73. Don't Be a Fish out of Water p.504

    Do you sometimes have a hard time understanding what Americans are talking about among themselves？ Do you want to know why？ The answer is, Americans are crazy about using slang¹. They tend to over do it, though.

    Otherwise, slang is fun to use. You should try it. And some slang is easy to understand. For example, if someone is "off the hook²," it means³ that he is no longer in trouble. The "hook" is a fish hook. If a fish is on the hook, of course, it is in trouble. If it is "off the hook," then it is out of danger. Didn't we tell you slang is fun？ Besides, it should at least help you feel more at home and not like a fish out of water when you speak to Americans.

    slang 不可数   a slang experssion  or  two slang expressions   不说：a slang

    feel like a fish out of water 觉得别扭，不舒服

    I have a hard time （in可省略） writing this love letter.     difficulty,trouble 不可数   problem 可数

    be crazy about 疯狂喜爱

    to over do it 做得过火     Old people shouldn't over do it when （they are） excerising.

    To work with him is fun. = He is fun to work him.

    Bruce was in trouble, because he broke the window.

    The table hooked⁴ my shirt and tore it.

    feel at home 自由自在