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內容簡介

不論是安排日程還是制定預算，有時需要預留一些 “允許變通、商量的空間”。英語表達 “wiggle room” 就指這種 “回旋余地”。主持人菲菲用表達 “wiggle room” 告訴同事 Neil 自己會爭取更高的團隊聚餐預算。聽菲菲和 Neil 的對話，學習這個地道英語表達的含義和用法。

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，歡迎收聽 BBC英語教學的 “地道英語” 節目，我是菲菲。

Neil
… and me, Neil. Wow, Feifei, you look really busy. Do you need any help?

Feifei
唉，不用了，謝謝你。為了咱們 BBC英語教學的團隊聚餐，我正在研究附近餐廳的價格呢。我本來看中的是辦公室旁邊的那家高級餐廳。

Neil
Brilliant! I've been wanting to try that place. It looks amazing.

Feifei
唉，你可能需要再接著等了。我看了，那家餐館特別貴，我們的預算根本不夠。

Neil
Oh. Have you asked the boss to see if the budget can be increased so we can go?

Feifei
Good idea! I'll see if there's any wiggle room on the amount of money we can spend!

Neil
I'm sorry, what? Wiggle room?

Feifei
Wiggle room! 表達 “wiggle room” 的意思是 “回旋余地”，它用來指 “可以在某種程度上改變原有的安排或計劃，找出做一件事情的時間或金錢”。我剛剛說 “I'll see if there's any wiggle room on the amount of money we can spend” 的意思是 “我試試看我們能提高預算的可能性有多大”，也就是 “看看預算有沒有回旋余地”。

Neil
Great – well, good luck with that. We'll listen to some examples while you make the call.

Examples
The company had no more wiggle room in the marketing budget to employ new actors.

I'm afraid I don't have much wiggle room in my schedule to meet you today.

How much wiggle room do we have on the salary we're offering? He's demanding more money.

Feifei
你正在收聽的是 BBC英語教學的 “地道英語” 節目。通過上面的例句我們可以看出，“wiggle room” 通常被用來指 “如果需要，可以進行變通，從而促成某事”。

Neil
And tell me, Feifei – was there any wiggle room in the budget for us to go to the restaurant?

Feifei
I'm afraid not. I'm going to start looking for a cheaper restaurant now.

Neil
OK, Good luck with that!

Feifei
Thanks. Bye-bye.

Neil
Bye!