Chris: Hi Helen. Wow, what's that?
Helen: This is a present for you, Chris.
Chris: A present for me? Oh, that's very kind of you!
Helen: Here you go.
Chris: A new dictionary - how nice! That's such a lovely present, and it's not even my birthday. But hang on, why have you stuck卡住 all these pieces of string onto the book?
Helen: There are strings to your present.
Chris: I see. Do you mean there are certain conditions某些條件 that come with this present?
Helen: Yes, strings to your present!
Chris: Ahh, you mean there are strings attached附帶條件.
Helen: I see – so it's an expression表達 in English?
Chris: That's right. Having strings attached doesn't actually mean you need to stick pieces of string on the book. You can just tell me what the conditions are.
Helen: Oh, OK. Well, the conditions are that I can borrow your dictionary whenever I need to use it.
Chris: That's absolutely fine. You can borrow it anytime.
Helen: Great! Do you have any headphones I can use too? I want to listen to my mp3 player.
Chris: Yes, here you go.
Helen: Are there any strings attached?
Chris: No, you can use the headphones for as long as you like - no strings attached.
Helen: Wonderful, thanks very much.
Chris: Let's take a listen to some examples of how strings attached or no strings attached can be used:
Helen: This is a present for you, Chris.
Chris: A present for me? Oh, that's very kind of you!
Helen: Here you go.
Chris: A new dictionary - how nice! That's such a lovely present, and it's not even my birthday. But hang on, why have you stuck卡住 all these pieces of string onto the book?
Helen: There are strings to your present.
Chris: I see. Do you mean there are certain conditions某些條件 that come with this present?
Helen: Yes, strings to your present!
Chris: Ahh, you mean there are strings attached附帶條件.
Helen: I see – so it's an expression表達 in English?
Chris: That's right. Having strings attached doesn't actually mean you need to stick pieces of string on the book. You can just tell me what the conditions are.
Helen: Oh, OK. Well, the conditions are that I can borrow your dictionary whenever I need to use it.
Chris: That's absolutely fine. You can borrow it anytime.
Helen: Great! Do you have any headphones I can use too? I want to listen to my mp3 player.
Chris: Yes, here you go.
Helen: Are there any strings attached?
Chris: No, you can use the headphones for as long as you like - no strings attached.
Helen: Wonderful, thanks very much.
Chris: Let's take a listen to some examples of how strings attached or no strings attached can be used:
- Make sure you read all of the contract before you sign it, there could be strings attached.
- We're giving away our brand牌子 new toy to the first fifty customers who visit our shop - no strings attached.
Helen: So it can be a warning about whether there are restrictions限制 to something or not.
Chris: That's right. When something has strings attached, it often means there are hidden commitments承諾 and you should find out what they are.
Helen: That's good to know. Is it just used when talking about money?
Chris: It can often be used when talking about financial agreements協議 or negotiations談判, but it can also be based on personal relationships too, like when you gave me the present. Here's another example:
A: My brother said I could use his car this weekend, no strings attached.
B: Really? That's a nice thing to do.
A: Well, he does owe me a favour after I washed the car last week.
Chris: So Helen, now that you've finished with your mp3 player, can I listen to it?
Helen: You can, but there are strings attached.
Chris: Oh, OK. What are they?
Helen: My mp3 player has only got classical music on it!
Chris: Oh no, I hate classical music!
Chris: That's right. When something has strings attached, it often means there are hidden commitments承諾 and you should find out what they are.
Helen: That's good to know. Is it just used when talking about money?
Chris: It can often be used when talking about financial agreements協議 or negotiations談判, but it can also be based on personal relationships too, like when you gave me the present. Here's another example:
A: My brother said I could use his car this weekend, no strings attached.
B: Really? That's a nice thing to do.
A: Well, he does owe me a favour after I washed the car last week.
Chris: So Helen, now that you've finished with your mp3 player, can I listen to it?
Helen: You can, but there are strings attached.
Chris: Oh, OK. What are they?
Helen: My mp3 player has only got classical music on it!
Chris: Oh no, I hate classical music!
this text is from bbc learning english
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/theenglishwespeak/2012/05/120501_tews_69_no_strings_attached.shtml
沒有留言:
張貼留言