文化面面觀：美國國慶風俗

考考你：小試牛刀

影片對白：

Annie: Okay, Mrs. X, now it's time for a few simple childcare rules.

Host of discussion: Oh, all right. The teddy bear has been compromised.

Annie: Slamming the door in your kid's face is not okay. Spending more time on a benefit for kids you've never met than you do with your own blood is not okay. Going to a spa when your son has a fever of 104 and not answering emergency calls, that officially makes you an unfit mother.

Mrs. X: This is outrageous. Stop the tape.

Host of discussion: Uh, no, this is clearly a disgruntled nanny. We...we might have something to learn here.

Annie: Yeah, I know that you're really busy with your hair appointments and your Watsu massages and your attempts to stay young so your husband won't leave you, but here's an idea...why don't you try eating dinner with your child every once in a blue moon? And a head's up here, lady. Try smiling once in a while. People hate you! As for you, Mr. X, who the hell are you? Maybe you're asking the same about me. I know you've noticed my ass, but you probably don't recognize my face, so here's a little hint, okay? I'm the one who's been raising your son. Grayer is not an accessory. His mother didn't order him from a catalogue.Your son, your wife, are...are...are people in your home, human beings who are drowning in their desire for you to just...for you to look at them. You know, the truth is, I don't wish either of you harm. If for no other reason than you having the profound privilege of being Grayer's parents. Grayer loves you. He...he doesn't care what you're wearing or what you buy him or what school he gets into. He just...he just wants you there. That's it. And time's running out, and he won't love you unconditionally that much longer. So...for your own good, don't miss out on getting to know him. He is...he's truly an amazing amazing little person.

Mrs. X: Excuse me.

Host of discussion: Of course.

妙語佳句，活學活用

1. slam the door in sb.'s face: 拒絕見某人；拒絕同某人談話。在影片中Annie指Mrs. X很少花時間與兒子相處，幾乎不和兒子交流。請看例子：

The workers asked for only a small increase in pay, but the boss just slammed the door in their faces.

工人只要求增加少量工資，但老板就是拒絕同他們談判。

slam the door in sb.'s face還有“讓某人吃閉門羹，把某人拒之門外”的意思。

例如：He backed away and in that split second she slammed the door in his face.

他往后退去，就在這一剎那，她砰地把他關在門外了。

2. spa: （提供蒸汽浴、按摩等的）健康美容中心。Annie認為Mrs. X是個不稱職的母親，因為在Grayer發高燒的時候她還有心情去享受蒸汽浴。spa還有“礦泉療養地”的意思。

3. disgruntled: 不滿的，不高興的。例如：disgruntled spectators（不滿的觀眾）；an disgruntled expression（慍色）。

4. Watsu massage: 漂浮指壓按摩。把水中飄浮與節奏相結合的伸展四肢的治療方法。目的是增加身體的柔韌度和放松身心。

5. every once in a blue moon: 相當于every now and then，不時，間或，偶爾。影片中Annie讓Mrs. X偶爾和Grayer一起吃吃飯。

例如：John comes to visit me every once in a blue moon.約翰不時地會來看我。

once in a blue moon是“偶爾、罕見”，例如：

This is a chance once in a blue moon. 這可是個難得的機會。

6. accessory: 附屬品，附加物。Annie希望X夫婦能夠多關注一下Grayer，不要把他當作多余的東西。accessory在生活中很常見，例如：

A cigar-lighter is an accessory to a car.點煙器是汽車的一種附件。

accessory還可以指婦女的裝飾品，在這種用法中多用復數形式，例如：

She often wears accessories such as a diamond bracelet, a necklace and earings.

她常常戴鉆石手鐲、項鏈、耳環等一類首飾。

文化面面觀：美國國慶風俗

考考你：小試牛刀