英語口語練習小對話 第27期:心裏沒有着落
習語：
at loose ends
關於該習語的來源說法不一，但是根據《現代英語詞源詞典》的解釋，它來自馬兒辛苦地幹完活後被放開套索去牧場吃草的做法。總之，該習語比喻“無所適從，無所事事”或“悠閒的狀態”。在美國習語中，該習語的表達方式一般是爲at a loose end。例如：Come and see us if you are at a loose end.（閒着的時候來我們這兒坐坐。）但是在口語中，該習語也被引申爲“心理沒有着落”。
支持範例：
old people feel at loose ends after their retirement.
許多老年人在退休後心裏面沒有着落.
e the girl left, he seems to be at loose ends.
自從姑娘離開後，他好像神魂不定。
r spent more than two years wandering about the country at loose ends.
兩年多的時間，彼得在國內東遊西蕩，無所事事。
迷你對話：
A :I understand your feeling. When someone is feeling at loose ends, we may show mercy on him. This is what we call the "milk of human kindness".
A :我能理解你的感受。當一個人心理沒有着落的時候，我們就會對他憐憫有加。這就是我們通常說的“人之初，性本善。”
B :That's right. But feeling sorry for someone is one thing, and sticking to our principles is another. We must make a clear cut between them.
B :說對了。但是同情人是一回事，堅持原則又是另一回是。我們必需明確區分二者。
A :You've take the words out of my mouth.
A :這正是我想說的。
詞海拾貝：
milk of human kindness：人之初，性本善；天性善良
was a most generous woman, overflowing with the milk of human kindness.
她是一位非常厚道的女人, 充滿惻隱之心。
beamed, she seemed fairly to drip with the milk of human kindness.
她微笑着，簡直就像是拋灑天生的善心。
Eg a man full of the milk of human kindness could have continued to be friend the proud and obstinate young man.
只有天性善良的人才會和這個性情高傲脾氣倔強的年輕人繼續交往。
how mercy on sb：憐憫某人；對某人表示同情或憐憫
Eg.I will show no mercy to [on] him.
我決不對他行善。
, please show mercy on this little girl. how poor she is!
先生，開開恩吧。你看這個小女孩多可憐啊！
feel sorry for sb：同情某人，對......感到難受，可惜
Eg .I feel sorry for whoever marries him!
誰嫁給他我都替她感到惋惜。
Eg .I do feel sorry for him.
我真爲他難過。
Eg .I feel sorry for anyone who has to drive in this sort of weather.
我很同情在這種天氣還得開車的人。
clear-cut：明確的
has made a clear-cut answer.
他已做了一個明確的答覆。
question is very complicated and I'm afraid I cannot yet give you a clear - cut answer.
這個問題非常複雜，我恐怕現在還不能給你明確的答覆。
take the words out of one's mouth：搶先說出某人要說的話
Eg t ! You take the words out of my mouth, I have set my mind on this one "Oil of Moisture Protection Creme".
這正是我想說的。我決定買玉蘭油。
特別說明：該節目中的迷你對話選自《脫口說英語》之口語習語大全，講解部分爲恆星編輯原創。
