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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
Off the back of a lorry 来路不明
Li: Hi Finn. I'm so happy. I'm going to buy a brand new computer this afternoon and it's very, very cheap.
Finn: What a bargain, Li! Where are you going to buy it? Can I go with you?
Li: I'm going to meet a friend of my neighbour's cousin. He's selling it.
Finn: Do you know this man, Li?
Li: No, but he sounded very nice on the phone. He's nice but a bit clumsy.
Finn: Alright. Why?
Li: He told me the computer fell off the back of his lorry but it works perfectly1.
Finn: It fell off the back of a lorry?!
Li: Yes. But it came in a very strong box and he said it was in perfect condition.
Finn: Li, the computer didn't actually fall off anywhere. It was taken.
Li: What do you mean?!
Finn: In English, when you say something 'fell off the back of a lorry', or if you say something is 'off the back of a lorry', what you mean is that it was received in suspicious circumstances. It was probably stolen.
Li: Stolen?! 原来从货车后面掉下来 'fell off the back of a lorry' 是一种婉转表达，其真正的意思是来路不明的东西，甚至可能是偷来的东西！
Finn: Yes. 'Off the back of a lorry' is today's expression in Authentic2 Real English. Let's hear some examples of how it's used.
The police have been looking for a local man who doesn’t mind selling mobile phones that fell off the back of a lorry.
The black market was thriving when the war ended. It wasn't difficult to find all sorts of things off the back of a lorry.
Li: Thank you, Finn, for the warning. I'm not going to buy that cheap computer now.
Finn: Well, I'm sorry to have disappointed you, Li, but it's always good to know these unusual expressions in English!
Li: Well, there goes my bargain. Back to saving money to buy a computer in a real shop.
Finn: Good idea. What is cheap might end up costing much more than you expect.
Li: Indeed. I won't buy stuff off the back of a lorry. Better safe than sorry. Bye.
Finn: Bye.
收听单词发音 |
1
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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2
authentic
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| a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的 | |
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