1. You’re in the pink!
要想说人气色好,"You look fine!"当然不错,可如果你说"You’re in the pink!"就妙得多了,实际上,在英语口语中,巧妙使用一些表示颜色的词能使得句子非常形象生动。
2. He is bouncy.
"他精力充沛"美国人通常说:"He is bouncy.",而不说"He is energetic",牢记一些日常对话中的句式是你生活中一把必备的钥匙。如:久仰,"I get mind of you"比"I heard a lot about you."轻松得多。
3. Did you get lost?
有人开会迟到了,你若对他说"You are late.",听起来像是废话。若说"Did you get lost?",则更能让他感到歉疚,可千万别说成"Get lost!",那可是让人滚蛋的意思。
4. Do you have the time?
别人征求你的意见,问能否开窗户等,你要是说"You can do that."就有点土了,用一句"Do you have the time?"就好多了。实际上,问他人的姓名,地址都可以这么用:"May I have your name?"要比"What’s your name?"礼貌得多,不过警察例外。
5. I would rather not say.
别人问你不愿公开的问题,切勿用"It’s my secret, don’t ask such a personal question."回答,一来显得你没有个性,二来也让对方觉得你气短。你可以说"I would rather not say."(还是别说了吧)。
6. It’s on the tip of my tongue.
有时候,你想说什么,可是想不起来,你可以说"Well…"、"Let me see."、"Just a moment."或"It’s on the tip of my tongue."等。相比之下,最后一个句型是最地道的。
7. While I remember…
交谈时,你可能会转换话题,不要只说"By the way",实际上,"To change the subject"、"Before I forget"、"While I remember"、"Mind you"都是既地道又受欢迎的表达。
8. I got it.
遇到你不懂的问题时可别不懂装懂,"I know"可能是被中国人用得最多,而最不被美国人接受的一句话。当一个美国教师向你解释某个问题时,你如果连说两遍"I know",我敢保证,他不会再跟你说什么了。用"I got it."就顺耳得多,要是不懂就说"I’m not clear about it."。不过如果你会说"It’s past my understanding."或"It’s beyond me.",你的教师一定会惊讶不已的。
9. The meeting was scheduled for two hours, but it is not over yet.
会议原定两个小时,不过现在还没有结束。
10. Would you care to see it/sit down for a while?
你要不要看/坐一会呢?
11. I’m supposed to go on a diet/get a raise.
我应该节食/涨工资。
12. I’m afraid that it’s not going to work out.
我恐怕这事不会成的。
13. Do you mind if I take tomorrow off?
你介意我明天请假吗?
14. It really depends on who is in charge.
那纯粹要看谁负责了。