Larry: Being stuck in a rut means to be stuck in a boring routine.

LH: To be stuck in a rut就是生活一成不变。那么，这个rut是什么意思呢？

Larry: A rut is what happens when a wheel rolls over the same place over and over again. Eventually, the wheel will dig a line, or a rut, in the ground.

LH: 我明白了，rut是车轮不断压过同一个地方后留下的印迹。我想，这就比喻一成不变的常规吧。Larry, 我们最近的确有些stuck in a rut，感觉有点平淡无味，你说这是怎么回事呢？

Larry: I'm not sure, Lihua, but we have been together for over a year now. It's relatively normal for couples to find themselves stuck in a rut after being together for a while.

LH: 啊？你觉得是因为咱们在一起时间不算短了，所以生活就变得平平淡淡了？我觉得根本不是这样，We're stuck in a rot because of that stupid computer game! 都怪你天天打线上游戏，不陪我！

Larry: I'll admit I like to play my games, but you remember what happened last weekend, right?

LH: 上个周末？怎么啦？

Larry: I wanted to take you out for a nice dinner, but you said you were too tired. We ended up staying home and watching TV all night!

LH: 还说请我吃顿好的？Larry, 你每次请我吃饭都是汉堡和薯条，连吃饭内容都一成不变，难怪我们会stuck in a rut！

Larry: Hmm... we need to find some new things to do that we both like. Otherwise, we might be stuck in this rut forever!

LH: 可不是嘛！咱们好久没有去打网球啦！不如去打两场吧！

Larry: Aw, you know tennis isn't my cup of tea, Lihua. And besides, it's been so hot out lately...

LH: Your cup of tea? 打网球还要喝茶？你不怕热吗？

Larry: I would drink water, of course! I said "playing tennis is not my cup of tea"...in other words, I don't really enjoy tennis.

LH: 哦，你说playing tennis is not your cup of tea, 意思就是说你不喜欢打网球。那你的cup of tea到底是什么呀？

Larry: I like swimming! How about we start going to the pool? It's always refreshing to take a dip in the pool on a hot day!

LH: 去游泳？可是，游泳不是我的cup of tea。我怕晒黑！Oh, I know! Why don't you take me to the ballet? 我们去看芭蕾舞表演吧！

Larry: The ballet? Uh, that's not my cup of tea, either. I never understood what's going on! It just looks like a bunch of people jumping around on stage, if you ask me.

LH: 你这人一点都不浪漫！

Larry: Being romantic was never my cup of tea, Lihua. Remember when I sent you flowers for your birthday?

LH: 记得！我生日你送玫瑰花给我，结果我花粉过敏，打了一天喷嚏！

Larry: Heheh. See? No wonder we're in a rut. I'm horrible at being romantic, and we can never agree on anything new to do. Tell you what - let me think about it some more while I finish this last boss in my video game...

LH: 不行！你别想溜！Get us out of this rut, Larry！要不你就别想玩儿电脑了！

Larry: Hmmm....

LH: 什么呀？你在想什么坏主意？

Larry: You want us to do something together, right? Our group could use another warrior...

LH: 你想让我和你一起打线上游戏？我可不会！You know video games are not my cup of tea!

Larry: (Sigh). Well, I guess I'll go make myself a real cup of tea and go stare out the window for fun...

今天李华从Larry那儿学到两个常用语，一个是to be stuck in a rut, 表示枯燥，一成不变。另一个是someone's cup of tea, 意思是某人有兴趣干的事。