饮食笑话：4、 Before the trouble starts 趁麻烦出现之前

4. Before the trouble starts

A man went into a bar, sat down, called the barman1 and said to him," Give me a drink before the trouble starts."

The barman was busy with other people, so he did not say anything, but he gave the man the drink, and the man drank it quickly. Then he put his glass down, called the barman again and said to him. "Give me another one before the trouble starts."

Again the barman was too busy to2 say anything, so he gave the man his drink and went away. The man drank that too, and then again he called the barman and said to him, "One more drink before the trouble starts, please."

This time the barman was not very busy, so when he brought the man his third drink, he said, "What trouble are you talking about?"

The man finished his drink and answered, "I haven't got any money."

Notes:

1. barman 酒吧招待

2. too...to 太……以至于

趁麻烦出现之前

一名男子走进了一家酒吧，坐定下来便招呼酒吧招待员并对他说：“趁麻烦出现之前先给我来一杯酒。”

酒吧招待员此刻正忙于招待别的顾客，所以也顾不上说什么，不过他给了这名男子要的酒。男子把酒一饮而尽，把酒杯放下，又招呼那个酒吧招待员，说：“趁麻烦出现之前再给我来一杯。”

那个酒吧招待员实在太忙了，还是顾不上问话，给了男子酒后就走开了。这位男子把酒又喝光了，再次招呼酒吧招待员并对他说：“趁麻烦出现前请再给我来一杯。”

这一回，酒吧招待员并不太忙，所以拿来第三杯酒时问道：“你指的麻烦是什么呀？”

男子喝完第三杯酒，回答说：“我身无分文。”

Useful link:

英国街头巷尾到处都有酒吧，喝啤酒已成为英国人的传统习惯之一。有的酒吧已有一百多年的历史。酒吧一般装修得古色古香，有雕花的门窗、磨花的大玻璃窗面和铮亮的吧台。在酒吧喝酒都是先消费后买单，本文出现的耍赖之人毕竟是极少数。