◎俞智敏
America’s ambassador to the UK and his British counterpart had bet a steak dinner on the England-USA game.
美國駐英國大使及他的英國同僚在英格蘭隊與美國隊在世界盃足球賽中對決前，曾用牛排大餐當作賭注。
Brtain’s man in Washington, Sir Nigel Sheinwald, had said England’s chances of losing were the same as how he liked his meat - "rare".
英國駐華府大使沈沃 德爵士在賽前曾說，英格蘭隊輸球的機會，跟他喜歡牛排煮熟的程度一樣──「罕見」（亦指半熟的）。
But Robert Green’s howler in front of goal saved US ambassador Louis Susman from having to fork out. The 1-1 draw means they will now split the bill.
但英格蘭隊門 將格林在球門前犯下的嚴重錯誤，讓美國大使蘇斯曼免於被迫買單。英美兩隊以一比一打平，表示兩國大使現在得要平分帳單。
In his Foreign Office blog on 10 June, Sir Nigel had written： "If England win, Ambassador Susman buys me lunch at a steakhouse in DC；if the US pulls off an astonishing steal, I buy him a fine lunch at a London pub.
沈 沃德爵士在6月10日的外交部網誌中曾寫道，「如果英格蘭隊獲勝，蘇斯曼大使得在華府的牛排館請我吃飯，假如美國隊意外盜壘成功，那我就請他在倫敦的酒館 裡吃飯。」
"As Britain’s Ambassador to the United States, I will tell you that I am supremely confident about England’s chances."
「身為英國 駐美國大使，我可以明白地說，我對英格蘭贏球的機率超級有信心。」
However, his chance of a meal at the American ambassador’s expense slipped away when Robert Green spilled a limp shot from USA striker Clint Dempsey over his own line just before half-time.
但隨著英格蘭隊門將格林在中場前，於球門外漏接美國前鋒丹普西一記軟弱無力的射門後，他想讓美國大使 請吃飯的機會也就跟著溜走。
The transatlantic bet, brokered by aides, is now off but the pair will still meet up for dinner, Mr Susman says.
這場跨大 西洋賭局是由雙方助理從中安排，現在已經宣告取消，但蘇斯曼說，兩國大使仍會碰面吃飯。
新 聞辭典
stalemate：名詞，指陷入僵局、（棋局）無子可動，如Tomorrow’s meeting between the two leaders is expected to break a diplomatic stalemate that has lasted for ten years.（兩國領袖明天的會議預料可打破長達十年的外交僵局。）
howler：名詞，非正式用語，指愚 蠢而明顯的錯誤，尤指某人所說或所寫下的錯誤，如I called her by the name of his first wife, which was a bit of a howler.（我把她叫成他第一任妻子的名字，真是錯得離譜。）
fork out （sth）：動詞片語，非正式用法，指付錢，尤指在不情願的情況下付錢，如I forked out ten quid for/on the ticket.（我心不甘情不願地拿出十塊錢買票。）
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