美国之音《流行美语》 375 make up one's mind

　　Larry在和李华商量去什么地方渡假。他们会用到两个常用语：make up your mind和live within your means 1。

Larry: Lihua, do you want to go to Toronto? I did a little research and found some really cool tours and -

LH: Larry, 我不是很想去多伦多，我想去个有热带风情的地方。

Larry: Tropical 2?

LH: 没错!你说加勒比海怎么样？

Larry: The Caribbean? Wow, that is very tropical... actually, I know someone who went there last summer, let me give him a call -

LH: 不过! 我又非常想去泰国，那里的水果和美食太诱人了!

Larry: What?? Thailand? Make up your mind, Lihua!

LH: Make up? 化妆？你在说什么啊？

Larry: No, not the make-up you put on your face. To "make up your mind" means to make a choice and stick to it.

LH: 哦，to make up your mind就是拿定主意。

Larry: Yea. For example, it often takes you a long time to make up your mind when it comes to what to wear when we go out.

LH: 这倒是。出门前我总是不能决定穿哪身衣服。

Larry: And what about your friend at school that couldn't decide which class she wanted to take?

LH: 没错。那个同学特别爱学习，什么课都想选，可是一学期的时间只有那么多，选修课的数量是有限的。 I wish she would make up her mind!我希望她能快点作出决定。

Larry: Yea, exactly. Indecisive people can sure be annoying sometimes...especially when they cause others to waste time...

LH: Larry，你说的indecisive people - 犹豫不决的人，是在说我吧？我也很想定下旅行的目的地，可是...真的是有太多好玩的地方，我实在拿不定主意!

Larry: What about money? We can drive to Toronto. Thailand would be extremely 3 expensive. Airfare alone would cost us a couple thousand dollars. We do have to live within our means, after all.

LH: 你说的live within our means，是什么意思？

Larry: The phrase 4 "living within your means" means to live within the limits of your financial situation. Or, in other words, not spending more money than you can afford to spend.

LH: 哦，to live within your means就是量入为出，不过度消费。

Larry: That's right. And if we are to live within our means, we certainly cannot afford a vacation in Thailand!

LH: 你是说，从我们的经济情况考虑，去泰国花销太高，我们承受不了？可是你工作这么久，不是已经攒些钱了么？

Larry: Not that much money! I'm just an entry-level worker. It will take some years of saving 5 up money before I can afford things like tropical vacations.

LH: 啊？还得再攒好几年才能来个热带风情之旅？唉，Larry, 这只能怪你平时不知节省。你看，你老去外面饭馆吃饭，比在家里吃贵多了!

Larry: So... if I were living within my means, we'd have enough money for a nice vacation?

LH: 对啊!如果你平时消费节制，我们现在就能去泰国了!

Larry: But, Lihua, I just don't have time to cook. And plus, I'm not that good at it! And there are things about your spending habits that could change, too - like cutting out some of your shopping. That would definitely 6 help you live within your means.

LH: 啊？你让我也减少支出，少买东西多存钱？这个嘛...

Larry: Make up your mind, Lihua. Do you want to save money or not?

LH: 那好吧，我下决心存钱 (不情愿的口气)。

Larry: Don't sound so depressed 7, Lihua. We can still go on vacation this year and still be living within our means. We just need to find a place closer to home. But first, let's make up our mind on where we want to go.

LH: 好吧! 希望我们真能做到即能愉快旅行又不让荷包大出血! 不过，我不想去多伦多，我想去海边!

Larry: How about South Carolina? It will take awhile to get there, but we could drive.

LH: 南卡罗莱纳？有美丽的沙滩么？

Larry: Absolutely.

LH: 那....贵么？

Larry: We would still be living within our means if we go there. What do you think?

LH: 是吗？我们能承受得起旅行的花费？让我想想，让我想想....对了! Larry, 我忽然想到，如果我们去海边，我肯定要花很多钱买漂亮的游泳衣、太阳镜、裙子什么的。算了，要不还是去多伦多吧!

Larry: Make up your mind, Lihua!

今天李华学了两个常用语。一个是to make up one's mind，意思是“拿定主意”。另一个是to live within one's means，意思是“量入为出，不过度消费”。