地道英語
Tread on someone's toes 觸怒某人
內(nèi)容簡介
跳舞時,你可能會踩到別人的腳。英語表達(dá) “tread on someone's toes” 就用 “踩到某人的腳趾” 來比喻 “因插手一件屬于別人職責(zé)范圍內(nèi)的事情而惹怒、得罪這個人”。聽節(jié)目,學(xué)習(xí)如何使用這個常見于工作場合中的表達(dá)。
文字稿
(關(guān)于臺詞的備注: 請注意這不是廣播節(jié)目的逐字稿件。本文稿可能沒有體現(xiàn)錄制、編輯過程中對節(jié)目做出的改變。)
Jiaying
大家好,歡迎收聽 BBC英語教學(xué)的 “地道英語” 節(jié)目。I'm Jiaying.
Beth
And I'm Beth. We have an expression about upsetting or annoying someone by involving yourself in something that is not your responsibility – the expression is 'tread on someone's toes'.
Jiaying
Tread on someone's toes. 這個表達(dá)的字面意思是 “踩到某人的腳趾”。比如,跳舞的時候,你可能會不小心踩到別人的腳。但這個表達(dá)其實(shí)是借此來比喻 “因干預(yù)別人職責(zé)范圍內(nèi)的事情而觸怒或者得罪這個人”。Beth,你能不能舉一個可以使用 “tread on someone's toes” 的例子呢?
Beth
Well, remember when I was upset last week? It was because you led the meeting that I was supposed to lead.
Jiaying
Oh, no! I'm sorry. 上周本來應(yīng)該由你來主持部門會議,但我卻沒經(jīng)你的同意,擅自主持了這次會議。我觸及了你的職責(zé)范圍,惹得你很生氣。I guess I did tread on your toes.
Beth
Don't worry. It's OK. I trod on your toes last summer.
Jiaying
True. 去年夏天,本來應(yīng)該由我組織咱們部門的同事一起吃燒烤,但你卻插手安排了這個活動。You shouldn't have trodden on my toes.
Beth
I'm really sorry about that! Now, that was not a very serious problem, but treading on someone's toes can be a serious thing. It could ruin your chances at work, for instance. Let's hear some more examples.
Examples
I can't believe he pitched your business idea! He doesn't care about treading on toes.
My mum is upset that you made my birthday cake. She does it every year, so she thinks you're treading on her toes.
I want to start working on the budget, but I don't want to tread on the accountant's toes.
Jiaying
你正在收聽的是 BBC英語教學(xué)的 “地道英語” 節(jié)目。以上我們介紹了表達(dá) “tread on someone's toes” 的含義和用法。這個表達(dá)的意思是 “因插手一件由別人負(fù)責(zé)的事情而觸怒或者得罪這個人”,還有一個和它的含義相近的表達(dá), 也就是 “step on someone's toes”。
Beth
And both are frequently used in relation to work and business because of the connection to responsibility and tasks.
Jiaying
是的,“tread on someone's toes” 和 “step on someone's toes” 都頻繁出現(xiàn)在與工作或商務(wù)有關(guān)的語境中。注意:動詞 “tread” 的過去式是 “trod”;動詞 “step” 的過去式是 “stepped”。
Beth
So, last week, you trod on my toes.
Jiaying
Yes, and I've already apologised! Time to go. Bye!
Beth
Bye.