How to Escape a Story Repeater 如何摆脱一个话痨

　　Your father-in-law is telling you that story about foiling the pickpocket in Moscow -- for the fifth time. Do you let him know you’ve heard it before and can tell it better than he does? “If the story is longer than a minute and the two of you are alone, do interrupt to tell him that you’ve heard — and enjoyed — that story once before,” says Margaret Shepherd, a coauthor of The Art of Civilized Conversation. Try: “You had everyone in stitches when you told that story last Christmas.” No need to add that you’ve heard the story for the last four Christmases. “Segue to a related topic,” suggests Shepherd, and if possible, draw in another person to freshen up the conversation.

　　你的岳父正给你讲述他在莫斯科挫败扒手的故事-——已经能是第五次了。你要告诉他你以前就听过，而且你能比他说得还溜吗？“如果故事时间超过一分钟，并且在场只有你们两人，那还是打断一下，告诉他你听过一次，也喜欢听这段故事。“ 这是Margaret Shepherd给人们的建议。Margaret Shepherd是《文明谈话艺术》一书的合著者。你可以试着说：”去年您在过圣诞节时讲的时候，大家都笑得合不拢嘴“，你就别说这四年来每次圣诞节都听这故事了。Shepherd建议：“用一个相关话题顺着接下去”，如果可能，再拉一个人过来，增加谈话的内容。

　　With older people whose memory may be slipping or when you’re in a group, though, it can be cruel to interrupt, says author Letitia Baldrige: “Patiently listen and wait for a chance to change the subject. If they’re thrilled to be telling the story, dismissing them too suddenly is like smooshing an ant.”

　　不过，如果对方年纪比较大，记忆力在减退，或你在一群人中，那么打断就很不礼貌了。这是作家Letitia Baldrige的话。“（你要）耐心听，找到一个机会转移话题。如果这样的故事让他们激动，突然打断他们就会像碾死一只蚂蚁一样让人不安。”

　　How to Escape Being in the Wrong Restaurant 如何逃离“错餐馆”

　　You’ve been seated, they’ve given you water and bread, and you decide — because the place is a bit grimy or too expensive, or nothing on its menu is appealing — that you want to leave. Can you just get up and go? “My policy is never to settle when it comes to food,” says Danyelle Freeman, a restaurant reviewer for New York’s Daily News and the founder of the website Restaurantgirl. “If you feel like you’ve made a bad choice, cut your losses and quietly exit. If the restaurant has already put water and bread on the table, they’ve technically begun service, so you should perhaps leave a small tip.”

　　If your server catches you on the way out, Freeman says, “graciously thank the person and briefly explain that you’re looking for something lighter, more casual, or whatever else the restaurant isn’t.” Don’t linger making excuses. “At the end of the day,” says Freeman, “it’s your money.”

　　你已经座了下来。有人给你上水和面包，然后——因为这个地方有点不太干净或价格太贵，或者菜单上没什么能让你感兴趣——于是，你决定离开。能站起来就走吗？Danyelle Freeman说：“我的原则是，吃绝不能将就。” Danyelle Freeman是纽约日报新闻的一位餐馆评论员及网站Restaurantgirl的创办者。 “如果觉得进错了地方，就及时打住，安静地离开。如果餐馆人员已经上了水和面包，那么，严格地说，就已经开始对你服务了，所以你应该留一笔小数目的小费。 ”liuxuepaper.com