李華和Larry要去聽演唱會。今天我們要學兩個常用語：run-of-the-mill和roll the dice。
LH: Larry，今天晚上的演唱會好聽麼？那個樂隊是什麼類型的啊？
L: Well ... they're kind of hard to describe. Their music is a mixture of many different styles.
LH: 各種音樂的混合？聽著很有新意！現在很多樂隊都沒有自己的風格，跟別的樂隊差不多，沒意思。
L: I totally agree, Li Hua. Luckily, they are not just some run-of-the-mill rock band.
LH: Run of the mill? 是什麼意思？
L: When you say that something is run-of-the-mill, that means that it is very average, or just like all the others.
LH: 哦，run-of-the-mill就是沒特色的，千篇一律的。你的意思是，這個樂隊並不是那種毫無特色的樂隊。
L: Exactly! For example, the makers of Avatar said it would not be just another run-of-the-mill action movie, and would be like nothing anyone had seen before.
LH: 對，電影「阿凡達」當初宣傳的時候，就說自己是非同尋常的，觀眾從沒看過的新類型電影。對了，Larry， 這個樂隊我怎麼從沒聽說過啊？
L: Well, they still aren't very well known, so only music magazines write about them. You won't read about them in the standard, run-of-the-mill newspapers.
LH: 哦，主流媒體沒報導他們，只有在比較專業的音樂雜誌上才會看到關於他們的介紹。Larry, 我有點餓，咱們去演唱會前是不是先吃點東西？
L: Sure, where do you want to eat?
LH: 不知道……麥當勞吧！
L: McDonalds? I don't want to eat at some run-of-the-mill fast food restaurant.
LH: 可是演唱會還有半個小時就開始了。吃麥當勞快啊。
L: Don't worry, we can be a little late. I think the opening band is just some run-of-the-mill pop band.
LH: 你是說，負責暖場的樂隊沒什麼特色，不看也沒關係。那咱們去吃壽司吧。
L: Sounds good! Let's go.
*****
Larry and 李華在談論剛結束的演唱會。
LH: Larry, 這個樂隊太棒了！他們肯定會紅！
L: Do you think so? It takes a lot of luck to become a famous band. There is a lot of competition out there.
LH: 你說得也對。不過要想成名，就得努力抓住機會，試試看嘛！
L: Right, even though the chances aren't very good, sometimes you just have to roll the dice.
LH: Roll the dice? 你是說擲骰子麼？
L: Right. When you roll the dice, that means that you take a chance, just like when you make a bet gambling.
LH: 哦，roll the dice和擲骰子一樣，表示碰碰運氣 你是說，雖然很多樂隊最終紅不了，但是想出名的人還是應該碰碰運氣，說不定就能成功？
L: Exactly. Here's another example. Terrence wasn't sure he would like living in New York, but he decided to roll the dice and move there anyway.
LH: 哦，Terrence並不知道自己會不會喜歡紐約，不過他還是決定先搬過去，住住試試。Larry, 如果是你，你想住在什麼地方？
L: Definitely Hawaii! I'm not sure that I could find a job there, but it's such a beautiful place that sometimes I think it's worth rolling the dice.
LH: 哈哈，即使冒著找不到工作的危險，你也想搬去夏威夷？我和你不一樣，我想去羅馬，而且我肯定能有工作，我要去當義大利菜大廚！
L: Wow, that is definitely a roll of the dice. You don't know how to cook Italian food!
LH: A roll of the dice? 你是說我希望渺茫？我不管，不會可以學嘛！對了，說到義大利菜，咱們去你家附近那個餐館吃點宵夜吧。
L: I don't know ... I read in the newspaper that it's just boring, run-of-the-mill Italian food.
LH: 別聽報紙的，咱們自己試試去！
L: Well alright, let's roll the dice and see what happens.
LH: 好！吃完了咱們再去看個午夜場電影！最近有什麼好片麼？
L: I'm not sure ... Let's just roll the dice . We'll just go to the theater and watch whatever movie happens to be playing.
LH: 這樣也不錯！ 走吧！
今天李華學了兩個常用語。一個是run-of-the-mill, 表示沒有特色，千篇一律。另一是roll the dice, 意思是碰運氣。
相關閱讀
Right up one's alley 正合口味
Smart money 聰明錢？
sorehead 發怒的人
go-to guy 關鍵人物
（來源：流行美語 編輯：Rosy）