ESL Podcast 607 – Being Pestered on the Phone

Gisele: Our phone has been ringing off the hook¹ all weekend. What’s the deal?

Nobu: I think it’s Jeanine.

Gisele: Jeanine...Jeanine...Is that the woman you’ve been going out with?

Nobu: Yeah, it’s her. I tried to let her down easy, but she’s not taking the hint.

Gisele: I see. That’s why you’ve been screening calls. Why don’t you just talk to her and tell her that you don’t think you’re right for each other, take the direct approach?

Nobu: I figure if I don’t take her calls for a few more days, she’ll get the message.

Gisele: Are you sure? There are 14 new voicemail messages. How many of those do you think are from Jeanine?

Nobu: All of them. I let calls go to voicemail if I see her phone number on caller ID. I guess I should listen to those messages – sooner or later.

Gisele: Yeah, that’s probably a good idea.

Nobu: I was thinking of taking the phone off the hook for the rest of day. What do you think?

Gisele: You do that and she’ll be on your doorstep to make sure nothing bad has happened to you. Listen, you don’t want to be honest with her, but you want her to stop pestering² you, right? In that case, you only have one option.

Nobu: What?

Gisele: Tell her you’re moving to Timbuktu!


Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

1 hook   

vt.钩住；n.钩子，钩状物

参考例句：

• The blacksmith forged a bar of iron into a hook.铁匠把一根铁条锻造成一个钩子。
• He hangs up his scarf on the hook behind the door.他把围巾挂在门后的衣钩上。

2 pestering   

使烦恼，纠缠( pester的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He's always pestering me to help him with his homework. 他总是泡蘑菇要我帮他做作业。
• I'm telling you once and for all, if you don't stop pestering me you'll be sorry. 我这是最后一次警告你。如果你不停止纠缠我，你将来会后悔的。