Lesson 8



Lesson 8

Language Charm1: Slang( and Idioms2

Reading

It is fun to get closer to English by learning some slang and idioms. Many native3 speakers use these creative expressions4 to make their English more colorful.

　　藉由學習俚語和慣用語來更加接近英語很有樂趣。許多母語人士用這些有創意的詞語使他們的英語更多采多姿。

Slang is used in casual5 situations6 by particular7 groups of people, such as people in the army and teenagers. Some slang words die quickly, while others become fixed8 in the language. For example, “groovy(” was very popular in the 1960s. It was used to say something was cool or fashionable9. However, if you say “This song is really groovy” nowadays10, you will show how “uncool” and outdated11 you are!

　　俚語是由特定族群的人在非正式的情況下所使用，例如軍人和青少年。有些俚語字詞會快速消失， 而有些則成為語言中的固定用法。例如「groovy」在 60 年代非常受歡迎。用來表示某事物很酷或很時尚。但是如果現在說「這首歌真的很 groovy」，則會顯得你既「不酷」又過時！

“Rock12” is another expression that means “cool,” but in more exciting situations. You can say someone or something “rocks” to mean that person or thing is awesome13 and incredible14. For example, you might say “cool” when somebody buys a nice phone or gets a new haircut. And you say “Yi-Jie Lin (林義傑) rocks” for running across the Sahara Desert(.

　　「rock」是另一種說「酷」的詞語，不過用在更刺激的情況。你可以說某人或某事物「很屌」，表示那個人或事物超棒和好到令人難以置信。例如，有人買了不錯的手機或剪了新髮型時，可以說「cool」。不過會說跑步穿越撒哈拉大沙漠的林義傑「rocks」。

While slang is usually heard in conversations, idioms are widely used in both the spoken and written language. These expressions don’t make sense when they are read word by word. Instead, they have to be treated as a whole. For instance, you’re a “back seat driver” if you try to tell the driver how to drive. If you keep annoying15 the driver, you will “drive him up the wall.” If the driver then asks you to shut up, you should “bite your tongue.” Otherwise16, you may “be kicked out of” the car!

　　俚語通常在人們的對話中聽得到，而慣用語在口語和書寫中都被廣泛使用。當這些慣用語一個字一個字看時並沒有什麼意義。相反的，它們必須被視為一個整體。舉例來說，如果你試圖告訴司機如何開車，那你便是個「後座司機」。如果你持續惹惱司機，那你將會「讓他抓狂」。如果這司機接著要你閉嘴，你就應該「咬著舌頭不說話」。不然你可能會「被踢出」車外！

Slang and idioms are common in daily17 conversations. They might seem difficult to understand at first, but in fact, they are easy and fun. Try using your imagination, and you will understand the humor in them.

　　俚語和慣用語在日常會話中很常見。它們可能一開始看起來難以理解，但事實上它們容易學而且很有趣。試著運用你的想像力，你將會了解它們之中的幽默。

Vocabulary

Words for Production

1. charm

( Peter likes to enjoy the charm of the countryside in autumn.

Peter喜歡享受秋季鄉間的魅力。

charming

( Everyone likes Jennifer because she is a smart and charming girl.

每個人都喜歡 Jennifer，因為她是個既聰明又迷人的女孩。

2. idiom

( The idiom “break a leg” is used to wish someone good luck.

慣用語「break a leg」用在祝人好運。

3. native

( Jason is a native speaker of English, but he can also speak Chinese very well.

Jason的母語是英文，但他也能說流利的中文。

4. expression

( “Shut up” is not a polite expression, so try not to use it.

「閉嘴」不是禮貌的詞語，所以盡量不要使用。

express

( The guests expressed their thanks to the host of the party before leaving.

賓客在離開前，向宴會主人表達他們的謝意。

5. casual

( In this company, you can wear casual clothes to work on Fridays.

在這公司，你可在星期五穿非正式的服裝上班。

6. situation

( Mike’s business is in a bad situation because it has lost a lot of money.

Mike的生意狀況不好，因為已經損失了很多錢。

7. particular

( Is there any particular color you would prefer for your living room carpet?

你對於客廳地毯有偏好任何特定的顏色嗎？

8. fixed

( The table is fixed to the floor so you won’t be able to move it.

這桌子被固定在地板，所以你無法移動它。

fix

( John tried to fix a bookcase to the wall.

John試著將書櫥固定到牆上。

9. fashionable

( It is fashionable for girls to have short hair now.

現今女孩們留短髮是很時尚的。

fashion

( Teenagers always like to wear the latest fashions.

青少年總喜歡穿戴最新的流行時尚。

10. nowadays

( Nowadays, most people care not only about eating tasty food but also about having a healthy diet.

現今多數人在意的不只是吃美食，還要吃得健康。

11. outdated

( In my opinion, their ideas about educating children are outdated in today’s society.

我認為他們對於教育小孩的想法在今日社會是過時的。

12. rock

( I love all of Jay Chou’s songs. His music rocks!

我喜歡周杰倫所有的歌。他的音樂很屌！

13. awesome

( This movie is awesome! I’m going to watch it again.

這電影很棒！我要再看一次。

awful

( His writing is awful; I can’t understand a word of it.

他的作文很糟，我連一個字都看不懂。

14. incredible

( Although Maria is only 40, she has experienced many things and her life story is incredible!

雖然Maria只有四十歲，她卻經歷了很多事，而且她的人生故事真是令人難以置信！

15. annoy

( Andy annoyed his girlfriend when he kept telling bad jokes.

Andy一直說些爛笑話，這可惹毛了他的女朋友。

annoyed

( Helen is annoyed by her neighbor’s dogs because they bark all the time.

Helen被她鄰居養的狗搞得很火大，因為牠們總是一直吠叫。

annoying

( It is annoying that there are so many commercials during the TV show.

看電視節目時有這麼多的廣告，真是很惱人。

16. otherwise

( We must hurry; otherwise we’ll be too late.

我們一定要快一點，不然會太遲。

17. daily

( Our daily conversation is usually about the weather, news, and things that are happening around us.

我們日常的對話通常是關於天氣、新聞和周圍發生的事。

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