The english we speak(BBC教學)第257期:A bitter pill to swallow 難以下嚥的苦果

Helen's not happy about a decision that's been made and Rob tries to offer some sympathy with a strange idiom that involves swallowing something that doesn't taste very nice. Find out what he means in the programme.

海倫對一個決定感到不滿，羅布試圖用一個涉及吞嚥某些味道不好的東西的奇怪習語表達同情。請收聽本期節目，理解羅布的意思。

Feifei: Hello and welcome to The English We Speak. I'm Feifei and joining me today is Rob.

菲菲：大家好，歡迎收聽地道英語節目。我是菲菲，今天和我一起主持節目的是羅布。

Rob: Hi everyone... errr, Feifei are you OK? You don't sound as cheerful as normal.

羅布：大家好……額，菲菲，你還好嗎？你的聲音聽起來不像平常那麼愉快。

Feifei: I feel terrible today — I've got a headache, feel really tired.. I think I'm developing flu. I'm going to take these paracetamol tablets.

菲菲：我今天感覺很糟糕，我頭疼，感覺非常累。我想我患流感了。我要吃些對乙酰氨基酚片。

Rob: Hold on Feifei. Are you sure you're getting flu? This hasn't got anything to do with that job promotion you didn't get?

羅布：等一下，菲菲。你確定你是要感冒嗎？和你沒能晉升沒有關係？

Feifei: Of course not.. well maybe a little.

菲菲：當然沒有關係了……可能有一點兒關係吧。

Rob: Hmm, I know you wanted that promotion so much but Daisy got it instead didn't she?

羅布：嗯，我知道你非常想獲得晉升，不過升遷的是黛西，對吧？

Feifei: Exactly — and I've been work.ng here much longer than her and I have loads more experience. It's so unfair!

菲菲：沒錯，我在公司工作的時間比她長，我的經驗更多。這太不公平了！

Rob: I know... it's a bitter pill to swallow.

羅布：我知道……這是難以下嚥的苦果。

Feifei: Thanks for the advice but even if these tablets — or pills — are bitter, they'll make me feel better — now can you show me some more sympathy about my promotion please?

菲菲：謝謝你的建議，不過雖然這些藥片很苦，但是它們能讓我感覺好些，現在請你對我沒有晉升表達下同情，好嗎？

Rob: I was Feifei! When I said 'it's a bitter pill to swallow' I really meant it's a situation that is unpleasant and difficult to accept.

羅布：我有啊，菲菲！我剛纔說it's a bitter pill to swallow的意思就是說這是很難接受的情況。

Feifei: OK, I see! You're saying I'm finding Daisy's promotion hard to accept?

菲菲：好，我明白了！你是說我覺得戴西的晉升很難接受？

Rob: It's tough Feifei but that's the way things are. Let's hear some more examples of this phrase in action..

羅布：菲菲，是很難，不過現實就是這樣。我們來聽些例句，看看這個短語如何應用。

Examples

例句

When John found out about his wife's affair with his best friend, it was a bitter pill to swallow.

約翰發現他的妻子和他最好的朋友有染，這真是難以下嚥的苦果。

It was a bitter pill to swallow knowing that my older sister finished the race quicker than me.

知道我姐姐比我更快完成比賽，真是令人難以接受。

My friend has booked the same flights as me for half the price — it's a bitter pill to swallow!

我朋友以一半的價格定了和我一樣的航班，這真讓人難以接受！

Feifei: So 'a bitter pill to swallow' means I don't like what's happened but I will have to accept it? Hmm, I like the phrase but it doesn't make me feel any better.

菲菲：所以這個短語的意思是我不喜歡所發生的事情，但是我也要接受？嗯，我喜歡這個短語，不過這並不能讓我好過些。

Rob: You'll just have to swallow the decision Feifei! Daisy is going to be your boss now.

羅布：菲菲，你必須要接受這個決定！戴西將成爲你的上司。

Feifei: Oh dear.. I think my flu might be getting worse now.. I'm definitely going to take these paracetamol now.. Yuk, that really was bitter!

菲菲：哦，天哪……我想我的流感可能嚴重了……我一定得吃些對乙酰氨基酚片。這藥片太苦了！

Rob: I think two tablets are enough for now Feifei. Maybe you should take tomorrow off work.

羅布：菲菲，我想你現在吃兩片藥就行了。也許你明天應該休假。

Feifei: What a great idea Rob. See you later.

菲菲：羅布，這真是個好主意。再見。

Rob: Bye!

羅布：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 happy about （對情況或安排）滿意的，放心的；
例句：I'mquitehappy aboutit.
我對此相當滿意。
2. hold on 稍等；等一下；
例句：Tell him tohold ona moment; I'll come soon.
告訴他等一等，我一會兒就來。
3. even if 即使；儘管；縱然；
例句：Don't utter hard wordseven ifyou feel angry.
即使是生氣也不要罵人。
4. find out （尤指特意通過努力）發現，找出，查明；
例句：We shallfind outthe truth early or late.
我們遲早會查明事實真相。
5. be going to do sth. 將要，即將（發生）；
例句：Theyare going tomove to a new house next week.
下星期他們將遷入新居。