北理视听说课听力材料原文

2 Sometimes American English doesn't seem to make sense. Like this:

A: Gloria has a lot of things going on in her life right now.

B: Yes, she does. Her parents are sick. Her car is not working. She's building a new house and she just got a new job.

A: Wow! That's a lot of stress. One more thing and she's going to be a basket case!

Will Gloria really become a container for baskets? I don't think so.

If you experience a lot of stress or try to handle too many things at the same time, your life might become very difficult. The nervous strain or tension might wear you out and leave you with a sense of hopelessness. That's what a basket case means.

3 We have some phrases that sound a little painful, like this one: I am going to bite my tongue.

This does not sound good, like it might hurt. Let's listen again.

A: I couldn't believe that happened!

B: I know. Are you going to say something?

A: No, I am going to bite my tongue.

B: I can't believe you are not going to say something!

In American English, if I say that I'm going to bite my tongue, it means that I won't talk about something. I am going to keep quiet.

This is an informal phrase, not one for business.

I am going to bite my tongue.

6 There are times when something occurs and you might say, "This left

a bad taste in my mouth."

What does this phrase mean?

A bad taste in my mouth.

A: Hey, how was your vacation?

B: It was great. But we had all of money stolen from our hotel room.

A: Oh, I am sorry to hear that.

B: I konw, the whole thing left a really bad taste in my mouth.

If something leaves you with a bad taste in your mouth, you feel there is something wrong about the situation. It gives you an unpleasant feeling or memory.

Of course, you also can eat something that literally leaves a bad taste in your mouth.

Either way, if something leaves a bad taste in your mouth, it isn't good.

9 You probably have heard someone say: Break a leg.

Dont't worry. She isn't going to break someone's leg. This is an expression that means good luck! Let's listen to a conversation to find out.

A: I'm so nervous. Tonight is the first night of the play.

B: Is it? Well, go out there and break a leg!

This phrase began as a way to wish actors good luck. Theater people said that if they wished each other something bad, good might happen. So when you hear "break a leg," it's really means "do well." Also, it can mean to work really hard at something.

And that's English in a Minute.