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Rob 发现菲菲和上司共用午餐,所以想知道他们都聊了些什么。Rob 说菲菲 “curry favour” 上司,可菲菲不懂这个表达的实际意思,所以又闹笑话了。听他们的对话,学习 “curry favour” 这个实用的表达。
(关于台词的备注: 请注意这不是广播节目的逐字稿件。本文稿可能没有体现录制、编辑过程中对节目做出的改变。)
Feifei
大家好,欢迎来到 BBC 英语教学的《地道英语》节目。我是冯菲菲。
Rob
…and hello, I'm Rob. Erm, Feifei, why were you in the cafe with the boss earlier?
Feifei
Was I?
Rob
Come on. I saw you having lunch with the boss. Nobody ever has lunch with him.
Feifei
哎呀,刚才和上司吃饭,被 Rob 给看见了,我该找个什么借口呢?OK, I admit it. I was having lunch with the boss. What's wrong with that?
Rob
Well, we all know there is promotion in the department on offer – and you are obviously trying to curry favour with the boss so that you get the job. Honestly!
Feifei
Hold on. I can assure you I was not having curry with the boss – it was just a sandwich.
Rob
Feifei, if you curry favour with someone you are not eating curry. It means you are trying to get someone – the boss – to like you or even give you something. Something like a promotion.
Feifei
I was not! But I like the expression. 其实 “curry favour” 这个说法和 “咖喱” 没什么关系。If you curry favour with someone, you are trying to get them to like you or give you something. 也就是说 “一个人讨好、奉承上司、老板、或有权的人”,就是俗话说的 “拍马屁”。
Rob
OK. Let's hear some more examples of people currying favour with someone else.
Examples
I know what you're up to! You're trying to curry favour with the manager by telling her what a great job she's doing!
The company tried to curry favour with its employees by giving them all a pay rise.
He's trying to get free tickets to the gig by currying favour with the tour manager – it won't work!
Feifei
这里是 BBC 英语教学的《地道英语》节目。本集节目中介绍的表达是 “curry favour”,它用来描述一个人讨好有权利的人而从中获取利益。
Rob
Another way of saying it is you are trying to 'keep in with' someone.
Feifei
英语里另一个说法 “keep in with someone” 的意思和 “curry favour” 相似,用来描述一个人和他人都搞好关系,友好相处。It's all a bit false, Rob, trying to make someone like you - which is why I was not trying to curry favour with the boss.
Rob
You won't get that promotion anyway.
Feifei
We were actually talking about you!
Rob
Oh yes?
Feifei
He wanted my advice on whether he should give the promotion to you.
Rob
To me! Well, come on then, what did you say?
Feifei
You'll need to curry favour with me, if you want to know that!
Rob
How about dinner? I know a nice little curry house just round the corner.
Feifei
Bye.
Rob
Bye.