from BBC Learning English. I'm Rob...

從BBC學習英語。我是Rob...

Feifei: And hello, I'm Feifei.

飛飛你好，我是飛飛。

We're here to teach you a real English phrase.

我們來教你一句真正的英語。

Rob, if you don't mind me saying, you look a bit... rough.

羅布，如果你不介意我說，你看起來有點... ...粗糙。

Rob: Rough? Well you would be, if you'd had

粗糙？好吧，你會是，如果你有

the night I've just had.

我剛剛度過的那個夜晚

Feifei: Oh yes? What happened?

飛飛。哦，是嗎？發生了什麼事？

Rob: Well, I went out for dinner with Neil,

羅伯：嗯，我和尼爾出去吃飯了。

then we went to the pub and then I lost my wallet

然後我們去了酒吧，然後我失去了我的錢包。

and... to cut a long story short...

而且... 長話短說...

I got home at two o'clock this morning.

我今天凌晨兩點才到家。

Feifei: Oh dear. But why 'cut the long story short'?

飛飛。哦，天哪但為什麼要'長話短說'呢？

I want to hear the whole story.

我想聽聽整個故事。

Rob: No, you don't - it would take too long

不，你不需要--這需要太長時間。

and we haven't got time - and anyway,

我們沒有時間 - 而且無論如何。

it's not that interesting -

沒那麼有趣

that's why I'm just telling you the most important

所以我只告訴你最重要的一點

parts of the story.

部分的故事。

Feifei: Right, so 'to cut a long story short'

飛飛。對，所以說長話短說

means to tell only the main or important parts

意思是說，只講重點或重要的部分

of a story - not all the details.

的故事--而不是所有的細節。

Hmm, that's a shame Rob because I'm sure you had lots

嗯，這是一個恥辱羅布，因為我敢肯定，你有很多。

more to tell me.

更多的告訴我。

Rob: Really? Well we've got to keep this programme

真的嗎？好吧，我們已經得到了保持這個節目

short so shall we move on and hear some examples

時間很短，所以我們要繼續聽一些例子。

of this phrase in action...

這句話的行動...

Examples: So I spoke to the boss and to cut a long story

的例子。我跟老闆說了，說來話長

short, I'm getting a promotion!

簡而言之，我升職了!

There was a technical problem with our plane

我們的飛機出現了技術問題

which they couldn't fix so to cut a long story

他們無法解決，所以長話短說。

short, we had to wait for another flight

時間短，我們不得不等待另一個班機

and we arrived a day late.

而我們卻晚到了一天。

I met Geeta last year and to cut a long story short,

我去年認識了吉塔，長話短說。

we getting married tomorrow!

我們明天就要結婚了！

Feifei: So 'to cut - or make - a long story

飛飛：所以 "剪不斷--理還亂"。

short' means to tell only the important parts

短 "是指只講重點

about something that has happened

事端

and leaving out all the details.

而忽略了所有的細節。

So Rob, you're telling me

所以，羅布，你告訴我

you went out with Neil, lost your wallet

你和Neil出去，丟了錢包。

and got home very very late?

很晚才回家？

Rob: Yes, that's about it. Not very exciting, is it?

羅伯：是的，就是這樣。不是很刺激，是嗎？

But the details are boring - that's why my long story

但細節很無聊--這就是為什麼我的長篇小說。

is short. Why do keep asking?

是短。為什麼一直問？

Feifei: Well actually Rob, it sounds like

飛飛：嗯，其實羅布，聽起來就像

you're telling a tall story a tall story -

你在說一個高大的故事 一個高大的故事 -

a story or fact that is difficult to believe.

難以相信的故事或事實；

Rob: Oh really, why do you say that?

搶：哦，真的，你為什麼這麼說？

Feifei: Well I spoke to Neil this morning

飛飛：嗯，我今天早上跟尼爾說過了

and he said you didn't go for dinner last night.

他說你昨晚沒有去吃飯。

You went straight to the pub,

你直接去了酒吧。

then another and another pub.

然後另一個和另一個酒吧。

And you left your wallet there so you had no money

你把錢包留在那裡，所以你沒有錢

to get home and had to walk.

要回家，只好步行。

Rob: Ah well... that's the long story.

羅布：啊，好吧......那就說來話長了。

Did you really want all the details?

你真的想知道所有的細節嗎？

Feifei: Oh yes. Never cut a long story short

飛飛。哦，是的。千萬不要長話短說

if it's a good one!

如果是個好東西

Rob: If you say so Feifei. Bye.

羅布：如果你這麼說，飛飛。拜拜。

Feifei: Bye.

飛飛：再見。