地道英语

Wishy-washy 优柔寡断，模棱两可

内容简介

一道淡而无味的菜肴、一个不痛不痒的回答和一个空洞无聊的发言之间有什么共同点？它们都可以用英语单词 “wishy-washy” 来形容。“Wishy-washy” 听起来有点像水唰唰作响的声音，它的实际含义是什么？听主持人 Neil 和菲菲的对话，学习这个拟声词在日常交流中的用法。

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。）

Feifei
大家好，欢迎收听  BBC英语教学的 “地道英语” 节目。I'm Feifei.

Neil
And I'm Neil. We have an expression which describes something that is weak, vague or undefined – it's 'wishy-washy'.

Feifei
Wishy-washy. 这个单词的意思是 “优柔寡断的，空洞无聊的，淡而无味的”。Let's talk about how we can use this.

Neil
Let's think about what not to do in a job interview. If you turn up without thinking about the questions you might get asked, you'll only be able to come up with wishy-washy answers.

Feifei
是的，参加面试前一定要充分准备，这样才能避免 “wishy-washy” 的回答，也就是“含含糊糊的，有的没的的回答”。

Neil
Wishy-washy answers to questions in job interviews, or exams are those which don't really answer the question – they are just a bit weak and undefined. We can also use it to talk about the way that people do things.

Feifei
Yes, we could say that a manager who takes a very weak approach to problems, or is too scared to talk to their staff is a bit wishy-washy.

Neil
Listen to these examples of how we can use 'wishy-washy'.

Examples
If you take such a wishy-washy approach to dealing with these problems, they're only going to get worse. 

He gave some wishy-washy excuse about not having time, but I think he just didn't want to do it.

Your answer needs to address these points. If you just write something wishy-washy, you won't get any marks.

Feifei
你正在收听的是 BBC英语教学的 “地道英语” 节目。上面我们听了三个使用了 “wishy-washy” 的例句。“Wishy-washy” 多用作贬义。

Neil
If you think of it as meaning weak and watery, then it's a kind of onomatopoeia – think of the sound of water swishing around.

Feifei
是的，“wishy-washy” 这个词听起来有点像水唰唰作响的声音。“Wishy-washy” 也能用来形容 “食物是像掺了水一样淡而无味的”。

Neil
Well, hopefully our explanations haven't been too wishy-washy. Join us next time to learn some more authentic real English! 

Feifei
Bye-bye. 

Neil
Goodbye.