内容简介

Rob 特别生气 - 他让孩子们收拾房间，但不管怎么说都没用。可是这和“until you are blue in the face 脸变蓝”有什么关系呢？听节目。

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（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
大家好，欢迎收听BBC英语教学的《地道英语》节目。我是冯菲菲，还有我的同事 Rob。Errr Rob, wake up!

Rob
Oh yeah hi.

Feifei
你这是怎么了？

Rob
It's the kids. My house is a mess – toys, pencils, paints everywhere - and I've been trying to get them to clear everything up.

Feifei
看你这表情，我可以猜到结果。I guess you haven't been successful?  

Rob
No. I shouted at them until I was blue in the face – but the house is still a mess.

Feifei
你的脸变蓝色了？Rob, you don't look blue to me – just your normal colour.

Rob
I know that – what I mean is, I'm wasting my time because it won't happen – whatever I say I won't get the result I want…

Feifei
… which is a tidy house. 在英语里，until you are blue in the face 这个比喻很好玩儿，它的字面意思是“直到脸变蓝色”，但实际要表达的意思是不论你怎么说、怎么干，都是无用的；就算磨破嘴皮子到脸色发青也没用，它通常被用在当你想让某人做一件事情的语境中。Oh dear Rob, it sounds like you have no control over your kids.

Rob
You're probably right. But I'm not alone - let's hear some other people who are 'blue in the face'.

Examples
I've told him to get here on time until I'm blue in the face but still he continues to arrive late.

He told her not to break the speed limit on the motorway until he was blue in the face but she still did it and guess what? She got a speeding ticket!

Feifei
表达 until I am blue in the face 或 until you are blue in the face 的意思就是“任凭你磨破嘴皮”也没用。I know what that's like Rob.

Rob
Really?

Feifei
Yes. Every time you make me a coffee I always ask you to put two sugars in it – but you never do!

Rob
Err, pardon Feifei? Sorry I wasn't listening. I'm so tired.

Feifei
Why are you so tired Rob – all you did was ask the kids to tidy up.

Rob
Yes but because they didn't listen to me, I had to tidy up everything.

Feifei
Actually I can see that… you really are blue in the face，这回你的脸还真变蓝色了。Look you've got blue paint there…and there… and there…

Rob
Arghhh! Those damn kids!

Feifei
Calm down, Rob. Your face is turning red!

Both
Bye!