英语听力精选进阶版 6203（在线收听）

A British Obsession 英国人迷恋的话题

British people are famous for always talking about the weather, but the weather also affects the way we speak and the phrases we use.

As more winter weather batters the UK, this week’s Take Away demonstrates how the British obsession with weather has influenced our language.

The return of snowstorms to the UK proves that when it comes to bad weather it never rains but it pours.

The police have warned that unnecessary road travel is not recommended but some motorists have thrown caution to the wind and made their journeys anyway, claiming that it’s all a storm in teacup.

Those whose cars are stuck in the snow may consider themselves to be twisting in the wind.

There are problems too for local councils who are running out of sand and grit for the roads, having not saved enough supplies for a rainy day.

However it’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good and breakdown services will be seeing an increase in business at this time of year.

And every cloud has a silver lining for plumbers too as the cold weather brings burst and frozen pipes in homes and businesses.

What has become apparent from the cold snap is that seasonal weather forecasting is not a precise science.

The UK Meteorological Officepredicted that this winter would be mild and warm so the bad weather came like a bolt from the blue, defying predictions.

It’s no wonder then that many people are feeling under the weather with flus and colds an ever-present danger, especially for the very old and very young.

The best thing to do then is to wrap up warm, stay at home and weather the storm and hopefully in a few weeks everything will be as right as rain.

Glossary 词汇表

batters （恶劣天气）困扰 

influenced 影响 

it never rains but it pours 祸不单行 

thrown caution to the wind 冒险 

a storm in teacup 大惊小怪 

twisting in the wind 孤立无援 

grit 砂砾 

rainy day 艰难的时刻/困境 

ill wind that blows nobody any good 有祸也有福/有人愁有人喜 

breakdown services （汽车）救援服务 

every cloud has a silver lining （每一块乌云后面都有银色的一面） 困难中必有希望 

plumbers 管工 

burst 爆开/裂开 

cold snap 寒流 

seasonal weather forecasting 季节天气预告 

Meteorological Office predicted 气象局预测 

bolt from the blue 突如其来的 

under the weather 身体不舒服 

weather the storm 度过危机 

as right as rain 万事顺利