“Friends in high places”难道是说“住在山上的朋友”么？丨BBC听英语

内容简介

常言道：出门靠朋友。广交朋友固然是好事情，但英语表达“friends in high places 高处的朋友”所描述的是什么？节目中，Rob 和菲菲举例讲解。

Feifei

大家好，欢迎来到 BBC 英语教学的《地道英语》节目。我是冯菲菲。

Rob

…you are and I'm Rob.

Feifei

Rob 我有个问题：你是不是有一位住在山顶上的朋友？

Rob

Errr no.

Feifei

What about a friend who lives in La Paz – one of the highest cities in the world?

Rob

Strange question but no.

Feifei

OK. 那有没有住在楼房顶楼的朋友？

Rob

Definitely not. Why are you asking about my friends anyway?

Feifei

咱们同事告诉我说你有“朋友住在高处 friends in high places”。我就是不理解“有住在高处的朋友”对你有什么好处？

Rob

OK, well if you have friends in high places it has nothing to do with their physical location – they are people you know who are powerful and in an important position and are able to help you.

Feifei

啊，原来如此。表达“friends in high places”的意思是“身居高位并愿意用自己的影响力帮朋友一把的人”。 So they're useful people to know then?

Rob

They certainly are. Let's hear some examples of other friends in high places.

Examples

Wang managed to get a promotion, but I'm sure it's only because he knows people in high places.

Thanks to his friends in high places, my boyfriend managed to get tickets for the sold-out rock concert. Yay!

Despite failing her exams, Jane still managed to get a place at university – I'm sure she has friends in high places.

Feifei

这里是 BBC 英语教学的《地道英语》节目。本集节目中教给大家的表达是“friends in high places”。Rob, you know some very important people then?

Rob

Well, yes a few, although not the Queen. Why do you want to know?

Feifei

Well I have to renew my passport and I need someone important to witness my application.

Rob

Oh come on Feifei, you know I could do that.

Feifei

Err sorry Rob. You may be a friend but you're not in a high enough position to do this! Look, it needs a doctor, lawyer or policeman to sign it.

Rob

Great! So how high am I?

Feifei

About this high.

Rob

Oh dear, that low. Time to make some new friends. Bye.

Feifei

Bye.