英语听力精选进阶版 19601

Eat humble¹ pie 承认错误

The script of this programme 本节目台词

Rob: Hi, Feifei. I'm glad you've come to watch me train for the pie-eating competition. I'm going to be the new champion! I'm so sure of it - no one's going to beat me, I'm the best!

Feifei: Rob, 你让我赌你赢，可你到底能赢吗？How can you be so sure you are going to win?

Rob: Because I love eating.

Feifei: But you are so thin. 你这么瘦，胃能装得下十个派吗？

Rob: They will - I'll eat them all and very quickly.

Mince² pies

How many pies can you eat in one go?

Feifei: 真的假的，你等等，我来计时。Are you ready?

Rob: Oh yes!

Feifei: Here we go!

Rob: OK, here we go!(eating the pies)

Feifei: Well, two down... 还有八个。

Rob: (eating more pies)

Feifei: That's four now... five and...

Rob: Oh dear! I can't eat anymore!

Feifei: 真吃不下了？

Rob: Yes, I'm full up!

Feifei: 你肯定还能再吃一个，要不然你可就得吃 humble pie 啦。

Rob: Humble pie? I won't have room for any type of pie. I'm stuffed! But I see what you mean. I'll have to admit that I was wrong when I said I could eat all those pies.

Feifei: Yes. 我们用短语 eat humble pie 来描述某人因为无法完成自己所吹嘘的一件事，而不得不向他人承认错误、道歉。

Rob: That person then has to act in an apologetic way. 'To eat humble pie' is today's expression in Authentic³ Real English. Let's hear some examples of how it's used.

The factory owner had to eat humble pie after a lot of customers complained about his product.

Peter is so arrogant⁴. He said he could finish the work much quicker than anybody else in the office. I hope he has to eat humble pie

Rob: So, I can't eat ten pies in a few minutes after all. We still have all these pies, which are very tasty, actually. You can have some, Feifei.

Feifei: Thank you. 这个短语的用法挺奇怪的哈，不知道起源是什么。

Rob: Well, some people say it might have come from 'umbles', which is an old word for animal organs like kidneys⁵, intestines⁶, etc. In the past, rich people might have considered eating an 'umbles pie' as a punishment. But who knows?

Feifei: Well, Rob, I don't think eating all those pies is a punishment. We just have to eat one at a time and enjoy each one.

Rob: Good idea! OK. Shall we start now?

Feifei: Yes.

Rob: Here it goes. OK. Bye bye!

Feifei: Bye!

Rob: Lovely!

1 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

2 mince   

n.切碎物；v.切碎，矫揉做作地说

参考例句：

• Would you like me to mince the meat for you?你要我替你把肉切碎吗？
• Don't mince matters,but speak plainly.不要含糊其词，有话就直说吧。

3 authentic   

a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的

参考例句：

• This is an authentic news report. We can depend on it. 这是篇可靠的新闻报道, 我们相信它。
• Autumn is also the authentic season of renewal. 秋天才是真正的除旧布新的季节。

4 arrogant   

adj.傲慢的，自大的

参考例句：

• You've got to get rid of your arrogant ways.你这骄傲劲儿得好好改改。
• People are waking up that he is arrogant.人们开始认识到他很傲慢。

5 kidneys   

肾形矿脉； 肾，肾脏( kidney的名词复数 )； （可食用的动物的）腰子

参考例句：

• The function of the kidneys is to excrete wastes from the body. 肾的功能是排泄人体里的废物。
• She got a very dangerous disease of kidneys. 她得了一种很危险的肾病。

6 intestines   

n.肠( intestine的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Perhaps the most serious problems occur in the stomach and intestines. 最严重的问题或许出现在胃和肠里。 来自辞典例句
• The traps of carnivorous plants function a little like the stomachs and small intestines of animals. 食肉植物的捕蝇器起着动物的胃和小肠的作用。 来自辞典例句