ESL Podcast 927 – Being Tidy and Messy

 　　Carole: It is beyond me how you and Oscar can be roommates. You’re very tidy and he’s, well, a slob.

　　Felix: It’s not always easy, but we’re making it work.

　　Carole: Isn’t Oscar really messy all the time? Whenever I see him, his clothes are rumpled¹ and his hair is unkempt.

　　Felix: His room is really cluttered², but he keeps the common areas in passable condition. I do have to straighten up fairly often, and I sometimes have to pick up after him, but that’s because I’m pretty nitpicky.

　　Carole: That’s very tolerant of you.

　　Felix: Well, we have set up a system so that if things get too messy, I have some recourse.

　　Carole: Really, what’s your system?

　　Felix: Oscar and I agreed that every time he leaves a big mess, I can fine him.

　　Carole: That seems kind of drastic, but maybe it works for you guys.

　　Felix: Yeah, it keeps the place pretty clean.

　　Carole: Still, knowing Oscar, you must have had to fine him a lot.

　　Felix: Let’s just say that my next vacation will be in Monte Carlo!

　　Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

1 rumpled   

v.弄皱，使凌乱( rumple的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She rumpled his hair playfully. 她顽皮地弄乱他的头发。
• The bed was rumpled and strewn with phonograph records. 那张床上凌乱不堪，散放着一些唱片。 来自辞典例句

2 cluttered   

v.杂物，零乱的东西零乱vt.( clutter的过去式和过去分词 )；乱糟糟地堆满，把…弄得很乱；（以…） 塞满…

参考例句：

• The room is cluttered up with all kinds of things. 零七八碎的东西放满了一屋子。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The desk is cluttered with books and papers. 桌上乱糟糟地堆满了书报。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》