BBC地道英语:Things are looking up 情况开始好转

Chris: Hi, I'm Chris, and welcome to Authentic Real English. It's a nice day here in London, so I've come outside to meet Helen. Ah, there she is! Helen, how are you?

Helen: I'm... fine... thanks.

Chris: What are you doing? What are you looking at?

Helen: Err... I'm looking up. 我不是在向上看吗？

Chris: R-Right. But I can't see anything.

Helen: Neither can I. 我也没看到什么东西。

Chris: Have you seen an aeroplane or something?

Helen: Not sure.

Chris: Or maybe a bird?

Helen: Well, apparently things are looking up.

Chris: Things are looking up?

Helen: Yes, 我的同事 Rosie 告诉我过去3天都出了太阳，她说 things are looking up. 所以我也就跑出来看看天上到底有什么。

Chris: Ah, I think you've misunderstood. Rosie didn't mean that there are things up in the sky.

Helen: Really? Well, what do you mean? Rosie 不是说天上有东西可以看？

Chris: It's an expression. You use the phrase 'things are looking up' when you want to suggest that conditions are getting better or more positive.

Helen: Oh, right...

Chris: Here are some examples:

Helen: So when Rosie told me that things were looking up, she meant that the weather has been getting better at the moment. 原来 Rosie 是想告诉我天气会越来越好。

Chris: Yes, she's suggesting that it looks like the weather in general is improving Well, what do you think? Do you think the weather is getting better?

Helen: So far, yes, yesterday was really hot. I hope it lasts for the weekend... But if things get worse, would you say, 'things are looking down'? 如果事情越来越糟，可不可以说 things are looking down?

Chris: Not really. Instead, you could say: "It's taken a turn for the worse".

Helen: It's taken a turn for the worse. That's a useful phrase.

Chris: Oh, but hang on... look at that black cloud in the sky. It looks like it might rain after all. Oh, that's typical English weather!

Helen: Oh great. 哎呀，一片乌云飘过来了！Things really have taken a turn for the worse! Quick, let's get back to the office before it rains.

Chris: Yes, let's go! Do join us again for another edition of Authentic Real English. Bye for now!

Helen: Bye!