The english we speak(BBC教學)第68期: cost arm and leg價格昂貴

Rob: Ah Vera, it's great that you've come with me during our lunch break to do some shopping. I need to buy a suit to go to a wedding and I have to look very smart.

羅伯：啊維拉，你能在午休的時候陪我來購物真好。我需要買一身西服來參加一個婚禮，而且必須得看起來很瀟灑。

Vera: And I will make sure of that, Rob. Everybody says I have good taste. I've always chosen my husband's and my son's pyjamas and they look good while they sleep! Rob, I love that grey suit in the window!

維拉：我會確保這一點的，羅伯。所有人都說我的品位很好。我一直挑選我老公和兒子的睡衣，他們睡覺的時候看起來很好！羅伯，我喜歡窗戶裏那件灰色的西服！

Rob: Wow! It looks really smart, actually. It will make me look great!

羅伯：哇！它看起來好瀟灑，真的。它會讓我看起來很棒！

Vera: Exactly! Let's go into the shop, you must try it!

維拉：正是！我們去店裏吧，你必須要試一下！

Salesman: The colour suits you, Sir! I will see if I can find a smaller size so that it fits you perfectly.

銷售員：這顏色很適合您，先生！我再看看能不能找個小一號的，這樣就更完美適合您了。

Vera: You see, Rob... This salesman knows what he is talking about. He thinks it looks good on you. But he is right - a size smaller would fit better. And everybody in the wedding will think you are a powerful man.

維拉：你看，羅伯...這個銷售員知道自己在說什麼。他覺得這身很適合你。但是他說得對，小一號的會更適合你。而且婚禮上的每個人都會覺得你是個有力量的男人的。

Rob: Yes. Wait Vera, this suit is not for me. I'm reading this label and it says it costs an arm and a leg!

羅伯：是的。等一下維拉，這身西服不適合我。我看了這個標籤，上面寫着它價格非常昂貴！

Vera: An arm and a leg!? This is terrible, Rob! It's barbaric! This is the 21st century, not the Middle Ages! And the salesman seems quite civilised. He sounded like a nice man who wouldn't demand your limbs!

維拉：一隻胳膊一條腿？這太糟糕了，羅伯！太野蠻了！現在是21世紀了，不是中世紀！而且那個銷售員看起來很文明。他聽起來像是個好人，不會要你的四肢的！

Rob: Don't worry, Vera. I will keep all of my limbs. In English, when we say something costs an arm and a leg we mean that it is very expensive!

羅伯：別擔心，維拉。我會保留我的四肢的。在英語中，當我們說某物花費了我們一隻胳膊一條腿時意思是它非常昂貴！

Vera: So, it is something people say but it doesn't actually involve arms and legs. That's a relief!

維拉：所以，這是人們說的但並不會真的包含胳膊和腿。真是如釋重負！

Rob: Let's hear some examples while I get back into my old clothes.

羅伯：趁我換回舊衣服的時候讓我們來聽一些例子吧。

"I'd like to travel all over Europe, but the air fare might cost me an arm and a leg."

“我想要遊遍歐洲，但是機票可能會非常昂貴。”

"You have to pay a lot of money to give your children a good education nowadays! A place in a top university costs an arm and a leg."

“現如今你需要花很多錢在你孩子好的教育上！高等大學價格非常昂貴。”

Rob: So, what expression do you use when you want to say that something is very, very expensive?

羅伯：那麼，當你想說某物非常非常昂貴的時候你用什麼短語？

Vera: You might say it costs an arm and a leg.

維拉：你可以說它花費了一隻胳膊和一條腿。

Rob: Yes. Now let's leave this expensive suit here and get out of the shop before that posh-sounding salesman comes back.

羅伯：是的。現在讓我們放下這裏這個昂貴的西服，在那個優雅的銷售員回來之前離開這個店。

Vera: Good idea. He will look down on us, Rob. But I would... pay a nail and an elbow for that scarf there... and that red dress over there, it might cost a foot and a knee... Oh, look at that handbag! It's a designer one and must cost an ear and a hand...

維拉：好主意。他會小看我們的，羅伯。但是我會...爲這裏這條圍巾花費一個指甲和一個胳膊肘...還有那裏那條紅色的裙子，會花費一隻腳和一個膝蓋...哦，看那個手提包！這是設計師設計的，一定會花費一隻耳朵和一隻手...

Rob: What are you talking about, Vera!? We only say "an arm and a leg"! Now, quickly, let's get out of here!

羅伯：你在說什麼，維拉？我們只說“一隻胳膊和一條腿”！現在，快點，離開這裏！

Vera: OK, OK. Bye...

維拉：好的，好的。再見...

Rob: Bye.

羅伯：再見。