在漢語日常交流對話中,當(dāng)別人問的問題需要一個很長的解釋時,我們可能會以 “說來話長” 作答。在這期節(jié)目中,主持人 Neil 和菲菲教你 “說來話長” 的英文表達(dá)方式和具體用法。聽他們的對話。
(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
Hello! 大家好。Welcome to Authentic Real English from BBC Learning English. 我是馮菲菲。
Neil
… and hello, I’m Neil. Err, sorry to mention it, Feifei, but why is there a big coffee stain on your top?
Feifei
Because I spilt coffee all over me!
Neil
Oh, that was silly… and did I notice when you arrived that you were limping?
Feifei
哎,別提了! Thereby hangs a tale.
Neil
What? Did you trip over a tail?
Feifei
No, no. I mean there’s more to tell you. 在英語里,表達(dá) “thereby hangs a tale” 的意思是 “說來話長,其中大有文章”。當(dāng)別人問的問題需要一個很長的解釋時,我們就可以用 “thereby hangs a tale” 來告訴他們你的回答會很長,因為有很多要解釋的東西?!癟hereby hangs a tale” 這個表達(dá)出自莎士比亞的喜劇《皆大歡喜》。Now, let me explain why I have a coffee stain and a limp.
Neil
If it involves me, then no!
Feifei
It does.
Neil
Oh, well. Shall we have some examples of ‘thereby hangs a tale’?
Examples
A: Why are you covered in mud?
B: Well, thereby hangs a tale.
I won that medal for bravery – and thereby hangs a tale.
What a journey! All the main roads were closed so we had to drive cross-country – and thereby hangs a tale.
Feifei
你正在收聽的是 BBC英語教學(xué)的 “地道英語” 節(jié)目。這期節(jié)目中,我們給大家介紹如何用表達(dá) “thereby hangs a tale” 來告訴別人一個問題的回答有一個很長的解釋,也就是我們常說的 “說來話長”。Neil, can you guess what’s happened?
Neil
Hmm, so you have a limp, and you have a coffee stain on your top – were you dancing with a full cup of coffee?
Feifei
I wasn’t. In fact, I was walking to the studio, carefully carrying my coffee, when I tripped over a bag of potatoes in the corridor.
Neil
Ah, that’s my bag of potatoes!
Feifei
I thought so, but why is there a bag of potatoes in the corridor?
Neil
Ah, well, thereby hangs a tale!
Feifei
I’m all ears.
Neil
I’ll tell you later. It’s time to go now. Bye.
Feifei
Bye!