The english we speak(BBC教學)第233期:Red tape 繁文縟節

Rob is annoyed. He has spent hours filling in forms for his small house extension. Can Feifei help him? Listen to the programme to find out.

羅布非常生氣。他花了數個小時的時間填寫小型房屋擴建申請表。菲菲能幫他嗎？請收聽本期節目並找出答案。

Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript.

注：文本與音頻並不完全對應。

Feifei: Hello Rob. You look so busy, what are all these papers?

菲菲：你好，羅布。你看起來很忙，這些紙是什麼？

Rob: Oh, Feifei, I have to get a permit to build an extension to my house. It's a very small bit of building work but I have to fill in all these forms.

羅布：哦，菲菲，我要申請擴建我的房子。雖然是一項小建築工程，但是我要把這些表格都填了。

Feifei: What is this one for?

菲菲：這張是什麼表？

Rob: Well, this one here is for my local council. I need to apply for planning permission. And then they want lots of supporting documents to make sure it fits in with building regulations.

羅布：那張是地方議會要求的表格。我要申請建築許可。他們需要大量證明文件，來確保房子符合建築規範。

Feifei: It sounds exhausting.

菲菲：聽起來很累。

Rob: It is. I hate red tape. If I could cut through this red tape it would be brilliant!

羅布：的確很累。我討厭繁文縟節。我要是能減少這些繁文縟節就太好了！

Feifei: So your problem is red tape? Say no more, Rob! The solution is in my bag! Ah, here they are!

菲菲：你的問題是紅色膠帶嗎？羅布，不用多說了！解決方法就在我的包裏！給你！

Rob: A pair of scissors and blue tape?

羅布：一把剪子和藍色膠帶？

Feifei: Yes. You use the scissors to cut through your red tape and... if you don't like red tape, use blue. I love the colour blue!

菲菲：對。你可以用這把剪子把你的紅色膠帶剪了……如果你不喜歡紅色膠帶，那就剪藍色膠帶吧。我喜歡藍色！

Rob: Thank you, Feifei. You're a good friend. But in English we call the rules and processes required to get official permits — which usually seem to be pointless — 'red tape'.

羅布：謝謝你，菲菲。你真是我的好朋友。不過在英語中，我們稱那些要經過官方許可、但通常不值得這樣做的規範和流程爲red tape。

Feifei: Ah, bureaucracy! So let's hear some examples of how this expression is used.

菲菲：啊，官僚作風！我們來聽些句子，看看這個表達方式如何應用。

Examples

例句

Small firms won't be subject to new regulations under a government plan to cut red tape and boost the economy.

小公司不受政府計劃簡化手續、促進經濟的新規的約束。

Andrea almost gave up studying abroad. The amount of red tape to get a visa was unbelievable!

安德莉亞幾乎要放棄留學了。爲了得到簽證而要經過的手續簡直多得無法想象！

Feifei: I think most people hate bureaucracy, Rob.

菲菲：我認爲大部分人都討厭官僚作風，羅布。

Rob: I'm not surprised. Some people say this expression might come from the 16th century, when bundles of documents were held together with red tape. I hate all these forms!

羅布：我對這點並不感到驚訝。有些人說這個表達方式起源於16世紀，當時文件是用紅色帶子打包成捆的。我討厭這些表格！

Feifei: Well, it's the 21st century now and we still have red tape. Good luck with your red tape, Rob. I'm off to paint the town red!

菲菲：現在已經是21世紀了，我們仍然還有繁文縟節。羅布，希望你能處理好你的繁複手續。我要去狂歡了。

Rob: Oh, no more idioms with red for me today please, Feifei.

羅布：哦，拜託今天不要再跟我說有關紅色的習語了。

Feifei: Bye.

菲菲：再見。

Rob: Good 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. fill in 填，填寫（表格等）；
例句：Please fill in the form enclosed herewith.
請填寫隨函附上之表格。
2. apply for 申請；請求；
例句：I would like to apply for a library card.
我想申請一張借書卡。
3. fit in （在某種情形或體系中）發揮作用，擔當職責；適合；符合；
例句：He knew where I fitted in and what he had to do to get the best out of me.
他知道我適合做什麼，也知道他要怎麼做才能讓我發揮出最佳水平。
4. red tape 繁文縟節；官僚作風；
例句：The little money that was available was tied up in bureaucratic red tape.
能用的那點兒小錢被繁文縟節拖得遙遙無期。
5. be subject to 受…支配的；服從於…的；
例句：The tribunal is unique because Mr Jones is not subject to the normal police discipline code.
因爲瓊斯先生不受一般的治安條例法規約束，所以專門設立了特別法庭。
6. paint the town red (多指夜生活中的)狂歡作樂；
例句：He is going out tonight to paint the town red.
他今天晚上要玩個痛快。