英语听力精选进阶版 6777

Cat: Miaoooowwwwww!

Will: Hello, I'm William.

Li: Hi, I'm Li. Will, 我希望你花钱买这只猫是有原因的，你瞧，它吓死了!

Will: I wanted to explain an English phrase¹. And I brought Whiskers to help.

Cat: Miaow.

Li: 你干嘛要把它塞到口袋里？咱们赶紧讲解今天的地道英语短语吧，然后你就可以让这可怜的猫解放了。

Will: Okay, okay. So, right, Li, I'm going to tell you a very big secret.

Li: Yes?

Cat: Miaow?

Will: But you must promise never to let the cat out of the bag!

Li: No, we must let him out, he is unhappy.

Cat: Miaow!

Will: No, no. In English, when we say 'you mustn't let the cat out of the bag', it means² that something is a secret and that you mustn't tell anyone.

Li: 啊，不让猫从口袋里出来这个短语的意思并不是说口袋里真的有只猫，而是表示不要透露秘密，要保守秘密。

Cat: Miaow.

Will: Exactly. I brought Whiskers in just to help you remember the expression. If you let the cat out of the bag, it means that you reveal³ the truth.

Li: To let the cat out of the bag 意思是公开秘密。

Will: Yes. Listen to some examples.

We need to keep this quiet! If anyone lets the cat out of the bag there'll be trouble!

We were going to have a surprise birthday for dad, but my silly brother let the cat out of the bag the day before.

Well the cat's out of the bag now. Everyone knows Amy will be given the lead role.

Li: Okay I get it.

Cat: Miaow.

Li: 咱们短语归短语，不过在你把这只可怜的猫从这个口袋里放出来之前我不想听你的秘密，你看它叫得多可怜呢！I'm going to let it out!

Cat: Miaoooowwwwww!

Li: Owwwwww!

Will: Li, I actually meant it when I said don't let the cat out of the bag. Whiskers is a bit crazy.

Li: 你的猫太凶，走开，我真不该同情这只恶猫!

Will: Well, now you'll remember not to let the cat out of the bag next time!

1 phrase   

n.短语，词组；成语，习语

参考例句：

• The phrase was caught on and immediately became popular.这个短语被采用后很快就流行了。
• That's exactly the phrase I was looking for.这就是我一直找的那个短语。

2 means   

n.方法，手段，折中点，物质财富

参考例句：

• That man used artful means to find out secrets.那人使用狡猾的手段获取机密。
• We must get it done by some means or other.我们总得想办法把它干完。

3 reveal   

vt.揭露，泄露；展现，显示

参考例句：

• The journalist did not want to reveal the identity of his informant.那个新闻工作者不想透露消息提供人的身份。
• Differences will help to reveal the functions of the genes.它们间的差异将会帮助我们揭开基因多种功能。