英语听力精选进阶版 19574（在线收听）

Off the back of a lorry 来路不明

Li: Hi Finn. I'm so happy. I'm going to buy a brand new computer this afternoon and it's very, very cheap.

Finn: What a bargain, Li! Where are you going to buy it? Can I go with you?

Li: I'm going to meet a friend of my neighbour's cousin. He's selling it.

Finn: Do you know this man, Li?

Li: No, but he sounded very nice on the phone. He's nice but a bit clumsy.

Finn: Alright. Why?

Li: He told me the computer fell off the back of his lorry but it works perfectly.

Finn: It fell off the back of a lorry?!

Li: Yes. But it came in a very strong box and he said it was in perfect condition.

Finn: Li, the computer didn't actually fall off anywhere. It was taken.

Li: What do you mean?!

Finn: In English, when you say something 'fell off the back of a lorry', or if you say something is 'off the back of a lorry', what you mean is that it was received in suspicious circumstances. It was probably stolen.

Li: Stolen?! 原来从货车后面掉下来 'fell off the back of a lorry' 是一种婉转表达，其真正的意思是来路不明的东西，甚至可能是偷来的东西！

Finn: Yes. 'Off the back of a lorry' is today's expression in Authentic Real English. Let's hear some examples of how it's used.

The police have been looking for a local man who doesn’t mind selling mobile phones that fell off the back of a lorry.

The black market was thriving when the war ended. It wasn't difficult to find all sorts of things off the back of a lorry.

Li: Thank you, Finn, for the warning. I'm not going to buy that cheap computer now. 

Finn: Well, I'm sorry to have disappointed you, Li, but it's always good to know these unusual expressions in English! 

Li: Well, there goes my bargain. Back to saving money to buy a computer in a real shop. 

Finn: Good idea. What is cheap might end up costing much more than you expect. 

Li: Indeed. I won't buy stuff off the back of a lorry. Better safe than sorry. Bye. 

Finn: Bye.