The Road Not Taken（点击联接语音）      

   －－Robert Frost

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,          黄色的丛林里分出两条路，

And sorry I could not travel both             可惜我不能同时涉足，

And be one traveler, long I stood             我站在那路口久久伫立，

And looked down one as far as I could         向着一条路极目望去， 

To where it bent in the undergrowth;          直到它隐没在丛林深处。

 

Then took the other, as just as fair,          然而我选择了另一条路，

And having perhaps the better claim,           它荒草萋萋，十分幽静，

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;         显得更诱人，更美丽； 

Though as for that the passing there           虽然那天在这两条小路上

Had worn them really about the same.           都很少留下旅人的足迹

 

And both that morning equally lay               那天清晨落叶满地

In leaves no step had trodden black.            两条路都未经旅人踩印
Oh, I kept the first for another day!           啊，留下一条路等改日再见！

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,            明知路途绵延无尽
I doubted if I should ever come back.           我却怀疑是否应该回到原地

 

I shall be telling this with a sigh          也许多年后在某个地方，

Somewhere ages and ages hence:                  我将轻声叹息将往事回顾；

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—            一片树林里分出两条路——      

I took the one less traveled by,                而我选择了人迹更少的一条，

And that has made all the difference.           从此决定了我一生的道路。

注释:diverge：To go or extend in different directions from a common point;    branch out.分开，叉开：在同一点向不同方向延伸分叉；长出枝条
undergrowth：Low-growing plants, saplings, and shrubs beneath trees in a forest.矮树丛：树林中长在树下的矮小植物，幼苗和灌木
trodden：A past participle of tread ，tread的过去分词To walk on, over, or along.走：在…上走，走过…或沿…走

在dead poetry society 中的体现:

KEATING: I don't know, but I've been told-
BOYS: I don't know, but I've been told-
KEATING: Doing poetry is old-
BOYS: Doing poetry is old-
KEATING: Left, left, left-right-left. Left, left, left-right-left. Left, halt! Thank you, gentlemen. If you noticed, everyone started off with their own stride, their own pace. Mr. Pitts, taking his time . He knew he'll get there one day. Mr. Cameron, you could see him thinking, "Is this right? It might be right. It might be right. I know that. Maybe not. I don't know." Mr. Overstreet, driven by deeper force. Yes. We know that. All right. Now, I didn't bring them up here to ridicule them. I brought them up here to illustrate the point of conformity: the difficulty in maintaining your own beliefs in the face of others. Now, those of you -- I see the look in your eyes like, "I would've walked differently." Well, ask yourselves why you were clapping. Now, we all have a great need for acceptance. But you must trust that your beliefs are unique, your own, even though others may think them odd or unpopular, even though the herd may go, "That's baaaaad." Robert Frost said, "Two roads diverged in a wood and I, I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." I want you to find your own walk right now. Your own way of striding, pacing. Any direction. Anything you want. Whether it's proud, whether it's silly, anything. Gentlemen, the courtyard is yours.
KEATING: You don't have to perform. Just make it for yourself. Mr. Dalton? You'll be joining us?
CHARLIE: Exercising the right not to walk.
KEATING: Thank you, Mr. Dalton. You just illustrated the point. Swim against the stream.

 

 

静夜思--李白           In the Still of the Night--徐忠杰

床前明月光，          I descry bright moonlight in front of my bed.

疑是地上霜。          I suspect it to be hoary frost on the floor.

举头望明月，          I watch the bright moon, as I tilt back my head.

低头思故乡。          I yearn, while stooping, for my homeland more.

评：徐忠杰对李白这诗的翻译属于直译法，虽有欠缺，但也不失为一篇好的翻译作品。全诗押韵abab：bed 中的/d/,floor的/r/,head的/d/,more的/r/;遣词也恰到好处：descry(see or notice something,esp. ccarfully)表达了作者的思念之情之重，tilt(lean),tilt back(lean upwards and backwords仰头)加深了思念之情，more一字虽小但其功能之大，不可忽略。

词语学习：descry(vt.)notice / see                                 

          hoary frost=hoar-frost=hoarfrost霜

          a hoary man:an old man with white hair;

          a hoary joke:a joke has been tokd many times and is no longer funny.

          tilt at sb.:attack sb./sth.in speech / writing批评

          tilt at sth.:try to win sth力争获得某物

          tilt at windmills:庸人自扰，杞人忧天

        

ArticleⅡ,SectionⅠ of the Institutin of the United States

 I do solemnly swear / affirm that I will faithfull execute the Office of President of the United States, and I will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Costitution of the United States. (35 words)

美国俚语（American Slang） [点击更多链接]

· ace
·i.e. He's an ace reporter.
· MEANING: very good

· action
·i.e. Do you know where the action is in this town?
· MEANING: excitement

· airhead
·i.e. My sister's boyfriend is a real airhead.
· MEANING: stupid person

· all wet
·i.e. Your ideas about politics are all wet.
· MEANING: completely wrong

· all-nighter
·i.e. I almost fell asleep during the test after an all-nighter.
· MEANING: after studying all night.

· ammo
·i.e. The gun was useless after the killer ran out of ammo.
· MEANING: ammunition

· antifreeze
·i.e. I really need some antifreeze in me on cold days like this.
· MEANING: liquor

· armpit
·i.e. This town is really an armpit.
· MEANING: undesirable place

· awesome
·i.e. What an awesome sunset.
· MEANING: great

· bad
·i.e. Wow, that was really a bad movie.
· MEANING: intense

· barf
·i.e. He barfed all over the seat of the airplane.
· MEANING: vomitted

· bashed
·i.e. The boat was bashed beyond recognition.
· MEANING: crushed

· beat
·i.e. After working all day I am really beat.
· MEANING: exhausted

· beemer
·i.e. He just bought a new beemer to drive to work in.
· MEANING: B.M.W. car

· bench
·i.e. He was benched during the basketball playoffs.
· MEANING: taken out of the game

· bent
·i.e. It's OK. Don't get so bent.
· MEANING: angry

· bent out of shape
·i.e. Don't get so bent out of shape.
· MEANING: become upset

· big gun
·i.e. The president brought two big guns to the meeting.
· MEANING: powerful people

· big mouth
·i.e. Shut up! You really have a big mouth.
· MEANING: talk too much

· big stink
·i.e. The citizens made a big stink about the new nuclear power station.
· MEANING: big issue

· blade
·i.e. He carried a ten inch blade with him.
· MEANING: knife

· blimp
·i.e. I always seem to have a blimp sitting next to me when I travel.
· MEANING: very fat person

· blow
·i.e. I'm going to blow out of here now.
· MEANING: leave

· blow
·i.e. He blew all his money gambling.
· MEANING: lost

· blow a fuse
·i.e. Hey, don't blow a fuse.
· MEANING: lose your temper.

· blow one's cool
·i.e. Calm down. Don't blow your cool.
· MEANING: become angry

· blown away
·i.e. I was blown away by his donation of a million dollars.
· MEANING: greatly impressed

· bomb
·i.e. The movie was a bomb.
· MEANING: bad

· bombed
·i.e. The driver of the car was bombed.
· MEANING: intoxicated

· bonkers
·i.e. I think I am going bonkers.
· MEANING: crazy

· boo-boo
·i.e. If you make another boo-boo like that, you won't have a job.
· MEANING: mistake

· booze
·i.e. I promised to bring two bottles of booze to the party.
· MEANING: alcohol

· bread
·i.e. I need some bread to pay for my car.
· MEANING: money

· break
·i.e. A lucky break helped him get the job.
· MEANING: opportunity

· break it up
·i.e. Break it up, or I will call the police.
· MEANING: stop

· bring-down
·i.e. The news of the airplane crash was a bring-down.
· MEANING: depressing

· buck
·i.e. Do you have a buck I can borrow?
· MEANING: dollar

· bummed
·i.e. I was really bummed after I heard the news.
· MEANING: depressed

· bummer
·i.e. My trip to New York was a bummer.
· MEANING: bad experience

· bust
·i.e. The whole idea was a bust.
· MEANING: failure

· buy it
·i.e. If you don't slow down, you're going to buy it in a car accident.
· MEANING: die

· call
·i.e. The weatherman made a good call about when the storm would come.
· MEANING: prediction

· can
·i.e. Do you know where the can is?
· MEANING: bathroom

· carb
·i.e. My motorcycle's carb is out of adjustment.
· MEANING: carburetor

· catch some rays
·i.e. I'm going to lie on the beach and catch some rays.
· MEANING: get some sunshine.

· catch some Z's
·i.e. I need to catch some Z's before I go on my trip.
· MEANING: get some sleep

· cheesy
·i.e. That is really a cheesy looking outfit.
· MEANING: cheap

· chicken
·i.e. Don't be a chicken.
· MEANING: coward

· chintzy
·i.e. That really was a chintzy present you got him.
· MEANING: cheap

· chow down
·i.e. I need to find a place to chow down.
· MEANING: eat a lot

· clip
·i.e. Watch out or they will clip you at that bar.
· MEANING: cheat

· clunker
·i.e. I can't go on a date in that clunker.
· MEANING: old car

· cold fish
·i.e. My date for the dance was a cold fish.
· MEANING: dull

· collar
·i.e. I knew they would collar the robber sooner or later.
· MEANING: arrest

· come up for air
·i.e. He has to come up for air or he will die from exhaustion.
· MEANING: take a break

· con
·i.e. Don't try to con me.
· MEANING: deceive

· cool
·i.e. This is a really cool place to work.
· MEANING: good

· cool down
·i.e. Things should cool down in a day or two.
· MEANING: calm down

· cop
·①i.e. How did you get the road sign? I copped it.
· MEANING: robbed
·②i.e. The cop showed me his badge.
· MEANING: policeman

· couch potato
·i.e. He is a couch potato.
· MEANING: lazy person

· crack open a bottle
·i.e. Let's crack open a bottle for his birthday.
· MEANING: open

· cram
·i.e. I need more time to cram for the test.
· MEANING: study hard

·i.e. cream
· Our team creamed them badly.
· MEANING: beat

· croak
·i.e. I feel like I am going to croak.
· MEANING: die

·i.e. cruise
· The skier was cruising down the hill
· MEANING: going very fast

· cuffs
·i.e. He put the cuffs on the killer.
· MEANING: handcuffs

· cushy
·i.e. He has a really cushy job.
· MEANING: easy

· cut
·i.e. Could you cut my whiskey with a little water?
· MEANING: dilute

· cut out
·i.e. It is late. I have to cut out.
· MEANING: leave

· damage
·i.e. Lets get the bill and find out the damage.
· MEANING: cost

· dead
·i.e. This disco is really dead tonight.
· MEANING: quiet

· deck
·i.e. He was decked in the fight.
· MEANING: knocked down

· deep pockets
·i.e. Her boyfriend has deep pockets.
· MEANING: is a good source of money

· dicey
·i.e. Since the weather is a little dicey, I won't go today.
· MEANING: chancy

· dirty
·i.e. I hear that it's a dirty movie.
· MEANING: an obscene

· ditch
·i.e. I'll ditch my younger brother with my grandmother.
· MEANING: leave

· do a snow job on
·i.e. Don't try to do a snow job on me.
· MEANING: deceive

· dope
·i.e. He is such a dope.
· MEANING: stupid person

· dope
·i.e. There are a lot of dope dealers around here.
· MEANING: drug

· dork
·i.e. He is such a dork.
· MEANING: strange person

· dough
·i.e. I need some dough before I can go Christmas shopping.
· MEANING: money

· down
·i.e. Let's go to a bar and down a few beers.
· MEANING: drink quickly

· drag
·i.e. Doing homework on the weekend is a drag.
· MEANING: boring

· dynamite
·i.e. This drink is really dynamite.
· MEANING: powerful; great

· earful
·i.e. My grandmother gave me an earful about the neighborhood.
· MEANING: a lot of gossip

· easy mark
·i.e. The Japanese are an easy mark because they usually carry cash.
· MEANING: likely victims

· eat
·i.e. The problem is really eating away at me.
· MEANING: bothering

· excellent
·i.e. That's excellent man.
· MEANING: fine

· face-off
·i.e. The two sides were headed for a nasty face-off.
· MEANING: confrontation

· far-out
·i.e. This music is really far-out.
· MEANING: great

· fix
·i.e. The addict needs another fix.
· MEANING: dose of drugs

· flaky
·i.e. He is too flaky to do the work.
· MEANING: unreliable

· flashback
·i.e. At the wedding he had a flashback of his old girlfriend.
· MEANING: remembered

· flick
·i.e. I haven't seen a flick in a long time.
· MEANING: movie

· flip out
·i.e. He flipped out when he heard that his mother had been killed.
· MEANING: lost control

· flip side
·i.e. What kind of music do you have on the flip side of the tape?
· MEANING: other side

· fox
·i.e. His older sister is a fox.
· MEANING: very attractive

· foxy
·i.e. She is a foxy lady.
· MEANING: sexy

· freebie
·i.e. The pillow was a freebie
· MEANING: free

· get into something
·i.e. I got into gardening in high school.
· MEANING: became seriously interested in

· get it
·i.e. I listened to the joke twice, but I still don't get it.
· MEANING: understand

· get with it
·i.e. If you don't get with it, we will never finish this work.
· MEANING: hurry up

· gig
·i.e. I have a gig on Saturday night from 7:00 to 10:00.
· MEANING: job

· glitch
·i.e. This computer program has a glitch.
· MEANING: defect

· glitzy
·i.e. This is a pretty glitzy hotel to be staying in.
· MEANING: fashionable

· go
·i.e. Let me have a go at solving the problem.
· MEANING: try

· go bananas
·i.e. I am going to go bananas if I don't have a vacation soon.
· MEANING: go crazy

· go down
·i.e. What is going down?
· MEANING: happening

· goof
·i.e. I am really a goof at times.
· MEANING: fool

· goof up
·i.e. I really goofed up when I painted my room green.
· MEANING: made a serious mistake

· goofy
·i.e. You are always acting goofy these days.
· MEANING: silly

· gourd
·i.e. Use your gourd to figure out what is happening.
· MEANING: head

· grand
·i.e. His salary is twenty grand.
· MEANING: thousand dollars

· grass
·i.e. Lots of students smoke grass in the dormitory.
· MEANING: marijuana

· gravy
·i.e. This job is pure gravy.
· MEANING: easy money

· groovy
·i.e. This music is groovy.
· MEANING: pleasant

· gross
·i.e. Picking your nose is really a gross habit.
· MEANING: disgusting

· gross-out
·i.e. The party was a gross-out.
· MEANING: digusting time

· grub
·i.e. Where is the best place to get some grub around here?
· MEANING: food

· grubby
·i.e. Those clothes are too grubby to wear to the party.
· MEANING: unclean and untidy

· grungy
·i.e. That is a really grungy jacket.
· MEANING: dirty

· gut
·①i.e. He got shot in the gut.
· MEANING: stomach.
·②i.e. The gut issue is about what we are going to do now.
· MEANING: basic

· guts
·i.e. It takes a lot of guts to give the boss your true opinion.
· MEANING: courage

· hairy
·i.e. That was a hairy plane trip. I am glad the storm is over.
· MEANING: dangerous

· hammer
·i.e. Put the hammer to the floor or we will be late for the wedding.
· MEANING: accelerator

· hang it up
i.e.· I have decided to hang up my teaching job.
· MEANING: quit

· hang loose
·i.e. Just hang loose for another few days.
· MEANING: relax

· hang tough
·i.e. We need to hang tough on our decision.
· MEANING: stick with

· hardware
·i.e. The police were surprised by all the hardware the gang members had.
· MEANING: weapons

· have a buzz on
·i.e. I had a buzz on after the third martini.
· MEANING: was slightly intoxicated

· have good vibes
i.e.· I have good vibes about our new secretary.
· MEANING: feel good about

· have it all together
·i.e. Recently I don't have it all together.
· MEANING: feel mentally all there.

· heave
·i.e. I heaved up on the floor.
· MEANING: vomited

· high
·i.e. The teenagers look high to me.
· MEANING: intoxicated on drugs or alcohol

· hip-shooter
·i.e. He is such a hip-shooter.
· MEANING: always talking without thinking

· history
i.e.· I don't have any idea where my old boyfriend is. He's history.
· MEANING: something in the past

· hit
·i.e. Your proposal was a hit with the boss.
· MEANING: successful

· hole up
·i.e. I had to hole up for three days because the police were looking for me.
· MEANING: hide

· honcho
·i.e. The honcho says that we are going to have to give up two days of our vacation.
· MEANING: boss

· hooker
·i.e. Her clothes make her look like a hooker.
· MEANING: prostitute

· hot
·i.e. The police stopped them because they though the car was hot.
· MEANING: stolen

· huffy
i.e.· I will do it soon so please don't get huffy.
· MEANING: angry

· hungry
·i.e. If you are not hungry, you won't get ahead in the business.
· MEANING: eager to make money

· hustle
·i.e. If you don't hustle, we will be late again.
· MEANING: hurry up

· hyped
·i.e. The fans were all hyped up for the football game.
· MEANING: excited

· hyper
·i.e. Don't get hyper about what she told you. You know it isn't true.
· MEANING: over excited

· I.D.
·i.e. Can you show me some I.D. please?
· MEANING: identification

· in
·i.e. The tie you are wearing is really in.
· MEANING: fashionable

· in deep
·i.e. They are really in deep with each other.
· MEANING: deeply involved

· in the bag
·i.e. Everything is in the bag. There is nothing to worry about.
· MEANING: settled

· intense
·i.e. This is a very intense situation we are discussing.
· MEANING: serious

· jam
·i.e. I am glad you got yourself out of that jam.
· MEANING: trouble

· jerk someone around
·i.e. Recently it seems like everyone is jerking me around.
· MEANING: wasting my time and causing me trouble

· jock
·i.e. My roommate is a jock for the basketball team.
· MEANING: an athlete

· john
·i.e. The john really smells.
· MEANING: bathroom

· joint
·①i.e. Where is the closest joint to here.
· MEANING: cheap bar
·②i.e. He is good at rolling joints.
· MEANING: marijuana cigarettes

· junkie
·i.e. Sam is a junkie.
· MEANING: rug addict

· just off the boat
·i.e. He acts like he is just off the boat.
· MEANING: naive

· keep one's cool
·i.e. He kept his cool when his house burned down.
· MEANING: remained calm

· kegger
i.e.· I hear there is a kegger at John's house tonight.
· MEANING: beer party

· kick
·i.e. I get a kick out of watching him paint.
· MEANING: enjoy

· klutz
·i.e. He is a real klutz.
· MEANING: stupid and clumsy person

· knock
·i.e. Don't knock it if you can't do it any better.
· MEANING: criticize

· knocked up
·i.e. My dog gets knocked up once a year.
· MEANING: pregnant

· knockout
·i.e. Who was that knockout I saw you with last Friday?
· MEANING: stunning person

· knuckle sandwich
·i.e. Shut up or I'll give you a knuckle sandwich.
· MEANING: punch in the mouth

· kook
·i.e. Watch out for all the kooks in this neighborhood.
· MEANING: strange people

· laid-back
·i.e. You need to be more laid-back.
· MEANING: calm and relaxed

· lame
·i.e. That is really a lame excuse.
· MEANING: an inadequate

· line
·i.e. I have heard that line a million times.
· MEANING: story

· loser
·i.e. John is a loser.
· MEANING: annoying and useless

· love handles
·i.e. I exercise every day, but I can't get rid of these love handles.
· MEANING: rolls of fat around my stomach

· make waves
·i.e. Try not to make waves around the office.
· MEANING: cause trouble

· maxed out
i.e.· I am maxed out at my work and need to rest.
· MEANING: exhausted

· mean
·i.e. He plays a mean violin.
· MEANING: performs well on

· mega
·i.e. I have mega amounts of tomatoes in my garden this summer.
· MEANING: large

· megabucks
·i.e. He made megabucks when he sold his company.
· MEANING: a lot of money

· knock
·i.e. Don't knock it if you can't do it any better.
· MEANING: criticize

· mellow
·i.e. You need to mellow out and enjoy life.
· MEANING: calm down and relax

· meltdown
·i.e. There has been a meltdown in the relationship between my parents and I.
· MEANING: total collapse

· mickey mouse
·i.e. The homework the teacher gave us was mickey mouse.
· MEANING: nonsense and a waste of time

· move on someone
·i.e. I am going to try to move on Sarah next Saturday.
· MEANING: pick up and seduce

· mush
·i.e. That is total mush and you know it.
· MEANING: nonesense

· nark
·i.e. Watch out for the narks in the airport.
· MEANING: drug police

· neat
·i.e. That was a neat idea that you had.
· MEANING: good

· negative
·i.e. There are too many negatives about the company merger.
· MEANING: bad things

· nick
·i.e. The police nicked the shoplifter as he was leaving the store.
· MEANING: arrested

· nip
·i.e. He took a nip out of the bottle.
· MEANING: a quick drink

· no sweat
·i.e. It's no sweat to have the report in to you by Monday.
· MEANING: no problem

· nuke
·i.e. I'll nuke our dinner in a few minutes.
· MEANING: heat up in the microwave

· nuke
·i.e. Does that attack plane have any nukes?
· MEANING: nuclear weapons

· nut
·i.e. I think that he is a nut.
· MEANING: crazy person

· nuts
·i.e. You are completely nuts if you think I will go with you.
· MEANING: crazy

· pad
·i.e. Have you found a pad yet?
· MEANING: a place to live

· pain in the neck
·i.e. My wife's best friend is a pain in the neck.
· MEANING: annoying

· paper-pusher
·i.e. My office is filled with paper-pushers.
· MEANING: bureaucratic office workers

· party animal
·i.e. You're too old to be a party animal.
· MEANING: love parties

· party-hearty
·i.e. We need to party-hearty because we just got a raise in salary.
· MEANING: celebrate

· paw
·i.e. Get your paws off of my body.
· MEANING: hands

· peanuts
·i.e. I am not going to work for peanuts.
· MEANING: practically no money

· pickled
·i.e. He gets pickled after only one beer.
· MEANING: intoxicated

· piece of cake
·i.e. Working on a computer for me is a piece of cake.
· MEANING: easy to do

· pig
·i.e. He is a pig at parties.
· MEANING: eats too much

· pig out
·i.e. Let's go to the restaurant and pig out.
· MEANING: eat a lot or overeat

· pit stop
·i.e. Let's make a pit stop at the next rest area.
· MEANING: stop and go to the bathroom

· plastered
·i.e. He drinks too much and is always plastered on the weekend.
· MEANING: intoxicated

· pooped out
·i.e. He pooped out after we started to do the hard work.
· MEANING: quit

· pop
·i.e. Shut up or I will pop you.
· MEANING: hit

· pop for something
·i.e. It is my turn to pop for the doughnuts.
· MEANING: buy

· pro
·i.e. He is really a pro at his work.
· MEANING: professional

· prod
·i.e. Can you give me a gentle prod next week so I won't forget?
· MEANING: reminder

· psyched up
·i.e. The players are really psyched up for the game on Friday.
· MEANING: mentally ready

· psycho
·i.e. She is a psycho. She should be in a hospital.
· MEANING: mentally ill

· puke
·i.e. I feel like I am going to puke.
· MEANING: vomit

· push off
·i.e. I am going to push off now.
· MEANING: leave

· put the moves on
·i.e. You should give up trying to put the moves on her. She is married.
· MEANING: seduce

· put-on
·i.e. It was an elaborate put-on which I almost believed.
· MEANING: deception

· quarterback
·i.e. Who is going to quarterback the meeting?
· MEANING: lead

· quick buck
·i.e. I need to make a quick buck.
· MEANING: some easy money

· rack
·i.e. I have to hit the rack by ten or I'll be tired in the morning.
· MEANING: bed

· rack out
·i.e. I am going to rack out for two hours.
· MEANING: sleep

· racket
·i.e. There sure was a lot of racket outside last night.
· MEANING: noise

· rag
·i.e. I can't believe we still get this same old rag.
· MEANING: newspaper

· rap
·i.e. We need to sit down and rap about a few things.
· MEANING: talk about

· rathole
·i.e. When are you going to be able to move out of that rathole.
· MEANING: run down place

· raw
·i.e.The raw office workers were not getting much done.
· MEANING: new

· ream someone out
·i.e. The boss really reamed him out for his bad report.
· MEANING: got angry with him

· red hot
·i.e. Your idea is really red hot.
· MEANING: important

· repo
·i.e. Hey, don't repo my car. I will pay next week.
· MEANING: repossess

· rinky-dink
·i.e. The circus was really rinky-dink.
· MEANING: inferior

· riot
·i.e. The comedy program was a real riot.
· MEANING: funny

· road hog
·i.e. That driver is a road hog.
· MEANING: takes up too much of the road

· rocks
·i.e. Would you like your whiskey on the rocks?
· MEANING: with ice

· rough time
·i.e. We have had a rough time this winter.
· MEANING: hard time

· rug
·i.e. Is that a rug on his head?
· MEANING: wig

· rug rat
·i.e. My sister has three rug rats.
· MEANING: children

· rule
·i.e. My wife rules the house.
· MEANING: dominates

· run off at the mouth
·i.e. He is always running off at the mouth.
· MEANING: talking too much

· run out of gas
·i.e. The politician ran out of gas during the campaign.
· MEANING: lost interest or momentum

· sack
·i.e. When did you hit the sack last night?
· MEANING: go to bed

· scam
·i.e. Don't lose your money in some kind of scam.
· MEANING: swindle

· scarf
·i.e. Since he hadn't eaten in a week, he scarfed down everything on his plate.
· MEANING: ate quickly

· schmuck
·i.e. What a stupid schmuck.
· MEANING: jerk

· screw around
·i.e. If you screw around all day at this work, you will have to come back again.
· MEANING: waste time

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                                              John F. Kennedy: Inaugural Address （单击影音链接）

Vice President Johnson, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Chief Justice, President Eisenhower, Vice President Nixon, President Truman, Reverend Clergy, fellow citizens:

We observe today not a victory of party, but a celebration of freedom -- symbolizing an end, as well as a beginning -- signifying renewal, as well as change. For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three-quarters ago. The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe -- the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God. We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans -- born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage, and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world. Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and the success of liberty. This much we pledge -- and more.   To those old allies whose cultural and spiritual origins we share, we pledge the loyalty of faithful friends. United there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures. Divided there is little we can do -- for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder. To those new states whom we welcome to the ranks of the free, we pledge our word that one form of colonial control shall not have passed away merely to be replaced by a far more iron tyranny. We shall not always expect to find them supporting our view. But we shall always hope to find them strongly supporting their own freedom -- and to remember that, in the past, those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside. To those people in the huts and villages of half the globe struggling to break the bonds of mass misery, we pledge our best efforts to help them help themselves, for whatever period is required -- not because the Communists may be doing it, not because we seek their votes, but because it is right. If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich. To our sister republics south of our border, we offer a special pledge: to convert our good words into good deeds, in a new alliance for progress, to assist free men and free governments in casting off the chains of poverty. But this peaceful revolution of hope cannot become the prey of hostile powers. Let all our neighbors know that we shall join with them to oppose aggression or subversion anywhere in the Americas. And let every other power know that this hemisphere intends to remain the master of its own house. To that world assembly of sovereign states, the United Nations, our last best hope in an age where the instruments of war have far outpaced the instruments of peace, we renew our pledge of support -- to prevent it from becoming merely a forum for invective, to strengthen its shield of the new and the weak, and to enlarge the area in which its writ may run. Finally, to those nations who would make themselves our adversary, we offer not a pledge but a request: that both sides begin anew the quest for peace, before the dark powers of destruction unleashed by science engulf all humanity in planned or accidental self-destruction. We dare not tempt them with weakness. For only when our arms are sufficient beyond doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that they will never be employed. But neither can two great and powerful groups of nations take comfort from our present course -- both sides overburdened by the cost of modern weapons, both rightly alarmed by the steady spread of the deadly atom, yet both racing to alter that uncertain balance of terror that stays the hand of mankind's final war. So let us begin anew -- remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate. Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us. Let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control of arms, and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations. Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths, and encourage the arts and commerce. Let both sides unite to heed, in all corners of the earth, the command of Isaiah -- to "undo the heavy burdens, and [to] let the oppressed go free."   And, if a beachhead of cooperation may push back the jungle of suspicion, let both sides join in creating a new endeavor -- not a new balance of power, but a new world of law -- where the strong are just, and the weak secure, and the peace preserved. All this will not be finished in the first one hundred days. Nor will it be finished in the first one thousand days; nor in the life of this Administration; nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin. In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course. Since this country was founded, each generation of Americans has been summoned to give testimony to its national loyalty. The graves of young Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe. Now the trumpet summons us again -- not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need -- not as a call to battle, though embattled we are -- but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out, "rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation," a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself. Can we forge against these enemies a grand and global alliance, North and South, East and West, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind? Will you join in that historic effort? In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility -- I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it. And the glow from that fire can truly light the world. And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world, ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man. Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own.

今天我们庆祝的不是政党的胜利，而是自由的胜利。这象征着一个结束，也象征着一个开端；意味着延续也意味着变革。因为我已在你们和全能的上帝面前，宣读了我们的先辈在170多年前拟定的庄严誓言。 　　现在的世界已大不相同了。人类的巨手掌握着既能消灭人间的各种贫困，又能毁灭人间的各种生活的力量。但我们的先辈为之奋斗的那些革命信念，在世界各地仍然有着争论。这个信念就是：人的权利并非来自国家的慷慨，而是来自上帝恩赐。 　　 今天，我们不敢忘记我们是第一次革命的继承者。让我们的朋友和敌人同样听见我此时此地的讲话：火炬已经传给新一代美国人。这一代人在本世纪诞生，在战争中受过锻炼，在艰难困苦的和平时期受过陶冶，他们为我国悠久的传统感到自豪－－他们不愿目睹或听任我国一向保证的、今天仍在国内外作出保证的人权渐趋毁灭。 　　 让每个国家都知道－－不论它希望我们繁荣还是希望我们衰落－－为确保自由的存在和自由的胜利，我们将付出任何代价，承受任何负担，应付任何艰难，支持任何朋友，反抗任何敌人。 　　这些就是我们的保证－－而且还有更多的保证。 　　对那些和我们有着共同文化和精神渊源的老盟友、我们保证待以诚实朋友那样的忠诚。我们如果团结一致，就能在许多合作事业中无往不胜；我们如果分歧对立，就会一事无成－－因为我们不敢在争吵不休、四分五裂时迎接强大的挑战。 　　对那些我们欢迎其加入到自由行列中来的新国家，我们格守我们的誓言：决不让一种更为残酷的暴政来取代一种消失的殖民统治。我们并不总是指望他们会支持我们的观点。但我们始终希望看到他们坚强地维护自己的自由－－而且要记住，在历史上，凡愚蠢地狐假虎威者，终必葬身虎口。 　 　对世界各地身居茅舍和乡村、为摆脱普遍贫困而斗争的人们，我们保证尽最大努力帮助他们自立，不管需要花多长时间－－之所以这样做，并不是因为共产党可能正在这样做，也不是因为我们需要他们的选票，而是因为这样做是正确的。自由社会如果不能帮助众多的穷人，也就无法挽救少数富人。 　　对我国南面的姐妹共和国，我们提出一项特殊的保证－－在争取进步的新同盟中，把我们善意的话变为善意的行动，帮助自由的人们和自由的政府摆脱贫困的枷锁。但是，这种充满希望的和平革命决不可以成为敌对国家的牺牲品。我们要让所有邻国都知道，我们将和他们在一起，反对在美洲任何地区进行侵略和颠覆活动。让所有其他国家都知道，本半球的人仍然想做自己家园的主人。 　　 对联合国，主权国家的世界性议事机构，我们在战争手段大大超过和平手段的时代里最后的、最美好的希望所在，我们重申予以支持：防止它仅仅成为谩骂的场所；加强它对新生国家和弱小国家的保护；扩大它的行使法令的管束范围。 　　 最后，对那些与我们作对的国家，我们提出一个要求而不是一项保证：在科学释放出可怕的破坏力量，把全人类卷入预谋的或意外的自我毁灭的深渊之前，让我们双方重新开始寻求和平。 　　 我们不敢以怯弱来引诱他们。因为只有当我们毫无疑问地拥有足够的军备，我们才能毫无疑问地确信永远不会使用这些军备。 　　但是，这两个强大的国家集团都无法从目前所走的道路中得到安慰－－发展现代武器所需的费用使双方负担过重，致命的原子武器的不断扩散理所当然使双方忧心忡忡，但是，双方却争着改变那制止人类发动最后战争的不稳定的恐怖均势。 　　因此，让我们双方重新开始－－双方都要牢记，礼貌并不意味着怯弱，诚意永远有待于验证。让我们决不要由于畏惧而谈判。但我们决不能畏惧谈判。 　　让双方都来探讨使我们团结起来的问题，而不要操劳那些使我们分裂的问题。 　　让双方首次为军备检查和军备控制制订认真而又明确的提案，把毁灭他国的绝对力量置于所有国家的绝对控制之下。 　　 让双方寻求利用科学的奇迹，而不是乞灵于科学造成的恐怖。让我们一起探索星球，征服沙漠，根除疾患，开发深海，并鼓励艺术和商业的发展。 　　让双方团结起来，在全世界各个角落倾听以赛亚的训令－－“解下轭上的索，使被欺压的得自由。”（注：《圣经·旧约全书·以塞亚书》第58章6节。） 　　如果合作的滩头阵地能逼退猜忌的丛林，那么就让双方共同作一次新的努力；不是建立一种新的均势，而是创造一个新的法治世界，在这个世界中，强者公正，弱者安全、和平将得到维护。 　　所有这一切不可能在今后一百天内完成，也不可能在今后一千天或者在本届政府任期内完成，甚至也许不可能在我们居住在这个星球上的有生之年内完成。但是，让我们开始吧。 　　公民们，我们方针的最终成败与其说掌握在我手中，不如说掌握在你们手中。自从合众国建立以来，每一代美国人都曾受到召唤去证明他们对国家的忠诚。响应召唤而献身的美国青年的坟墓遍及全球。 　 　现在，号角已再次吹响－－不是召唤我们拿起武器，虽然我们需要武器；不是召唤我们去作战，虽然我们严阵以待。它召唤我们为迎接黎明而肩负起漫长斗争的重任，年复一年，从希望中得到欢乐，在磨难中保持耐性，对付人类共同的敌人－－专制、社团、疾病和战争本身。 　　为反对这些敌人，确保人类更为丰裕的生活，我们能够组成一个包括东西南北各方的全球大联盟吗？你们愿意参加这一历史性的努力吗？ 　　在漫长的世界历史中，只有少数几代人在自由处于最危急的时刻被赋予保卫自由的责任。我不会推卸这一责任，我欢迎这一责任。我不相信我们中间有人想同其他人或其他时代的人交换位置。我们为这一努力所奉献的精力、信念和忠诚，将照亮我们的国家和所有为国效劳的人，而这火焰发出的光芒定能照亮全世界。 　　 因此，美国同胞们，不要问国家能为你们做些什么，而要问你们能为国家做些什么。 　　 全世界的公民们，不要问美国将为你们做些什么，而要问我们共同能为人类的自由做些什么。 　　最后，不论你们是美国公民还是其他国家的公民，你们应要求我们献出我们同样要求于你们的高度力量和牺牲。问心无愧是我们唯一可靠的奖赏，历史是我们行动的最终裁判，让我们走向前去，引导我们所热爱的国家。我们祈求上帝的福佑和帮助，但我们知道，确切地说，上帝在尘世的工作必定是我们自己的工作。

 

约翰·肯尼迪是一位战争英雄，普利策奖获得者，五十年代大部分时间里的参议员。1960年的11月，年仅43岁的他成为美国历史选择产生的最年轻的总统。1963年11月22日他在德克萨斯州的达拉斯遇刺身亡，是美国历史上第四位死于暗杀者子弹的总统。

BACKGROUND:Heaavy Snow fell the night before the Inarguartion and Army flame throwers were employed to clear snow from Pennsylvania Avenue,J.F.Kennedy attended Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Georgetown on the morning of Jan.20,1961 before joining President Eisenhower to travel to the Capitol. The Congress had extended the east front of the building, and the inaugural platform spanned the new addition. The ceremony began with a religious invocation and prayers.Then African--American poera singer Marian Anderson sang The Star-Spangled Banner,and Robert frost recited his poem The Gift Outright.Kennedy was administered the oath （单击相关文章链接）of office by Chief Justice Earl Warren.Then