The english we speak(BBC教學)第275期:To fall at the first hurdle 倒在第一關

Feifei's hoping to set up her own business making and selling cakes but Rob is doubtful it will be successful. He uses an athletic metaphor that means she will fail at the start. Listen in to find out if the metaphor comes true!

菲菲想創業，製作並銷售蛋糕，但是羅布懷疑這個生意能否成功。他用了一個和體育有關的比喻告訴菲菲她一開始就會失敗。請收聽本期節目，看看羅布的比喻是否會成爲事實！

Feifei: Hello and welcome to The English We Speak, I'm Feifei...

菲菲：大家好，歡迎收聽地道英語節目，我是菲菲。

Rob: ... and hello I'm Rob. So what's this I hear about your new business idea Feifei?

羅布：我是羅布。菲菲，我聽說你要創業，這是怎麼回事？

Feifei: Yes, I'm going to make and sell cakes.

菲菲：對，我要製作並出售蛋糕。

Rob: Cake. Hmm, are you sure Feifei?

羅布：蛋糕。嗯，菲菲，你確定嗎？

Feifei: Yes I'm sure. Look I've already made this batch of muffins.

菲菲：我確定。你看，這些鬆餅就是我做的。

Rob: Err, are they supposed to be black? Cooking isn't really your speciality is it, Feifei?

羅布：額。。。本來就是黑色的嗎？烹飪並不是你的長項，是吧？

Feifei: Cooking isn't my speciality! Rob, just you watch, I'm going to be a millionaire selling my homemade cakes.

菲菲：我不擅長烹飪！羅布，你就等着瞧吧，我會通過賣自制蛋糕成爲百萬富翁的。

Rob: I'm sorry to say Feifei but I think you're going to fall at the first hurdle.

羅布：菲菲，我爲剛纔的話道歉，不過我認爲你會倒在第一關。

Feifei: Don't be stupid Rob, I'm not going to be jumping any hurdles — we're not talking about sport — just cooking.

菲菲：羅布，別傻了，我不會跨任何跨欄，我們說的不是體育運動，而是烹飪。

Rob: No Feifei — I mean you're going to fail right at the start of what you're trying to do.

羅布：不是，菲菲，我的意思是你在開始嘗試時就會失敗。

Feifei: Thanks Rob! So you think by cooking these 'black' muffins means I have already failed?

菲菲：謝謝你，羅布！所以你認爲我做出了這些“黑色”的鬆餅，說明我已經失敗了？

Rob: Well they are burnt. Let's hear some examples of other people who have fallen at the first hurdle....

羅布：嗯，這些鬆餅烤焦了。我們來聽些例句，看看其他一開始就失敗的人……

Examples

例句

Plans to construct a new motorway will fall at the first hurdle if they can't buy the farmland to build it on.

如果他們買不到建設工程要佔用的農田，那建設高速公路的計劃一開始就會失敗。

His dream of marrying Julie fell at the first hurdle when he discovered she was already married.

當他發現朱莉已經結婚時，他和朱莉結婚的夢想在開始時就失敗了。

Feifei: 'To fall at the first hurdle' means to fail near the beginning of something. Ah but Rob, why don't you actually taste one of these muffins before you call me a failure?

菲菲：To fall at the first hurdle這個短語的意思是在剛開始時就失敗了。可是羅布，在你說我失敗之前，你爲什麼不先嚐一下這些鬆餅呢？

Rob: OK here goes. Mmm, actually, not bad Feifei. They're not burnt...

羅布：哦，好吧。嗯，菲菲，其實不太壞。這些鬆餅並沒有烤焦……

Feifei: ... no, it's actually a layer of crunchy toffee. I can cook Rob!

菲菲：對，這其實是一層脆太妃糖。羅布，我可以烹飪的！

Rob: OK, I'm sorry for doubting you… but you're going to have to sell lots of muffins if you want to be a millionaire.

羅布：好吧，抱歉我質疑了你的烹飪水平，不過如果你要成爲百萬富翁，你得賣出很多鬆餅才行。

Feifei: I know. Perhaps I'll just sell these ones first and see how I get on.

菲菲：我知道。也許我應該先把這些賣掉，看看情況如何。

Rob: Good idea. Just make sure you don't fall at the final hurdle!

羅布：好主意。確保你不會在最後失敗！

Feifei: You mean fail near the end of what I'm trying to do?

菲菲：你是說在事情的最後一步失敗？

Rob: Exactly.

羅布：沒錯。

Feifei: I won't — as long as you don't keep eating my cakes. Hands off!

菲菲：只要你不要一直吃我的蛋糕，我是不會失敗的。把手拿開！

Rob: Sorry! Bye!

羅布：抱歉！再見！

Feifei: Bye!

菲菲：再見！

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重點講解：
1. be supposed to do sth. （按計劃或期望）應當，應該，須；
例句：You're supposed to have finished the work by now.
這工作你現在應該己經完成了。
2. get on 取得進展；有起色；
例句：When he came back to see me I asked how he had got on.
他回來看我的時候，我問他進展如何。
3. make sure 一定要；設法保證；
例句：Make sure that nothing is left out of account.
一定要把一切情況都考慮到。
4. as long as 只要；
例句：As long as you're happy, that's all that matters.
只要你幸福，這就是最重要的事情。