Jenny在美国待久了人缘真是不错。这不，今天晚上她又要赴一位帅哥的约会了。快下班的时候Jenny邀请Catherine和他们一块吃烛光晚餐，Catherine知趣地说：Thank you for your kindness. But I don't want to be a third wheel.

I don't want to be a third wheel.我不想当电灯泡。

third wheel就是马车的一根轴子上装了三个轮子，显然是多余的。现在用来指那些”碍手碍脚、不合时宜“的人，就是我们平常说的”电灯泡“。所以，如果有一对情侣好意邀请你一起去看电影，婉言谢绝之后，你就可以打趣一下：I don't want to be a third wheel.


【英语情景剧】


Jane：I have an engagement with my girlfriend today. Why not have dinner with us?
简：我晚上和女友有个约会，要不要和我们一起吃饭？

Shirley：You two go on ahead. I don't want to be a third wheel.
雪莉：你们两个去好了，我不想当电灯泡。