流行美语 (Popular American) 341

李华和Larry在夏威夷渡假，俩人出海钓鱼。今天我们要学两个常用语：off the hook¹和go overboard.

LH: Larry, 我总算明白你为什么这么喜欢钓鱼了，撒下诱饵，就歇着了。

LL: Yeah, isn't fishing great? You get to just sit out in the boat and relax all day.

LH: 那好，如果一条鱼都钓不到的话，你可得负责任。

LL: Believe me, Lihua. If we don't catch anything and have to eat pizza for dinner, I know you won't let me off the hook.

LH: Let you off the hook? 你是指鱼钩吗？

LL: Right! When you let someone off the hook, you forgive them for doing something wrong, or allow them to escape a difficult situation.

LH: 哦，off the hook就是不用承担责任。 To let someone off the hook意思就是放过某人，就好象是让鱼脱钩了一样。

LL: Exactly. Here is another example: Even though I didn't do my homework, my teacher let me off the hook because I was sick the day before.

LH: 就是说老师因为体谅到你是因为生病而没做作业，所以决定不追究你。

LL: Yeah. Or remember last year when I forgot your birthday? You still haven't let me off the hook for that.

LH: Larry, 你居然把我生日忘得一干二净，我当然要记你一辈子。对了，Larry, 我们的船什么时候还啊？

LL: We have it until 2 in the afternoon.

LH: 那可没剩多少时间了。我们稍微晚一点没关系吧？

LL: Actually, I don't think the rental² company will let us off the hook. They said we have to pay an extra fee³ if we return the boat late.

LH: 这么说，我们就要抓紧时间了。也不知道这些鱼都跑到哪里去了！

LL: I don't know. The manager of our hotel said this is the best place for fishing. If he was wrong, I'm not going to let him off the hook.

LH: 就是啊，如果害我们白跑一趟的话... Wait! Larry, 好象有鱼咬钩了。

LL: Quick, Lihua, pull it in!

******

李华钓到了一条大鱼。

LH: Wow, Larry, 看来我天生就是钓鱼的材料. 你看第一次就战果累累。这就叫不鸣则已，一鸣惊人！

LL: Yeah Lihua, I'm really impressed! You must have a real talent for fishing.

LH: 你觉得，我是不是应该退掉回程的机票，索性留在夏威夷当渔民算了？否则我钓鱼的才华岂不是白白浪费了吗？

LL: Well, it's only one fish. I wouldn't go overboard.

LH: Go overboard? 你不会是叫我下到海水里去摸鱼吧？

LL: Actually Lihua, you can say that somebody goes overboard whenever they do or say something excessive⁴.

LH: 哦，to go overboard就是采取过激行动的意思，你是劝我不要意气用事、钓到一条鱼就改行当渔民吗？

LL: Exactly. Here's another example. When I was looking for a hotel in Hawaii, I know I wanted to stay somewhere nice. But I didn't want to go overboard and rent a room for $500 per night.

LH: 对，500块钱一晚上的旅馆对我们来说确实太奢侈了。说正经的，Larry, 你估计这条鱼有多重？我猜得有100磅。

LL: It's a big fish, but I think 100 pounds is going a little overboard. It's probably 30 pounds.

LH: 反正是够大个儿的。我准备把鱼的头骨带回去做纪念。

LL: Lihua, I think that's going a little overboard. Why don't we just take a picture so that you can remember your catch?

LH: 一点也不好玩。要不，我们多照几张照片，寄给当地报社，看他们愿不愿意采访我们。

LL: Lihua, let's not go overboard. There are probably lots of other people who catch fish this big, so it isn't really a news story.

LH: 那我起码要寄给我爸妈。好了，咱们快回去吃鱼吧！

LL: But I haven't caught anything yet! Let's stay until I catch a fish too.

LH: 要不要我向你传授一下我的经验啊？第一堂课可以免费！

LL: Haha... Thanks Lihua, In return, I will teach you one more vocabulary word: beginner's luck!

今天李华学了两个常用。一个是off the hook, 意思是逃脱责任。另一个是go overboard, 意思是过份的，过激的。
 

1 hook   

vt.钩住；n.钩子，钩状物

参考例句：

• The blacksmith forged a bar of iron into a hook.铁匠把一根铁条锻造成一个钩子。
• He hangs up his scarf on the hook behind the door.他把围巾挂在门后的衣钩上。

2 rental   

n.租赁，出租，出租业

参考例句：

• The yearly rental of her house is 2400 yuan.她这房子年租金是2400元。
• We can organise car rental from Chicago O'Hare Airport.我们可以安排提供从芝加哥奥黑尔机场出发的租车服务。

3 fee   

n.费（会费、学费等）；酬金，小费；所有权；vt.付费给

参考例句：

• Is this money enough for the tuition fee?这些钱交学费够吗？
• The lawyer undertook the case without a fee.这律师免费承办那个案件。

4 excessive   

adj.过多的，过分的，过度的

参考例句：

• The prices at this hotel are excessive.这家旅馆的价钱贵得过分。
• She takes an excessive interest in clothes.她过分注重衣着。