How to say it in American English

Jessica 在北京学中文，她的中国朋友要是遇到了不知道用美语怎么说的词，就会来请教她。今天是方方要问的：保质期。

FF: Jessica, 你过来帮我看看，这个牛奶是不是过期了呀?

Jessica: Let me see...Hmm, I'm not sure. When did you get this?

FF: 两周前吧! 那时候牛奶大减价，我就一口气买了4瓶! 贪便宜, 可是忘了看保质期……

Jessica: Milk normally has a shelf life of a week. Shelf is spelled s-h-e-l-f, 是货架的意思。shelf life 能够放在货架上的日子，也就是保质期!

FF: 原来是这样! 那我都买两个礼拜了，我看这牛奶肯定过期了……

Jessica: I bet you're right. I think this milk is past-date. You'd better throw it away!

FF: Past-date, 这里的date就是盒子上标识的生产日期。past-date 也就是过期了的意思! 真可惜，这可是最好的牛奶，这些牛都是只吃鲜草，听古典音乐长大的!

Jessica: That sounds like a top shelf product to me! 高档商品!

FF: Top shelf, 在货架上最高的地方，就是指高档货! 那相对来说，价格便宜的产品又要怎么说呢?

Jessica: It's the opposite of that. We call it a bottom shelf product. Basically less expensive stuff is put on the bottom shelf.

FF:Top shelf product, 高档货，bottom shelf product, 便宜货! 我记住了。

Jessica: 好！那你说说看，What have you learned today?

FF: 今天我们学到的内容包括：第一，保质期是shelf life；第二，过了保质期可以用 past-date；第三，高级货叫做top shelf product, 便宜货叫做bottom shelf product!

这次的"美语怎么说"就到这里了。如果你也有不会说的词，请写信给Jessica, 电邮请寄meiyu@voanews.com

A: Yeah....my eyes are bigger than my stomach and I usually end up with a lot of past-date products in my fridge....

B: Haha, my stomach is JUST as big as my eyes. I learned to never go to the supermarket with an empty stomach or else I will end up buying a mountain of food!

A: 对啊，要是这样还得去锻炼，太累了……

B: No way! Working out and playing sports can be so much fun!! You know I love anything that lets me compete!

A: You know, you're right- there are lots of ways to get in shape! 在今天的美语三级跳里，我们再带您去看一场篮球比赛，不过这回不是NBA, 是特别的儿童篮球!

B: Let's listen!