Freak

Jennifer: Hi, and welcome to The English We Speak. I'm Jennifer and with me today is Feifei. 

Feifei: Hi there. 

Jennifer: Why do you have that big bag with you? 

Feifei: Oh this? I'm going to the gym after work. 

Jennifer: Again? But you went yesterday, and the day before that!

Feifei: I need to push myself! I want to get fit.

Jennifer: You're such a fitness freak.

Feifei: Hey, that's not very nice. What do you mean, I'm a 'fitness freak'? You're calling me some kind of strange monster?

Jennifer: I'm not calling you a monster, that's not what the word 'freak' means in this context. In English, you can use the word 'freak' with a noun to say that someone is obsessed by something which you think is strange. 

Feifei: So when you call me a 'fitness freak', you're saying I'm obsessed by癡迷 sport and fitness? 

Jennifer: That's right. It's an informal phrase, usually used if the person saying it is not interested in the hobby or action. So someone might be a 'football freak' if they're watching football. My boyfriend is a 'car freak' – he's obsessed with cars and talking about them, but I'm not interested at all, I think it's weird.

Feifei: I understand. Well you might call me a fitness freak, because you don't like it. I'd say I'm a fitness fanatic狂熱的! 

Jennifer: Well, I have no intention of意願 going to the gym today or any day. I don't like it and the thought of using the equipment設備 really freaks me out.

Feifei: Hang on, you've used the word freak again.

Jennifer: Yes, in a slightly different way. 'To freak someone out' is a phrasal短語 verb which means to make someone feel strong emotions, like panic or fear. Going to the gym freaks me out; it makes me panic. 

Feifei: It freaks you out! You need to toughen up.強硬起來 I really do think you should come and join me for a gym session tonight.

Jennifer: No way! I'm too scared and too tired. I'd rather lie on the sofa and watch my favourite soap opera.

Feifei: Well, I think that people who sit around and watch television every night are very strange – so I guess you're a television freak! Join us again for another edition of The English We Speak from bbclearningenglish.com. 

Both: Bye!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/theenglishwespeak/2013/05/130521_tews_124_freak.shtml