【大紀元2010年12月23日訊】Larry和李華一起過美國獨立日。今天我們要學兩個常用語：go all out 和give someone some pointers。
LH: Larry，看你這身打扮，紅上衣，白短褲，藍襪子，再加上這頂美國國旗圖案的帽子，你簡直就是一面大星條旗！
L: Thanks, Lihua. You know that it’s Independence Day, so I wanted to dress up for the occasion.
LH: 你還在臉上畫了一面國旗？！這是不是有點過頭了？
L: Well Lihua, I just love the Fourth of July, so I wanted to go all out.
LH: go out? 出去玩就出去玩吧，幹嘛還要go ALL out? 這是甚麼意思？
L: When you go all out, you make the biggest effort possible.
LH: 哦，go all out就是全力以赴的意思。你是說，你特別喜歡7月4號獨立日，所以一到這一天，你就要加勁兒地打扮！
L: Right! Here is another example. There is a really important project due for work this Friday, so everyone at the office is going all out this week.
LH: 哦，你們公司這星期五必須做完一個非常重要的項目，所以同事們這個禮拜都開足馬力工作！對了，Larry, 今天晚上是不是能看到煙火表演啊？
L: Yeah, usually the fireworks are really good. Washington DC really goes all out for the fireworks show.
LH: 對，每年獨立日，首都華盛頓都會傾盡全力辦一場大型煙火表演！
LH: 那Larry, 美國人在獨立紀念日這一天，都喜歡做些甚麼呢？
L: Most people like to barbeque on Independence Day.
LH: 燒烤？我喜歡！我們今天也要去燒烤麼？
L: Oh yeah, we’re going all out. I bought so much delicious food that it’s going to take us a week to finish it all!
LH: 太好了，咱們要甩開腮幫子大吃一頓！等等，咱們沒有燒烤架啊!
L: No problem, I went to the store yesterday and got a fancy new grill.
LH: 你專門買了一個燒烤架？
L: Yeah, I went all out and bought the nicest grill they had.
LH: 你這次荷包大出血，買了最棒的燒烤架？ 太好了！咱們現在就開始準備烤肉吧！
L: Sounds good!
******
晚上，Larry和李華一起來到華盛頓市中心，觀看煙火表演。
LH: Larry, 這煙火挺漂亮的。不過，我總覺得自己去放花更過癮！
L: I guess that’s true, but it’s dangerous.
LH: Larry， 你別怕，我可是放花的專家！明年咱們不來這裡看了，自己在後院放！
L: Well alright. If you’re really a fireworks expert, next year we can do them at home and you can give me some pointers.
LH: I can give you some pointers? 這是甚麼意思？
L: When you give someone some pointers, you give him or her small pieces of advice.
LH: 哦，give someone some pointers就是給人出些點子。你是說，明年咱們自己放花時，讓我教教你。
L: Exactly! Here is another example. Eric really wanted to join the soccer team at school, so he found a coach to give him some pointers before the tryouts.
LH: Eric想加入學校足球隊，所以在參加選拔之前，找了一個教練，指點指點他。 Larry, 我有點餓了。
L: Should we go to a restaurant?
LH: 不用了。你看，那邊不是有個賣熱狗的攤子麼？咱們去買個熱狗吧！
L: Let me give you a pointer, Lihua. Never eat street vendor food!
LH: 這倒是，街邊的東西可能不乾淨。咱們還是坐地鐵去個正經飯館吃吧。
L: Here’s another pointer for you, Lihua. The metro will be really crowded tonight, so it will actually be faster to walk to the restaurant.
LH: 對，今天這麼多人來看煙火，地鐵上肯定擠死了。
L: But Lihua, how can you possibly be hungry after we went all out on that barbeque just a few hours ago.
LH: Larry, I’m going to give you a quick pointer: 不要小看我的飯量!
今天李華學了兩個常用語。一個是go all out表示全力以赴。另一是give someone some pointers, 意思是出點子。
