“衹說不做”

Neil: Hello, welcome to Real English from BBC Learning English, I'm Neil.

　　Helen: 大家好，我是 Helen.

　　Neil: In Real English we look at words and phrases people use all the time, but you probably won't find in your dictionary.

　　Helen: 希望您在今天的《地道英語》節目中能學到在詞典裡可能找不到的常用英語表達。 So Neil, have you started writing your novel yet?

　　Neil: No, not yet, but I'm definitely going to start next month, when I have, you know, a bit more free time.

　　Helen: Oh, Neil you're always making excuses! Neil 好久以前就說他要寫書了，結果磨了這麽久，我什麽都沒看見，他肯定一個字都沒寫。

　　Neil: What are you saying, Helen?

　　Helen: You're all mouth and no trousers!

　　Neil: Why, thanks a lot! Helen thinks I'm all mouth and no trousers. Can you explain what that means?

　　Helen: 這個意思就是說，如果有人衹說不做，那我們就可以說他是 all mouth and no trousers. 字麪上的繙譯是 '都是嘴而沒有褲子'.聽起來很奇怪，但是一個很通俗的表達。

　　Example

　　A: Dave's going on about climbing Mount Everest again. He reckons he can do it with just two months' training, but he hasn't even been for a hike yet.
　　B: Yeah, the problem is he's all mouth and no trousers.

　　Neil: So it means he's been talking a lot about climbing Mount Everest but actually we know he's not really going to do it.

　　Helen: Yep. He's all mouth and no trousers. Just like you, Neil.

　　Neil: Hmm.

　　Helen: It's a very long expression, isn't it?

　　Neil: Yes, but you can shorten it.

　　Helen: Oh, I see. 我們可以把這個表達說得更簡單一些。

　　Neil: You can just say 'you're all mouth'.

　　Helen: 可以說 '你都是嘴', 'you're all mouth'. Is it rude?

　　Neil: Well, it depends who you say it to. It's best to keep it to friends.

　　Helen: 這個表達是在朋友之間用用，不然陌生人會覺得你沒禮貌。

　　Neil: Well, that's all we have time for today on Real English. If you want more help with your English, go to our website www.bbcchina.com.cn.

　　Helen: 我們的網址是 www.bbcchina.com.cn. 今天就到這兒，我們下次節目再見。

　　Neil: Bye.