流行美语 (Popular American) 338

李华和Larry开车去机场准备坐飞机去夏威夷渡假。今天我们要学两个常用语：a far cry和steer¹ clear.

LH: Boy, Larry, 这次假期真是让我望眼欲穿。前段时间每时每刻都在忙，你好长时间没有带我出去玩了，你简直是失职...

LL: What do you mean? Last month we went to the movies. That was fun, wasn't it?

LH: 拜托，Larry, 带我去看变形金刚就能过关了吗？看两场电影，跟去夏威夷渡假相比，简直就是天壤之别。

LL: I guess you're right. Watching a movie is definitely² a far cry from taking a vacation in Hawaii.

LH: A far cry? 这就要哭啊？我是在跟你开玩笑呢！

LL: Actually, Lihua, when you say that something is a far cry from something else, it means³ that those two things are totally different.

LH: 哦，我明白了，说一件事情是a far cry from另外一件事情，就是说二者大相径庭。这么说，你也承认，看电影远远比不上去夏威夷好玩喽？

LL: Exactly. But I have to say, I'm really excited for this vacation too. I've heard that Hawaii is really beautiful.

LH: 咱们攒钱去夏威夷是绝对正确的，虽说贵了点，可是物有所值，比随便找个小沙滩晒太阳强多了。

LL: I agree. The small and crowded beaches near my house are definitely a far cry from the huge, beautiful beaches in Hawaii.

LH: 那当然了，别忘了，光是从旧金山到夏威夷，就要坐六个小时的飞机呢！对了，你不会为了给我个惊喜，订的是头等舱吧？

LL: Are you kidding? I don't even have enough money to buy peanuts⁴. I'm still a far cry from being able to afford first class tickets.

LH: 哎，经济舱也凑合了。哈，我知道，那你一定是把钱都花在了五星级的酒店上...

LL: Well ... the place we're staying might be a far cry from a luxury⁵, five-star hotel.

LH: 不是五星的？那也没关系，四星我也将就了... 要不，最少也得是个三星吧？

LL: Don't worry, Lihua, we have a really nice tent to camp out on the beach!

LH：Larry, 你最好是在开玩笑，要我露宿沙滩，那我现在就买张机票回家去。

LL: Don't worry, I'm just kidding. We have a good hotel.

LH: 哈！我说说罢了，你还当真了。You are still a far cry from being a comedian⁶. 你离喜剧演员的标准还差得远呢！

******

Larry和李华坐了一天飞机，总算到了夏威夷。

LH: 夏威夷，我来了！Larry, 我们直奔海滩怎么样？

LL: Yeah, Hawaii is going to be great! I can't wait to get to the beach and spend all day sleeping in the sand.

LH: Larry, 我警告你，来夏威夷可不是为了睡觉，我们每天的行程可都是排得满满的。

LL: Well, Lihua, I think the main purpose of vacation is to relax. Let's steer clear of all those tiring activities.

LH: Steer clear? 难道说夏威夷也堵车，所以开车一定要小心吗？

LL: Actually, to steer clear of something means you should avoid it. For example, whenever I travel, I steer clear of the food people sell on the street because I don't want to get sick.

LH: 没错，出门在外千万不能乱吃东西，否则食物中毒，整个假期就全泡汤了。对了，Larry, 我们的旅馆在市中心还是郊区？

LL: I always steer clear of the crowded and noisy cities when I go on vacation. Our hotel is in a very secluded⁷ and quiet area.

LH: Sounds great. 我们坐出租车去吗？

LL: We should probably steer clear of taxis during our vacation because they are so expensive. Let's take the bus.

LH: 可是Larry, 我带了四个大皮箱呢...

LL: Well Lihua, you know that I always try to steer clear of doing anything to upset you. We can take a cab⁸ this ONE time.

LH: 算你聪明，作为奖励，在我们的日程正式开始之前，我批准你在沙滩上睡一小觉，不过记住，只有十分钟。

LL: A ten minute nap⁹? Well that's a far cry from a fair deal, but I guess I'll take it. What is the first activity we're doing?

LH: 冲浪！

今天李华学了两个常用语。一个是a far cry from something， 意思是大相径庭。另一个是steer clear, 意思是避免。
 

1 steer   

vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶

参考例句：

• If you push the car, I'll steer it.如果你来推车，我就来驾车。
• It's no use trying to steer the boy into a course of action that suits you.想说服这孩子按你的方式行事是徒劳的。

2 definitely   

adv.一定地，肯定地；明确地，确切地

参考例句：

• The team will definitely lose if he doesn't play.如果他不参加比赛，这个队肯定会输。
• I shall definitely be home before six o'clock.6点以前，我一定回家。

3 means   

n.方法，手段，折中点，物质财富

参考例句：

• That man used artful means to find out secrets.那人使用狡猾的手段获取机密。
• We must get it done by some means or other.我们总得想办法把它干完。

4 peanuts   

n.微不足道的一小笔钱；花生( peanut的名词复数 )；落花生；很少的钱；微不足道的人(东西

参考例句：

• a packet of salted peanuts 一袋咸花生
• We watched her munch through two packets of peanuts. 我们看她津津有味地嚼了两包花生米。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 luxury   

n.难得享受到的愉悦；奢侈，奢华的生活

参考例句：

• He invited me to his suite. The luxury takes your breath away.他请我到他的套房里去，那豪华的气派真会令你吃惊。
• The government has imposed strict reins on the import of luxury goods.政府对奢侈品的进口有严格的控制手段。

6 comedian   

n.喜剧演员；滑稽演员

参考例句：

• The comedian tickled the crowd with his jokes.喜剧演员的笑话把人们逗乐了。
• The comedian enjoyed great popularity during the 30's.那位喜剧演员在三十年代非常走红。

7 secluded   

adj.与世隔绝的；隐退的；偏僻的v.使隔开，使隐退( seclude的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• Some people like to strip themselves naked while they have a swim in a secluded place. 一些人当他们在隐蔽的地方游泳时，喜欢把衣服脱光。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This charming cottage dates back to the 15th century and is as pretty as a picture, with its thatched roof and secluded garden. 这所美丽的村舍是15世纪时的建筑，有茅草房顶和宁静的花园，漂亮极了，简直和画上一样。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 cab   

n.计程车，出租车，出租单马车；vi.乘出租马车

参考例句：

• The cab drove over his legs.马车从他腿上碾过。
• Shall we walk or take a cab?我们步行还是坐出租车？

9 nap   

n.(白天)打瞌睡，打盹

参考例句：

• The nap of the coat has been worn off.外衣上的绒毛已经磨掉了。
• Don't bother me while I am taking my nap.我小睡的时候不要打扰我。