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第89章 This Alligator

This Alligator Is Not Wearing Any Shoes Either

A young blonde was on vacation in the depths of Louisiana。She wanted a pair of genuine alligator shoes in the worst way,but was very reluctant to pay the high prices the local vendors were asking。

After becoming very frustrated with the“no haggle”attitude of one of the shopkeepers,the blonde shouted,“Maybe I will just go out and catch my own alligator so I can get a pair of shoes at a reasonable price!”

The shopkeeper said,“By all means,be my guest。Maybe you will luck out and catch yourself a big one!”

Determined,the blonde turned and headed for the swamps,set on catching herself an alligator。

Later in the day,the shopkeeper was driving home when he spotted the young woman standing waist deep in the water,shotgun in hand。Just then,he saw a huge9feet alligator swimming quickly toward her。

She took aim,killed the creature and with a great deal of effort hauled it on to the swamp bank。Laying nearby were several more of the dead creatures。

The shopkeeper watched in amazement。Just then the blonde flipped the alligator on its back,and frustrated,shouted out,“Damn it!This one is not wearing any shoes either!”

这只鳄鱼也没有穿鞋

一个年轻的金发女郎在路易斯安那州的深处旅行。有些道路很糟糕,因此她想要双真正的鳄鱼皮鞋,可是又不愿付出当地卖主开出的高价。

一店主“恕不还价”的态度使她非常沮丧,于是她大声嚷道:“也许我该出去亲自抓一只鳄鱼,这样我就能以合理的价格得到一双鳄鱼鞋。”

店主说:“请便吧,朋友。也许你很走运,会弄到一双大的。”

女郎咬咬牙,转身向沼泽地走去,准备亲手抓只鳄鱼。

当天下午,在开车回家的路上,店主看到一个年轻妇女手提猎枪,站在齐腰的水中,这时,他看到一个巨大的9英尺长的鳄鱼向她快速游去。

她举起手,杀死了鳄鱼,费了很大的力气把它拖到岸边。附近还有另外几只死鳄鱼。

店主惊奇地看着。这时,女郎抽打着鳄鱼的后背,失望地叫喊道:“真该死!这只鳄鱼也没有穿鞋!”

alligator[li geit]n。产于美洲的鳄鱼adj。鳄鱼皮的v。龟裂成鳄鱼皮状

genuine[denjuin]adj。真的,非人造的;真诚的,真心的

例:As time went on,a genuine friendship grew up between us。随着时间的推移,我们之间产生了一种真挚的友情。

reluctant[rilktnt]adj。不情愿的;勉强的

例:He gave me a reluctant assistance。他很不情愿地给了我帮助。

haggle[hgl]vi。(就价格、条件等)争论;讨价还价(about,over,for,with)

例:We never haggle about principles。我们绝不拿原则做交易。

blonde[blnd]adj。金黄色或淡色的(指人头发)

swamp[swmp]n。沼泽(地)vt。淹没,沉没;使困窘,忙得不可开交

例:We are swamped with work。我们被工作压得透不过气来。

crocodile tears鳄鱼的眼泪,假慈悲。如:Don’t weep crocodile tears with his misfortune。I know you have always detested him and are only too happy to see him get into trouble。(别假惺惺地为他的不幸难过了。我知道你一直讨厌他,看到他倒霉,心里可高兴了。)

Alligator&Crocodile

―See you later,alligator。

―For a while,crocodile。

这是一句很有意思的道别用语,是青少年常用的一种比较调皮的说法。它的绝妙之处在于:“later”与“alligator”两个字的字尾“-ater”、“-ator”是押韵的,说起来特别顺口。

当别人这样跟你再见时,你可以毫不含糊地来上一句:“For a while,crocodile。(待会儿见,鳄鱼。)”你发现了吗?“while”与“crocodile”的字尾也是押韵的。更巧的是,“alligator”与“crocodile”都是“鳄鱼”的意思。

“alligator”指的是美洲鳄,crocodile指的是非洲鳄,它们可以用嘴巴的咬合不同来分辨。闭着嘴时,看不见下颚牙齿的是alligator。

美国摇滚乐的创始人Bill Haley,曾于1956年以一曲《See you later,Alligator》引起轰动。这句谚语就此流行开来,即使现在依然很受欢迎。