The english we speak(BBC教學)第307期:It takes two to tango 一個巴掌拍不響

Neil's doing a partner dance on his own in the studio to help you Learn English. Learn an expression which means two people need to accept the blame for a bad situation.

尼爾自己在演播室裏跳雙人舞，他這樣做是爲了幫助大家學習英語。今天節目要講的表達方式是指兩個人都要因糟糕的情況而接受指責。

Neil: (Tango music playing) Hello and welcome to The English We Speak, I'm Neil and joining me is Feifei...

尼爾：（播放探戈音樂）大家好，歡迎收聽地道英語節目，我是尼爾，今天和我一起主持節目的是菲菲……

Feifei: Hi there. In this programme we've got an expression that means two people are involved in a tricky situation and both must accept blame and responsibility. Neil, what on earth are you doing?

菲菲：大家好。本期節目中，我們會講到一種表達方式，意思是說兩個人都捲入了一件棘手的困境裏，而且這兩個人都必須接受指責並承擔責任。尼爾，你到底在幹什麼？

Neil: Dancing! (Tango music playing)

尼爾：跳舞！（探戈音樂在播放）

Feifei: Yes, I can see that but... on your own. You look pretty ridiculous if you don't mind my saying.

菲菲：嗯，我能看出來，可是……你是自己在跳舞。如果你不介意我這麼說的話，你看上去真是太可笑了。

Neil: Well, Feifei, that's because it takes two to tango!

尼爾：菲菲，那是因爲探戈舞需要兩個人來跳！

Feifei: Yes it does take two to tango — and that is our expression for this programme.

菲菲：對，探戈舞確實需要兩個人來跳，這也是我們這期節目要學的表達方式。

Neil: But the meaning's not as simple as you might think. Let's listen to some examples and then explain a little more.

尼爾：但是這個短語的意思並不是像你想的那麼簡單。我們先來聽幾個例句，然後再解釋。

Examples

例句

The ref should have sent both players off. I know Smith kicked Cooper but it takes two to tango.

裁判應該把兩名球員都罰下場。我知道史密斯踢了庫珀，但是一個巴掌拍不響。

Everyone blames Charlie for their break up but Lizzy was just as bad. It takes two to tango.

對於他們的分手，每個人都在責備查理，但是莉茲也一樣糟糕。一個巴掌拍不響。

They should arrest the dodgy agent as well as the manager. After all it takes two to tango.

他們不僅應該逮捕狡猾的代理商，還應該逮捕經理。畢竟一個巴掌拍不響。

This is BBC Learning .

這裏是BBC英語教學頻道。

Neil: So, as you can see, 'It takes two to tango' is used to talk about bad or difficult situations.

尼爾：如你所見，It takes two to tango這個短語用於談論糟糕的局面或是困境。

Feifei: Yes, it's used to say that two people — not just one — are responsible for that bad situation.

菲菲：對，用來表示兩個人都要爲糟糕的局面負責，而不是隻指責一個人。

Neil: (Tango music playing) So, Feifei, won't you join me for this dance?

尼爾：（探戈音樂播放中）菲菲，你要不要和我一起跳舞？

Feifei: You're not exactly a great dancer, Neil. Though, I have to admit, I'm pretty terrible too.

菲菲：尼爾，你舞跳得並不好。不過，我得承認，我跳得也很糟糕。

Neil: Who cares?! It takes two to tango!

尼爾：誰在乎這個？！跳探戈舞需要兩個人！

Feifei: Argh! You stepped on my toes!

菲菲：啊！你踩到我的腳趾了！

Neil: Sorry!

尼爾：抱歉！

Both: Bye!

二人一起：再見！

譯文屬僅供學習交流使用，未經許可請勿轉載

重點講解：
1. be involved in 捲入的；參與的；與…有密切關聯的；
例句：We are not involved in the Proclamation.
我們並沒有參與決議討論。
2. on earth （用於以how, why, what 或 where 開始的問句，表示強調，通常表示問題沒有答案或很難回答）究竟，到底；
例句：What on earth have you done to your hair?
你怎麼把頭髮弄成這個樣子?
3. on one's own 單獨地；獨自地；
例句：She wasn't any the less happy for being on her own.
她並不因獨自一人而稍有不悅。
4. send off 將(足球運動員)罰下場；
例句：The 30-year-old Scottish international was sent off for arguing with a linesman.
這位 30 歲的蘇格蘭國腳因和邊裁爭執而被罰下場。
5. break up （戀人）分手；（夫妻）結束關係；
例句：The only advice I can give you is to break up with James.
我能給你的唯一忠告就是，和詹姆士分手。
6. be responsible for 負有責任的；應承擔責任的；
例句：John is responsible for the building of the bridge.
約翰負責修建這座橋。