內容簡介

Rob 特別生氣 - 他讓孩子們收拾房間，但不管怎么說都沒用。可是這和“until you are blue in the face 臉變藍”有什么關系呢？聽節目。

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（關于臺詞的備注: 請注意這不是廣播節目的逐字稿件。本文稿可能沒有體現錄制、編輯過程中對節目做出的改變。）

Feifei
大家好，歡迎收聽BBC英語教學的《地道英語》節目。我是馮菲菲，還有我的同事 Rob。Errr Rob, wake up!

Rob
Oh yeah hi.

Feifei
你這是怎么了？

Rob
It's the kids. My house is a mess – toys, pencils, paints everywhere - and I've been trying to get them to clear everything up.

Feifei
看你這表情，我可以猜到結果。I guess you haven't been successful?  

Rob
No. I shouted at them until I was blue in the face – but the house is still a mess.

Feifei
你的臉變藍色了？Rob, you don't look blue to me – just your normal colour.

Rob
I know that – what I mean is, I'm wasting my time because it won't happen – whatever I say I won't get the result I want…

Feifei
… which is a tidy house. 在英語里，until you are blue in the face 這個比喻很好玩兒，它的字面意思是“直到臉變藍色”，但實際要表達的意思是不論你怎么說、怎么干，都是無用的；就算磨破嘴皮子到臉色發青也沒用，它通常被用在當你想讓某人做一件事情的語境中。Oh dear Rob, it sounds like you have no control over your kids.

Rob
You're probably right. But I'm not alone - let's hear some other people who are 'blue in the face'.

Examples
I've told him to get here on time until I'm blue in the face but still he continues to arrive late.

He told her not to break the speed limit on the motorway until he was blue in the face but she still did it and guess what? She got a speeding ticket!

Feifei
表達 until I am blue in the face 或 until you are blue in the face 的意思就是“任憑你磨破嘴皮”也沒用。I know what that's like Rob.

Rob
Really?

Feifei
Yes. Every time you make me a coffee I always ask you to put two sugars in it – but you never do!

Rob
Err, pardon Feifei? Sorry I wasn't listening. I'm so tired.

Feifei
Why are you so tired Rob – all you did was ask the kids to tidy up.

Rob
Yes but because they didn't listen to me, I had to tidy up everything.

Feifei
Actually I can see that… you really are blue in the face，這回你的臉還真變藍色了。Look you've got blue paint there…and there… and there…

Rob
Arghhh! Those damn kids!

Feifei
Calm down, Rob. Your face is turning red!

Both
Bye!