今天Larry和Li Hua在商店里给朋友买生日礼物。

LH: 哎哟，Larry, 你看那边那两个小男孩在打架呢。他们家大人怎么也不管呐？

LL: Oh, dont worry, theyre just horsing around. They wont hurt each other.

LH: 你要我别担心，说他们只是在horsing around，HORSE这个词在英文里不是马吗？

LL: Yes, in horse around, horse is used as a verb, to horse around means to play or joke with someone. Those two kids were just playing, they were horsing around.

LH: 噢，horse在这里是用作动词，to horse around意思是和别人开玩笑、闹着玩儿。Larry, 你是说那两个男孩儿是在闹着玩儿啊！

LL: Hey! Why did you punch me in the arm?

LH: Im just horsing around! 嘿Larry, 这个horsing around还可以用在什么地方呢？

LL: Well, sometimes it means the same as just kidding or just joking. Hey, Li Hua, you he something on your shirt...

LH: 什么？我衣服上沾了东西啊？在哪儿呢？我怎么看不见呢？

LL: Thats because Im just horsing around. There isnt anything on your shirt. I just wanted to see if you would look.

LH: 噢，原来你又在跟我开玩笑啊。这么说，和别人开玩笑或者是恶作剧，也可以算是horsing around. Hey, Larry, 你看你的鞋带松了。

LL: Nice try, Li Hua, but I know youre just horsing around.

LH: 哎哟，我们别光顾开玩笑了，赶快给我朋友挑挑生日礼物吧！

LL: Hey, how about this shirt?

LH: What?! 这衬衫多难看呀！You must be horsing around.