ESL Podcast 485 – Being Clumsy

Edward: Would you dance with me?

Bella: Me? I’d like to, but I don’t dance.

Edward: Why?

Bella: I have two left feet. I’m so clumsy, first I’d step all over your feet, and then I’d stumble all over the dance floor.

Edward: I don’t believe that. I bet you’re very graceful¹ on the dance floor. You wouldn’t stumble; you’d glide² across that floor.

Bella: I’m the most uncoordinated person alive. When I was little, I was even more awkward. My mother hated taking me shopping because I was so accident-prone. Everywhere we’d go, I was like a bull in a china shop. I’m not like Rosalie. Look at her. She’s so elegant.

Edward: Rosalie has nothing on you. Dance with me and I promise to catch you if you trip.

Bella: What if I step all over your feet?

Edward: You won’t get the chance. My feet will be moving so quickly, I will dazzle you with my agility³ and finesse⁴.

Bella: Okay, you asked for it!


Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

1 graceful   

adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的

参考例句：

• His movements on the parallel bars were very graceful.他的双杠动作可帅了!
• The ballet dancer is so graceful.芭蕾舞演员的姿态是如此的优美。

2 glide   

n./v.溜，滑行；(时间)消逝

参考例句：

• We stood in silence watching the snake glide effortlessly.我们噤若寒蝉地站着，眼看那条蛇逍遥自在地游来游去。
• So graceful was the ballerina that she just seemed to glide.那芭蕾舞女演员翩跹起舞，宛如滑翔。

3 agility   

n.敏捷，活泼

参考例句：

• The boy came upstairs with agility.那男孩敏捷地走上楼来。
• His intellect and mental agility have never been in doubt.他的才智和机敏从未受到怀疑。

4 finesse   

n.精密技巧，灵巧，手腕

参考例句：

• It was a disappointing performance which lacked finesse.那场演出缺乏技巧，令人失望。
• Lillian Hellman's plays are marked by insight and finesse.莉莲.赫尔曼的巨作以富有洞察力和写作技巧著称。