The english we speak(BBC教學)第296期:Off the hook 脫身

When Neil arrives in the studio to present the programme, Feifei is already there. She's not in a very good mood and keeps repeating the same thing. What's wrong with Feifei? Listen to the programme to find out.

尼爾到演播室主持節目時，菲菲已經到了。她看起來心情不太好，而且一直在重複同一句話。菲菲怎麼了？請收聽本期節目並找出答案。

Neil: Hello, Feifei. Already here, I see, to present The English We Speak.

尼爾：你好，菲菲。你已經在這裏準備主持地道英語節目了。

Feifei: Actually, I haven't left the studio for a while, Neil. I need to go and eat something. Could you let me off the hook please?

菲菲：實際上我已經有一段時間沒有離開演播室了。尼爾，我要去吃點東西。你能放過我嗎？

Neil: Come on, Feifei, you have to present the programme with me. And today's expression is...

尼爾：等等，菲菲，你要和我一起主持節目。今天要學習的表達方式是……

Feifei: I need to go to the toilet. Could you let me off the hook?

菲菲：我要去衛生間。你能幫我脫身嗎？

Neil: In English, to let someone off the hook means to free them from an obligation. You want to be let off the hook, don't you? You don't want to present the programme today.

尼爾：在英語中，let someone off這個短語的意思是讓某人免除義務。你想免除義務，是嗎？你不想主持今天的節目。

Feifei: It can also mean to release someone from a difficult situation. I do need you to let me off the hook.

菲菲：還可以指把讓某人脫離困難的局面。我需要你幫我脫離困境。

Neil: Let's hear some examples of how the expression 'to let someone off the hook' is used.

尼爾：我們來聽些例句，看看這個短語如何應用。

Examples

例句

I haven't studied much but my teacher let me off the hook today. She's decided to postpone the test as long as I hit the books this week.

我沒怎麼學習，不過今天老師放過了我。她決定推遲考試，前提是我這周用功看書。

The team's supporters didn't let them off the hook. They booed the players off the pitch after they were beaten four-nil.

該球隊的支持者並沒有放過他們。在球隊以0比4輸掉比賽後，球迷在場外向球員喝倒彩。

Neil: That's it then Feifei. You're off the hook now.

尼爾：就是這樣，菲菲。你現在可以脫身了。

Feifei: No, I'm not.

菲菲：不，我不能。

Neil: Why not?

尼爾：爲什麼？

Feifei: My woollen jumper is caught on this hook on the wall just behind me and if I move I'll ruin it. Could you...

菲菲：我的毛衣被我後面牆上的鉤子鉤住了，如果我動一下的話，毛衣就毀了。你能……

Neil: Yeah! Why didn't you say? Let me help you.

尼爾：可以！你剛纔怎麼不說？我來幫你。

(Neil moves to release Feifei's jumper.)

（尼爾過去把菲菲的毛衣從鉤子上弄下來）

Feifei: Oh be careful. I don't want it ripped!

菲菲：哦，小心一點。我不想把毛衣撕壞！

Neil: I am being careful here... ah... yep, there you go now you're free. You're off the hook in every sense!

尼爾：我已經很小心了，好了，現在你自由了，你可以走了。從各種意義上來說，你都自由了！

Feifei: Thanks, Neil.

菲菲：謝謝，尼爾。

Neil: Bye!

尼爾：再見！

Feifei: Bye!

菲菲：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. let sb. off the hook 脫離困境；脫身；
例句：he teacher let him off the hook with a warning this time.
這一次老師放過他，只給了一個警告。
2. as long as 只要；
例句：Things will work out as long as you are patient.
只要你有耐心，事情早晚會解決的。
3. hit the books 用功讀書；
例句：I'll succeed if I hit the books every day.
如果我每天都用功讀書，我會成功的。