Zodiac · 2007 — 第 11 / 30 章 · 4'54" · B2

破解杀手密信:What's your angle?

有人把十二宫的第一封密信当成童子军级别的替换密码,靠一个双写的 L 和 kill 这个词,一点点拆出字母,让整组密码逐渐清晰。另一边有人追问对方 What's your angle?(你打的什么算盘),也不忘提醒 you can't be too careful(再小心也不为过)。想拆穿别人的动机、想劝人别大意,这两句最趁手。

发生了什么

有人把十二宫的第一封密信当作童子军版的替换密码来拆:双写辅音最常是 L,词里一定会出现 kill,于是从「A 是一、B 是二」一路推出整张符号表。另一边,杀手写信给梅尔文·贝利,说自己很难 hold it in check(把那股冲动控制住),这封信像一声 a cry for help(求救的呼喊);可对方并不买账,反问想做什么、What's your angle?(你打的什么算盘)。想说出「控制住某种冲动」、形容「求救的信号」、或质疑别人动机时,这几句都能直接用。

法律与调查 · 查案推理冲突 · 审讯盘问解释质问律师与客户B2快速美音无脏话
IMDb ↗

这场戏看什么

  • 对比童子军解题和律师舞台腔
  • 听私人信件为何还是见报
  • 注意修车人出现的时机

留意这几个短语

boy scoutshold something in checkcan't be too carefulWhat's your angle?

00:00 / 04:54
空格 播放 · ← → 换句 · R 单句循环
此刻
  1. ❝ 独白从双L找到kill10 句专题跟读 ↗
点一句台词就从那里放

本章短语

What's your angle?

你打的什么算盘、图什么what are you really trying to get out of this

妻子一听丈夫要掺和这桩案子,立刻反问 What's your angle,戳破他并不单纯的动机。

You never offer to drive me anywhere. What's your angle?你从来不主动送我,这次打的什么算盘?

本章还有

  • boy scouts

    童子军

  • hold something in check

    把……控制住

  • can't be too careful

    再小心也不为过

本章全部批注

78 句台词里标了 31 处

短语 · B1used to do something

过去常做某事

It's just a simple substitution code like the one that we used to do as boy scouts.
语法 · B1the one that we used to do

定语从句加 used to:用 that 引出定语从句修饰前面的名词,从句里用 used to 表示过去常做的事。作者点出这套密码不过是小时候童子军玩过的把戏,一下子把它的神秘感拉低了不少。

It's just a simple substitution code like the one that we used to do as boy scouts.
短语 · A2not that hard

没那么难

Well, it's not that hard. You just got to know where to start.
语法 · B1just got to know where to start

got to 表不得不:got to 在口语里就是不得不、得去的意思,比完整的说法随意。这里说这套密码没那么难,只要知道从哪儿下手就行,语气里带着熟人式的不耐烦和笃定。

Well, it's not that hard. You just got to know where to start.
发音not that hard

that 在这里弱读,几乎只剩一个很轻的音,重音落在 not 和 hard 上,说法才显得轻描淡写。

Well, it's not that hard. You just got to know where to start.
短语 · B1carry something around

随身带着

You actually carry that around with you?
短语 · B1start doing something

动手去寻找

So the Hardens start looking for double symbols, which they find here, here, and here.
短语 · B1stand for something

代表、表示

So now they've got a repeating four-letterword ending with two symbols that they assume stand for "L."
语法 · B2ending with two symbols that they assume stand for

ending 引导的分词短语:ending with 是分词短语,放在名词后面补充说明它长什么样;stand for 表示某个符号代表什么。两个结构一起把破解思路讲清楚:先看尾巴,再猜符号对应哪个字母。

So now they've got a repeating four-letterword ending with two symbols that they assume stand for "L."
短语 · B1figure something out

弄明白、破解

But how do you go from "A" is one and "B" is two to figuring out this whole code?
语法 · B2from "A" is one and "B" is two to figuring out

go from 甲 to 乙 结构:go from 甲 to 乙 是「从……到……」的固定说法,中间可以塞进一整段描述。这里用它发问:从最简单的字母对应,怎么一步步走到破解整段密码,把过程的反差摆了出来。

But how do you go from "A" is one and "B" is two to figuring out this whole code?
短语 · A2Guess what ...

你猜怎么着

Guess what it's called?
发音Guess what it's called

what 与 it's 连读时,it's 的元音被吞掉,几乎并成一个音,听起来像 wuh-its,问句的悬念感靠语调顶起来。

Guess what it's called?
短语 · B2want something out of something

想从中得到什么

What do you want out of this?
短语 · B2what's your angle

你打的什么算盘、图什么

妻子一听丈夫要掺和这桩案子,立刻反问 What's your angle,戳破他并不单纯的动机。

-What? -What's your angle?
俚语 · B2angle

藏在表面下的算盘、真实意图——angle 在口语里指一个人没说出口的动机,问 what's your angle 就是质疑对方别有所图。朋友之间也能半开玩笑地用,但怀疑的味道很重,正式场合会换成更中性的说法。

-What? -What's your angle?
短语 · A2make a phone call

打个电话

I'll be up in a minute. I need to make a phone call.
短语 · B1check with someone

跟某人核实

I'll have Vallejo and Napa check with their city planners.
短语 · A2get some sleep

睡会儿觉

-Get some sleep. -Yeah, sure.
短语 · B2the one thing I ask of you

我对你的唯一请求

"The one thing I ask of you is this. Please help me.
短语 · B2reach out for help

伸手求助

"I cannot reach out for help because this thing in me won't let me."
发音reach out for help

reach out 连读,out 末尾的音接上 for,for 又弱读,整串听起来像 rea-chau-for help,几乎不停顿。

"I cannot reach out for help because this thing in me won't let me."
短语 · B2hold something in check

把……控制住

凶手在信里说,自己越来越难把那股冲动压住,还怕再一次失控。

"I am finding it extremely difficult to hold it in check "and I am afraid I will lose control again
语法 · B2finding it extremely difficult to hold it in check

find it 加形容词加不定式:find it 后面接形容词,再接不定式,表示觉得做某事有多么难。这里说控制自己变得极其困难,重点被推到句尾,读起来很沉,也让后面担心失控的话更有分量。

"I am finding it extremely difficult to hold it in check "and I am afraid I will lose control again
短语 · B2reach out to someone

向某人伸出触角

Melvin, he's reaching out to you.
短语 · B2a cry for help

求救的呼喊

It is a cry for help, intended as a private communiqué.
短语 · B1Do you mind if ...

你介意……吗

He's kind of crafty like that. Do you mind if I speak to her?
语法 · B1Do you mind if I speak to her

Do you mind if 表礼貌询问:Do you mind if 后面接一个完整小句,用来客气地征求同意,比直接发问更委婉。这里他想找管家问话,先礼后问,显得礼貌又不失目的性。

He's kind of crafty like that. Do you mind if I speak to her?
俚语 · B2crafty

狡猾、有心眼——crafty 形容人机灵但常用在歪处,带一点贬义又带一点佩服。熟人之间说某人 crafty 多是调侃,正式评价里会换成更明确的说法。

He's kind of crafty like that. Do you mind if I speak to her?
短语 · B2can't be too careful

再小心也不为过

陌生人主动提出帮忙拧紧轮胎螺丝,对方客气地应下,他用这句话替这份提防找台阶。

Well, you can't be too careful.
发音can't be too careful

can't 收得短促,be 几乎吞掉,重音落在 too 和 careful 上,谨慎的口气全压在后半句。

Well, you can't be too careful.

看懂「破解杀手密信」

这一章能学到

  • 会问 what's your angle
  • 听懂 cry for help 是求救包装
  • 见到 in his blood 知是骨子里
  • 能用 can't be too careful

发音重点

  • not that hard — that 在这里弱读,几乎只剩一个很轻的音,重音落在 not 和 hard 上,说法才显得轻描淡写。
  • Guess what it's called — what 与 it's 连读时,it's 的元音被吞掉,几乎并成一个音,听起来像 wuh-its,问句的悬念感靠语调顶起来。
  • reach out for help — reach out 连读,out 末尾的音接上 for,for 又弱读,整串听起来像 rea-chau-for help,几乎不停顿。
  • can't be too careful — can't 收得短促,be 几乎吞掉,重音落在 too 和 careful 上,谨慎的口气全压在后半句。
It is a cry for help, intended as a private communiqué.

这是一声求救,本来是写给我的私人信件。 把一封沾着血的信重新定义成「求救」,一句话翻转了整件事的性质。cry for help 是固定说法,intended as 又把用途交代清楚,冷静而有分量。

Even though he tries to ignore it, it drives him.

就算他想无视,它也照样驱使着他。 把「越抗拒越被推着走」的困境说得干净又有力。它不评判,只描述,却让人听见一个人被自己拖着的无力感,可以用来说任何戒不掉的冲动。

Could be. Or maybe he just likes the attention.

有可能。也可能他只是喜欢被关注。 一半附和、一半拆穿,把高深的心理分析拉回到最俗气的可能。它提醒人别把什么事都往深里想,换到任何被过度解读的场合都能用。

Well, you can't be too careful.

小心一点总没错。 一句人人都能随手用的处世话:宁可多留个心眼。它不吓唬人,也不说教,只是替谨慎找个大家都认的理由。

关于这一章的问题

What's your angle? 是什么意思?

字面是「你的角度是什么」,实际在问对方「你打的什么算盘、图什么」。当有人突然特别热心,你怀疑他别有目的,就可以用这句,语气偏警惕。

「再小心也不为过」英语怎么说?

can't be too careful。说的是这种事怎么谨慎都不算过分,常用来劝人提防、别嫌麻烦。戏里帮忙拧个车轮,也顺口说了这么一句。

「把冲动控制住」英语怎么说?

hold something in check,意思是把某种情绪或冲动压住、别让它失控。信里说自己很难 hold it in check,就是坦白快控制不住那股杀人的冲动。

这封密信是怎么被拆出来的?

先假设它是替换密码:英语里最常见的双写辅音是 L,而杀手几乎一定会写到 kill 这个词。顺着双写符号和 kill 的四个字母反复试,整张符号表就一点点推出来了。

「求救的呼喊」英语怎么说?

a cry for help。信里说他没法向外求助,这封信读起来像一声求救;但也有人怀疑,这只是他博取关注的手段。

梅尔文真的相信这是求救信吗?

他把它说成「窥视灵魂的一扇窗」,认为杀人是对方的强迫症;也有人不买账,觉得杀手只是喜欢被人关注,两种解读针锋相对。

十二宫 · 共 30 章

全部章节 →
下一章 · 第 12 章the more the merrier搭车遇险跳车逃生
第 1 章creep someone out烟花夜停车遭枪击第 2 章I wouldn't kid you收到凶手的认罪信第 3 章shed light on编辑部争论要不要登密码第 4 章get any ideas湖边情侣遭持枪挟持第 5 章a hell of a get-up湖边双尸案与电台争论第 6 章flag a cab出租车司机遇害查案第 7 章did in杀手来信扬言扫射校车第 8 章skip town跨辖区互相踢皮球第 9 章at a moment's notice电视直播等杀手来电第 10 章crack the code秘密会面里接凶手电话正在看 · 第 11 章What's your angle?破解杀手密信第 12 章the more the merrier搭车遇险跳车逃生第 13 章come out of the woodwork翻旧报戳穿凶手抄新闻第 14 章in my gut约会饭桌上聊凶案第 15 章beat the bushes交换案卷时吵翻第 16 章lost in the shuffle线人供出可疑钓友第 17 章the whole point审讯室里盘问嫌疑人第 18 章greener pastures警方约谈凶嫌母亲第 19 章home turf拼证据申请搜查令第 20 章tore out of here搜查嫌疑人的拖车住处第 21 章holding the bag老同事交车告别第 22 章fade into a footnote酒吧劝人写书被泼冷水第 23 章yesterday's news软磨硬泡求看案卷第 24 章more than just a coincidence追查杀手生日的线索第 25 章tread lightly追查马歇尔笔迹第 26 章blow over新信反咬办案警探第 27 章put yourself out there瞒着家人追查旧案第 28 章get it in your head追查神秘胶片罐的线报第 29 章the date that didn't end追问刷漆聚会旧事第 30 章cancel each other out上门说服老搭档
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