内容简介
Rob 的新爱好可能会给他“a sting in the tail 尾巴刺痛”。不过这个说法到底和“尾巴”有关系吗?看视频,学习一个描述“结局出乎意料”的表达。
Feifei
大家好,欢迎收听 BBC 英语教学的《地道英语》节目。我是冯菲菲,还有我的同事 Rob。
Rob
Hello everyone.
Feifei
So Rob, I hear you have a new hobby?
Rob
Yes that's right – it's very exciting – let me show you…
Feifei
怎么这么多蜜蜂?I don't like them – shut the door! 弄了半天,你的新爱好原来就是“养蜂”?
Rob
Yes I'm a beekeeper – and I love it - but there is a sting in the tail.
Feifei
Of course there's a sting in the tail – bees sting – and it hurts, that's why I don't like them.
Rob
Well, they only sting when they're angry Feifei – and anyway, when I said 'there's a sting in the tail' I wasn't referring to the bees. I meant something unpleasant comes with something that is meant to be pleasurable.
Feifei
Yes, as I said – looking after bees means you're likely to get stung.
Rob
That's true – but what I meant was beekeeping is fun but I wasn't expecting it to cost so much money – I had to buy all these hives and these special protective clothes.
Feifei
Yes, you do look silly! 在英语里,人们如果说一件事情“has a sting in the tail 尾巴有刺痛”,那么实际要表达的是这件原本很令人享受的事情的结局出人意料,很煞风景,让人不愉快。那么,Rob 说养蜂这个爱好也是“there is a sting in the tail”,因为需要花很多钱来置办蜂巢以及其它所需的衣物和工具。
Rob
Let's hear some examples while I go and get some honey.
Examples
We had a great holiday but it had a sting in the tail – when we got home we discovered our house had been broken into.
I love her new book – the story is funny and romantic – but there's a sting in the tail when someone dies.
Yeah, we all got a pay rise this month, but there's a sting in the tail – we're expected to work longer hours.
Feifei
A sting in the tail 用来指“令人不快的意外结局”,尤其是一个故事、笑话等出人意料的结局。
Rob
OK Feifei, one of the good things about beekeeping is you get this delicious honey – and that's free - go on Feifei, try some.
Feifei
这个蜂蜜真甜!Oh no, you've brought something else with you… it's a bee!
Rob
Don't panic – I'll try to catch it… ouch! That hurt.
Feifei
Oh dear – it looks like beekeeping has more than one sting in the tail!
Rob
Very funny!
Feifei
Bye!
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