ESL Podcast 454 – Hailing and Taking a Taxi

My company sent me on my first business trip, and I was supposed to travel around the city in taxis. Having never ridden in a taxi before, I had problems from start to finish. First, I had trouble hailing1 a cab. I didn’t realize that when the taxi’s light is off that the cabbie is off duty. No wonder they took no notice of me. Then, a cab did pull over and I told him where I wanted to go. He said, though, that he wouldn’t take me because he wouldn’t be able to get a return fare! I was looking around for a taxi stand when another cab pulled over, but my troubles didn’t stop there. Cabbie: Where to? Ignacio: I’d like to go the Hamilton Building downtown. There’s a flat rate, isn’t there? Cabbie: No, we don’t have flat rates. Ignacio: But a flat rate to downtown is required by law, isn’t it? Cabbie: Do you want to go downtown or not? I’ve already started the meter. Ignacio: Where are your posted rates? Cabbie: We don’t have any. The first mile is $3.50 and each quarter mile is $2.00. Ignacio: That doesn’t sound right to me. I think I’ll try another cab. Cabbie: Suit yourself! I remembered what my co-worker told me. She said to steer2 clear of private cabs, like this one. The cabbies don’t have licenses3 and some of them will really take you for a ride – and not the kind you want! Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

 

1 hailing   

下雹子( hail的现在分词 )； 如冰雹般地降下； 致敬； 打招呼

参考例句：

• Many are hailing Rendell's ideas as visionary. 许多人都称赞伦德尔的想法很有远见。
• 'Somebody hailing us,'said Hunter, who was on guard. “有人在叫我们。”站岗的亨特说。

2 steer   

vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶

参考例句：

• If you push the car, I'll steer it.如果你来推车，我就来驾车。
• It's no use trying to steer the boy into a course of action that suits you.想说服这孩子按你的方式行事是徒劳的。

3 licenses   

n.执照( license的名词复数 )v.批准，许可，颁发执照( license的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Drivers have ten days' grace to renew their licenses. 驾驶员更换执照有10天的宽限期。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Jewish firms couldn't get import or export licenses or raw materials. 犹太人的企业得不到进出口许可证或原料。 来自辞典例句