英语听力精选进阶版 19619

To go around the houses 拐弯抹角的问问题 

The script¹ of this programme 本节目台词

Why won't Rob²'s car be 'going around the houses'?!

Feifei: 大家好，欢迎收听由BBC制作的《地道英语》节目。我是冯菲菲，还有我的搭档...

Rob: ...and me, Rob. Hello!

Feifei: Rob, I've been meaning to ask... you've got a car haven't you? 我想借用 Rob 的车，但不知道怎么开口是好。

Rob: Err³... yes I have, Feifei.

Feifei: Is it quite a... special car? You know, a valuable, expensive one?

Rob: No no, it's just an old car - but it gets me around. Why are you asking?

Feifei: Oh no reason... 要不我问问他的车是不是经常开？You don't use it much, do you?

Rob: No... Feifei, there's no need to go around the houses - just say what you want to say.

Feifei: OK... can I borrow your car please? But don't worry, I won't take it around the houses - I just want to go to the supermarket.

Rob: Ha! Feifei when I said there's no need 'to go around the houses', I wasn't referring to where you drive my car. I mean, you don't have to waste time saying lots of unimportant⁴ things before you actually say what you want to say.

Feifei: 哦，我明白了。在英语里，我们用 go around the houses 来形容一个人拐弯抹角的、不直截了当地问问题或浪费时间在做很多无用功。这么一说，Rob 其实就是让我直截了当的说想说的话，Rob, you mean I should get to the point?

Rob: Yes, that's another way of putting it. Basically⁵ it means⁶ you take a long time to say or do something, when in reality it can be done or said a lot quicker. Let's hear some examples of the phrase⁷ 'to go around the houses' in action...

Examples

Don't go around the houses: just tell me straight, what have you done?

He went all around the houses talking about the match but all I wanted to know was who won?

I didn't know how to tell him he'd failed his exams so I went all around the houses before I let him know.

Feifei: 所以，短语 to go around the houses 常被用来形容旁敲侧击的、拐一大圈儿问问题。Rob, you haven't answered my question yet.

Rob: Err, what was the question?

Feifei: Can I borrow your car... please?

Rob: Oh well, erm, I need to fill it up with petrol...

Feifei: Oh right...

Rob: And I need to drive to work...

Feifei: But that's not until Monday!

Rob: And it's not very tidy inside...

Feifei: Rob - don't go around the houses - your answer is 'no' isn't it?

Rob: Yes Feifei. You can't borrow it. I crashed it last week - nobody can drive it!

Feifei: Well, you certainly won't be going round any houses then Rob!

Rob: Very funny Feifei.

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 rob   

v.抢劫；vi.抢劫，盗窃；vt.非法剥夺，使丧失，抢劫

参考例句：

• Two men formed a plot to rob the bank.两人制定了抢劫那家银行的秘密计划。
• They were scheming to rob the bank.他们在密谋抢劫银行。

3 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。

4 unimportant   

adj.不重要的，无意义的

参考例句：

• Let's not quarrel about such unimportant matters.我们不要为这些小事争吵了。
• Money seems unimportant when sets beside the joys of family life.与天伦之乐相比，金钱显得微不足道。

5 basically   

adv.基本上，从根本上说

参考例句：

• His heart is basically sound.他的心脏基本上健康。
• Basically I agree with your plan.我基本上同意你的计划。

6 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。

7 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。