Jo: Hello, I'm Jo and you're listening to Real English from BBC Learning English. With me today is Lily, hello.
Lily: Hello Jo. 是的,两分钟的地道英语节目,短小精悍,常听常练,你能积累很多书本上见不到的英式新词汇。 Jo,今天的新词是什么?
Jo: Well today's Real English word is palaver1 P.A.L.A.V.E.R. palaver.
Lily: Palaver. 听上去像个名词,的意思是呢 Jo?
Jo: Well if something is a palaver, it means there is an unnecessary fuss2 or bother about the way something is done.
Lily: I see. Palaver 意思就是,非必须的繁琐和麻烦。
Jo: So for example, say I'd just bought a new MP3 player, but it was really difficult to work out how to use it and how to put my music on it, that would be a palaver.
Lily: 这太典型了,买了一个新的 MP3 播放器,可是操作太复杂,说明太啰嗦,这个时候,你就 可以说,its a palaver. Let's listen to some more examples.
Examples
A: Oh I can't believe the whole family are coming to dinner I'll have to buy lots of food, drink and decide what dishes to cook. It's going to be really stressful.
B: For 14 people I can imagine! What a palaver!
A: Have you applied3 for that new job yet?
B: I'm trying but it's a real palaver. I have to fill in about five forms, and write an essay, and I have about two days left!
Lily: 好了,让大家复习一下今天的新词 palaver,意思就是麻烦或繁琐。假如大伙期望知道更多新词汇 请随时上网。大家的网址是 www.bbcchina.com.cn. 谢谢收听,下次节目再会。
Jo: Bye!