Donny在北京学中文。他的中国朋友要是遇到了不知道用美语怎么说的词,就会来请教他。今天是杨琳要问的:忙。
Donny:Hi 杨琳,what's up? I haven't seen you in ages.
YL: 别提了,我最近特别忙,I am really busy! 忙得四脚朝天,怎么说...four feet up!
Donny: four feet up? I can imagine. But in English, we don't say that...You can say I'm up to my neck in work.
YL: I'm up to my neck... in work ? 工作太多,堆到和脖子一样高?被工作压得喘不过气来。这个说法太形象了! 还有别的吗?
Donny: There is another expression that also has to do with body parts. It is "I've got my hands full".
YL: I've got my hands full。我明白了,就是说两手都没闲着。
Donny: Exactly. Oh, I just thought of another one---"I have a lot on my plate".
YL: I have a lot on my plate? plate, p-l-a-t-e, plate 不是盘子么?说盘子里有很多东西,那一定是...忙着吃呢吧?
Donny: That's possible! Anyway, when you say you have a lot on your plate, it means you're busy.
YL: 我知道了。哎呀,我快迟到了,快,再教最后一个。
Donny: Okay, this one will be easier to remember-- I've got a million things to do!
YL: 太夸张了吧! I've got a million things to do! 有一百万件事情等着我去做。
Donny: Right! Now, Yang Lin, tell me what you've learned today!
YL: 今天学到的还真不少。形容特别忙可以说,I'm up to my neck in work,工作堆到脖子了;I've got my hands full, 两手都占着呢;I have a lot on my plate,盘子里堆得满满的。哎呀! 我得赶紧走人了,I've got a million things to do!
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