2008年8月7日星期四

Pick up the Tab 替别人付账,买单


pick up the tab ,有时候也说成是pick up the bill指的是替别人付账,tab在口语中指的就是账单的意思,所以pick up the bill 就是值买单的意思。这与我们在前面介绍的一个短语foot the bill 意思基本上是一样的。
例如:
Some friends went together after work for a bite to eat at a local deli but rather than going "Dutch treat" Susan generously offered to pick up the tab.
几个朋友下班后一起去一家熟食店大吃了一顿,这次不是AA制,susan很大方的为大家付账了。
这里的dutch treat 是指AA制的意思。
pick up the bill 的英文解释是:to pay the bill (for someone)
这样我们请客吃饭就可以说成:
I'll foot the bill
I'll pick up the tab
dinner is on me
It's my treat
都是一样的意思。
下面是有关pick up the tab 的几个例句:
1.
It's wonderful to have a social "safety-net" and I do resent government cut-backs in health care but I also recognize that our government can't afford to pick up the tab for absolutely everything. What do you think?
能有一个社会保护网真是不错啊,我对政府在卫生保健上预算消减非常气愤。但我同时也意识到,如果每件事都让政府来花钱,政府也花不起。你怎么认为呢?

2.
We shouldn't have to pick up the tab for the new road if only one family will be using it.
我们本来就不应为这只有一个家庭使用的一条路来出钱。

3.
Taxpayers will have to pick up the bill for political campaigns.
纳税人不得不为政治运动买单。

部分类容转自ESL english

没有评论: