慣用語
T = Tanya G = Gary
T: Where are you going? Come on. Spill the beans.
G:I’m going on a blind date.
T: You’re kidding, right?
G:No, I’m serious. My sister set me up with one of her friends.
T: That’s cool. But let me know if you want me to call you in the middle of your date.
G:What for?
T: It’s easier to make an exit if you get an “important phone call” during dinner.
G:Good idea.
spill the beans
spill [ spɪl ] 指「灑」,bean [ bin ] 則是「豆子」,因此 spill the beans 字面意思為「灑出豆子」。但是豆子和祕密有什麼關聯呢? 據說是因為古希臘一些祕密社團收社員時,會讓舊社員把豆子放進瓶 子進行投票,白豆表示贊成,黑豆表示反對。由於這是祕密投票,開 票前是不會知道結果的,如果無意中打翻瓶子而讓豆子灑了出來,就 等於「洩漏了祕密」,所以 spill the beans 就引申為「洩漏祕密」。這 個俚語現在也可以表示「透露(祕密的)訊息」或「爆料」。
• Sam knew he shouldn’t have spilled the beans, but he just couldn’t help it.
山姆知道他不該洩露祕密,但他就是忍不住。
• Come on and spill the beans! Tell me exactly what happened last night.
拜託爆個料吧!告訴我昨晚發生了什麼事。
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My sister likes to set up blind dates for her single friends.
我老姊喜歡幫她的單身朋友安排相親。
Joyce made a good impression on her blind date.
喬伊絲留給她的相親對象一個好印象。
It was Daniel that set me up with Rita.
安排我和麗塔認識的人是丹尼爾。
Scott fell asleep in the middle of the meeting.
史考特在開會中途睡著了。
The audience made a quick exit after the fire broke out.
火災發生後,觀眾迅速離開現場。
以下補充幾個與 bean 相關的片語:
be full of beans 精力旺盛
• My three-year-old brother is always full of beans.
我三歲的弟弟永遠精力充沛。
be not worth a hill of beans 毫無價值
• Most of the things at the garage sale were not worth a hill of beans.
這場車庫拍賣中大部分的東西都沒什麼價值。
not know beans (about...) (對⋯⋯)一無所知
• Though I don’t know beans about astronomy, I’m interested in star gazing.
雖然我對天文學一無所知,但我對觀看星象很感興趣。
譚雅:你要去哪兒?來吧,透露一下吧。
蓋瑞:我正要去相親。
譚雅:你是開玩笑的,對吧?
蓋瑞:不,我是說真的。我姊姊安排我和她的一個朋友認識。
譚雅:那太棒了。不過,如果需要我在你約會進行時打電話給 你,就跟我說一聲吧。
蓋瑞:為啥啊?
譚雅:晚餐時,如果接到「重要的電話」會比較容易脫身。
蓋瑞:好主意。