The english we speak(BBC教学)第343期:No picnic 并非易事

On a warm summer's day, there's nothing better than taking a picnic to the park. But when can a picnic be no picnic? When Rob makes it! Find out what we mean when he serves up an authentic English phrase in this programme.

在温暖的夏日，没有什么事情比去公园野餐更惬意了。但是什么时候野餐并非易事？答案是罗布准备野餐的时候！罗布在本期节目中使用了一个地道英语短语，请收听节目并了解这个短语的意思。

Rob: Hello, I'm Rob...

罗布：大家好，我是罗布。

Feifei: I'm Feifei and this is The English We Speak.

菲菲：我是菲菲，欢迎收听地道英语节目。

Rob: today we're outdoors, in the park, having a picnic.

罗布：今天我们来到了室外，我们要在公园里野餐。

Feifei: Yes, a picnic – it's very nice, thanks for preparing it Rob.

菲菲：对，野餐，非常好，罗布，谢谢你的准备。

Rob: Oh no problem... Well actually, it was a problem...

罗布：哦，不客气。实际上，有个问题。

Feifei: Oh, I thought preparing a picnic would be easy.

菲菲：哦，我以为准备野餐很容易呢。

Rob: No. First I had to find some money to buy some food, then I had to walk to the supermarket because my car isn't work.ng, then I had to prepare the food, then I had to go to work... and then I had to...

罗布：不容易。首先，我要找一些钱来买食物，然后我得走去超市，因为我的车坏了，之后我还要准备食物，然后我还得上班……我还要……

Feifei: Oh I get it, it was an effort.

菲菲：哦，我懂了，这是件费力的事。

Rob: What I'm saying is it was no picnic!

罗布：我的意思是这并非易事！

Feifei: Huh? It is Rob, look, sandwiches, crisps, salad, strawberries...

菲菲：什么？罗布，这是野餐啊，你看，有三明治、薯片、沙拉、草莓……

Rob: That's a picnic but making it was 'no picnic' – I mean there was nothing easy or pleasant about it.

罗布：这的确是野餐，但是准备野餐可“并非易事”，我的意思是准备野餐不是一件容易或者愉快的事。

Feifei: I get it! Let's hear some more examples of situations that are 'no picnic'...

菲菲：我明白了！我们来听有关这个短语的更多例句。

Examples

例句

Having no job and trying to pay the bills is no picnic.

没工作还要付账单可不是一件易事。

It's no picnic going on a camping holiday with the kids – they moan all the time!

和孩子们一起去野营度假可不是一件轻松的事，他们一直在抱怨！

Living on the fifth floor without a lift is no picnic; I have to carry everything up the stairs.

住在五楼还没有电梯可不是件易事；我不得不搬着所有东西爬楼梯。

Feifei: So when you say something is 'no picnic' you mean it's a difficult or unpleasant situation. Well Rob, it may have been difficult to prepare but it was worth the effort – the food is delicious.

菲菲：当你说某事“并非易事”时，你的意思是这是困难又令人不愉快的情况。罗布，准备野餐可能很困难，不过这些努力是值得的，食物非常美味。

Rob: Oh thanks very much.

罗布：哦，非常感谢。

(FX: Thunderstorm begins)

（音效：开始下暴雨）

Feifei: Oh no, rain! I think we'd better take cover. Quick!

菲菲：哦不，下雨了！我想我们最好找个地方避雨。快点！

Rob: Oh dear, it seems that this is literally no picnic.

罗布：哦天哪，看起来这就是字面上的意思，没有野餐了。

Feifei: Come on let's drive home.

菲菲：快点儿，我们开车回家吧。

Rob: We can't. My car's not working remember?

罗布：不行。我的车坏了，你忘了吗？

Feifei: Oh yes. Bye.

菲菲：哦对。再见。

Rob: Bye.

罗布：再见。

译文属仅供学习交流使用，未经许可请勿转载

重点讲解：
1. no picnic 不是件轻松（或愉快）的事；
例句：Emigrating is no picnic.
移民不是件轻松的事。
2. all the time 一直；始终；
例句：I get the two of them mixed up all the time, they're so similar.
我一直把他们俩弄混，他俩太像了。
3. had better do sth. （用于建议、警告、威胁、发表意见等）最好；
例句：It's half past two. I think we had better go home.
现在两点半了。我想我们最好还是回家吧。
4. take cover 躲避(炮火、轰炸或坏天气)；
例句：Shoppers took cover behind cars as police marksmen returned fire.
警方的射击手开火回击时，购物者们躲在汽车后面。