女性の英会話劇場Woman's Story

Scene 5-8 中級 If I Had Words

A total disaster

Scarlett has found out her exam results and signed up to sit the French exam again in three months time. She goes to talk to Jacques

Lesson

Dialogダイアログ
Explanationsフレーズ解説
Translation日本語訳

Dialog

繰り返し聴いて英語の自然なリズムを身につけましょう。

Scarlett: Jacques, I got my exam results today.

Jacques: Really? And?

Scarlett: Just as I thought. I failed miserably. The listening and
reading comprehension were a total disaster. But I did score
quite well in the speaking, which was a nice surprise.

Jacques: Well, I’m glad there was some good news.

Scarlett: Anyway, I’ve decided to take the exam again in three months,
so could you tell me about that study method you were talking
about that only takes fifteen minutes a day?

Jacques: It’s very simple really. You spend the first five minutes
revising what you’ve studied the day before, the second
five minutes learning something new and the last five minutes
doing something fun.

Scarlett: Fun? What kind of study could possibly be fun?

Jacques: Well, you could listen to a French pop song and study the
lyrics, or flick through a picture book and do some reading,
or watch a couple of scenes from a TV programme.

Scarlett: French pop music? That sounds interesting.

Jacques: Do you want to borrow a couple of CDs? I have a whole lot
here.

Scarlett: Thanks! That would be great.

Jacques: No problem.

Scarlett: And if I do that every day I’ll be able to prepare
sufficiently for the exam?

Jacques: You sure will. Although I must stress that the most
important part of those fifteen minutes is the revision.
If you do that properly, then there’s absolutely no reason
why you shouldn’t be able to pass.

Scarlett: It sounds too good to be true. Well, I’ll definitely give
it a try. If I don’t pass I’ll know to blame you!

Jacques: Thanks for the vote of confidence! But seriously, I’m sure
next time you’ll do just fine.

To be continued.

Explanations

そのまま使える便利なフレーズを覚えましょう。

I failed miserably.

(無残に失敗したわ。)

“miserably”は「情けないほどに、惨めに、悲惨なほどに」という
　　意味の副詞。形容詞の“miserable”は「惨めな、不幸な、哀れな、
悲しい」という意味。
Ex: Keith is miserably overworked.
(キースは、どうしようもなくひどく過重労働させられている。)

The listening and reading comprehension were a total disaster.

(リスニングと文章読解は本当に最悪だった。)

“disaster”は「最悪のこと、大失敗、みじめなこと、ひどいめ」
という意味。また、「大災害、惨事、災難」という意味もある。
“total”「完全に」を使うことで、“disaster”の意味を強調
している。
Ex: The promotion event for the new car was a disaster.
(新車発表会は大失敗だった。)

You sure will.

(もちろんだよ。)

“sure”は「確信している、自信がある」という意味。何かの
発言を強調する時に使われ、いろいろな場合に使うことが出来る。
　 “sure”は、主語のすぐ後にくる。　
Ex: It sure is a nice day.
(本当に良い天気だね。)

It sounds too good to be true.

うまい話ね。)

“It sounds too good to be true”は「実現するとは思えない話、
うまい話」という意味。話がうまく出来過ぎていて、信じられない
という時に使う表現。
Ex: “If you drink this every day, you will lose 10kg
in a month!”
“What? It sounds too good to be true.”
「これを毎日飲めば、一ヶ月で10キロ痩せるって!」
「えー?うそっぽいね」

Thanks for the vote of confidence!

(信頼して頂いてありがとう!)

“vote of confidence”は「信任投票」という意味。ここで
言っている“Thanks for the vote of confidence!”は、皮肉を
込めた意味で使われている。相手があまり信用していないのが
分かる場合、その返答として使われる。反語は“vote of no
confidence”という。
Ex: “I bet you guys will come in last.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence!”
　「君たちが、ビリだと思うよ。」
　　　　「僕たちの力を信じてくれてありがとう!」