英语听力精选进阶版 20120

A barrel of laughs “开心果” 

文字稿

（关于台词的备注 :  这不是广播节目的逐字稿件。本文稿可能没有体现录制、编辑过程中对节目做出的改变。）

Feifei

大家好，欢迎收听《地道英语》，我是冯菲菲，还有我的搭档…

Rob

And me Rob. Hello!

Feifei

So Rob, what's that thing you've got over there?

Rob

Oh this? It's a barrel [tapping on wooden barrel]…

Feifei

大木桶 a barrel。I see.

Rob

And do you want to know what's inside the barrel?

Feifei

Not really.

Rob

OK – well if I open the lid you'll be able to hear [Opens lid and sounds of laughing] – funny isn't it?!

Feifei

[not impressed] You have a barrel of laughs“一桶笑声”。And that is supposed to be funny?

Rob

It's supposed to illustrate¹ today's piece of authentic² real English. It's hilarious³, isn't it! And you know what – the phrase 'a barrel of laughs' can be used to describe me – someone who is fun and always joking around.

Feifei

Really? 原来短语 a barrel of laughs 可以用来形容那些总是喜欢开玩笑，给人们带来快乐的人。But this doesn't describe you Rob – you're not funny.

Rob

Oh? What?! I think we better hear some examples of this phrase in action – and I'll show you how funny I really am…

Examples

I shall miss having John in the office. He was such a barrel of laughs.

What a barrel of laughs that bus driver was. He made the long journey much more fun with his funny announcements!

Since I split⁴ up with my boyfriend, life hasn't been a barrel of laughs.

Feifei

这么说，其实这个短语可以理解为汉语里常说的“开心果”，形容一个幽默的、逗人开心笑的人。谁说不是呢，我们都喜欢身边有个“开心果”。  

Rob

By the way, 'a barrel of laughs' can also be used to describe a thing, such as a TV show. But come on Feifei, you have to agree, this barrel full of laughs is so funny! Listen again [Opens lid again: laughter].

Feifei

Hmm, it's a cheap joke but it's not funny. I know what you can do if you want to make me laugh…

Rob

Oh yes – go on, what is it?

Feifei

Why don't you see if you can fit inside the barrel?

Rob

Oh, right, well, that sounds like a laugh. OK, here goes… [Sound of Rob getting in] Getting in… I'm in Feifei.

Feifei

Wow Rob – you actually fit in the barrel! 我算是佩服了，Rob 还真能钻进这个木桶 里去。我只需要把桶盖儿盖上就行了。That's so funny!

Rob

Hey, Feifei, what are you doing?

Feifei

Making you into a real life 'barrel of laughs'

Rob

That's not funny.

Feifei

It's hilarious! See you later.

1 illustrate   

v.举例说明，阐明；图解，加插图

参考例句：

• The company's bank statements illustrate its success.这家公司的银行报表说明了它的成功。
• This diagram will illustrate what I mean.这个图表可说明我的意思。

2 authentic   

a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的

参考例句：

• This is an authentic news report. We can depend on it. 这是篇可靠的新闻报道, 我们相信它。
• Autumn is also the authentic season of renewal. 秋天才是真正的除旧布新的季节。

3 hilarious   

adj.充满笑声的，欢闹的；[反]depressed

参考例句：

• The party got quite hilarious after they brought more wine.在他们又拿来更多的酒之后，派对变得更加热闹起来。
• We stop laughing because the show was so hilarious.我们笑个不停，因为那个节目太搞笑了。

4 split   

n.劈开，裂片，裂口；adj.分散的；v.分离，分开，劈开

参考例句：

• Who told you that Mary and I had split up?谁告诉你玛丽和我已经离婚了？
• The teacher split the class up into six groups.老师把班级分成6个小组。