这场戏：接长途电话为女婿拌嘴
第 2 章 · 共 16 章 · 2'10"
退休晚宴刚散场，珍妮打来长途电话，沃伦对着话筒说 You've got bigger fish to fry（有更重要的事要忙），转头又被妻子追问有没有当面谢过未来女婿。想安慰人别为小事分心，或者收到贵重礼物想说句 You sure went overboard（你们太破费了），这两句都能直接用。
安慰女儿别惦记：You've got bigger fish to fry（有更重要的事要忙）
don't give it another thought 别再想这事了、别放在心上bigger fish to fry 有更重要的事要忙went overboard 太破费、做得过火come in handy 派得上用场、正好用得上
这是沃伦退休后的一通长途电话。珍妮在电话那头问他退休晚宴办得怎么样，又说和兰德尔送了他一件浴袍。沃伦嘴上说 it went just fine（挺顺利的），又用 You've got bigger fish to fry（有更重要的事要忙）让女儿别惦记，还说浴袍 sure gonna come in handy（正好派得上用场）。挂了电话，妻子海伦却追问他有没有当面谢过兰德尔，怪他应该 make an effort（主动点）。整通电话里有安慰、有客套、也有夫妻拌嘴，学的是英语里怎样轻描淡写地推掉人情，又怎样地道的道谢和抱怨。
A1–C2 是欧标等级。点一个等级后，比它高的卡片会变淡，播放到那里不会自动暂停。
“You've got bigger fish to fry.”
你还有更重要的事要忙呢。
用一句厨房比喻把对方的道歉轻轻挡回去，体面又省事。
have bigger fish to fry
别人为小事道歉时用，表示那不算什么，正式场合偏口语。
You have more important things to deal with. ／ That's the least of your worries.
口语
重音落在 big、fish、fry 三处，got 轻轻带过。
Don't worry about missing my birthday; you've got bigger fish to fry. 别为错过我生日过意不去，你手头有更要紧的事。
“I wish you'd try to be more positive.”
我希望你能试着往好处想。
wish + would 的抱怨句式，把不满裹在愿望里，比直骂更扎人。
I wish you'd ...
对亲近的人长期不满却不想撕破脸时说，对陌生人少用。
I wish you would lighten up a bit. ／ I just wish you weren't so negative.
中性
you'd 弱读成 youd，重音在 positive 上。
I wish you'd try to see what is working for once. 我希望你也能试着看看哪部分是行得通的。
“You know, my father didn't think so much of you at first.”
你知道吗，我爸一开始没太看得上你。
把长辈的旧眼光当武器甩出来，一句家常话里全是较劲。
not think much of someone
熟人之间翻旧账、回敬指责时说，饭桌上容易点着火。
He didn't rate you much back then. ／ He wasn't impressed by you at first.
口语
think so much of you 连成一串，at first 收得轻。
My mother didn't think much of the plan either, and look where we are. 我妈当初也不看好这个计划，你看现在呢。
“You should've asked for him. You should make an effort.”
你本该点名找他说说话的。你总得主动一点。
两句 should 叠着来，把不满裹进道理里，是长辈式责备最标准的句法。
You should've ... You should ...
提醒家人或朋友该做却没做的事时用；对上级或长辈说会显得指手画脚，别这么说。
You should have reached out to him. ／ You could at least make an effort.
口语
should've 读成 /ˈʃʊdəv/，effort 重音在前，第二句放慢加重责备。
You should've called her back. You should make an effort. 你本该给她回个电话，你得主动点。
下一章 · 03work out that way结果没照设想走这场戏：退休老人给养子录自我介绍字面是「有更大的鱼要煎」，实际指手头有更要紧的事要忙。别人为失约或小事道歉时，用它表示「别在意，你有正事」。这是英语里很常见的安慰说法。
可以说 You went overboard. go overboard 意思就是做得过火、花钱太狠。收到贵重礼物时用它，语气半是道谢半是心疼对方花钱。
意思是派得上用场、正好用得上。收到实用的礼物、买对了东西，都可以说 it's gonna come in handy。比 useful 更口语，带点「正好解了燃眉之急」的感觉。
不只是努力，更强调主动花心思去经营。妻子嫌沃伦对女婿不上心，说 You should make an effort，就是「你该主动点、用点心」。用在人际关系上很自然。
son-in-law 是女婿，也就是女儿的丈夫；daughter-in-law 是儿媳，儿子的妻子。都是通过婚姻成为家人，所以带 in-law。台词里说兰德尔是沃伦的 son-in-law。
