李华和Larry正在看世界杯足球赛。今天我们要学两个常用语：a long shot和to catch a break
LH: Larry, 世界杯终于开始了! 你觉得谁会得冠军？美国队有戏没有？
Larry: I don't think so, Lihua. The U.S. usually doesn't have one of the best teams.
LH: 哎，你怎么这么没信心? 美国队虽然不是夺冠热门，但也是有机会的啊！
L: Well I guess it's possible, but the U.S. is definitely a long shot.
LH: A long shot? 这是什么意思？
L: You can say that something is a long shot when it isn't very likely.
LH: 哦，a long shot就是可能性很低的事情。你觉得虽然从理论上说，美国对和其它所有球队一样，都有夺冠的机会，但真论起实力来，美国队拿冠军的可能性就很低了。
L: Right! Here's another example. Carolyn's dream has always been to move to Hollywood and become a famous movie star, but that's definitely a long shot.
LH: 没错，当电影明星可没那么容易。所以Larry, 你以前踢过足球么？
L: Sure, lots of Americans play soccer when they are kids. I dreamed of becoming a professional player, but I always knew that was a long shot.
LH: 你说得没错，咱们可不能给人生设置一堆不现实的目标! 话说回来，Larry, 你觉得到底谁能捧走今年的大力神杯呢？
L: Well, Brazil always has a really talented team. I'm sure that they have a good shot this year.
LH: a good shot？ 这是不是和a long shot相反，表示“很有可能的事情”？
L: Exactly. For another example, I could say that my friend Edmund has been doing really well at his job lately, so he has a good shot at getting promotion soon.
LH: 真的？你觉得他很可能会升职？能升多高？会不会成为公司副总？
L: No, I don't think he will get that good of a promotion. Vice president is definitely a long shot.
LH: 原来如此。 Larry, 我们还是好好看球吧。对了，美国第一场和谁踢啊？
L: Our first game is against England, who are supposed to be very good.
LH: 英国可是强队! 美国队要踢赢英国队恐怕也是a long shot喽!
L: Well, we will have to watch and find out!
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LH: Larry，这场比赛踢得真棒！ 双方最后1比1平！
L: Yeah, this is a really close game. But you know, the U.S. is pretty lucky that they're not losing.
LH: 没错。 美国本来0比1落后，可是英国大门失误，让美国队逮着机会，攻进一球。
L: Yeah, the American team definitely caught a break with that goal.
LH: The US team caught a break? 这是什么意思？
L: When something lucky happens for you, you can say that you caught a break.
LH: 哦，to catch a break就是交了好运气，捡了便宜！英国守门员犯了个低级错误，给美国队送分，所以美国队真是幸运!
L: Right. For another example, I could say that my friend Carolyn has been having a hard time becoming an actress in Hollywood, and is waiting to catch a break.
LH: 我明白了，Carolyn想当明星，可一直红不起来，不过她没有放弃，还在等待交好运的那一天。
L: You got it. So Lihua, do you want to watch the USA game against Slovenia with me on Friday?
LH: Larry, 星期五我要上班啊! 我可不能专门请一整天假陪你看球。我老板会疯掉的!
L: Hmm ... good point. Well maybe we will catch a break and your boss will be sick that day.
LH: 咒我老板生病？你可够坏的。 对了，难道你真打算每天看世界杯么？你不用上班啦？
L: Well I was trying to figure out that problem too. But then I caught a break when it turned out my boss loves soccer, and brought a TV into our office.
LH: 你老板也是球迷，所以把电视搬进办公室，让大家一起看比赛？！哇，太让人羡慕了。那礼拜五美国对斯洛文尼亚那场比赛，你觉得美国会赢么？
L: Yeah the U.S. is a better team. But you never know, Slovenia might catch a break and win the match.
LH: 说得对，美国今天踢平英国不就是因为catch a break - 交了好运么？
L: Yeah, that's a pretty good result for the U.S., given that they were a long shot to win.
LH: 那就希望美国队的运气能一直好下去喽！
今天李华学了两个常用语。一个是 a long shot, 表示可能性很低的事情。另一个是to catch a break, 意思是交了好运。