有人说,没人会嫌自己的房子太大。我不同意。我的一个朋友,本来房子大小合适,可她非要换大房子。结果搬进了大房子,空余空间太大,只好继续花钱买家具、装修,而且要花好多时间清扫、保养。这下,钱花了,可她却更不高兴了。
这个过程,可以用一个习惯用语来形容,那就是:a vicious circle. Vicious指“恶意的”“恶毒的”,circle则是“循环”的意思。所以,a vicious circle就是指“恶性循环”。
比如我刚才说到的那个朋友,她嫌房子小,搬进大房子,可住进大房子,又要继续花钱花时间。前前后后的事情相互关联,而总体趋势是越来越差。
下面这段话中的这个人也和我的朋友一样,本来预想得不错,结果却让人失望。我们一起来听听:
例句-1:I used to complain that I wasnt living a comfortable life. So I earned my Masters degree and developed my job skills. Soon, I got promoted to Director of Sales. But that brought increased demands, including constant business travel. I have less leisure time than ever. What a vicious circle. Im more miserable than before.
这段话是说:我以前总抱怨活得不够舒适自在,为此我去念了个硕士学位,多学了一些工作上要用的东西。很快,我就被提升为销售主任了。可是这带来了更多的工作,包括经常出差。我休闲放松的时间变得特别少。真是恶性循环。我现在的生活比以前更惨。
所以说,房子、金钱、事业,对这些东西的追求应当适可而止,不然可能适得其反。毕竟,我们自己高兴才是最重要的。
******
人家都说减肥需要长期坚持,而最怕的就是反弹。下面这段话中的姑娘就遇到了这个问题。我们来听一听:
例句-2:Sophia suffered from being overweight. By dieting and exercising, however, she managed to slim down. Dates began calling, taking her to fancy restaurants. Because of the rich food and desserts, she gained back all the weight shed lost. She became the victim of a vicious circle. Shes the heaviest shes ever been.
这段话的意思是:索非亚一直为自己体重超标而苦恼。不过,靠节食和运动,她终于瘦下来了。这下,追求者们开始给她打电话,带她去高级餐厅吃饭约会。由于美食和甜点不断,索非亚的体重反弹到了以前的水平。她成了恶性循环的受害者。现在,她比减肥之前还要胖。
减肥反弹虽然令人沮丧,但总比减肥不成,反把身体搞坏要强。我大学时有个同学乱减肥,结果得了一种病,叫bulimia. Bulimia - 贪食症。她总是觉得饿,要吃好多东西,可吃下去又觉得难受,要去催吐。这种折腾,对身体来说完全是恶性循环。
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