The english we speak(BBC教學)第343期:No picnic 並非易事
On a warm summer's day, there's nothing better than taking a picnic to the park. But when can a picnic be no picnic? When Rob makes it! Find out what we mean when he serves up an authentic English phrase in this programme.
在温暖的夏日,沒有什麼事情比去公園野餐更愜意了。但是什麼時候野餐並非易事?答案是羅布準備野餐的時候!羅布在本期節目中使用了一個地道英語短語,請收聽節目並瞭解這個短語的意思。Rob: Hello, I'm Rob...
羅布:大家好,我是羅布。Feifei: I'm Feifei and this is The English We Speak.
菲菲:我是菲菲,歡迎收聽地道英語節目。
Rob: today we're outdoors, in the park, having a picnic.
羅布:今天我們來到了室外,我們要在公園裏野餐。Feifei: Yes, a picnic – it's very nice, thanks for preparing it Rob.
菲菲:對,野餐,非常好,羅布,謝謝你的準備。Rob: Oh no problem... Well actually, it was a problem...
羅布:哦,不客氣。實際上,有個問題。Feifei: Oh, I thought preparing a picnic would be easy.
菲菲:哦,我以為準備野餐很容易呢。Rob: No. First I had to find some money to buy some food, then I had to walk to the supermarket because my car isn't working, then I had to prepare the food, then I had to go to work... and then I had to...
羅布:不容易。首先,我要找一些錢來買食物,然後我得走去超市,因為我的車壞了,之後我還要準備食物,然後我還得上班……我還要……Feifei: Oh I get it, it was an effort.
菲菲:哦,我懂了,這是件費力的事。Rob: What I'm saying is it was no picnic!
羅布:我的意思是這並非易事!Feifei: Huh? It is Rob, look, sandwiches, crisps, salad, strawberries...
菲菲:什麼?羅布,這是野餐啊,你看,有三明治、薯片、沙拉、草莓……Rob: That's a picnic but making it was 'no picnic' – I mean there was nothing easy or pleasant about it.
羅布:這的確是野餐,但是準備野餐可“並非易事”,我的意思是準備野餐不是一件容易或者愉快的事。Feifei: I get it! Let's hear some more examples of situations that are 'no picnic'...
菲菲:我明白了!我們來聽有關這個短語的更多例句。Examples
例句Having no job and trying to pay the bills is no picnic.
沒工作還要付賬單可不是一件易事。It's no picnic going on a camping holiday with the kids – they moan all the time!
和孩子們一起去野營度假可不是一件輕鬆的事,他們一直在抱怨!Living on the fifth floor without a lift is no picnic; I have to carry everything up the stairs.
住在五樓還沒有電梯可不是件易事;我不得不搬着所有東西爬樓梯。Feifei: So when you say something is 'no picnic' you mean it's a difficult or unpleasant situation. Well Rob, it may have been difficult to prepare but it was worth the effort – the food is delicious.
菲菲:當你説某事“並非易事”時,你的意思是這是困難又令人不愉快的情況。羅布,準備野餐可能很困難,不過這些努力是值得的,食物非常美味。Rob: Oh thanks very much.
羅布:哦,非常感謝。(FX: Thunderstorm begins)
(音效:開始下暴雨)Feifei: Oh no, rain! I think we'd better take cover. Quick!
菲菲:哦不,下雨了!我想我們最好找個地方避雨。快點!Rob: Oh dear, it seems that this is literally no picnic.
羅布:哦天哪,看起來這就是字面上的意思,沒有野餐了。Feifei: Come on let's drive home.
菲菲:快點兒,我們開車回家吧。Rob: We can't. My car's not working remember?
羅布:不行。我的車壞了,你忘了嗎?Feifei: Oh yes. Bye.
菲菲:哦對。再見。Rob: Bye.
羅布:再見。譯文屬僅供學習交流使用,未經許可請勿轉載
重點講解:
1. no picnic 不是件輕鬆(或愉快)的事;
例句:Emigrating is no picnic.
移民不是件輕鬆的事。
2. all the time 一直;始終;
例句:I get the two of them mixed up all the time, they're so similar.
我一直把他們倆弄混,他倆太像了。
3. had better do sth. (用於建議、警告、威脅、發表意見等)最好;
例句:It's half past two. I think we had better go home.
現在兩點半了。我想我們最好還是回家吧。
4. take cover 躲避(炮火、轟炸或壞天氣);
例句:Shoppers took cover behind cars as police marksmen returned fire.
警方的射擊手開火回擊時,購物者們躲在汽車後面。