BBC地道英语:Act your age 举止成熟点，别跟小孩一样

The script of this programme 本节目台词

Abigail: Hello, I'm Abigail and I'm in a shoe shop, with Li, and we're doing some shoe shopping.

Li: Yes 没错我们俩就在一家鞋店里 shoe shop 我一直想买双运动鞋。你看这双怎么样？These are OK.

Abigail: Well, we're not really supposed to be looking for your trainers, Li. We're here because we have an interesting and amusing phrase, which our listeners might like to learn.

Li: 我知道你想通过情景对话来教授一个新词语。But while we're here, I can look at trainers!

Abigail: Well, I suppose you can look at some trainers. But let's not forget why we're here.

Li: ... (long pause)

Abigail: Li? Why we're here?

Li: Yes of course 英语短语。Ha! Look that lady has really funny hair! 你看那个女的头发真有意思。

Why should Li act her age not her shoe size?

Abigail: Li, you're being really childish today. But that's useful because I can use our phrase for today - act your age not your shoe size.

Li: Act your age, not your shoe size. 按照你的年龄做事，不要按你的鞋号做事。How shall we explain what it means, Abigail?

Abigail: Well, I think you've explained it beautifully already Li, through everything you've said and done. But here are some more clues to what it means:

Li: 如果你的行为举止像个孩子，不成熟，别人就会对你说 'act your age, not your shoe size'.

Abigail: Hmm... yes they can.

Li: 不过我的鞋号是 37。My shoe size is 37. My age is 30. So I have to act seven years younger?? 我的举止要更年轻点儿对吧？

Abigail: Ah yes, well, 37 - that's a Chinese size. This saying, 'act your age not your shoe size' only works for British and American sizes.

Li: 当然了，英国和美国的鞋号比中国的鞋号标码要小。The numbers are smaller.

Abigail: Yes, so for example in UK sizes, I think your feet are size 4.

Li: 按照英国鞋号我应该穿 4号。不过我说话，做事不应该像四岁的小孩子一样。I shouldn't act like I'm four.

Abigail: Exactly!

Li: 也许我们应该把这个短语改成 'act your Chinese shoe size, not your British shoe size'. 那样就更准确了，你说呢？What do you think?

Abigail: Err, yeah, we could... It's not quite as catchy...