The english we speak(BBC教學)第326期:A different kettle of fish 截然不同的事
There's a funny smell in the studio — what can it be? Rob has brought in something to illustrate today's authentic English phrase — which Feifei puts to good use when she insults Rob's cooking!
演播室裡有股奇怪的味道,那是什麼味道?羅布帶來了可以解釋今天地道英語短語的東西,菲菲在指責羅布的烹飪時很好地利用了這個短語!Feifei: Hello, I'm Feifei and it's time again for The English We Speak and with me is Rob...
菲菲:大家好,我是菲菲,又到了地道英語節目的時間了,今天和我一起主持節目的是羅布。Rob: Hello everyone!
羅布:大家好!
Feifei: Rob, what is that awful smell of fish?
菲菲:羅布,這股難聞的魚味是怎麼回事?Rob: Ah, you mean these smoked kippers that I got here?
羅布:啊,你是說我帶來的這些煙燻鯡魚吧?Feifei: Smoked kippers? Why have you got smoked kippers in the studio?
菲菲:煙燻鯡魚?你為什麼要把煙燻鯡魚帶到演播室來?Rob: To illustrate today's phrase. And this long pan is a kettle. It's not the thing you boil water in.
羅布:為了解釋今天的短語。這個長長的平底鍋是一個煮魚鍋。這可不是你用來燒水的東西。Feifei: Oh right. So what is the fish-related phrase then?
菲菲:哦好。那這個和魚有關的短語是什麼呢?Rob: The phrase is a different kettle of fish — we say it to mean a situation or subject that is being discussed is completely different from the one you are talking about.
羅布:這個短語就是“截然不同的事”,這個短語的意思是正在討論的一種情況或是一個主題同你所說的完全不同。Feifei: A strange phrase indeed. So we could say writing English is a very different kettle of fish from speaking it?
菲菲:真是一個奇怪的短語。那我們可以說寫英語和說英語是截然不同的嗎?Rob: Yes, we can — it means it's a different thing — let's hear some more examples...
羅布:對,可以,這個短語的意思就是不一樣的事情,我們來聽幾個例子。Examples
例句I loved the first film but the sequel was a different kettle of fish.
我喜歡第一部電影,可續集就是另一碼事了。Heating a ready meal in the microwave is one thing but preparing a freshly cooked meal is a different kettle of fish.
用微波爐加熱速食是一回事,而準備一頓新鮮烹製的飯菜則是另一回事。Camping on the beach would be amazing but camping in the rain would be a different kettle of fish!
在海灘上露營棒極了,但在雨裡露營可就是截然不同的了。Feifei: So, when something is a different kettle of fish it means to be completely different from something that has been talked about. I've got it Rob!
菲菲:所以,某樣東西是截然不同的,就是說和我們談論的其他事是完全不同的。羅布,我明白了!Rob: Good. You can also say to be another kettle of fish. So then Feifei, how about coming round to my house and eating some of this fish?
羅布:好。你也可以用“完全不同”這個表達方式。菲菲,順道來我家品嚐一下這些魚怎麼樣?Feifei: Rob, going to your house is one thing but trying your cooking is a different kettle of fish!
菲菲:羅布,去你家是一回事,但是品嚐你的廚藝可就是另一回事了。Rob: Don't you like fish?
羅布:你不喜歡吃魚嗎?Feifei: Fish is ok — it's your cooking that isn't.
菲菲:魚還好,我是不喜歡你做的魚。Rob: I shall eat alone then! Come on fishy-wishys...
羅布:那我就自己吃了!來吧小魚們……Feifei: Bye-bye.
菲菲:再見。Rob: Bye.
羅布:再見。
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重點講解:
1. a different kettle of fish 完全不同的事物;
例句:Playing for the reserve team is a totally different kettle of fish.
作為替補參加比賽完全是兩碼事。
2. be different from 有差別的;不同的;
例句:His character is very different from his wife's.
他和他妻子的性格迥然不同。
3. how about (用於提出建議或邀請)怎麼樣好嗎;
例句:How about a cup of coffee?
來杯咖啡怎麼樣?
4. come round 拜訪;探訪;
例句:Beryl came round this morning to apologize.
貝麗爾今天上午來登門道歉了。