A: 欢迎大家来到这期的美语训练班! 我是小北!
B: 我是Mike!
A: 杨琳，你快给我回来主持节目!
B: That’s right! End your vacation and fly back to DC!
A: 没错，赶快飞回来! 自己在北京探亲渡假，让我在这儿顶班!岂有此理!
B: Calm down, Xiaobei. You know what they say: the show must go on. Let’s go ahead and preview today’s show, shall we?
A: 唉，说得也是。那就来介绍一下节目吧! 今天，我们要听听别人失业之后的心声，谈谈如何开始新人生，还要来学怎么说灰色地带!
B: But first, let’s learn a word!
Learn A Word impersonator
今天我们要学的词是 impersonator, impersonator is spelled i-m-p-e-r-s-o-n-a-t-o-r, impersonator. Impersonator 假扮别人的人。The couple was robbed by a police impersonator. 这对夫妇被一个假警察给抢了。The doctor impersonator who scammed pharmacies was arrested. 那个假冒医生，从药房骗钱的人被抓住了。在美国，假冒猫王已经成了一种职业。很多电影里都有这样的场景。A young couple went to Las Vegas and got married by an Elvis impersonator. 年轻恋人跑到拉斯维加斯，由猫王模仿者主持婚礼结婚。Professional Elvis impersonators work all over the world as entertainers. 世界各地都有职业猫王扮演者客串表演。好的，今天我们学习的词是 impersonator, impersonator, impersonator…
A: Impersonator, 模仿者。那我现在给杨琳代班，Should I be a Yang Lin impersonator? (学嗲声…)
B: 呃……You can just be your awesome self, Xiaobei.
A: What do you think Yanglin is doing right now in Beijing?
B: I bet she’s eating 羊肉串儿 all day long, relaxing, hanging out with friends and having a good time.
A: 同意! 大吃大喝是肯定的了! 不过她那么怕发胖，应该管管自己的嘴。
B: Yep. She should go easy on all the home-made heavy meals.
A: 在下面的words and idioms中，我们就来学学这个Go Easy On.
Words and Idioms Go easy on
美国习惯用语第 998讲。我是晓北。我是Dan
我的小侄女在学钢琴，她妈妈对她要求严格，每天练琴5个小时，弹不完不能出去和朋友玩儿。在钢琴比赛中，侄女得了第二名，要说已经是很厉害了，可是却被她妈妈训了一顿，因为没拿冠军。这种严厉的方式我可真看不惯，也让我想到一个习惯用语，那就是:
Go easy on. Easy is spelled e-a-s-y. Go-easy-on. Go easy on.
Easy是容易的意思，To go easy on someone or something的意思是温和有耐心地对待某人或某事。如果是我的女儿在钢琴比赛中得了第二名，我绝对不会批评她。I’d go easy on her. 我会和颜悦色地对她。我可不想当个tiger mom，虎妈。在下面的例子里，我们要听听一本介绍美国历史上著名罪犯阿尔·卡彭的书。
“In this book, Al Capone is almost celebrated as a businessman who makes generous contributions to charities. The author GOES EASY ON his subject. The truth is that Capone was a gangster who made money smuggling illegal alcohol. He also engaged in gambling and prostitution. And let’s not forget he had several people murdered!”
这段话是说: 在这本书中，阿尔·卡彭几乎被歌颂成了一个对慈善事业慷慨解囊的商人。书的作者显然对他所描写的人物心慈手软了。其实，阿尔·卡彭是个黑道人物，靠走私非法酒赚钱，还参与赌博和卖淫。另外，别忘了他手上还有很多条人命呢。
阿尔·卡彭在美国可是著名历史人物，而且是小说电影等艺术作品很青睐的人物。不可否认，虽然他不是好人，但却是个有意思的人物。好的，我们再来听听刚才那段话:
M: “In this book, Al Capone is almost celebrated as a businessman who makes generous contributions to charities. The author GOES EASY ON his subject. The truth is that Capone was a gangster who made money smuggling illegal alcohol. He also engaged in gambling and prostitution. And let’s not forget he had several people murdered!”
Go easy on something还有一个意思，就是“少量地用某物”。 我们一起去听听下面这个例句。
“I grew up in Mexico, where the food can be really spicy. When I cook for my American friends, however, I have had to remember that some people prefer milder flavors. I’ve GONE EASY ON the hot chilies I knew from when I was a boy. I only put a lot of them in a dish when I know my guests appreciate the bolder taste.”
这段话是说：我在墨西哥长大，那里的饭菜特别辣。不过，当我给美国的朋友们做饭时，我得提醒自己有些人不喜欢吃太辣。我现在做饭时的辣椒用量已经比我小时候吃的少多了。只有当我的客人都喜欢更辣更重的口味时，我才会在菜里放很多辣椒。
除了口味上的考虑，有时出于健康原因我们也要少吃某种东西。比如，我妈妈的医生就建议她减少钠的摄入量。That’s why she’s been going easy on the salt when she cooks or eats out. 因此她做饭或者在外面吃的时候都要少吃盐。朋友胃酸过多，So she was advised to go easy on sodas and coffee. 所以医生建议她少喝汽水和咖啡。
好，我们再来听听刚才那段话:
M: “I grew up in Mexico, where the food can be really spicy. When I cook for my friends, however, I have had to remember that some people prefer milder flavors. I’ve GONE EASY ON the hot chilies I knew from when I was a boy. I only put a lot of them in a dish when I know my guests appreciate the bolder taste.”
今天我们学习的习惯用语是Go easy on, 意思可以是耐心温和地对待某人，或者少用某物。
A: Mike, 现在还没出蛇年正月，我得给你拜年啊! 过年好!
B: 恭喜发财! 红包拿来!
A: 嘿! 就知道红包! 要说过年，也是有人欢喜有人愁。
B: Why? Chinese New Year should be all about happiness!
A: 你可不知道，你去亲戚家串门，三姑六婆对你的大拷问，你可招架不住!比如我有个朋友，他刚刚失业了，本来就郁闷，这个春节还不免要把这个坏消息一一告诉亲戚朋友，多烦人啊!
B: That’s right. As if losing a job is not bad enough…Actually in today’s Business Etiquette, we will listen to the story of a person who just got fired.
Business Etiquette Losing a job (I)
Suzanne 约朋友 Mickey 一起吃午饭。
Suzanne: Mickey! Good to see you! It’s been too long!
Mickey: Hi, Suzanne! you’re right, it has been too long.
S: Did you find something on the menu that interests you? Sorry I’m late for our lunch. Traffic was horrific.
M: Yeah….I think I’ll have the chicken Caesar salad.
S: That sounds pretty good…. hey, is everything okay? – You seem kind of down.
M: I got laid off last Friday.
S: Oh….I’m so sorry to hear that.
Suzanne 跟 Mickey 很久没见面，发现 Mickey 心事重重，情绪不高，seem kind of down. Down 在这里是形容词，意思是情绪低落。原来，Mickey 上星期五被炒了鱿鱼，He got laid off. 也可以说，He was let go. 丢了工作，难怪心情沮丧，我们来听听这是为什么。
They said it had nothing to do with my performance. They just need to try and save on costs. So they’re axing a bunch of jobs.
S: Ouch! Losing a job is such a nasty experience.
M: Yep….it sure is. I guess I have been a bit depressed.
S: I remember when I got fired from my job as a senior manager with a Web design company. I felt awful for weeks. But you know something? Getting fired turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me.
Mickey 被解雇是因为公司要削减开支，所以 they axed a bunch of jobs. Ax is spelled, a-x, 或者 a-x-e, 做为动词，是砍的意思。他丢了工作，心情十分抑郁，depressed. Suzanne 安慰他说，自己也曾有过类似经历，好几个星期缓不过来，但是最后证明，getting fired turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me. 被开除是她这辈子最幸运的事。怎么可能，我们继续听。
M: And why was that?
S: It gave me a jolt that I really needed. I was just coasting along in my position day in and day out, never really thinking about my life or my career.
M: So getting fired helped you reflect on these things?
S: Absolutely! I started asking myself what I really wanted to do.
M: That makes sense. Our daily routines can turn into habits. I’ve been working at this company for almost 8 years and I have kind of been running on autopilot.
Suzanne 说，失业 gave me a jolt. Jolt is spelled j-o-l-t, jolt 在这里是震动的意思。Suzanne 说，有工作的时候，她从来都是 coast along day in and day out. Coast along 做为词组，意思是不用花一点努力随波逐流， day in and day out 意思是日复一日，年复一年。过着这样的生活，怎么还会想着如何进取呢？被解雇后，她才开始思考这些问题，to reflect on things 意思是反思。Mickey 深有同感，说自己在原来的公司已经干了将近八年了，I have been running on autopilot. Autopilot 自动驾驶，工作已经成了一种习惯，顺手就干了，就好象是 run on autopilot. 现在没有工作了，Mickey 下一步有什么打算呢？
A：人们说：树挪死，人挪活。这么看来，失去工作倒是给人生打开了一个新的契机。
B: Yep. That means you have to get out of your comfort zone now and start from scratch again. It is a challenge, but an opportunity as well.
A: 没错，挑战与机遇并存嘛。咱们就来把刚才的对话听完，看看Suzanne是怎么把失业变成一件好事儿的。
Business Etiquette Losing a job (II)
Mickey 刚失业，跟朋友Suzanne 一起吃饭，Suzanne 劝他说，这未必不是件好事。她说，
S: Back at my old job there were some days where I barely used my brain at all! I just did the same thing over and over again.
M: So what happened after you got fired? Did a new opportunity come your way?
S: Not exactly. It took me about a year to figure out that opportunities weren’t going to come my way…. I learnt that you have to create your own opportunities.
M: So that’s when you started your company.
S: Yeah! I always had an interest in gardening, so I thought to myself: There must be a lot of people who also have this interest and would like to have a garden but don’t have the time to set one up.
Suzanne说，原来工作的时候，总是同样的工作来回做，did the same thing over and over again. 完全不用动大脑，失业后，她用一年的时间才发现，机会不会自己找上门来，opportunities weren’t going to come my way, 还不如自己去创造机会。于是她决定自己开公司，帮助那些喜欢园艺但是没有时间整理花园的人整理花园。
M: So now you go around making custom-designed gardens for homes and offices, right?
S: Yes! I never would’ve thought in a million years that my interest in gardening would turn into a career! If I hadn’t gotten fired, I would’ve never found my calling!
M: That’s cool….and it does offer me some hope. I guess I need to do some thinking about what I really want to do.
S: I’m not saying it’s going to be easy…. I spent almost one year doing odd jobs and trying to figure out what I wanted to do. Not having a stable income can be difficult.
因此，Suzanne 开了一家公司，专门为公司和家庭 custom-design 量身定做花园。她说，要不是被解雇，她死也不会想到自己的爱好竟然会成为职业，in a million years 是一种夸张的说法，就是无论如何也不会的意思。正是被解雇，才让她最终找到了自己的 calling, calling is spelled c-a-l-l-i-n-g, calling, 一个人最适合的职业。Suzanne 说，不过，这个过程也很艰难，她足足打了一年零工才走出低谷，odd jobs 是零工的意思。Mickey 听后深受启发。
M: Yeah….right now I have some savings so I’ll be good for about six months…but if I can’t find something after that it’s going to start getting tough.
S: Do you have a “dream” or something you’ve always wanted to do?
M: Well, I have always had the idea of opening a bicycle store. I’m talking about selling rare, vintage or special custom-made bicycles.
Mickey 说，自己存款有限，撑半年还行，再久就扛不住了。Suzanne 问他有没有什么梦想。Mickey 说，他一直想开一家自行车店，专卖那些不多见，古香古色，或是订做的自行车。他在这里用的 vintage is spelled v-i-n t-a-g-e, vintage 意思是老式的，古典的。
S: Interesting! Cycling is quite a trend these days and if you can find bicycles that no one else has….it just might work!
M: I’ve always been interested in bicycles and I know a lot about them. I never thought I would have a chance to open a bike store.
S: Give it some thought! This could be your calling in life!!
M: I’ll think about it! Thanks, Suzanne! Now let’s eat!
Suzanne 说， Mickey 想开自行车店的梦想很有意思，因为现在很流行骑车， it’s quite a trend. Suzanne 觉得 Mickey 可以认真地琢磨琢磨， give it some thought 好好想想，没准真能行。Mickey 听了很受鼓舞，说从来没想到，自己这辈子真能有机会开一家自行车店，实现梦想。
B: If Mickey opens up a bicycle shop, then his interest in collecting vintage bicycles can also be his career. That’s fantastic!
A: 没错! 兴趣变成职业，一举两得!我们下面要学的这个词，就能用在这里，咱们听一听!
Learn A Word dual
今天我们要学的词是dual. Dual is spelled d-u-a-l, dual. Dual 双重的。A number of Taiwan residents who hold dual citizenships have chosen to renounce their American citizenship to avoid paying taxes under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act. 一些拥有双重国籍的台湾人决定放弃美国国籍，以免交按照海外帐户税收法案必须缴纳的税款。In a new book, two doctors claim that the rising cost of medical care in the U.S. is a dual threat to our health and pocketbooks. 两个医生在发表的新书中说，美国不断上涨的医疗开销是对民众健康和钱袋的双重威胁。好的，今天我们学习的词是 dual, dual, dual…
A: Mike, 你说杨琳这里回国探亲休假，会不会顺便相亲找个男朋友？
B: Wow, if that’s the case, the trip will service a dual purpose.
A: 可不是么。要不咱们打个电话问问她吧!
B: Good idea! But does that make us nosey?
A: 不会吧，这不是关心同事么？
B: Hmmm, I’m not sure…Let’s first listen to a new episode of “words and idioms” and talk about this later.
Words and Idioms
美国习惯用语第 999讲。我是晓北。我是Dan。
美国大选结束了，各种拉票和选战活动也终于告一段落。就拿我们家附近的教会来说，他们现在不用再向教友推荐应该给哪个候选人投票了。美国禁止宗教机构支持某一候选人，不过有些教会会打擦边球。他们不明确支持某个人，却以“推荐”的方式帮这个人拉票。这两者之间的界限很模糊，让我想到一个习惯用语，那就是:
Gray area. Gray is spelled g-r-a-y, and area; a-r-e-a. Gray-area. Gray area.
Gray area，灰色地带，也就是不明确，不清楚的状态。While there are laws that prohibit a church from directly supporting a particular politician, offering suggestions for how to vote is more of a gray area. 虽然法律明令禁止教会直接支持某个政客，但向教友建议如何投票却属于合法性模糊不清的做法。好的，我们再来听另外一个例句：
“Sports trainers at the professional, college and even high school level are becoming more involved whenever a head injury occurs. But what about when kids who play sports get hurt? That’s still a GRAY AREA. It’s unclear how carefully anyone is paying attention to that age group.”
这段话是说: 在职业、大学甚至高中，遇到有球员在运动中头部受伤的事情，教练都比以前更上心了。不过，如果是小孩子在运动中伤了头呢？这还不好说。目前还说不清人们对这个年龄层的受伤情况到底给予了多少注意。
头部受伤的确应该得到重视。特别是家长们，应该马上带孩子去医院检查。有句话说”better safe than sorry,” 就是说 “宁可事先谨慎过头，也好过事后后悔”。好的，我们再来听听刚才那段话:
“Sports trainers at the professional, college and even high school level are becoming more involved whenever a head injury occurs. But what about when kids who play sports get hurt? That’s still a GRAY AREA. It’s unclear how carefully anyone is paying attention to that age group.”
很多计算机机房房都禁止人们带吃的和饮料进去，这是因为食品的碎屑和饮料中的糖分对电脑键盘的损伤非常大。不过，Bottled water seems to represent a gray area, 瓶装水在这个问题上似乎没有定论。有的机房让带，有的不让。好的，让我们听一个新的例句。
“When you’re driving for a company, can you talk or text on your phone? Most employers never had a specific policy. That’s no longer true. Because of too many accidents and lawsuits, there are now rules that everyone can understand. There’s no GRAY AREA: using electronic devices is absolutely not allowed while on the job.”
这段话是说：如果你是司机，在开车的时候能讲电话或者发短信么？以前，大部分雇主都没有确切规定。现在情况不同了。由于大量事故和官司的出现，现在有了人人都能明白的规定。再也没有什么模棱两可的了：在工作开车时绝不能使用电子设备。
在我看来，不光司机开车不能打电话发短信，任何人在开车的时候都应该精力集中，不能玩儿手机。不然，一个疏忽大意，害人害己。好的，我们再来听听刚才那段话:
“When you’re driving for a company, can you talk or text on your phone? Most employers never had a specific policy. That’s no longer true. Because of too many accidents and lawsuits, there are now rules that everyone can understand. There’s no GRAY AREA: using electronic devices is absolutely not allowed while on the job.”
今天我们学习的习惯用语是gray area, 意思是模糊不清的状态，灰色地带。好的，这次美国习惯用语就到此结束，我是小北，我是Dan。
B: I guess asking Yang Lin whether she’s going on blind dates will be a gray area between we care and we’re nosey.
A: But it’s more like on the “we care” side, isn’t it? 走，这就打电话拷问杨琳去! 同学们，节目就到这里了，拜拜了…
B: Xiaobei, we still need to end the show properly…
A: 走吧走吧!
B: See you next time!