BBC地道英语:Keep your chin up! 别灰心！

(Rob visits Helen in hospital)

Rob: How are you feeling, Helen?

Helen: 谢谢你来看我，Rob. 我难受死了! 我的腿摔断了，下巴也给摔肿了，又青又紫 my pride is hurt! 太丢脸了！我周末去滑雪，摔了一下，竟然给摔成了这个样子!

Rob: Oh, bad luck, really. But your leg will heal and your bruises will disappear soon, Helen. There will be no sign of them in a few weeks.

Helen: 没错，我的腿会好的，我肿胀的下巴再过几周也会复原的，可是我现在疼呀！But I am in pain! 疼死了，疼死了！

Rob: But you'll get better, Helen. Keep your chin up!

Why does Rob tell Helen to 'keep her chin up'?

Helen: Keep my chin up?! (Talking to herself) 把下巴抬高？这可能是新疗法吧？Rob 总是知道一些偏方或者代替疗法，说不定这会有助于血液循环。(To him) Is this good for circulation, Rob?

Rob: No Helen, it doesn't help your circulation! Just keep your chin up but... well, but... What are you doing? That's not what I mean.

Helen: 你不是这个意思? 我的下巴已经抬高了，难道抬得还不够高吗？Will it help my bruises disappear, Rob?

Rob: Not really. But it will make you feel better, Helen.

Helen: Keep my chin up 不会帮助消肿，但是会让我感觉好一些?! How come, Rob?

Rob: Well, in English, when we tell someone to keep their chin up we are telling them to stay positive in a tough situation. Let's listen to some examples.

Helen: Oh, I've got it. 当你要鼓励一个人在困境中不要灰心的时候就可以说 keep your chin up! 这让我松了一口气，Rob. 你看上下左右这么一折腾，我的下巴现在比刚才还疼呢。

Rob: Sure, you can relax your chin now. And next time you go to some slope for some skiing make sure you stay on the nursery slopes..!

Helen: 你说幼儿园滑坡?！那是为小孩儿准备的！That's for kids!!

Rob: Not just for kids, Helen... it's for beginners! Anyway, don't be angry! Keep your chin up, Helen! With a lot of training, one day you'll be a great skier!

Helen: Yes, 也许你是对的，如果 keep my chin up 并且多训练，也许我终将会成为一名优秀的滑雪健将！

Rob: Bye for now.

Helen: Bye.