美语三级跳 Go English：003C 问候朋友: 高级课程

（单词翻译）

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 arrange¹ 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 odd².

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 classic³ excuse used to get out of doing something.

Jen: Oh man, I hate rejection⁴. 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 vent⁵ 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 idiot⁶ wouldn't be able to appreciate a smart, beautiful woman like me? Anybody who would be friends with that guy has to be really dumb⁷.

Lawrence: Uh, Jen .... you know I'm friends with William.

Jen: Oh right .... present company excluded⁸, 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 criticize⁹ a group of people that the person you are talking to belongs to, you can say "present company excluded," which means¹⁰ the person you are talking to is excepted from that criticism¹¹.

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