地道口语：如何用英语“躲避子弹”

　　Larry和李华开车去多伦多度假，结果在路上遇到了一些问题。他们会用到两个常用语：Dodge a bullet和cheapskate。

　　LH: Larry, 还要开多长时间才到多伦多啊？

　　Larry: If we don't make any more stops, we should get there by nightfall。

　　LH: 啊，天黑的时候才能到？可我已经快饿死了！咱们停下来找点东西吃吧？

　　Larry: Actually, we have a free dinner waiting for us at the hotel in Toronto。

　　LH: 我知道酒店有免费晚餐，可是还要几个小时才能吃到，我坚持不住啦！

　　Larry: You know me, Lihua, I'm a cheapskate. Sorry。

　　LH: Cheesecake? 你带了芝士蛋糕？ 快给我吃！

　　Larry: No, not cheesecake... cheapskate. A cheapskate is someone who is very cheap, or doesn't like to spend money。

　　LH: Cheapskate就是小气鬼。没错，你就是个cheapskate！要不是你舍不得花钱，我们才不会选多伦多度假呢，早买张飞机票飞去泰国了！

　　Larry: Thailand? Don't be ridiculous! Even if I wasn't acheapskate, you know we can't afford to go that far away for vacation!

　　LH: 那，就算去不起泰国，咱们停下车吃顿饭总可以吧？

　　Larry: If we stop for food, we'll waste time, gas, and money. I think we should just wait until we get to Toronto。

　　LH: Why are you being such a cheapskate?? 咱们刚开始约会的时候，你可是特别喜欢给我买吃的呢！

　　Larry: Oh, yeah, I remember that... Actually, now that I thinkabout it, I think I might have some of that candy you like in mybackpack...something like a white rabbit, right?

　　LH: 大白兔奶糖？哪里？！还真有诶！ 可这包已经过期了。不过我太饿，将就吃了！

　　Larry: Phew! Looks like I dodged a bullet there。

　　LH: (With candy in her mouth) Dodge a bullet? 躲避子弹？你又在说什么我听不懂的话了？

　　Larry: To dodge a bullet means to narrowly escape a very badsituation. For example, a second ago you were about to get really angrybecause I wouldn't stop for food, but luckily, I had that bag of Chinesecandy to keep you happy!

　　LH: 哦， to dodge a bullet意思就是 “逃过一劫”，躲过了非常糟糕的事情。你说，要不是因为你包里正好有糖，我肯定会因为饿肚子而大发脾气，所以你算是躲过了我的一顿数落。

　　Larry: That's right。

　　LH: 可是吃糖吃不饱啊！

　　Larry: We have a perfectly wonderful - and free - dinner waiting for us in Toronto. Sorry, Lihua, we're not stopping。

　　(ding! The gasoline light comes on)

　　Larry: Uh-oh。

　　LH: Larry， 什么声音？是不是没油啦？你看看！几个小时前我不是让你把油箱加满么！

　　Larry: I heard the gas is a lot cheaper in Toronto, so I didn'twant to buy more gas than I needed to... I thought this would be enoughfor us to reach Toronto!

　　LH: 啊？你因为觉得加拿大的汽油便宜，就不舍得在美国加油，打算坚持到多伦多再说？你怎么这么小气！Cheapskate！

　　Larry: I hope we can find a gas station in time... I haven't seen any signs for a gas station for awhile.。。

　　LH: 我的老天！附近没有加油站？那我们岂不是要身陷荒野！

　　Larry: Don't worry, we always have my cell phone if we need to call for help。

　　LH: 打电话求救？呃，我刚才一直拿你的手机玩游戏，已经没电了。

　　Larry: Oh good grief. Luckily, I think I have an extra battery in my backpack. Check the outside pocket。

　　LH: 啊！真的，这里有块备用电池！We dodged a bullet！我们逃过了一劫！

　　Larry: Speaking of dodging a bullet, it looks like there's a gasstation a few miles ahead. We should be able to get there without aproblem。

　　LH: 太好了！前面有加油站，咱们快去把油箱加满！

　　Larry: OK, I won't be such a cheapskate this time。

　　LH: 对！这次别再小气了！还有，在加油站给我买点吃的来！

　　Larry: OK, fine. You got it。