李華在圖書(shū)館里埋頭讀書(shū)，為下個(gè)月的博士資格考試做準(zhǔn)備。她今天要學(xué)兩個(gè)常用語(yǔ)，quals和in the bag.
LL: So, Li Hua, how is the studying for your quals going? I can hardly see you behind those stacks of books.
LH: My qual? 你是說(shuō)我的資格考試嗎？
LL: That's right - Quals is short for qualifying examinations.
LH: 還可以吧，不過(guò)馬上就要考試了，我特別緊張。
LL: Oh? When exactly are your quals, Li Hua?
LH: 下個(gè)月！我只有不到一個(gè)月的準(zhǔn)備時(shí)間了。
LL: One month is still quite a bit of time, Li Hua. What do you have left to do to get ready for your quals?
LH: 讓我想想……我還有好幾本書(shū)要讀，而且還要做一些模擬試題。
LL: I know you'll study hard, Li Hua, and you will have no trouble passing your quals.
LH: 謝謝你，Larry.我現(xiàn)在特別需要鼓勵(lì)。
LL: Say, Li Hua, you know, doctoral students aren't the only people who have quals.
LH: 什么，不光是博士生要通過(guò)資格考試，難道還有其他人嗎？
LL: Athletes have quals, too. For example, if an athlete wants to be part of the Olympic team, he has to make the quals.
LH: 哦，你是說(shuō)運(yùn)動(dòng)員啊。他們那叫資格選拔賽，比如說(shuō)要想代表美國(guó)去參加奧運(yùn)會(huì)，就要先過(guò)選拔賽這一關(guān)。
LL: You are right. The quals that athletes participate in are generally qualifying races or qualifying rounds of sporting events.
LH: 你知道嗎，最近中國(guó)隊(duì)在世界杯預(yù)選賽中輸給了伊拉克。
LL: That's too bad. I didn't know China had lost. Who made it through the quals?
LH: 我知道入圍的隊(duì)有沙特阿拉伯-、伊朗、日本和韓國(guó)。
LL: See, you just have to work hard like these winning athletes, Li Hua, and you'll have no problem with your quals.
LH: 好在我的資格考試在教室里就能完成了，我不用去跑馬拉松。
LL: You really shouldn't worry about the quals, Li Hua. I tell you, you have it in the bag, Li Hua.
LH: Hmmm……我皮包里只有錢夾、鑰匙、墨鏡、手機(jī)，怎么會(huì)有資格考試呢？
LL: Ha, ha. I didn't mean you *really* had the qualifying exam in your bag, Li Hua. To have something "in the bag" means that you are guaranteed of success.
LH: 我懂了，你說(shuō)I have the quals "in the bag" 意思就是說(shuō)沒(méi)問(wèn)題，我肯定能通過(guò)。
LL: That's right, Li Hua. You always study so hard. I know you've got it in the bag.
LH: 你真夠朋友！不過(guò)，我對(duì)這次考試可沒(méi)有的把握?？刹皇撬腥硕寄芸歼^(guò)的。
LL: Don't think that way, Li Hua! You are going to do great!
LH: 可是你看看中國(guó)足球隊(duì)。他們?cè)詾榉€(wěn)操勝券，結(jié)果卻敗在了伊拉克隊(duì)的手下。
LL: Well, it is sometimes true that people *think* they have something in the bag and it doesn't quite turn out the way they thought it would.
LH: 就是說(shuō)啊。所以，我絕對(duì)不能掉以輕心。
LL: But I don't think that is the case with you, Li Hua. Say……I've got some news I've been meaning to share with you.
LH: 有什么好消息嗎？你是不是升職了？ is your promotion in the bag?
LL: You know, Li Hua, I think it is in the bag. My boss called me into the office and told me I was first in line for a promotion and that he was very pleased with my work.
LH: 恭喜你！Larry, 看起來(lái)你又要請(qǐng)客了。
LL: Thanks, Li Hua. I tell you what, after I find out my promotion is in the bag - and you find out your quals are in the bag, let's go out for a big celebration!
LH: 好，一言為定。
今天李華學(xué)到了兩個(gè)常用語(yǔ)。一個(gè)是quals, 是資格考試，或是資格選拔賽的意思。另一個(gè)是in the bag,，意思是有的把握。
Larry陪李華一起找公寓。李華今天要學(xué)兩個(gè)常用語(yǔ)，Up for grabs和psyched.
LL: Wow! Check out the price for this place……
LH: 很便宜嗎？多少錢？
LL: Wait……what's your budget? I forgot - $2000 per month? Hahaha! How much you should be able to afford after getting that new job!
LH: 兩千塊的房子我可住不起。我的標(biāo)準(zhǔn)是，房租不能超過(guò)一千美金！
LL: Well……it's $1200 per month. I guess I'll keep looking……oh - hey - this one looks tempting - "one bedroom in group house for $675 up for grabs.
LH: 跟別人合租，675美元一個(gè)月，價(jià)錢倒是滿便宜的，可是 Larry, 廣告上說(shuō)的up for grabs是什么意思??？
LL: "Up for grabs" is a casual, informal way of saying that something is available - but you have to compete for it!
LH: 啊？還要跟別人爭(zhēng)啊，是不是看誰(shuí)出價(jià)高呢？
LL: In this case, it means that the room is available to the first suitable person who is willing to take the room and pay for it.
LH: 哦，那咱們下手為強(qiáng)。太好了，我們現(xiàn)在正好有時(shí)間?？齑螂娫捊o他們。
LL: （Calling） Hello? Hi there. Is your room still available? Ok, if it's still up for grabs, we'll be there in half an hour.
LH: 太好了，Larry, 你看。那一帶還有好幾處價(jià)格比較合適的房子，咱們正好一塊看了。
LH: Larry, 你覺(jué)得這個(gè)公寓怎么樣？
LL: Well, I can understand why it's still up for grabs……the bedroom is small, the house smells of cigarette smoke, and the housemates seems strange!
LH: 就是，怪不得沒(méi)人愿意租，不僅地方小，屋里都是煙味，而且那兩個(gè)室友也都怪怪的。我們還是去看下一家吧，就在街對(duì)面。
LH: WOW! 這里簡(jiǎn)直太棒了，而且還配家具，價(jià)錢只稍微貴一點(diǎn)。Excuse me, is this room still up for grabs? It is? Fantastic! I'll take it!
LL: You should see the expression on your face, Lihua! You seem totally psyched!
LH: 簡(jiǎn)直難以相信！哎，Larry，我剛才是不是特不正常？
LL: Well - 'psyched' in this situation means that you are really excited because you're happy.
LH: 能找到這么好的房子，我當(dāng)然高興了。I am totally psyched! 這個(gè)周末就搬家。
LL: I'm glad that you're psyched. I was worried that you wouldn't find a new place for a reasonable price that is close to your new office.
LH: 現(xiàn)在想想，搬家又要打包，高興勁兒一下少了一半。不過(guò)有些家具我不打算要了。Any extra furniture I leave behind is up for grabs.
LL: I'd be psyched if you left behind that new leather couch you got for Christmas last year. I'll take that one off your hands!
LH: 原來(lái)你在惦記我去年圣誕節(jié)買的新沙發(fā)。我還想讓你幫我搬過(guò)來(lái)呢！哈哈！
LL: Well, it was worth a try! You've got so much to be psyched about, Lihua - you've got your new, cool job, a new place, and the best friend in the world to help you move your stuff!
LH: 還真是，好事都讓我趕上了。
LL: I'm psyched for you.
LH: 那我們得慶祝慶祝。Now. What is something Larry would get psyched for……ah yes, - a free dinner! 晚上我請(qǐng)客。
LL: Larry certainly would be psyched about that! In fact, he's so psyched that he can't wait! This apartment hunting makes me really hungry.
LH: （Laughing） 別說(shuō)，我肚子也開(kāi)始叫了。那你想吃什么？
LL: I'd be the most psyched for some Burger King! Their new triple cheeseburger sounds delicious! What do you think?
LH: 漢堡王？太不健康了。這樣好了，我點(diǎn)一份中餐，帶到漢堡王去陪你一起吃。
今天李華學(xué)到了兩個(gè)常用語(yǔ)。一個(gè)是 Up for grabs, 可以得到的，待價(jià)而沽的。另一個(gè)是 Psyched, 指特別高興。
LL: So, Li Hua, how is the studying for your quals going? I can hardly see you behind those stacks of books.
LH: My qual? 你是說(shuō)我的資格考試嗎？
LL: That's right - Quals is short for qualifying examinations.
LH: 還可以吧，不過(guò)馬上就要考試了，我特別緊張。
LL: Oh? When exactly are your quals, Li Hua?
LH: 下個(gè)月！我只有不到一個(gè)月的準(zhǔn)備時(shí)間了。
LL: One month is still quite a bit of time, Li Hua. What do you have left to do to get ready for your quals?
LH: 讓我想想……我還有好幾本書(shū)要讀，而且還要做一些模擬試題。
LL: I know you'll study hard, Li Hua, and you will have no trouble passing your quals.
LH: 謝謝你，Larry.我現(xiàn)在特別需要鼓勵(lì)。
LL: Say, Li Hua, you know, doctoral students aren't the only people who have quals.
LH: 什么，不光是博士生要通過(guò)資格考試，難道還有其他人嗎？
LL: Athletes have quals, too. For example, if an athlete wants to be part of the Olympic team, he has to make the quals.
LH: 哦，你是說(shuō)運(yùn)動(dòng)員啊。他們那叫資格選拔賽，比如說(shuō)要想代表美國(guó)去參加奧運(yùn)會(huì)，就要先過(guò)選拔賽這一關(guān)。
LL: You are right. The quals that athletes participate in are generally qualifying races or qualifying rounds of sporting events.
LH: 你知道嗎，最近中國(guó)隊(duì)在世界杯預(yù)選賽中輸給了伊拉克。
LL: That's too bad. I didn't know China had lost. Who made it through the quals?
LH: 我知道入圍的隊(duì)有沙特阿拉伯-、伊朗、日本和韓國(guó)。
LL: See, you just have to work hard like these winning athletes, Li Hua, and you'll have no problem with your quals.
LH: 好在我的資格考試在教室里就能完成了，我不用去跑馬拉松。
LL: You really shouldn't worry about the quals, Li Hua. I tell you, you have it in the bag, Li Hua.
LH: Hmmm……我皮包里只有錢夾、鑰匙、墨鏡、手機(jī)，怎么會(huì)有資格考試呢？
LL: Ha, ha. I didn't mean you *really* had the qualifying exam in your bag, Li Hua. To have something "in the bag" means that you are guaranteed of success.
LH: 我懂了，你說(shuō)I have the quals "in the bag" 意思就是說(shuō)沒(méi)問(wèn)題，我肯定能通過(guò)。
LL: That's right, Li Hua. You always study so hard. I know you've got it in the bag.
LH: 你真夠朋友！不過(guò)，我對(duì)這次考試可沒(méi)有的把握?？刹皇撬腥硕寄芸歼^(guò)的。
LL: Don't think that way, Li Hua! You are going to do great!
LH: 可是你看看中國(guó)足球隊(duì)。他們?cè)詾榉€(wěn)操勝券，結(jié)果卻敗在了伊拉克隊(duì)的手下。
LL: Well, it is sometimes true that people *think* they have something in the bag and it doesn't quite turn out the way they thought it would.
LH: 就是說(shuō)啊。所以，我絕對(duì)不能掉以輕心。
LL: But I don't think that is the case with you, Li Hua. Say……I've got some news I've been meaning to share with you.
LH: 有什么好消息嗎？你是不是升職了？ is your promotion in the bag?
LL: You know, Li Hua, I think it is in the bag. My boss called me into the office and told me I was first in line for a promotion and that he was very pleased with my work.
LH: 恭喜你！Larry, 看起來(lái)你又要請(qǐng)客了。
LL: Thanks, Li Hua. I tell you what, after I find out my promotion is in the bag - and you find out your quals are in the bag, let's go out for a big celebration!
LH: 好，一言為定。
今天李華學(xué)到了兩個(gè)常用語(yǔ)。一個(gè)是quals, 是資格考試，或是資格選拔賽的意思。另一個(gè)是in the bag,，意思是有的把握。
Larry陪李華一起找公寓。李華今天要學(xué)兩個(gè)常用語(yǔ)，Up for grabs和psyched.
LL: Wow! Check out the price for this place……
LH: 很便宜嗎？多少錢？
LL: Wait……what's your budget? I forgot - $2000 per month? Hahaha! How much you should be able to afford after getting that new job!
LH: 兩千塊的房子我可住不起。我的標(biāo)準(zhǔn)是，房租不能超過(guò)一千美金！
LL: Well……it's $1200 per month. I guess I'll keep looking……oh - hey - this one looks tempting - "one bedroom in group house for $675 up for grabs.
LH: 跟別人合租，675美元一個(gè)月，價(jià)錢倒是滿便宜的，可是 Larry, 廣告上說(shuō)的up for grabs是什么意思??？
LL: "Up for grabs" is a casual, informal way of saying that something is available - but you have to compete for it!
LH: 啊？還要跟別人爭(zhēng)啊，是不是看誰(shuí)出價(jià)高呢？
LL: In this case, it means that the room is available to the first suitable person who is willing to take the room and pay for it.
LH: 哦，那咱們下手為強(qiáng)。太好了，我們現(xiàn)在正好有時(shí)間?？齑螂娫捊o他們。
LL: （Calling） Hello? Hi there. Is your room still available? Ok, if it's still up for grabs, we'll be there in half an hour.
LH: 太好了，Larry, 你看。那一帶還有好幾處價(jià)格比較合適的房子，咱們正好一塊看了。
LH: Larry, 你覺(jué)得這個(gè)公寓怎么樣？
LL: Well, I can understand why it's still up for grabs……the bedroom is small, the house smells of cigarette smoke, and the housemates seems strange!
LH: 就是，怪不得沒(méi)人愿意租，不僅地方小，屋里都是煙味，而且那兩個(gè)室友也都怪怪的。我們還是去看下一家吧，就在街對(duì)面。
LH: WOW! 這里簡(jiǎn)直太棒了，而且還配家具，價(jià)錢只稍微貴一點(diǎn)。Excuse me, is this room still up for grabs? It is? Fantastic! I'll take it!
LL: You should see the expression on your face, Lihua! You seem totally psyched!
LH: 簡(jiǎn)直難以相信！哎，Larry，我剛才是不是特不正常？
LL: Well - 'psyched' in this situation means that you are really excited because you're happy.
LH: 能找到這么好的房子，我當(dāng)然高興了。I am totally psyched! 這個(gè)周末就搬家。
LL: I'm glad that you're psyched. I was worried that you wouldn't find a new place for a reasonable price that is close to your new office.
LH: 現(xiàn)在想想，搬家又要打包，高興勁兒一下少了一半。不過(guò)有些家具我不打算要了。Any extra furniture I leave behind is up for grabs.
LL: I'd be psyched if you left behind that new leather couch you got for Christmas last year. I'll take that one off your hands!
LH: 原來(lái)你在惦記我去年圣誕節(jié)買的新沙發(fā)。我還想讓你幫我搬過(guò)來(lái)呢！哈哈！
LL: Well, it was worth a try! You've got so much to be psyched about, Lihua - you've got your new, cool job, a new place, and the best friend in the world to help you move your stuff!
LH: 還真是，好事都讓我趕上了。
LL: I'm psyched for you.
LH: 那我們得慶祝慶祝。Now. What is something Larry would get psyched for……ah yes, - a free dinner! 晚上我請(qǐng)客。
LL: Larry certainly would be psyched about that! In fact, he's so psyched that he can't wait! This apartment hunting makes me really hungry.
LH: （Laughing） 別說(shuō)，我肚子也開(kāi)始叫了。那你想吃什么？
LL: I'd be the most psyched for some Burger King! Their new triple cheeseburger sounds delicious! What do you think?
LH: 漢堡王？太不健康了。這樣好了，我點(diǎn)一份中餐，帶到漢堡王去陪你一起吃。
今天李華學(xué)到了兩個(gè)常用語(yǔ)。一個(gè)是 Up for grabs, 可以得到的，待價(jià)而沽的。另一個(gè)是 Psyched, 指特別高興。