24.2.13

Every Tom Dick and Harry


Kaz: Hello I'm Kaz.

Yang Li: And I'm Yang Li. Hey Kaz I see you have brought some guests to the studio.

Kaz: Indeed I have. Li I'd like you to meet Tom... Dick... and Harry.

TDH: How do you do?

Yang Li: How do you do. It's always nice to meet new people Kaz, but I suspect these young men are here for a reason. Am I right?

Kaz: Yes Li I've invited them because their names are Tom, Dick and Harry.

Yang Li: Tom, Dick and Harry. Three popular English names - connected to a popular phrase by any chance Kaz?

Kaz: Absolutely right Li. Our phrase today is 'every Tom, Dick and Harry'.

Yang Li: 'Every Tom, Dick and Harry' - meaning everyone with a common name I suppose.

Kaz: Yes, In English if you want to talk about lots of unspecified people you can use the phrase 'every Tom, Dick and Harry'.

Yang Li: So it's like saying 'everyone', right?

Kaz: That's right but it's more informal and slightly略帶 humorous幽默.

Yang Li: OK, I think you should demonstrate its use Kaz.

Kaz: Good idea Li. Imagine I tell you something in confidence, in private... I could ask you not to repeat it.

Yang Li: Because we don't want everyone knowing about it.

Kaz: Exactly. We don't want every Tom, Dick and Harry knowing about it.

Yang Li: We don't want every Tom, Dick and Harry knowing our secret Kaz.

Kaz: You've got it Li!

Yang Li: OK, let's listen to some more examples:
  • Shhhhh! Lower your voice! We don't want every Tom, Dick and Harry to hear us.
  • Make sure you send out invitations, otherwise you'll have every Tom, Dick and Harry showing up at your party.
  • Whatever you do, don't tell Doug. He can't keep a secret and soon every Tom, Dick and Harry will know about it.
Yang Li: Those three names are interesting and each is a short form of a longer name. I know Tom is the diminutive of Thomas and Harry is short for簡稱 Harold. But what's Dick short for?

Kaz: Dick is short for Richard.

Yang Li: Ah yes, of course, Dick is short for Richard. So what's Kaz short for?

Kaz: We don't need to know that Li.

Yang Li: Why not Kaz?

Kaz: Because we are very unlikely to ever say 'every Kaz, Dick and Harry'.

Yang Li: Very funny Kaz but it's time to say goodbye to our guests 'Tom, Dick and Harry'. So, goodbye chaps!

TDH: Goodbye!

Kaz: And it's goodbye from us.

Kaz/Yang Li: Bye!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/theenglishwespeak/2013/02/130219_tews_111_every_tom_dick_and_harry.shtml

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