Verb Master 動詞達人

【一次精通一單字】Short (一)
形容一個人矮，用Short(矮小)是非常不禮貌的，要盡量避免，可以委婉一點說He is not very tall或He is a bit small；或者，對女生可以用Petite(嬌小，[pəˈtit])，對男生可以用Compact(精實)

Tom Cruise is a short compact-looking man.
(湯姆克魯斯短小精幹的男人)
* 比Short更不禮貌的是Wee Man

She is a petite and sweet woman
(她是嬌小甜美的女人)
* 小而豐腴的女人a short and plump woman

封面故事：
Short and Sweet
(簡短扼要 House of Cards Season 2 Episode 5)

美國白色恐怖政治大戲House of Cards(紙牌屋)，處心積慮當上副總統的Frank應邀參加南北戰爭第一場戰役，Overland戰役，一百五十周年演講，Frank對這場演講毫無興趣，只簡短了說了幾句，不到一分鐘。

幕僚問他：”That’s all, sir?
(就這麼多嗎？)”

Frank說：”That’s it. Short and sweet. Or at least it’s short.”
(就這麼多，簡短扼要，至少簡短)

【形容詞的Short】

時間上的短：a short time, a short while, a short period of time
Life is a short period of time in which you’re alive.
(人生非常短暫)

常用詞：(Keep it) Short and Sweet
簡短扼要
I tried to keep the meeting short and sweet.
(我盡量讓會議簡短扼要)
Keep your text messages short and sweet.
(簡訊要簡短扼要)

長度上的短：
a short skirt 迷你裙
a short distance 短距離
the shortest route 最短路徑
The shortest route isn’t necessary the fastest route.
(最短路徑不一定是最快路徑)

常用詞：a short walk (from… to…)
距離不遠
* 也可用a short drive, a short flight
* 散步：take a short walk

The beach is only a short walk from my house.
(海灘離我家很近)
It’s a short drive to the train station.
(開車到火車站很近的)

不足的短
short of money/cash，缺錢
five dollars short，少五塊錢

You complained my bag of weed not big enough, but you were 5 dollars short.
(妳投訴我給的大麻包太小，但是妳也少給我五塊錢)

常用詞：I’m a little short.
我手頭有點緊

諺語：Day late and a dollar short
太遲了，而且慌慌張張
* 不但遲到而且沒做好準備(少一塊錢)，day前面可以加冠詞a

‘Will you go out with me?’ ‘Sorry, day late and a dollar short. Jim just asked me out yesterday.’
(「我帶妳出去玩好嗎?」 「你慢了一步，Jim昨天就約我了」)
Obama showed up a day late and a dollar short.
(歐巴馬不但遲到，而且慌慌張張)

常用詞：In Short Supply
供應不足
Women are always in short supply of clothing.
(女人的衣服永遠都不夠 喬治克隆尼女友)

Gas was in short supply.
(汽油供應不足)

常用詞：Not Short of…
從不缺、很多很多

She is never short of confidence.
(她從來都是自信滿滿)
James Bond has never short of gorgeous girls.
(詹姆士龐德身邊從不缺美女)

常用詞：Nothing Short of…
沒什麼兩樣、簡直就是

It is nothing short of suicide.
(這跟自殺沒兩樣)
It is nothing short of a miracle.
(簡直就是奇蹟)
Victoria’s Secret show was nothing short of amazing.
(維多利亞秘密的演出實在太精彩了)

常用詞：Short of Breath
上氣不接下氣

常用詞：Short On something
缺少

He is cute, but a little short on brains.
(他是帥，就就是有點笨)

常用詞：Short for …
什麼的縮寫

My name is Leo, short for Leonard.
(我的名字叫李歐，李奧納多的縮寫)

常用詞：Short Notice
臨時通知
* 搭配介係詞on, on (such) short notice，注意，notice前面不用a冠詞

Sorry I can’t make it. It’s very short notice.
(對不起我去不了，太臨時給通知了)
I thank you all for coming on such short notice.
(非常感謝大家這麼臨時通知還能來參加)

常用詞：Short Memory
健忘
* 通常用have a short memory

Voters have very short memories.
(選民非常健忘的)

A lot of people mistake a short memory for a clear conscience.
(很多人把自己的健忘認為是問心無愧)
* have a clear conscience，問心無愧
* mistake for，誤解為
* 這句話是說，人很容易忘記自己犯的錯，而覺得自己問心無愧

常用詞：Short-term Memory
短期記憶

Sorry I have a short-term memory loss. What did you say?
(對不起，我忘記剛才你說什麼)
I’ll have a short-term memory loss after couple of drinks.
(幾杯酒之後我就會短期失憶)

常用詞：Short Temper
* Temper(性情、脾氣)也可以用Fuse(保險絲)取代
* 多半用：have a short temper/fuse

Her fuse was very short today.
(她今天脾氣特別大)

常用詞：Short Circuit
電線短路

常用諺語：Short end of the stick
劣勢
* 比方槓桿，在短的一邊的人處於劣勢
* 搭配動詞Get, get the short end of the stick
* 搭配介係詞on, on the short end of the stick

Good guys always get the short end of the stick.
(好人總是處於劣勢)