The Stories of Number One数字“一”的故事

何苗

There are many expressions with numbers. Let us start with the number one. Numbers can be tricky（棘手的）. On the one hand， they are simply numbers. On the other hand， they have meanings. I for one use these expressions a lot.

语言中有很多表达使用了数字。今天我们就来说一说数字“一”。数字可能比较棘手。一方面，他们只是简单的数字，另一方面，他们也有很多其他的意义。比如我就经常使用这些表达方式。

Many people consider themselves number one， the most important person. They are always looking out for number one and taking care of number one. It is as if they are the one and only person on Earth. Some people however， are not so self-centered. My brother is such a person. It is true—no joke. I am not trying to pull a fast one on you.

很多人认为他们自己就是最好的，是最重要的人。他们总是先为自己着想，只关心自己的利益，就好像他们是地球上唯一的人。但是也有一些人不那么自私。我哥哥就是这样一个人，不是玩笑，而是真的。我没打算欺骗你们。

First， you have to understand that my brother is one in a million. He is such a nice person. All his friends like him. They consider him one of the boys. Recently， my brother had a bad day at the office. It was just one of those days. Nothing went right. So he stopped at a local bar — a drinking place — after work. My brother planned to have a glass of beer with his friends — a quick one before he went home. But a quick one turned into one or two， and soon those became one too many.

首先，要明白我哥哥是个万里挑一的好人，他所有的朋友都喜欢他。他们认为他是真正的玩友。最近，我哥哥在工作上不是很顺利。那是一段倒霉的日子，事事不顺。所以下班之后，他就在当地一个酒吧逗留。我哥哥打算跟朋友喝完一杯啤酒就走——就干一杯。但是干一杯变成了一两杯，一会儿就喝过多了。

As my brother was leaving， he ordered a last drink — one for the road. His friends became concerned. One by one， they asked him if he was able to drive home safely.

当我哥哥准备离开的时候，他点了临行前最后一杯酒。他的朋友有些担心了，一个个都问他能否安全开车回家。

Now my brother is a wise and calm person. He recognizes when he has had too much alcohol （酒精） to drink. So he accepted an offer for a ride home from a female friend.

我哥哥是个非常聪明冷静的人。他意识到自己喝了太多酒，因此他就接受了一个女性朋友的帮助，让她载他回家。

At one time in the past， my brother had been in love with this woman. She is a great person — kind， thoughtful and intelligent — all good qualities rolled up into one. But sadly their relationship did not work. He always used to say “One of these days， I am going to marry this girl.” But that never happened.

过去，我哥哥曾经爱上这个女人。她很优秀——善良，体贴，聪明——集所有的好品质于一身。但是他们的关系没有任何进展。他过去常说“总有一天，我会娶这个女孩为妻”。但这从未实现。

For one thing， she did not love him as much as he loved her. It was just one of those things. The situation was regrettable （可惜的） and my brother had to accept it. But even now， he considers her the one that got away.

首先（一则）是因为她没有他爱她爱得深。这是命中注定的事。这种情况非常遗憾，我哥哥只能接受。但是即使是现在，他还认为她是他失去的那个人。

However， they are still friends. And because my brother had been kind to her， she felt that one good turn deserves another. He was good to her and she wanted to help him in return. So she drove him home.

然而，他们还是朋友。而且因为我的哥哥对她很好，她觉得应该以德报德。他对她很好，她想帮助他作为报答，所以就开车送他回家了。

If my brother had driven home from the bar that night， his number would have been up. Something bad would have happened. Thankfully he made it home safely. And， he and the woman are back to square one. They are back to where they started being friends.

如果我哥哥那晚从酒吧开车回家，那他就要遭殃了，可能会发生不好的事情。幸运的是他安全到家。而且他和那个女人回到了原点，他们回到了最初的起点——成为朋友。

Now， its your turn to guess the meaning of the expressions using number one！

下面，你来猜一猜故事中含有数字“一”的表达方式的意思吧！

1. on the one hand 在一方面

2. for one 举个例说；作为其中一个

3. number one 第一；最好；自己的利益

4. look out for number one/ take care of number one 先为自己着想；照顾自己的利益；为自己打算

5. one and only 唯一的

6. pull a fast one on 欺骗

7. one in a million 百里挑一；极稀有的人或事

8. one of the boys 真正的玩友；其中的一员

9. one of those days 一段倒霉的日子

10. a quick one 干一杯；喝两口；一饮而尽

11. one too many 多余的；过多的

12. one for the road 临行前最后一杯酒

13. one by one 一个接一个

14. at one time 曾经；一度

15. roll up into one 兼于一身；合为一体

16. one of these days 总有一天

17. for one thing 首先；一则

18. one of those things 不可避免的事；命中注定的事

19. the one that got away 离……而去的人；离开的人

20. one good turn deserves another 善有善报；以德报德；礼尚往来

21. number would have been up 就要完蛋了；就要遭殃了

22. back to square one 回到起点；重头再来