作者:城市网 来源:城市网学院 更新日期：2013-1-17
李华收到了妈妈从中国寄来的包裹，迫不及待地把里面的东西拿给Larry看。他们会用到两个常用语：tacky和swallow one's pride。
LH: Larry，你看，这是我妈送你的礼物！
Larry: Interesting…Is…Is that a rug?
LH: 什么啊？这是毛衣！多好看啊！
Larry: That's a sweater? Oh, my…
LH: 你看！我妈还在这儿别了张纸条，上面说，这是她亲手给你织的。我妈真有两下子，是不是啊，Larry?
Larry: …Oh my.
LH: 怎么？你不喜欢？
Larry: Umm…Look, Lihua. Don't get me wrong, it's great, but…It's just a little tacky for what I'd normally wear.
LH: Tacky？什么意思？
Larry: Well…basically…not fashionable.
LH: 不时髦？俗气？这毛衣怎么俗气了？！
Larry: Well, look at this design…there are pine trees and little people knit into it.
LH: 那怎么了，有松树有小人儿就俗气？
Larry: Well, a little bit. And look at these colors…bright green and red on black? It's so tacky it almost hurts my eyes… and plus, look at the…
LH: 你还嫌颜色太鲜艳，亮得闪了你的眼？！行了行了！I don't think they're tacky at all. 我觉得一点儿都不俗！我妈亲手织的，看你敢不穿！
Larry: Listen, I know you like tacky clothing, and that's fine. But I'm not wearing it.
LH: 什么？你说我喜欢俗气的衣服？！我哪有！
Larry: OK, for example, your pink Hello Kitty tennis shoes are quite tacky.
LH: 粉色的hello kitty网球鞋不是tacky，是可爱！可爱！
Larry: They would be cute on an 8-year old girl, not a college-aged young woman…And how about that jacket you have with all the extra zippers all over it?
LH: 哼！咱俩眼光不同，我不跟你争了。反正我妈的这件爱心毛衣，你非穿不可。
Larry: Lihua, I don't think you understand. There is no way I'm going out in public with that thing on!
LH: 你不穿我就要生气了！
Larry: Forget about it! （a second passes） Lihua, #e on. Don't be angry. Lihua?
LH: 别理我。我正生气呢。
Larry: （Begrudgingly, sighs） OK, fine. I guess I'll have to swallow my pride and wear the sweater.
LH: Swallow your pride？你说什么呢？
Larry: To swallow your pride means to begrudgingly do something that you are embarrassed to do.
LH: Swallow one's pride就是忍气吞声，勉强去做不愿做的事儿。这么说……你是要穿这件毛衣喽？
Larry: Yes, if it will make you happy, I will swallow my pride and wear your mother's tacky sweater.
LH: OH YEAH! Larry你真好！
Larry: Well, it's only because I know you have to swallow your pride and do many things on my behalf as well.
LH: 啊？我也为了你忍气吞声过？
Larry: Well, remember when my boss accidentally called you his “Japanese friend”? You just smiled and nodded, but I'm sure you wanted to correct him.
LH: 哦，想起来了。那次，你老板的确把我当成了日本人，不过没关系啦，美国人把中国、韩国、日本人搞混是常事。我不介意，我们中国人也常常觉得只要金头发蓝眼睛就都是美国人！
Larry: Well, do you remember when you swallowed your pride last Halloween? I made you wear that tacky French maid costume to my friend's party!
LH: 对！那次万圣节，你非让我穿那件难看得要命的法国女仆装！
Larry: Right. And I want to thank you for swallowing your pride and wearing that tacky costume.
LH: 等等！你是说这件爱心毛衣和那件女仆装一样俗气难看？
Larry: Why not? I think the sweater is tacky, just like you thought the costume was tacky.
LH: 可是……我穿的那件女仆装还特别曝露，别扭死了！
Larry: Oh, #e on. Wearing a sexy costume is normal on Halloween!
LH: 可我不喜欢穿这种衣服！穿女仆装在你一大堆朋友前走来走去，I really had to swallow my pride! 我牺牲了多少自尊啊！
Larry: Gee, I didn't realize it was so embarrassing for you. You win, ok? I'll wear the tacky sweater. But that's all I can do.
LH: 你想得美！你看，这里还有一个 Hello Kitty的手套，也是我妈织给你的！戴上吧！
Larry: Oh good grief. How does your mother know how to make all of this stuff?
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