My next-door neighbor keeps asking to use my lawn mower. When he uses it, he runs over stumps and garbage in his yard. I feel he's abusing my generosity. I have hinted that he should pick up things in the yard before he mows, but he never listens. How should I handle this? - DULL BLADES IN WEST VIRGINIA
[Advice]
무딘 칼날을 지니신 독자님께: 직설적으로 말씀하시는 대신에 에둘러 말씀하시는 것을 그만 두세요. 이웃주민이 잔디 깎는 기계를 다시 빌려 달라고 하면, 과거에 기계를 반납했을 때 칼날이 무디어져서 독자님께 문제를 일으켰다고 말씀하세요. 그런 다음 안 된다고 하세요.
DEAR DULL BLADES: Stop beating around the bush instead of being direct. When your neighbor asks to borrow the mower again, tell him that in the past when he has returned it to you, the blades were dull and it created problems for you. Then say no.
[어휘 & 표현]
* wear down 마모되다; ~을 마모시키다 (= to wear something down)
e.g.) Notice how the tread on this tire has worn down. 이 타이어의 트레드가 얼마나 마모되었는지 잘 보세요.
* stump (나무의) 그루터기 (= the bottom of a tree that is left in the ground after the rest of it has been cut down)
e.g.) To keep cool, their rooms are raised off the ground on stumps and each house has a veranda.
시원하게 하기 위해 방들은 그루터기 위로 지면에서 떨어지게 건축되었고 집집마다 베란다가 있다.
* beat around the bush 에둘러서 말하다, 요점을 피하다, 말을 빙빙 돌리다[변죽을 울리다]
(= to avoid or delay talking about something embarrassing or upsetting)
e.g.) Stop beating around the bush and tell me what you want. 변죽 그만 울리고 원하는 걸 말해.