A sting in the tail “尾巴有刺痛”原来是“煞风景”的意思
内容简介 Rob 的新爱好可能会给他“a sting in the tail 尾巴刺痛”。不过这个说法到底和“尾巴”有关系吗？看视频，学习一个描述“结局出乎意料”的表达。
大家好，欢迎收听 BBC 英语教学的《》节目。我是冯菲菲，还有我的同事 Rob。
Rob
Hello everyone.
So Rob, I hear you have a new hobby?
Rob
Yes that's right – it's very exciting – let me show you…
怎么这么多蜜蜂？I don't like them – shut the door! 弄了半天，你的新爱好原来就是“养蜂”？
Rob
Yes I'm a beekeeper – and I love it - but there is a sting in the tail.
Of course there's a sting in the tail – bees sting – and it hurts, that's why I don't like them.
Rob
Well, they only sting when they're angry – and anyway, when I said 'there's a sting in the tail' I wasn't referring to the bees. I meant something unpleasant comes with something that is meant to be pleasurable.
Yes, as I said – looking after bees means you're likely to get stung.
Rob
That's true – but what I meant was beekeeping is fun but I wasn't expecting it to cost so much money – I had to buy all these hives and these special protective clothes.
Yes, you do look silly! 在英语里，人们如果说一件事情“has a sting in the tail 尾巴有刺痛”，那么实际要表达的是这件原本很令人享受的事情的结局出人意料，很煞风景，让人不愉快。那么，Rob 说养蜂这个爱好也是“there is a sting in the tail”，因为需要花很多钱来置办蜂巢以及其它所需的衣物和工具。
Rob
Let's hear some examples while I go and get some honey.
Examples
We had a great holiday but it had a sting in the tail – when we got home we discovered our house had been broken into.
I love her new book – the story is funny and romantic – but there's a sting in the tail when someone dies.
Yeah, we all got a pay rise this month, but there's a sting in the tail – we're expected to work longer hours.
A sting in the tail 用来指“令人不快的意外结局”，尤其是一个故事、笑话等出人意料的结局。
Rob
OK , one of the good things about beekeeping is you get this delicious honey – and that's free - go on , try some.
这个蜂蜜真甜！Oh no, you've brought something else with you… it's a bee!
Rob
Don't panic – I'll try to catch it… ouch! That hurt.
Oh dear – it looks like beekeeping has more than one sting in the tail!
Rob
Very funny!
Bye!