VOA常速英语:Obama Takes Debt Argument to Public

短语讲解：

1. President Obama held a public forum at the University of Maryland Friday, at which he said it would not be acceptable for the government to default on its obligations.

default on拖欠…

例句：He defaulted on his payments for support of the child.

他拖欠孩子的抚养费。

2. The United States of America does not run out without paying the tab.

run out用完, 耗尽

例句：Our food soon ran out.

我们的粮食很快就吃完了。

3. If lawmakers do not raise that limit, the U.S. could begin running short of money on August 2.

run short缺乏, 不够

例句：Our money is running short.

我们的钱快用完了。

4. He said the richest Americans must be asked to give up some of their tax breaks.

give up放弃; 认输

例句：She will give up this journey.

她将放弃这次旅行。

5. Obama and the Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives, John Boehner, are reported to be working on a deal which could cut the deficit by about $3 trillion. 

work on致力于…

例句：He has been working on a new novel for over a year now.

近一年多来, 他一直在写一部新小说。

6. Both sides deny that an agreement has been reached, and Boehner repeated emphatically Friday that a deal is not in sight.

in sight被看到，在望

例句：Peace is now in sight.

和平在望。

7. There was no agreement, publicly, privately, never an agreement, and frankly, not close to an agreement.

close to离…近

例句：It is close to fact.

这更接近于事实。

8. Top Senate Democrat Harry Reid called the bill a waste of time.

a waste of浪费…

例句：I think making friends online is a waste of time

我认为网上交友是在浪费时间。