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虽然 “savage” 一词有 “凶猛” 的意思,但如今,它还衍生出了其它的含义。主持人 Neil 和佳莹讨论除了形容老虎以外,“savage” 还可以怎么用。听两个人的对话,学习 “savage” 除了 “凶猛” 以外的用法。
(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。)
Jiaying
大家好,欢迎收听 BBC英语教学的 “地道英语” 节目,我是佳莹。
Neil
… and I’m Neil.
Jiaying
Neil,在这期节目里,我想和大家聊一聊形容词 “savage” 的含义和用法。
Neil
Oh, right. You mean something that is cruel or violent – like a wild tiger.
Jiaying
Well, a tiger is savage. 没错,老虎这种动物的确是很 “savage(凶猛)”,不过我想说的是形容词 “savage” 的另一个含义。
Neil
What are you on about? You’re wasting my time with all this silly animal talk! Don’t you know what savage means?
Jiaying
我当然知道了!其实你刚刚就很 “savage”。不过,我可不是说你 “凶猛、野蛮”,因为 “savage” 也可以形容某人 “直言不讳,很犀利”。
Neil
You mean being brutally honest – saying the truth – is savage! But I was only joking, Jiaying, just to illustrate the point!
Jiaying
Thanks, Neil! Shall we hear some examples now…
Examples
The feedback on my homework was savage – I thought I’d done a good job.
Selina stood up to the bullies in her class! Now no one dares to pick on her or her friends. She’s savage!
Did you watch that comedy show last night? The guest speaker was hilarious when she was poking fun at her celebrity friend. She was savage!
Jiaying
你正在收听的是 BBC英语教学的 “地道英语” 节目。以上,我们介绍了形容词 “savage” 的用法。虽然 “savage” 原本的意思是 “凶猛的,野蛮的”,但如今,也有人用它来形容某人 “非常犀利,直言不讳”。
Neil
Right, I’ve got to be savage with the boss now.
Jiaying
Oh, really, how come?
Neil
I’m working too much and he hasn’t even noticed. I’m going to tell him, right now!
Jiaying
Now we have another meaning of ‘savage’. 我们还可以用 “savage” 来称赞某人 “因为所做的事情很大胆或者需要勇气,所以很酷,很霸气”。So, I’m impressed, Neil!
Neil
Oh, really? Thanks. But, err, maybe I’ll tell him tomorrow – I don’t want to come across as too savage.
Jiaying
If you say so, Neil. Bye for now!
Neil
Bye.