趣味英语系列---机智妙答，以守为攻

    西方人常用诙谐与幽默来规避尴尬与正面冲突，可得以守为攻之效。

例1:

    Waiter: Have I kept you waiting long?

    Customer: No. But did you know that there are 3479 rose patterns on your wallpaper?

    侍者: 让您等的时问长了吧?

    食客: 不长。不过您知道您这房间的堵纸上有3479个玫瑰花图案吗?

    这位食客的回答显然不是闲聊，而是讽刺，是不露痕迹、机智幽默的批评---墙纸上的图案都数遍了，等的时间好长啊。

例2:

    A non-swimmer fell into the river and was saved by a passer-by who dived in and pulled him to the bank. "You deserve a reward, "he said to his saver. "I will give you five pounds. " He pulled a sodden note from his wallet. "Oh dear---I've only got a ten-pound note. " "That's all right. Just jump in again. " was the reply.

    一个不会游泳的人落入河中，一位过路人跳入河水中将他拖上了岸。“你应该得到奖励，”被救者对救他的人说，“我要给你5英镑。”他从钱夹抽出一张湿漉漉的钞票。“啊呀，我只有10英镑的钞票。”“那没关系，你再跳进去一次吧。”过路人答道。

    这位落水者“酬谢”救命之恩似乎很有“分寸”，5英镑没有，10英镑难找零，救人者只好让他“再跳进去一次”来“摆平”这件事。还有比这更有力的回敬吗?