BBC地道英语:Gravy Train 赚钱的清闲差事

Diarmuid: Hi Jean. What's that you're reading?

Jean: Hi Diarmuid. I'm just reading a newspaper report about people who work for the BBC.

Diarmuid: Hey! We work for the BBC. What does the newspaper say about us?

Jean: Well, it says here that people who work for the BBC get paid far too much money.

Diarmuid: Too much money? I don't think my salary is too high.

Jean: Well, look at the headline in the newspaper: (reading) "BBC Stars On The Gravy Train. Huge Salaries for TV Presenters."

Diarmuid: Well, I suppose the top TV presenters do get paid a lot of money.

Jean: But what about this phrase 'on the gravy train'. 我知道 gravy 是英国菜里人们爱吃的一种热的浓肉汁，不过你说的这个 gravy train “肉汁火车”这又是什么意思呢？

Some people think that top presenters are on the gravy train

Diarmuid: Ah yes, the gravy train. That is a strange phrase and it's also our phrase of the day. Gravy train. G.R.A.V.Y and T.R.A.I.N.

Jean: But what does it mean?

Diarmuid: Good question. In English we use the phrase 'on the gravy train' to mean that someone has a very easy job that pays them a lot of money.

Jean: OK, 原来 on the gravy train 就是指那种工作很清闲，收入和外快却很多的工作。

Diarmuid: It's a phrase that has negative connotations.

Jean: Negative connotations. 是颇有贬义的。So it's a kind of criticism then.

Diarmuid: Absolutely. If someone says you are on the gravy train, they are probably criticising you. They may even be resentful of you.

Jean: Resentful 就是对这种现象极为不满的。Let's hear some examples:

Examples
 

A: It's not fair that I have to work so hard. My sister gets paid twice my salary and only works three days a week.

B: She's on the gravy train, isn't she?

A: My friends think that because I'm a banker I'm on the gravy train but they don't realise how hard I have to work.

B: They're probably just jealous.

Jean: So do you think that people who work for the BBC are on the gravy train, Diarmuid?

Diarmuid: I certainly don't think that I'm on the gravy train but then I would say that, wouldn't I?

Jean: So how much do you get paid then?

Diarmuid: Now Jean you know that people in the UK don't like to tell other people how much they earn.

Jean: 确实，在英国文化里，大家很少互相打听对方的收入薪水高低，很多人也认为这样做是极不礼貌的。

Diarmuid: It's just one of those cultural differences, I suppose.

Jean: And if you're interested in British culture you should look at our Ask About Britain programmes on the website.

Diarmuid: That's www.bbcukchina.com.

Jean: See you next time.

Diarmuid: Bye.