对话内容

A: Now that it’s the new year, I’ve decided to turn over a new leaf.

B: Yeah? You finally decided to wipe the slate clean?

A: You got it! I have a new job, I’m living in a new city, with new friends! This is my opportunity to make some small changes in the way I live my life.

B: So what are you going to do? Take up an art class or something?

A: Well, first of all, I’ve decided to stop smoking. It’s not that I’m pinching pennies or anything, it’s just that I’ve been smoking since I was sixteen, and I think it’s time to stop.

B: I’m with you on that one. Anything else you’re planning on doing?

A: One last thing, I’ve decided to come out of the closet.

B: It’s about time!

词汇和短语解释

1. Turn over a new leaf

  • • 解释：这是一个常见的英语习语，意思是开始新的生活，做出积极的改变，通常是为了改掉过去的坏习惯或不良行为。

  • • 例句：After years of struggling with unhealthy habits, she decided to turn over a new leaf and start exercising regularly.

2. Wipe the slate clean

  • • slate：石板；黑板

  • • 解释：start over or make a fresh start, especially by forgetting past mistakes, debts, or disagreements.

  •    这个短语意为“彻底清除过去的记录或错误”，开始新的开始。

  • • 例句：After their argument, they decided to wipe the slate clean and move forward with their friendship.

3. You got it!

  • • 解释：这是一个口语化的表达，意思是“没错！”或“就是这样！”，用来确认对方的话或表达同意。

  • • 例句：

  •    A: “Can you help me with this project?”

  •    B: “You got it!”

4. Pinching pennies

  • • 含义：to be very careful about spending money, often in an effort to save as much as possible.

  • • 解释：“非常节俭，省钱”。通常用来形容为了省钱而严格控制开支。

  • • 例句：They had to pinch pennies to afford their dream house.

5. Come out of the closet

  • • 解释：这是一个习语，指公开自己的同性恋身份或其他隐私信息。更广泛地，也可以指公开任何以前隐藏的个人事实。

  • • 例句：After years of hiding, he finally decided to come out of the closet and share his true self with his family.

6. It’s about time!

  • • 解释：这个表达用来表示某件事终于发生了，常带有轻微的急切或期待的意味，意思是“早该如此！”。

  • • 例句：A: “I finally finished writing my book.”
    B: “It’s about time! I’ve been waiting for it to be published.”

7. Take up

  • • 出处：B: “Take up an art class or something?”

  • • 解释：这个短语意思是“开始学习或从事某个新活动或爱好”。

  • • 例句：She decided to take up painting to explore her creative side.

8. Make some small changes

  • • 出处：A: “make some small changes in the way I live my life.”

  • • 解释：意思是“做出一些小的改变”，通常指在生活方式、习惯或日常行为中的细微调整，以改善或提升生活质量。

  • • 例句：He wanted to make some small changes to his diet to become healthier.

习语和短语的理解

  • • Turn over a new leaf 和 wipe the slate clean 都涉及到改变和重新开始，但前者更侧重于积极改变，而后者更侧重于彻底清除过去的记录或错误。

  • • Come out of the closet 是一个涉及个人身份和隐私的重要表达，理解其文化和社会背景非常重要。

对话总结

这段对话展示了两个人在新年伊始讨论A决定做出积极改变的情景：

  • • A 宣布自己在新的一年里决定“翻开新的一页”，包括换工作、搬新城市、结交新朋友，并计划做出一些小的生活方式改变。

  • • B 表示支持并进一步询问具体计划，A提到戒烟和公开自己的身份（“come out of the closet”）。

  • • B 对A的决定表示赞同和认可，特别是对于公开身份的决定，认为这是“早该如此”。

通过这段对话，可以看到新年是许多人设定新目标和做出改变的常见时机，表达了个人成长、改变和自我认同的重要性。