英文电影宝典——The Sting

"Moxie" is an interesting little word for courage or determination. They wouldn’t let you in here if you weren’t a chump. A fool or dupe, who can easily be tricked out of their money. Tempers seems to be running a little high. A person’s "temper" is their tendency to become angry, and if it is running high, they are already angry or very emotional. I’m gonna bust that bastard bookie in one play. In this context, "to bust" a person is to take all their money so that they go bankrupt. A "bastard" is a crude word for a mean or abusive person (though here it’s actually used as an adjective), and a "bookie" is a person who places illegal bets. Hey, where’s your ante? In poker, an "ante" is the minimum amount of money that a player is required to bet in order to play in the game. Four jacks. You owe me 15 grand, pal. A "jack" is the 4th most valuable card. A "grand" is $1,000 dollars. Don’t hand me any of that crap; When you come to a game like this, you bring your money! "Crap" is a very vulgar word for lies or nonsense (and is similar to bullshit, though not as common). How do I know you won’t take a powder? Here, "to take a powder" means to leave, though this is rarely used. You better have the money, or it’s going to be all over Chicago that you welched. "To welch" on a person is a slang term meaning to refuse to pay them what you owe, though this is fairly rare. Cash me in for the rest of these bums. In poker, "to cash in" your chips is to exchange your poker chips for cash. A "bum" is poor, homeless or disliked street person. You’re on kid, but I got to tell you. It’s a hard act to follow. In this case, if a person is "on," they are the one performing for an audience or on stage. If a performance is "a hard act to follow," it was so good that the person who has to entertain the audience afterward will have a hard time in comparison. He’s steaming. Watch yourself. If a person is "steaming", they are very angry. "Watch yourself" is another way of telling a person to be careful. He’s been waiting for you to cheat him so that he could clip you. In this case, "to clip" is to steal or rob, but this is never used (To clip literally means to cut or trim). Who do you think you’re talking to, errand boy? Nobody sets me up! An "errand boy" is a low-paid assistant who does small jobs such as the laundry or paying bills for an employer. In this context, "to set up" a person is to put them in a situation where they are easily fooled. There were four witnesses! A "witness" is a person who has seen the carrying out of a crime. There’s better ways of taking him down! In this case, to "take down" a person is to financially destroy them. Why the rat? :: I want to take over his operation and I need you to help me bre