英语听力精选进阶版 19595（在线收听）

Butter up 阿谀奉承

Finn: Hello Feifei. I didn't know you shopped at this supermarket, too.

Feifei: Hi Finn. Usually I don't. But it's close to the office and I have to rush home to welcome an important guest.

Finn: Mmmm, who is it? Someone I know?

Feifei: No, it's my landlady. 我的房东今晚要过来，我租房子的合同下个月就要到期了，所以我想趁她来的时候讨好讨好她，希望再签合同的时候别涨价。

Butter

Many idioms are inspired by food

Finn: I see what you mean. So you'd better butter her up then!

Feifei: Butter? Oh, yes. But I'm a really bad cook. If I baked a cake, it would probably be horrible…

Finn: I don't mean butter for a cake. In English when you say you'll 'butter someone up', you mean you'll be especially nice to them in the hope they'll do something good for you in return.

Feifei: Oh, I see. 其实短语 butter someone up 的意思是讨好、巴结一个人，以便日后能从这个人那儿得到点儿好处。

Finn: Yes, you're right - it can have a negative connotation. Let's hear some examples of how to use 'to butter someone up' or 'to butter up someone', which are today's expressions in Authentic Real English.

Johnny: I was very impressed with your presentation, Mrs Beany. You are really intelligent and perceptive and…

Mrs Beany, the boss: Don't waste your time buttering me up, Johnny. I'm not raising your salary anytime soon.

The director was always ready to butter up Angelina Jolie. He knew she was looking for her next role and he wanted her in his movie.

Feifei: Oh, look. It's 6pm already. I'm very late. I might not be on time to meet my landlady and she will be angry with me. She's a very busy woman.

Finn: Mmmm… then you're in a jam!

Feifei: Jam?!

Finn: Yes.In English you say someone 'is in a jam' when you mean they're in a difficult situation – but that's a different kind of jam!

Feifei: 在美式英语里，我们用短语 in a jam 来表达某人遇到困难，陷入窘境。这里的 jam 和我们吃的那种 jam 可是两回事儿啊。

Finn: That's right. It's an expression for another day. Bye!

Feifei: Bye!