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1. What else is new?（字面意思：还有什么新的吗？）2. Tell me about it！（字面意思：快告诉我是怎么回事！）以上两句如果放到对话中，所表达的含义会与字面意思有很大不同。那么，这两句到底是什么意思呢？让我们举几个例子：What else is new?A：Hey, do you know the new governor is going to cut the funding for education?嘿，你听说了吗？新州长要削减教育经费呢！B: What else is new? We all know he represents big businesses. Education is not his top priority.那有什么稀奇的？我们早就知道他一向代表大公司的利益，教育不是他最关心的事。在这里，What else is new表示，这种结局是预料之中的事，不算什么新闻。所以，根据上下文，也可译为“这算不上什么新闻”。再比如：A：Yesterday my daughter gave me a gift wish list for her 15th birthday. Among other things she asks for a lap-top computer!昨天，我女儿给我开了一个单子，列举了她15岁生日想要的礼物。其中竟然有一台便携式电脑！B: What else is new? At least she hasn't asked for a car. Wait till next year！那有什么稀奇的？她至少没让你送她一辆车。明年你等着瞧吧！Tell me about it!A：Do you know under the newly reformed tax plan, the rich people actually pay less tax?你知道吗？如果实行改革后的新税务计划，富人交纳的税反而会更少。B: Yeah, tell me about it! My neighbor is a millionaire and he told me that his tax rate would be reduced by fifty percent.可不是吗？我的邻居是个百万富翁。他告诉我，他的交税比例将降低50%。在这里，"tell me about it" 不是要求对方细说，而是表示一种附和，还带有惊讶的成分。再比如:A: Under such harsh economic downturns, working class can hardly make ends meet.经济下滑这么厉害，工薪阶层快要揭不开锅了。B: Tell me about it! In my family alone two people got laid off. I don't know how I can make the mortgage payment this month.可不是吗？光我们家下岗的就有俩，我还不知道这个月怎么付房贷呢。 |
