VOA流行美語 Unit 275:mean streak和soft spot
李華和Larry一起去騎馬。李華今天要學兩個常用語，mean streak和soft spot.
LL: If this is your first time riding a horse, Li Hua, I think you shouldn't ride that black one over there. That horse looks like he's got a mean streak.
LH: A mean streak? 你說那匹黑馬嗎？如果我沒理解錯， mean streak就是mean, 壞脾氣的意思吧。
LL: That's exactly what I am saying, Li Hua. A mean streak is the potential for meanness.
LH: 那如果馬的脾氣太烈，會傷害騎手嗎？
LL: A horse with a mean streak might refuse to let a rider get on - or even worse might try to throw a rider off their back.
LH: 我在電影裏看過，有的馬性情暴躁，會把騎手從馬背上摔下來，看來真得小心。那匹灰色的小馬看着挺隨和的。那我就騎它吧。It can't possibly have a mean streak.
LL: You know, Li Hua, it isn't only horses that can have mean streaks. People can, too.
LH: Mean streak也能用在人身上？
LL: Do you remember the super model Naomi Campbell? She was in the news for throwing her cell phone at her housekeeper.
LH: 我記得，那個英國名模，我們叫他黑珍珠，她還有一次因爲行李丟了，大發雷霆，還動手打了警察呢！
LL: That super model reminds me of a famous basketball coach in the U.S. who also had a mean streak.
LH: 籃球教練？你說誰？
LL: The former coach of the Indiana University basketball team Bobby Knight was famous for his mean streak.
LH: 我知道印第安納大學校隊很厲害，可是沒聽說過他們教練的故事。那你趕快告訴我！
LL: There was one time he got so mad, Li Hua, he threw a chair out on the basketball court during a game!
LH: 他竟然在比賽的時候把椅子扔到賽場上？太暴躁了！Boy, that coach really did have a mean streak.
LL: Well, it is time to get on our horses, Li Hua. You can take the nice gray horse, and I'll try the black one with the mean streak.
LH: 小心點，Larry.
LL: Don't worry, Li Hua. I'll show that horse who is boss! I have a mean streak, too!
******
LL: So, now that we have been riding for a while, Li Hua, I don't think this black horse is so bad. I am actually developing a soft spot for him.
LH: A soft spot? 什麼是soft spot啊？
LL: A soft spot is a feeling of tenderness or affection for a person or thing.
LH: 你不會是喜歡上這匹黑馬了吧？你忘了，剛纔它還對你又踢又咬呢！
LL: I know it may seem funny, but, yes, even though this horse tried to bite me and throw me off his back, I do have a soft spot for him.
LH: 這麼烈的馬，你怎麼會喜歡呢？真搞不清楚！
LL: Well, ever since I showed him I was in control, he's been very good. And he's a handsome horse, too. It's hard to explain, but sometimes you end up having a soft spot for a thing or a person that isn't perfect.
LH: 我有點兒明白了。像是我中文班裏有幾個特別好的學生，可是不知道爲什麼，反而是一個學得不怎麼樣的孩子最讓我掛心。
LL: So, why do you have a soft spot for this particular student, Li Hua?
LH: 人跟人不一樣，有人就是不擅長學語言，那個學生髮音不夠標準，而且總也記不住中文方塊字的模樣。
LL: This person doesn't sound like the kind of person I'd have a soft spot for if I were a teacher, Li Hua.
LH: 他雖然不是個天才型的學生，可是每天上課都特別努力。我想喜歡他，大概是因爲希望他能學好吧。
LL: You are such a dedicated teacher, Li Hua. I know there are students who have a soft spot for you.
LH: 那可不一定，我那些學生肯定覺得我很厲害。
LL: Oh, I don't believe that. Say, why don't we ride back to the ranch now, Li Hua. I'm getting a little thirsty and could use a drink.
LH: 好啊。哎？我的馬怎麼不走了？
LL: It looks like your horse is hungry, Li Hua. He apparently has a soft spot for that clump of flowers!
LH: 這下可慘了，誰它要吃到什麼時候。
今天李華學到了兩個常用語。一個是mean streak, 指壞脾氣。另一個是soft spot, 指爲什麼事情動心。
