Chapter 6 of 13 · 1'48"
Presidents on a Train 火车冒名IMDb ↗
冒充大人物之后，普通人也会露馅
My Fellow Americans · 1996
CEFR B1IELTS 5.5train雅思Identity
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Slang marksOrange dots: slang / colloquial
Grammar marksPurple dots: clauses / asides
Sound marksGreen waves: linking / weak forms
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The story so far
Everything you need before watchingTraveling incognito on a train, two former presidents overhear strangers judging their looks, love lives, and political legacies. The conversation shifts from casual celebrity gossip to a merciless verdict on whether older leaders should step aside. Their casual remarks reveal how public approval can outlast a presidency. As the men try to hide their irritation—and one very awkward incident—the scene turns public humiliation into sharp, absurd comedy.
拉
Russell Kramerformer president
马
Matthew Douglasformer president
Chapters
13 parts · AI-cut01An Awkward Golf Talk自以为坦率的人，往往最不会说话B21'34"02Scandal in the Archives旧账一翻出来，所有人都想改口B21'32"03Taken from Home争吵还没结束，危险已经找上门来B21'30"04Flight Gone Wrong命令说得再清楚，也未必有人敢执行B22'00"05Survival and Evidence被追杀的人，先要学会怎么活下来B22'12"06Presidents on a Train冒充大人物之后，普通人也会露馅B11'48"07An Unlikely Ride陌生人好心搭车，嘴上却不肯留情B12'07"08Old Rivals Open Up老对手一聊到过去，嘴硬的人先松口B12'02"09Politics in the Back Seat被逼到绝路的人，终于敢问一句真话B23'49"10Evidence in the Library查一份旧记录，才能看见谁在说谎B23'09"11Breaking the Cover-Up真相一开口，所有借口都会裂开B23'37"12Escape Through the Tunnel逃命路上还要斗嘴，越危险越不服输B21'33"13Haney Faces the Truth真相摆到眼前，最会装的人先慌了B21'34"
00:00 / 01:48
GoldenTeaching
Transcript
00:02
Hey, everybody.
嘿，大家好。
00:05
Thank you very much.
非常感谢。
00:06
Thank you.
谢谢。
00:13
Oh, this is going to be fun.
哦，这下可有意思了。
00:23
It's spooky. He really looks like him.
真吓人。他简直跟那人一模一样。
00:25
Nah , his nose is bigger.
才不是，他的鼻子更大。
00:27
Mister,
先生，
00:28
have you ever met the real President Kramer ?
你见过真正的克莱默总统吗？
00:30
Actually, I have. A great American.
见过。那可是位了不起的美国人。
00:33
Give me a break!
得了吧！
00:34
Our dreams are like children? They need to be nurtured.
我们的梦想就像孩子一样？得好好呵护。
00:37
They need to be supported. They need to eat their vegetables.
得有人支持，还得吃蔬菜长大。
00:41
Prick .
混蛋。
00:43
This is so weird.
这也太诡异了。
00:44
I shouldn't tell you this, but a couple of years ago ,
我本来不该告诉你，但几年前，
00:46
I had a thing with the real President Douglas
我曾跟真正的道格拉斯总统有过一段关系，
00:49
at a fourth of July do . And we did.
是在一次七月四日的聚会上。我们还真发生过点什么。
00:52
How about that.
你说巧不巧。
00:54
Stick a fork in the guy. He's done.
这家伙没戏了，彻底完蛋。
00:56
He was president. He had his four years.
他当过总统，四年任期也结束了。
00:58
We don't need another piece-of-crap book from him.
我们不需要他再写一本狗屁书。
01:00
I thought he was a good president.
我觉得他是个好总统。
01:02
All these old guys, they want to stay in the game , but they don't have it anymore.
这些老家伙都想继续留在牌局里，可他们已经没那个能耐了。
01:05
Lie down, old fella , you're dead, and you don't know it!
躺下吧，老伙计，你都死了，只是自己还不知道！
01:09
Hey! Did you see that?
嘿！你看见了吗？
01:11
A muscle spasm. I've been getting them lately.
肌肉痉挛。最近老是这样。
01:13
I'm terribly sorry. I don't know what--
真是对不起，我也不知道怎么——
01:14
They just-- There it goes again.
它就是突然——你看，又来了。
01:16
It just seems to-- It's very embarrassing.
它好像就是——真让人难堪。
01:18
I'd better go and take my medication .
我最好去吃药了。
01:21
I hope you don't mind my asking , but how was he? Any good?
希望你不介意我问一句，他怎么样？那方面厉害吗？
01:23
Well, to tell you the truth, it was a lot like his presidency.
说实话，跟他的总统任期差不多。
01:26
There was a lot of talk leading up to it ,
事前声势造得很大，
01:28
but then he didn't do much .
可真到了时候，他没干多少事。
01:31
Excuse me.
借过。
01:33
Douglas, this thing stops in Akron,
道格拉斯，这趟车停靠阿克伦，
01:36
which isn't far from Cuyahoga Falls where my library is .
离我图书馆所在的凯霍加福尔斯不远。
01:39
What's it doing there? Weren't you born in Cleveland?
它怎么会停那儿？你不是出生在克利夫兰吗？
01:41
Well, yeah, I was, but Cleveland wouldn't cut me a decent deal
是啊，我是，但克利夫兰不肯在房产税上给我一个像样的条件，
01:43
on the property taxes.
在房产税这件事上。
01:45
I mean, moving that house was a bitch ,
我的意思是，搬那栋房子可真够折腾的，
01:46
but the financial benefits have been fantastic.
不过经济上的好处实在太可观了。
Language points
Click a card to jump to its moment in the videoPronunciation↩ 00:13
going to be
going to常弱读成gonna，to和be不要逐字重读。
Oh, this is going to be fun.
哦，这下可有意思了。
SlangA2↩ 00:25
Nah
不，才不是——随意否定，熟人聊天和口语中使用。
Nah , his nose is bigger.
才不是，他的鼻子更大。
GrammarB1↩ 00:28
have you ever met the real President Kramer
现在完成时：have met询问截至现在的人生经历，ever加强“曾经”。
have you ever met the real President Kramer ?
你见过真正的克莱默总统吗？
Pronunciation↩ 00:28
have you ever
have、you、ever快速弱读，重音落在met和real。
have you ever met the real President Kramer ?
你见过真正的克莱默总统吗？
Pronunciation↩ 00:33
Give me a
me和a弱读，整组一口气带过，break承担主要重音。
Give me a break!
得了吧！
SlangB1↩ 00:41
Prick
混蛋——侮辱人的粗俗称呼，正式场合禁用。
Prick .
混蛋。
CollocationA2↩ 00:44
a couple of years ago
a couple of years ago
几年前
I shouldn't tell you this, but a couple of years ago ,
我本来不该告诉你，但几年前，
SlangB2↩ 00:49
do
聚会——非正式地指社交活动或聚会。
at a fourth of July do . And we did.
是在一次七月四日的聚会上。我们还真发生过点什么。
SlangB1↩ 00:58
piece-of-crap
烂透的东西——强烈贬损质量，粗俗口语，正式场合别用。
We don't need another piece-of-crap book from him.
我们不需要他再写一本狗屁书。
GrammarB1↩ 01:02
All these old guys, they want to stay in the game
话题前置：先提出话题，再用they补出主语，口语中用于强调评价对象。
All these old guys, they want to stay in the game , but they don't have it anymore.
这些老家伙都想继续留在牌局里，可他们已经没那个能耐了。
SlangB1↩ 01:05
old fella
老伙计，老家伙——非正式称呼，可亲昵也可带嘲讽。
Lie down, old fella , you're dead, and you don't know it!
躺下吧，老伙计，你都死了，只是自己还不知道！
CollocationA2↩ 01:18
take one's medication
take one's medication
服用自己的药
I'd better go and take my medication .
我最好去吃药了。
Pronunciation↩ 01:18
go and take
go and自然连读，and弱读，take清楚落下重音。
I'd better go and take my medication .
我最好去吃药了。
Pronunciation↩ 01:21
mind my asking
mind my asking连续带过，d与m衔接，不要逐词停顿。
I hope you don't mind my asking , but how was he? Any good?
希望你不介意我问一句，他怎么样？那方面厉害吗？
CollocationB1↩ 01:26
lead up to something
lead up to something
为某事逐步铺垫
There was a lot of talk leading up to it ,
事前声势造得很大，
Pronunciation↩ 01:28
didn't do much
重读didn't和much，do弱读，突出“没做多少”的反差。
but then he didn't do much .
可真到了时候，他没干多少事。
GrammarB2↩ 01:36
which isn't far from Cuyahoga Falls where my library is
双重定语从句：which补充说明地点，where再说明图书馆所在位置。
which isn't far from Cuyahoga Falls where my library is .
离我图书馆所在的凯霍加福尔斯不远。
CollocationB1↩ 01:41
cut someone a decent deal
cut someone a decent deal
给某人一个像样的条件
Well, yeah, I was, but Cleveland wouldn't cut me a decent deal
是啊，我是，但克利夫兰不肯在房产税上给我一个像样的条件，
GrammarB1↩ 01:41
Cleveland wouldn't cut me a decent deal
would表拒绝：wouldn't表示过去反复不肯或拒绝做某事，不是单纯将来时。
Well, yeah, I was, but Cleveland wouldn't cut me a decent deal
是啊，我是，但克利夫兰不肯在房产税上给我一个像样的条件，
GrammarB1↩ 01:45
moving that house
动名词主语：moving作动名词，整体充当主语，意思是“搬那栋房子这件事”。
I mean, moving that house was a bitch ,
我的意思是，搬那栋房子可真够折腾的，
SlangB2↩ 01:45
a bitch
很棘手的事——粗俗口语，形容任务难搞或非常折腾。
I mean, moving that house was a bitch ,
我的意思是，搬那栋房子可真够折腾的，
CollocationB1↩ 01:46
financial benefits
financial benefits
经济收益
but the financial benefits have been fantastic.
不过经济上的好处实在太可观了。
Teaching points
Review right after watchingMy level
auto-pauses
IdiomB1↩ 00:33
give me a break
得了吧，别逗了
In the scene听到有人自称认识总统时，乘客不耐烦地表示不信。
Give me a break—I only missed one email.得了吧，我不就漏看了一封邮件吗。
In daily life
朋友迟到Give me a break—you were late yesterday too.得了吧，你昨天也迟到了。
above my level
SlangB2↩ 00:46
have a thing with someone
和某人有过暧昧关系
In the scene乘客含蓄暗示自己曾和真正的道格拉斯总统发生过关系。
She had a thing with her lab partner in college.她大学时和实验搭档有过一段暧昧关系。
In daily life
聊旧情He had a thing with a coworker years ago.他多年前和一位同事有过一段关系。
above my level
IdiomB2↩ 00:54
stick a fork in someone or something
完了，没救了
In the scene乘客断言卸任总统已经过气，不值得再关注。
After three failed repairs, stick a fork in this laptop.修了三次都失败，这台笔记本算是没救了。
In daily life
取消计划The venue lost power, so stick a fork in the concert.场地停电了，这场演唱会算泡汤了。
auto-pauses
SwearingB1↩ 00:58
piece-of-crap
烂透的东西
In the scene乘客嫌弃前总统又写新书，把书骂得一文不值。
I paid too much for this piece-of-crap printer.我为这台破打印机花了太多钱。
In daily life
抱怨设备This piece-of-crap charger stopped working again.这个破充电器又坏了。
above my level
IdiomB2↩ 01:02
stay in the game
继续留在竞争中
In the scene乘客认为老政治人物还想保持影响力，却已经没有当年的能力。
One strong quarter could keep the small company in the game.一个强劲季度就可能让这家小公司继续留在竞争中。
In daily life
创业竞争Lower prices helped the family shop stay in the game.降价让这家家庭小店留在了竞争中。
above my level
PunB2↩ 01:21
any good
怎么样，厉害吗
In the scene对方顺着情史追问床上表现，故意让问题同时像在评价总统。
I tried the new bakery. Any good?我去试了那家新面包店。怎么样，值得吗？
In daily life
问电影评价You watched the new series—any good?你看了那部新剧？好看吗？
above my level
IronyB2↩ 01:23
a lot like something
很像……
In the scene把总统任期“声势大、行动少”的评价移来形容私生活，形成辛辣反讽。
The launch was a lot like the rehearsal: noisy but disorganized.发布会很像彩排：动静很大，却乱七八糟。
In daily life
评价会议The meeting was a lot like the last one—long and unproductive.这次会议很像上次：又长又没效率。
auto-pauses
CollocationB1↩ 01:41
cut someone a decent deal
给某人一个好条件
In the scene道格拉斯解释为何把总统图书馆设在别处，因为克利夫兰没给优惠。
The landlord cut us a decent deal on the first month's rent.房东在第一个月房租上给了我们一个不错的优惠。
In daily life
谈租金The seller cut me a deal because I bought two chairs.因为我买了两把椅子，卖家给了我优惠。
Golden lines
A great line in its own right — why and how to use it“Our dreams are like children? They need to be nurtured.”
我们的梦想就像孩子一样？得好好呵护。
Why it's great
把抽象的梦想写成需要照料的孩子，认真里带着荒诞感。
Pattern
Our X are like Y? They need to be...
When to use
谈目标、项目或习惯需要持续投入时使用。
Similar
Our plans are like plants; they need sunlight. ／ Ideas are like children; they need room to grow.
Register
neutral
Shadowing tip
重读dreams、children、nurtured，问句后短停再落调。
Use it yourself
鼓励团队Our new project is like a garden; it needs patience.我们的新项目像一座花园，需要耐心。
“Stick a fork in the guy. He's done.”
这家伙没戏了，彻底完蛋。
Why it's great
用插叉子表示“可以收摊”，把对人的否定说得又狠又有画面。
Pattern
Stick a fork in someone/something.
When to use
判断项目、比赛或某人已经无望时，非正式使用。
Similar
That deal is finished. ／ The campaign is over.
Register
informal
Shadowing tip
Stick a fork in要连成一组，guy和done重读，结尾干脆降调。
Use it yourself
项目失败After three failed repairs, stick a fork in this laptop.修了三次都失败，这台笔记本算是没救了。
“Well, to tell you the truth, it was a lot like his presidency.”
说实话，跟他的总统任期差不多。
Why it's great
先用委婉开场，再用政治评价制造性暗示，反讽转折很利落。
Pattern
To tell you the truth, it was a lot like...
When to use
准备坦白真实评价，尤其是评价不太好时套用。
Similar
To tell you the truth, it was a lot like my old job. ／ Honestly, it was very similar to last year.
Register
neutral
Shadowing tip
to tell you the truth轻读，a lot和presidency重读，最后留出讽刺余韵。
Use it yourself
评价旅行To tell you the truth, the trip was a lot like work.说实话，这趟旅行跟上班差不多。