【突破英文对话】Don’t Beat around the Bush不要拐弯抹角

One friend is telling another bad news. 

一个人在向他的朋友讲述坏消息。 

 

A: I’ve been waiting for an hour! Where have you been? 

 

 

B: I got stuck in traffic on the way back from Joe’s office. 

 

 

A: Okay. Tell me exactly what Joe said. Don’t beat around the bush¹. Give it to me straight. 

 

 

B: Hold your horses! I’ll tell you in a minute. Let me catch my breath². I just got here and I told you traffic was terrible. 

 

 

A: You can do that later. Tell me. What did Joe say? 

 

 

B: Do you really want to know? Even if it’s bad news? 

 

 

A: Of course I do. Just tell me. 

 

 

B: Okay. If you really want to know. He said you always try to pull the wool over his eyes. He thinks you are dishonest. 

 

 

A: What? That’s not true! Perhaps I exaggerate³ a little. But that’s all. I’ve never tried to deceive⁴ him. 

 

 

B: Why don’t you do what I do? 

 

 

A: What’s that? 

 

 

B: Take his remark with a grain of salt. 

 

 

A: That’s easy for you to say, he’s not your boss! 

 

 

B: Yeah, but I’ve known⁵ him for ten years. I’m telling you, his comment isn’t worth worrying about. 

 

 

A: I hope you’re right. 

1 bush   

n.灌木，灌木丛，矮树

参考例句：

• This bush has grown up a lot in the last few months.这矮树丛几个月来已向上长高了很多。
• A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.一鸟在手，胜于二鸟在林。

2 breath   

n.呼吸，气息，微风，迹象，精神，一种说话的声音

参考例句：

• I'm just going out for a breath of fresh air.我正要出去呼吸新鲜空气。
• While climbing up the stairs the old man always loses his breath.那老人上楼时总是气喘吁吁的。

3 exaggerate   

v.夸大，夸张

参考例句：

• If you exaggerate,people will no longer believe you.如果你说话虚夸，人们便不会相信你了。
• Don't exaggerate the difficulties of your work.别夸大你的工作困难。

4 deceive   

vt.欺骗，使弄错；vi.行骗

参考例句：

• I think this is just a government ploy to deceive the public.我认为这只是政府欺骗公众的手段。
• Don't try to deceive me.你别诳我。

5 known   

adj.大家知道的；知名的，已知的

参考例句：

• He is a known artist.他是一个知名的艺术家。
• He is known both as a painter and as a statesman.他是知名的画家及政治家。