情景对话：

A: Owen is going to run for the chairmanship of the students' union.

欧文打算竞选学生会主席。

B: Really? I don't think he stands very much of a chance.

是真的吗？我觉得他入选的可能性不大。

A: But he says he is bound to be successful.

但他说他肯定能成功。

B: I think he's talking big. You know he always likes talking big.

我觉得他在吹牛，你知道他总是喜欢说大话。

一， 词海拾贝

talk big

exp. To boast or brag about one's own abilities, skills, success, achievements, etc. （吹牛，说大话）

e.g. Tybalt likes to talk big and wouldn't stand a chance against Romeo!

Tybalt喜欢说大话，他绝不是罗密欧的对手。

e.g. He talks big about all the things he's doing to make the country safer, but so far his administration hasn't done squat.

他吹嘘自己为使国家更安全所做的一切，但是到目前为止还没见动静。

e.g. She likes to talk big about how great a tennis player she is but I don't think she's even won a tournament.

她喜欢吹嘘自己是一个多么了不起的网球运动员，但是我认为她甚至没有赢得过锦标赛。

e.g. He has some deep need to talk big, but it's just talk—no action.

他很有必要说大话，但那只是说说而已，没有行动。

二， 语汇积累

1. run for：竞选

e.g. I'm planning to run for the school board.

我打算参加教育委员会的竞选。

e.g. The Governor is going to run for the Senate after this term.

州长在她这次任期届满之后准备参加参议院的竞选。

2. stand a chance：有希望，有可能

e.g. In times like these he didn't stand a chance of getting another job.

在现在这样的时期，他不可能找到别的工作。

e.g. If you don't try, you don't stand a chance of gaining anything.

如果你不尝试，将会一无所获。（格言）

3. be bound to：一定

e.g. A dishonest person is bound to meet with setbacks sooner or later.

不老实的人非碰钉子不可。

e.g. If you undertake the project, you are bound to encounter difficulties.

如果你承接这项工程的话, 免不了会遇到许多困难。