英語口語練習小對話 第842期:開空頭支票

Subject : I think they are just dangling a carrot in front of us.

第一， 迷你對話

A: I heard that housing prices will drop in the near future.

我聽說不久房價會跌下來。

B: I think they are just dangling a carrot in front of us.

我覺得這只不過在我們面前說空話。

第二， 地道表達

dangle a carrot

1. 解詞釋義

Dangle a carrot中的dangle意爲“使搖晃着懸掛”，carrot是指“胡蘿蔔”，其字面意思是“是胡蘿蔔搖晃着懸掛着”，比喻爲“開空頭支票”“以實現不了的諾言誘惑”。用來指一個人承諾了一件事情，可是讓其他人覺得他無法做到。俚語詞典解釋道：To dangle a carrot in front of someone means to tempt someone with an item that is not attainable.

2. 拓展範例

e.g. My boss promised me a raise but I know he is just dangling a carrot in front of me.

老闆許諾要給我加薪，可我知道他是在開空頭支票。

e.g. Dad is trying to persuade Jim by dangling the carrot of higher allowance.

爸爸以增加零用錢爲餌企圖說服吉姆。

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.

老闆告訴我，如果我工作表現出色，明年加工資就有商量了。但我想他這不過是開了一張空頭支票。

第三， 咬文嚼字

1. in the near future：在不久的將來

e.g. She would miss the company of men in the near future.

在最近的將來，她沒有機會和男人接觸。

e.g. I believe man will conquer the weather in the near future.

我相信人類在不久的將來將征服天候。

2. in front of sb.：在某人面前，當着某人的面

e.g. He enjoys posturing in front of an audience.

他喜歡在觀衆面前裝腔作勢。

e.g. The good harvest scene emerges in front of us.

豐收景象在我們面前展現出來。

3. housing prices是指“房價”。口頭上經常說“房價跌了。”就可以這樣說：The housing prices is dropping.