英语口语练习小对话 第842期:开空头支票
Subject : I think they are just dangling a carrot in front of us.
第一, 迷你对话
A: I heard that housing prices will drop in the near future.
我听说不久房价会跌下来。
B: I think they are just dangling a carrot in front of us.
我觉得这只不过在我们面前说空话。
第二, 地道表达
dangle a carrot
1. 解词释义
Dangle a carrot中的dangle意为“使摇晃着悬挂”,carrot是指“胡萝卜”,其字面意思是“是胡萝卜摇晃着悬挂着”,比喻为“开空头支票”“以实现不了的诺言诱惑”。用来指一个人承诺了一件事情,可是让其他人觉得他无法做到。俚语词典解释道:To dangle a carrot in front of someone means to tempt someone with an item that is not attainable.
2. 拓展范例
e.g. My boss promised me a raise but I know he is just dangling a carrot in front of me.
老板许诺要给我加薪,可我知道他是在开空头支票。
e.g. Dad is trying to persuade Jim by dangling the carrot of higher allowance.
爸爸以增加零用钱为饵企图说服吉姆。
e.g. The boss told me lf I perform well on the job; we’ll talk about a salary increase next year. But I think he's just dangling a carrot in front of me.
老板告诉我,如果我工作表现出色,明年加工资就有商量了。但我想他这不过是开了一张空头支票。
第三, 咬文嚼字
1. in the near future:在不久的将来
e.g. She would miss the company of men in the near future.
在最近的将来,她没有机会和男人接触。
e.g. I believe man will conquer the weather in the near future.
我相信人类在不久的将来将征服天候。
2. in front of sb.:在某人面前,当着某人的面
e.g. He enjoys posturing in front of an audience.
他喜欢在观众面前装腔作势。
e.g. The good harvest scene emerges in front of us.
丰收景象在我们面前展现出来。
3. housing prices是指“房价”。口头上经常说“房价跌了。”就可以这样说:The housing prices is dropping.