【大紀元2011年04月28日訊】
李華和Larry要去打網球，他們會用到兩個常用語：shoo-in和top dog.
Larry: Hey, Lihua, are you ready to go? Where are your tennis shoes?
LH: Sorry, Larry.今天網球不打了。我得溫習功課! 我們系裡新設立了獎學金，只有成績最好的學生才拿得到!
Larry: The top student? Don’t worry – you’re a shoo-in!
LH: Shoe? In? 你說我鞋子怎麼了？
Larry: No no no. Not the shoes that you put on your feet. Shoo is spelled s-h-o-o. A “shoo-in” is a guaranteed winner.
LH: 哦! shoo-in就是絕對的贏家，肯定得勝的人。你是說，我不用溫習，也肯定能拿到講學金？
Larry: Yea, exactly. Remember when you tried out for that student dance group last year? I knew you were a shoo-in for the team. You’re such a good dancer!
LH: 真的？! 說實話我當時沒多少信心! 能入選學生舞蹈團真是出乎我的意料!
Larry: Well, it looks like my prediction was correct – you eventually made the team, right? You should have more confidence in yourself! You were a shoo-in!
LH: Thanks Larry! 你還記得麼？你找工作的時候，去面試，特別緊張，可我當時就覺得you were a shoo-in，你肯定能被錄取!
Larry: Well, I was hardly a shoo-in for the job. There were a lot of qualified people vying for that position – I was lucky to get it.
LH: 好啦，Larry，不要謙虛啦! 話說回來。這次獎學金競爭激烈，不光要看成績，還要看課外活動和表現，真難啊!
Larry: Lihua, you’re involved with plenty of extracurricular activities. Among your classmates, I’m sure you’re a top dog.
LH: Larry! 你怎麼說我是狗？
Larry: Not a dog – Top dog. “Top dog” means “the best”, you know, “number one.”
LH: 哦? Top dog是第一名，最棒的人？
Larry: Exactly. For instance, my boss is the top dog at my office. Not only does he have the most experience, but he also has the ability to influence the work of his staff. He’s definitely a top dog.
LH: 哦，你說你的老闆是辦公室裡最牛的人，他不僅經驗豐富，而且能影響其他的工作人員。不過，Larry，我可對我的同學沒有甚麼影響力……
Larry: Sure you do. I know plenty of your classmates look up to you. Not only are you a hard worker in class, but you also volunteer as a math tutor for middle school students at the community center, and you’re a member of the school dance team!
LH: 對啊，我學習努力，還當志願者給中學生補課，又是舞蹈團成員。經你這麼一說，我也感覺著自己怪不錯的!
Larry: Haha! But seriously, you are the top dog in your class, and you’re definitely a shoo-in for the scholarship. Just show the scholarship committee how great you are!
LH: 對，Larry. 我現在很有信心，雖然我不敢說I’m a shoo-in for this scholarship, 但是我得獎的機會還是蠻大的!
Larry: I’m glad to hear it! But aren’t you forgetting one more extracurricular activity you can put on your list?
LH: 啊？甚麼活動啊？
Larry: Playing tennis with the top dog of the tennis court – me!
LH: 你呀？你才不是網球的top dog，我自己不是打贏過了你好多次嘛
Larry: Oh, I was just letting you win… come on, let’s go play!
LH: 對不起啊Larry，這個獎學金的事確實比網球更重要。我準備好了獎學金的申請書以後，一定會跟你打網球。我保證!
今天李華學了兩個常用語。一個是shoo-in，意思是「絕對的贏家」。另一個是top dog，意思是「優勝者，最棒的人」。
