Tip 1: Initiate 先抢先赢
此招术「先抢先赢法」使用主动出击,让长辈们在毫无防备下,就先被你开始的话题带走!高招高招!
使用方法示范:
Katie: I haven’t seen you for so long, Aunty McMuffin. How are you doing? I heard you just moved into a new place. How is it?
Aunty McMuffin: It’s great! I love my new place.
Katie: have you met your new neighbors? What are they like?
Katie:我好久没有看到妳了,满福堡阿姨,听說妳最近搬新家了,那里如何?
满福堡阿姨:很棒!我喜欢我的新家。
Katie:妳有见过你的新邻居了吗?他们怎么样?
initiate 是动词,意思是「开始,发起,开创」,例如:initiate a conversation (开启话题)。
The teacher walked into the classroom and furiously asked who had initiated the fight between the two classmates.
老师走进教室,很生气地问这两个同学间是谁先开始动手的。
She’s a shy person. She seldom initiates a conversation with others.
她是一个害羞的人,她很少跟其他人主动开启话题。
Tip 2: Deflect 转移话题
此招数「转移话题法」,当有问题朝你这里过来时,你就像是打棒球一样直接把它打出去。高招高招!
使用方法示范:
Aunty McMuffin: You’re in college, right Katie? Do you have a boyfriend?
Katie: “Boyfriend” is a popular Justin Bieber song! Did you know that, Aunty?
Aunty McMuffin: I don’t think I’ve heard of it…
Katie: Let me sing it for you right now!
满福堡阿姨:妳上大学了吧, Katie ?妳交男朋友了吗?
Katie: 「男朋友」是小贾斯汀很红的一首歌!阿姨妳听过吗?
满福堡阿姨:好像没有听过馁…
Katie: 那我现在唱给妳听!
deflect 为动词,意思是「(使) 转向,(使) 偏斜」,名词形为 deflection ,意指「突然转向,偏移,偏离」。
The ball deflected off the window instead of breaking it.
球打到窗户时反弹了,并没有打破它。
The celebrity kept deflecting the journalist’s questions regarding her private relationships.
那个明星一直避而不答新闻记者问她有关她私人感情生活的问题。
Tip 3: Silence is golden. 沉默是金
俗话说得好,无声胜有声,如果你少说点话,保持冷静、沉着,长辈就很难问下去了吧?高招高招!
使用方法示范:
Aunty McMuffin: If you have time, you should work and earn some money! Do you have a part-time job? Or are you interning?
Katie: ….
Aunty McMuffin: Katie? Did you hear me? Are you working?
Katie: ….
Aunty McMuffin: Katie?
Katie: Sorry. I was just thinking.
满福堡阿姨:如果妳有时间的话,妳应该要去工作!妳有打工吗?还是妳在实习?
Katie:…
满福堡阿姨:Katie ,妳有听到我说什么吗?妳有没有工作?
Katie:…
满福堡阿姨:Katie ?
Katie:抱歉,我只是在思考而已。
silence 为名词,意思是「无声,沉默,缄默」,此字的形容词是 silent,表示「宁静的,寂静的」,而 Silence is golden. 就是指「沉默是金」。
Silence! Speak only when I ask you to!
安静!我叫你说话的时候才能开口!
Kara is extra silent today. Is she okay?
Kara 今天特别安静,她还好吗?
Tip 4: Ignorance is bliss. 无知便是福
「不要再问了,我真的什么都不知道」,当长辈得不到想要的答案,不久后便会放弃!高招高招!
使用方法示范:
Aunty McMuffin: My son, McNuggets, met the mayor recently because of his perfect academic grades! How did you do at your school?
Katie: I don’t know, Aunty. The professor hasn’t graded us yet.
Aunty McMuffin: Oh, then how do you think you did?
Katie: I really can’t tell. I don’t know.
Aunty McMuffin: Okay, then.
满福堡阿姨:我的儿子,麦克鸡块,因为他成绩优异,最近见到了市长!妳在学校的成绩怎么样啊?
Katie:我不知道,教授还没有打成绩。
满福堡阿姨:那你自己觉得如何呢?
Katie:这不好说,我也不知道。
满福堡阿姨:这样啊,好吧。
ignorance 是指「无知,愚昧」,而 bliss 有「极乐,狂喜,天赐之福」的意思,两着皆为名词,因此片语 Ignorance is bliss. 意思便为「无知便是福」。
Ignorance of the law is no excuse for breaking it.
对法律的无知不是犯罪的借口。
I wish you a lifetime of bliss and happiness.
我祝你一生能够幸褔快乐。
Tip 5: Honesty is the best policy. 诚实为上策
诚实为上策,那如果「太诚实」呢?想必长辈会被你过度真实的答案给吓得不知所措吧!高招高招!
使用方法示范:
Aunty McMuffin: I think it’s time for you to find a husband and settle down. Don’t you think so?
Katie: I think I want a husband who respects me. I have a dream to follow and he needs to understand that I won’t sacrifice it for anything. I choose money over love. He needs to be okay with that. Do you think that kind of man exists?
Aunty McMuffin: Ummmm….. maybe.
满福堡阿姨:我觉得该是妳找一个丈夫并定下来了,妳不觉得吗?
Katie:我觉得我想要一个尊重我的丈夫,我有梦想要追寻,他必须了解我不会为了任何事放弃它,爱情跟面包我选择面包,他必须觉得这样可以,妳觉得这样的男人存在吗?
满福堡阿姨:呃… 可能吧。
honesty 是名词,意思是「诚实」,而此字的原形是 honest ,意指「诚实的,可信的」,为形容词,另外,名词 policy 是「政策,方针,策略」的意思,所以片语 Honesty is the best policy. 就是指「诚实为上策」。
Honesty is the key to a healthy relationship.
诚实是健康感情关系的关键。
I wasn’t being honest when I said that the dress looked good on you.
当我说这件妳穿这件洋装很好看的时候,我其实是骗妳的。
You should check the store policy before you buy anything.
买东西之前你应该要先看店家的退换条款及政策。
这 5 招的用法以及英文都学起来了吗?别忘了,回击之余也不能失去该有的礼貌,这些问题都是来自于亲戚的爱与关心!最后祝大家新年快乐!万事顺心!