英语早间课堂:话说地道美语 Lesson 12 (1)
首先，let's have a review. 大家还记得在第10课中我们讲到的(在财政经济上的)免遭灭顶之灾的地道口语说法吗?它是一个非常有趣的说法：keep one's head above water 可以翻译为：免遭灭顶之灾，免于破产，挣扎生存，不举债，勉强维持生计等等。
【本期主题】
今天我们开始第12课的学习。Lesson twelve: How to say “大失所望”in real American English? 第12课 大失所望，地道美语怎么说?
“大失所望”这个成语出自《史记·高祖本记》。文中写道：“秦人大失所望。”它的意思就是指原来的希望完全落空，描述了一个人失望沮丧，烦恼等不舒适的情绪。It means "upset or unhappy because something you hoped for hasn't happened or not been as good , successful , ect. as you expected". So, how to say it in real American Englsih? We can get it in this sentence: If you don't get the job, try not to let your face fall. 如果你得不到这份工作，也不要大失所望。If you/ don't/ get the job, try not to/ let your face fall. 亲爱的听众朋友，这句话中，您觉得那里表示出了“大失所望”的意思呢?
【课堂详解】
它是含有face, f-a-c-e, 脸，fall, f-a-l-l, 跌落这两个单词的一个使役动词短语结构，它是：let one's face fall, 字面意思是：让某人的脸跌落下来了。生活中，我们春风得意，洋洋自得时，自然会抬头挺胸，而当我们的希望落空，受到挫败时，或多或少有些难受，出于本能我们地会垂下头来。头垂下来了，当然脸也跟着跟着垂落下来了。这个行为动作的描写很容易使我们体验到一个人做这个动作时的当时的心理活动，从而联想出其引申义是“失望”之意。It is similar to saying "disappointed". 其实，在我们桂林也有这样的说法。我们说：“你看，她整天跌着个脸。”就是形容她失望，沮丧，伤心等不愉快的情绪。不知道您的家乡有没有这样的说法。
1 如果要说因“自己的行为” 感到失望。可以在let one's face fall 后面加上介词at 或者是about , 介词at 和about 后面接名词，也可以接相当于名词的肯定结构或者否定结构的动名词或动名词短语。(1) He let his face fall about not being able to go. 他未能去实在感到失望。(2) I didn't let my face fall at failing in the exams again and again let a thing slide. 我考试屡次挂科，但我并没不心烦。顺其自然吧。(3) He let his face fall at ( about ) his failure. 他对他的失败而感到失望。
2 如果要表示因“某一事实或情况”而感到失望，可以在let one's face 后面接介词at/ about/in/by. (1) All of them make their faces fall at the result of the game. 他们对比赛结果极为失望。(2) I let my face fall by the quality of the wine. 我对这酒的质量大失所望。(3) He must be very disappointed in his exam results. 他对他的考试成绩一定非常失望。
3 如果要表示因“得不到某东西”或“实现不了某愿望”而失望，可以在let one's face fall 后面接介词of。( 1 ) I let my face fall of the car. 没有得到车子我感到很失望。( 2 ) He let his face fall of his ambition. 他因实现不了抱负而沮丧。
4 要表述“做某事而感到失望”可以在let one's face后面接肯定结构或者是否定结构的动词不定式。(1)She let her face fall not to be chosen in a beauty contest. 她在选美大赛中没有被选中而大失所望。(2)I didn't let my face fall to know about my husband had an affair with another guy. Let a thing slide. 获悉我丈夫有婚外情，我并不伤心。顺其自然吧。
【课堂总结】
Let's have a summary. 在今天的课堂上，我们学了与"disappointed" 同义的一个很形象的表述法。它是：let one's face fall，与之同义的中文四字成语有：大失所望，黯然神伤，心灰意冷，灰心丧气等。我们还学了这个短语的4个用法：
1 let one's fall at /about doing something ( or not doing something ) 对“自己的行为”失望。
2 let one's face fall at /by/in / about something 因“某一事实或情况”而失望。
3 let one's face of something 因“得不到某东西”或“实现不了某愿望”而失望。
4 let one's face fall (not) to do something 做某事或者是没做成某事而感到失望。
【课后习题】
习题一：Please complete the following sentences.
1 我希望能与他促膝相谈，可是当我到他家时找不到他，我有点失望。
I hoped to talk to with him , but I my face him my arrival his building. 2 秘书对自己未能如愿获得提薪而深感失望。
The secretary let fall getting pay that she hoped .
习题二：请找出下面句子中的错误并改正过来。
1 He lets his face to fall by not getting the job, but he gets above it. 2 John lets my face fall because he makes the same mistakes over and over.
