The english we speak(BBC教學)第50期: go to town花心思
Abigail: Hi. You're listening to The English We Speak. I'm Abigail and... actually Neil, sorry, I can't stay long, I've got a lot to do.
艾比蓋爾：大家好，您正在收聽我們所說的英語。我是艾比蓋爾，事實上尼爾，抱歉，我不能待太久，我有很多事要做。Neil: Hi, I'm Neil. And - what do you mean you've got a lot to do?
尼爾：大家好，我是尼爾。那麼你說你有很多事要做是什麼意思？Abigail: Oh, well, you know I'm having that dinner party this evening.
艾比蓋爾：哦，你知道我今晚要辦一個晚餐派對。
Neil: I know you're having a dinner party, I'm coming. So? That's this evening, why do you need to start now?
尼爾：我知道你要辦一個晚餐派對，我會去的。所以呢？這是晚上的事，你爲什麼現在就要開始了呢？Abigail: Oh no but I have really big ideas. I'm really going to town.
艾比蓋爾：哦不但是我有很大的想法。我正在花心思。Neil: You're going to go to town? We're in town already. Just go to the supermarket and buy a ready meal. No one will know.
尼爾：你要去城鎮？我們已經在城鎮了。只要去超市買做好的菜就可以了。沒有人會知道的。Abigail: A ready meal?! No, I'm really going to town.
艾比蓋爾：一頓做好的飯菜？！不，我真的要花心思。Neil: Will you stop saying you're going to town? You're supposed to be working.
尼爾：你能停止再說你要去城鎮了嗎？你本應該工作的。Abigail: Come on, you know - 'Going to town'. As in... going to a lot of trouble, making it really special.
艾比蓋爾：別這樣，你知道的——“花心思”意思是...陷入很多麻煩，讓它變得很特殊。Neil: Oh I thought you were just making some simple snacks. Actually, I was going to eat before I came round to your house.
尼爾：哦我以爲你你只是做一些簡單的小吃。事實上，我本打算去你家之前吃飯的。Abigail: Eat before my dinner party? That's so rude! No it isn't going to be a snack. As I say, I'm going to town. And I'm not the only person to use this very useful expression. Have a listen to these people:
艾比蓋爾：去我的晚餐派對之前吃飯？這太無禮了！不，這不會是小吃的。正如我說的，我會花盡心思。而且我不是用這個實用的短語的唯一的人。聽聽這些人吧：The wedding was beautiful, they really went to town. Everything was decorated pink and white.
婚禮太美了，他們真的費勁了心思。一切都被裝飾成粉色和白色。This is lovely food – they've really gone to town.
這食物太美妙了——它們真的費勁了心思。Have you seen the admin team? They're really going to town on that paperwork.
你看到行政團隊了嗎？他們真的在這份文件上花心思了。Neil: Well, I can see you can go to town on a party, a wedding, a big meal... But how can you go to town on paperwork?
尼爾：我可以看到你可以在一個派對，一個婚禮，一頓大餐上花心思。但是你怎麼能在一份文件上花心思呢？Abigail: Hmm - good point. I suppose they're going to a lot of trouble, making a special effort?
艾比蓋爾：嗯，好想法。我猜他們在面臨很多的問題，做出特殊的貢獻？Neil: Being very thorough perhaps. So, if you're not doing paperwork tonight - in what way are you 'going to town' at this dinner party?
尼爾：可能很艱難。所以，如果你今晚不做文件——你將如何在晚餐派對上花心思？Abigail: I still have to think about it. Maybe I'll buy flowers. I could make cocktails. Oh, I know - all the food could be red!
艾比蓋爾：我還需要想一想。或許我會買花。我可以做雞尾酒。哦我知道了——所有的食物可以都做成紅色！Neil: All the food will be red! When you go to town you really go to town!
尼爾：所有食物都是紅色！當你說會花心思你真的花心思了！Abigail: Oh, wait, no. All the food could be silver!
艾比蓋爾：哦，等等，不。所有的食物可以都是銀色的！Neil: Silver food? You keep planning, I'm just going to get some ready meals.
尼爾：銀色的食物？你繼續計劃，我將要去買一些做好的飯。Abigail: Oh, no, wait, everyone could dress as animals! We could eat on the roof!
艾比蓋爾：哦，不，等一下，每個人都可以穿成動物！我們可以在屋頂吃飯！
