Exercise 练一练
1. If you are at a loose end, are you:
a) busy, with lots to do?
b) free, and looking for something to do?
c) lost?
2. This expression was originally used on:
a) ships
b) trains
c) aeroplanes
Script 文本阅读
You’re listening to British Council’s English Online podcast and I’m Nina. Today on Language Snacks we take a look at the expression at a loose end. Let’s listen to the dialogue.
您现在收听的是英国领事馆英语在线栏目，我是尼娜。今天的语言小点心节目我们来学一下at a loose end这个短语，一起来听下面的对话。
A: Hi! Do you want to have lunch?
A：嗨，想去吃晚餐了吗？
B: Sure, but I thought you had a meeting with John.
B：当然好，不过我以为你要和约翰开会呢。
A: Oh, he had to cancel, so I'm at a loose end.
A：噢，他有事取消了，所以现在我没事做了。
B: Great, I'll just get my coat.
B：太好了，我去拿外套。
Most of us lead very busy lives these days, but do you ever finish everything you have to do and find that you have a bit of spare time to fill? In these situations, when we have free time, but we don't know what to do with it, we say we are at a loose end.
近段时间很多人都过着忙忙碌碌的生活，不过你有没有过完成手头上所有事情后有那么一点点的空闲时间呢？当我们有空却不知道做些什么打发的时候，我们就可以称这种情况为at a loose end，无事可做，闲着。
This expression was originally about sailors' ropes which had become untied, or 'loose', and therefore were not being used properly.
这个短语最开始形容水手没有绑紧绳子，松掉了，绳子就派不上用场了。
And that’s it for now – join us again for some more Language Snacks.
好了，今天的节目就到这里，欢迎大家继续关注下期语言小点心。
You’ve been listening to English Online – the podcast for English learners in China.
您正在收听的是英语在线，中国英语学习者的英语学习播客。
Key 参考答案
1. b
2. a
