leagues.
对，在棒球中， major league 就是“大联盟”，而minor league 是“小联盟”。 让我们来听听，在basketball court–篮球场上，比赛进行地如何吧!
Ryan: Alright Alice, let’s watch the game. Which team are we rooting for?
Alice: We are rooting for the home team because my nephew is playing for them.
Ryan: Oh, cool! Does he really like to play basketball with the other kids?
Alice: Oh yeah, these team sports really build their confidence. This is a big game, because they are playing their rivals.
原来，Alice的侄子就在球场上! 他是home team–“主场球队”的一员，Professor, 和“主场”相对的是“客场”，这要怎么说呢？
Professor: The opposite of the home team is the visiting team. Most people at the game root for the home team.
没错！比赛时，主场队总是人气更旺! 大部分观众都root for it–给主场球队加油助威。那么，root for除了表示在赛场上支持某只球队外，还有别的用法么？
Professor: Sure! For example, I am really rooting for the new law to pass, because it would lower my taxes.
哦，root for 表示“支持”，所以我们可以说，root for the new law –支持这条新的法律。Professor, Alice还提到，这两只队伍是rivals–这是“劲敌，对头”的意思么？
Professor: That’s right!
Ryan: Wow, these kids are really good! I can’t believe how athletic they are.
Alice: Yeah, my nephew practices a lot. He’s the captain of the team.
Ryan: He’s the captain? He must be the best player on the team. When I was his age, the only sports I played were sports video game.
Alice: Hmm …. well I’m sure playing all those sports video games really gave your fingers a good workout.
怪不得Ryan篮球打得这么臭，他小时候从不运动，唯一的爱好就是play sports video games–在游戏机上玩儿运动游戏!
Professor: Right. And what about Alice’s nephew? Is he more athletic than Ryan was?
当然了! Alice的侄子是篮球队的captain–队长，他特别 athletic–爱运动!
Ryan: My gosh, Alice, these kids are half my age, and they are so much better at basketball than me!
Alice: Don’t get discouraged; with lots of practice, you will be as good as them one day.
Ryan: I don’t have that much dedication. Man, getting in shape is so much work!
Alice: Well, you don’t have to play basketball. There are lots of other ways to get in shape. Do you have any other ideas?
Ryan: Mmm … Actually, I have a great idea!
MC:看着小孩子篮球打得比自己强那么多，Ryan有点觉得discouraged–泄气了。他不想打篮球了，想用另外一种方法来锻练身体，保持体形。不知道他有什么好主意？
Professor: Well, listen next time to find out!
A: 我可不爱打篮球，太不淑女了! 不如做做Yoga，多优雅!
B: Ha. You? Lady-like? If you want to become a lady, you need to work on becoming cultured. You should start going to museums with me!
A: 我啊…那就先从听听艺术开始吧! 今天的business etiquette咱们就继续去挑选艺术品，赶快一起来听听吧!
礼节美语 – BE-248 Art for an Office II
公司主管 James 找到公关部主任 Felicia 商量购置艺术作品，美化工作环境的事。James 说自己偏爱相片，Felicia 表示赞同。
F: I often go to photography exhibitions at the local museum. Sometimes the pictures are of nature–you know–wild animals or sunsets…that kind of thing. But my favorite pictures are of people; sometimes you can catch someone in a private moment and it’s a very interesting window into how other people live.
J: Yes, I like to hang out at the museum as well. I’m also a big fan of sculpture. Last time I was in Italy I made a special trip to go see Michelangelo’s “David.” It’s really a very impressive work of art.
F: I’d love to see that! I was in Paris two years ago and I spent half my time there walking around the Louvre Museum…it was amazing.
Felicia 也经常去博物馆看摄影展，她最喜欢看人物写真，It’s an interesting window into how other people live. 这是观察到其他人生活的一扇窗子。James说，他也很喜欢泡博物馆。I like to hang out at the museum as well. 除了摄影作品外，James 和 Felicia 两人也都很喜欢雕塑，他们谈到了 Michelangelo’s “David” 意大利著名雕塑家米开朗基罗的作品大卫，以及巴黎的 Louvre Museum 卢浮宫。
J: You know…come to think of it, maybe we should buy some art pieces from the local artists to support the local community.
F: I’ve got an idea! Let’s try to find one very beautiful, very impressive large piece of art–or maybe a mural–to put at the entrance of our offices. Then, instead of buying works of art to hang in the various hallways, we can rent the artworks and rotate what we have on display!
J: Felicia…that’s a brilliant idea. I think you just solved our dilemma.
F: Thanks, boss!
James忽然想到，他们其实应该购买当地艺术家的作品，也算是为社区做些贡献。他所说的 come to think of it, 是我忽然想起的意思。Felicia 提议，买一件大的艺术作品，或是 mural 壁画，放在办公室大门口，然后可以租艺术品挂在走廊的墙上，这样一来，还可以隔一段时间换一批。James觉得这个主意好。
J: We’ll get one major artwork for our entranceway and maybe commission a couple of sculptures for the outside garden area. Then we will find an art rental company and rotate our pictures on a three-month basis.
F: That way, we will eventually get around to everybody’s taste in art, and if some people don’t like some of the art…well, they won’t have to look at it for long.
J: All right, that’s our plan! Let’s do it. Thanks again, Felicia.
F: Not at all.
James 还说，we can commission a couple of sculptures. commission is spelled c-o-m-m-i-s-s-i-o-n, commission 动词，在这里是向艺术家定购作品的意思。James 还说，挂在公司里的艺术作品，可以每三个月换一批，这样就能满足员工不同的艺术品味了。
A: Hmm, James这个主意好! 萝卜青菜各有所爱! 这样的话每个人都能欣赏到自己喜欢的艺术作品，士气肯定提高了!
B: What a great boss! My sister’s boss is like that- once a month everyone in the company gets to bring their pets to work! Happy employees work harder- it’s a great way to increase productivity.
A: Oh wow….那办公室不是成动物园了，真逗!
B: Yeah it is a pet-friendly company….
A: True true! 你刚才提到了个 词pet-friendly, 咱们来听听这个词儿的用法吧!
Learn A Word # 1539 friendly
今天我们要学的词是friendly. Friendly is spelled f-r-i-e-n-d-l-y, friendly. 大家都知道，friendly 是友好的意思，如果把 friendly 加在另外一个名词后面，意思就是对某人，对某事有利的。比如，eco-friendly 有利环保的，user-friendly 方便用户使用的，business-friendly 便于企业发展的；再比如，This is my favorite restaurant. It’s very family-friendly. 这是我最喜欢的餐馆，给带孩子来吃饭的顾客提供了很多便利。一个加拿大健身房规定，禁止瘦人成为会员。The gym prides itself on creating a “plus-size friendly” environment. 这家健身房专门为“胖友们”提供一个舒心的健身场所，以此为自己的特色。好，今天我们学习的词是 friendly, friendly, friendly.
B: 杨琳，I have an advice for you.
A: What is it?
B: I think you should become more Kat-friendly, like buying coffee for Kat, bringing cupcakes for Kat, cooking authentic Chinese food for Kat…
A: 同学们，请自动屏蔽Kat! (Kat: 嘿!) 好啦,这次节目时间就到这里。 如果你对我们的节目有什么建议，或者想提什么问题，请发电子邮件到meiyu@voanews.com.
B: Tune in next time for American English Mosaic!
A: See you next time!