The english we speak(BBC教学)第349期:Donkey's years 很长时间

Why has Rob got a donkey in the studio?! It's probably got something with today's authentic English phrase which is about not doing something for a long time. How long will it take for Feifei to work out what it means?

为什么罗布要带驴来演播室？！这可能与今天要讲的地道英语短语有关，这个短语表示很长时间没有做某事。菲菲需要多长时间能了解这个短语的意思？

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

菲菲：大家好，欢迎收听地道英语节目。我是菲菲。

Rob: And I'm... Rob.

罗布：我是……罗布。

Feifei: Errr... sorry Rob. What did you say?

菲菲：呃……抱歉，罗布。你刚说什么？

Rob: I said, I'm... Rob.

罗布：我说，我是……罗布。

Feifei: Right, and why have you brought a donkey into the studio?

菲菲：好吧，你为什么要带头驴来演播室？

Rob: To help with today's authentic English phrase – which is... donkey's years.

罗布：为了帮助大家学习今天的地道英语短语——donkey's years。

Feifei: So is this about age and how I look like a donkey?

菲菲：这个短语是与年龄有关吗？我看起来像驴吗？

Rob: Not exactly Feifei. The phrase comes from rhyming slang – donkey's years rhymes with donkey's ears, yes?

罗布：不是的，菲菲。这个短语来自同韵俚语，donkey's years和donkey's ears押韵，对吧？

Feifei: Yes. 'Donkey's years' does rhyme with 'donkey's ears' – so you're saying my ears are like a donkey's?

菲菲：对，donkey's years的确和donkey's ears押韵，所以你的意思是说我的耳朵像驴耳朵？

Rob: No. Unlike your ears, donkey's ears are long and when we say we haven't done something for 'donkey's years' we mean we haven't done something for a long time.

罗布：不是。和你的耳朵不一样，驴耳朵非常长，当我们说“很长时间”没有做某事的意思是，我们很久没有做过这件事了。

Feifei: Right. Good, so it's got nothing do with me looking like a donkey?

菲菲：好。很好，所以不是说我长得像驴？

Rob: Absolutely not. Let's hear the phrase in action...

罗布：当然不是了。我们来听一下这个短语如何应用。

Examples

例句

I'm so bored; I've been doing this job for donkey's years!

我太无聊了，这个工作我已经做了很长时间了！

I haven't driven a car for donkey's years; I hope I can remember what to do.

我已经很久没有开过车了；希望我还记得应该怎么做。

We've got to go to Lily's party; I haven't seen her for donkey's years so it'll be great to catch up.

我们要去参加莉莉的派对；我有很多年没有见过她了，所以叙叙旧还是很不错的。

Feifei: That's 'donkey's years' – when we haven't done something for donkey's years, we haven't done it for a very long time. So Rob, I could say we haven't been to the cinema for donkey's years?

菲菲：所以这个短语的意思是，我们很长时间不做某事，也就是我们很久都没有做过这件事了。罗布，我可以说我们很久没去过电影院了吗？

Rob: Yes and you'd be correct. We haven't. Shall we go now?

罗布：可以，你说得对。我们很久没去过了。我们现在去吧？

Feifei: OK. But does your donkey have to come too?

菲菲：好。不过你的驴也要和我们一起去吗？

Rob: Oh look, he's very excited!

罗布：哦，快看，它现在非常兴奋！

Feifei: Yuk! I can see... What's that on the floor?

菲菲：哈哈！我看到了……地板上那是什么？

Rob: Ooooh yes! Perhaps we'll leave him shall we, clear that up later. Perhaps he could present some more programmes while we're away.

罗布：哦，是的！也许我们应该把它留在这里，一会儿再来清理。也许我们不在的时候，它可以多做几期节目。

Feifei: Ha – that is donkey work! Bye.

菲菲：哈哈，那可是单调又乏味的工作！再见。

Rob: Bye.

罗布：再见。

译文属仅供学习交流使用，未经许可请勿转载

重点讲解：
1. come from 来自；始于；
例句：Correct ideas come from social practice.
正确的思想来自社会实践。
2. donkey's years 很久；多年；
例句：I've been a vegetarian for donkey's years.
多年以来我一直是个素食者。
3. catch up 了解近况；叙旧；
例句：The ladies spent some time catching up on each other's health and families.
女士们花了点时间叙旧，聊了聊彼此的健康和家庭状况。
4. clear up 整理；收拾；
例句：After breakfast they played while I cleared up.
早饭后，他们玩耍，我收拾餐具。