🏛️ 典故與文化背景
工寮（bunk house）
大型農場給單身雇工的宿舍。工人沒有隱私、沒有私人空間，全部家當放在床頭的木箱裡。史坦貝克親身住過這種地方。
西部雜誌（Western magazines）
1930 年代流行的廉價通俗雜誌（pulp magazines），刊載牛仔英雄故事。工人一邊笑它假，一邊偷偷嚮往裡面的自由與正義。
種族蔑稱
原文的 nigger 是對黑人極具侮辱性的蔑稱，中譯作「黑鬼」。1930 年代的加州雖然沒有南方那樣的法律隔離，但社會上的歧視與排斥同樣存在。坎迪說「人不錯」的同時，用的是最惡毒的字——這種「無意識的殘忍」正是史坦貝克要呈現的。這本書在美國中學屢次被要求下架，這個字是主要原因之一。
聖誕夜的「娛樂」
讓黑人馬廄工跟白人工人打架給大家看，還「因為他背歪了才不准對方用腳」——施捨式的「公平」。克魯克斯唯一被允許進工寮的一晚，是去當表演。
史泰森帽（Stetson）
1865 年創立的美國帽子品牌，牛仔帽的代名詞。老闆戴史泰森、穿高跟靴配馬刺，是牧場主人的打扮，不是農工。
工時簿與「二十號中午」
農工按日計薪，老闆從到工那一刻開始記。喬治和雷尼因為遲到少賺了半天。
坎迪的斷手
下一節之後會知道，他的手是在農場被機器捲斷的，農場賠了他兩百五十塊——這筆錢會成為「那塊地」夢想的關鍵。
📖 導讀
第二章換了舞台：工寮（bunk house）。史坦貝克照例先佈景——刷白的牆、沒上漆的地板、八張床鋪、每張床上釘一個蘋果箱當架子，上面放著肥皂、爽身粉、剃刀，和「農場工人愛讀、愛嘲笑、又偷偷相信的那種西部雜誌」。一道陽光斜斜地射進來，蒼蠅在光柱裡「像飛馳的流星」穿進穿出。這是一個男人們暫住、沒有人真正擁有任何東西的地方。
帶他們進來的是坎迪——掃工寮的老人（swamper），右手只剩「一截圓棍似的手腕」。喬治在床頭架上發現一罐「保證殺死蝨子、蟑螂」的藥，立刻起疑；坎迪替前一個住戶辯護：那個鐵匠愛乾淨到吃飯前要把馬鈴薯上每個小黑點挖掉。坎迪也是本章的情報站：老闆脾氣不壞、聖誕節還帶了一加侖威士忌來；馬廄工是黑人、背被馬踢歪了、房間裡有很多書；聖誕夜大家讓他進工寮，看他跟一個趕騾的打架，「因為他背是歪的，所以不准對方用腳」。這段輕描淡寫的「娛樂」，是全書第一個種族歧視的現場。
然後老闆登場：矮壯、穿高跟靴、配馬刺——「證明他不是做工的人」。他問話，雷尼記得不開口，卻在喬治誇他「壯得像頭牛」時忍不住跟著唸了一遍。老闆突然直接問：「斯摩爾，你會做什麼？」雷尼慌張地看向喬治。
重點
- 工寮的佈景：八張床、蘋果箱、西部雜誌——每個人的全部家當都裝得進一個木箱。
- 坎迪與他的斷手：被機器奪走的那隻手，讓他成為第一個「沒用了」的人——他的命運跟他的老狗綁在一起。
- 殺蝨藥的小插曲：喬治的警覺與挑剔；坎迪急著替人說好話，是個想討好、怕被嫌的老人。
- 克魯克斯的第一次出場（只被提到）：沒有名字，只有「馬廄工」和蔑稱；大家用他打架取樂。
- 老闆的高跟靴與馬刺：階級靠服裝區分。
- 「壯得像頭牛」：雷尼的一次失言，讓老闆起了疑心——下一節他會追問喬治。
📕 中英對照（逐句）
The bunk house was a long, rectangular building.
工寮是一棟長方形的長屋。
Inside, the walls were whitewashed and the floor unpainted.
屋裡的牆刷了白灰，地板沒上漆。
In three walls there were small, square windows, and in the fourth, a solid door with a wooden latch.
三面牆上各有幾扇小方窗，第四面是一扇厚實的門，門上一根木頭門閂。
Against the walls were eight bunks, five of them made up with blankets and the other three showing their burlap ticking.
靠牆排著八張床鋪，五張鋪了毯子，另外三張露出粗麻布的床墊套。
Over each bunk there was nailed an apple box with the opening forward so that it made two shelves for the personal belongings of the occupant of the bunk.
每張床的上方都釘了一個蘋果箱，開口朝外，隔成兩層架子，放睡這張床的人的私人物品。
And these shelves were loaded with little articles, soap and talcum powder, razors and those Western magazines ranch men love to read and scoff at and secretly believe.
架子上堆滿了小東西：肥皂和爽身粉、剃刀，還有農場工人愛看、愛嘲笑、又偷偷相信的那種西部雜誌。
And there were medicines on the shelves, and little vials, combs; and from nails on the box sides, a few neckties.
架上還有藥、小藥瓶、梳子；箱子側面的釘子上掛著幾條領帶。
Near one wall there was a black cast-iron stove, its stovepipe going straight up through the ceiling.
靠一面牆有一座黑色鑄鐵爐，煙囪直直往上穿過天花板。
In the middle of the room stood a big square table littered with playing cards, and around it were grouped boxes for the players to sit on.
屋子中間擺著一張大方桌，上面散亂著撲克牌，四周圍著幾個木箱給打牌的人坐。
At about ten o’clock in the morning the sun threw a bright dust-laden bar through one of the side windows, and in and out of the beam flies shot like rushing stars.
早上十點左右，太陽從一扇側窗射進一道明亮、滿是灰塵的光柱，蒼蠅在光裡穿進穿出，像飛馳的流星。
The wooden latch raised.
木頭門閂抬了起來。
The door opened and a tall, stoop-shouldered old man came in.
門開了，一個高個子、駝著肩的老人走進來。
He was dressed in blue jeans and he carried a big push-broom in his left hand.
他穿著藍色牛仔褲，左手拿著一把大推帚。
Behind him came George, and behind George, Lennie.
他後面跟著喬治，喬治後面是雷尼。
“The boss was expectin’ you last night,” the old man said.
「老闆昨晚就在等你們了。」老人說。
“He was sore as hell when you wasn’t here to go out this morning.”
「今天早上你們沒來出工，他氣得要命。」
He pointed with his right arm, and out of the sleeve came a round stick-like wrist, but no hand.
他用右臂指了指，袖子裡伸出一截圓棍似的手腕，沒有手。
“You can have them two beds there,” he said, indicating two bunks near the stove.
「你們睡那兩張床。」他說，指著爐子旁邊的兩張床鋪。
George stepped over and threw his blankets down on the burlap sack of straw that was a mattress.
喬治走過去，把毯子丟在那袋當床墊用、塞滿稻草的粗麻布袋上。
He looked into his box shelf and then picked a small yellow can from it.
他往自己的箱子架裡看了看，從裡面拿起一個小黃罐子。
“Say. What the hell’s this?”
「喂。這他媽的是什麼？」
“I don’t know,” said the old man.
「我不知道。」老人說。
“Says ‘positively kills lice, roaches and other scourges.’
「上面寫『保證殺死蝨子、蟑螂及其他害蟲』。
What the hell kind of bed you giving us, anyways.
你們到底給我們什麼鬼床啊？
We don’t want no pants rabbits.”
我們可不想要褲襠裡的兔子。」
The old swamper shifted his broom and held it between his elbow and his side while he held out his hand for the can.
老雜工把掃帚換個姿勢，夾在手肘和身側之間，伸手要那個罐子。
He studied the label carefully.
他仔細研究標籤。
“Tell you what—” he said finally, “last guy that had this bed was a blacksmith—hell of a nice fella and as clean a guy as you want to meet.
「我跟你說——」他終於開口，「上一個睡這張床的是個鐵匠——人好得不得了，要多乾淨有多乾淨。
Used to wash his hands even after he ate.”
連吃完飯都要洗手。」
“Then how come he got graybacks?”
「那他怎麼會長蝨子？」
George was working up a slow anger.
喬治的火氣慢慢上來了。
Lennie put his bindle on the neighboring bunk and sat down.
雷尼把鋪蓋放在旁邊那張床上，坐下來。
He watched George with open mouth.
他張著嘴看喬治。
“Tell you what,” said the old swamper.
「我跟你說，」老雜工說。
“This here blacksmith—name of Whitey—was the kind of guy that would put that stuff around even if there wasn’t no bugs—just to make sure, see?
「這個鐵匠——叫懷提——是那種就算沒蟲也要撒那個藥的人——只是為了保險，懂吧？
Tell you what he used to do—At meals he’d peel his boil’ potatoes, an’ he’d take out ever’ little spot, no matter what kind, before he’d eat it.
跟你說他以前怎麼做——吃飯的時候，他會把水煮馬鈴薯剝皮，不管什麼斑點，每一個小點他都要挖掉才吃。
And if there was a red splotch on an egg, he’d scrape it off.
蛋上要是有一塊紅斑，他也要刮掉。
Finally quit about the food.
最後是因為伙食才不幹的。
That’s the kinda guy he was—clean.
他就是這種人——愛乾淨。
Used ta dress up Sundays even when he wasn’t going no place, put on a necktie even, and then set in the bunk house.”
禮拜天就算哪裡都不去也要打扮，連領帶都打上，然後就坐在工寮裡。」
“I ain’t so sure,” said George skeptically.
「我可不太相信。」喬治懷疑地說。
“What did you say he quit for?”
「你說他為什麼不幹了？」
The old man put the yellow can in his pocket, and he rubbed his bristly white whiskers with his knuckles.
老人把黃罐子放進口袋，用指節搓著他扎手的白鬍渣。
“Why . . . he . . . just quit, the way a guy will.
「嗯……他……就是不幹了，人都會這樣。
Says it was the food.
說是伙食的關係。
Just wanted to move.
就是想換個地方。
Didn’t give no other reason but the food.
除了伙食，沒講別的理由。
Just says ‘gimme my time’ one night, the way any guy would.”
就有一天晚上說『把我的工錢結一結』，跟每個人一樣。」
George lifted his tick and looked underneath it.
喬治掀起床墊，往底下看。
He leaned over and inspected the sacking closely.
他彎下身，仔細檢查麻布。
Immediately Lennie got up and did the same with his bed.
雷尼馬上站起來，對自己的床也這樣做。
Finally George seemed satisfied.
最後喬治似乎滿意了。
He unrolled his bindle and put things on the shelf, his razor and bar of soap, his comb and bottle of pills, his liniment and leather wristband.
他攤開鋪蓋卷，把東西放上架子：他的剃刀和一塊肥皂、梳子和一瓶藥丸、擦劑和皮護腕。
Then he made his bed up neatly with blankets.
然後他用毯子把床鋪得整整齊齊。
The old man said, “I guess the boss’ll be out here in a minute.
老人說：「我想老闆馬上就會過來了。
He was sure burned when you wasn’t here this morning.
今天早上你們沒到，他真的很火。
Come right in when we was eatin’ breakfast and says, ‘Where the hell’s them new men?’
我們在吃早飯的時候他直接衝進來說：『那兩個新來的他媽的在哪裡？』
An’ he give the stable buck hell, too.”
他還把馬廄工臭罵了一頓。」
George patted a wrinkle out of his bed, and sat down.
喬治把床上的一道皺褶拍平，坐下來。
“Give the stable buck hell?” he asked.
「把馬廄工臭罵一頓？」他問。
“Sure. Ya see the stable buck’s a nigger.”
「是啊。你知道，馬廄工是個黑鬼。」
“Nigger, huh?”
「黑鬼啊？」
“Yeah. Nice fella too.
「對。人也不錯。
Got a crooked back where a horse kicked him.
背是歪的，被馬踢的。
The boss gives him hell when he’s mad.
老闆一生氣就罵他。
But the stable buck don’t give a damn about that.
可是馬廄工根本不在乎。
He reads a lot.
他書看很多。
Got books in his room.”
他房間裡有書。」
“What kind of a guy is the boss?” George asked.
「老闆是什麼樣的人？」喬治問。
“Well, he’s a pretty nice fella.
「嗯，他人還算不錯。
Gets pretty mad sometimes, but he’s pretty nice.
有時候脾氣很大，可是人還不錯。
Tell ya what—know what he done Christmas?
跟你說——你知道他聖誕節做了什麼？
Brang a gallon of whisky right in here and says, ‘Drink hearty boys. Christmas comes but once a year.’ ”
直接帶了一加侖威士忌進來，說：『盡量喝，小夥子們。聖誕節一年才一次。』」
“The hell he did! Whole gallon?”
「不會吧！一整加侖？」
“Yes sir. Jesus, we had fun.
「沒錯。天啊，我們玩得可開心了。
They let the nigger come in that night.
那天晚上他們讓那個黑鬼進來。
Little skinner name of Smitty took after the nigger.
一個叫史密提的小個子趕騾的去找那黑鬼打架。
Done pretty good, too.
打得還不錯呢。
The guys wouldn’t let him use his feet, so the nigger got him.
大家不讓他用腳，所以黑鬼贏了。
If he coulda used his feet, Smitty says he woulda killed the nigger.
史密提說，要是能用腳，他早就把黑鬼打死了。
The guys said on account of the nigger’s got a crooked back, Smitty can’t use his feet.”
大家說，因為黑鬼背是歪的，所以史密提不能用腳。」
He paused in relish of the memory.
他停了一下，回味著那段記憶。
“After that the guys went into Soledad and raised hell.
「後來大家進索萊達鬧了個天翻地覆。
I didn’t go in there.
我沒去。
I ain’t got the poop no more.”
我已經沒那個力氣了。」
Lennie was just finishing making his bed.
雷尼剛把床鋪好。
The wooden latch raised again and the door opened.
木頭門閂又抬起來，門開了。
A little stocky man stood in the open doorway.
一個矮壯的男人站在敞開的門口。
He wore blue jean trousers, a flannel shirt, a black, unbuttoned vest and a black coat.
他穿著藍色牛仔褲、法蘭絨襯衫、一件沒扣的黑背心，和一件黑外套。
His thumbs were stuck in his belt, on each side of a square steel buckle.
他兩隻拇指插在皮帶上，一邊一隻，夾著一個方形的鋼皮帶扣。
On his head was a soiled brown Stetson hat, and he wore high-heeled boots and spurs to prove he was not a laboring man.
頭上戴著一頂髒髒的棕色史泰森牛仔帽，腳上穿高跟靴、配著馬刺，證明他不是做粗活的人。
The old swamper looked quickly at him, and then shuffled to the door rubbing his whiskers with his knuckles as he went.
老雜工很快地看了他一眼，然後拖著腳步走向門口，一邊用指節搓鬍子。
“Them guys just come,” he said, and shuffled past the boss and out the door.
「這兩個人剛到。」他說，拖著腳從老闆身邊走出門去。
The boss stepped into the room with the short, quick steps of a fat-legged man.
老闆用粗腿男人那種又短又快的步子走進屋裡。
“I wrote Murray and Ready I wanted two men this morning.
「我寫信給莫瑞與瑞迪，說我今天早上要兩個人。
You got your work slips?”
你們的派工單呢？」
George reached into his pocket and produced the slips and handed them to the boss.
喬治把手伸進口袋，拿出派工單交給老闆。
“It wasn’t Murray and Ready’s fault.
「不是莫瑞與瑞迪的錯。
Says right here on the slip that you was to be here for work this morning.”
單子上寫得清清楚楚，你們今天早上就該來上工。」
George looked down at his feet.
喬治低頭看著自己的腳。
“Bus driver give us a bum steer,” he said.
「公車司機給我們指錯路了。」他說。
“We hadda walk ten miles.
「我們走了十英里。
Says we was here when we wasn’t.
說我們到了，其實根本還沒到。
We couldn’t get no rides in the morning.”
早上又搭不到便車。」
The boss squinted his eyes.
老闆瞇起眼睛。
“Well, I had to send out the grain teams short two buckers.
「哼，我只好讓運糧隊少兩個扛袋的就出工。
Won’t do any good to go out now till after dinner.”
現在去也沒用了，等吃完中飯再說。」
He pulled his time book out of his pocket and opened it where a pencil was stuck between the leaves.
他從口袋掏出工時簿，翻到夾著一支鉛筆的那一頁。
George scowled meaningfully at Lennie, and Lennie nodded to show that he understood.
喬治意有所指地瞪了雷尼一眼，雷尼點點頭表示他懂。
The boss licked his pencil.
老闆舔了舔鉛筆。
“What’s your name?”
「你叫什麼名字？」
“George Milton.”
「喬治．米爾頓。」
“And what’s yours?”
「你呢？」
George said, “His name’s Lennie Small.”
喬治說：「他叫雷尼．斯摩爾。」
The names were entered in the book.
名字登記進簿子裡。
“Le’s see, this is the twentieth, noon the twentieth.”
「我看看，今天是二十號，二十號中午。」
He closed the book.
他合上簿子。
“Where you boys been working?”
「你們之前在哪裡做？」
“Up around Weed,” said George.
「北邊威德那一帶。」喬治說。
“You, too?” to Lennie.
「你也是？」問雷尼。
“Yeah, him too,” said George.
「對，他也是。」喬治說。
The boss pointed a playful finger at Lennie.
老闆開玩笑似地用手指指雷尼。
“He ain’t much of a talker, is he?”
「他話不多，是吧？」
“No, he ain’t, but he’s sure a hell of a good worker.
「對，他話不多，可是他做事一流。
Strong as a bull.”
壯得像頭牛。」
Lennie smiled to himself.
雷尼自顧自地笑了。
“Strong as a bull,” he repeated.
「壯得像頭牛。」他跟著唸。
George scowled at him, and Lennie dropped his head in shame at having forgotten.
喬治瞪著他，雷尼羞愧地低下頭，因為他忘了。
The boss said suddenly, “Listen, Small!”
老闆突然說：「聽著，斯摩爾！」
Lennie raised his head.
雷尼抬起頭。
“What can you do?”
「你會做什麼？」
In a panic, Lennie looked at George for help.
雷尼驚慌地看向喬治求救。
“He can do anything you tell him,” said George.
「你叫他做什麼他都會。」喬治說。
“He’s a good skinner.
「他很會趕騾子。
He can rassel grain bags, drive a cultivator.
他會扛穀包，會開中耕機。
He can do anything.
他什麼都會。
Just give him a try.”
你讓他試試看就知道。」
📚 字詞與句法（15）
1bunk houseKK [ˈbʌŋk ˌhaʊs]（n.）（農場、工地的）工寮、工人宿舍
- 詞義：一大間放滿床鋪、給雇工睡的屋子。原文
The bunk house was a long, rectangular building。 - 例句：The new hires slept in the bunkhouse behind the barn. ／ 新雇的工人睡在穀倉後面的工寮。
- 詞源 × 實用度：bunk（窄床、雙層床的一層）＋ house。今天美國夏令營、牧場仍用 bunkhouse。
- 同義詞常用度：dormitory 70%、barracks 45%、hostel 40%、bunkhouse 30%（第 4／5 名）、quarters 30%。
- 詞性變化：n. bunkhouse / bunkhouses；bunk bed（雙層床）。
2swamperKK [ˈswɑmpɚ]（n.）（美國西部俚語）雜工、打掃工
- 詞義：農場或酒館裡打雜、掃地的人。原文
The old swamper shifted his broom——坎迪的工作。 - 例句：He started as a swamper in a saloon and ended up owning it. ／ 他從酒館雜工做起，最後當了老闆。
- 詞源 × 實用度：原指伐木業清理沼澤（swamp）開路的工人，後泛指打雜的。今天只在歷史語境出現。
- 同義詞常用度：handyman 70%、janitor 65%、odd-job man 35%、swamper 5%（第 4／4 名）。
- 詞性變化：n. swamper / swampers。
3scourgeKK [skɝdʒ]（n.）禍害、災難；（古）鞭子
- 詞義：造成巨大痛苦或傷害的東西。原文殺蟲劑標籤
kills lice, roaches and other scourges。 - 例句：Drug abuse is the scourge of many cities. ／ 毒品濫用是許多城市的禍害。
- 詞源 × 實用度：拉丁文 excoriare「剝皮」，原指鞭子，引申為天譴、禍害。新聞英語常見。
- 同義詞常用度：plague 60%、curse 55%、bane 30%、scourge 30%（第 4／5 名）、affliction 25%。
- 詞性變化：n. scourge；v. scourge / scourged / scourged / scourging（鞭打；折磨）。
4skepticallyKK [ˈskɛptɪklɪ]（adv.）懷疑地
- 詞義：不太相信。原文
“I ain’t so sure,” said George skeptically. - 例句：She raised an eyebrow skeptically. ／ 她懷疑地挑起一邊眉毛。
- 詞源 × 實用度：希臘文 skeptikos「探究的人」。英式拼法 sceptically。日常常用。
- 同義詞常用度：doubtfully 50%、dubiously 40%、skeptically 40%（第 2／4 名）、incredulously 25%。
- 詞性變化：adj. skeptical；adv. skeptically；n. skeptic / skepticism。
5relishKK [ˈrɛlɪʃ]（n./v.）津津有味、享受
- 詞義：非常喜歡、細細品味。原文
He paused in relish of the memory——坎迪回味聖誕夜的「好玩」。 - 例句：He told the story with obvious relish. ／ 他講這個故事時顯然很得意。
- 詞源 × 實用度：古法文 relaisser「留下（餘味）」。也指漢堡上的醬菜。
- 同義詞常用度：enjoyment 80%、delight 65%、relish 40%（第 3／5 名）、gusto 25%、zest 25%。
- 詞性變化：n. relish；v. relish / relished / relished / relishing。
6graybacks / pants rabbitsKK [ˈgreˌbæks][pænts ˈræbɪts]（俚語）蝨子
- 詞義：都是「蝨子」的俚語。原文
We don’t want no pants rabbits.、how come he got graybacks? - 例句：（歷史用語）Soldiers in the trenches were plagued by graybacks. ／ 戰壕裡的士兵飽受蝨子之苦。
- 詞源 × 實用度：grayback 源自美國南北戰爭，蝨子灰色的背；pants rabbits 是粗俗的玩笑說法（又暗合雷尼的兔子）。都已過時。
- 同義詞常用度：lice 95%、cooties（童語）30%、crabs（陰蝨）25%、graybacks 5%（第 4／5 名）、pants rabbits 2%。
- 詞性變化：louse（單）/ lice（複）。
7stable buckKK [ˈstebl̩ bʌk]（n.）馬廄工
- 詞義：照顧馬匹、打理馬具的雇工。原文
he give the stable buck hell。 - 例句：（歷史用語）
- 詞源 × 實用度：buck 原指公鹿，後用於年輕男人；對黑人男性稱 buck 帶有輕蔑與物化的意味。今天說 stable hand / groom。
- 同義詞常用度：stable hand 65%、groom 55%、stableman 30%、stable buck 3%（第 4／4 名）。
- 詞性變化：n. stable buck / stable bucks。
8skinnerKK [ˈskɪnɚ]（n.）（美國西部俚語）趕騾車的人
- 詞義：駕馭騾隊或馬隊的車夫，muleskinner 的簡稱。原文
Little skinner name of Smitty、He’s a good skinner。下一節斯林姆是 jerkline skinner（趕騾隊的頭）。 - 例句：A good skinner could drive a twenty-mule team with a single line. ／ 好的趕騾手只用一條韁繩就能駕馭二十頭騾子。
- 詞源 × 實用度：據說因為趕騾手能把騾子「剝一層皮」（用言語或鞭子），或能把買家「剝皮」。今天只在歷史語境出現。
- 同義詞常用度：teamster 45%、muleteer 20%、muleskinner 15%、skinner 5%（第 4／4 名）。
- 詞性變化：n. skinner / skinners。
9give someone a bum steerKK [bʌm stɪr]（idiom）給錯誤的指引、誤導
- 詞義：給人錯誤的資訊或建議。原文
Bus driver give us a bum steer。 - 例句：That guidebook gave us a bum steer—the restaurant closed years ago. ／ 那本旅遊書誤導我們，那家餐廳好幾年前就關了。
- 詞源 × 實用度：bum（差勁的）＋ steer（指點方向）。1920 年代美國俚語，今天仍聽得到。
- 同義詞常用度：mislead 85%、steer wrong 40%、bum steer 25%（第 3／4 名）、lead astray 35%。
- 詞性變化：give / gave / given / giving someone a bum steer。
10give someone hellKK [gɪv ˈsʌmwʌn hɛl]（idiom）痛罵某人
- 詞義：狠狠責罵。原文
he give the stable buck hell、The boss gives him hell when he’s mad。 - 例句：My mom gave me hell for coming home late. ／ 我晚回家被我媽罵到臭頭。
- 詞源 × 實用度：美式口語，粗但常用；另有 Give 'em hell! 意為「狠狠打敗他們！」（鼓勵）。
- 同義詞常用度：scold 70%、chew out 50%、give someone hell 45%（第 3／5 名）、tear into 30%、bawl out 20%。
- 詞性變化：give / gave / given / giving someone hell。
11rasselKK [ˈræsl̩]（方言拼寫）＝ wrestle 扛、搬弄（重物）
- 詞義：wrestle 的方言發音，這裡是「跟重物搏鬥」＝扛穀包。原文
He can rassel grain bags。 - 例句：It took three of us to rassel the piano up the stairs. ／ 我們三個人才把鋼琴弄上樓。
- 詞源 × 實用度：wrestle 在美國南方、西部鄉下讀作 rassle。今天職業摔角迷仍會說 rasslin'。
- 同義詞常用度：wrestle 85%、heave 45%、haul 45%、rassle 10%（第 4／4 名）。
- 詞性變化：wrestle / wrestled / wrestled / wrestling。
12brang / give（過去式）（口語文法）非標準過去式
- 特徵：把 brought 說成 brang、gave 說成 give。
- 原文例：
Brang a gallon of whisky right in here、Bus driver give us a bum steer、he give the stable buck hell。 - 效果：跟 ring-rang 類推出 bring-brang，是英語母語者常見的「錯得很合理」的類推。坎迪、喬治都這樣講，形成農場的聲音。
- 仿寫：「He brang me a beer and give me a smoke.」＝ He brought me a beer and gave me a cigarette.
13Tell you what / Tell ya what（口語填充語）我跟你說
- 特徵：坎迪的口頭禪，開口前先來一句。
- 原文例：
Tell you what—Tell you what he used to do—Tell ya what—know what he done Christmas? - 效果：一個話多、想討好、愛分享八卦的老人，一句口頭禪就把個性立起來了。
- 仿寫：Tell you what—let's skip the meeting and grab lunch.（今天仍常用，帶提議語氣）
14道具描寫人物（修辭）
- 特徵：用一個人的隨身物品或衣著說明他是誰。
- 原文例：工人床頭的
soap and talcum powder, razors and those Western magazines；老闆的high-heeled boots and spurs to prove he was not a laboring man；喬治床頭的liniment and leather wristband。 - 效果：不用說明，讀者從物品就知道誰是勞工、誰是老闆、誰的身體在痛。
- 仿寫：她的辦公桌上只有一台筆電和一杯冷掉的咖啡，旁邊壓著一張女兒畫的畫。
15一句話寫一整個人：反諷的形容（修辭）
- 特徵：表面中性的敘述，底下藏著批判。
- 原文例：
those Western magazines ranch men love to read and scoff at and secretly believe——三個動詞一路翻轉；to prove he was not a laboring man——高跟靴的用處是「證明」。 - 效果：史坦貝克不直接說「工人渴望英雄夢」「老闆愛擺架子」，而是讓動詞自己說話。
- 仿寫：the self-help books he loved to quote and mock and secretly follow.