LL: Actually, this guy is a big shot because he's an American who lived in China for thirty years after the revolution, and got to know some of the leaders of China personally.
LL: Well, the president of our university and some other big shots from the city government are good friends of his. They invited him to come here and give a lecture.
LL: Oh yeah, I heard that he's working for a big shot lawyer now. I'm really happy to see him doing so well after graduation.
LH: 我希望那家大律师事务所能好好待他。有时候,为这些大人物工作,未必是件好差事。
LL: Yeah, I guess so. Still, it's better to work for a big shot lawyer than to be a waiter at a coffee house. A lot of us history majors end up doing jobs like that after graduation.
LH: 话是不错,给大律师工作总比在咖啡馆当服务员好。可是,历史专业的毕业生也不见得都到餐馆去当服务员。我将来就要争取成为一个有名的教授, a big shot professor!
LL: That's good to hear. Just be sure you don't forget about me after you become a big shot!
******
LH: 嘿!Larry, 昨晚我去听演讲,怎么没看见你呢?那位教授讲得很有意思!
LL: Well, that's good to hear. I couldn't make it because some idiot crashed his car into mine last night on the way over here. I'm still pretty bent out of shape about it.
LH: 什么!你昨晚出车祸啦?Bent out of shape? 你是不是受伤了?
LL: I'm fine! (chuckles) I said I am bent out of shape. That means I am very angry and upset about the accident last night, even though it wasn't very serious.
LH: 噢!原来你是为了车子被撞而生气。Bent out of shape就是生气,发火的意思。嗨,没受伤就好,车子坏了有保险公司,别生气啦?
LL: But I'm bent out of shape because the other guy was really rude. I had the right of way at a stop sign, but he drove through the intersection first and bumped into my car. Then he started yelling at me for not letting him go first!
LH: 哼,他不守交通规则,抢先过了马路撞上你的车,还对你大声嚷嚷?怪不得你要气坏了呢!
LL: (Angry) That guy is an idiot! Otherwise, I wouldn't get so bent out of shape. Let's talk about something else. What about the lecture?