[圖片來源：Getty Images]

內容簡介

想象一個人無事可做、百無聊賴，坐等事情發生時捂弄大拇指的樣子。英語表達 “twiddle your thumbs” 正可用來形容此景。主持人菲菲和 Rob 在這期節目中講解這個表達的用法。

文字稿

（關于臺詞的備注: 請注意這不是廣播節目的逐字稿件。本文稿可能沒有體現錄制、編輯過程中對節目做出的改變。）

Feifei
大家好！歡迎收聽 “地道英語” 節目。我是菲菲。

Rob
… and me, Rob. Now, our piece of authentic real English in this programme is, Feifei?

Feifei
Twiddle your thumbs.

Rob
Oh. OK, I will. Err… what are we waiting for?

Feifei
Nothing, Rob! “Twiddle your thumbs” 是這期節目中我們要教給大家的表達。

Rob
Oh, sorry, Feifei. I thought you were telling me to wait around, not do anything, until something happens.

Feifei
Why would I do that?

Rob
Err… so you can watch me twiddle my thumbs?

Feifei
Rob，我說你什么好呢！“Twiddle your thumbs” 是一個口語表達，意思是 “閑得無聊，百無聊賴”。大家可以想象這樣一個情景：一個人坐著，很不耐煩地捂弄著大拇指，等待著某事情的發生。這個情景就可以用 “twiddle your thumbs” 來形容。But Rob, you can twiddle your thumbs again, while we listen to some examples…

Examples
Where have you been? I've been twiddling my thumbs, waiting for you to arrive.

Just twiddle your thumbs while we work out how the computer works.

I've been twiddling my thumbs because I arrived early for the meeting.

Feifei
你正在收聽 BBC英語教學的 “地道英語” 節目。上面，我們給大家講解了 “twiddle your thumbs” 的意思和用法。

Rob
We don't actually have to twiddle our thumbs when we have nothing to do, do we?

Feifei
Of course not. It just describes having nothing to do.

Rob
So, you mean being bored?

Feifei
Yes, exactly – and you know what's a good solution to stop you from twiddling your thumbs?

Rob
No.

Feifei
Do something! Like making your colleague a nice cup of tea. 

Rob
Oh, hint taken. See you later!

Feifei
Bye.