Neil: This is Real English from BBC Learning
English. I’m Neil.
Helen: 嗨,大家好,我是 Helen。
Neil: Today we’re going to look at words and phrases
that have recently become part of the English language.
Helen:
在地道英語這個節目中,我們來一塊兒學習英語中出現的新鮮詞匯短語和習慣表達。那 Neil,今天我們學習的新詞是什么呢?
Neil: Today’s new expression is trophy wife.
Helen: Trophy wife,在 wife 前面加個 trophy,這是什么意思呢?
Neil: Well, we all know what wife means.
Helen: Wife 我敢肯定,人家都知道這就是妻子,老婆的意思。
Neil: And a trophy is a medal, something you can show
off to your friends and family.
Helen: 嗯,trophy 的意思也挺簡單的,就是獎章,獎杯的意思。但是它和 wife
一起說的話,又代表什么呢?
Neil: A trophy wife is a beautiful, young wife that
proves you have been successful, as a businessman, for example.
Helen: 哦,我明白了。A trophy wife
就是一個年輕漂亮姑娘嫁給了一個很有錢的男人。那不就是我們常說的綁大款嘛?!那么對男人來說,這樣的老婆也只不過是個花瓶罷了。那一般我們都在什么場合用這個詞呢?
Neil: Well, it’s an informal word, and it is a
negative thing to say about somebody.
Helen: 這是個貶義詞,一般用在非正式場合。
Neil: Yes. Don’t say "Ah, this is Helen. She’s my
trophy wife".
Insert
A: Have you seen his wife? She’s very pretty, but she must
be 20 years younger than him!
B: At least! But you know John – he’s a millionaire. He
wanted a trophy wife to show off at parties, and she just wanted his money!
Neil: In the USA, many rich businessmen have trophy
wives.
Helen: 真的嗎?在美國很多有錢的商人都有個象花瓶一樣的老婆。
Neil: Yes. In Beverly Hills you need a sports car, a
big house and a trophy wife.
Helen: I see. So could you see yourself having a
trophy wife, then, Neil?
Neil: I don’t think so!
Helen: Why not?
Neil: I want a woman who loves me. It shouldn't matter
if I’m rich or poor.
Helen: 貧窮或者富有都不重要的,最重要的是擁有一個愛你的人。
Neil: Anyway, let’s recap – trophy wife – means a
young, attractive wife married to a successful, rich, often older man.
Helen: 那么 trophy wife
就是那些很有錢的大老板娶回家的漂亮年輕的妻子,這些有錢人一般年紀都很大。
Neil: You’ve been listening to Real English from BBC
Learning English. Join us again soon for more up-to-the-minute Real English.
Helen: See you next time.
Neil: Bye.