Checking a bus engine is an unusual start to the day for a woman in the West Bank.
But there's nothing Najlaa Asia would rather do. She's the first woman licensed to drive public buses in the Palestinian city of Tulkarm.
Being a pioneer isn't easy. She had to pass 12 driving tests. But Najlaa encourages other Palestinian women to break with taboo禁忌, and compete on an equal footing平等 with men in all professions.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2014/05/140528_vwitn_bus_driver.shtml
1.6.14
Hands-free on the road?
Google's driverless car project was officially launched推出 in 2010. Since then it says its test vehicles have completed more than a million kilometres on public roads. They've progressed from relatively simple driving on the Californian freeway to more complicated manoeuvring機動 in urban areas.
So far, Google has used a fleet of ordinary cars, which have been converted to carry self-driving technology. But now it wants to take the process a stage further by producing a purpose-built特製的 machine. It’s planning to create a fleet of about a hundred fully autonomous electric vehicles capable of carrying two people at up to 40 km per hour without any input from a human driver.
The ultimate aim最終目標 is to get rid of the controls altogether, although early versions will still need to have a steering wheel方向盤 and pedals.
Google believes it will be able to launch a pilot scheme using the new cars within the next two years. But the internet giant is far from being the only company working on self-driving technology. A number of major manufacturers have their own test programmes, among them Ford, Toyota, Volkswagen and BMW.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2014/05/140530_witn_driverless_car.shtml
Children aid幫助/援助 malaria vaccine疫苗 hunt
In an area of Tanzania where malaria is rife非常多的, scientists have found a small group of children who are naturally resistant 抵抗的 to the disease. Tests revealed透露 that their immune system produces an antibody that attacks the malaria-causing parasite寄生蟲.
It traps捕捉 the tiny organism in red blood cells, preventing it from bursting out爆發 and spreading蔓延 throughout the body. The team found that injecting a form of this antibody into mice小老鼠 protected the animals from malaria.
The scientists say the results are encouraging but further進一步的 trials in primates靈長類 and humans are needed to fully assess the vaccine's promise.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2014/05/140523_witn_malaria.shtml
8.5.14
Pompeii under threat
The newly appointed任命, 委派 Italian culture minister, Dario Franceschini, is already facing a huge challenge: how to save one of the world's most treasured珍貴的 archaeological考古 sites.
He's summoned招喚 officials from Pompeii to Rome to report on the state of the site, and explain why the wall of a tomb墓 and part of an arch of the Temple of Venus fell down after days of heavy rain this weekend.
This is not the first time that the site has suffered damage. There was an international outcry in 2010 after a series of wall collapses坍塌 in Pompeii. The ancient古老的 city was completely buried in ash in 79 AD after a volcanic eruption爆發, and rediscovered重新發現 in the 18th Century.
Critics say that, having survived for two millennia千, one of Italy's most popular attractions吸引力 is now being neglected.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2014/03/140303_witn_pompeii.shtml
He's summoned招喚 officials from Pompeii to Rome to report on the state of the site, and explain why the wall of a tomb墓 and part of an arch of the Temple of Venus fell down after days of heavy rain this weekend.
This is not the first time that the site has suffered damage. There was an international outcry in 2010 after a series of wall collapses坍塌 in Pompeii. The ancient古老的 city was completely buried in ash in 79 AD after a volcanic eruption爆發, and rediscovered重新發現 in the 18th Century.
Critics say that, having survived for two millennia千, one of Italy's most popular attractions吸引力 is now being neglected.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2014/03/140303_witn_pompeii.shtml
4.5.14
Another side to Mogadishu
On the walls of a London gallery hang photographs that tell an altogether完全 different story of Mogadishu. The images, most of which have never before been seen in public, show the compact Arab-style Mogadishu of the thirteenth century. The elegant優雅 white Italian colonial buildings that gave it the name 'The Pearl of the Indian Ocean'. The stark socialist structures of the sixties and seventies.
The Somali architect, Rashid Ali, put together the exhibition. He is worried that the current rebuilding of the city, after the return of a degree of stability, will destroy forever what remains of its past…
Rashid Ali, architect:
When this transformation is not based on a kind of a knowledge and without any policies, it's very easy for these buildings to be entirely demolished拆除. My point of view is that these buildings should be preserved保存 and not destroyed at all because they are really important to the country's history.
As well as the photographs and videos in the exhibition, there's an architectural model built by Rashid Ali…
Rashid Ali, architect:
I see culture as a tool for revitalising振興 and rehabilitating修復 the city so this is what I call a miniature微型 city, which is a cultural hub中心 essentially… Artists' studio spaces, there's a library, there's a small cinema, there's a cafe, there's a book shop. It sits on top of a hillside山坡, so you can overlook Hamar Weyne which is the old city and look at the Indian Ocean.
It's as yet unclear whether Mr Ali's dream of a cultural centre for Mogadishu will become a reality. Or whether what remains of the city's past will be preserved. But this exhibition makes clear that Mogadishu has the potential to be a great African city, especially if its architectural past can be included in its future.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2014/03/140307_witn_mogadishu_art.shtml
3.5.14
Twitter 'blocked' in Turkey
Late at night here in Istanbul, the city's internet users suddenly faced the same problem: none of us could get onto Twitter.
The apparent blocking of the website is dramatic, but not surprising. Hours before the site went down, Turkey's prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan mocked嘲笑 Twitter at a public rallyg示威. He promised to "wipe out"消滅 the site in this country. "The international community can say this or that, I don't care at all," he warned.
The Tu, many of whose officials are regular Twitter users, complained that the website failed to implement court rulings法院裁決 ordering the removal of various links. Those links are thought to be alleged recordings of the prime minister's private phone conversations. The recordings have been widely circulated流傳的 on Twitter - many internet users believe that conversations reveal揭示, 表明, 流露 evidence of corruption腐敗.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2014/03/140321_witn_twitter_turkey.shtml
The apparent blocking of the website is dramatic, but not surprising. Hours before the site went down, Turkey's prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan mocked嘲笑 Twitter at a public rallyg示威. He promised to "wipe out"消滅 the site in this country. "The international community can say this or that, I don't care at all," he warned.
The Tu, many of whose officials are regular Twitter users, complained that the website failed to implement court rulings法院裁決 ordering the removal of various links. Those links are thought to be alleged recordings of the prime minister's private phone conversations. The recordings have been widely circulated流傳的 on Twitter - many internet users believe that conversations reveal揭示, 表明, 流露 evidence of corruption腐敗.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2014/03/140321_witn_twitter_turkey.shtml
2.5.14
Twins meet after 78 years apart
It was an emotional reunion團圓.
Elizabeth Hamel and Ann Hunt, twins:
Oh, how lovely to see you in the flesh真實的.
Ann grew up never knowing she had a twin. Elizabeth stayed with her mother, who was in domestic國內的, 家庭的 service and could afford to bring up only one child. It wasn't until last year, with the women in their late 70s, that Ann discovered she had a twin sister, now living in America.
Ann Hunt:
You're meeting someone in the flesh for the first time, and you know that you've been in the womb子宮 together for eight months.
The sisters have agreed to take part in a research programme looking into the lives of reunited twins. Dr Nancy Segal is the director of the Twin Studies Center at California State University.
Dr Nancy Segal:
We want to get a comprehensive全面的 overview of their lives, their abilities, their interests and really put it all together as an important case study, because this is the world's longest-separated pair of twins.
Ann and Elizabeth plan to spend some time together. They have two lifetimes of memories to share, and new families to get to know.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2014/05/140502_witn_twins.shtml
Elizabeth Hamel and Ann Hunt, twins:
Oh, how lovely to see you in the flesh真實的.
Ann grew up never knowing she had a twin. Elizabeth stayed with her mother, who was in domestic國內的, 家庭的 service and could afford to bring up only one child. It wasn't until last year, with the women in their late 70s, that Ann discovered she had a twin sister, now living in America.
Ann Hunt:
You're meeting someone in the flesh for the first time, and you know that you've been in the womb子宮 together for eight months.
The sisters have agreed to take part in a research programme looking into the lives of reunited twins. Dr Nancy Segal is the director of the Twin Studies Center at California State University.
Dr Nancy Segal:
We want to get a comprehensive全面的 overview of their lives, their abilities, their interests and really put it all together as an important case study, because this is the world's longest-separated pair of twins.
Ann and Elizabeth plan to spend some time together. They have two lifetimes of memories to share, and new families to get to know.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2014/05/140502_witn_twins.shtml
1.5.14
US created 'Cuban Twitter'
ZunZuneo was popular here in Cuba. The service provided news - on sport and culture in particular - straight to subscribers用戶' mobile telephones. But users had no idea they were signing up to a programme created in the United States.
Funded by the US government development agency USAID, ZunZuneo targeted young Cubans in particular. Ultimately最終的, the goal was to send political messages via the network, aimed at provoking鼓舞 a 'Cuban Spring'.
But users told the BBC that the service ended abruptly突然地 over a year ago, before they received any kind of political content內容. Confirming that the project did indeed exist, the White House called ZunZuneo a 'development' programme, intended to help the 'free flow' of information.
But the US has a long history of trying to provoke regime change改朝換代 in Havana: starting with assassination暗殺 plots against Fidel Castro - then a trade embargo禁運 - and more recently, high-tech projects like this one.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2014/04/140404_witn_cuba.shtml
Funded by the US government development agency USAID, ZunZuneo targeted young Cubans in particular. Ultimately最終的, the goal was to send political messages via the network, aimed at provoking鼓舞 a 'Cuban Spring'.
But users told the BBC that the service ended abruptly突然地 over a year ago, before they received any kind of political content內容. Confirming that the project did indeed exist, the White House called ZunZuneo a 'development' programme, intended to help the 'free flow' of information.
But the US has a long history of trying to provoke regime change改朝換代 in Havana: starting with assassination暗殺 plots against Fidel Castro - then a trade embargo禁運 - and more recently, high-tech projects like this one.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2014/04/140404_witn_cuba.shtml
Beginning of the end for Japanese whaling?
It wasn't much of a homecoming: family and friends on the dockside碼頭. The crews waved back and then unloaded their cargo貨物 of whale meat. It could be the last one for some time from the waters off the Antarctic.
Japan has cancelled next year's hunt after the International Court of Justice said it was illegal. Australia and New Zealand convinced the judges that Japan was not catching whales for scientific research, as it had claimed - to get round a worldwide ban on whaling.
Those welcoming home the flotilla艦隊 were glum陰沈的, 悲傷的. One official bowed鞠躬 in apology. "People don't understand Japanese ways," said this man.
The captain from one of the returning ships said he hoped he'd someday return to the Antarctic. But next year will be the first time in 25 years that Japan has not hunted whales in the Southern Ocean.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2014/04/140407_witn_whaling_story.shtml
Japan has cancelled next year's hunt after the International Court of Justice said it was illegal. Australia and New Zealand convinced the judges that Japan was not catching whales for scientific research, as it had claimed - to get round a worldwide ban on whaling.
Those welcoming home the flotilla艦隊 were glum陰沈的, 悲傷的. One official bowed鞠躬 in apology. "People don't understand Japanese ways," said this man.
The captain from one of the returning ships said he hoped he'd someday return to the Antarctic. But next year will be the first time in 25 years that Japan has not hunted whales in the Southern Ocean.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2014/04/140407_witn_whaling_story.shtml
29.4.14
Off the back of a lorry
Li: Hi Finn. I'm so happy. I'm going to buy a brand new computer this afternoon and it's very, very cheap.
Finn: What a bargain, Li! Where are you going to buy it? Can I go with you?
Li: I'm going to meet a friend of my neighbour's cousin. He's selling it.
Finn: Do you know this man, Li?
Li: No, but he sounded very nice on the phone. He's nice but a bit clumsy.
Finn: Alright. Why?
Li: He told me the computer fell off the back of his lorry but it works perfectly.
Finn: It fell off the back of a lorry?!
Li: Yes. But it came in a very strong box and he said it was in perfect condition.
Finn: Li, the computer didn't actually fall off anywhere. It was taken.
Li: What do you mean?!
Finn: In English, when you say something 'fell off the back of a lorry', or if you say something is 'off the back of a lorry', what you mean is that it was received in suspicious circumstances情況. It was probably stolen.
Li: Stolen?!
Finn: Yes. In the US and Australia they say 'fell off the back of a truck', but it means the same thing. It's a humorous way of describing stolen property.
Li: Oh. It's a crime! There's nothing humorous about that.
Finn: 'Off the back of a lorry' is today's expression in The English We Speak. Let's hear some examples of how it's used.
Finn: What a bargain, Li! Where are you going to buy it? Can I go with you?
Li: I'm going to meet a friend of my neighbour's cousin. He's selling it.
Finn: Do you know this man, Li?
Li: No, but he sounded very nice on the phone. He's nice but a bit clumsy.
Finn: Alright. Why?
Li: He told me the computer fell off the back of his lorry but it works perfectly.
Finn: It fell off the back of a lorry?!
Li: Yes. But it came in a very strong box and he said it was in perfect condition.
Finn: Li, the computer didn't actually fall off anywhere. It was taken.
Li: What do you mean?!
Finn: In English, when you say something 'fell off the back of a lorry', or if you say something is 'off the back of a lorry', what you mean is that it was received in suspicious circumstances情況. It was probably stolen.
Li: Stolen?!
Finn: Yes. In the US and Australia they say 'fell off the back of a truck', but it means the same thing. It's a humorous way of describing stolen property.
Li: Oh. It's a crime! There's nothing humorous about that.
Finn: 'Off the back of a lorry' is today's expression in The English We Speak. Let's hear some examples of how it's used.
Li: Thank you, Finn, for the warning. I'm not going to buy that cheap computer now.
Finn: Well. I'm sorry to have disappointed you. Li, but it's always good to know these unusual expressions in English!
Li: Well, there goes my bargain討價還價. Back to saving money to buy a computer in a real shop.
Finn: Good idea. What is cheap might end up costing much more than you expect.
Li: Indeed. I won't buy stuff off the back of a lorry. Better safe than sorry. Bye.
Finn: Bye.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/theenglishwespeak/2014/04/140429_tews_173_back_of_lorry.shtml
Finn: Well. I'm sorry to have disappointed you. Li, but it's always good to know these unusual expressions in English!
Li: Well, there goes my bargain討價還價. Back to saving money to buy a computer in a real shop.
Finn: Good idea. What is cheap might end up costing much more than you expect.
Li: Indeed. I won't buy stuff off the back of a lorry. Better safe than sorry. Bye.
Finn: Bye.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/theenglishwespeak/2014/04/140429_tews_173_back_of_lorry.shtml
Titanic letter sells for £119,000
Esther Hart sat down with her seven-year-old daughter Eva to write the letter just eight hours or so左右 before the Titanic hit the iceberg. It was for her mother in London. And in it Mrs Hart wrote that they were enjoying what she called "the wonderful journey".
She said they were likely to arrive in New York early because of the speed at which the ship was travelling.
The letter ended up in the coat pocket of her husband Benjamin and only survived because he gave her the coat to keep warm. He died along with more than 1,500 others.
Titanic memorabilia continues to be big business. A menu on the day of the disaster was recently sold for £76,000 whilst a violin小提琴, played as the ship sank, went for £900,000.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2014/04/140428_witn_titanic_letter.shtml
She said they were likely to arrive in New York early because of the speed at which the ship was travelling.
The letter ended up in the coat pocket of her husband Benjamin and only survived because he gave her the coat to keep warm. He died along with more than 1,500 others.
Titanic memorabilia continues to be big business. A menu on the day of the disaster was recently sold for £76,000 whilst a violin小提琴, played as the ship sank, went for £900,000.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2014/04/140428_witn_titanic_letter.shtml
27.4.14
Wrong 'un
(Sounds of tapping on a laptop)
Finn: Hello and welcome to The English We Speak. I'm Finn.
Li: And I'm Li. Oh, he looks nice.
Finn: Yes. We're on Li's computer, on an online dating site. She's looking for a date - a hot guy.
Li: Shhh... don't tell everyone. Well, actually, I don't really just want a date - I'm hoping to meet Mr Right.
Finn: Ooh, Mr Right - the person who is perfect for you - the one you want to spend the rest of your life with!
Li: Yes... ooh. Finn, he looks lovely. He's got two MAs, a PhD, an enormous salary, a huge house in the country and, and... cute hair!
Finn: Li, actually, sorry to say this, but I think he looks like a wrong 'un!
Li: A what?
Finn: A wrong 'un. That means a bad person, someone you can't trust. It's a slang way of saying 'a wrong one'. We use it with 'a' - a wrong 'un. Like that. A wrong 'un.
Li: Ahh, I thought he could be Mr Right, and you think he's a wrong 'un?
Finn: Yes, someone you can't trust. Sorry, I just think he sounds too good to be true - I think he's making it up. Maybe he's lying. He's a wrong 'un. Listen to these examples.
Li: You know what, Finn? I've had enough of looking online for a man.
Finn: Yes, well, I know, OK. But I'm sure you'll find someone special.
Li: How about you, Finn? Have you found Miss Right?
Finn: Oh, well Li, you know, that's kind of personal. No need to talk about that in the programme.
Li: Oh Finn, that's not fair!
Finn: No, no, not just now.
Li: Come on just, oh please!
Finn: No, no. That's the end of the programme. Please visit bbclearningenglish.com for more. Bye!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/theenglishwespeak/2014/04/140422_tews_172_wrong_un.shtml
15.4.14
UN: World must end 'dirty' fuel use
The authors acknowledge that a transition from fossil fuels石化燃料 to renewable energy is easier to recommend than to achieve. Many countries are locked into鎖定 using fuels like coal煤.
Here in Germany coal provides提供 nearly half the electricity. But because greenhouse gases溫室氣體 are building up in the atmosphere so rapidly迅速, the conclusion結論 is that it's better to make the change sooner rather than later. Professor Jim Skea at Imperial College is a leading figure on the panel.
"The message is that we need to start from 2020 onwards起. If you wait as long as 2030 to put in place measures, it is going to start to get difficult. Emissions排放量 have risen more quickly in the last ten years than they have at any point in the past, and if we carry on in進行中 that kind of way till 2030, then you will be faced with these difficult choices. We need to move much more quickly than that."
One surprise is a low estimate for the cost of phasing out淘汰 fossil fuels and boosting促進 wind and solar power. The panel says that less than one tenth of 1% will be shaved off annual global growth. However, this figure rests on a host of一系列 assumptions假設, and for the moment, renewable energy still needs subsidies補貼, which raises questions about public acceptance.
The panel does believe its options are feasible and it hopes they'll be implemented in the coming years.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2014/04/140414_witn_climate_change.shtml
On the tip of my tongue
Helen: Hello and welcome to The English We Speak. I'm Helen and with me is Rob. Hi Rob
Rob: Hi Helen. How was your weekend?
Helen: Good thanks, I didn't do much, just relaxed. How was yours?
Rob: Interesting. I bumped into Bob…
Helen: Bob? Oh the guy we used to work with.
Rob: Yes, that's him. Well, I had a good chat with him. You know all he talked about was computers and how he could never get a girlfriend… well guess what?
Helen: He's now head of IT?
Rob: No!
Helen: He's won the lottery and is a millionaire?
Rob: No Helen. He's getting married!
Helen: Oh that's good news. Is he marrying anyone we know?
Rob: Yes. That's the thing – it's someone we know really well.
Helen: Who's that?
Rob: Hmm… erm… I can't remember her name… it's on the tip of my tongue.
Helen: The tip of your tongue? That's a strange place – well ok, stick your tongue out.
Rob: (with his tongue out) Why do I need to do this Helen?
Helen: You said it was 'on the tip of your tongue'.
Rob: No Helen. I mean I know her name but I can't quite remember it right now.
Helen: Why didn't you say! But Rob, will you remember the information soon?
Rob: Yes I will. It really is just on the tip of my tongue. Let's hear some examples and her name might come back to me.
Rob: Hi Helen. How was your weekend?
Helen: Good thanks, I didn't do much, just relaxed. How was yours?
Rob: Interesting. I bumped into Bob…
Helen: Bob? Oh the guy we used to work with.
Rob: Yes, that's him. Well, I had a good chat with him. You know all he talked about was computers and how he could never get a girlfriend… well guess what?
Helen: He's now head of IT?
Rob: No!
Helen: He's won the lottery and is a millionaire?
Rob: No Helen. He's getting married!
Helen: Oh that's good news. Is he marrying anyone we know?
Rob: Yes. That's the thing – it's someone we know really well.
Helen: Who's that?
Rob: Hmm… erm… I can't remember her name… it's on the tip of my tongue.
Helen: The tip of your tongue? That's a strange place – well ok, stick your tongue out.
Rob: (with his tongue out) Why do I need to do this Helen?
Helen: You said it was 'on the tip of your tongue'.
Rob: No Helen. I mean I know her name but I can't quite remember it right now.
Helen: Why didn't you say! But Rob, will you remember the information soon?
Rob: Yes I will. It really is just on the tip of my tongue. Let's hear some examples and her name might come back to me.
Helen: So if something is on 'the tip of your tongue', it means there is some information you can't quite remember, but hopefully will soon. So Rob, is the name of the woman that Bob is marrying, still on the tip of your tongue?
Rob: No. I remember it now – her name is Alison.
Helen: Alison – from accounts? That's great news.
Rob: It is and Bob says we're invited to the wedding.
Helen: Brilliant. I love a good wedding – when is it?
Rob: Oh, erm… errr…
Helen: Don't tell me. It's on the tip of your tongue.
Rob: It is… sorry. I'll remember soon.
Helen: I hope you do.
Both: Bye.
Rob: No. I remember it now – her name is Alison.
Helen: Alison – from accounts? That's great news.
Rob: It is and Bob says we're invited to the wedding.
Helen: Brilliant. I love a good wedding – when is it?
Rob: Oh, erm… errr…
Helen: Don't tell me. It's on the tip of your tongue.
Rob: It is… sorry. I'll remember soon.
Helen: I hope you do.
Both: Bye.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/theenglishwespeak/2014/04/140408_tews_170_on_the_tip_of_my_tongue.shtml
Pie in the sky
Li: I'm so happy you invited me to come to the woods to do some bird-watching with you, Finn.
Finn: I'm glad you came along, Li. It's a very British hobby. We love nature and the different species of birds. That one, for example, is a swallow.
Li: Oh. Pass me the binoculars雙眼望遠鏡 please.
Finn: Can you see how beautiful it is?
Li: Oh, I can see it clearly. It's tiny. It must be a young one. It's good that the mayor has promised to preserve these woods, Finn.
Finn: I wish they would stop building shopping centres everywhere. But preserving all these areas is pie in the sky, Li.
Li: Pie in the sky? Where? These binoculars are good but I can't see any pie!
Finn: No, there is no actual pie up there, Li. In English, we use the expression 'pie in the sky' to talk about something good that we would like to happen but which is unlikely to.
Li: So you think the idea of preserving these woods is good but they might end up building a shopping centre here.
Finn: Exactly. Unfortunately, I think these businesses are too powerful.
Li: Let's not lose hope, Finn.
Finn: Well, 'pie in the sky' is the expression in this edition of The English We Speak. Now let's hear some examples of how it is used.
Li: Well, I must admit that the idea of pie has made me hungry.
Finn: Yeah, I'm hungry too. Let's go back to town and find a place where they serve tasty pies.
Li: Yes! I love cherry pie! Bye bye little birdies!
Finn: Yum yum. Bye.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/theenglishwespeak/2014/04/140415_tews_171_pie_in_the_sky.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/theenglishwespeak/2014/04/140415_tews_171_pie_in_the_sky.shtml
6.1.14
Crystal clear
Li: Welcome to The English We Speak, I'm Li and with me is Rob. Hi Rob.
Rob: Hello Li.
Li: So Rob, thanks for offering to help me build my new wardrobe衣櫃. It's come in a hundred pieces and I don't know where to begin.
Rob: No problem Li, I'm happy to lend a hand. I'm great at building furniture!
Li: Good because the instructions seem to be so confusing. This bit here… doesn't fit… here.
Rob: Let's have a look. Give it to me. Let's have a look at these instructions. Yes, simple, it's crystal clear!
Li: Crystal clear? The instructions are crystal clear? Rob, my wardrobe may look fancy but there are no crystals in it.
Rob: I know that. I just mean the instructions are obvious – they are simple and clear to understand. If we say something is crystal clear we simply mean it is absolutely clear. Is that clear?
Li: It is. You mean it's easy to understand. I suppose, literally it means as clear as a crystal?
Rob: Exactly. Let's hear some examples of this idiom in action:
Rob: Hello Li.
Li: So Rob, thanks for offering to help me build my new wardrobe衣櫃. It's come in a hundred pieces and I don't know where to begin.
Rob: No problem Li, I'm happy to lend a hand. I'm great at building furniture!
Li: Good because the instructions seem to be so confusing. This bit here… doesn't fit… here.
Rob: Let's have a look. Give it to me. Let's have a look at these instructions. Yes, simple, it's crystal clear!
Li: Crystal clear? The instructions are crystal clear? Rob, my wardrobe may look fancy but there are no crystals in it.
Rob: I know that. I just mean the instructions are obvious – they are simple and clear to understand. If we say something is crystal clear we simply mean it is absolutely clear. Is that clear?
Li: It is. You mean it's easy to understand. I suppose, literally it means as clear as a crystal?
Rob: Exactly. Let's hear some examples of this idiom in action:
Li: So in those examples, crystal clear was used to mean extremely clear or easy to understand. But Rob, what I can't understand is why you find these instructions crystal clear and I can't?
Rob: That's easy – you had them upside down顛倒.
Li: Silly me!
Rob: But if you just put that piece of wood in there… and put a screw螺絲 in there… and hook the doors onto there… your wardrobe will be complete. Is that clear?
Li: Crystal clear!
Rob: Good. But as I'm here now, I'll finish it for you. (Noises of Rob building wardrobe) There you go… what do you think?
Li: (Tapping the wood) Yes, it seems quite solid… oh no…
(Wardrobe collapse)
Li: Oh dear. Now I know what is really crystal clear.
Rob: Oh yes, what's that?
Li: I will never ask for you to help me build a wardrobe again. Is that clear?
Rob: Crystal!
Both: Bye.
Rob: That's easy – you had them upside down顛倒.
Li: Silly me!
Rob: But if you just put that piece of wood in there… and put a screw螺絲 in there… and hook the doors onto there… your wardrobe will be complete. Is that clear?
Li: Crystal clear!
Rob: Good. But as I'm here now, I'll finish it for you. (Noises of Rob building wardrobe) There you go… what do you think?
Li: (Tapping the wood) Yes, it seems quite solid… oh no…
(Wardrobe collapse)
Li: Oh dear. Now I know what is really crystal clear.
Rob: Oh yes, what's that?
Li: I will never ask for you to help me build a wardrobe again. Is that clear?
Rob: Crystal!
Both: Bye.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/theenglishwespeak/2013/12/131224_tews_155_crystal_clear.shtml
To have a word
Finn: Welcome to The English We Speak, I'm Finn and I'm waiting here in the studio for Feifei, who is late - again. I'm really getting fed up厭煩 with her. I think I'll need to speak to her about this.
Feifei:(Door closing) Hi Finn, sorry I'm late. You know how I love crosswords? Well, I was just doing one, and I forgot the time…
Finn: We need to have a word, Feifei.
Feifei: We need LOTS of words, Finn.
Finn: What?
Feifei: To complete a crossword successfully, we need lots of words.
Finn: No, I'm not talking about your crossword, Feifei. I'm talking about your lateness遲到. When I say 'we need to have a word', I mean we need a short, serious discussion about this sensitive topic.
Feifei: Oh, I see. You're upset that I'm late, so you asked me for a word.
Finn: That's right. Here are some examples
Feifei: OK, Finn. I understand. I'll make an effort工夫 to be on time from now on.
Finn: It's always better to have a word than just get angry.
Feifei: Yes, you're right.
Finn: Good. Shall we get on with the programme, then?
Feifei: Well, actually Finn, I would like to have a word from you too.
Finn: A word with you. The expression is a word with you.
Feifei: No, no – I want a word from you, Finn. You see clue 6 in the crossword is so tricky!
Finn: Feifei, I don't want to do your crossword!
Feifei: Oh just this one clue! It's an animal with… five letters. What could it be? A horse? No…
Finn: Look, Feifei. I'm going to need to have another word with you! We need to record the programme!
Feifei: Donkey? No that's six letters…
Finn: Feifei, come on!
Feifei: Maybe it's a whale?
Finn: Stop it!
Feifei: Giraffe? No.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/theenglishwespeak/2013/12/131231_tews_156_to_have_a_word.shtml
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