平常我跟邻居很少来往，不过前两天，她忽然给我送来一篮子新鲜曲奇饼干。我最开始还很高兴，不过后来得知，她最近想在院子里修一个篱笆，而这样做必须得到整个社区居民的同意，当然也包括我。这也让我想到了一句习惯用语，那就是：curry favor。

大家都知道curry做名词是咖哩的意思，不过在这里curry作为动词，意思是讨好，奉承。而curry favor, 实际上就是拍马屁。这也就是我邻居最近的举动。

I know why she came bearing fresh-backed cookies. I think it's an attempt to CURRY FAVOR. 我知道我邻居为什么给我送新鲜曲奇饼，我觉得她就是想拍我的马屁。

在下面的例子里，这个人对他的市长有什么看法呢? 我们来听听看：

"Don't assume that the mayor has special fondness for you. If you're influential and can help her deliver on her campaign promises, she'll compliment you, invite you out to dinner and treat you specially. The truth is she CURRIES FAVOR with anyone she considers to be important."

这段话是说：[千万别认为市长特别喜欢你。如果你有任何影响力，或者能够帮助她实现竞选承诺，她会恭维你，请你吃晚餐，给你很多特殊待遇。但事实是，如果她认为你重要，她就会来拍你的马屁。]

这听起来很典型啊! 那天我上高中的侄女跟我说，她们学校里有个女生为了能参加啦啦队，不惜给教练买了一个特别昂贵的圣诞节礼物! 好了，我们再来听听刚才那段话:

"Don't assume that the mayor has special fondness for you. If you're influential and can help her deliver on her campaign promises, she'll compliment you, invite you out to dinner and treat you very specially. The truth is she CURRIES FAVOR with anyone she considers to be very important."

大家都特别讨厌爱拍马屁的人。可是，学校里，社会中，到处都是这样的人。在办公室里就更不例外了! 下面的例子就谈到了这么一个马屁精，让我们来听听看:

"Isn't it obvious why Ralph nominated our boss as "Supervisor of the Year"? He just wants to get himself promoted to foreman and figures the boss might help arrange it if he's recognized for an important award. See? That why he's CURRYING FAVOR with him. It's so disgusting."

[这段话是说: 难道你看不出来拉尔夫为什么提名咱们的老板为“年度最佳领导"么? 他想晋升为领班，而他知道如果老板自己能够得到这个奖项，可能就会帮助他得到领班的职位。这就是他为什么老是拍老板的马屁。真令人恶心。]

真是! 办公室政治真让人头疼。碰到这种拍马屁的人，最好的办法就是别理他。慢慢他就会被所有同事孤立，我想这也不是个好受的感觉。He's always currying favor with the boss. But in the end, he's quite isolated in the office. 他成天拍老板的马屁，不过最后，他在办公室特别孤立。

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（来源：VOA英语教学 编辑：丹妮）