King: The trip was pretty good except for the flat tire we got on the way home. I was going to change it myself but then...hey Dan, are you even listening to me? Dan?
Dan: Oh sorry, I spaced out there for a second.
K: Who were you looking at? Wait a second...you were looking at Julie!
D: All right, I confess! I’m busted. I have a big crush on Julie.
K: That’s wonderful! Julie is a great woman, and you’re a great guy! So have you asked her out yet?
D: No. I’m not really sure it’s appropriate.
King正在给Dan讲自己最近的一次旅行,他们回家路上车胎爆了(We got a flat tire),正说得高兴,King发现Dan根本没在听自己说话。Dan很不好意思,承认他走神了(I spaced out for a second),space out 是“走神”的意思,形容“心不在焉”,“走神”还可以用daydream来表示, 所以刚才那句话也可以说“I was daydreaming for a second.”
然后King发现,Dan走神是在看女同事Julie。 Dan只好承认说“I’m busted. I have a big crush on Julie”。“I’m busted”意思是“被抓住了,被发现了,暴露了”。他说自己确实在偷偷喜欢Julie,但又不敢ask her out(约她出去),不知道这样做是否合适。
K: I think lots of people meet their "significant other" in the workplace. It’s not like she’s your boss...go ask her out!
D: I don’t know...what if she says ’no?’
K: Have you ever heard the old expression: "Nothing ventured, nothing gained?" What if she says ’yes?’
D: I’ve always had a really hard time approaching women. I get tongue-tied and start sweating. I don’t want to come across as too aggressive, but I also don’t want to appear too passive...It’s really hard to get it right!
King说,很多人都是在工作场所遇到自己另一半的,significant other是“伴侣”的意思,也可以说是自己的better half。Dan害怕被拒绝,King告诉他说Nothing ventured, nothing gained(不去冒险尝试,就绝不会有收获)。Dan说自己在追女人方面特别不在行,I get tongue-tied and start sweating(我说话会结结巴巴,直冒冷汗)。Dan还说,既不想显得太主动,也不想显得太被动,It’s really hard to get it right(很难把握好分寸)。
K: If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my life it’s that you never lose by trying. You never know unless you try! Getting rejected isn’t the end the world!
D: But how do I make the initial approach? Should I try to come up with some clever or witty remarks?
K: There are a lot of guys out there who think they’re Casanova, but in my experience, women don’t go for cheesy pickup lines. I suggest being sweet, straightforward and sincere.
D: So what should I say?
King说尝试一下(约Julie出去)也不会有什么损失,最糟糕也不过是被拒绝。Dan问,要不要come up with some clever or witty remark(想出一些俏皮话),King告诉他,约女人出去,直截了当些就好,women don’t go for cheesy pickup lines(女人对俏皮的搭讪并不买账)。Dan会鼓起勇气约Julie出去吗?请继续关注我们的口语栏目来找出答案吧!