當外國人對你說:「Tell me about it!」的時候,千萬注意不要滔滔不絕地開始講起來。英文詞典裡是這樣解釋的:
所以「Tell me about it」是表達一種認同,對方對你所說的話是有相同的感受或是有相同的經歷,意思是「可不是嘛」!
例1:(《老友記》裡的經典對話)
Rachel: Ohh, I mean, we were really drunk. I'm just glad we didn't do anything stupid.
我們真的醉得很厲害,幸好沒幹什麼蠢事。
Ross: Tell me about it.
可不是嘛。
例2:
A:Working overtime is really frustrating.
加班真讓人崩潰(沮喪)。
B:Tell me about it.
可不是嘛。
如果真的是想對方講下去
可以用:
Tell me what happened.
或者
Tell me more about it(something).
例句:
Would you like to tell me what happened?
能告訴我發生了什麼事嗎?
Please tell me what happened in a few words, don't go into details.
請扼要地告訴我發生了什麼事情,不必講得太詳細。
Could you tell me more about it please?
你能告訴我更多的關於它的事情嗎?
這個句子是想強調自己說的都是真的,希望對方要相信自己,可翻譯為「請一定要相信我!」
例句:
I'm telling you, he's the best worker in the office.
請相信我,他是辦公室最優秀的員工了!
I'm telling you, this is the best cake I've ever had.
真的,這是我吃過最好吃的蛋糕。
當「Don't tell me!」是一個獨立句子時,它表達的意思是「我才不信呢」,相當於"I can't believe",是對你說的話表示懷疑。
例句:
This product has magical function.
這個產品有神奇的功效。
Don't tell me.
我才不信呢!
但「Don't tell me」後面接從句時,
它也可以表達「別告訴我...」
例句:
Don't tell me you still believe in all that stuff?
別告訴我你仍舊相信那些東西。
Don't tell me that you can't remember.
不要告訴我你記不起來了。