VOA流行美語 Unit 232:spaced和in a jiffy
Larry說好開車來接李華去藝術館，可是李華等了他好久也不見他來。李華今天會學到兩個常用語 spaced和in a jiffy。
(Phone rings)
LH: Hello?
LL: Hi, Li Hua, This is Larry. I am so sorry I am late. I completely spaced that we were going to the museum today.
LH: You spaced going to the museum? 我們要去藝術館不是航空館，跟space沒有關係!
LL: By "spaced" I meant I completely forgot. Again, I'm really sorry.
LH: 你怎麼全忘了呢？我們不是一直說要去看畫展嗎？
LL: I know, Li Hua. I can't explain how I spaced it. I got busy doing little things at home like laundry and cleaning the kitchen.
LH: 什麼？你在忙着洗衣服和打掃廚房？平時不見你幹活，怎麼今天這麼勤快呢？不過彆着急， Larry誰都有忘記的時候，包括我在內。
LL: I can't believe it, Li Hua. You are so well organized. I can't imagine you spacing anything.
LH: 我今年就忘了給我母親寄生日賀卡。 I completely spaced it!
LL: You spaced sending your own mother a birthday card?!
LH: 是啊，真不好意思。 那幾天我忙着改學生的作業，把寄卡的事忘得一乾二淨。Completely spaced it!
LL: Well, that makes me feel a little better about spacing today's trip to the museum.
LH: Larry, 你忘了沒關係，現在還來的及。我們還有時間去看展覽。
LL: Really? I thought I had the pamphlet for the museum with its closing time, but I seem to have spaced where I put it。
LH: 博物館的小冊子也不知道放在哪裏了？你今天怎麼了？得了，我上網去查吧！ 讓我看看...有了，網站上說他們6點關門。
LL: OK, if I don't space anything else, we should have plenty of time to see the exhibit and maybe get some dinner afterwards.
LH: Larry, 千萬別忘了把門票帶上。Don't space bringing the tickets for the exhibit. 沒有票我們就慘了。
LL: Don't worry Li Hua, I won't space the tickets. I've got them right in my pocket. I'll be over soon. Bye! (hangs up)
******
LL: See, I told you I'd be over in a jiffy!
LH: In a jiffy? 你是說很快就到了，是嗎？
LL: Exactly, Li Hua. In a jiffy means a very short amount of time.
LH: 對了，你平時要花一刻鐘才能到我這裏，今天怎麼十分鐘不到就到了呢？ You did make it here in a jiffy.
LL: I tried very hard to get over here in a jiffy, because I felt so bad about spacing our trip to the museum today.
LH: 別再想忘了去參觀的事了。我們得馬上出發， 不然就沒有時間看畫展了。 We better get there in a jiffy.
LL: Oh, it won't take long to get there, Li Hua. The museum isn't far. I promise we will be there in a jiffy. Are you ready to go?
LH: 我去拿一下大衣和錢包， 馬上就準備好。
LL: While you are getting your coat and purse, I'll check the directions to the museum on the Internet. (computer clicking sounds)
LH: Okay, 我去拿大衣。你在網上查查去博物館的路線。
LL: The web page isn't coming up. Usually web pages come up in a jiffy.
LH: 是啊，平時網頁一點就開，今天真奇怪。 Larry，我們沒有時間了， 還是趕快上車吧。
LL: Li Hua, I didn't have lunch because I rushed to get over here. Do you mind if I fix myself a sandwich real quick? I can make one in a jiffy.
LH: Oh, Larry， 實在抱歉，我不知道你還沒有吃午飯。你趕快去作sandwich吧，我在這裏等你。不過要快噢。Please do it in a jiffy!
LL: I will, and I promise I will also eat it in a jiffy, too!
今天李華學到了兩個常用語。一個是spaced, 意思是忘了。還有一個是in a jiffy意思是馬上、立刻。
