地道英語(yǔ)口語(yǔ)學(xué)習(xí):Penny Pinching 小氣不愿花錢

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地道英語(yǔ)口語(yǔ)學(xué)習(xí):Penny Pinching 小氣不愿花錢
    Helen: This is Real English from BBC Learning English. I’m Helen.
    Zoe: 你好! 歡迎收聽今天的地道英語(yǔ). 我是劉佳.
    Helen: Today we’re going to look at words and phrases that have recently become part of the English language.
    Zoe: 地道英語(yǔ)帶大家一起學(xué)習(xí)原汁原味的英式英語(yǔ), 及時(shí)帶大家更新英語(yǔ)中的流行詞匯,還有習(xí)慣表達(dá).
    Helen: The English language is constantly changing, with new words and expressions entering all the time. You need to keep up to date with real English.
    Zoe: Helen, 今天要學(xué)的新詞是什么呢?
    Helen: Today’s new expression is ‘penny-pinching’. That’s penny – P.E.N.N.Y. and pinching – P.I.N.C.H.I.N.G. Penny-pinching.
    Zoe: Penny-pinching, 便士和pinching,緊 壓, 一起說是什么意思呢?
    Helen: Well, listen carefully. If you say someone is penny-pinching, you mean that they don’t want to spend money on things.
    Zoe: 哦,原來(lái)是這樣啊. Penny pinching的意思啊,就是說一個(gè)人特別小氣,不愿意花錢.
    Helen: That’s right. Remember it’s a negative thing to say about someone, so be careful how you use it. 不過要記住, 這可是個(gè)貶義詞, 我們用的時(shí)候可得多加小心.
    Zoe: 那Helen, 能給我們舉個(gè)例子嗎?
    Helen: Of course. If your friend didn’t want to go to a restaurant with you. 如果你的朋友不愿意和你一起出去吃飯, 你就可以對(duì)他說‘don’t be so penny-pinching! it won’t cost that much!’ 別那么小氣了,這花不了多少錢的!
    Zoe: 所以它是個(gè)貶義詞.
    Insert 錄音片斷
    A: $30? I’m not paying that for a pair of shoes!
    B: Don’t be penny-pinching! It’s a really good price.
    A: Why are the schools so bad these days?
    B: Well, the government has a really penny-pinching approach to education and won’t give schools any money.
    Zoe: Are you penny-pinching, Helen?
    Helen: Oh, no , I don’t think so. I’m the opposite, in fact. I always spend too much money.
    Zoe: Really? I don’t.
    Helen: Yes. Look at your shoes. You need to buy some new ones.
    Zoe: No – these will do for another 6 months at least.
    Helen: See? You’re being penny-pinching!
    Zoe: Am I?
    Helen: Yes, You really need some new shoes. Those ones you are wearing must be 10 years old.
    Zoe: Well maybe I’ll think about it.
    Helen: Anyway, let’s recap – penny-pinching –
    Zoe: 就是形容一個(gè)人不愿意花錢, 特別小氣. Well, it looks like we need to be finishing there.
    Helen: Yes, that’s all we have time for. You’ve been listening to Real English from BBC Learning English. Join us again soon for more up-to-the-minute Real English. Bye.
    Zoe: See you next time.