大家伙，欢迎您继续和Rose一起学习地道的英语表达法。今天我们的故事主角是一个非常不自信的小女孩儿在朋友的要求下参加了一个talent contest才艺表演。不想却大受欢迎。不过，这次经历对小女孩儿的影响还真不好说。一起听小故事，同时看看地毯，毛巾，针头线脑的是如何被应用在习语中的吧。

My friend Marta wanted me to be in the talent contest with her. I didn't want to get onstage. I have no talent. But she said that I was a wet blanket and that I never wanted to do anything fun. I decide to throw in the towel and not to argue with her.At the contest, Marta sang a Beatles song. Then it was my turn. Fortunately, I'd found one of my nephew's old puppets. I did a ventriloquist act. My friends who saw me onstage must have thought I had a screw loose. I was surprised that the audience laughed and seemed to enjoy my act. Then it was time for the winner of the contest to be named. I could see Marta, waiting on pins and needles, hoping to win. I could see that she was angry when my name was called. She didn't talk to me for a week. But now we've burid the hatchet and we are freidns again. But my victory was a flash in the pan. I have never been onstage before and since.

一个很强势和一个很弱势的人做朋友。“I”即便被说成是a wet blanket，也只是决定throw in the towel。这两个短语的字面意思分别是“一条湿毯子”和“扔毛巾”，用于指代“扫兴的人”和“拱手认输”的意思。 比如： Don't bring Robert to the picnic. He's a wet blanket. 别带Robert去野餐。他总是很扫兴。The game is not over yet! Don't throw in the towel so soon! 比赛还没结束呢，不要这么轻易就拱手认输。

一向低调，弱势，突然站在舞台上，也就难怪大家会认为是had a screw loose了。这个短语字面意思为，有一个螺丝松动了。也就是处于不正常的状态，我们翻译为“精神不正常，出毛病的”。比如：He has a screw loose to quit such a good job. 他辞掉这么好的工作，一定是精神不正常了。
文中的I，表演了一段口技，并大获赞赏。但这一切只是让“我”意外，惊讶，但“我”的朋友Marta可一个非常强势又好胜心很强的人。所以在宣布比赛结果时会on pins and needles，坐立不安，如坐针毡的，就不奇怪了。在得知我得了冠军之后甚至一个星期不和我说话。好在，现在我们已经bury the hatchet, 埋了小斧子，不再互斗，也就是“尽弃前嫌，言归于好”。再比如：All right.

Let's bury the hatchet and be friends. 好了。让我们摈弃前嫌，成为朋友吧。

一次胜利并没有改变什么，仅仅是a flash in the pan，锅里的一个小火花。也就是我们常说的“昙花一现”。之前和之后，我都没有上过舞台。其实，现实生活中的一次成功常常可以改变很多人，让人变的更自信，更有战斗力。机会还是需要自己争取，自己创造。好了，听一下本期的问题吧：Is a wet blanket a person who is fun to be with? 我们下期再见。