If you are new here, hi there. I post fun and entertaining English lessons every single Friday.

如果你是新來的，你好。我每週五都會發布有趣好玩的英語課程。

Today, I'm going to be sharing five everyday expressions that will help you to sound more like a native British speaker.

今天，我將與大家分享五種日常表達方式，它們將幫助你說起話來更像一個以英語為母語的英國人。

As always, everything we cover in today's lesson will be included in a free PDF.

與往常一樣，今天課程中涉及的所有內容都將包含在免費的 PDF 文件中。

You don't need to enter your email address, just hit the link in the top comment and press download.

無需輸入電子郵件地址，只需點置頂留言中的連結，然後按「下載」即可。

Right guys, let's do this.

好了，各位，開始吧

So, the first expression does sound a bit weird.

所以，第一種說法聽起來確實有點奇怪。

It sounds like it probably isn't that commonly used but I promise you, this is an everyday expression and it's one that I personally use a lot as well.

聽起來好像不是那麼常用，但我向你保證，這是一個日常用語，我本人也經常使用。

So, the expression is, "I'll eat my hat." I'll eat my hat.

所以，這個用法是「我會吃掉我的帽子」。我會吃掉我的帽子。

So, what does this mean?

那麼，這意味著什麼呢？

Well, this is used when you think that something is very unlikely to happen.

當你認為某件事不太可能發生時，就會用到這個詞。

So, you're kind of saying, if this thing happens, I will be so surprised that I'll eat my hat.

所以，你的意思是說，如果這件事發生了，我會驚訝得把帽子吃掉。

It's almost like you're making a bet with someone.

這就像是你在和別人打賭。

Now that you know what it means, you are probably wondering to yourself, "Well, that sounds cool but how do I use that in my daily life?"

既然你已經知道了它的含義，你可能會想：「這聽起來很酷，但我如何在日常生活中使用它呢？」

Let me tell you.

讓我告訴你。

So, there are two main ways that this expression is used.

這種表達方式主要有兩種用法。

The first way and the most common way, in my opinion, is to say, "I'll eat my hat if... (unlikely thing happens)."

第一種方法，也是最常見的方法，在我看來，就是說：「如果發生（不可能的事情），我就吃掉我的帽子。」

So," I'll eat my hat if pigs start flying."

所以「如果豬開始飛起來，我會吃掉我的帽子。」

You know, you don't think it's going to happen.

你認為這不會發生。

If it does, you'll be so surprised you will actually eat your hat.

但如果真的是這樣，你會驚訝得連帽子都吃掉。

Well, you might not actually do it but, you know, you might.

你可能不會真的這麼做，但你知道，你可能會。

Who knows? We don't really have very good food here so it's always an option.

誰知道呢？我們這裡的食物並不好吃，所以這總是一個選擇。

Let me give you an example, right?

我給你舉個例子吧？

So, I was with my friends the other day and we were sat in a bar having a drink.

那天，我和朋友們坐在酒吧裡喝酒。

We were waiting on one of our other friends to join us and he was saying that he was going to be with us in 20 minutes.

我們在等另一個朋友加入我們，他說他 20 分鐘後就到。

Now, I know this guy, right?

我認識這個人，對吧？

He is a dear friend but I must admit he is a little bit of a sloth in general.

他是我的好朋友，但我必須承認，他平時有點懶散。

Like, this guy is always late to everything.

這傢伙什麼事都遲到。

I'm hardly one to talk but this guy is even worse than me, right?

我沒什麼資格說他，但這傢伙比我還糟糕。

So, he said, "I'll be there in 20 minutes." and I said, "Yeah, right. I'll eat my hat if you're here in 20 minutes."

他說：「我 20 分鐘後到」我說：「最好是啦。如果你能在20分鐘內趕到，我就把帽子吃了。」

So, it just shows that this thing is so unlikely to happen.

所以，這能說明這件事不太可能發生。

I'll eat my hat if it does happen.

如果真的發生了，我會吃掉我的帽子。

So, the second way that you can use this expression is to play the old Uno reverse card, switch it up and actually start by saying the unlikely thing.

使用這種表達方式的第二種方法就是打出「Uno 迴轉牌」，換一種說法，實際上是先說不可能的事。

So, if you're here in 20 minutes, I'll eat my hat.

所以，如果你 20 分鐘內到，我就吃了我的帽子。

As mentioned, I personally prefer the first method.

如前所述，我個人更喜歡第一種方法。

I think it's more common.

我認為這更常見。

I think it flows a bit better as well.

我覺得這樣也更流暢一些。

But you can use whichever one you prefer.

但你也可以根據自己的喜好來選擇。

By the way, this expression actually originates from Charles Dickens himself.

順便說一句，這種說法其實源自查爾斯·狄更斯本人。

So, it's very British indeed.

所以，這的確很有英國特色。

Number two and I really like this one because I can fully visualize it in my mind whilst I'm saying it.

第二點，我非常喜歡這一點，因為我在說的時候可以在腦海中完全想象出來。

So, the expression is, "nothing is set in stone."

這個用法是「沒有什麼是一成不變的」。

Nothing is set in stone.

沒有什麼是一成不變的。

Nothing set in stone.

沒有定論。

So, this expression sounds really cool but what does it actually mean?

這種說法聽起來很酷，但它究竟是什麼意思呢？

Right, let's start by looking at the opposite of this expression.

對了，我們先來看看這個表達式的反面。

If something is set in stone, it means that it has already been decided, right?

如果某件事情已成定局，那就意味著它已經被決定了，不是嗎？

It's going to be very hard, if not, impossible to change.

如果不是不可能，也很難改變。

Let me just show you this picture right here, okay?

讓我給你看看這張照片，好嗎？

So, this picture shows a message that is literally set in stone.

這幅圖想要傳達的就是一成不變的。

So, how are you going to change that?

那麼，你打算如何改變這種狀況呢？

It's going to be hard, right?

會很難吧？

You know, unless you are an extremely skilled stone carver.

要知道，除非你是一個技藝高超的石雕師。

In which case, you know, fair play, mate.

在這種情況下，你知道，公平競爭兄弟。

Therefore, when we say that "nothing is set in stone," this just means that it can be changed, right?

當我們說「沒有什麼是一成不變的」時，這意味著可以改變，對嗎？

It isn't set in stone.

這不是一成不變的。

It isn't too late to change it.

現在改變還為時不晚。

So, let me just show you some examples of how we might use this in an everyday situation.

所以，讓我舉例說明如何在日常情況下使用它。

So, the first thing you need to know is that this is most commonly used when you are making plans with someone.

你首先需要知道的是，這最常用於你與某人制定計劃時。

Just to let them know there is an element of flexibility.

只是要讓他們知道，這其中有一定的靈活性。

You know, we can change these plans if we need to.

你知道，如果有必要，我們可以改變這些計劃。

For example, I was speaking to one of my students the other day and I said something like, "So I've got you booked in for next Tuesday at 6 p.m. But, you know, nothing's set in stone. We can change it if you want."

例如，前幾天我和我的一個學生談話時，我說了這樣的話：「我已經給你預約了下週二下午 6 點的課程。但是，你知道，沒有什麼是一成不變的。 如果你願意，我們可以更改。」

Let me give you another example.

讓我再舉一個例子。

"So, basically mate, the plan for your party is to meet at 6, go for some dinner at 7 and play some darts at 8. But, you know, nothing's set in stone."

「所以，基本上，你們的聚會計劃是 6 點集合，7 點去吃晚飯，8 點玩飛鏢。但是，你知道，沒有什麼是一成不變的。」

"Um, okay, cool. But, wasn't this supposed to be a surprise party?"

「嗯，好吧，酷。但是，這不是一個驚喜派對嗎？」

So, in this example, it just means that these plans can be changed.

所以，在這個例子中，它意味著這些計劃可以更改。

Nothing is set in stone.

沒有什麼是一成不變的。

"So, how do I use this?" I hear you ask.

「那麼，我該如何使用它呢？」我聽到你們在問。

Well, you would normally just say "(Whatever the plan is), but nothing's set in stone."

通常你會說：「（計劃是....），但沒有什麼是一成不變的。」

We're going to play some football at two o'clock tomorrow but nothing's set in stone.

我們將在明天下午兩點踢球，但一切都還沒有定下來。

Expression number three is used to say that something is good but in the most British way possible.

第三種表達方式用來表示某樣東西很好，但是用的是最英國的方式。

So, what do I mean by that?

那麼，我這麼說是什麼意思呢？

Well, British people are intrinsically reserved in most areas of life.

英國人在生活的大多數方面都很保守。

So, we don't like to be too loud, too outgoing, and most notably, we don't like to be too optimistic either.

我們不喜歡太張揚、太外向，最值得注意的是，我們也不喜歡太樂觀。

I'm not just saying we're all a bunch of negative Nancys.

我並不是說我們都是一群消極的南希人。

However, we are just quite reserved in our praise.

不過，我們只是在讚美時比較矜持。

We're cautious.

我們很謹慎。

We don't like getting too excited about things.

我們不喜歡太激動。

And I think that this next expression kind of epitomizes that.

我認為下一句話就體現了這一點。

"So, what is this magical, depressing, pessimistic British way of expressing joy?" I hear you ask.

「那麼，這種神奇、壓抑、悲觀的英國人表達快樂的方式是什麼呢？」我聽到你們在問。

Well, let's say that something good happens.

好吧，假設有好事發生。

Instead of us getting all excited and saying, "Oh, wow, this thing is incredible, it's brilliant, it's amazing, it's fantastic."

我們不會興奮地說：「哦，哇，這東西太不可思議了，太了不起了，太神奇了。」

We might instead say, "Oh, all right, okay, yeah, not too shabby."

我們可能會說：「哦，好吧，好吧，還不錯。」

So, the third expression is "not too shabby."

所以第三種表達方式是「不錯」。

Not too shabby.

還不錯。

Oh, you know, it's not too shabby.

哦，你知道，這還不錯。

And if something is not too shabby, it just means that it's pretty good, right?

如果一件東西還不錯，那就說明它蠻好的，不是嗎？

It's not amazing, but it's pretty good, you know, it's not bad.

它並不驚豔，但也相當不錯，你知道，它還不賴。

So, the word "shabby" has two meanings.

「Shabby」一詞有兩個含義。

It can even mean that something is bad, more specifically in bad condition.

它可以表示某樣東西壞了，更具體地說是狀況不佳。

And it can also mean that something is unfair as well.

它也可能意味著某些事情是不公平的。

So, when we say that something is not too shabby, we are just saying that this thing isn't bad and it isn't unfair either.

所以當我們說某件事情不錯時，我們只是在說這件事並不壞，也並會不公平。

Therefore, it's pretty good, you know, it's not too shabby.

所以它相當不錯，你知道，它還不賴。

So, this is just our reserved way of saying that something is good without showing too much emotion, right, without giving too much praise.

所以，這只是我們說一件事好的保留方式，不需要表現出太多的情感，對吧，不需要給予太多的讚美。

Let me show you some examples.

讓我給你們舉幾個例子。

"All right, mate, how's the new job going?"

「兄弟，新工作怎麼樣？」

"It's great."

「太棒了。」

"I get paid a million pounds a month and, oh, guess what? I get 20 days of holiday as well."

「我每月能拿到一百萬英鎊的薪水，你猜怎麼著？我還有 20 天的假期。」

"What? Really? 20 days of holiday? Wow, that's not too shabby."

「什麼？真的嗎？ 20 天假期？ 哇，這還不錯。」

So, in this example, 20 days of holiday is not unfair.

在這個例子中，20 天假期並不會很糟。

So, therefore, it's not too shabby.

這還不錯。

A million pounds a month is also not too shabby.

每月一百萬英鎊也不錯。

Another example might be if you have just moved into a new home and this place is nice and clean.

另一個例子是，你剛搬進新家，新家既漂亮又乾淨。

If you were giving someone a tour, if you're showing someone around, they might say, "Okay, yeah, it's not too shabby."

如果你帶人参觀，如果你帶人四處轉轉，他們可能會說：「是的，還不錯。」

So, in this case, it's not in bad condition.

在這種情況下，它的狀況並不差。

It's not too shabby.

這還不賴。

It's pretty good.

很不錯。

The next expression is "easier said than done."

下一句話「說起來容易，做起來難」。

Easier said than done.

說起來容易，做起來難。

So, this is one of those idioms that has a very literal meaning.

所以，這是一個字面意思非常明顯的成語。

Let me just ask you a question, all right?

讓我問你一個問題，好嗎？

So, what do you think is easier to do?

你認為什麼更容易做到呢？

Number one, say the words, I'm going to the moon.

第一，說「我要去月球」。

Or number two, actually going to the moon.

或者第二，實際登上月球。

So, leaving your house, finding a rocket, persuading someone to give you a lift to the moon and successfully get to the moon whilst, you know, not dying.

所以，離開你的家，找到火箭，說服別人送你去月球，並成功到達月球，同時不要掛掉。

Obviously, it's a lot easier just to say that you are going to the moon than to actually go there.

顯然，光說要去月球要比真正去月球容易得多。

So, we use this expression, it's easier said than done, to say that while something may sound very straightforward or simple in theory;

所以我們用」說起來容易，做起來難」來形容一件事，雖然理論上聽起來非常簡單直接，

in reality, it's going to be a lot more difficult and complicated to actually do that thing.

但實際上要做起來卻要困難得多，複雜得多。

Right, I know that example was a little bit silly.

對，我知道這個例子有點傻。

I know that sounds so obvious, but this is genuinely an everyday expression.

我知道這聽起來很明顯，但這確實是一種日常表達方式。

So, let me give you a couple of realistic examples.

那麼，讓我舉幾個現實的例子。

"Listen, mate, if you're struggling for money, why don't you just ask your boss for a raise?"

「聽著，兄弟，如果你在為錢掙扎，為什麼不直接向老闆要求加薪呢？」

"Well, yeah, but you know, that's easier said than done."

「嗯，是的，但你知道，說起來容易做起來難。」

"All right, mate, are you excited for your trip to Africa then?"

「好了，兄弟，你對非洲之行感到興奮嗎？」

"Yeah, I am, of course, but I just hope that I don't get bit by any mosquitoes."

「是的，我當然很興奮，但我只希望不會被蚊子叮咬。」

"Although, that might be easier said than done."

「不過，說起來容易做起來難。」

So, the next time you are talking about something that sounds very simple and straightforward in theory, but in reality, you know, it's going to be a lot more complicated than that, why not say it's easier said than done?

所以，下次當你在談論一些理論上聽起來非常簡單直接，但實際上要比這複雜得多的事情時，何不說「說起來容易做起來難」呢？

Okay, so the final expression from today's video is...

好了，今天影片的最後一個表達方式是......

Well, it's not actually that.

其實不是這個。

It's, "I don't have a clue."

是「我毫無頭緒」。

I don't have a clue.

我一點頭緒都沒有。

So, the expression is, I don't have a clue.

所以，這個用法是「我沒有頭緒」。

And if you don't have a clue, it just means that you don't have any knowledge about something.

如果你毫無頭緒，那隻能說明你對某件事情一無所知。

So, perhaps you have just forgotten what you knew about it, or maybe you never knew about it in the first place.

所以，也許你只是忘記了你對它的瞭解，也許你本來就不瞭解它。

So, a clue is just a piece of information.

「Clue」的意思是一條資訊。

And this word is normally used when people are investigating a crime.

而這個詞通常在人們調查犯罪時使用。

They might say, "Oh, I've got a clue about this big murder case."

他們可能會說：「哦，我已經掌握了這起謀殺大案的線索。」

However, that isn't really that relevant to this expression.

不過，這與這一表述並無多大關係。

Anyway, if you don't have a clue, it just means you have no information about it whatsoever.

總之，如果你沒有線索，就說明你根本不瞭解這方面的資訊。

This expression is very commonly used.

這種說法非常常用。

So, let me give you some examples.

那麼，讓我舉幾個例子。

"All right, mate, I don't suppose you've seen my favorite mug, have you? It's the one with the birds on it."

「好了，兄弟，我想你還沒見過我最喜歡的杯子吧？就是上面有鳥的那個。」

"I don't have a clue where it is."

「我不知道它在哪裡。」

"Um, no, no idea, mate. Sorry."

「嗯，不，不知道。對不起。」

"What are you going to do about your mug then?"

「那你打算怎麼處理你的杯子？」

"I don't have a clue, mate."

「我一點頭緒都沒有。」

"There's not much I can do, really."

「我真的無能為力。」

So, some other examples might be, "I don't have a clue who to vote for."

其他一些例子可能是：「我不知道該投誰的票」

"Honestly... I did not have a clue who that was."

「老實說... 我根本不知道那是誰。」

"Do you know who invented the airplane?" "Mate, I don't have a clue."

「你知道飛機是誰發明的嗎？」「兄弟，我也不知道。」

"My car was just broken down and honestly, I don't have a clue how to fix it."

「我的車剛拋錨，說實話，我根本不知道怎麼修。」

So, this is just an informal way of saying, I have no idea.

所以，這是一種非正式的說法表達「我不知道」。

All right, guys, well, we seem to be in the outro.

好了，各位，我們似乎進入尾聲了。

So, I wanted to say thank you so much for watching today's video.

所以，我想說，非常感謝你們收看今天的影片。

As mentioned, everything we covered today will be included in a free PDF.

如前所述，我們今天介紹的所有內容都將包含在一份免費的 PDF 文件中。

The link is in the top comment.

連結在置頂的留言中。

You don't need to sign up to anything or enter your email address.

無需註冊或輸入電子郵件。

Just hit the link and press download.

只需點開連結並按下載即可。

All I ask in return is that if you did enjoy today's video, I don't know, why not consider liking the video, subscribing to the channel and maybe commenting down below.

如果你喜歡今天的影片，我只要求你按讚這部影片、訂閱頻道並在下面發表評論。

I know those all sound like quite small things, but honestly, they make such a big difference.

我知道這些聽起來都是很小的事情，但老實說，它們會帶來很大的不同。

I have done a few of these everyday expression videos before.

我以前拍過一些這樣的日常表達影片。

So, I'll put the playlist on the screen.

所以，我會把播放清單放到螢幕上。

I reckon it'll be about here.

我估計大概就在這裡。

All right.

好的。

And I also reckon about here, it'll be telling you to subscribe.

我還認為，大約在這裡，它會告訴你要訂閱。

So, you know, you may as well do that as well.

所以，你也可以這麼做。

All right, guys, thank you again so much for watching and I will see you next Friday for another video.

好了，大家，再次感謝你們的收看，下週五的影片再見。

Cheers.

掰。