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想象一个人无事可做、百无聊赖,坐等事情发生时捂弄大拇指的样子。英语表达 “twiddle your thumbs” 正可用来形容此景。主持人菲菲和 Rob 在这期节目中讲解这个表达的用法。
(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。)
Feifei
大家好!欢迎收听 “地道英语” 节目。我是菲菲。
Rob
… and me, Rob. Now, our piece of authentic real English in this programme is, Feifei?
Feifei
Twiddle your thumbs.
Rob
Oh. OK, I will. Err… what are we waiting for?
Feifei
Nothing, Rob! “Twiddle your thumbs” 是这期节目中我们要教给大家的表达。
Rob
Oh, sorry, Feifei. I thought you were telling me to wait around, not do anything, until something happens.
Feifei
Why would I do that?
Rob
Err… so you can watch me twiddle my thumbs?
Feifei
Rob,我说你什么好呢!“Twiddle your thumbs” 是一个口语表达,意思是 “闲得无聊,百无聊赖”。大家可以想象这样一个情景:一个人坐着,很不耐烦地捂弄着大拇指,等待着某事情的发生。这个情景就可以用 “twiddle your thumbs” 来形容。But Rob, you can twiddle your thumbs again, while we listen to some examples…
Examples
Where have you been? I've been twiddling my thumbs, waiting for you to arrive.
Just twiddle your thumbs while we work out how the computer works.
I've been twiddling my thumbs because I arrived early for the meeting.
Feifei
你正在收听 BBC英语教学的 “地道英语” 节目。上面,我们给大家讲解了 “twiddle your thumbs” 的意思和用法。
Rob
We don't actually have to twiddle our thumbs when we have nothing to do, do we?
Feifei
Of course not. It just describes having nothing to do.
Rob
So, you mean being bored?
Feifei
Yes, exactly – and you know what's a good solution to stop you from twiddling your thumbs?
Rob
No.
Feifei
Do something! Like making your colleague a nice cup of tea.
Rob
Oh, hint taken. See you later!
Feifei
Bye.