-
Larry
和他妹妹吵架，来找李华诉苦。他们会提到两个常用语：
talk to a brick
wall
和
get the picture.
Larry: (Sounding
frustrated) Hey, Lihua.
LH:
Larry,
你怎么不高兴啊？
Larry: I just got off the phone with my
sister. She is about to graduate from high school
and
she is not serious about applying
to college. No matter what I say, she just won't
take my
advice. (Sigh). Sometimes
talking to her is like talking to a brick wall.
LH:
哦。你妹妹高中毕业不想考
大学，不论你怎么劝她，她就是不听。对了，你刚才说
talking to a
brick
wall
，你干嘛要对着砖墙说话呢？
Larry: Not literally talk
to a brick wall. I'm saying talking to my sister
is like talking to a brick
wall. A
brick wall doesn't listen, doesn't respond and
doesn't care. And that's what it's like to
talk to my sister about college.
LH:
我明白了
! talk to a brick wall
就是对牛弹琴。你跟你妹妹苦口婆心说了半天，可她根本连一句话也
听不进去。你呀，就好像对着一面墙说话一样。
Larry: Right.
LH: Larry
，你别太担心。你说了那么半天，我想多多
少少还是会有点用的。
Larry: I suppose you're right. I guess
she's just at that age where she doesn't like to
hear
advice from other people. My
parents have lately been feeling the same way when
they speak
to her, too.
LH:
其实也不光是青春期的孩子才这么固执，有时候我跟我
妈说话，也觉得
I'm talking to a brick wall!
她怎么都听不进我的话
!
Larry: Your mother? But she's such a
sweet lady.