【Speak English Like An American】Lesson 5

Lesson 5 Ted Goes out for the Evening

Ted leaves to go visit his girlfriend Amber. Ted’s mother Susan says she doesn’t really like Amber. She wishes him a good time anyway.

Ted: See you later, Mom!

Susan: Where are you going, Ted?

Ted: I told Amber I’d drop by.

Susan: What are you two going to do?

Ted: Maybe go to the movies or to a party. Our plans are still up in the air.

Susan: Why don’t you invite her over here?

Ted: I don’t want to hang around here. Dad is really down in the dumps.

Susan: Is Amber the girl with the nose ring and the purple hair?

Ted: Yeah. I’m crazy about her!

Susan: Don’t take this the wrong way, but she’s not exactly my cup of tea.

Ted: Take it easy, Mom. We’re not about to get married.

We just enjoy hanging out together.

Susan: I guess there’s no accounting for taste. Have a good time.

Ted: Don’t worry. We’ll have a blast!

Susan: (under her breath) That’s what I’m afraid of!

Idioms

(to be) crazy about - to like very much着迷

Example 1: Amy is so crazy about golf, she'd like to play every day. Example 2: I’m sure Katie will agree to go out on a date with Sam. She’s crazy about him!

cup of tea - the type of person or thing that one generally likes中意的

EXAMPLE 1: Hockey isn’t Alan’s cup of tea. He prefers soccer.

EXAMPLE 2: I know Joy is nice, but she’s simply not my cup oftea.

Note: This expression is almost always used in the negative. She’s not my cup of tea. Not my cup of tea她不是我的菜。

(to be) down in the dumps - to feel sad; to be depressed伤心

EXAMPLE 1: It’s not surprising that Lisa is down in the dumps. Paws, the cat she had for 20 years, just died.

EXAMPLE 2: It’s easy to feel down in the dumps when it’s raining outside.

(to) drop by - to pay a short, often unannounced visit拜访

EXAMPLE 1: If we have time before the movie, let’s drop by Bill’s house.

EXAMPLE 2: “Hi，I was in the neighborhood so I thought I’d drop by!”

(to) hang around - to spend time idly; to linger闲荡

EXAMPLE 1: We had to hang around the airport for an extra sixhours because our flight was delayed.

EXAMPLE 2: Nina’s boyfriend Boris is coming over soon. She hopes her parents aren’t planning on hanging around the house.

(to) hang out -to spend time (often doing nothing)闲逛

EXAMPLE 1: Ted spent all of last summer hanging out by his friend’s pool.

EXAMPLE 2: Kathy and her friends like to hang out at the mall.

NOTE: “Hang out with” means to keep company with someone.

(to) have a blast [slang] - to enjoy oneself very much玩得很开心

EXAMPLE 1: Last summer, Nicole had a blast backpacking through Europe with some friends.

EXAMPLE 2: Heather spent her spring break in Fort Lauderdale with millions of other college students. She had a blast!

take it easy - relax; don’t worry

EXAMPLE 1: You lost your keys? Take it easy, I’m sure you’llfind them. EXAMPLE 2: Stop yelling and take it easy. Fm sure there’s a good explanation for why Joe borrowed your car without asking first.

(to) take something the wrong way - to take offense 生气

EXAMPLE 1: Don’t take this the wrong way, but I liked your hair better before you got it cut.

EXAMPLE 2: Jessica is offended. I guess she took it the wrong way when I told her she should exercise more.

NOTE: This expression is often used in the negative form: “Don’t take this the wrong way, but..

there’s no accounting for taste –it’s impossible to explain individual likes and dislikes 百人百味

Example 1: Ted likes to put sugar on his spaghetti. I guess there’s no accounting for taste.

Example 2: Tiffany has a tattoo of a squirrel on her leg. There’s no accounting for taste.

under one’s breath — quietly; in a whisper 低语

EXAMPLE 1: “Amber is strange,” muttered Nicole under her breath, as Ted was leaving the room.

EXAMPLE 2: Mike agreed to take out the garbage, saying under his breath, “I always do the dirty work around here.”

(to be) up in the air - not yet determined; uncertain悬而未决

EXAMPLE 1: It might rain later, so our plans for the picnicare up in the air.

EXAMPLE 2: Our trip to Russia is up in the air. We aren’t sure we’ll get our visas in time.

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