BBC地道英语：Mind your p's and q's 注意你的言谈举止

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内容简介

Neil 要做一个重要的演讲，但是菲菲为什么提醒他要特别注意字母 “P” 和 “Q” 呢？听节目，学习短语 “mind your p’s and q’s”——它可以提醒我们在正式场合要注意礼节。

文字稿

（关于台词的备注: 请注意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

So, tonight’s the night, Neil. How do you feel?

Neil

A bit nervous, but mostly excited. I’ve been practising my speech all morning.

Feifei

Just go out there, smile, and don’t forget: mind your p’s and q’s!

Neil

Eh? I know how to spell, Feifei.

Feifei

You know what I mean!

Neil

Don’t worry! I won’t offend anyone.

Feifei

这集 “地道英语” 节目里，我们要教大家如何使用表达 “mind your p’s and q’s”。当我们告诉一个人 “mind your p’s and q’s” 的时候，我们实际是在告诉这个人要注意礼貌，注意自己的言谈举止。

Neil

Feifei, I’m always on my best behaviour. Now, let me practise my speech.

Feifei

And I’ll play some examples.

Examples

Gang, Gang, Gang! How many times have I told you to mind your p’s and q’s when you’re with your grandparents? Grandma doesn't like that kind of language!

Last week’s meeting with our new clients was super frustrating. But I had to mind my p’s and q’s. As they say, the customer’s always right!

Lan always says the first thing that comes into her head. I just hope she minds her p’s and q’s at lunch today.

Feifei

这里是 BBC英语教学的 “地道英语” 节目。在这集节目中，我们教给大家的表达是 “mind your p’s and q’s”。So Neil, finished practising your speech?

Neil

Not yet. I’ve been distracted by today’s phrase. I’ve been looking it up online.

Feifei

And?

Neil

Nobody agrees where it came from. There’re so many theories. One is that printers back in the 19th Century used to get confused between the small letters p and q.

Feifei

They do look similar! So they had to mind their ps and qs. Makes sense.

Neil

And there’s another about bartenders in 17th Century England. They used to serve beer in measures called pints and quarts. Pints with a ‘P’ and quarts with a ‘Q’. When a customer was drinking too much…

Feifei

… They were told to mind their pints and quarts? Their p’s and q’s? Yes, makes sense too.

Neil

And there’s another…

Feifei

Neil?

Neil

Yes?

Feifei

Your speech is in one hour. Shouldn’t you be practising?

Neil

Oh! So it is.

Feifei

And… Mind your p’s and q’s!

Neil

OK, bye!

Feifei

Bye.

实习编辑：姚依明

责任编辑：潘程