何苗

There are many expressions with numbers. Let us start with the number one. Numbers can be tricky（棘手的）. On the one hand， they are simply numbers. On the other hand， they have meanings. I for one use these expressions a lot.

語(yǔ)言中有很多表達(dá)使用了數(shù)字。今天我們就來(lái)說(shuō)一說(shuō)數(shù)字“一”。數(shù)字可能比較棘手。一方面，他們只是簡(jiǎn)單的數(shù)字，另一方面，他們也有很多其他的意義。比如我就經(jīng)常使用這些表達(dá)方式。

Many people consider themselves number one， the most important person. They are always looking out for number one and taking care of number one. It is as if they are the one and only person on Earth. Some people however， are not so self-centered. My brother is such a person. It is true—no joke. I am not trying to pull a fast one on you.

很多人認(rèn)為他們自己就是最好的，是最重要的人。他們總是先為自己著想，只關(guān)心自己的利益，就好像他們是地球上唯一的人。但是也有一些人不那么自私。我哥哥就是這樣一個(gè)人，不是玩笑，而是真的。我沒(méi)打算欺騙你們。

First， you have to understand that my brother is one in a million. He is such a nice person. All his friends like him. They consider him one of the boys. Recently， my brother had a bad day at the office. It was just one of those days. Nothing went right. So he stopped at a local bar — a drinking place — after work. My brother planned to have a glass of beer with his friends — a quick one before he went home. But a quick one turned into one or two， and soon those became one too many.

首先，要明白我哥哥是個(gè)萬(wàn)里挑一的好人，他所有的朋友都喜歡他。他們認(rèn)為他是真正的玩友。最近，我哥哥在工作上不是很順利。那是一段倒霉的日子，事事不順。所以下班之后，他就在當(dāng)?shù)匾粋€(gè)酒吧逗留。我哥哥打算跟朋友喝完一杯啤酒就走——就干一杯。但是干一杯變成了一兩杯，一會(huì)兒就喝過(guò)多了。

As my brother was leaving， he ordered a last drink — one for the road. His friends became concerned. One by one， they asked him if he was able to drive home safely.

當(dāng)我哥哥準(zhǔn)備離開(kāi)的時(shí)候，他點(diǎn)了臨行前最后一杯酒。他的朋友有些擔(dān)心了，一個(gè)個(gè)都問(wèn)他能否安全開(kāi)車(chē)回家。

Now my brother is a wise and calm person. He recognizes when he has had too much alcohol （酒精） to drink. So he accepted an offer for a ride home from a female friend.

我哥哥是個(gè)非常聰明冷靜的人。他意識(shí)到自己喝了太多酒，因此他就接受了一個(gè)女性朋友的幫助，讓她載他回家。

At one time in the past， my brother had been in love with this woman. She is a great person — kind， thoughtful and intelligent — all good qualities rolled up into one. But sadly their relationship did not work. He always used to say “One of these days， I am going to marry this girl.” But that never happened.

過(guò)去，我哥哥曾經(jīng)愛(ài)上這個(gè)女人。她很優(yōu)秀——善良，體貼，聰明——集所有的好品質(zhì)于一身。但是他們的關(guān)系沒(méi)有任何進(jìn)展。他過(guò)去常說(shuō)“總有一天，我會(huì)娶這個(gè)女孩為妻”。但這從未實(shí)現(xiàn)。

For one thing， she did not love him as much as he loved her. It was just one of those things. The situation was regrettable （可惜的） and my brother had to accept it. But even now， he considers her the one that got away.

首先（一則）是因?yàn)樗龥](méi)有他愛(ài)她愛(ài)得深。這是命中注定的事。這種情況非常遺憾，我哥哥只能接受。但是即使是現(xiàn)在，他還認(rèn)為她是他失去的那個(gè)人。

However， they are still friends. And because my brother had been kind to her， she felt that one good turn deserves another. He was good to her and she wanted to help him in return. So she drove him home.

然而，他們還是朋友。而且因?yàn)槲业母绺鐚?duì)她很好，她覺(jué)得應(yīng)該以德報(bào)德。他對(duì)她很好，她想幫助他作為報(bào)答，所以就開(kāi)車(chē)送他回家了。

If my brother had driven home from the bar that night， his number would have been up. Something bad would have happened. Thankfully he made it home safely. And， he and the woman are back to square one. They are back to where they started being friends.

如果我哥哥那晚從酒吧開(kāi)車(chē)回家，那他就要遭殃了，可能會(huì)發(fā)生不好的事情。幸運(yùn)的是他安全到家。而且他和那個(gè)女人回到了原點(diǎn)，他們回到了最初的起點(diǎn)——成為朋友。

Now， its your turn to guess the meaning of the expressions using number one！

下面，你來(lái)猜一猜故事中含有數(shù)字“一”的表達(dá)方式的意思吧！

1. on the one hand 在一方面

2. for one 舉個(gè)例說(shuō)；作為其中一個(gè)

3. number one 第一；最好；自己的利益

4. look out for number one/ take care of number one 先為自己著想；照顧自己的利益；為自己打算

5. one and only 唯一的

6. pull a fast one on 欺騙

7. one in a million 百里挑一；極稀有的人或事

8. one of the boys 真正的玩友；其中的一員

9. one of those days 一段倒霉的日子

10. a quick one 干一杯；喝兩口；一飲而盡

11. one too many 多余的；過(guò)多的

12. one for the road 臨行前最后一杯酒

13. one by one 一個(gè)接一個(gè)

14. at one time 曾經(jīng)；一度

15. roll up into one 兼于一身；合為一體

16. one of these days 總有一天

17. for one thing 首先；一則

18. one of those things 不可避免的事；命中注定的事

19. the one that got away 離……而去的人；離開(kāi)的人

20. one good turn deserves another 善有善報(bào)；以德報(bào)德；禮尚往來(lái)

21. number would have been up 就要完蛋了；就要遭殃了

22. back to square one 回到起點(diǎn)；重頭再來(lái)