Rob 在給菲菲講述一件事情的時候故意“cut a long story short 把故事砍了一半”，這是為什么呢？本集《地道英語》通過 Rob 和菲菲的對話給大家介紹一個實用的表達，教你學會怎么“簡而言之，長話短說”。

文字稿

（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。）

Rob
Hello and welcome to Authentic Real English from BBC Learning English. I'm Rob.

Feifei
大家好，我是馮菲菲。在每集《地道英語》節目中，我們會給大家介紹一個在字典里找不到，但英國人日常生活中會用到的表達。Rob 怎么看著狀態這么不好呢？Rob, if you don't mind me saying, you look a bit rough.

Rob
Rough? Well you would be, if you'd had the night I've just had.

Feifei
Oh yes? What happened?

Rob
Well, I went out for dinner with Neil, and then we went to the pub and then I lost my wallet and… to cut a long story short, I got home at two o'clock this morning.

Feifei
Oh dear. But why 'cut the long story short'? 我還真的想聽聽昨晚你到底都干了些什么？

Rob
No, you don't want to hear the whole story. It would take too long and we haven't got time. And anyway, it's not that interesting. That's why I'm just telling you the most important parts of the story.

Feifei
Right, OK. 短語 to cut a long story short“把一個長故事砍短”的意思就是“簡而言之，長話短說，挑重點的說”。這個表達在日常對話中使用的頻率很高。Hmm, that's a shame Rob, because I'm sure you had lots more to tell me.

Rob
Really? Well, we've got to keep this programme short so shall we move on and hear some examples of this phrase in action?

Examples
So I spoke to the boss and to cut a long story short, I'm getting a promotion!

There was a technical problem with our plane which they couldn't fix so to cut a long story short, we had to wait for another flight and we arrived a day late.

I met Geeta last year and to cut a long story short, we are getting married tomorrow!

Feifei
好了，本集節目中教給大家的表達就是“to cut a long story short 長話短說”。So Rob, you're telling me you went out with Neil, lost your wallet and got home very, very late?

Rob
Yes, that's about it. Not very exciting, but the details are boring, that's why my long story is short. Why do you keep asking?

Feifei
Well actually Rob, it sounds like you are telling a tall story. 一個讓人難以相信的故事 a tall story。我懷疑你是自己編的吧?

Rob
Oh really, why do you say that?

Feifei
Well I spoke to Neil this morning and he said you didn't go for dinner last night. You went straight to the pub, then another and another pub. And you left your wallet there so you had no money to get home and had to walk.

Rob
Ah well… that's the long story. Did you really want all the details?

Feifei
Oh yes. Never cut a long story short if it's a good one!

Rob
If you say so, Feifei. Bye-bye.

Feifei
Bye.