今天Larry和李华要到体育馆去和几个朋友打篮球。李华会学到两个常用语:stick to something和give something a shot.
(Ambience sound in gym)
LL: Hey, Li Hua, are you looking forward to today's game?
LH: 嗨,其实我的篮球打得不怎么样。我倒想试试其他的运动。
LL: You'll get better. You've only been playing basketball for a few weeks. You have to stick to something if you want to become good at it.
LH: 对,我才打了几个星期的篮球!可是你怎么说要我stick to something. Stick不是黏的意思?这跟打篮球有什么关系啊?
LL: To "stick to something" means that you continue to do it and don't give up.
LH: 噢!我懂了,stick to something就是坚持不懈,继续做某件事。那不就像我们中文里说的"持之以恒"嘛!你的意思是,要是我想打好篮球,就得不断地练习咯!
LL: That's right. You've stuck to practicing English for a long time, and now your English is much better. Right?
LH: 你说的对,我学英文倒是尽量的多说,不断地练习。对了,Larry, 那stick to something除了运动,学语言,我还可以用在哪些地方呢?
LL: Well, a person can stick to a decision, too. If I decide to learn Chinese, and I stick to my decision, that means I don't change my mind or give up.
LH: 噢,如果一个人坚持自己的决定,也可以说stick to one's decision。那一个立场不坚定,经常flip-flop的人可就不能这么说咯!
LL: That's right. Very good use of the term flip-flop, by the way.