我们讲的英语第129期:Brownie Points 做好事以便获表扬

William: Hello and welcome to The English we Speak, I'm William.
威廉：大家好，欢迎收看地道英语节目，我是威廉。

Feifei: And I'm Feifei. William, what are you doing with that suitcase and flowers and boxes of chocolates?
菲菲：我是菲菲。威廉，你拿着行李箱、鲜花和几盒巧克力要做什么？

William: Oh, well I'm spending the weekend with my wife's parents so I thought I'd better get something for my mother-in-law.
威廉：哦，我要和我的岳父母一起享受周末时光，所以我想我最好给给我岳母买些礼物。

Feifei: Oh I see! A weekend with the in-laws.
菲菲：哦，我明白了！和岳父母一起度过周末。

William: And I'm going to do a bit of decorating and gardening for them too.
威廉：我还要为他们布置一下房子，修剪一下花草。

Feifei: Wow, you really are trying to earn some brownie points, aren't you? William is trying to get praise and approval by doing something for them.
菲菲：哇，你真的很努力要赢得老人的认可啊，是吧？威廉试图通过为岳父母做一些事情来获得表扬。

William: Yes, I'm trying to earn some brownie points.
威廉：对，我要获得老人的认可。

Feifei: To earn some brownie points. 'Brownie points' are badges young girls who are members of a youth organisation called 'The Brownies' earn for doing good things for others. Now we use that term generally to mean 'trying to get praise for our actions'.
菲菲：赢得一些认可。Brownie points指The Brownies幼年女童子军组织的年轻女孩为他人做了好事而获得的奖章。现在我们用这个词组来形容试图通过我们的行为来获得赞赏。

William: Yes, you see I'm not sure if my mother-in-law really… likes me that much. So that's why I'm trying to earn some brownie points. Maybe she'll change her attitude towards me.
威廉：对，你知道，我不确定我的岳母是不是那么我。所以这就是我要努力获得认可的原因。也许他会改变对我的态度。

Feifei: Oh dear. Yes, maybe you'll get some approval from her.
菲菲：天哪。你会从她那里得到认可的。

Man: Look at Gary. He keeps offering to do extra work–even at weekends.
男：看看盖里。他一直主动要求加班，甚至周末也是如此。

Woman: Well he's hoping to earn a few brownie points with the bosses. There's a new position opening up and I reckon he'll apply for it.
女：嗯，他希望赢得老板的嘉奖。马上就会有升职机会了，我想他会申请那个职位。

Feifei: He's been offering to do extra work to impress his bosses. It's because there's an opportunity for a promotion coming up.
菲菲：他一直主动要求加班来挣得老板的印象分。这是因为马上会有个升职的机会。

William: But to earn brownie points is more than just doing someone a favour.
威廉：但是获得嘉奖并不仅仅意味着要帮他人的忙。

Feifei: Yes, the expression means you're trying to get approval from someone. It's also quite a light-hearted and informal expression.
菲菲：对，这个表达的意思是你努力获得他人的认可。这同样是一个非常轻松且不正式的表达。

William: When was the last time you earned brownie points from someone, Feifei?
威廉：菲菲，你上次获得他人的赞赏是什么时候？

Feifei: Oh I don't try to get other people's approval.
菲菲：哦，我不会试图去获得他人的认可的。

William: Hmm, really? So you don't really care what people think about you?
威廉：真的吗？所以你不在乎人们怎么看你了？

Feifei: No, not at all. But William, you've got so much stuff with you. Are you taking the train to your in-laws' house? Can I give you a lift to the station?
菲菲：当然，一点儿也不在乎。可是威廉，你拿的东西太多了。你是打算坐火车去岳父母家吗？我送你去火车站怎么样？

William: Oh thanks! That's really kind of you, Feifei. I was beginning to think you were a bit selfish but now I can see you're quite generous. Ah, I understand!
威廉：哦，谢谢你！你真是太好了，菲菲。我刚开始以为你有点儿自私，不过现在我知道你非常的大方。啊，我明白了！

Feifei: Yes, I'm trying to earn some brownie points!
菲菲：对，我在试图获得你的表扬！

William: Well, you succeeded! Goodbye!
威廉：嗯，你成功了！再见！

Feifei: Bye!
菲菲：再见！