People were having a ball. They really had a good time.

大家都兴高采烈，玩得挺痛快的。

字里行间

ball不是圆球，而是“舞会”。have a ball 是指“玩得痛快，狂欢”。have a good time也是指“玩得高兴”。

弦外之音

所谓“玩”，英汉两个语言中的表达方法，实在不很一样。如果在办公室里，对一同事说please come to my home and play this weekend，对方一定有点摸不着头脑，因为这个play，并不是成人“玩”的意思。

小孩放学回到家，便抓电话，向朋友发邀请can you come and play at my house，这个play 是正确的，因为他们确实是要“嬉戏，玩耍”。可是，成人之间，就不会有这个play的意思了。更符合习惯的是说come and hang out at my house，这个hang out，就是“玩”的意思。

“玩得高兴”不管是小孩，还是成人，都应该说We had a lot of fun，或者We had a good time，而不是We played very well。

活学活用

1. It was a wonderful trip. We really had a ball.

这次旅行真有意思。我们都玩得很高兴。

2. Come and join us tonight. Let's have a good time.

今晚上过来吧。大家好好玩玩。