英语听力精选进阶版 19577

Take it with a pinch¹ of salt 半信半疑

Neil: Hello, Helen. Thanks for inviting² me here. It's a lovely cafe, isn't it?

Helen: Yes, it is, Neil. Actually, I wanted to ask you a favour. I know you play the piano and I'd like you to teach me.

Waitress: Here is your tea. Madam, sir…

Helen: Thank you. I'll pour it.

Neil: I'd be happy to teach you the piano. Are you buying one? 

Helen: No. Our colleague John is giving me one. 

Neil: Giving you a piano?

Helen: Yes. He said he's moving to Australia and will give me his piano. Sugar in your tea? 

Neil: I'd take that with a pinch of salt! 

Helen: Oh… Okay. 

Neil: What are you doing?! 

Helen: You said you would take that with a pinch of salt, so I am putting some in your tea. 

Neil: No, I didn't mean put salt in my tea! I was talking about our colleague John. You need to take what John says with a pinch of salt. 

Helen: Er, I'm confused.

Neil: In English, when we say 'take it with a pinch of salt', we mean don't believe in it completely because it might not be true. 

Helen: Take it with a pinch of salt 这个表达的意思是不能完全相信，就是对某事持有半信半疑的态度。Neil 说，我不应该完全相信我们同事 John 对我许下的承诺，应该对 John 说的话采取 take it with a pinch of salt 的态度。So, John's not going to give me his piano? 

Neil: John's always planning to move abroad and promising³ things. I'm still waiting for a sofa he promised me last year. He said he was going to Peru!

Helen: Oh, I see. 

Neil: 'With a pinch of salt' is today's expression in Authentic⁴ Real English. Here are some examples of how it's used.

When my cousin says he has absolutely no money, you have to take that with a pinch of salt. He's just mean.

I take everything Mary says with a pinch of salt. She tends to exaggerate⁵ things.

Helen: Thank you for warning me, Neil. John is a good person but he can't make up his mind. 

Neil: That's right. But if you ever want to learn to play the piano, I can teach you. I'm not very good at it but I can teach you what I know. And you don't need to take that with a pinch of salt. 

Helen: Oh, you're such a sweetie! 

Neil: A sweetie who likes his tea with sugar rather than salt. 

Helen: I'm sorry about that! 

Neil: Bye. 

Helen: Bye.

1 pinch   

n.捏，撮，困苦，偷窃；vt.掐，使...困苦，偷窃

参考例句：

• She would pinch on food in order to spend on clothing.她过去常把伙食费省下来买衣服。
• He put a pinch of salt on his food.他在自己的食物上撒了一撮盐。

2 inviting   

adj.诱人的，引人注目的

参考例句：

• An inviting smell of coffee wafted into the room.一股诱人的咖啡香味飘进了房间。
• The kitchen smelled warm and inviting and blessedly familiar.这间厨房的味道温暖诱人，使人感到亲切温馨。

3 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

4 authentic   

a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的

参考例句：

• This is an authentic news report. We can depend on it. 这是篇可靠的新闻报道, 我们相信它。
• Autumn is also the authentic season of renewal. 秋天才是真正的除旧布新的季节。

5 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。