BBC地道英语:Not rocket science 很简单的事

(Sound of a rocket being launched)

Yang Li: Hello I'm Yang Li. 欢迎收听《地道英语》。今天同我一起主持节目的是 Kaz. Hi Kaz.

Kaz: Hello, Li.

Yang Li: 为什么一上来你就让我听一段火箭发射升空的录音？Hey Kaz, why are we listening to this rocket launch?

Kaz: Well, Li, I thought we could use it to introduce today's expression.

Yang Li: 今天的短语是...

Kaz: The expression is 'It's not rocket science'.

Yang Li: 'It's not rocket science', 意思是？

Why does Kaz make Li listen to the rocket launch at the beginning of the programme?

Kaz: If something is not complicated or difficult to understand - 'it's not rocket science'.

Yang Li: Kaz 说如果一件事情并不复杂，很容易理解或完成，那么就可以说 - 'it's not rocket science' 能举例吗？

Kaz: OK. Somebody can't get the television to work and asks you, "How do I switch this thing on?" You would say, "It's not rocket science. Just press 'on' on the handset".

Yang Li: 如果一个人问你如何打开电视机，你可以回答说: "It's not rocket science! You just press the 'on' switch and away you go". 这个短语非常实用，用来表示很容易就能做到的事... another example please, Kaz.

Kaz: OK Li. Why are we always short of money?

Yang Li: Well, it's not rocket science Kaz - we don't get paid enough!

Kaz: Brilliant Li. That's an excellent example.

Yang Li: 这个短语很不错。 咱们再来听几个例句吧：

Yang Li: OK Kaz, 现在我完全清楚了 'it's not rocket science' 字面意思是，这不是火箭科技，实际的意思就是，嘿，这又不是什么高科技，很简单吗！But I get the feeling that it's rather informal, isn't it?

Kaz: You're right Li. So please use with care!

Yang Li: Absolutely.

Kaz: It's usually used with the negative 'It's not rocket science'.

Yang Li: 这点很重要，这个短语一般都使用否定句式 'It's not rocket science'. Well, Kaz, you're so good with this programme. You're a star!

Kaz: Thank you Li but presenting this programme is not exactly rocket science! It's easy!

Both: Bye!

(Sound of a rocket being launched)