地道英语
Gathering dust 闲置不用
内容简介
主持人 Neil 为了强身健体，想重新开始骑车，但他找不到自己的自行车了。佳莹说自己有一辆自行车只是在 “gathering dust”，可以借给他。难道这是在说车上积满了灰尘？听两个人的对话，学习地道英语表达 “gathering dust” 的实际含义和用法。
文字稿
（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
欢迎收听 BBC英语教学的 “地道英语” 节目，大家好！我是佳莹。
Neil
… and I’m Neil. Hi, Jiaying.
Jiaying
你怎么穿了一身自行车骑行服，还戴了一顶头盔来办公室？
Neil
Well, I’ve decided to get fit again, and I love cycling. The thing is, I can’t find my bike, so I decided to wear the outfit to look fitter – without doing the exercise.
Jiaying
That makes zero sense. If you can’t find your bike, you can borrow my old one. It’s just gathering dust anyway.
Neil
Ewww – no, thanks. I don’t want to use it if it’s dirty and dusty.
Jiaying
不是的，Neil！我刚刚说的是 “gathering dust”。我们用表达 “gathering dust” 来表示 “某样事物很长时间不被问津，无人使用，只是闲置在一边”，也就是我们说的 “在吃灰”。别看我的那辆自行车很久都没骑过，但它其实很干净。
Neil
Well, in that case – yes, please! I’d love to borrow your nice clean bike!
Jiaying
OK. I’ll get it for you right after these examples.
Examples
When my father sold his house, we discovered an old car in the garage that was gathering dust. It was worth a fortune.
You can have my old pictures. They’re just gathering dust.
If you don’t want that tea service, I’ll give it to charity. No point it gathering dust here.
Jiaying
你正在收听的是 BBC英语教学的 “地道英语” 节目。上面，我们介绍了表达 “gathering dust”，用来表示某样物品 “很久都被闲置不用，在吃灰”。
Neil
Wow! This bike is really great! It’s so clean and fast!
Jiaying
That’s great, Neil. But I’m not sure you should be riding it round the office.
Neil
I’m fine! I nearly turned professional because I was so quick. I won awards for my speed. My medals are gathering dust somewhere. The reason I didn’t turn professional is because I wasn’t very good at steering.
Jiaying
That sounds really dangerous. Maybe you should stop cycling now. Neil! Are you OK?
Neil
Aww… I’m fine. I only forgot to turn. But I crashed into that store cupboard. And guess what? I found my bike, just gathering dust!
Jiaying
Oh, Neil. Never a boring day in the office with you! Bye!
Neil
Bye!
