Name: 利用Podcast學英文 — 馬修·麥康納 (Matthew McConaughey) 與蜜雪兒·歐巴馬 (Michelle Obama)！ (Learn English with PODCASTS — Matthew McConaughey and Michelle Obama)
Uploaded: 2026-02-02T17:11:55.000Z
Duration: 22 min 4 s

現在進行式

So in today's lesson with podcast conversations, we're going to be learning from two well known voices with very different life stories but some powerful life lessons in common.

所以今天的 Podcast 對話課程，我們要從兩位背景截然不同但有著強大人生課題的知名聲音學習。

First up, we have Oscar winning actor Matthew McConaughey, known for his roles in Interstellar, Dallas Buyers Club and True Detective.

首先登場的是 Oscar 獎項得主演員 Matthew McConaughey，他以 Interstellar、Dallas Buyers Club 和 True Detective 等作品聞名。

He shares a simple but strong piece of advice he once got from his father and how it shaped his career.

他分享了他父親給他的一個簡單卻有力的建議，以及這如何塑造了他的事業。

Then we'll hear from former US First Lady Michelle Obama.

接著我們會聽到美國前第一夫人 Michelle Obama 的分享。

In the conversation with Jay Shetty, she opens up about friendship, change and learning how to let go with grace.

在與 Jay Shetty 的對話中，她敞開心扉談論友誼、改變以及如何優雅地放下。

Both clips are rich in advanced English vocabulary and today we're going to learn more than 25 expressions that you can use in everyday conversation.

這兩段影片都充滿了進階英語詞彙，今天我們要學習超過 25 個可以在日常對話中使用的表達方式。

Now our goal today will be to fully understand these clips so you can watch them at the end without any subtitles.

現在，我們今天的目標是完全理解這些影片，這樣你最後就能在沒有字幕的情況下觀看它們。

And this will help you understand natives when you hear them speaking fast in other podcasts and movies and TV series too.

這將有助於你在其他 Podcast、電影和電視影集中，當聽到母語人士快速說話時，也能理解他們。

And by the way, let me tell you that the best way for you to experience this lesson is on our own app where you can practice all the new vocabulary you learn.

順帶一提，告訴你體驗這堂課的最佳方式，就是使用我們的 app，你可以在上面練習所有學到的新單字。

We've discovered with the thousands of learners that we've helped over the years that this is the most effective way to remember words forever and include them in your own speech so you actually become more fluent with every new lesson you get from us.

我們發現，透過我們多年來幫助過的數千名學習者，這是永遠記住單字並將它們融入自己說話中最有效的方式，這樣你每從我們這裡學到一個新課程，就會變得更流利。

So just click the link in the description below using your phone and we'll continue watching from there.

所以，請用你的手機點擊下方說明裡的連結，我們從那裡繼續觀看。

現在，我們來播放第一個片段。

「don't half asset」對你來說是什麼意思？

If you can't do it, don't say you can do it.

如果你做不到，就別說你能做到。

Don't over leverage a decision and then jump in and kind of do dip a toe.

不要過度承諾一個決定，然後就跳進去、試探一下。

No, think if you're going to try it out beforehand, but

不，事先想清楚你要不要試，但

when it's time to go dive, finish it, find out, come out the other side, don't leave it and go, oh, if I just would.

到了要投入的時候，就把它完成，弄清楚，走出另一邊，不要留著然後說，哦，如果我當時就好了。

I think it keeps a lot of us up at night.

When you half ass something, you just don't know whether you failed or succeeded, got what you want or didn't get what you want.

當你敷衍了事時，你根本不知道自己是失敗了還是成功了，有沒有得到你想要的，或者沒有得到你想要的。

Finding out and looking and in the mirror and going, I didn't half asset.

弄清楚，看看鏡子，然後說，我沒有敷衍了事。

Or I found out and you damn right that is for me.

或者我弄清楚了，而且你該死地發現這正適合我。

But the limbo of not knowing if you half ass something.

但那種不知道自己有沒有敷衍了事的懸而未決的狀態。

那種懸而未決的狀態，覺得自己留了一手。

Just so we understand the context of their conversation, when Matthew was in college at the University of Texas, he was on track to go to law school, a serious, respected career path that his family supported.

為了讓大家瞭解他們對話的背景，馬修在德州大學唸書時，原本是要去讀法律系，那是一條他家人支持的、受人尊敬的嚴肅職業道路。

But something inside him was pulling in a different direction.

但他內心深處有股力量，把他往另一個方向拉。

He finally built up the courage to call his father and explain that he wanted to change his plans.

他終於鼓起勇氣打電話給他爸爸，解釋說他想改變計畫。

instead his father paused and gave him one simple sentence, a line that stuck with him for life.

反而他爸爸停頓了一下，給了他一句簡單的話，這句話讓他一生難忘。

所以我們就從這句主要片語開始。

「別半吊子」對你來說是什麼意思？

To half ass something means to do it with low effort.

半吊子做事的意思是，用很低的努力去完成。

Don't check your work and just hope it'll be good enough.

不檢查你的成果，只希望它夠好。

Now, be careful when you use this expression, as it may sound a bit rude, like an insult, but

現在，使用這個片語時要小心，因為它聽起來可能會有點粗魯，像是一種侮辱，但是

I half assed my presentation and it showed.

我半吊子地做了我的簡報，結果很明顯。

Now check out this other example where this expression is used as an adjective.

現在，看看這個片語被當作形容詞使用的另一個例子。

If you practice half assed, you will play half assed.

如果你半吊子地練習，你就會半吊子地演奏。

兩週後我們還有波士頓學院的比賽。

And I would like not to get blown out in our own stadium.

我希望我們在自己的主場不會被慘電。

So anyway, when Matthew's dad told him to follow his dream in don't half ass it, that wasn't just approval, it was a challenge.

所以總之，當 Matthew 的爸爸告訴他要追逐夢想時，不要半吊子，那不只是認可，而是一個挑戰。

If you're gonna do this, then don't hold back.

如果你要做這件事，那就不要保留。

It became a principle that Matthew carried with him ever since in acting, in writing, and in life.

這句話成了 Matthew 從此以後在演戲、寫作和生活中一直秉持的原則。

Say what you can do, do what you say you can't do it.

說你能做什麼，然後做你說你做不到的事。

Don't over leverage a decision and then jump in and kind of dip a toe.

不要過度承諾一個決定，然後就一頭栽進去，試探一下。

To over leverage yourself means to promise more that you can actually do.

過度承諾自己，就是答應比你實際能做到的更多。

Think of it like borrowing too much money from a bank.

想像一下，就像從銀行借了太多錢一樣。

So if you over leverage, you might not be able to pay it back.

所以如果你過度承諾，你可能就還不出來。

And when you dip a toe, you're testing something very carefully, like when you put your toe in water to see if it's too cold before going in.

而且當你試探時，你是在非常小心地測試某樣東西，就像把腳趾伸進水裡，看看水會不會太冷再決定要不要下去一樣。

And by the way, the opposite expression would be exactly what he said to dive in.

順帶一提，反義的說法就是他剛才說的「一頭栽進去」。

This kind of figurative language about water is very common in English in these contexts of making decisions.

這種關於水的比喻說法，在英文裡用來描述做決定時非常常見。

He also said to try it out, which is similar to de pateau.

他也說了「試試看」，這跟「試探」有點像。

It's to test something and give it a chance to see if you'll like it.

意思就是去測試某樣東西，給它一個機會看看你喜不喜歡。

I think I made a little mistake and I see a change in you and I really like it.

我覺得我犯了個小錯，我看到你有些改變，而且我真的很喜歡。

So let's get back together just to try it out, you know?

所以我們再聚在一起試試看，你知道嗎？

Anyway, so McConaughey says that's not good if you've already committed.

總之，McConaughey 說，如果你已經承諾了，那樣不好。

Now, think if you're going to try it out beforehand, but when it's time to go, dive.

現在，想想你事先會不會試試看，但到了時候，就衝吧。

Beforehand means before, as in before something happens.

事先的意思是「之前」，就像在某件事發生之前。

He's saying, do your thinking and testing before you make the decision, not after.

他的意思是，在你做決定之前，先做好你的思考和測試，而不是之後。

Don't leave it and go, oh, if I just would.

別留下遺憾，說「早知道我就...」。

When something keeps you up at night, it means it worries you so much that you can't sleep.

當某件事讓你夜不成眠時，表示它讓你非常擔心，讓你睡不著。

For example, the job interview tomorrow is keeping me up at night.

舉例來說，明天的面試讓我夜不成眠。

Finding out and looking in the mirror and going, I didn't have haccid.

找出答案，然後看看鏡子，發現自己沒有留下遺憾。

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利用Podcast學英文 — 馬修·麥康納 (Matthew McConaughey) 與蜜雪兒·歐巴馬 (Michelle Obama)！ (Learn English with PODCASTS — Matthew McConaughey and Michelle Obama)

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