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內容簡介

英語中有個包含單詞 “theatre” 的搭配，可以用來描述 “某人用戲劇化的表演讓自己看起來很忙，其實并沒有在認真工作的現象”。在工作中，你見過這樣的 “影帝” 或 “影后” 嗎？聽節目，學習 “productivity theatre” 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。）

Jiaying
大家好，歡迎收聽 BBC英語教學的 “地道英語” 節目，with you, Neil.

Neil
… and you, Jiaying. And for today's English phrase, we're off to the theatre – but not literally.

Jiaying
“The show must go on.” 和 “All the world's a stage.” 這兩句話都和 “theatre（戲劇）” 有關，對吧？

Neil
They are – but this phrase is completely new and describes the act of someone appearing to work hard when in reality they're not being very productive. We call this 'productivity theatre'.

Jiaying
Productivity theatre. 名詞 “productivity” 的意思是 “生產力，工作效率”，而名詞 “theatre” 在這里的意思是 “做戲”，比喻 “某人給他人留下了工作忙、效率高的印象，但這其實是裝的”。搭配 “productivity theatre” 就描述這種 “工作高效的假象”。

Neil
Correct. 'Theatre' used as an adjective can describe someone's exaggerated or insincere behaviour. We call this 'theatrical'. So, in the workplace, someone may try to look busy by speaking loudly or shuffling lots of paper, but it's an act – they are performing productivity theatre.

Jiaying
所以，我們不應該被這種 “假裝忙碌” 的行為所欺騙。看上去忙可不意味著真忙，這很可能是 “productivity theatre（演出來的忙碌）”。I think we should hear more about this in these examples.

Examples
She says she hasn't time to write the report, but I know it's just productivity theatre.

Typing loudly at work isn't really being efficient, it's just productivity theatre!

She always claims she has to work late, but I know she slinks off when everyone’s gone home – it's productivity theatre!

Jiaying
在本期 “地道英語” 節目中，我們正在學習新搭配 “productivity theatre” 的含義和用法。我們用它來描述 “某人看起來在賣力工作，給人留以勤奮的印象，實則是裝出來的假象”。Something you would never do, Neil?

Neil
Of course! But I have heard about people who work from home, and while watching TV, they occasionally send an email, so it looks like they're working. A great example of productivity theatre.

Jiaying
I know people who say they're very busy, and I see them on their computer doing online shopping!

Neil
Productivity theatre?

Jiaying
Yes, indeed.

Neil
Hmm, you know, I might give productivity theatre a try, Jiaying.

Jiaying
Not before you've finished all your work!

Neil
OK. More productivity and less theatre for now. See you next time.

Jiaying
Bye.