Sales clerk: Looking for anything in particular, sir?
Harry1: Yes, em, that necklace there, how much is it?
Sales clerk: It's£270.
Harry: Erm, all right, er, I'll have it.
Sales clerk: Lovely! Would you like it... gift- wrapped?
Harry: Yes, all right.
Sales clerk: Lovely! Let me just pop it in the box. There!
Harry: Look, could we be quite quick?
Sales clerk: Certainly, sir!Ready in the flashest of flashes! There!
Harry: That's great.
Sales clerk: Not quite finished.
Harry: Look I, I don't need a bag; I'll just put it in my pocket.
Sales clerk: Oh, this isn't a bag, sir!
Harry: Really?
Sales clerk: This is so much more than a bag! Ooh!
Harry: Could we be quite quick, please!
Sales clerk: Prontissimo.
Harry: What's that?
Sales clerk: It's a cinnamon stick, sir!
Harry: Actually, I really can't wait!
Sales clerk: You won't regret it, sir.
Harry: Wanna bet?
Sales clerk: 'Tis, but the work of a moment. Yeah? Almost finished.
Harry: Almost finished, what else gonna be. Are you gonna dip it in your yogurt, cover it with chocolate buttons?
Sales clerk: Oh, no sir, we're going to pop it in the Christmas box.
Harry: But I don't want a Christmas box.
Sales clerk: But you said you wanted it gift-wrapped.
Harry: I did, but...
Sales clerk: This is the final flourish.
Harry: Can I just pay?
Sales clerk: All we need now...
Harry: Oh, God!
Sales clerk: Is a sprig of holly2?
Harry: No, no, no, no. No bloody3 holly!
Sales clerk: But, sir...
Harry: Leave it, leave it! Just leave it!
妙语佳句,活学活用
1. Looking for anything in particular
请问你需要什么?这可是一句特别地道的表达,是要比 Can I help you?What can I do for you? 好上不少的招揽客户的方法。
2. Gift-wrapped
这是在买礼品的时候或许会用到的话,指的就是给礼物打包装。一般情况下店员会问 Would you like it gift-wrapped? 意思就是你需要包装吗?
3. Ready in the flashest of the flashes
在理解这句话之前,大家要先看一下flash这个词,它指的是闪现,有一个如此的短语:flash in the pan,指的是昙花一现。由此可以看出 flash有短暂的意思。还有一个短语be in the flash,指的是立刻,立刻。 in the flashest of the flashes 事实上是一种夸张的说法,但又不失生动,意思就等于in the flash。
4. This is so much more than a bag
假如直译这句话,意思就是这要比一个袋子还多,但你会发现这不是一句正常的中文。正确的意思是:这比袋子还要袋子。譬如当大家生气的时候会说你如何这么傻,比白痴还傻英文就是:You're so much more than a jerk!
5. The work of the moment
这是在英文中的习惯表达方法,类似的还有the man of the year,the album of the year。The work of the moment 的意思就是绝世佳作,the man of the year 就是年度风云人物,the album of the year 就是年度最好唱片。