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內容簡介

Rob 特別想參加馬拉松賽，但報名申請過程很艱難。他說主辦方 “give him the runaround 讓他跑來跑去”，弄得他很不高興。想參加馬拉松，來回跑跑，有什么問題？聽 Rob 和菲菲的對話，學習 “give someone the runaround” 的實際意思。

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。

Rob                                    
And I'm Rob. Hello.

Feifei
Hey, Rob, how is your application to run in the marathon going?

Rob
Umm… not great. I fill in a form and then I’m told to fill in another one.

Feifei
Have you tried phoning someone?

Rob
Yes. And they won't give me a straight answer. They just keep giving me the runaround.

Feifei
Well, that makes sense. If you're going to run in a marathon, you've got to run around.

Rob
No, Feifei. Giving someone the runaround does not involve any exercise. If you give someone the runaround, it means you behave in an unhelpful way – possibly sending someone from one place to another to get help. If you are given the runaround, it can be very frustrating.

Feifei
I'm sure it is. “Give someone the runaround” 這個短語的字面意思是 “讓某人跑來跑去”，它實際所表達的意思是 “不愿意幫忙，打發人，搪塞人”。I know lots of situations where I have been given the runaround.

Rob
Well, there's one place where you won't be given the runaround. It's here, with some helpful examples of this phrase.

Examples
When I called the bank to ask for a loan, they just gave me the runaround.

She went to the hospital to get the results of her test, but she just got the runaround. Now she’s going to make a formal complaint.

When I complained about the bill, I was told to speak to the boss, but he wasn't there – I think I’m just being given the runaround.

Feifei
這里是 BBC 英語教學的《地道英語》節目。本集節目里教給大家的表達是 “give someone the runaround”。它的意思是 “故意不幫忙，打發人，搪塞人”。And, Rob, you've been given the runaround.

 Rob
I have. All I want to do is get a place in the marathon – but nobody seems to want to help me. 

Feifei
Could it be that you're so unfit that they just don't want to give you a place?

Rob
Ha, I don't think so. I've been training for weeks.

Feifei
Well, I managed to get a place straight away – with no runaround.

Rob
What! You are running the marathon too – why didn't you tell me? Right, I'm going to phone them again and demand a place.

Feifei
And don't be given the runaround this time, Rob!

Rob
I won't. See you at the start line.

Feifei
Bye.