英语听力精选进阶版 19617

Put a sock in it! 安静点儿/住嘴!

A sock in a toaster - not a clever thing to do!

The script¹ of this programme 本节目台词

Rob: Welcome to Authentic² Real English with me Rob - and today I've come round to Helen's house because she said she needed some help... (Doorbell and door opens)

Helen: Oh, hi Rob. Thanks for coming round. (She shuts the door)

Rob: That's OK, no problem. Now, how can I help you?

Helen: I need you to fix my toaster please. You know me, I love my toast but since yesterday, every time I try to make some, black smoke keeps coming out of it.

Rob: Hmm, black smoke? That doesn't sound good. OK, let's have a look at it. (He fiddles³ with the toaster) Err⁴, Helen?

Helen: Yes?

Rob: There's a sock in it - that's very dangerous - no wonder you're getting black smoke when you try to make toast!

Helen: Oh - 是啊，我的烤面包机里面有只袜子，但这是我朋友让我放进去的！Rob, I put the sock in there.

Rob: Why did you put a sock in there?

Helen: Well, my friend came round for breakfast yesterday, and I was telling her all about my fantastic holiday… the great weather, the good food and the… handsome men...

Rob: So?

Helen: Well, I was making us both toast when she said "Helen, put a sock in it!"

Rob: Ah! I don't think she actually meant put a sock in the toaster - when people say that, it means 'be quiet'!

Helen: Oh! 原来这个短语和袜子没任何关系，它表示安静点儿，住嘴别说了-多不礼貌呀！ It's not a very polite thing to say Rob?

Rob: It's not. It's an impolite way of saying 'stop talking'! It can also mean, keep the noise down. Your friend must have been annoyed by your non-stop chatter⁵ if she said that! Let's hear some more examples of this phrase in action...

Examples

Put a sock in it, we're trying to do some work here!

Oh put a sock in it, I've already said I'm going to do the washing-up later.

My Dad was telling me how I should work harder at school so I told him to 'put a sock in it'!

Helen: 这回我明白了。To put a sock in it 意思就是安静点儿，住嘴别说了，是个不太礼貌的说法。But Rob I don't talk that much, it's just I like to tell people about my holidays, my cooking, my boyfriends...

Rob: Err, Helen...

Helen: Yes?

Rob: Put a sock in it will you! In fact, use this one - this dirty sock from your toaster!

Helen: But where should I put it?

Rob: Well, figuratively speaking, the phrase means put a sock in your mouth to stop you talking - so try that!

Helen: Oh thanks. (Toaster pops up) Actually, now my toaster is working, I'm going to have socks on toast!

Rob: (Sniffing the sock) Well, by the smell of this sock, it's going to be cheese on toast.

Both: Bye!

1 script   

n.剧本，广播稿；文字体系；笔迹，手迹

参考例句：

• It's easy to identify his script.他的笔迹容易辨认。
• The script is massaged into final form.这篇稿子经过修改已定稿。

2 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。

3 fiddles   

n.小提琴( fiddle的名词复数 )；欺诈；（需要运用手指功夫的）细巧活动；当第二把手v.伪造( fiddle的第三人称单数 )；篡改；骗取；修理或稍作改动

参考例句：

• He fiddles with his papers on the table. 他抚弄着桌子上那些报纸。 来自辞典例句
• The annual Smithsonian Festival of American Folk Life celebrates hands-hands plucking guitars and playing fiddles. 一年一度的美国民间的“史密斯索尼安节”是赞美人的双手的节日--弹拔吉他的手，演奏小提琴的手。 来自辞典例句

4 err   

vi.犯错误，出差错

参考例句：

• He did not err by a hair's breadth in his calculation.他的计算结果一丝不差。
• The arrows err not from their aim.箭无虚发。

5 chatter   

vi.／n.喋喋不休；短促尖叫；(牙齿)打战

参考例句：

• Her continuous chatter vexes me.她的喋喋不休使我烦透了。
• I've had enough of their continual chatter.我已厌烦了他们喋喋不休的闲谈。