VOA流行美語 Unit 247:primo和glued

Larry有兩張歌劇的票，邀請李華一起去。李華今天要學兩個常用語，primo和glued。

LL: Hey, Li Hua, I've got two primo tickets to the opera. Would you like to come with me?

LH: 歌劇？好啊。不過Larry, 什麼是primo ticket ? Primo聽起來不太象英語，是外來語吧？

LL: You are right, Li Hua. Primo is an Italian word that means "number one" or "first-class."

LH: 噢，primo是意大利語，意思是最好的，最棒的。

LL: When I said I had primo tickets to the opera, I meant I had very, very good seats.

LH：既然你有最好的票，那我們一定有primo seats, 最好的座位了！

LL: Yes, we do have primo seats. The tickets are for two seats right in front of the center-stage.

LH: 前排最中間，真是太好了，我們一定能看得特別清楚。對了，我們看的是哪一部歌劇啊？

LL: It is Verdi's Aida. Since it is an opera in Italian, I guess it is appropriate to say it will be a "primo" experience.

LH: 我聽說過，威爾第的《阿依達》是一部很有名的意大利歌劇，但是我從來沒看過。

LL: Yes, Aida is a very famous opera, and I know you will enjoy it. I've also heard the tenor has a primo voice.

LH: Larry, 這兩張primo tickets會不會很貴啊。

LL: Actually, no. I got a primo deal on the tickets. My friend bought season tickets to the orchestra, but couldn't make this performance. He sold them to me for half price.

LH: 原來是你朋友買的季票，但是正好不能去，所以半價賣給你。That is a primo deal!

LL: And I was thinking before the opera, we could have dinner. I know a primo little Italian restaurant near the opera house.

LH: 意大利飯，太棒了！我最喜歡吃意大利飯了。

LL: I think you will find the food at this place is primo - Some of the best in New York City.

LH: 現在只有一個問題，Larry. I don't have any primo clothes to wear! 週末先得去買一身正式點兒的衣服。

******

(After the opera)

LL: Wasn't the opera amazing! I was glued to my seat the whole time.

LH: 什麼？讓我看看，你褲子上沒有膠水兒啊，你怎麼會一直粘在椅子上呢？

LL: I don't actually have glue on my pants, Li Hua. When I said I was glued to my seat, I meant I was so fascinated by the opera I didn't want to get up.

LH: 噢，我明白了，你是說歌劇太精彩了，你聽得全神貫注。確實沒錯，特別是那個男高音，唱得簡直太棒了。I was glued to my seat, too.

LL: It reminds me of this lecture about China I went to not long ago. The professor who spoke was very entertaining and charismatic.

LH: 你是說那個教授講得太吸引人了，大家都坐在椅子上一動不動，聽得聚精會神？

LL: Actually, not only was I glued to my seat, I was glued to his every word.

LH: 每個字？能讓你這樣的學生把他的每個字都聽進去，這個教授一定很棒。

LL: He was really good, and he had a lot of interesting things to say about life in China today. What about you, Li Hua? What keeps you glued to your seat?

LH: 我最近正在看一部韓劇《朱蒙》，劇情太吸引人了，我一集接一集地看，根本放不下。I am glued to the TV set for hours.

LL: If you are glued to your television for hours, you have really become an American, Li Hua!

LH: 你爲什麼這麼說呀？

LL: I think statistics show Americans on average are glued to their television sets for nineteen hours a week.

LH: 我簡直不敢相信，美國人每星期要看十九個小時的電視，我可能連九個小時都看不了。跟看電視比起來，我更喜歡看書。

LL: Are you reading anything good right now?

LH: 我最近正在看一本暢銷的偵探小說。I have been glued to every page!

今天李華學到了兩個常用語。一個是primo, 意思是最棒的。另一個是glued, 是指被深深吸引，全神貫注的意思。