英语听力精选进阶版 20121

Don't give up the day job 做好眼下的工作，不要追求不可能成功的事情

（关于台词的备注 :  这不是广播节目的逐字稿件。本文稿可能没有体现录制、编辑过程中对节目做出的改变。）

Feifei

大家好，欢迎收听BBC英语教学为你制作的《地道英语》，我是冯菲菲。

Rob

(singing badly) And me Rob. Hello!

Feifei 

Err¹ Rob, what is that terrible noise? 

Rob

Noise? This is my best singing voice – I need it for my new job.

Feifei

Rob, 要辞职去当歌手？You didn't tell me you were leaving the BBC and going to a new job.

Rob

I'm not – I've got a new part-time job in the evenings to earn a bit of extra cash [tries singing again].

Feifei

Hmm – and this second job involves singing, does it?

Rob

Yes, that's right. I'm going to be a cabaret singer in a nightclub. Good news isn't it?

Feifei

Well, Rob, don't give up the day job!

Rob

Oh – that's an expression which means someone's not very good at doing something and isn't likely ever to be successful at doing it.

Feifei

Yes – but it's used in a humorous and light-hearted way Rob. 这是一个非正式的幽默表达，意思是要告诉对方应该做好眼下的工作，不要追求不可能成功的事情。Sorry Rob, I was trying to be nice.

Rob

Hmm, well, I think we better hear some examples of this phrase in action while I continue to practice my singing (starts singing again).

Feifei

Oh no!

Examples

I wouldn't give up the day job - you're never going to be an actor!

Do you really want to be a writer? I've read your first book and my advice is 'don't give up the day job'!

Don't give up the day job Pete - you're never going to earn a living as a singer!

Feifei

大家都听明白了吧？如果有人对你说 don't give up the day job – 其实就是在婉转地说，你不适合这个新行当，还是保住你眼下的工作，别把业余爱好变成自己的职业。So Rob, have you got the message?

Rob

Yes, I should stick to what I'm good at – so I'll concentrate on doing the day job shall I?

Feifei

Yes, good idea.

Rob

So why we don't we sing together and entertain our listeners then (starts singing)?!

Feifei

Oh Rob, perhaps you should give up the day job as well.

Rob

Oh thanks.

1 err   

vi.犯错误，出差错

参考例句：

• He did not err by a hair's breadth in his calculation.他的计算结果一丝不差。
• The arrows err not from their aim.箭无虚发。