BBC地道英语:Touchy-feely 婆婆妈妈、情感外露的

Li: 大家好，欢迎收听《地道英语》节目。我是杨莉。

William: (subdued) I'm William Kremer.

Li: What's our phrase today, William?

William: (sigh) I don't know.

Li: William 你怎么唉声叹气的？怎么了？

William: Oh, it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter.

Li: No, come on! I can see something's not right. What's wrong?

William: (sigh) Well, it's... if you must know, it's Tigger... he's died.

Li: Tigger 死了？Tigger 是谁呢?

William misses his cat.

William: Tigger... Tigger is... was my beautiful cat. He was my best friend. I suppose you could say that. I'm going to miss his stripey face in the morning. And his purr. Yeah, I'm going to miss that. But, you know, these things happen. I shouldn't get so upset...

Li: 原来是这样啊！宠物死了的时候，我们当然会很伤心了。William, I think it's normal to be very sad when a pet dies.

William: No, no it's not Li, it's silly! Getting upset over an animal! I'm not a baby! I should grow up.

Li: 但是，或许你应该说一说你对 Tigger 的感受，说出来可能会好受一点儿。You might find it helpful to talk about your feelings for Tigger, William.

William: No, no! Li, I hate all of that touchy-feely stuff!

Li: Touchy-feely?

William: Yeah, if something is touchy-feely it is very emotional. If you are a touchy-feely person you don't mind talking about your feelings and maybe actually hugging people.

Li: 我知道了， touchy-feely 这个词是描述情感方面的一个表达。如果说一个人 touchy-feely, 意思是说这个人感情比较外露，喜欢谈自己的感受，有点儿婆婆妈妈、甚至喜欢搂搂抱抱什么的。如此看来 touchy-feely 这个词有点儿贬义是不是？

William: Yeah, a little bit. Let's hear a couple of examples of it in use:

Examples

Man: Do you know, I never once saw my mum and dad kiss or hug？

Man 2: Really? Gosh, that seems incredible.

Man: But I think they really loved each other. They just weren't all touchy-feely about it.

Woman: Did you go to that drama group?

Woman 2: Yeah. I don't think I'll go again.

Woman: Oh? Why not?

Woman 2: Well, the acting was fine. But it's all that touchy-feely stuff they do that I don't like.

Li: 听一听你们这些英国人！你们难道就不能表达一下自己的感受和情感吗？

William: Well, you might be right about that Li – we're not famous for talking about our feelings. Now, before we finish, I have heard this phrase touchy-feely being used in a very different way too. Listen to this:

Example

Woman: I love your sweater!

Man: Thanks.

Woman: It's so soft! I love this material. It's so touchy-feely!

Man: OK. Shall I take it off and then you can touch it properly?!

Li: 在刚才的例子里，touchy-feely 这个词用来描述材料的手感。The sort of material that is nice to stroke, 摸起来手感不错。

William: Yes, nice to stroke, just like Tigger used to be. I'm going to miss stroking Tigger. The way he used to purr, Li. And sometimes he would bring me a little present, you know. A dead mouse or maybe a little bird. So thoughtful.

Li: Hmm. It's OK to cry you know, William.

William: (recovering himself) No! No, no, no! No touchy-feely stuff Li!

Li: 好好好！我服了你了。我得撤了。我们下次节目再会！

William: Bye!