VOA流行美語 Unit 375:拿定主意&量入爲出,不過度消費
Larry在和李華商量去什麼地方渡假。他們會用到兩個常用語：make up your mind和live within your means。
Larry: Lihua, do you want to go to Toronto? I did a little research and found some really cool tours and -
LH: Larry, 我不是很想去多倫多，我想去個有熱帶風情的地方。
Larry: Tropical?
LH: 沒錯!你說加勒比海怎麼樣？
Larry: The Caribbean? Wow, that is very tropical... actually, I know someone who went there last summer, let me give him a call -
LH: 不過! 我又非常想去泰國，那裏的水果和美食太誘人了!
Larry: What?? Thailand? Make up your mind, Lihua!
LH: Make up? 化妝？你在說什麼啊？
Larry: No, not the make-up you put on your face. To "make up your mind" means to make a choice and stick to it.
LH: 哦，to make up your mind就是拿定主意。
Larry: Yea. For example, it often takes you a long time to make up your mind when it comes to what to wear when we go out.
LH: 這倒是。出門前我總是不能決定穿哪身衣服。
Larry: And what about your friend at school that couldn't decide which class she wanted to take?
LH: 沒錯。那個同學特別愛學習，什麼課都想選，可是一學期的時間只有那麼多，選修課的數量是有限的。 I wish she would make up her mind!我希望她能快點作出決定。
Larry: Yea, exactly. Indecisive people can sure be annoying cially when they cause others to waste time...
LH: Larry，你說的indecisive people - 猶豫不決的人，是在說我吧？我也很想定下旅行的目的地，可是...真的是有太多好玩的地方，我實在拿不定主意!
Larry: What about money? We can drive to Toronto. Thailand would be extremely expensive. Airfare alone would cost us a couple thousand dollars. We do have to live within our means, after all.
LH: 你說的live within our means，是什麼意思？
Larry: The phrase "living within your means" means to live within the limits of your financial situation. Or, in other words, not spending more money than you can afford to spend.
LH: 哦，to live within your means就是量入爲出，不過度消費。
Larry: That's right. And if we are to live within our means, we certainly cannot afford a vacation in Thailand!
LH: 你是說，從我們的經濟情況考慮，去泰國花銷太高，我們承受不了？可是你工作這麼久，不是已經攢些錢了麼？
Larry: Not that much money! I'm just an entry-level worker. It will take some years of saving up money before I can afford things like tropical vacations.
LH: 啊？還得再攢好幾年才能來個熱帶風情之旅？唉，Larry, 這隻能怪你平時不知節省。你看，你老去外面飯館吃飯，比在家裏吃貴多了!
Larry: So... if I were living within my means, we'd have enough money for a nice vacation?
LH: 對啊!如果你平時消費節制，我們現在就能去泰國了!
Larry: But, Lihua, I just don't have time to cook. And plus, I'm not that good at it! And there are things about your spending habits that could change, too - like cutting out some of your shopping. That would definitely help you live within your means.
LH: 啊？你讓我也減少支出，少買東西多存錢？這個嘛...
Larry: Make up your mind, Lihua. Do you want to save money or not?
LH: 那好吧，我下決心存錢 (不情願的口氣)。
Larry: Don't sound so depressed, Lihua. We can still go on vacation this year and still be living within our means. We just need to find a place closer to home. But first, let's make up our mind on where we want to go.
LH: 好吧! 希望我們真能做到即能愉快旅行又不讓荷包大出血! 不過，我不想去多倫多，我想去海邊!
Larry: How about South Carolina? It will take awhile to get there, but we could drive.
LH: 南卡羅萊納？有美麗的沙灘麼？
Larry: Absolutely.
LH: 那....貴麼？
Larry: We would still be living within our means if we go there. What do you think?
LH: 是嗎？我們能承受得起旅行的花費？讓我想想，讓我想想....對了! Larry, 我忽然想到，如果我們去海邊，我肯定要花很多錢買漂亮的游泳衣、太陽鏡、裙子什麼的。算了，要不還是去多倫多吧!
Larry: Make up your mind, Lihua!
今天李華學了兩個常用語。一個是to make up one's mind，意思是“拿定主意”。另一個是to live within one's means，意思是“量入爲出，不過度消費”。
