ESL Podcast 311 – A Mid-life Crisis

Bella: I think my husband is going through a mid-life crisis¹.

Russell: What makes you think that?

Bella: He just traded in his car for a very expensive sports car, and he’s filling the house with gym equipment.

Russell: Uh oh, that’s a bad sign. Do you know what may have triggered² this?

Bella: I’m not sure, but he was passed over for a promotion³ at work a couple of months ago, and his new boss is 15 years younger than he is.

Russell: That would do it.

Bella: What really worries me is that he’s been talking about quitting his job altogether and becoming a full-time⁴ writer. He always wanted to become a successful writer.

Russell: That’s sounds familiar. When my brother went through a mid-life crisis, he spent a lot of time reflecting on his life and regretting giving up music to get a full- time job. He saw himself as being washed up and he was fed up with everything.

Bella: What did he do?

Russell: Well, he’s probably not a good example of what your husband would do.

Bella: Don’t beat around the bush. Just tell me.

Russell: Well, if you must know, he got a divorce⁵, married a woman half his age, and tried to start a rock band.

Bella: Oh, no! That’s just what I was afraid of.

Russell: I’m sure that won’t happen with your husband. You two have a great marriage.

Bella: I thought so, too, but you never know.


Script⁶ by Dr. Lucy Tse

1 crisis   

n.危机，危急关头，决定性时刻，关键阶段

参考例句：

• He had proved that he could be relied on in a crisis.他已表明，在紧要关头他是可以信赖的。
• The topic today centers about the crisis in the Middle East.今天课题的中心是中东危机。

2 triggered   

触发的

参考例句：

• An indiscreet remark triggered off a long and costly strike. 一次轻率的讲话导致长时间、代价高昂的罢工。
• The incident triggered an armed clash. 这起事件触发了一场武装冲突。

3 promotion   

n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传

参考例句：

• The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
• The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级，加了薪。

4 full-time   

adj.满工作日的或工作周的，全时间的

参考例句：

• A full-time job may be too much for her.全天工作她恐怕吃不消。
• I don't know how she copes with looking after her family and doing a full-time job.既要照顾家庭又要全天工作，我不知道她是如何对付的。

5 divorce   

n.离婚；分离；vi.离婚；vt.离婚；脱离

参考例句：

• Did he divorce his wife or did she divorce him?是他要和妻子离婚，还是妻子要和他离婚？
• None of us like the divorce of word and deed.我们都不喜欢言行不一。

6 script   

n.剧本，广播稿；文字体系；笔迹，手迹

参考例句：

• It's easy to identify his script.他的笔迹容易辨认。
• The script is massaged into final form.这篇稿子经过修改已定稿。