🏛️ 典故與文化背景
擲馬蹄鐵（horseshoes）
把馬蹄鐵擲向插在地上的鐵樁，套中得分。美國農場工人下工後最常見的娛樂。
奧本（Auburn）
加州北部、沙加緬度東北方的小鎮，淘金熱時期建立。
沙加緬度河（Sacramento River）
加州最長的河。喬治叫雷尼跳河的地方。
私刑（lynching）
美國 19 世紀末到 20 世紀中，群眾不經審判吊死嫌犯的事件，受害者大多是黑人，也包括被指控性侵白人女性的男人。威德的人「組隊去吊死雷尼」，在當年一點也不誇張——這也預告了最後一章柯利帶人追捕。
「當好人不需要腦子」
斯林姆說「真正聰明的人幾乎從來不是好人」——史坦貝克對精明算計的世界的批判，也是對雷尼的肯定。
「一個人久了會變得惡毒」
喬治與斯林姆對孤獨的診斷。下一章的克魯克斯就是活生生的例子。
📖 導讀
第三章開場是傍晚的工寮：外面傳來擲馬蹄鐵的聲響和喝采，屋裡斯林姆拉亮一盞錫罩電燈，光「直直往下打」，桌子一片雪亮、四個角落仍在暮色裡——一個告解室。斯林姆給了雷尼一隻小狗，喬治道謝；斯林姆稱讚雷尼是他見過最能幹的工人，然後平靜地說：「你跟他一起走，挺奇怪的。」——史坦貝克說這是斯林姆「平靜的邀請，邀人吐露心事」。
喬治第一次把過去說出來。兩人都生在奧本，克拉拉姑媽把雷尼從小養大，她死後雷尼就跟著喬治出來做工。然後是一段懺悔：以前他常捉弄雷尼，「讓我在他旁邊顯得他媽的聰明」；有一天在沙加緬度河邊，他對雷尼說「跳下去」，雷尼就跳了——「他一下都不會游」，差點淹死，被拉上來後還一直謝喬治，「完全忘了是我叫他跳的」。從那以後喬治再也不那樣做。這段讓我們明白：喬治對雷尼的照顧，有一部分是贖罪。
接著他說出威德的完整經過：紅洋裝、女孩尖叫、雷尼嚇得只會抓緊、喬治用籬笆木樁敲他的頭才讓他放手；女孩報警說被強暴，鎮上的人組隊要動私刑，兩人泡在灌溉溝裡只露出頭，一直躲到晚上。斯林姆只問：「沒傷到那女孩吧？」「他只是想摸那件紅洋裝，就像他一直想摸那些小狗。」話音剛落，雷尼走進來，把小狗藏在肚子上。斯林姆看著他跑出去：「天啊，他就像個孩子，不是嗎？」
重點
- 光錐的佈景：桌上一片亮、四角一片暗——適合說真話的地方。
- 斯林姆的傾聽：「不鼓勵也不阻止，只是安靜地坐著接收」；他「神一樣的眼睛」讓喬治忍不住告白。
- 「我也不聰明」：喬治說要是他聰明，早就有自己的地——他把自己的失敗跟雷尼綁在一起。
- 沙加緬度河那一跳：喬治的愧疚與轉變，兩人關係的真正起點。
- 威德事件全貌：紅洋裝 → 尖叫 → 抓住不放 → 私刑隊 → 灌溉溝——結局的完整藍圖。
- 小狗藏在肚子上：雷尼又一次「想摸一下」，又一次可能把小東西弄死。
📕 中英對照（逐句）
Although there was evening brightness showing through the windows of the bunk house, inside it was dusk.
雖然工寮窗外還透著傍晚的亮光，屋裡卻已是黃昏。
Through the open door came the thuds and occasional clangs of a horseshoe game, and now and then the sound of voices raised in approval or derision.
敞開的門外傳來擲馬蹄鐵遊戲的悶響，偶爾鏗的一聲，不時還有人高聲叫好或喝倒采。
Slim and George came into the darkening bunk house together.
斯林姆和喬治一起走進漸漸暗下來的工寮。
Slim reached up over the card table and turned on the tin-shaded electric light.
斯林姆伸手到牌桌上方，打開那盞罩著錫燈罩的電燈。
Instantly the table was brilliant with light, and the cone of the shade threw its brightness straight downward, leaving the corners of the bunk house still in dusk.
桌面立刻一片雪亮，錐形的燈罩把光直直往下打，工寮的幾個角落仍留在暮色裡。
Slim sat down on a box and George took his place opposite.
斯林姆在一個木箱上坐下，喬治坐到他對面。
“It wasn’t nothing,” said Slim.
「沒什麼啦。」斯林姆說。
“I would of had to drowned most of ’em anyways.
「反正大部分我本來也得淹死。
No need to thank me about that.”
用不著謝我。」
George said, “It wasn’t much to you, maybe, but it was a hell of a lot to him.
喬治說：「對你來說也許沒什麼，可是對他來說意義可大了。
Jesus Christ, I don’t know how we’re gonna get him to sleep in here.
老天，我不知道要怎麼讓他睡在這裡。
He’ll want to sleep right out in the barn with ’em.
他會想直接睡到穀倉去陪那些小狗。
We’ll have trouble keepin’ him from getting right in the box with them pups.”
要攔著他不爬進那箱小狗裡，都會很麻煩。」
“It wasn’t nothing,” Slim repeated.
「沒什麼。」斯林姆又說了一次。
“Say, you sure was right about him.
「嘿，你說他的事一點都沒錯。
Maybe he ain’t bright, but I never seen such a worker.
他也許不聰明，可是我從沒看過這麼能幹的人。
He damn near killed his partner buckin’ barley.
扛大麥的時候，他差點把搭檔累死。
There ain’t nobody can keep up with him.
沒有人跟得上他。
God awmighty I never seen such a strong guy.”
老天爺，我從沒看過力氣這麼大的人。」
George spoke proudly.
喬治驕傲地說。
“Jus’ tell Lennie what to do an’ he’ll do it if it don’t take no figuring.
「只要告訴雷尼做什麼，只要不用動腦筋，他就會做。
He can’t think of nothing to do himself, but he sure can take orders.”
他自己想不出要做什麼，可是聽命令他最在行。」
There was a clang of horseshoe on iron stake outside and a little cheer of voices.
外面馬蹄鐵鏗地撞上鐵樁，響起一小陣歡呼。
Slim moved back slightly so the light was not on his face.
斯林姆稍微往後挪，讓燈光不照在臉上。
“Funny how you an’ him string along together.”
「你跟他一起走，挺奇怪的。」
It was Slim’s calm invitation to confidence.
這是斯林姆平靜的邀請，邀人吐露心事。
“What’s funny about it?” George demanded defensively.
「有什麼奇怪的？」喬治防備地追問。
“Oh, I dunno.
「喔，我也說不上來。
Hardly none of the guys ever travel together.
這些人幾乎沒有一起走的。
I hardly never seen two guys travel together.
我幾乎沒看過兩個人一起出門。
You know how the hands are, they just come in and get their bunk and work a month, and then they quit and go out alone.
你知道這些工人是怎樣的，來了，領張床，做一個月，然後辭工，一個人走掉。
Never seem to give a damn about nobody.
好像從來不在乎任何人。
It jus’ seems kinda funny a cuckoo like him and a smart little guy like you travelin’ together.”
像他那樣的傻子，跟你這樣精明的小個子一起走，就是有點奇怪。」
“He ain’t no cuckoo,” said George.
「他不是傻子。」喬治說。
“He’s dumb as hell, but he ain’t crazy.
「他笨得要命，可是他不是瘋子。
An’ I ain’t so bright neither, or I wouldn’t be buckin’ barley for my fifty and found.
而我也沒多聰明，不然我也不會為了五十塊外加吃住在這裡扛大麥。
If I was bright, if I was even a little bit smart, I’d have my own little place, an’ I’d be bringin’ in my own crops, ’stead of doin’ all the work and not getting what comes up outa the ground.”
要是我聰明，哪怕只有一點點聰明，我就會有自己的一小塊地，收自己的莊稼，而不是做了所有的活，卻拿不到地裡長出來的東西。」
George fell silent.
喬治不說話了。
He wanted to talk.
他想說話。
Slim neither encouraged nor discouraged him.
斯林姆既不鼓勵他，也不阻止他。
He just sat back quiet and receptive.
他只是往後靠著，安靜地聽。
“It ain’t so funny, him an’ me goin’ aroun’ together,” George said at last.
「我跟他一起走，也沒那麼奇怪。」喬治終於開口。
“Him and me was both born in Auburn.
「我跟他都是在奧本出生的。
I knowed his Aunt Clara.
我認識他的克拉拉姑媽。
She took him when he was a baby and raised him up.
他還是小嬰兒的時候她就收養他，把他帶大。
When his Aunt Clara died, Lennie just come along with me out workin’.
他克拉拉姑媽死了以後，雷尼就跟著我出來做工。
Got kinda used to each other after a little while.”
過了一陣子，就有點習慣彼此了。」
“Umm,” said Slim.
「嗯。」斯林姆說。
George looked over at Slim and saw the calm, God-like eyes fastened on him.
喬治看向斯林姆，看見那雙平靜、神一般的眼睛盯著他。
“Funny,” said George.
「說來好笑。」喬治說。
“I used to have a hell of a lot of fun with ’im.
「以前我常拿他尋開心。
Used to play jokes on ’im ’cause he was too dumb to take care of ’imself.
常常捉弄他，因為他笨到照顧不了自己。
But he was too dumb even to know he had a joke played on him.
可是他笨到連被捉弄了都不知道。
I had fun.
我玩得很開心。
Made me seem God damn smart alongside of him.
在他旁邊，我顯得他媽的聰明。
Why he’d do any damn thing I tol’ him.
嘿，我叫他做什麼鬼事他都做。
If I tol’ him to walk over a cliff, over he’d go.
我要是叫他走下懸崖，他就會走下去。
That wasn’t so damn much fun after a while.
過了一陣子就沒那麼好玩了。
He never got mad about it, neither.
他也從來不生氣。
I’ve beat the hell outa him, and he coulda bust every bone in my body jus’ with his han’s, but he never lifted a finger against me.”
我把他揍得半死，他光用兩隻手就能把我全身的骨頭都折斷，可是他連一根手指都沒對我動過。」
George’s voice was taking on the tone of confession.
喬治的聲音漸漸帶上了告解的語氣。
“Tell you what made me stop that.
「我跟你說是什麼讓我不再那樣做。
One day a bunch of guys was standin’ around up on the Sacramento River.
有一天，一群人站在沙加緬度河邊。
I was feelin’ pretty smart.
我覺得自己很聰明。
I turns to Lennie and says, ‘Jump in.’
我轉頭對雷尼說：『跳下去。』
An’ he jumps.
他就跳了。
Couldn’t swim a stroke.
他一下都不會游。
He damn near drowned before we could get him.
我們把他拉上來之前，他差點淹死。
An’ he was so damn nice to me for pullin’ him out.
結果他因為我把他拉上來，對我好得不得了。
Clean forgot I told him to jump in.
完全忘了是我叫他跳的。
Well, I ain’t done nothing like that no more.”
從那以後，我再也沒幹過那種事。」
“He’s a nice fella,” said Slim.
「他是個好人。」斯林姆說。
“Guy don’t need no sense to be a nice fella.
「當好人不需要腦子。
Seems to me sometimes it jus’ works the other way around.
我有時候覺得剛好相反。
Take a real smart guy and he ain’t hardly ever a nice fella.”
真正聰明的人，幾乎從來都不是好人。」
George stacked the scattered cards and began to lay out his solitaire hand.
喬治把散亂的牌疊好，開始排他的接龍。
The shoes thudded on the ground outside.
外面馬蹄鐵咚咚地落在地上。
At the windows the light of the evening still made the window squares bright.
傍晚的光還讓一扇扇方窗亮著。
“I ain’t got no people,” George said.
「我沒有家人。」喬治說。
“I seen the guys that go around on the ranches alone.
「我看過那些一個人在農場之間跑的人。
That ain’t no good.
那樣不好。
They don’t have no fun.
他們一點樂趣都沒有。
After a long time they get mean.
久了就變得很惡毒。
They get wantin’ to fight all the time.”
一天到晚想打架。」
“Yeah, they get mean,” Slim agreed.
「對，他們會變得很惡毒。」斯林姆同意。
“They get so they don’t want to talk to nobody.”
「變得誰都不想說話。」
“ ’Course Lennie’s a God damn nuisance most of the time,” said George.
「當然，雷尼大部分時候是個他媽的麻煩精。」喬治說。
“But you get used to goin’ around with a guy an’ you can’t get rid of him.”
「可是你跟一個人一起走習慣了，就甩不掉他了。」
“He ain’t mean,” said Slim.
「他不壞。」斯林姆說。
“I can see Lennie ain’t a bit mean.”
「我看得出雷尼一點都不壞。」
“ ’Course he ain’t mean.
「他當然不壞。
But he gets in trouble alla time because he’s so God damn dumb.
可是他老是惹麻煩，因為他笨得要命。
Like what happened in Weed——”
就像在威德發生的那件事——」
He stopped, stopped in the middle of turning over a card.
他停住了，翻牌翻到一半停住了。
He looked alarmed and peered over at Slim.
他一臉驚慌，盯著斯林姆看。
“You wouldn’t tell nobody?”
「你不會跟別人說吧？」
“What’d he do in Weed?” Slim asked calmly.
「他在威德做了什麼？」斯林姆平靜地問。
“You wouldn’ tell? . . . No, ’course you wouldn’.”
「你不會說出去吧？……不會，你當然不會。」
“What’d he do in Weed?” Slim asked again.
「他在威德做了什麼？」斯林姆又問了一次。
“Well, he seen this girl in a red dress.
「嗯，他看到一個穿紅洋裝的女孩。
Dumb bastard like he is, he wants to touch ever’thing he likes.
像他那種笨蛋，喜歡的東西都想摸。
Just wants to feel it.
就只是想摸摸看。
So he reaches out to feel this red dress an’ the girl lets out a squawk, and that gets Lennie all mixed up, and he holds on ’cause that’s the only thing he can think to do.
所以他伸手去摸那件紅洋裝，女孩尖叫一聲，雷尼就整個亂了，他抓著不放，因為那是他唯一想得到的事。
Well, this girl squawks and squawks.
然後那女孩一直尖叫一直尖叫。
I was jus’ a little bit off, and I heard all the yellin’, so I comes running, an’ by that time Lennie’s so scared all he can think to do is jus’ hold on.
我就在不遠的地方，聽到那些叫聲就跑過去，那時候雷尼已經嚇到只知道抓緊不放。
I socked him over the head with a fence picket to make him let go.
我用一根籬笆木樁往他頭上敲，才讓他放手。
He was so scairt he couldn’t let go of that dress.
他嚇到放不開那件洋裝。
And he’s so God damn strong, you know.”
你知道，他力氣他媽的那麼大。」
Slim’s eyes were level and unwinking.
斯林姆的眼睛平視著，一眨也不眨。
He nodded very slowly.
他很慢很慢地點頭。
“So what happens?”
「然後呢？」
George carefully built his line of solitaire cards.
喬治小心地排著他那一列接龍。
“Well, that girl rabbits in an’ tells the law she been raped.
「然後那女孩一溜煙跑去報警，說她被強暴了。
The guys in Weed start a party out to lynch Lennie.
威德的人組了一隊人要去私刑吊死雷尼。
So we sit in a irrigation ditch under water all the rest of that day.
所以我們那天剩下的時間都泡在灌溉溝的水裡。
Got on’y our heads sticking outa water, an’ up under the grass that sticks out from the side of the ditch.
只有頭露出水面，藏在溝邊伸出來的草底下。
An’ that night we scrammed outa there.”
那天晚上我們就逃離那裡了。」
Slim sat in silence for a moment.
斯林姆沉默地坐了一會兒。
“Didn’t hurt the girl none, huh?” he asked finally.
「沒傷到那女孩吧？」他終於問。
“Hell, no. He just scared her.
「當然沒有。他只是嚇到她了。
I’d be scared too if he grabbed me.
他要是抓住我，我也會嚇壞。
But he never hurt her.
可是他從來沒傷害她。
He jus’ wanted to touch that red dress, like he wants to pet them pups all the time.”
他只是想摸那件紅洋裝，就像他一天到晚想摸那些小狗一樣。」
“He ain’t mean,” said Slim.
「他不壞。」斯林姆說。
“I can tell a mean guy a mile off.”
「壞人我一英里外就認得出來。」
“ ’Course he ain’t, and he’ll do any damn thing I——”
「他當然不壞，而且我叫他做什麼他都——」
Lennie came in through the door.
雷尼從門口走進來。
He wore his blue denim coat over his shoulders like a cape, and he walked hunched way over.
他把藍色丹寧外套像披風一樣披在肩上，彎著腰駝著背走路。
“Hi, Lennie,” said George.
「嗨，雷尼。」喬治說。
“How do you like the pup now?”
「那隻小狗你現在覺得怎樣？」
Lennie said breathlessly, “He’s brown an’ white jus’ like I wanted.”
雷尼上氣不接下氣地說：「牠是棕白色的，跟我想要的一樣。」
He went directly to his bunk and lay down and turned his face to the wall and drew up his knees.
他直接走到床邊躺下，臉朝牆壁，屈起膝蓋。
George put down his cards very deliberately.
喬治非常慢地放下手上的牌。
“Lennie,” he said sharply.
「雷尼。」他厲聲說。
Lennie twisted his neck and looked over his shoulder.
雷尼扭過脖子，回頭看。
“Huh? What you want, George?”
「啊？你要幹嘛，喬治？」
“I tol’ you you couldn’t bring that pup in here.”
「我跟你說過不准把小狗帶進來。」
“What pup, George? I ain’t got no pup.”
「什麼小狗，喬治？我沒有小狗啊。」
George went quickly to him, grabbed him by the shoulder and rolled him over.
喬治很快走過去，抓住他的肩膀把他翻過來。
He reached down and picked the tiny puppy from where Lennie had been concealing it against his stomach.
他伸手從雷尼藏在肚子上的地方，拿起那隻小小的狗。
Lennie sat up quickly.
雷尼趕緊坐起來。
“Give ’um to me, George.”
「把牠給我，喬治。」
George said, “You get right up an’ take this pup back to the nest.
喬治說：「你馬上起來，把這隻小狗送回窩裡。
He’s gotta sleep with his mother.
牠得跟牠媽媽睡。
You want to kill him?
你想害死牠嗎？
Just born last night an’ you take him out of the nest.
昨晚才剛出生，你就把牠從窩裡拿出來。
You take him back or I’ll tell Slim not to let you have him.”
你把牠送回去，不然我就叫斯林姆不給你了。」
Lennie held out his hands pleadingly.
雷尼哀求地伸出雙手。
“Give ’um to me, George. I’ll take ’um back.
「把牠給我，喬治。我會送回去。
I didn’t mean no harm, George. Honest I didn’t.
我沒有惡意，喬治。真的沒有。
I jus’ wanted to pet ’um a little.”
我只是想摸牠一下下。」
George handed the pup to him.
喬治把小狗遞給他。
“Awright. You get him back there quick, and don’ you take him out no more.
「好啦。你快點送回去，以後不准再把牠拿出來。
You’ll kill him, the first thing you know.”
不然一轉眼你就把牠弄死了。」
Lennie fairly scuttled out of the room.
雷尼幾乎是一溜煙跑出房間。
Slim had not moved.
斯林姆一動也沒動。
His calm eyes followed Lennie out the door.
他平靜的眼睛跟著雷尼出了門。
“Jesus,” he said.
「天啊。」他說。
“He’s jes’ like a kid, ain’t he.”
「他就像個孩子，不是嗎。」
📚 字詞與句法（15）
1derisionKK [dɪˈrɪʒən]（n.）嘲笑、奚落
- 詞義：輕蔑的取笑。原文
voices raised in approval or derision——擲馬蹄鐵時有人叫好、有人喝倒采。 - 例句：His proposal was met with derision. ／ 他的提案招來一片嘲笑。
- 詞源 × 實用度：拉丁文 deridere「嘲笑」（ridere 笑，同源 ridiculous）。書面常用。
- 同義詞常用度：mockery 60%、ridicule 55%、scorn 45%、derision 35%（第 4／5 名）、jeers 30%。
- 詞性變化：n. derision；v. deride；adj. derisive。
2receptiveKK [rɪˈsɛptɪv]（adj.）願意傾聽的、樂於接受的
- 詞義：準備好聽別人說、接受新想法。原文
He just sat back quiet and receptive. - 例句：The board was receptive to our ideas. ／ 董事會對我們的想法很願意考慮。
- 詞源 × 實用度：receive（接受）→ receptive。商業英語常用。
- 同義詞常用度：open 85%、receptive 50%（第 2／4 名）、responsive 45%、amenable 25%。
- 詞性變化：adj. receptive；n. receptivity / receptiveness。
3confessionKK [kənˈfɛʃən]（n.）告解、坦白
- 詞義：承認自己的錯、說出秘密。原文
George’s voice was taking on the tone of confession. - 例句：He made a full confession to the police. ／ 他向警方全盤招供。
- 詞源 × 實用度：拉丁文 confiteri「完全承認」。天主教的告解也是這個字——呼應斯林姆「神一般的眼睛」。
- 同義詞常用度：admission 65%、confession 60%（第 2／4 名）、disclosure 35%、avowal 10%。
- 詞性變化：v. confess；n. confession；adj. confessional。
4unwinkingKK [ʌnˈwɪŋkɪŋ]（adj.）一眨也不眨的
- 詞義：眼睛不眨，專注或冷靜地盯著。原文
Slim’s eyes were level and unwinking. - 例句：The owl stared at us with unwinking eyes. ／ 貓頭鷹用一眨不眨的眼睛盯著我們。
- 詞源 × 實用度：un- ＋ wink（眨眼）。文學描寫用語。
- 同義詞常用度：unblinking 70%、steady 55%、fixed 45%、unwinking 15%（第 4／4 名）。
- 詞性變化：adj. unwinking；adv. unwinkingly。
5scuttleKK [ˈskʌtl̩]（v.）急忙小步跑開
- 詞義：像螃蟹一樣快步跑走。原文
Lennie fairly scuttled out of the room. - 例句：The crab scuttled under a rock. ／ 螃蟹急忙鑽到石頭底下。
- 詞源 × 實用度：scuddle 的變體。另有「鑿沉（船）；破壞（計畫）」之義：scuttle the deal。
- 同義詞常用度：scurry 65%、hurry 85%、scamper 45%、scuttle 40%（第 4／5 名）、skitter 20%。
- 詞性變化：scuttle / scuttled / scuttled / scuttling。
6fifty and found（農工用語）月薪五十塊外加包吃住
- 詞義：found＝雇主提供的食宿。原文
buckin’ barley for my fifty and found。 - 例句：（歷史用語）He worked for thirty dollars and found. ／ 他一個月三十塊、包吃住。
- 詞源 × 實用度：19 世紀美國用語，today 已不用；但 all found（英）仍偶見於招聘廣告。
- 同義詞常用度：（專門用語；今天說 room and board 70%）
- 詞性變化：n. found（不可數）。
7cuckooKK [ˈkuku]（n./adj.）（口語）傻子、瘋瘋癲癲的
- 詞義：原文
a cuckoo like him。 - 例句：You're cuckoo if you think he'll pay you back. ／ 你要是覺得他會還錢，你就是瘋了。
- 詞源 × 實用度：布穀鳥叫聲單調重複，引申為「傻」。One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest（飛越杜鵑窩）＝精神病院。今天仍是常用口語。
- 同義詞常用度：crazy 95%、nuts 70%、loony 35%、cuckoo 30%（第 4／5 名）、bonkers 30%。
- 詞性變化：n./adj. cuckoo。
8string alongKK [strɪŋ əˈlɔŋ]（phr. v.）跟著走、作伴；（另義）吊人胃口
- 詞義：原文
Funny how you an’ him string along together＝一起混、作伴同行。 - 例句：She strung him along for months before saying no. ／ 她吊了他好幾個月才拒絕。（今天多用此義）
- 詞源 × 實用度：像串在同一條線上。今天主要義是「欺騙、吊胃口」。
- 同義詞常用度：tag along 55%、go along 70%、string along 25%（第 3／3 名）。
- 詞性變化：string / strung / strung / stringing along。
9lynchKK [lɪntʃ]（v.）私刑處死
- 詞義：群眾不經審判就把人處死（通常吊死）。原文
start a party out to lynch Lennie。 - 例句：（歷史用語）Thousands of Black Americans were lynched between 1880 and 1940. ／ 1880 到 1940 年間，數千名非裔美國人遭私刑處死。
- 詞源 × 實用度：據說源自 18 世紀維吉尼亞的 Charles Lynch（Lynch's law）。今天仍常用於歷史與比喻（lynch mob 暴民）。
- 同義詞常用度：（專有概念，無直接同義詞；hang 為近義）
- 詞性變化：lynch / lynched / lynched / lynching；n. lynching。
10rabbit（v.，俚語）一溜煙跑走
- 詞義：像兔子一樣逃跑。原文
that girl rabbits in an’ tells the law。 - 例句：（今天英式口語 rabbit on＝嘮叨不停）
- 詞源 × 實用度：名詞轉動詞。又是一隻「兔子」——史坦貝克的文字遊戲。
- 同義詞常用度：run off 70%、bolt 50%、scamper 35%、rabbit 5%（第 4／4 名）。
- 詞性變化：rabbit / rabbited / rabbited / rabbiting。
11scramKK [skræm]（v.，俚語）溜走、快滾
- 詞義：原文
that night we scrammed outa there。 - 例句：Scram, kid! ／ 小鬼，滾開！
- 詞源 × 實用度：scramble 的縮寫，1920 年代美國俚語。今天祈使句 Scram! 仍聽得到。
- 同義詞常用度：get out 90%、beat it 50%、scram 35%（第 3／4 名）、skedaddle 15%。
- 詞性變化：scram / scrammed / scrammed / scramming。
12squawkKK [skwɔk]（n./v.）尖叫、粗聲叫
- 詞義：鳥類刺耳的叫聲，用在人身上帶貶義。原文
the girl lets out a squawk。 - 例句：The parrot squawked every time the doorbell rang. ／ 每次門鈴響，鸚鵡就嘎嘎大叫。
- 詞源 × 實用度：擬聲詞。也指「大聲抱怨」：Customers squawked about the price.
- 同義詞常用度：scream 90%、shriek 55%、screech 45%、squawk 35%（第 4／5 名）。
- 詞性變化：squawk / squawked / squawked / squawking。
13would of / scairt / jes'/ scared /（方言拼寫）＝ would have just
- 詞義：
I would of had to drowned most of ’em（would've 聽起來像 would of）、He was so scairt、He’s jes’ like a kid。 - 例句：（考試常見錯誤：should of ✗ → should have ✓）
- 詞源 × 實用度：would of 是把 would've 照聽到的音寫下來，今天母語者寫作也常犯。
- 同義詞常用度：（拼寫變體；標準拼法 100%）
- 詞性變化：would have + 過去分詞。
14光的佈景＝心理空間（修辭）
- 特徵：用光線分出亮與暗的空間。
- 原文例：
the cone of the shade threw its brightness straight downward, leaving the corners of the bunk house still in dusk.斯林姆moved back slightly so the light was not on his face。 - 效果：說真話的人在光下，聽的人退到暗處——像告解室。喬治的祕密在這盞燈下第一次被說出來。
- 仿寫：Only the desk lamp was on; her face stayed in shadow while I read the letter aloud.
15敘述與動作的對位（結構）
- 特徵：說話時手上做著重複的小動作，情緒變化從動作停頓表現出來。
- 原文例：喬治一邊講一邊排接龍 →
He stopped, stopped in the middle of turning over a card.（說溜嘴）→George carefully built his line of solitaire cards.（講到最難的部分，更專心在牌上）。 - 效果：不寫內心獨白，讀者從手上的牌就看得出他的緊張。
- 仿寫：她一邊削蘋果一邊講，講到父親那段，刀停了。