体育美语031 Pull your punches

YC: Patrick, what are you doing?

P I'm playing Kung Fu video games

Y Kung fu电动游戏多没劲，Let me teach you some real Kung fu moves.

P: You know Yang Chen, I think Kung fu may be the only sport where you have the upper hand on me.

Y: 在Kung Fu master面前，你是不是害怕了?

P: I am not scarred.

Y: Yes, you are.

P: Look, I have lots of experience playing Kung fu video games by myself at home.

Y: Only losers play Kung fu video games by themselves at home

P: Wow, you really don't pull your punches, do you?

Y: What do you mean, pull my punches?

P: When you pull your punches, that means you hit someone only lightly so you don't actually hurt them.

Y: Oh, you mean手下留情。Don't worry.

P: Aw, that is what I was afraid of.

P: That's what I was afraid of. You know, you can use "pull your punches" when you're talking about criticizing people too. For example, I didn't pull any punches when I criticized my boss's new plan to reduce everyone's salary.

Y: Oh, 你敢批评老板? 而且还didn't pull any punches 。勇气可嘉。But I'm worried about you. Do you still have a job?

P: Nope. He got mad and fired me. That's why I'm trying to become a professional Kung fu master for my new career.

Y: Well, 学点儿功夫也好。你可以教训一下你的老板。Maybe he'll hire you back.

P: Yeah, that's the plan.

Y: That's a good plan.

P: Well, let me show you some of the Kung Fu moves I have learned from watching Bruce Lee movies.

That's the worst Kung fu I've ever seen.

P: I can see you're not pulling your punches when you make fun of me!

Y Hey, don't feel bad, at least you can scream even better than Bruce Lee.