第一,情景对话:
A : There is a society ball this Saturday. I think you may want to come. At your age, you should be playing the field.
这周六有一个舞会,我想你或许会参加吧。你这个年龄,应该多去见识一下。
B : Ok, but it is the first time I attend this kind of activity. I just do not know how to behave.
好啊,不过我是第一次参加这样的活动,我不知道搞真么做。
A: You have to present yourself well. Maybe you need a boy as ticket to the inner circle. I should say Tony is good choice.
你要好好表现自己, 或许你需要一个男孩作为进入核心交际圈的门票,我觉得Tony是一个好的选择。
B: Ok. He is that kind of guy that will not cause a scene. I will call him.
好的,他不是那种出什么篓子的男孩,我会打电话给他。
第二,语言点解析:
1. It is a society call.
Ball的基本意思是“球”,但是在这里是指(正式的,盛大的)舞会。例如:Who will open the ball tonight?今晚谁带头跳第一支舞。此外,ball 还可以表示“快乐的时光”,have a ball就相当have a fun,表示“玩得开心,玩得快乐”。
2. At your age, you should be paying the field.
Play the field是一个习惯用语,意思是“从事多种活动,多给自己机会,多试试看”。在社交场合中表示“多交朋友,多见世面”。
例如:We're in college now. You can play the field and meet lots of new college girls.我们现在上大学了,可以见世面,认识很多大学女孩了。