在美国你曾经因为语言文化不同而闹笑话吗？有哪些字是你刻骨铭心的惨痛经验？来看看你曾中枪过吗？

 

　　当考路的考官说“pull over”时，你是否会不知所措？有人邀请你参加“Potluck Party”时，你会不会空手赴宴？在速食店里，店员问“for here or to go?”你是否会丈二金刚摸不着头脑，莫名其 妙？“Give me a ring!”可不是用来求婚的。“Drop me a line!”更非要你排队站好。老美说“Hi! What's up!”你可别说“I am fine!”

 

　　你曾经闹过这些笑话吗？让我们来看看，这些字，你怎么说？ Potluck Party：一种聚餐方式，主人准备场地和餐具，参加的人必须带一道菜或准备饮料，最好事 先问问主人的意思。

 

　　Pull over！把车子开到旁边。

　　Drop me a line！写封信给我。

　　Give me a ring = Call me！来个电话吧！

　　For here or to go？堂食或外卖。

　　Cool：That's cool! 等于台湾年轻人常用的囗语“酷！”，表示不赖嘛！用于人或事均可。

　　What's up? = What's happening?=What's new? 见面时随囗问候的话“最近在忙什么？有什么新鲜 事吗？”一般的回答是“Nothing much!”或“Nothing new!”

　　Cut it out! = Knock it out！= Stop it! 少来这一套！同学之间开玩笑的话。

　　Don't give me a hard time! 别跟我过不去好不好！

　　Get yourself together! 振作点行不行！ Do you have "the" time? 现在几点钟？可别误以为人家要约你出去。

　　Hang in there. = Don't give up. = Keep trying. 再撑一下。

　　Give me a break! 你饶了我吧！（开玩笑的话）

　　Hang on. 请稍候。 Blow it. = Screw up. 搞砸了。

　　What a big hassle. 真是个麻烦事。

　　What a crummy day. 多倒楣的一天。

　　Go for it. 加油 You bet. = Of course. 当然；看我的！

　　Wishful thinking. 一厢情愿的想法。

　　Don't be so fussy! 别那么挑剔好不好。

　　It's a long story. 唉！说来话长。

　　How have you been? = How are you doing? 你过得如何？近来可好?

　　Take things for granted. 自以为理所当然。

　　Don't put on airs. 别摆架子。

　　Give me a lift! = Give me a ride! 送我一程吧！

　　Have a crush on someone. 迷恋某人

　　What's the catch? 有什么内幕？

　　Party animal. 开Party狂的人(喜欢参加舞会的人)

　　Pain in the neck. =Pain in the ass. 眼中钉，肉中刺。

　　Skeleton in the closet. 家丑

　　Don't get on my nerve! 别把我惹毛了！

　　A fat chance. =A poor chance. 机会很小

　　I am racking my brains. 我正在绞尽脑

　　She's a real drag. 她真有点碍手碍脚

　　Spacingout = daydreaming. 做白日梦

　　I am so fed up. 我受够了！

　　It doesn't go with your dress. 跟你的衣服不配。

　　What's the point? = What are you trying to say? 你的重点是什么？

　　By all means = Definitely. 一定是。

　　Let's get a bite. = Let's go eat. 去吃点东西吧！

　　I'll buy you a lunch (a drink; a dinner). = It's on me. = My treat. 我请客

　　Let's go Dutch. 各付各的

　　My stomach is upset. 我的胃不舒服

　　diarrhea 拉肚子

　　吃牛排时，waiter会问“How would you like it?”就是问“要几分熟”的意思，

　　可以选择rare， medium或 well-done。

　　I am under the weather. =I am not feeling well. 我不太舒服!

　　May I take a rain check? 可不可改到下次？(例如有人请你吃饭，你不能赴约，只好请他改到下一 次。)

　　I am not myself today. 我今天什么都不对劲!

　　Let's get it straight. 咱们把事情弄清楚!

　　What's the rush! 急什么!

　　Such a fruitcake! 神经病！ I'll swing by later. =I'll stop by later. 待会儿，我会来转一下。

　　I got the tip straight from the horse's mouth. 这个消息是千真万确的（tip指消息）!

　　easy as pie = very easy = piece of cake 很容易。

　　flunk out 被当掉

　　take French leave 不告而别

　　I don't get the picture. =I don't understand. 我不明白。

　　You should give him a piece of your mind. 你应该向他表达你的不满。

　　hit the road = take off = get on one's way 离开。

　　Now he is in the driver's seat =He is in control now.

　　Keep a low profile (or low key). 采取低姿态。

　　Kinky =bizarre =wacky =weird 古怪的。 klutz (=clutz) =idiot 0、0。

　　know one's way around 识途老马。

　　lion's share 大部分。

　　tailgate 尾随（尤其跟车跟得太近）。

　　take a back seat. 让步。