追美剧《生活大爆炸》学口语（5）

　　剧情梗概：Sheldon来找Amy一起下班，正巧Amy在实验室为小猴子做恐惧视觉反应实验，Sheldon也不自觉地成了实验对象。

　　对话文字：

　　Amy: Test subject D7, aka Besty, fear response study. Image number one: Frenchman on bicycle carrying baguettes.

　　Amy: No visible reaction. Image number two: Sousaphone.

　　Amy: Still no reaction. Okay. *Let’s kick things up a notch. Image number three: crocodile with a mouthful of monkeys. Okay, now we’re talking.

　　Sheldon: Dr. Fowler?

　　Amy: What do you want, Sheldon?

　　Sheldon: Well, I’m done with work, so…

　　Amy: Oh, sorry, sorry, sorry. Sorry, uh… Better?

　　Sheldon: Oh, baguettes. Yes, I like baguettes. What exactly are you doing?

　　Amy: Determining baseline fear levels in capuchin monkeys by measuring their response to visual stimuli.

　　Sheldon: So, goofing off. As I was saying, I’m done with work and Leonard’ s not. So good new, you get to take me home. *Play your cards right, I’ll let you drive me past the lot where the buses park at night.

　　Amy: I’m very busy. Besides, why would I want to do you a favor after the way you treated me in the cafeteria?

　　Amy: Image number four: boa constrictor.

　　对话精讲：

　　*kick things up a notch: 这是一个非常口语化的说法。Amy做实验，测试小猴子对不同图片的反应，可是小猴子对前两张图都无动于衷。所以，Amy说，“Let’s kick things up a notch. ” 这里的意思就是要加大点图片的刺激强度。口语中，人们也会说”Kick it up a notch“， 可以用在不同的情况之中，意思都表示要让事情更有趣、更让人兴奋，提高强度。比如在做菜时，你可以说：kick it up a notch with fresh garlic (放些鲜蒜提味)。

　　*play your cards right: 玩牌的时候，你是不是要绞尽脑汁、费尽心机地洞察牌局，再琢磨如何出牌?这个短语从字面上与打牌有关，意思就是“做事有心计、办事高明”。 例如：If you play your cards right, the job could be yours when she leaves. (如果你够有心计，等她走了，这个工作就是你的了。)