Илья Франк - Английский шутя. Английские и американские анекдоты для начального чтения

For the first time in many years, a an old man traveled from his rural town to the city to attend a movie. After buying his ticket, he stopped to purchase some popcorn.

Handing the attendant $1.50, he couldn't help but comment, "The last time I came to the movies, popcorn was only 15 cents."

"Well, sir," the attendant replied with a grin, "You're really going to enjoy yourself. We have sound now…"

You're really going to enjoy yourself.

A man really loved a woman (один человек действительно = очень сильно любил одну женщину), but he was just too shy (но он был слишком стеснительным) to propose to her (чтобы сделать ей предложение). Now he was up in his years (сейчас он был уже в годах) and neither of them had ever been married (и никто из них никогда /ever — когда-либо/ не состоял в браке; neither [ˈnaɪðǝ(r)]; to marry — вступать в брак). Of course, they dated about once a week (конечно, они ходили на свидание раз в неделю) for the past six years (все последние шесть лет), but he was so timid (робкий; timid [ˈtɪmɪd]) he just never got around (он просто так и не собрался) to suggesting marriage (предложить брак; suggest [sǝˈdʒest]; marriage [ˈmǝrɪdʒ]) much less living together (еще меньше — жить вместе = а сожительствовать уж и подавно /не решился предложить/).

But one day (но однажды), he became determined to ask her the question (он «стал» /достаточно/ решительным, чтобы задать ей этот вопрос = он решился задать ей этот вопрос). So he calls her on the phone (он звонит ей по телефону), "June."

"Yes, this is June (да, это Джун)."

"Will you marry me? (ты выйдешь за меня)"

"Of course I will! (конечно, выйду) Who's this? (кто это)"

A man really loved a woman, but he was just too shy to propose to her. Now he was up in his years and neither of them had ever been married. Of course, they dated about once a week for the past six years, but he was so timid he just never got around to suggesting marriage much less living together.

But one day, he became determined to ask her the question. So he calls her on the phone, "June."

"Yes, this is June."

"Will you marry me?"

"Of course I will! Who's this?"

Will you marry me?

Jack was living in Arizona (Джек жил в Аризоне) during a heat wave (в период сильной жары: «тепловой волны») when the following took place (когда имело место следующее: to take place — происходить: «брать место»).

"It's just too hot to wear clothes today (сегодня слишком жарко, чтобы носить одежду; just — точно, как раз, именно; совсем, прямо, просто)," complained (пожаловался) Jack as he stepped out of the shower (когда вышел из душа). "Honey (душечка: «мед»), what do you think the neighbors would think (как ты думаешь, что подумали бы соседи) if I mowed the lawn like this? (если бы я косил луг вот так)"

"Probably that I married you for your money (наверное, что я вышла за тебя из-за твоих денег)."

Jack was living in Arizona during a heat wave when the following took place.

"It's just too hot to wear clothes today," complained Jack as he stepped out of the shower. "Honey, what do you think the neighbors would think if I mowed the lawn like this?"

"Probably that I married you for your money."

It's just too hot to wear clothes today.

Sue and Bob, a pair of tight wads (пара скупердяев; tight — плотный, тугой; wad — связка, пучок; пачка бумажных денег), lived in the Midwest (жили на Среднем Западе), and had been married years (и уже были женаты /долгие/ годы). Bob had always wanted to go flying (Боб всегда хотел полетать). The desire deepened (желание становилось глубже) each time a barnstormer (каждый раз, когда летчик-спортсмен, выступающий с летными шоу в провинции; barn - амбар + to storm - стремительно проноситься; штурмовать) flew into town to offer rides (прилетал в город предложить покататься; ride — поездка; to ride — ехать верхом). Bob would ask (бывало предлагал), and Sue would say, "No way (ни в коем случае), ten dollars is ten dollars (десять долларов есть десять долларов)."

The years went by (прошли годы), and Bob figured he couldn't wait much longer (понял, что не может ждать больше), so he got Sue out to the show (он брал Сью на представление), explaining (объясняя), it's free to watch (смотреть /можно/ бесплатно), let's (давай) at least (по крайней мере) watch.

And once he got there (и однажды, когда он пришел туда) the feeling became very strong (это чувство /желание полетать/ стало очень сильным). Sue and Bob started an argument (начали дискуссию, спор).

The Pilot, between flights (пилот между полетами), overheard (подслушал /to hear-heard-heard/) that, and said, "I'll tell you what (вот что я вам скажу), I'll take you up flying (я возьму вас полетать), and if you don't say a word the ride is on me (и если вы не произнесете ни слова, поездка на мне), but if you utter one sound (но, если вы издадите /хоть/ один звук), you pay ten dollars (вы платите 10 долларов).

So off they flew (и они взлетели). The Pilot doing as many rolls (пилот проделывал столько "бочек": roll — свиток, сверток; авиац. «бочка» — двойной переворот через крыло) and dives (и пикирований; dive — ныряние; to dive — нырять) as he could — heading to the ground (сколько мог — направляясь в землю) as fast as the plane could go (так быстро, как самолет мог лететь) and pulling out of the dive at just the very last second (и выходил из пикирования прямо в самую последнюю секунду). Not a word (ни слова). Finally he admitted defeat (наконец он признал поражение) and went back the airport (и вернулся в аэропорт).

"I'm surprised, why didn't you say anything? (я удивлен, почему вы ничего не сказали)"

"Well I almost said something (ну, я чуть не сказал что-то) when Sue fell out (когда Сью выпала), but ten dollars is ten dollars."

Sue and Bob, a pair of tight wads, lived in the Midwest, and had been married years. Bob had always want to go flying. The desire deepen each time a barn stormer flew into town to offer rides. Bob would ask, and Sue would say, "No way, ten dollars is ten dollars."

The years went pay, and Bob figured he didn't have much longer, so he got Sue out to the show, explaining, it's free to watch, let's at least watch.

And once he got there the feeling became very strong. Sue and Bob started an argument.

The Pilot, between flights, overheard, listened to they problem, and said, "I'll tell you what, I'll take you up flying, and if you don't say a word the ride is on me, but if you utter one sound, you pay ten dollars.

So off they flew. The Pilot doing as many rolls and dives as he could — heading to the ground as fast as the plane could go, and pulling out of the dive at just the very last second. Not a word. Finally he admited defeat and went back the airport.

"I'm surprised, why didn't you say anything?"

"Well I almost said something when Sue fell out, but ten dollars is ten dollars."

No way.

I'm surprised, why didn't you say anything?

At a local coffee bar (в местной кофейне), a young woman (молодая женщина) was expounding on her idea (разъясняла, излагала свою идею; expounding [ǝksˈpaundɪŋ]) of the perfect mate to some of her friends (об идеальном муже кому-то из своих подруг).

"The man I marry (человек, за которого я выйду) must be a shining light amongst company (должен быть светочем: «сияющим светом» в обществе: «среди общества»). He must be musical (он должен быть музыкальным). Tell jokes (рассказывать анекдоты). Sing (петь). And stay home at night! (и оставаться дома ночью, вечером)"

An old granny overheard and spoke up (старушка услышала и заговорила), "Honey, if that's all you want, get a TV! (дорогая, если это все, что ты хочешь, купи телевизор)"

At a local coffee bar, a young woman was expounding on her idea of the perfect mate to some of her friends.

"The man I marry must be a shining light amongst company. He must be musical. Tell jokes. Sing. And stay home at night!"

An old granny overheard and spoke up, "Honey, if that's all you want, get a TV!"

Honey, if that's all you want, get a TV!

A boy is about to go on his first date (парень собирается идти на свое первое свидание), and is nervous about what to talk about (и волнуется, о чем говорить). He asks his father for advice (он просит у своего отца совета; advice [ǝdˈvaɪs]).

The father replies, "My son, there are three subjects that always work (мой сын, есть три темы, которые всегда "работают"; subject [ˈsʌbdʒɪkt]).

These are food, family, and philosophy (это еда, семья и философия; philosophy [fiˈlɔsǝfɪ])."

The boy picks up his date (встречается со своей "девушкой" /date означает и свидание, и человека, с которым у вас свидание/) and they go to a soda fountain (и они идут к автомату с газировкой; fountain [ˈfauntɪn]). Ice cream (мороженое; ice — лед, cream — сливки) sodas in front of them (перед ними), they stare at each other for a long time (они смотрят (пристально) друг на друга долго), and the boy's nervousness builds (и нервозность парня растет). He remembers his father's advice (он вспоминает отцовский совет), and chooses the first topic (и выбирает первую тему).

He asks (спрашивает) the girl, "Do you like spinach? (ты любишь шпинат; spinach [ˈspɪnɪdʒ])" She says "No," and the silence returns (и тишина возвращается; silence [ˈsaɪlens]).

After a few more uncomfortable minutes (несколькими неуютными = неловкими минутами позже; uncomfortable [ʌnˈkʌmf(ǝ)tǝbl]; minute [ˈmɪnɪt]), the boy thinks of his father's suggestion (думает об отцовском совете; to suggest [sǝˈdʒest] - предлагать, советовать) and turns to the second item on the list (и переходит ко второму пункту списка; item [ˈaɪtǝm]). He asks, "Do you have a brother? (у тебя есть брат)" Again (опять), the girl says "No" and there is silence once again (и снова тишина).

The boy then plays his last card (затем разыгрывает свою последнюю карту). He thinks of his father's advice and asks the girl the following (следующий) question: "If you had a brother, would he like spinach? (если бы у тебя был брат, он бы любил шпинат)"

A boy is about to go on his first date, and is nervous about what to talk about. He asks his father for advice.