are back with a new album after 40 years.

時隔40年，他們帶著新專輯回來了。

I'm Neil and this is News Review from BBC Learning English.

我是尼爾，這裡是BBC學習英語的新聞評論。

Joining me today is Roy. Hello Roy.

今天加入我的行列的是羅伊。你好，羅伊。

Hello Neil and hello everybody.

尼爾你好，大家好。

If you would like to test yourself on vocabulary around this story,

如果你想測試一下自己圍繞這個故事的詞彙量。

all you need to do is head to our website

你需要做的就是前往我們的網站

bbclearningenglish.com for a quiz.

bbclearningenglish.com進行測驗。

But now, let's hear more about this story from this BBC News report:

但現在，讓我們從這篇BBC新聞報道中聽到更多關於這個故事的資訊。

Abba are back. Now, every music fan on the planet

阿巴樂隊回來了。現在，地球上的每一個樂迷

dreams of their favourite band making a comeback

夢想著自己喜歡的樂隊能夠捲土重來

and, for Abba fans, that dream has become a reality.

而對於阿巴迷來說，這個夢想已經成為現實。

Abba have announced that they're working on a new album

阿巴樂隊宣佈他們正在製作一張新專輯

and also going on a new digital tour,

並且還將進行一次新的數字巡迴演出。

where the artists will be replaced by avatars

在那裡，藝術家們將被頭像所取代

that some people are calling 'Abba-tars'.

有些人稱之為 "阿巴-塔斯"。

'Abba-tars' – what a fantastic pun, Roy!

阿巴-塔斯"--多麼奇妙的雙關語啊，羅伊!

OK. You've been looking at this story around the various news websites.

好的。你已經在各個新聞網站上看了這個故事。

You've picked out some really useful vocabulary. What have you got?

你已經挑出了一些非常有用的詞彙。你得到了什麼？

We have: 'dismal', 'intact' and 'damp squib'.

我們有。悽慘"、"完好 "和 "潮溼"。

'Dismal', 'intact' and 'damp squib'.

糟糕的"、"完好的 "和 "潮溼的"。

Let's start then with your first headline please, Roy.

那麼我們就從你的第一個標題開始吧，羅伊。

OK. Our first headline comes from here in the UK,

好的。我們的第一個頭條新聞來自英國這裡。

from the Herald, and it reads:

來自《先驅報》的報道，內容如下。

'Dismal' – sad, hopeless.

'悽慘'--悲傷，無望。

Yes. So, this word is an adjective

是的，所以，這個詞是一個形容詞

and it is spelt D-I-S-M-A-L.

而且它的拼寫是D-I-S-M-A-L。

And, as you said, it means sad and hopeless.

而且，正如你所說，它意味著悲傷和無望。

One thing to notice about this word is that pronunciation of the 's':

關於這個詞，需要注意的一點是，"s "的發音。

it's a 'z' sound. We say 'dismal'. 'Dismal'.

這是一個'z'音。我們說'悽慘'。'悽慘'。

That's... that's right: 'dizz-' – 'dismal'.

那是......那是正確的："dizz-"-"dismal"。

And so, you've already said it means sad, hopeless.

所以，你已經說過它意味著悲傷、無望。

So, why do we need this other word 'dismal'.

那麼，為什麼我們需要這另一個詞'淒涼'。

What's the difference between 'dismal' and sad and hopeless?

淒涼 "與悲傷和無望之間有什麼區別？

Well, we don't use 'dismal'

好吧，我們不使用'悽慘'。

to say that something is bad or a little bit bad.

說某件事情不好或有一點不好。

We used 'dismal' to say that something is really bad.

我們用'悽慘'來表示事情真的很糟糕。

It is absolutely terrible. That's why we have 'dismal'.

這絕對是可怕的。這就是為什麼我們有'悽慘'。

Yeah. As you say, we don't describe something

是的。正如你所說的，我們不描述一些東西

which is a bit disappointing as 'dismal'.

這有點讓人失望，因為'悽慘'。

When something is absolutely awful, we say it's 'dismal'.

當某件事情絕對糟糕時，我們說它是 "慘淡"。

So, somebody doesn't like this Abba comeback!

所以，有人不喜歡這個阿巴的復出!

Yeah. It's a very, very strong negative word.

是的，這是一個非常、非常強烈的負面詞彙。

Yeah. What kind of words go with it?

是的。什麼樣的詞來搭配？

Yes. Quite commonly, we hear it with failure – a 'dismal failure'

是的。我們通常聽到的是失敗--"令人沮喪的失敗"。

or a 'dismal performance'.

或 "糟糕的表現"。

And it's also quite commonly used in business English.

而且它在商務英語中也相當常用。

We say something like a 'dismal picture', a 'dismal forecast',

我們說類似 "令人沮喪的畫面"，"令人沮喪的預測"。

'dismal news' or a 'dismal outlook',

'令人沮喪的消息'或'令人沮喪的前景'。

for example, if the company isn't doing very well.

例如，如果公司的業績不是很好。

Yeah, OK. And often with these words we look at in News Review,

是的，好的。而且經常與我們在《新聞評論》中看的這些話。

there's various forms: you know, there's a noun, there's a verb version.

有各種形式：你知道，有一個名詞，有一個動詞版本。

In this case, really, it's just the adjective and also an adverb.

在這種情況下，真的，它只是形容詞，也是一個副詞。

So, we said, for example: 'My team was dismal – they lost.'

是以，我們說，例如：'我的球隊很慘淡--他們輸了。

We could say: 'They played dismally.'

我們可以說："他們打得很糟糕。

Yeah. Or it was a 'dismal performance'.

是的。或者說，這是一個'令人沮喪的表現'。

And one thing I'll say as well about this word is we quite often in...

關於這個詞，我還想說一件事，就是我們經常在...

in English, we use it to exaggerate something.

在英語中，我們用它來誇大一些東西。

So, when we're saying something is bad,

所以，當我們在說某件事情是壞的時候。

maybe we want to, like, really exaggerate that

也許我們想，像，真的很誇張的說

to say how much it... it was terrible for our experience.

說它有多......它對我們的經驗來說是可怕的。

So, we say something is 'dismal', like: 'The party was dismal!'

所以，我們說某件事情是'悽慘的'，比如。'這個聚會太糟糕了！'

Or: 'The food was dismal.' Or: 'The weather is dismal.'

或：'食物令人沮喪。或者：'天氣很淒涼'。

And it's a way to really exaggerate,

而且這也是一種真正誇張的方式。

so it's quite commonly used in spoken English as well.

所以它在英語口語中也是很常用的。

Yeah, or for emphasising just how bad something is, someone might say:

是的，或者為了強調某件事情有多麼糟糕，有人會說。

'Oh, that party was rubbish.' 'Rubbish?? It was dismal!'

'哦，那個聚會太垃圾了。'垃圾？那是令人沮喪的！'

Yes!

是的!

OK. Well, we hope this explanation hasn't been 'dismal'.

好的。好吧，我們希望這個解釋沒有 "令人沮喪"。

Let's get a summary:

讓我們來做個總結。

If you like stories about music, we have the perfect one for you

如果你喜歡關於音樂的故事，我們為你準備了完美的故事

about sad music and why people like it.

關於悲傷的音樂和人們為什麼喜歡它。

Where can our viewers find that Roy?

我們的觀眾在哪裡可以找到那個羅伊？

All you need to do is click the link in the description below.

你所需要做的就是點擊下面描述中的鏈接。

OK. Let's take a look at your next headline.

好的。讓我們看一下你的下一個標題。

OK. So, our next headline comes from the UK,

好的。那麼，我們的下一個頭條新聞來自英國。

from the New Statesman, and it reads:

來自《新政治家》的文章，內容如下。

'Intact' – complete; in the original condition.

完整的"--完整的；處於原始狀態。

So, yes. So, this word is spelt: I-N-T-A-C-T.

所以，是的。所以，這個詞的拼寫是：I-N-T-A-C-T。

And it means that it is complete and in its original condition.

而且這意味著它是完整的，處於原始狀態。

This word is obviously more positive than that original headline.

這個詞顯然比原來那個標題更積極。

Now, the other day, Neil, I gave you a present.

現在，有一天，尼爾，我給了你一份禮物。

I gave you a really nice present and I thought you'd like it.

我給了你一個非常好的禮物，我想你會喜歡它。

I gave you a jigsaw puzzle, where you put all those pieces in, but you...

我給你一個拼圖，你把所有這些碎片放進去，但你...

you weren't happy, were you?

你並不開心，是嗎？

I wasn't, Roy, even though it was nice to get such a, sort of,

我沒有，羅伊，儘管能得到這樣的，算是不錯了。

old-fashioned analogue type of toy – game.

老式的模擬類型的玩具--遊戲。

I wasn't happy because there was a piece missing.

我並不高興，因為少了一塊。

OK. So, it wasn't 'intact', but it was still a good puzzle.

好的。是以，它不是 "完整的"，但它仍然是一個很好的謎題。

OK. So, there's that meaning there:

好的。所以，那裡有這個意思。

when you said there was a piece missing,

當你說少了一塊的時候。

we can say that something is not 'intact'.

我們可以說，有些東西不是'完整的'。

Or if it is 'intact', it is complete.

或者說，如果它是 "完整的"，它就是完整的。

Now, another way that we use this word

現在，我們使用這個詞的另一種方式是

is to say that something is undamaged.

是說某物未受損害。

So, for example, you buy a package or a parcel,

是以，舉例來說，你買了一個包或一個包裹。

and it arrives and everything is complete and it's undamaged.

和它到達，一切都很完整，沒有損壞。

And you can say, 'The package arrived intact.'

而你可以說，'包裹完好無損地到達了'。

Yeah. And it's what you expect, isn't it?

是的。這也是你所期望的，不是嗎？

When a package arrives, you expect it to be intact.

當一個包裹到達時，你希望它是完整的。

Yes. Yeah, you do. We... we also use it as well for buildings.

是的，是的，你做的。我們......我們也把它用於建築物。

So, maybe there's a really bad storm

所以，也許有一個非常糟糕的風暴

and some buildings have become damaged,

和一些建築物已被損壞。

but there's one building that was 'intact'. It's undamaged.

但有一棟建築是'完整的'。它沒有被損壞。

That's right, yeah – not affected by the... by the storm or whatever.

沒錯，是的--沒有受到......受到風暴或其他什麼的影響。

And we also talk about... use it to talk about

而且我們還談論......用它來談論

things that affect people.

影響人們的事情。

Yes, we do. So, for example,

是的，我們有。是以，舉例來說。

if there's some kind of scandal or negative news report –

如果有某種醜聞或負面新聞報道 --

maybe it could potentially damage a person's reputation, but if they...

也許這有可能損害一個人的聲譽，但如果他們...

if they move past that situation with their reputation still OK,

如果他們能在聲譽尚可的情況下度過這一關。

then we say: 'Their reputation remains intact.'

然後我們說：'他們的聲譽保持不變。

Or: 'It remained intact.'

或者說："它仍然是完整的。

Yeah and the same could be said about somebody's health.

是的，同樣也可以說是關於某人的健康。

For example, you could say:

例如，你可以說。

'Despite many years of smoking, his health was intact.'

'儘管多年來一直在吸菸，但他的健康狀況卻完好無損。

It means undamaged. Yes... Absolutely.

它的意思是未受損害。是的...絕對的。

OK. Shall we get a summary?

好的。我們要不要做個總結？

We've been talking about reputations and we have an expression

我們一直在討論聲譽問題，我們有一個表達方式

from William Shakespeare using the word 'reputation'.

來自威廉-莎士比亞，使用 "聲譽 "一詞。

What do our viewers need to do, Roy?

我們的觀眾需要做什麼，羅伊？

All you need to do is click the link in the description below.

你所需要做的就是點擊下面描述中的鏈接。

OK. Let's have a look now at our next headline.

好的。現在讓我們來看看我們的下一個標題。

OK. Our next headline comes from the UK, from the Telegraph, and it reads:

好的。我們的下一個標題來自英國，來自《電訊報》，內容如下。

'Damp squib' – something less impressive than expected.

潮溼的東西"--比預期的印象要差。

Yeah. So, this is a very British expression and it's two words.

是的。所以，這是一個非常英式的表達，是兩個詞。

The first word is 'damp' – D-A-M-P.

第一個詞是 "damp" - D-A-M-P。

The second word is 'squib', spelt: S-Q-U-I-B.

第二個詞是'squib'，拼寫為。S-Q-U-I-B。

Very important – that 'b' there.

非常重要--那裡的'b'。

And what it means – it describes something.

而它的意思是--它描述了一些東西。

It's a noun – a noun phrase – and it describes something that is...

它是一個名詞--一個名詞短語--並且它描述的是...

It's... it's less than it was expected.

這......這比預期的要少。

So, you had high expectations and it didn't reach those expectations.

所以，你有很高的期望，但它沒有達到這些期望。

Yeah. Now, this is a bit of a strange expression

是的。現在，這是個有點奇怪的表達方式

because most people will understand

因為大多數人都會理解

the first part 'damp', meaning slightly wet,

第一部分 "潮溼"，意思是略微潮溼。

and we can see how that can be... have a, sort of, negative meaning.

我們可以看到這怎麼會......有某種負面的意義。

But 'squib' – what is a 'squib', Roy?

但 "squib"--什麼是 "squib"，羅伊？

In the past, a 'squib' was used to refer to a small firework.

在過去，"squib "被用來指代小型煙花。

So, this is going to give an idea. So, you're right.

所以，這要給一個想法。所以，你是對的。

That 'damp' word, which is obviously still in use – it means wet.

那個'潮溼'的詞，顯然還在使用--它意味著潮溼。

And the firework – if a wet firework...

而煙花--如果是溼的煙花......

if a firework is wet, it doesn't really... it doesn't really work.

如果煙花是溼的，它並不真的......它並不真的工作。

Fireworks are best when they're dry.

煙花在乾燥的時候是最好的。

So, this is what many people believe is the origin of this expression –

是以，這就是許多人認為這一表達方式的起源--

just a wet firework that didn't... didn't go off.

只是一個溼的煙花，沒有... 沒有爆炸。

Yeah. And as we know, fireworks are exciting.

是的。正如我們所知，煙花是令人興奮的。

There's some expectation around how they're going to make you feel.

圍繞著他們將如何讓你感到，有一些期望。

You're going to be excited and full of joy.

你將會很興奮，充滿喜悅。

If it's 'damp', that excitement is gone

如果它是 "潮溼的"，這種興奮就會消失。

and that's the key to this meaning.

而這是這一意義的關鍵所在。

It is. So... and we use it quite commonly, as I say,

它是。所以......而且我們相當普遍地使用它，如我所說。

in British English, informally, to say something is a disappointment.

在英國英語中，非正式地，說某事是令人失望的。

So, maybe you go to a restaurant and the food isn't very good,

所以，也許你去了一家餐館，食物不是很好。

and you say: 'Oh, that restaurant was a bit of a damp squib.'

而你說：'哦，那家餐廳有點潮溼。

Or a party – a terrible, terrible party.

或者是一個聚會--一個可怕的、可怕的聚會。

Can you think of an example of a 'damp squib'?

你能想出一個 "溼疣 "的例子嗎？

Well, Roy. I know.... you know, I don't want to upset you here

好吧，羅伊。我知道.... 你知道，我不想在這裡讓你難過

because I know you organised it,

因為我知道你組織了它。

but last year's Learning English Christmas party.

但去年的學習英語聖誕聚會。

Well, the Christmas party's usually quite good fun,

好吧，聖誕聚會通常是相當有趣的。

but this year – or last year – because we couldn't get together

但今年--或去年--因為我們不能聚在一起

because of Covid, we had to do it virtually.

由於Covid的原因，我們不得不以虛擬方式進行。

And I'm afraid to say it was a 'damp squib', Roy.

而我恐怕要說，這是一個 "溼漉漉的小東西"，羅伊。

Yeah... yeah, I agree. It was a...

是的...是的，我同意。這是個...

it was a bit of a let down – not as good as expectations,

這有點讓人失望--沒有預期的那麼好。

but we've made the best of a bad situation.

但我們已經在一個糟糕的情況下做到了最好。

But you can say: 'Yeah, it was a bit of a damp squib,'

但你可以說：'是的，這是個有點潮溼的地方，' 。

because the year before everybody was together

因為前一年大家都在一起

and hopefully, again – I have another opportunity this year,

並希望再次--今年我還有機會。

so hopefully my reputation this time will remain 'intact'.

所以希望我這次的聲譽能保持 "完整"。

Ah, nice use of a word from that previous headline.

啊，很好地利用了之前那個標題中的一個詞。

One other thing to point out about this expression 'damp squib':

關於 "潮溼的壁球 "這一表述，還有一件事需要指出。

a lot of people get confused

很多人都會感到困惑

because the word 'squib' is not used in modern English very often,

因為 "squib "這個詞在現代英語中不經常使用。

and they think it's 'squid'.

而他們認為這是 "烏賊"。

What's a 'squid', Roy?

什麼是 "魷魚"，羅伊？

OK. So, yeah, this is absolutely true.

好的。所以，是的，這絕對是真的。

Both native speakers of English and non-native speakers

以英語為母語的人和非母語的人都是如此

regularly get this wrong: they say 'damp squid'.

經常弄錯：他們說'潮溼的魷魚'。

A 'squid' is an animal that lives under the water

魷魚 "是一種生活在水底的動物

and it's kind of like an octopus.

而且它有點像章魚。

And it makes sense, because a 'squid' would be damp,

這也是有道理的，因為 "烏賊 "會是潮溼的。

but that's not the expression. We say, 'damp squib' with a 'b'.

但這不是一種表達方式。我們說，"潮溼的壁球"，有一個 "b"。

OK. Let's get a summary:

好的。讓我們來做個總結。

And time now for a recap of the vocabulary please, Roy.

現在是回顧詞彙的時候了，請羅伊。

Yes. We had 'dismal' – sad; hopeless.

是的。我們有'dismal'--悲傷；無望。

'Intact' – complete; in the original condition.

完整的"--完整的；處於原始狀態。

And we had 'damp squib' – something less impressive than expected.

我們有 "潮溼的壓艙物"--比預期的要少的東西。

If you want to test yourself on the vocabulary,

如果你想測試一下自己的詞彙量。

go to bbclearningenglish.com. There is a quiz there.

去bbclearningenglish.com。那裡有一個小測驗。

Thanks for joining us and see you next time. Goodbye.

謝謝你加入我們，下次見。再見。

Bye.

再見。