lighten up 放松,变亮。

lighten up 放松,
这个词的本意是使更亮，但一般使用其引申的意思即，轻松一点，当然本意还是可以使用，例如：
The room lightened up with the new paint.
新的油漆屋子变的更亮了
但用的更多是其引申的意思例如：
She is always trying to get her husband to lighten up.
她总是尽力使丈夫心情轻松愉快。

下面是这个词的例子：
1.
Berk said the finding strengthens the advice that everyone lighten up a little to live longer.
Berk说研究证实了轻松愉快使人长寿的观点。

2.
Life is short. Work is hard. Let's lighten up when the mailroom loses a package, OK?
生命苦短，工作辛苦，请对邮件室里丢失一个邮包放轻松一点好吗？

黑暗骑士光彩夺目 dark knight shines bright

Batman Film Shatters Box Office Record 蝙蝠侠新片冲破票房纪录
电此处听原文的录音
在伦敦市中心看见一辆蝙蝠形状的骑车并不常见，除非也许是蝙蝠侠在城里。
It's not often you see a giant bat-shaped car driving through central London, unless perhaps Batman is in town.

为了配合新的蝙蝠侠电影《黑夜骑士》欧洲首映式，这位穿斗篷战士的蝙蝠汽车也被开到了这里。这个电影已经在美国的票房市场上卷起了波浪。
The caped crusader's famous Batmobile was here for the European premiere of new Batman film The Dark Knight, a film which has already been making waves at the US box office.

这个电影创造了公映后首个周末的票房纪录，仅美国市场公映后的前三天就有1.55亿美元（11.1亿人民币）。
It has set a box office record for best opening weekend ever, taking $155m (1.1bn yuan) in the US alone in its first three days in cinemas.

对于暑期的这枚重磅炸弹赚取如此多的钱也许没有什么大不了的，难能可贵的是这部电影收到了来自评论家的一致好评。
But while it is not unusual for summer blockbusters to make a lot of money, what is less common is for such films to receive good reviews from critics.

"这是一部让你在电影院里对其镜头和复杂性目瞪口呆的史诗"——这是相关媒体对这部电影的描述，很多对这部电影大唱赞歌的观点中的一种。
"An epic that will leave you staggering from the theatre, stunned by its scope and complexity," was how Associated Press described the film, one of many reviews which sung the praises of the latest Batman film.

这部由英国演员Christian Bale主演，由最近已经去世的Heath Ledger饰演其死敌——小丑的电影已经被imdb.com的用户们评为最佳电影。
The movie, which stars British actor Christian Bale in the lead role and the late Heath Ledger as his arch-enemy the Joker, has already been voted the number one film of all time by users of the website imdb.com.

这个故事讲述了这个超级英雄在一个虚构的城市Gotham里，同黑社会大战，
The story follows the superhero Batman as he battles the criminal underworld in the fictional Gotham City.

电影中以一个尤其令人吃惊的部分是，蝙蝠侠飞跃香港的国际财经中心时，还给了一个有争议的配角演员陈冠希一个特写。
One particularly stunning part sees Batman leap from the top of the International Finance Centre in Hong Kong; and even features a cameo role for controversial star Edison Chen.

很多批评家认为Heath Ledger的表演是发疯的小丑，小丑是电影中对蝙蝠侠制造事端的反派人物。
Many critics have singled out Heath Ledger's performance as the maniacal Joker, who wreaks mayhem as Batman tries to stop him.

盎格鲁血统的美国导演Christopher Nolan认为他的表演是非常激动人心的，复杂的，难以下结论的。该片的另一个主演Michael Caine则认为他是“最伟大的坏蛋之一”
Anglo-American director Christopher Nolan described his performance as breathtaking, complex and "hard to pin down". Co-star Sir Michael Caine called him "one of the greatest villains you've ever seen."

Ledger在今年早些时候由于过量服用药物而去世。现在看来他将会获得奥斯卡的遗作将提名。
Ledger died earlier this year from an accidental prescription drugs overdose. It now looks likely that he will receive a posthumous Oscar nomination.

caped crusader
披斗篷的先锋（蝙蝠侠的别称）
box office
票房
summer blockbusters
夏季大片
stunned
受惊的
sung the praises
表扬
criminal underworld
黑社会
singled out
挑出，选出
wreaks mayhem
犯下重伤罪
hard to pin down
很难下结论
accidental prescription drugs overdose
意外过量服药
making waves
掀起一阵热潮
opening weekend
首个周末
staggering
摇摇晃晃
scope
（影片的）范围
arch-enemy
死敌
cameo role
（电影中）托明星演员的小配角
maniacal
疯狂的
breathtaking
激动人心的
villains
坏人，反面人物
posthumous
死后获得的
部分内容转自BBC

foot the bill 付账，担负责任

foot the bill 付账，担负责任
这个短语非常有意思。foot the bill中的foot可不是指踩着或者脚之类的意思，这里的foot相当于bottom的意思，是指将所有的账目加在一起，然后写在最下面，意思就是付账，买单的意思，但后来慢慢引申出有担负责任的意思。

foot the bill是非常地道的英语，例如在餐馆里吃晚饭，如果我们想请客，我们可以说：“I will foot the bill”

foot the bill的英文解释是：to pay the expenses

下面是一些关于这个英文短语的例子：
1.
Is it really fair to expect the taxpayer to go on footing the bill for government mismanagement?
指望纳税人来继续为政府的失职买单公平吗？

2.
Dad, I appreciate you loaning your car to me to take my friends to Toronto and I'm sorry about the dent in your fender - I just didn't realize the car was set in reverse when I started it.
But the damage is so small ... do you mind if I leave it to you to foot the bill?
老爸，我非常感谢你把车借给我载我的朋友去多伦多，对于你的车的挡板上的凹坑，我非常抱歉，因为我启动它的时候没有意识到我开反了
但是，损伤很小，你可以自己去修吗？

3.
Who is going to foot the bill for the failure of the new aircraft?
谁来对这次新飞机试验的失败负责呢？

本文部分参考了ESL english

Drum out 轰走，被迫辞职

Drum out 轰走，被迫辞职
drum是鼓的意思，而Drum out合起来这个短语就是轰走某人的意思，一般是指职务上的勒令辞职等意思，有点击鼓相送、赶走、撵走、轰走的感觉，还是慢恰切的。
例如：
The president was drummed out of office.
总统被撵出了办公室
drum out的英文解释是：
force someone out of their job or position

下面是些有关drum out这个英文短语的例句：
1.The chairman was drummed out of the company after he misappropriated funds
主席因为挪用公款而被迫辞职。

2.I was not drummed out from that company,I quit.
我是自己主动辞职的，而不是被炒鱿鱼的。

本文部分参考了thefreedictionary

straddle 横跨，骑 ——每日单词

straddle [ˈstrædl]
1.To stand or sit with a leg on each side of
叉开腿; 跨坐
例如：
straddle a horse 骑马
He sat straddling the fence.
他骑坐在栅栏上。
2.To be on both sides of; extend over or across
横跨…的两边; 跨越…的两边
The village straddles the frontier.
这村庄横跨边境线。

本文部分参考了Thefreedictionary.com

drive a hard bargain 极力地讨价还价

drive a hard bargain 极力地讨价还价
这个俚语在英语口语中用得非常多。bargain的本意是：讨价还价; 商谈(以便更便宜)/特价商品的意思。drive a hard bargain就更加强调了这个意思。意思就是极力的去讨价还价，当然这里讨价还价是广义的，不一定指在买东西的时候，很多时候用在两方谈条件的时候。
例如：
Nadia drove a hard bargain - she agreed to help her brother with his homework from school if he in turn would agree to do her share of the clean-up at the dacha.
Nadia得了便宜：她和她弟弟达成协议，她帮她弟弟做家庭作业，而她弟弟作为回馈则需要帮她完成打扫别墅的工作

drive a hard bargain的英文解释是：
to demand a lot or refuse to give much when making an agreement with someone.
与某人达成协议的时候要求获得更多或者拒绝给出更多。

下面是关于这个词的一些英文解释：
1.
I'm impressed that you got £2000 for that car. You certainly drive a hard bargain.
我太佩服你了，你仅仅花了2000欧元就买下了那辆车，你一定狠狠的杀了价。

2.
The bank was able to drive a hard bargain because the company badly needed cash.
银行可以狠狠地宰这个公司一笔，应为这个公司急需用钱。

3.
I am happy to let Marilyn negotiate for us because she can drive a hard bargain.
我很高兴能让 Marilyn 去谈判，因为她很懂得杀价。

4.
You can drive a hard bargain in the free market.
自由市场上你可以狠狠的杀价。

本文部分参考了ESL english

buy out 买空，买断，收购

buy out 买空，买断，收购
作为对比，这里再写一下buy out这个英语短语的解释,这个短语和字面上的意思一样就是买断，收购（一般是指公司的股份）。
英语解释：Buy somebody's share in a company
例如:
That big internet company was brought out by the huge software company.
那个大网络公司被那个巨头软件公司收购了（是微软收购雅虎吗？哈哈）
下面是这个英语单词的例子
1.
He had enough money to buy out the island.
他有足够的钱可以买断这个岛。

2.Eventually they were all bought out.
最终他们被收购了。

3.Large companies can easily buy out the shareholders of small companies.
大公司可以轻易的收购那些小公司的股份。

本文部分参考了ESL English

buy off 买通，收买，贿赂

buy off 买通，收买，贿赂，这个词从字面上看是买通的意思，实际上也是买通的意思。这种事情常发生在中国，但英语中也有这个很形象的词。
例如：
My father bought off the lawyer and the judge so that he would not get taken to court and sued.
我父亲买通了律师和法官，这样他就不会被带到法庭审判了。
类似意思的词还有：bribe

下面是一些有关这个buy off这个英语单词的例子：
1.
The gangster's friends bought off the police witness.
那家伙的朋友买通了警察方面的目击证人。

2.
They tried in vain to buy off the opposition.
他们以前还白费力气的试图买通对手，但是没有用。这里的in vain 的意思是白费地，徒劳地

3.
I don't like the way they are trying to buy me off.
我不喜欢他们试图贿赂我的这种方式。（well,anyway,I don't care the way they buy me off.hah..）

本文部分参考了ESL english

butter up 讨好，拍马屁，奉承

butter up 讨好，拍马屁，奉承
这个单词字面上的意思是抹黄油，因为黄油以前在西方相对来说是奢侈的东西，所以为某人抹黄油引申出来的意思就是奉承某人，拍某人马屁，讨好某人。同样这样英语单词非常的形象，用起 来显得很地道。
例如：
You don’t have to use nice words to butter me up so I will help you. Just ask me and that is enough!
你不需要为了要我帮你来对我说好话来讨好我。告诉我（你要我做什么就够了）
相同意思的单词还有flatter,brown-nose，cringe（卑躬屈膝,阿谀奉承，意思稍有不同）
下面是些这个英语单词的例子：
1.
I believe some people are simply born with the talent of buttering up people. Don't you think I haven't tried. I did, but I felt so awkward about flattering people. So I've given up a long time ago.
我觉得有些人天生就有拍别人马屁的本事。你也不要觉得我从没试过，我以前试过的，但是奉承别人时我感到非常尴尬，所以我很早以前就放弃了。

2.
I wish he'd stop trying to butter me up.
我希望他不要再试图讨好我了。

3.
Harry is working hard to butter up the boss to get that promotion. The funny thing is if he worked as hard at his job as he does at buttering up people, he'd have a better chance to get what he's after.
harry工作很努力讨好老板以便于晋升，有趣的是如果他能像他讨好领导一样地去工作的话，他将得到更多的机会。

最后顺便再提一下中文中“拍马屁”这个词的来源，也非常有意思。

这个典故来源于元朝文化，有两种说法。

一说蒙古族的一般百姓人家都会拥有几匹马，以解决行路、运输等问题，牧民们常以养得骏马为荣。有时人们牵着马相遇时，常要拍拍对方马的屁股，摸摸马膘如何，并附带随口夸上几声“好马”，以博得马主人的欢心。起初，人们实事求是，好马说好，可是相沿很久以后，有的人不管别人的马好坏、强弱，都一味地只说奉承话，把劣马也说成是好马了。

一说蒙古是马上得天下的民族，所以元朝的官员大多是武将出身，马往往是一个将领权力、身份、地位的象征，下级对上司最好的赞美，就是拍拍他的马、夸他的马好。逐渐人们就把对上司的奉承称为“拍马”。这是因为夸赞的话是不一样的，而拍马的动作是一样的。这就是“拍马屁”的由来。后蒙古入主中原，建立了元帝国，建起了元大都，他们的文化也就逐渐渗透到汉文化中，“拍马屁”一词也就流传下来。也有人说实际上拍马时决不能拍马的屁股，但由于汉人很少骑马，就把“拍马”想象为“拍马屁”了。至于马屁股到底能不能拍，尚无定论，总之不要拍到马蹄子上就好了。

本文部分参考了ESL english

shoot the breeze 闲聊，侃大山

shoot the breeze 字面意思是对着微风射击，这是英语中非常形象的地方，给人一副非常形象的画面，这个短语一般指闲聊，侃大山的意思。英语中非常地道的用法。
以下是这个短语的一些例句：
1.
They spent all their time sitting around the dock and shooting the breeze.
他们整天坐在码头附近闲聊。

2.
On Friday nights I usually go to a movie. But it was raining so hard last night I just stayed in the dorm to sit around and shoot the breeze with a couple of friends."
周五晚上我一般出去看电影，但昨天当时雨下得太大了，我只是和几个朋友呆在宿舍里闲聊。

3.
One thing I enjoy about shooting the breeze -- you can relax and say anything you want to. You're among friends and nobody takes things seriously."
我喜欢闲聊的原因之一 -- 你可以放松，说你任何想说的东西。你和朋友们在一起没有人会当真的。
注意这里用了One thing...的结构，这个结构一般是用来表示原因的。

4.
The men were sitting in the cafe and shooting the breeze.
男人们当时正坐在咖啡馆侃大山。

本文部分参考了ESL english

妈妈米亚!从舞台走向银幕(Mamma Mia!From Stage to Silver Screen)

单击听下面这段英语学习材料的录音

一直深受欢迎的West End的歌舞剧妈妈米亚最终被从舞台搬上了银幕。
The ever so-beloved musical Mamma Mia! has finally been taken from the stage to the silver screen.
2008年6月30日，在伦敦市中心的莱斯特广场举行了该影片的全球首映。
The international premiere of the film was held at the Odeon Leicester Square in central London, 30 June 2008.

电影基于传奇的瑞典流行乐团ABBA的歌曲，并且改编自同名音乐剧。
The film is a musical based on the legendary Swedish pop band ABBA’s songs and it is the film adaptation of the musical of the same name.

妈妈咪呀使用了ABBA的音乐来讲述索菲.谢里单的故事。索菲.谢里单是一个21岁的准新娘，视图找到她的亲生父亲，以便于可以在婚礼中完成将新娘交给新郎的仪式。
Mamma Mia! uses the music of ABBA to tell the story of Sophie Sheridan, a 21-year-old American bride-to-be, trying to find out the identity of her real father so that he can give her away at the wedding.

自从歌舞剧妈妈米亚1993年在伦敦首场演出以来，她已经被世界各地超过3000万的观众所欣赏，并且粗略估计给剧院带来了20亿美元(150亿人民币)的收入
Since the premiere of the musical in London in 1999, over 30 million people have seen Mamma Mia! around the world and the theatre production has grossed $2bn (15bn yuan) in earnings.

虽然歌舞剧的名字是源于ABBA乐队1975年的，但是妈妈米亚的歌舞剧和电影的情节都和这个乐队没有任何关系。
Although the title of the musical is taken from ABBA’s 1975 chart-topper Mamma Mia, neither the musical’s nor the film’s plot has anything to do with the story of the group itself.

ABBA乐队是1974年欧洲歌曲大赛的冠军，在那以后，直到80年代早期，他们的歌曲在世界各地的排行榜中一直名列前茅。ABBA这个乐队的名字是源于这个乐队每个成员的名字首字母
The band ABBA was the winner of the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest and following that success their songs topped the charts worldwide until the early 1980s. The name ABBA is an acronym formed from the first letters of the group member’s first names.

在伦敦最有名的电影院之一莱斯特广场音乐厅独家展映一周以后，从6月10号开始，这部电影将在全国各地的所有电影院中开播。
After a week of exclusive showing in the Leicester Square Odeon, one of London’s most famous cinemas, the film will be on in all cinemas across the country from 10 July.

一些人认为电影之所以如此成功是因为演员的阵容强大。Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgard分别饰演了三个可能的爸爸，而奥斯卡获奖者 Meryl Streep饰演了准新娘的妈妈。
Some people say maybe it is the mature A-list cast that makes the film work so well. Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgard star as the three potential dads with the Oscar winner Meryl Streep starring as the mum of the bride-to-be.
一个电影评论家说这个电影本身非常精彩，辛辣，有趣，并且被拍摄得非常漂亮。
A film critic said the film is truly wonderful. It is sharp, hilarious and very beautifully shot.
如果你是ABBA的粉丝，或者歌舞剧的粉丝，或者仅仅是Pierce Brosnan的粉丝，那么电影妈妈米亚你一定要看。
If you are a fan of ABBA, a fan of the musical, or simply just a fan of Pierce Brosnan, then the film Mamma Mia！is a must.


词汇表GLOSSARY
beloved
心爱的，受人喜爱的
stage
舞台
legendary
传奇的
bride-to-be
准新娘
give her away
（婚礼中通常由父亲）把新娘交给新郎
chart-topper
（音乐）榜首
Eurovision Song Contest
欧洲歌唱大赛
exclusive showing
独家放映
potential
可能的
hilarious
十分有趣的
musical
音乐剧
silver screen
银幕
adaptation
改编
identity
身份
grossed
总共赚得
plot
情节
acronym
缩写字
A-list cast
由重量级演员组成的演出班子
critic
评论家
shot
拍摄

本篇文章参考了BBC的Mamma Mia! 妈妈咪呀！