发信人: roy_young()
整理人: roy_young(2001-06-04 14:22:25), 站内信件
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8. light fare：這是指點心，多半是用手拿的一些 snack，如同 refreshment，一般用在 party。（fare 在這裡是「食品」的意思，前面不加冠詞，後面也不加 s，light 是輕微的或清淡的意思。）例如：
Following the graduation ceremony, there will be some light fare at the reception room.（畢業典禮後，在招待室有些茶點。）
We are invited to have light fare at college president's house.（我們被邀請到校長家吃些點心）
當然，fare 這個字平時最常用是指車費、機票、船票等。例如：
Mr. Chen hopes to get an off-peak (season) air fare to Taiwan. （陳先生希望買到回台灣的淡季機票）
(fare = ticket)
9. exempt employee：這是指專業人員（professional employee）這些專業人員不能取得 over-time pay.（not eligible for over-time, or don't get extra pay for over-time); 至於 non-exempt employee 是指 support staff 或 supporting staff 或 classified employee（即一般的職員）這些人可以有 over-time pay.（exempt 原意是「免除」某些義務、責任等); 例如：
Our university has hired many exempt employees.（本大學聘用許多專業人員) (如教授等)
Non-exempt employees are eligible for over-time pay.（一般職員工作超過規定時數的話，可領取額外工資。
10. ugly duckling：這就是咱們老中所謂的「醜小鴨」。指曾經被人認為「醜八怪」「沒出息」的孩子，而長大後，變成漂亮、才貌出眾的人。(unpromising or homely child became a beautiful or accomplished adult.) (這本是出自安徒生的童話「The Ugly Duckling」，描寫一隻由鴨孵出的天鵝，被眾鴨當做醜類，而受嘲笑，長大後，成為美麗出眾的天鵝。）例如：
His daughter, thought to be the ugly duckling of the family, surprised everyone and became a successful model. (他女兒曾被認為是家裡的醜小鴨，後來令人驚訝，她竟然變成一位成功的模特兒。）
This little girl was an ugly duckling, but now she is beautiful.（註：使用 ugly duckling 時，通常需要一句 modifier, 就像上句「but now she is beautiful」）
這雖然多半是指年輕的女人，但也有人指年輕的男人。例如：
As the ugly duckling grew, he became a handsome hunk.（醜小子長大後，竟然變成大帥哥。) (hunk 是指男人有 good body)
至於巫婆或醜婦 (mean and homely)，我們只說：
She is an old witch.
11. apple-pie order：意思是井井有條，整齊的，很有秩序或有條理的。(good order or perfect organizational order); 例如：
The secretary did an excellent job by making an apple-pie order for the student records in the school.（秘書幹得很出色，使學生的檔案井井有條。）
The company has been in an apple-pie order for years.（多年來這公司的作業程序都是很有條理的）
His bedroom is not always in an apple-pie order.（他的臥室不是常常整齊的）
12. sexual orientation：這可以說是包括 homosexual, lesbian, bisexual 等的總稱。也就是說，你喜歡與那一種人做愛，男人或是女人？(What kind of person you prefer to have sex, or whom do you want to have sex with?）例如：
Teenagers want to develop their preferred sexual orientation. (青少年想要發展他們對性愛的偏好)
Some organizations provide shelters for all sexual orientations. (有些機構提供不同性愛男女的法律保障) (這裡的 shelter 有法律保護的意味，以免受人歧視、干擾。)
當然，shelter 多半是指暫時的避難地方。例如：
The battered wife was seeking shelter for her safety. (挨打的老婆尋覓安身之處)
U. S. government mandates that no one should be discriminated (against) because of his (her) sexual orientation. (美國政府下令不能因性愛的偏好而受到歧視)
注意：最好不要問別人：
What is your sexual orientation? 因為那是不禮貌，並且很令人困窘的 (awkward)。
13. smart mouth：這是指那些能言善辯，嘴巴很厲害，不讓人的傢伙。(people who response forcefully without solicitation); 例如：
He has a smart mouth. (他有個厲害的嘴巴)
People with smart mouths sometimes have problems with their bosses.（嘴巴厲害的人，有時與上司相處不好。)
Kids, don't be a smart mouth with your parents！(孩子，不要對你們父母說話太刻薄！)
Many teenagers have smart mouths.（青少年的嘴巴都很厲害）
14. send-off：意思是送別，送行 = farewell =g ood-bye; 例如：
He feels that a retiree deserves a better send-off. (他認為退休者應受較好的送別)
An elaborate send-off is planned for Mr. Clinton when he leaves office. (當柯林頓先生離職時，有個精心計畫的送別。)
There is a send-off party for his retirement. (他退休時有個送別會)
We gave a good send-off for Mr.Chen. (我們熱誠歡送陳先生)
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I
left
my
heart
in
San
Francisco
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