@What's Eating You?
在學校吃午飯時,大家坐一起,因為上一堂課的 Test 很不理想,所以不是很高興。
好友 Helga 問:「What's eating you?」
我還沒弄明白,就回答:「I am just eating some potato chips。」
大家大笑,她們後來告訴我這句話是問「你怎麼樣了」。
原來如此啊!又鬧出笑話了。
@Play by Ear
學期末教授要求我們作一個小組報告,我和幾名小組成員拿不準教授會出什麼樣的刁難問題而發愁,最後同學們說:「Why don't we play by ear?」(我們為什麼不動耳朵呢?)
我覺得莫名其妙,反問大家:「我只聽說過動腦筋才能想出辦法,動耳朵能管用嗎?」
大家聽完我的話,笑得前仰後合,等他們好不容易喘過氣來,才告訴我「Play by ear」的意思是「到時見機行事」。
I had a similar experience. The first day I was at university, I met a guy from one of the South African Countries. We talked and walked. When you were near a camera store, he stopped and said, "See you later." I took that literally, but I had some doubts. So I hang around outside pretending to be looking at the window display. After a while I figure he must have meant "see you another day", and I left.
Re: eye's cream
I have been noticing that "possessive case+noun" lately in many student essays on various "exam preparation" BBSes. Native speakers use a "noun noun" approach. E.g. The majority would use Student(s) Union, instead of (lesser use of) "Students' Union."