英语听力精选进阶版 19585

Have a lot on my plate 自顾不暇

Feifei: This is a great restaurant, Finn. I'm glad we could finally come here and try out their new menu.

Finn: It is a good restaurant, Feifei. But, well, I haven't been able to relax and enjoy a nice meal in the last few weeks.

Feifei: Really?

Finn: Yeah, well, I'm moving home soon…

Feifei: Oh, I know how difficult it is to find a new flat.

Finn: Yes. And my grandmother has been complaining that I don't visit her in Scotland¹ very often…

Feifei: Yes, our elders like us to visit every now and again.

Finn: And this new project at work…

Feifei: I've noticed that you have been working late... 

Finn: I simply have too much on my plate right now! 

Feifei: Oh, if you have too much on your plate, can I help you? 

Finn: Yes, well, that would be nice… 

Feifei: Leave it to me. Let me take some of this lovely looking chicken from you. Mmm… this is very tasty... 

Finn: Feifei, what are you doing?! You're taking food from my plate?! 

Feifei: Mmmm… I must find out how they cook this chicken. It tastes so good! 

Finn: Feifei, I didn't mean for you to take food from my plate. In English, when you say you 'have a lot on your plate' or 'too much on your plate', you mean you have a lot of work to do or a lot of problems to deal with.

Feifei: You have a lot on your plate 意思就是你有很多事儿要处理已经忙不过来了，我们也可以用 too much on your plate 这个表达，它俩的意思是一样的。 

Finn: 'Have a lot on my plate' is today's expression in Authentic² Real English. Let's hear some examples of how it's used.

Ann has a lot on her plate at the moment. She's just had twins!

Sorry, but the manager can't speak to you today. The company is launching³ new products next week and she's got too much on her plate right now.

Feifei: Oh, so this expression has nothing to do with this delicious food you have on your plate. 

Finn: Come on, Feifei. You knew this expression already – you just wanted to pinch⁴ my chicken! 

Feifei: Okay, guilty as charged! This chicken looks so appetising… and these potatoes and... 

Finn: Feifei, I can share them with you. 

Feifei: Thank you, Finn. And you can share the workload⁵, too. I can help you with your new project so you’ll have time to go and visit your granny. 

Finn: Feifei, I'm very grateful. Here, have some more potatoes. And… I like the look of that carrot mash⁶ you have on your plate. 

Feifei: Here, have some… this food is lovely! We'll have clean plates in no time at all. Bye. 

Finn: Bye.

1 Scotland   

n.苏格兰

参考例句：

• He has been hiking round Scotland for a month.他围着苏格兰徒步旅行了一个月。
• Scotland is to the north of England.苏格兰在英格兰之北。

2 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。

3 launching   

n.（火箭等的）发射；（船的）下水（典礼）；发动；发行v.发射( launch的现在分词 )；[计算机]开始（应用程序）；发动；开展（活动、计划等）

参考例句：

• They are launching out into a series of scientific experiments. 他们正在着手进行一系列科学试验。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• John is launching his son on a career in banking. 约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 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。

5 workload   

n.作业量，工作量

参考例句：

• An assistant one day a week would ease my workload.每周有一天配一个助手就会减轻我的工作负担。
• He's always grousing about the workload.他总是抱怨工作量大。

6 mash   

n.麦芽浆，糊状物，土豆泥；v.把…捣成糊状，挑逗，调情

参考例句：

• He beat the potato into a mash before eating it.他把马铃薯捣烂后再吃。
• Whiskey,originating in Scotland,is distilled from a mash of grains.威士忌源于苏格兰，是从一种大麦芽提纯出来的。