[圖片來源:Getty Images]
鼠年到!Rob 臉上貼著夸張的胡須,說他決定要在新的一年中加入老鼠賽跑 “rat race”,意思就是他將把所有的時間全部用來工作,目的是升職和加薪。聽 Rob 和菲菲的對話,學(xué)習(xí)如何用老鼠賽跑 “rat race” 描述人們努力工作,拼命掙錢的生活方式。
(關(guān)于臺詞的備注: 請注意這不是廣播節(jié)目的逐字稿件。本文稿可能沒有體現(xiàn)錄制、編輯過程中對節(jié)目做出的改變。)
Feifei
大家好!歡迎收聽 BBC英語教學(xué)的 “地道英語” 節(jié)目。我是馮菲菲。
Rob
…and me, Rob.
Feifei
Rob,我有一個簡單的問題要問你。
Rob
Yep.
Feifei
Why have you got enormous whiskers glued to the side of your face, and a why are you wearing a running vest?
Rob
Well, Feifei, it’s a new year – and according to our Chinese friends it’s the Year of the Rat. New Year, new resolutions. I’ve decided to join the rat race!
Feifei
You’ve decided to join the rat race? 你要加入 “老鼠賽跑”?你的意思是你想在工作中變得更有競爭力,為了專注于升職和加薪而犧牲自己的閑暇時間?
Rob
That’s right.
Feifei
But why?
Rob
Ha… Money!
Feifei
Right. Well, let’s hear some examples of this expression before a little more explanation.
Examples
I am gonna quit the rat race. I earn all this money but I never have enough time to spend it! It’s just work, work, work!
People complain about the rat race, but if you earn enough, you can retire at 50!
Nieves decided to quit the rat race after she had a serious health scare. She realised that the money wasn’t worth the stress.
Feifei
這里是BBC英語教學(xué)的 “地道英語” 節(jié)目。在這期節(jié)目中,我們來學(xué)習(xí) “rat race” 這個短語。它被用來描述一種人們生活的方式——努力工作,拼命掙錢。
Rob
But there’s no free time and it’s very, very competitive. You heard in the examples, we often hear the word ‘quit’ used with ‘rat race’. Quit the rat race.
Feifei
But you, Rob, have decided to join it. You do know that you don’t have to look like a rat to join the rat race? And you certainly don’t have to wear a racing vest.
Rob
Umm… just trying to make things clear for our audience, Feifei!
Feifei
I do quite like those whiskers, though. Bye!
Rob
Bye-bye!