（上接 第三部分 ）

1. Lily: Wait, two things. First of all, I've been laying groundwork all afternoon. （打住，这是两码事。首先，我一下午都在（为你）打基础。）

解析：

groundwork: something that has to happen before an activity or plan can be successful 基础

备注： ''groundwork'' 经常与 ''lay'' 或 ''do'' 两个动词搭配。

例：

His speech laid the groundwork for independence. （他的演讲为独立运动打下基础。）

Much of the groundwork has already been done . （基础工作大部分都做好了。）

2. Robin: That's what I was going for . （我就想听你说这句话。）

解析：

go for (someone or something) : to like someone or something 喜欢

例：

When I see how she looks at him, I can tell she really goes for him. （瞧她看他的样子，我就知道她真的很喜欢他。）

I don't really go for modern art. （我不太喜欢现代艺术。）

I could go for a cup of coffee right now. （我现在想喝杯咖啡。）

3. Lily: Oh. OK, OK, we'll, we'll sneak her in . （好好好，我们会，我们会偷偷带她进去。）

Ted: We can't sneak her in , we're not ninjas. （我们没法偷偷把她带进去，我们又不是忍者。）

解析：

sneak:

备注： ''sneak'' 可以做不及物动词，也可以做及物动词。

（1） 不及物动词： to move quietly or secretly without being noticed 偷偷溜进

例：

They tried to sneak into the movie without paying. （他们想逃票偷偷溜进去看电影。）

He sneaked past the guard. （他混过保安偷偷进来了。）

（2） 及物动词： to take or bring something secretly and often quickly 偷偷带……进去，偷偷拿……

例：

She sneaked some cigars through customs. （她偷带了一些雪茄进海关。）

He sneaked a few cookies out of the jar while his mother wasn't looking. （他趁妈妈不备，从饼干罐里偷拿了些饼干出来。）

They caught him trying to sneak food into the theater. （他想偷偷把吃的带进剧场，被抓到了。）

I sneaked a note to my friend in class. （我上课时偷偷给一个朋友传纸条。）

I'm going to sneak a smoke. （我要偷偷去吸根烟。）

I was caught sneaking a look at my Christmas presents. （我打开圣诞礼物偷看，被抓到了。）

Can I sneak a peek at your quiz answers? （我能不能偷看一下你的试卷答案？）

4. Ted: Oh, it's gonna be a tough sell . （唉，这话很难说出口。）

解析：

sell: n. used to say that it is easy or difficult to get people to buy or accept something 难于 / 易于让人去买或接受某物

备注： ''sell'' 常用于美式英语中，多用单数。

例：

Her new novel was an easy sell. （她的新书很好卖。）

We need to raise taxes, but that's a tough sell. (= It's hard to persuade people to accept a tax increase.) （我们得多收税，但是这不好办。）

补充：

''tough sell'' 的同义词： ''hard sell'' 。

例：

Such an expensive project will be a hard sell during these slow economic times. （现在经济发展缓慢，这么花钱的一个项目可不好推行啊。）

5. Stuart: Dude, no problem whatsoever . （哥们儿，完全没问题。）

解析：

whatsoever: adj. of any kind or amount at all; used to emphasize a negative statement 任何，完全没……

备注： ''whatsoever'' 常常后置使用。

例：

There's no evidence whatsoever to support your theory. （完全没有证据支持你的理论。）

She'll use any means whatsoever to achieve her goals. （她为了达到目的会不择手段。）

His remark has nothing whatsoever to do with you. （他完全没有指摘你。）

''Is there any reason to wait?'' ''None whatsoever.'' （ - 有什么理由要等吗？   - 没理由，爱等不等。）

（下接 第五部分 ）