2003/8/30
和拇指Thumb有关的Idioms & Expressions
这一集我们来看看和拇指thumb有关的成语。 首先讲讲五个手指的名称。Thumb (拇指), index (食指), middle （中指）, ring（无名指）, pinky (little finger 小指，尾指)
1. have a green thumb： be good at gardening -擅长园艺，擅长种花种草。 这个短语托福听力曾经考过，如果知道它的意思，听起来一点都不难。 He has a green thumb. =He's good at gardening.
2. stick out like a sore thumb：be very different from other people or things around them - 与众不同，和环境格格不入
I'm not going to the party dressed like this, I'd stick out like a sore thumb.我不会穿成这样去参加聚会的，我会看起来和大家格格不入的。
sore (adj.)痛的。
I have a sore throat. 我喉咙痛。
My shoulders are sore from typing too much. 打字打得我肩膀都痛了。
注意：soar（v.飞翔，快速上升）和sore同音，不要混淆。
The rocket soared into orbit.- 火箭快速飞入轨道。
The temperature soared to 100 degrees. 温度狂升到100度。
3. under someone's thumb : under someone's control - 在某人的掌握和操纵之中。
She's got him completely under her thumb, he'll do whatever she asks.
他完全在她的操纵之中，她叫他干什么他就干什么。
4. all thumbs： clumsy and awkward－笨拙的，笨手笨脚的。
Speaking of playing the piano, I am all thumbs.
说起弹钢琴，我真是笨手笨脚的。
5. the thumbs down：if you give a plan or a suggestion the thumbs down, you do not approve of it or are not willing to accept it. -不同意或是不愿意接受一样东西
My new hairstyle got the thumbs down from my family. 我家人都不喜欢我的新发型。
6. the thumbs up：if you give a plan or a suggestion the thumbs up, you approve of it or are willing to accept it. － 赞成（一个计划或提议），愿意接受 一样东西
The project had been given the thumbs up and we could now get started. 这个项目已经得到批准，我们现在可以开始工作的。
7. twiddle your thumbs: if you twiddle your thumbs, you do not have anything to do, you are wasting your time and are achieving nothing useful －无所事事，浪费时间
Until I can get the thumbs up for my project, I'm just sitting around twiddling my thumbs. 在我的项目得到批准前我只能坐着无所事事。
8. A rule of thumb: a rough method of calculation, based on practical experience －粗略计算，根据以往实践总结出来的经验
A good rule of thumb is to cook two handfuls of rice per person.
根据经验，给每人煮两把米是够的。
9. thumb a ride: hitchhikers usually put their thumb out as cars pass by, indicating that they need a ride. （在美国）要搭顺风车的人通常翘起拇指表示他要搭顺风车，所以thumb a ride的意思就是搭顺风车。
He thumbed a ride to Los Angles. - 他搭顺风车去洛杉机。
I'll thumb a ride to the movies and meet you there. 我会搭顺风车去电影院在那里和你会面。
10. thumb-sucker： little kids/babies suck their thumbs, so if you call someone a thumb-sucker you're calling them a child－如果你觉得一个人很幼稚，你可以叫他thumb-sucker，因为小孩子经常吮吸拇指。当然，这样称呼别人是不礼貌的。
11. thumb one's nose: show scorn and mockery (by putting the end of the thumb on the end of the nose and by spreading out and moving the fingers.)（将拇指放在鼻尖，其余手指张开并摆动）表示轻蔑和嘲笑
After Tom ran into the house he thumbed his nose at John through the window. －Tom跑进屋子后，对John作轻蔑的手势。
12. thumb through : look through a book or magazine quickly － 翻阅
I was thumbing through a magazine when she walked in. －她走进来的时候我正在翻阅一本杂志。
13. thumbnail portrait/sketch/description: a short description giving only the main facts about something. －简略的叙述或描写 （nail是指甲）
He made a thumbnail portrait of the local attractions. 他对当地的景点做了简短的描写。
14．Thumbelina 是安徒生(Hans Christian Andersen)的一篇童话故事《拇指姑娘》
2003/9/1
和fish有关的Idioms & Expressions
这一集我们来看看和fish有关的Idioms & Expressions。
Go fishing - 去钓鱼 fisherman －渔夫 bait －鱼饵
fishery －渔业 fishing pole－钓鱼杆
Fishy (adj.) seeming bad, dishonest or suspicious －看起来不诚实的，可疑的。
There is something very fishy about his business deals.--他的交易有很多可疑之处。
更多的关于fish的Idioms & Expressions
1. a big fish : someone important or powerful - 重要人物
2. a cold fish: someone who seems unemotional, unfriendly or unsympathetic - 冷漠的人
3. a big fish in a small pond：someone who is important or who has influence over a small area －小池塘里的大鱼，指在小范围内重要或是有影响力的人
4. drink like a fish: regularly drink a lot of alcohol －喝很多酒
She had two bottles of wine with her meal - she drinks like a fish.
5. a fish out of water: if you feel like a fish out of water, you feel awkward or ill at ease because you are in an unfamiliar situation or surroundings －如鱼脱水，指不适应周围的环境，感到不自在
Tracy has always lived in a small village. She feels like a fish out of water in this city. Tracy一直住在小村子里，来到这个城市她感到不自在。
6. have other fish to fry/have bigger fish to fry: have something more important, interesting, or profitable things to do－有更重要，更有趣或是更有利可图的事情做。
I couldn't waste my time with him, I had bigger fish to fry.
我不能在他身上浪费时间，我有更重要的事情要做。
7. there are plenty of other fish in the sea/there are other fish in the sea: used to tell someone whose relationship has ended that there are other people they can have a relationship with: 天涯何处无芳草 （别人失恋是用来安慰别人的话，也可以指其他机会还很多，不一定是指谈恋爱）
A: I broke up with my girlfriend. 我和我的女朋友分手了。
B: Hey, cheer up, there are a lot of fish in the sea. 嘿，振作起来，天涯何处无芳草呢。
8. fish in troubled water: try to gain an advantage from other people's problems －浑水摸鱼，趁火打劫
During the decline of the stock market, some people fished in troubled waters and made big money.
在股票市场下跌期间，一些人浑水摸鱼，赚了大钱。
9. fishing for compliments: try to get someone to pay you a compliment － 试图得到别人的恭维 （夸奖）
When she showed me her new dress, I could tell she was fishing for a compliment. 当她给我看她的新裙子时，我看得出她是想要我夸奖她一番。
2003/9/7 Leave and Left
关于leave的短语和搭配很多，这集主要是看看比较常用的搭配和短语。
1. leave a place:离开一个地方
What time did you leave the office? 你什么时候离开办公室的？
2. leave for a place: 动身去一个地方（加了一个介词for意思完全不一样了）
They're leaving for Beijing in the morning. 他们早上要动身去北京。
3. Are you leaving? 你要走了么？ 这句话时用现在进行时来表示将要发生的动作。
4. leave someone alone: stop annoying or upsetting someone. －停止烦扰某人
Leave me alone! 别烦我了！ Can't you just leave me alone? 你能不能别烦我，让我一个人静一静？
5. leave it to me: I'll take responsibility for it. 这事交给我来办，让我来负责。
Leave it to me. I'll make sure the letter gets posted. 让我来吧，我保证帮你把信寄出去。
6. leave a lot to be desired: to be very unsatisfactory: 让人很不满意的
Your academic performance this term has left a lot to be desired.
你这个学期的学习成绩让人很不满意。
7. leave a bad taste in my mouth: if an experience leaves a bad taste in your mouth, remembering it upsets you or makes you feel uncomfortable. 指经历让人耿耿于怀，至今想起还是很不愉快的
The things she said really left a bad taste in my mouth. 我想起她说的话很觉得生气。
8. be on leave: 在休假 He is on leave now.
9. sick/maternity leave: 病假、产假
10. be/feel left out: if someone feels left out, they feel sad because they are not included in a group or activity. 觉得被冷落
All the others seemed to know each other and I began to feel left out.
其他人好像都认识彼此，我开始觉得被冷落。
11. be/get left behind: if a person, country or organization is left behind, they remain at a lower level than others because they are not as quick at understanding things or developing. 落后，不如人
在美国有一个No Child Left Behind Act，意为“不让一个孩子落后法案”
We are going to be left behind by the rest of the world.
我们将落后于世界其他国家。
I got left behind at school with the math. 我的数学跟不上
12. left-over: food that remains uneaten after a meal: 剩菜剩饭
Refrigerate any leftovers. 把剩菜剩饭都放冰箱里。
13. left-handed: 左撇子 Some people believe left-handed are smarter. 有些人认为左撇子比较聪明。
14. have two left feet: (usually refer to dancing) clumsy-通常指跳舞时比较笨拙，经常踩到别人的脚。
Sorry to step on your toes again, I am having two left feet.
对不起，又踩了你的脚。我的脚笨笨的。
15. turn left = make a left向左转
Make a left /turn left at the second crossing. 在第二个十字路口向转左。
在军队命令里向左转可不是“turn left”，应该是 "left face"
Left face －向左转
Right face - 向右转
About face- －向后转
托福听力口语篇 （1）
很多中国学生都会觉得托福的听力很难，原因可能有很多： 不习惯美式发音，平时少听native speakers讲话，少听录音带，词汇量和知识面跟不上，口语不好等原因。 口语不好也会影响听力？！ 当然会！托福的听力很大一部分是对话，都是一些日常用语，如果口语不好当然听不懂。 所以，托福听力材料也是最好的口语学习材料。要想提高听力，光死听死没有用的，还要注意分析听力原文。学习口语表达方法，多阅读，多方面结合才能有正在的提高。潇潇语言实验室现推出“托福口语听力篇”，希望对大家有点帮助。每集都是根据历届的托福真题编写。有编号的句子都是托福听力原文，一些补充例句也是托福原文。每集的句子摘自同一套托福听力题。 学习英语靠得是平时得认真积累，别放弃呀！ －潇潇
1. I picked up the receiver, dropped the coins in the slot, and dialed the number I wanted.
这个句子是关于打投币公共电话的。
Slot －缝隙。这里是指投币口。 Receiver就是电话的听筒。
2. Virginia's going to take all her required courses this year.
Required courses -必修课 required 是require的过去分词。在这里作为形容词来用，意思是“被要求的”，也就是学校要求学生必修的课。
选修课是elective.
e.g. I have 9 required courses and 3 electives this semester.
我这个学期有9门必修课，3门选修课。
I hope I can take a few electives next term.
3. Not only is Cheryl a good swimmer, but she's also a promising musician and a great photographer.
Not only did I forget my train ticket, but I also forgot my passport.
Not only was Ellen there, but Wanda and Dale came too.
Not only...but also.不仅。。。。而且。。。
Not only +倒装语序， but also + 陈述语序
4. My pen's out of ink. - 我的笔没有墨水了。
Be out of something = 用完了一样东西
另外一个托福原句：
The bookstore is out of lined notebook paper.
Lined 是指纸张有线条的。
类似的结构run out of something.
I just ran out of supplies.(托福原句)
举一反三：We are running out of money/water/time. 我们的钱/水/时间就快用完了。
5. The students completely filled the classroom.
Fill是“装满”的意思，这里是指学生挤满了课室。
6. Peter blames himself for what happened.
Blame oneself for something - 因为某事责怪自己。
Who's to blame?－这要怪谁？
He's to blame. 这要怪他。
You're to blame. =It's all your fault. 这都是你的错。
Don't blame yourself. You are not to blame. (It's not your fault.) 不要责怪你自己。这不是你的错。
7. The controller made a mistake and overcharged Amy for her tuition.
Charge是“收费”的意思， overcharge是“收多了钱”。
I got short-changed. 是指别人找钱找少给我了。
8. Have the driver let you off at the intersection. -叫司机在交叉口处让你下车。
Let you off意思是“让你下车”， 中国学生很容易按照中文来翻译，“let you get off the bus"语法上是没有错误的，但是现实中常常不这么罗嗦。学习英文应该多注意英文的表达方法，而不是想如何把中文翻译成英文。
这个例句还有一个托福经常考的结构：Have somebody do something:让某人做某事。
类似的常考结构：get somebody to do something. 不过这个结构的侧重点是自己不干，叫别人去干。
9. I've almost finished typing my homework paper.
Finish doing something=做完一件事情。 在口语中也说 be done with sth./doing something.
I am done with typing my homework paper.
有时我的外国同事问我有没有干完手头的活也说，“Are you done?"
10. Has my unabridged dictionary arrived yet?
Abridge- 删节, 削减, 精简 unabridged 是指未经过删节的，原版的。
Abridged novels就是简写版小说
11. A: How did you ever move that desk upstairs to your room?
B: It was very heavy, but I got my roommates to help me with it
A: 你究竟时怎么把那个桌子搬进你的房子的？
B： 那个桌子很重，但是我叫我的舍友帮我搬。
How did you ever do something? 通常用来问别人时究竟怎么把一件比较难办的事情办成的。
"ever"在这里不是“曾经”的意思，只是用来加强语气。
Get my roommate to help me with it. 这里有两个结构：
Get somebody to do something: 叫某人做某事 （托福常考结构）
Help somebody with something：帮助某人做某事
学习英文要时刻注意总结固定的搭配和结构，这样才能写出和讲出地道的英语。虽然简单，但是不小心还是会用错。
另外一个『托福原句』You certainly had a lot of boxes. How did you ever find room for everything? －你的盒子真多。你究竟时怎么找地方放这些东西的。
12. He goes skiing every chance he gets.他一有机会就去滑雪。
举一反三：I practice my spoken English every chance I get. 我一有机会就练习我的英语口语。
13. He's always been enthusiastic about sports. －他一直对运动很热衷。
Be enthusiastic about sth: 对某事很热衷，热爱
比较口语化的表达方式还有： be crazy/nuts about something/somebody
He's crazy/nuts about basketball.他热爱篮球。
14. Shouldn't she concentrate on doing her school work instead?
Concentrate on doing something. 集中精力做某事。
15. At least it is a diversion from my normal course work. I'm getting tired of math. “至少这可以让我暂时撇下我的正常的课程工作。我已经对数学感到厌倦了。”
Diversion这里时指分散精力的东西。 Get tired of something 又为“get sick and tired of something"是指对某事感到开始感到厌倦。
16. It would be better to talk about it face to face.
It would be better to do something 这个句型是虚拟语气 （would），常用来提建议。“这样做会更好”
Face to face : 面对面 In person:亲自 It would be better to tell him in person. 亲自告诉他比较好。
17. Would you mind if I sat here? -Of course not.
Would you mind if I did something? If从句中用过去时表示客气。
也可以不用过去时。回答Would you mind?一定要小心，如果你介意就答“yes”， 不介意就答“No” “Of course not."
18. So you're going to give us a ride to the game tonight? 你今天晚上会车我们去看比赛？
Give sb a ride－用车载某人一程。
19. You haven't written your folks for a quite a while, have you?
Folks在口语中的意思是“父母”
20. Marilyn seemed happy with her grades. - Happy? She could hardly contain herself.
Grades是指成绩。在国外打分通常给A,B,C,D.
I made good grades in high school. -我读高中时成绩很好。
Contain oneself -控制自己的情绪，感情
e.g. I was so angry that I couldn't contain myself. 我气得不能控制自己的情绪
21. Maybe I ought to subscribe to the Engineering Quarterly.
Subscribe to 订阅 I've subscribed to China Daily. 我订了中国日报。
Quarter有好多意思。可以是“季度”，或是“一刻钟”，或是25美分，或是“四分之一”。
Quarterly -季报 Daily －日报
Weekly －周报 Bi-Weekly－双周报 Monthly －月报
22. Allen has done some beautiful drawings of his dream house.
Dream house梦想中的房子。Dream job- 心目中理想的工作
Dream car－做梦都想要的车
Dream girl (the girl of my dreams) - 梦中情人，心中理想的女孩
托福听力口语篇(2)
1. My best friend helped me choose a dissertation topic. - 我的最好的朋友帮我选了论文题目。
托福常会考一些关于学习生活的句子。写论文通常是自己选论文题目，导师同意了才可以写。
Dissertation: a long piece of writing about a subject, especially one that you write as part of a university degree- (博士学位)论文;(专题)论文
还有一个意思差不多的词thesis， 托福也考过这个词。
Thesis: a long piece of writing about a particular subject that you do as part of an advanced university degree such as an MA or a PhD: 论文;毕业(或学位)论文
e.g. Writing a thesis on dance clubs is not as strange as it seems.
2. Linda developed the film herself.－Linda自己冲洗胶卷。
Develop这里不是“发展”的意思，而是“冲洗胶卷”。Film－胶卷
Develop: to make a photograph out of a photographic film, using chemicals-冲洗胶卷
I will have the film developed tomorrow. -我明天会把胶卷拿去冲洗。
I want to have this photo enlarged. - 我想把相片放大。
相片的底片叫做negative (noun)
3. Bill disliked doing the laundry. －Bill讨厌洗衣服。
很多中国学生会说，“Bill disliked washing his clothes."这样说也可以，但是口语中 "洗衣服”常说“do the laundry"
Laundry: [uncountable] clothes, sheets etc that need to be washed or have just been washed
洗衣店有两种Laundromat和dry cleaner's
Laundromat是可以用水帮你洗衣服的店。我的外国朋友问我广州有没有Laundromat. 因为她没有洗衣机，冬天水很冷，不想自己用手洗衣服。
Dry cleaner's：干洗店。
Like doing something-喜欢做某事
I like dancing in discos.
Dislike doing something -不喜欢做某事
Tom dislikes going to the dentist.
Hate doing something －厌恶做某事
Paul hates having his photo taken.
Loathe/resent doing something－憎恨做某事
I absolutely loathe traveling.
4. I had the department secretary type my term paper.－我叫系里的秘书帮我打我的学期论文。
Have sb do something. -让别人做某事， 托福常考结构。
Term paper-学期论文。在美国的大学，有些科目不进行期末考，期末交一篇学期论文就当是该科的考试。
5. Most colleges are no longer overcrowded, neither are the secondary schools. －多数大学都不再过度拥挤，中学也不是这样了。
Neither这是初中就学过的词，便是“也不”。
e.g. (1) He doesn't like rock music, neither do I. - 他不喜欢摇滚音乐，我也不喜欢。
e.g. (2) Mary is not American, neither am I. －Mary不是美国人，我也不是。
Neither后面的动词形式取决于前面句子的动词。
6. Her face lit up when she saw him.－她见到他时马上面露喜色。
Lit up的原形是light up. 从字面理解是“亮起来”“突然有光”
If someone's face or eyes light up, they show pleasure, excitement. 是指面露喜色或是显得兴奋。
常用搭配：Light up with joy/pride/glee.
7. After the cake had cooled, I put frosting on it.
Frosting(在糕饼上的)糖霜混合物, 英国人称为 “icing"
8. The program will be on in a quarter of an hour. －这个节目将会在15分钟后播放。 On指电视或是电台节目开播。
在【潇潇语言实验室22集】提到quarter有几个意思，这里的quarter是15分钟。
9. Judge Gray was never known for his leniency toward criminals. Gray法官向来都不是以对犯人仁慈闻名的。（言下之意，他对犯人不留情。）
Be known for/be famous for/be noted for－以。。。。。闻名
10. Mark has decided to run against Jack for treasurer. －Mark和Jack竞争财务部长的职位。
Run for a position:参加竞选一个职位。 Run against somebody for a position-和某人竞争一个职位。
e.g. Bob Dole's running for President. －Bob Dole正在竞选总统职位。
11. W: I need to make a hotel reservation for the conference. -我要给这次会议顶酒店。
Make a reservation预定，可以是在餐厅预定位置，在酒店预定房间，或是预定机票。托福常考的情形就是这几种。
M: How about having the travel agent do it? －叫旅行社帮忙预定怎么样。
How about doing something:这个句型常用来提建议。
A: I can't decide where to eat out. －我决定不了去哪吃饭。
B: How about going to the McDonald's? －去麦当劳怎么样？
Eat out－是指出去餐馆吃饭。
“我么今天晚上出去吃饭吧”这句话很多中国学生容易说成，“Let's go out to eat tonight."事实上，口语中的表达是，“Let's eat out tonight."
12. W: How about some more apple pie, Bob? -Bob，在再吃点苹果派吧。
M: You wouldn't have to force me to take another helping. －你不用逼我，我也会再吃多一份的。（言下之意是这苹果派很好吃，你不用逼我，我也会自己多吃些。）
Helping：(食物的)一份,一客
Force sb to do sth. -逼某人做某事。
13. M: I'll have to repair this old knapsack (背包) again.
W: Will it do any good? －这有用么？ （这样做有好处么？）言下之意是她不赞成补那个背包，还不如买个新的算了。
e.g. (1) Smoking does you no good.－吸烟对你没有好处。
e.g. (2) Drinking hot milk before bed will do you good. －睡觉钱喝热牛奶对你有好处。
14. M: Would you tell Paul I'm sorry I lost his radio?－你能不能告诉Paul我很抱歉我弄丢了他的收音机。
W: Hadn't you better tell him yourself? -你自己告诉他不是更好么？
英文中常用 You'd better do something来提建议，这里是用了这个句型的反问句型 Hadn't you better do something?
15. W: Can you take me to the Palace Restaurant quickly? I'm ten minutes late already.
M: I don't know. I'll try. But with traffic this heavy, it will take at least twenty more.
With traffic this heavy -交通这么拥挤， this 在这里的是“这么,这样地"的意思。表程度。
That有类似的用法：That－那样,那么 （表程度）
e.g. (1) Is the problem that easy?问题有那么简单吗?
e.g. (2) Things are not that bad. －事情并没有那么糟糕。
16. W: Weren't you nervous when the professor called on you? －教授叫你回答问题时你是不是很紧张。
M: I'll say. I shook all over. －是的，我全身都发抖。
我们在中学课本学过call on sb.是拜访某人的意思。
call on sb：to visit someone for a short time
e.g. I'd like to call on Annal while I'm in London.
但是在美式英文中，call on sb.有另外的意思：(American) to ask a person in a group of people to answer a question or to give their opinion about something －提问某人，或是叫某人发表意见。
She was afraid the teacher would call on her and she wouldn't know the answer.－她怕老师提问她时她不知道答案.
“I'll say”是表示同意对方说的话。类似的表达方法还有：You bet/You said it/You can say that again./You hit the nail on the head. 这些句子都是表示赞成对方说的话，托福听力都考过。
17. W: Why do you always put on slippers(拖鞋) when you go into your apartment? －你进你的公寓时为什么总是穿上拖鞋。
18. M: It saves wear and tear on the carpet. －这样会减少对地毯的磨损。
wear and tear: [often + on]the damage that happens to an object or a person when they are used or when they do something －使用一样东西对这样东西产生的磨损。这个短语也可以用于人。指事情对人的损耗。
e.g. (1)She made everyone wear slippers inside the house to avoid wear and tear on the carpet. -
e.g. (2) The wear and tear of life in a busy office has taken its toll on our staff.
take a/its/their toll: to have a bad effect on someone or something －对某事产生不好的影响，尤其指身心的损耗。
Bringing up nine children had taken its toll on my mother. [often + on]
The disease has taken a horrendous toll in parts of western Africa.
19. W: Which do you prefer? The striped (条纹的), the polka dot（圆点花样的） or the plaid（有格子图案的）?
M: Actually I like the solid orange best. －事实上，我最喜欢纯橙色。
solid是只有一种颜色，没有其他花纹或是图案。Solid blue-纯蓝色
20. In other words, lightening quickly heats the air and causes thunder.
In other words:换句话说
21. The radio station is going to be on around the clock. －这个电台将24小时开播。
Around the clock－24小时。托福常考短语。
托福听力口语篇(3)
1. She dug up a lot of information for her geology report. －她为她的地理报告搜索到了很多资料。
dig sth up (INFORMATION) phrasal verb [短语动词]to discover secret or forgotten facts by searching very carefully:通过仔细得搜索发现秘密或是被遗忘的事实。
E.g. I've been doing some research on our family history and I've dug up some interesting information.
2. You know for sure the class was canceled？－你很肯定那节课给取消了么？
Sure=certain
I don't know for sure.－我也不太清楚。
I can't say for sure./I can't tell for sure.-我也说不准。
That is for sure. －那是当然的。
2. If I'd had an hour more, I would have been able to rewrite my conclusion.－如果再给我一个小时，我就会有时间重写我的结论。
这是虚拟语气，表示过去可能性，常表示遗憾或是愿望。只是对过去可能性的一种假设，但是事实上事情并没有象我们说希望的那样发生。虚拟语气是TOEFL必考的。
结构为：If I had done sth, I would have done sth.
e.g. If I had had time, I would have called you. －如果我（当时）有时间，我会打电话给你的。（事实上我当时没有时间，也没有打电话给你。）
3. Carol tried out for the university band.
try out (American) [usually + for]to compete for a position in a sports team or a part in a play by playing or performing in front of other people: 为了加入一个运动团队，或是参加戏剧演出等进行的面试和选拔。
e.g. Mark's trying out for the college football team. -Mark正在参加大学足球队的选拔。
4. Little children occasionally like to make fun of others. －小孩子偶尔喜欢作弄别人
Make fun of sb. -作弄或取笑某人
5. The performance last night received high ratings。昨天晚上的表演收视率很高。
Ratings（复数）a list of television and radio programs showing how popular they are:电视收视率或是电台收听率
e.g. (1) Advertisers are interested in ratings.-广告商对收视率感兴趣。
e.g. (2) The serial has fallen in the ratings this week.－这部连续剧本周底收视率下降。
Rate(verb) ： to judge the value or character of someone or something: 对...评价,估价
She is rated very highly by the people she works for.－她的雇主对她评价很高。
Highly rated －收到很高评价的
Over-rated -收到过高的评价，受到过分吹捧的。
This movie is over-rated. －这部电影受到过分吹捧的。
First rate/second rate/third rate －一流的/二流的/三流的
A first rate hotel -一流的酒店
6. George isn't going to enroll in that course, if he can help it.
"Enroll in a course" －报读一个课程。
If he can help it－这里是指如果他有选择的话。
7. Why is Alex applying for financial aid?
Apply for sth.－申请（助学金、奖学金、工作等）很多写作的时候很容易漏掉for。
8. What I want to know is what time they serve breakfast. －我想知道他们什么时候供应早餐。 Serve: to give someone food or drink as part of a meal:供应食物或是饮料。
9. Would you call a taxi to take me to the bus station?
Call a taxi =call a cab
"calling a cab" is phoning for a taxi.－打电话叫一部的士
"hailing a taxi" is you're on the street and you wave down a taxi－在街上叫一部的士。
10. It's not for sale right now. －这个现在不出售。
Not for sale: 不出售，非卖品
on sale MAINLY US (UK USUALLY in the sale) reduced in price: 减价
Can you tell me if this dress is on sale? －你能告诉我这条裙子是不是减价出售。
11. M: I think I'll go to a movie tonight instead of working on my paper.
W: I wouldn't if I were in your shoes. －如果我是你的话我就不会去看电影
"Go to a movie" or "go to the movies" - 去看电影. 老美很少说“go to the cinema"
"if I were in your shoes" ="if I were in your situation/position" 如果我处于你的景况，如果我是你。
"What would YOU do, if you were in my shoes?" －如果你是我，你会怎么做？
"You'll never know how he feels until you've walked a mile in his shoes." -你穿着他的鞋子走一英里才会明白他的感受。（意思是你要处于他的景况才会明白他的感受。）
12. M: I have to phone my secretary before we leave.
W: There is not much time. Maybe you'd better get Tom to phone for you.
Get sb. to do sth. -叫别人帮你做一件事。 托福常考结构。You'd better do something－你最好干某事，提建议常用句型。
13. M: People say this summer course is very difficult.－有人说暑期课程很难。
W: I didn't find it all that bad. －我觉得并没有那么糟糕（那么难）
Find sth. + adj. That－那么，表程度。
14. W: I understand you are taking the American literature seminar this semester. Jim, how do you like it? －我听说你这个学期在上美国文学研讨班, Jim,你觉得这个班怎么样？
M: I find it very interesting.－我觉得很有趣。
I understand (that) （正式用法）used to say that someone has told you that something is true: 有人告诉我，我听说
I understand that you'll be coming to work here soon －我听说你很快就要来这里工作。
How do you like it? 不是问“你是否喜欢” 而是问“你对这件事的看法和感觉怎么样？”当然它也含有问对方是否喜欢这样东西的意思。
I find it +adj.- 我觉得一样东西怎么样。
I find the exam difficult.-我觉得这个考试很难。
15. I have been giving it some serious thought because I am writing my seminar paper on that exact topic.－我认真地想过这个话题，因为我的研讨会的论文写的就是这个话题。
Give sth some serious thought －对。。。认真地思考过
I haven't given it much thought. －我还没有怎么想过这事。
16. What would you say is his strongest point as a writer? －你认为他作为一个作家最强的地方是什么？
“would you say”在这里是插入语。
不要插入语原句就变为： What is his strongest point as a writer? -他作为一个作家的最强的地方是什么？
e.g. Who would you say is the best actor of the year? －你觉得今年的最佳男演员会是谁？
托福听力口语篇 (4)
1. Never before had the professor forgot to come to class. -教授从来都没有忘记来上课。
这是个倒装句型，起强调作用。正常语序应为：The professor had never forgot to come to class before.
2. If you had worked hard, you might have passed. －如果你（过去）努力学习，你很有可能通过考试。
这是个虚拟语气句子，表示过去的可能性。 常常是于事实相反的。事实上你过去没有认真学习，也没有通过考试。
If you had done sth, you might have done sth.
If you had done sth, you would have done sth.
3. What I'm going to say is rather personal, so let’s keep it between the two of us.
我要说的话是比较私人的，所以只有你我两个人知道就好了。
Personal：concerning only you, especially the private areas of your life: 私人的。
May I ask you a personal question? －我能问你一个私人问题么？
在告诉别人秘密前你也可以说“Just between you and me. ”，意思是不要让第三个人知道。
4. That's an outright lie. －那完全是谎言。
Outright: completely:完全地。
5. There is a lot of food for thought in what he had to say. －他说了很多让人深思的话。
Food for thought: something that makes you think carefully. 让你深思的东西。
6. The concert I heard last night was nothing short of brilliant. -昨天晚上的表演很精彩。
It means that it's nothing less than brilliant, basically it's a superfluous way of saying "brilliant"－ nothing short of brilliant =brilliant，只不过是用了一种比较罗嗦的说法。
His performance on the field was nothing short of exceptional. ＝His performance on the field was exceptional. -他在场上的表现很出色。
7. I'm still having trouble getting this door to open. －我还是打不开这个门。
Have trouble doing sth. －做某事遇到麻烦和困难。
8. Are you going to take some time off for a vacation this summer?
Off: not at work, school etc because you are ill or on holiday: 由于生病或是度假不上班或不上学。
You look tired. Why don't you take tomorrow off? －你看起来很累。你不如明天请假休息吧。
Take some time off:是指休息一段时间，不工作。
I want to take two days off. -我想请两天家。
Today is my day off. －我今天休息。
We have 7 days off in a row. －我们连放7天假。 In a row -连续。
9. W: Hi Bob, can I borrow ten dollars? -我能向你借10美元么？
M: Ten dollars, do you think I'm made of money? －10美元，你以为我是钱做的。
口语中dollar又常被成为buck。
Can I borrow ten bucks?
I am not made of money =I am not rich.
英语中还有一句话：Money doesn't grow on trees. =It's not easy to make money.
9. My alarm clock didn't go off, and I overslept. －我的闹钟没有响，我睡过头了。
“Go off” 是指闹钟响。Oversleep －睡过头
11. W: You've certainly done a lot of research for your project. -你确实为你的项目做了很多研究。
M: It seems like a lot, but actually I've only scratched the surface.看起来很多，但事实上我只是探讨了很表面的东西。
scratch the surface: to deal with only a very small part of a subject or a problem: 只是触及事情或问题的很小一部分。
There's far more to be said - I've only had time to scratch the surface in this talk.－要说的东西很要很多。这次讲话时间有限，我只是触及了事情的表面。
12. M: Richard seems to be really anxious these days.－Richard这些好像很焦虑。
W: I think he's bearing up extremely well under the circumstances.－我觉得他在这种情况下的承受能力算是相当好了。
bear up （短语动词）: to deal with a very sad or difficult situation in a brave and determined way:勇敢，坚定地处理一个很悲伤或是困难的情况。
13. M: Quick, you go get the tickets while I park my car. －快，你去买票，我去停车。
W: What is the rush, the train is pulling away from the station right now.－急什么呀，火车刚刚开了。
Go get sth.－口语表达方法，正式英文的表达方法是 go to get sth.
Park (动词)：停车
“百佳”百货商店的英文名是 "PARK N' SHOP" -意思是“停好你的车进来购物”
No parking: 不准停车
Parking lot: 停车场
What is the rush? = What's the hurry? －急什么？
There is no rush/hurry. －不用急。
pull away (VEHICLE) If a vehicle pulls away, it starts moving:指车辆开始移动。
14. My last roll of film turned out very badly, could you please check my lens? －我的上一卷胶卷照得相片效果很差，你能不能帮我看看相机的镜头。
顺便提一下，隐形眼睛是 -Contact lens.
15. M: Have you seen Tom Smith and the Junior play? W: Now, he has got promise.
He's got promise =He's promising. －他很又前途。
16. M: All these exams are driving me crazy. －这些考试都要把我逼疯了。
W: Well, why don't you take a break and do something that will take your mind off your test. －你为什么不休息一下，干一些能让你忘记你的考试的事情。
Take a break/have a break -休息一下。
Take your mind off sth.: to make yourself stop thinking something that is worrying. -让你自己停止想有你忧心忡忡的事情。
Music takes my mind off my work. -音乐让我忘记工作（的压力）。
17. I think most of the racket ball courts are reserved for class instruction now. －我想大部分球场都给预定来上课了。
reserved: kept specially to be used by one particular person: 被预定的
I'm sorry, but this seat's reserved.－对不起，这个位置已经有人预定了。
Reserved: unwilling to express your emotions or talk about your problems: 含蓄，感情不轻易流露 Chinese are a reserved people. -中国人是一个含蓄的民族。
Make reservation－预定
Customers are advised to make seat reservations well in advance. －顾客最好提前预定位置。
18. Is 2:30 a good time for you?
Good time这里是指这个时间合适你么，和你其他活动有没有时间冲突。
所以这句话的意思是：Is 2:30 a convenient time for you?
19. It's embarrassing to lose all the time. -老是输很没面子。
Embarrassing-令人尴尬，难为情的。
Embarrassed -感到尴尬，难为情的。
I was embarrassed by her bold questions. -她的大胆问题让我觉得很尴尬。
托福听力口语篇 (5)
1. The laboratory was colder than necessary. -这实验室太冷了。(可能指冷气温度太低，没有必要。) Than necessary = than it is necessary=than it needs to be.
2. I let Jack borrow my notes. －我让Jack借了我的笔记。
Notes是指上课时做的笔记。Take notes－做笔记
Bank notes -钞票
3. Brian, who's a geologist, gave a talk on the formation of fossils.-Brian是一个地理学家，他对岩石的形成进行了讲话。
"give a talk on sth" -对...进行讲话
4. You may substitute another graduate level course for that one.－你可以用另外一门研究生水平的课程来代替那个课程。
Substitute (verb)代替。 这个词也可以做名词来用。
e.g. (1) Vitamin pills are no substitute for healthy eating.－维他命丸不能代替健康的饮食。
e.g. (2) The lead singer was ill and her substitute wasn't nearly as good. －主音歌手病了，代替她的人没有她那么好。
Substitute teacher－代课老师
5. Professor Dunken allows no excuses whatsoever.
Whatsoever: (adv.)used to emphasize a negative statement: 用在否定句中加强语气。
Political factors played no part whatsoever in this decision. －这个决定根本没有政治因素。
6. Jane may be resting in the lounge.－她可能在休息室休息。
Lounge用作名词是"休息室"。
Lounge (verb) spend time doing nothing: 用作动词是"无所事事"
He was just lounging around all day. -他整天都无所事事。
有一次，我看见我的美国同事和他的朋友做在楼梯上，我问他，"What are you doing here?"
他答道，"Lounging."
7. Now isn't that a terrific view?－你不觉得那景色真美么？
Terrific(口语),非常好
口语中常用来表示"非常好"的单词还有great/fabulous/awesome/superb/marvelous/fantastic/amazing
8. We should cross out the names of the people who never come.－把那些从来不来的人的名字划调。
cross sth out (短语动词)to draw a line through something you have written, usually because it is wrong:在错误的地方划一条横线。
9. There hasn't been a student like him in the department for a great many years.－系里很多年都没有想他这样的学生了。
A great many-很多
10. His architectural design broke new ground in the field.－他的建筑设计在这个领域取得了新的进展。
break new ground：to do or discover something new:发现了新的东西或是取得了新的进展。
11. For another seventy-five dollars, Carl could have bought a newer model.－再多75美元，Carl就可以买一个更新的款式了。
这句话也是虚拟语气, 句型： could have done sth. －指过去有可能做某事，但是事情上并没有做。
13. The bed spreads are very cheap at Marshals.-Marshals的床单很便宜。 Marshals－商店名 bed spreads －床单
14. He won't just go to any school.－他不是随便哪间学校都愿意去。
Any这里是指随便一间学校。
有如：I'm not just anybody.－我可不是普通人。
15. M: Do you mind if I smoke?－你介意我抽烟么？ W: Please don't.－请不要抽烟。 如果不介意可以说。"Go ahead."－你请便。
17. Could you possibly give me a hand?－你能不能帮帮我？
Give sb a hand =help sb. －帮助某人
Let me give you a hand.=Let me help you.－让我帮你一把吧。
但是注意：give sb a big hand=为某人热烈鼓掌。
Let's give him a big hand.－让我们为他热烈鼓掌。
18. M: Where can I find a battery for my radio at this time of night.－在晚上这个时候去哪能给我的收音机找到电池呀？ W: Why don't you try the drug store? It's open late.－你为什么不试试药店呢？他们很晚才关门。
At this time of night－在晚上这个时候，含有已经很晚的意思。 美国的drug store不是单纯的药店，它还会买一些日用品。所以在drug store能买到battery(电池)一点也不奇怪。 It's open late.是指药店开门开到很晚。 How late are you open?－你们营业到几点？ 换种问法：What are your opening hours?－你们的开放时间是什么？
19. Can you get off the phone? I have to make a call.－你能不能放下电话呀？我想打个电话。 Make a phone call to sb. ＝telephone sb. －打电话给某人
20. Can't we slow down? I'm tired.－我们能不能慢一点？我很累. Can't we do something?也是提建议的一种方式，通常有点抱怨的含义。 Slow down－放慢速度。 如果老外讲英语讲得太快，你可以说, "Can you slow down a bit? I can't quite follow you."－你能不能讲慢一点。我不太明白你得话。
21. M: Will the field trip be on Friday as originally scheduled.－实地考察还是按预定计划定在在星期五吧？
W: As far as I know. －据我所知是的。
Field trip: an occasion when students go somewhere to learn about a particular subject:学生为了了解学习某个主题出外考察。
例如，为了让学生更了解地中海的地形，学校组织去地中海实地考察都可以称为field trip.这是国外大学比较时兴的教学方法。
as originally scheduled－和原来安派的时间一样。
相似的结构还有，as expected －和期望的一样。
He won the game as expected. －正如大家期望的一样，他赢得了比赛。
22. W: Let's take our suits in case the sun comes out.－让我们带上我们的游泳衣吧，以防太阳出来。
M: Want to go for a swim, do you?－你想去游泳，是么？
Suits这里是指swimming suits －游泳衣
In case－because of a possibility of something happening, being needed, etc:以防一件事情会发生
I don't think I'll need any money but I'll bring some just in case.－我想我应该不需要钱，但是还是带上些钱以防万一的好。
Go for a swim=go swimming－去游泳。
23. W: I never pictured you as the outdoors type.－我从来都没有想象你会说户外型的人。
M: When you live in the mountains you learn to adapt.－当你住在山区你就会适应了
Picture （verb）to imagine something, especially by creating an image in your mind :想象,尤其是在脑海中创造一种形象
e.g. The house isn't at all how I had pictured it.－这个房子和我想象的根本不一样。
Picture... as...－把。。。想象为。。。。
e.g. Sam had pictured her as kind of serious, but she wasn't like that at all. -Sam想象她是有点严肃的人，但她根本就不是那样的人。
Type -类型。
在男女关系种如果说，"He/She's not my type." 意思是"他/她不是我喜欢的类型。"
Adapt: to gradually change your behavior and attitudes so that you get used to a new situation and can deal with it successfully [+ to]: 适应
e.g.(1)The children are finding it hard to adapt to their new school.－孩子们觉得很难适应新学校。
e.g.(2)I'm finding it hard to adapt to the American culture.－我觉得很难适应美国文化。
24. Do we need to get together to plan our seminar?－我们需不需要聚在一起计划一下我们的研讨课？
Seminar: a class in which a small group of students meet to study or talk about a particular subject：小班研讨课，研讨会
Get together－聚在一起，聚会。Let's get together sometime。－我们找个时间聚聚吧？
也可以做名词来用：get-together (noun): a friendly informal meeting or party: a family get-together－家庭聚会
25. M: I thought it would be fun if we all went to see that movie downtown.－我想如果我们都去市区开那部电影该多好玩呀.（这里用了过去是，虚拟语气，表示委婉的建议。）
W: Count me out. I've heard it isn't worth the money.－我可不去。我听说那部电影并不值得花钱去看。
Count me out－不要把我算进去，意思是你干什么都不要叫我，我没有兴趣
Count me in －把我算进去，我有兴趣和你们一起行动。
也可以说成："I'm in."
It's not worth the time.－不值得花这个时间。
It's not worth the money.－不值得花这个钱。
It's not worth the risk.－不值得冒这个险。
26. Margaret, I could use your advice.－我非常需要你的意见。
Could use （口语）f you say you could use something, you mean you would really like to have
it:－很想要： I could use a drink.－我很想喝水。
注意是用"could"
27. I've put off doing my science requirement for three years.－我想把我的科学必修课推迟三年读完。
Put off doing sth./put sth. off: [often + until]to decide or arrange to do something at a
later time: 推迟做某事。
e.g. (1)They had decided to put the wedding off until her brother came home from abroad. －他们决定把婚事推迟到她的哥哥从国外回来再说。
e.g.(2) I've put off talking to him about this for far too long.－我推迟和他谈这件事情推迟得太久了。
e.g.(3) Never put off what you can do today until tomorrow.－今日事今日毕。
28. I figured, since you are doing premed, you know about the various courses. －我想既然你在都医学预科课程，你肯定了解很多课程。
Figure: （verb）informal especially American English to form a particular opinion after thinking about a situation : figure that: （非正式用法）对情况进行思考后形成的观点，想，认为，觉得
e.g. I figured that he was drunk and shouldn't be allowed to drive.－我认为他醉了，不应该让他开车。
premed adjective informal （非正式）relating to classes that prepare a student for medical school, or to the students who are taking these classes: 医学预科的
a premed student －医学预科学生
- premed(noun)医学预科课程
29. What you need a good introductory course for non-science majors.－你需要修一门为非理科专业学生而设的好的入门课程。
Introductory course －入门课程
Non-science majors－非理科专业的学生
Non－非 （前缀，不能单独使用）non-profit－非盈利性的
30. 大学里的主修成为"major"，辅修是"minor"
major n.<美>[教]主修课, [律]成年人, [乐]大调adj.主修的, 成年的, 大调的，主要的vi.主修
minor n. 未成年人, 副修科目adj.较小的, 次要的, 二流的, 未成年的vi.辅修n.[乐]小调, 小音阶
31. I'm really weak in math.－我的数学真的很差。
Be weak in sth. －做的不好
Be good at sth.－做的好，擅长
32. I'm a little squeamish about dissecting things. －解剖东西让我觉得有点恶心。
Dissect: (verb)解剖
Squeamish： （adjective）easily shocked, upset or easily made to feel sick by unpleasant
sights: 易呕吐的, 神经质的
I could never be a nurse - I'm too squeamish.－我永远都不能当护士。－我太用以恶心了。
33. It even fits in with my hobby of mountain climbing.－这甚至和我喜欢爬山的爱好相符合。
fit in with sth （短语动词）If one activity or event fits in with another, they exist or happen together in a way that is convenient.没有冲突的。