Larry 正准备跟李华一起出去吃饭，外面突然下起了瓢泼大雨。今天我们要
学两个常用语：it's raining cats and dogs和 I'm so hungry I could eat a
horse.

    LH： Larry，我好象从来没见过这么大的雨。

    LL： I know ， it's really raining cats and dogs.

    LH： Cats and dogs？什么猫啊狗啊的，明明是在下雨啊。

    LL： No ， it's raining cats and dogs out means that it is really
pouring outside.

    LH：噢，原来说it's raining cats and dogs就是中文里说的瓢泼大雨。真
奇怪，下雨跟cats and dogs 有什么关系呢？

    LL： You know ， Li Hua ， I have no idea.

    LH：既然能下猫下狗，能不能下狮子，下老虎呢？

    LL： No ， I'm pretty sure cats and dogs are it.

    LH：糟糕了，我把雨伞落在学校了。没有伞，怎么出门呢？有了！我可以头
上顶着报纸，冲到车上去。

    LL： Come on， Li Hua ！ The newspaper won't keep you dry ， it's
raining cats and dogs ！ Maybe we could share my umbrella and stay dry.

    LH：就你这把小伞，八成咱俩一出去就湿透了。

    LL： It really is coming down out there. You'd better hang on to me，
otherwise you'll be washed away.

    LH：没问题，我可是游泳健将。

    LL： You know ， I haven't seen it rain cats and dogs like this in
a very long time.

    LH：还好我们现在是在家里，要是半路赶上下暴雨，那才倒霉呢！

    LL： Yes， we'd be a couple of drowned rats.

    LH：落水的老鼠？I wouldn't want to be with cats and dogs if I were
a rat.我如果真是老鼠的话，一定不愿意跟这些猫啊狗啊的在一块儿。

    LL： Never mind ， we've had enough animal phrases today. When do
you think the storm will start to let up？

    LH：既然是雷阵雨，那用不了多久可能就会停了。

    LL： I sure hope it will let up soon， because I'm getting hungry ！

    LH： Larry，看，雨小了。

    *******

    LL： I'm glad it stopped raining， I'm so hungry I could eat a horse.

    LH： Horse？你当真要吃马肉？这里恐怕没有马肉！

    LL： No. I don't mean that I actually want to eat a horse ， I'm just
so hungry I could eat one.

    LH：你刚才不是说，今天不再提动物的话题儿了吗？

    LL： I couldn't help myself ， just like I won't be able to help myself
from gorging on food right now.

    LH：我明白了，I am so hungry I could eat a horse，意思是饿极了，能
吃掉一匹马。Well me too.咱们点些什么呢？

    LL： How about we get two orders of the steamed dumplings ， sweet
and sour soup ， eggplant ， cashew chicken ， green beans， some spicy
squid ……

    LH：等等等等，我们就两个人，吃得了这么多吗？

    LL： I wasn't kidding when I said I'm so hungry I could eat a horse.

    LH：你这种人，在中文里叫眼大肚子小。

    LL： That's probably right， Li Hua. What do you say we order ？

    LH：别急，我还没决定要点什么呢。肚子饿的时候，看什么都香。

    LL： Yes， when you are hungry enough to eat a horse， it can be pretty
difficult to decide what to eat.

    LH： Larry，你记不记得，上次我们登山回来，饿得不行，结果点了一桌子
菜，结果连一半都没吃掉。

    LL： I cannot believe you remember that. It was raining cats and dogs
on our way down the mountain and both of us were drenched.

    LH：哈哈，怎么跟你在一起不是淋个精湿，就是饿肚子。

    LL： Very funny ， Li Hua. At least this time you are not wet AND
hungry.

    LH：对了，Larry.你那把小伞也该换换了吧！

    LL： I know I do. The problem is I never remember to get one when
it's nice out ， and then when it starts raining cats and dogs， I need
one ， and I don't have it.

    LH：好了好了，服务员来了，我们赶快点菜吧！

    今天李华学了两个常用语。一个是it's raining cats and dogs，意思是瓢
泼大雨。另一个是I am so hungry I could eat a horse，意思是肚子饿极了，
可以吃掉一匹马。