BBC地道英语:A finger in every pie 每件事情都参与

Rosie: Hi and welcome to Authentic Real English. Today we're having an office party with the whole BBC Learning English team.

Helen: And we're eating some delicious cakes and pies that Jen has baked for us. 我的同事 Jen 还带来了她做的蛋糕和水果派。Have you tried the apple tart?

Rosie: Mmm... It's so tasty... Jen really has a lot of different skills, doesn't she?

Has Jen really got her finger in every pie?

Helen: Yeah, she really gets involved in loads of different activities. 她做好多事情，可忙了。She's always organising different parties, goes rowing... and did you know she works as a weather presenter at the weekend too?

Rosie: And she's a really good cook - this blueberry crumble is just delicious. She really does have a finger in every pie.

Helen: Err, really? 这些糕点味道是不错，不过 Jen 把手指放在里面，太不卫生了吧！I think I've just lost my appetite.

Rosie: That's not what I meant when I said she has a finger in every pie. It means she gets involved in a lot of different things.

Helen: 你是说如果某人 has a finger in every pie, 意思是他们做很多事情，样样活动都参与。Is it a good thing then?

Rosie: Well, in this case, when I said Jen has a finger in every pie I meant it as a good thing, but it can sometimes suggest someone gets involved in things when they shouldn't.

Helen: So it can be a good or a bad thing. Let's have a look at some examples:

Helen: 原来这个短语也有贬义，也就是指某人多管闲事，参与不应该管的事情。

Rosie: Shakespeare used it in his play Henry VIII. In the play it's used as a criticism of someone who gets involved in everything when he shouldn't:

No man's pie is freed
From his ambitious finger.

Helen: So the person criticised here feels the need to put his 'ambitious finger' in every single pie that is baked... 莎翁在他的舞台剧《亨利八世》中也提到了这个短语，其中一个角色非要尝每一个烤好的派。

Rosie: Yes, which means he gets involved in things he shouldn't.

Helen: 莎翁的剧本说法稍有不同，现在我们说 someone has a finger in every pie.

Rosie: Yes, it's slightly less poetic than "No man's pie is freed from his ambitious finger".

Helen: 的确听起来没有莎翁的剧本那么好听，不过意思都一样。Well, this is all very interesting, but I think I might have a slice of peach pie... 这么多好吃的水果派，我还饿着呢，可不能放弃。

Rosie: No pie is freed from your greedy fingers, is it Helen? Only joking...