Unit 20 The car takes a lot of oil.

你问这车有没有什么缺点。他回答说,这车太耗油:

The car takes a lot of oil.

他写东西写得不耐烦了。你说,写一本书肯定是会耗时的:

Writing a book will surely take a lot of time.

给他做说服工作真是太难了。你说,花费很大的力气才能说服他:

It takes a lot of convincing.

大家都说Elisa嫁给了那个她原本不喜欢的老板。你说,难以置信:

It takes some believing.

你以为主编是来向你催稿子的,可主编说,不用急:

Take your time.

你问空姐这飞机能容下多少旅客。她说,这飞机能容下200人:

The airplane takes two hundred people.

面对新发生的一切,你告慰自己,既来之,则安之:

Take things as they come.

你为不能得到家人的谅解而担忧。哥哥说,别把事情看得太重:

Let's not take anything too seriously.

这是一个原则问题,不能忽视。你说,你是认真的,不开玩笑:

I take this seriously. I'm not kidding.

注:

take v. 占用,花掉,用上了(时间,钱)。有时译法较活,有时不宜译出。
有谚语说:It takes two to quarrel. 相当于汉语的:孤掌难鸣
美国人说:I won't be taken for a ride. 意思是:我可不上当
Taken by itself 就本身来说

you're kidding 美语中用于关系比较亲近的朋友间,当你对他所说的话不赞同,不认可时说 you're kidding 相当于汉语的:我才不信!别开玩笑!