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內容簡介

菲菲需要告訴 Rob 不要總帶自己做的飯菜給她吃，因為飯的味道實在讓人不敢恭維。但菲菲覺得難以啟齒，Neil 來幫忙了。他介紹了一個很實用的短語，不過這個短語有兩個意思。菲菲會用其中哪一層含義來委婉謝絕 Rob 的飯菜？最后問題解決了嗎？聽他們的對話。

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。）

Feifei
大家好，歡迎來到 BBC 英語教學的《地道英語》節目。我是馮菲菲。

Neil
And hello, I'm Neil. Phwa! What's that smell?

Feifei
Rob 自己做的飯。

Neil
Rob makes food?

Feifei
He does but it doesn't taste very nice.

Neil
Right. So why do you eat it – and why do you have to make the studio stink of it?

Feifei
Well, I don't want to offend him. 他總是帶一些他自己做的飯給我，還讓我給他一些誠實的反饋。我通常給他的反饋大多是 “It's interesting, unique, special.”。

Neil
Oh Feifei, you need to keep a lid on it.

Feifei
Well, if you think that will stop the smell, I will.

Neil
That's not what I meant, although it is a good idea. If you 'keep the lid on something' it means you keep it under control – to stop the situation getting worse.

Feifei
OK, Neil!

Neil
Here are some examples of this phrase in action.

Examples
I couldn't keep a lid on my feelings about the rota so I shouted at the boss!

With rising food prices, it's hard to keep a lid on how much I spend at the supermarket.

Feifei
這里是 BBC 英語教學的《地道英語》。剛剛我們一起學習的短語是 “to keep a lid on something”，它的意思是 “管理好局勢，以防失控”。But this isn't the only meaning, is it?

Neil
No. If you keep a lid on something, it can also mean you keep something a secret. Like this…

Example
I've heard that Daisy is expecting a baby – but keep a lid on it until it's official!

Feifei
OK, Neil. You're telling me to keep a lid on things by telling Rob to stop giving me his homemade food?

Neil
Yes – unless his cooking is amazing.

Feifei
It's not.

Neil
Right, well, tell him you're on a diet or you've become vegan. That should stop him. And I will keep your little lie a secret.

Feifei
You mean, you'll keep a lid on it?

Neil
Exactly. But in the meantime, could you actually keep a lid on that box of food, please? It stinks!

Feifei
OK. Right, I'm off to speak to Rob. Bye.

Neil
Remember to be firm and say what you mean! Oh. Hi, Rob.

Rob
Hi, Neil. Feifei doesn't seem to want this delicious food I made. Would you like it?

Neil
Erm... Go on then. Looks lovely. Bye.