地道英语口语学习:Water cooler chat 办公室里闲聊

Helen: This is Real English from BBC Learning English. I’m Helen.
Zoe: 大家好，我是刘佳。

Helen: Today we’re going to look at words and phrases that have recently become part of the English language.

Zoe: 在今天的地道英语里，我们来学习一些当代英语中最新出现的词汇，短语还有习惯表达。Helen, 快来告诉我们今天的新词儿吧？

Helen: Today’s expression is ‘water cooler chat’.

Zoe: Water cooler chat. What’s that?

Helen+Zoe: Well, listen carefully. A water cooler is where people get water to drink in an office. (就是你平时在办公室里喝水的地方) Chat is informal talk (就是聊天). So, water cooler chat is informal talk in the office around the water cooler.

Zoe: So water cooler chat 是个俚语，说的就是在单位和同事们边喝水边聊天。

Helen: Yes. It’s like having a break. You go for a drink.

Zoe: 然后你和同事们一起聊电视节目或者体育赛事

Helen: You got it.

Insert 录音片断

A: Did you watch ‘Lost’ last night on TV?

B: Yes, it was brilliant. What about when….

C: Get back to work you two! There’s too much water cooler chat in this office!

Zoe: Do you like water cooler chat?

Helen: Of course, it’s just being friendly.

Zoe: And the boss?

Helen: Well, if you spend all day chatting round the water cooler, your boss wouldn’t be happy!

Zoe: Of course not!

Helen: And you would probably drink too much water and spend all night in the bathroom! Anyway, to recap water cooler chat means

Zoe: Water cooler chat 说的就是和同事们随便的聊天. And that’s all we have time for today.

Helen: Yes, that’s all. You’ve been listening to Real English from BBC Learning English. Join us again soon. Bye.

Zoe: See you!