Feifei
大家好，這裡是 BBC 英語教學的《地道英語》節目。我是馮菲菲。
Rob
And hello, I’m Rob.
Feifei
Rob, it’s very kind of you to bring me to this cafe and to buy me a milkshake. 我特別喜歡 milkshakes 奶昔。
Rob
Err, did I say I was paying? Anyway, I wanted to talk to you about work…
Feifei
….mmm, strawberry, my favourite.
Rob
Errr, yes, mine too. But back to talking about work – you know we’re moving the desks around…
Feifei
Why do milkshakes taste so good? Oh, look, I’ve finished mine.
Rob
Yes… as I was trying to say, it looks like you’ve got the short straw.
Feifei
Oh, that’s why I’ve drunk my milkshake quicker than you – I had a short straw!
Rob
No, Feifei. Forget the milkshake. If you get the short straw, it means you’re the person in a group who gets the most unpleasant outcome in a situation.
Feifei
表達 “get the short straw” 的意思是在一組人當中，抽中了下下籤，“不得不做最無趣的事情，幹最苦的差事”。And why have I got the short straw?
Rob
Well, I’m afraid they’re moving your desk to just outside the toilet!
Feifei
We’ll see about that! Let’s hear some examples of other people who’ve got the short straw.
Examples
Looks like I’ve got the short straw – I’m doing the late shift while everyone else goes to the pub!
Oh, dear, Tom’s got do the washing up after our dinner party. Ha! Looks like he’s got the short straw.
We were given free tickets to the theatre, but I got the short straw because my seat was right at the back and I couldn’t see a thing!
Feifei
這裡是 BBC 英語教學的《地道英語》節目。我們正在一起學習如何使用地道表達 “get/draw the short straw”，這個表達形容一個人因被選中而不得不幹最困難的、最苦的差事。And Rob, you’re saying I’ve got the short straw in the office reshuffle?
Rob
Yes. That’s why I thought I’d take you for a milkshake as a way of making you feel better about it.
Feifei
You mean as a way of saying sorry more like. I’ve seen the new office plan and you were supposed to sit by the toilet but you changed the name to mine – what a cheek!
Rob
Well…errr… How about if I do pay for your milkshake?
Feifei
Maybe, if you buy me anothermilkshake.
Rob
Oh, OK, then… remind me what flavour?
Feifei
Strawberry – with two long straws.
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