Left, right, and centre 四面八方

Neil

And hello, I'm Neil.

Hey Neil, I couldn't help overhearing just now but Rob says he's bought a new car?

Neil

Yes, a red one with one of those tops that folds back.

我们的同事 Rob 买了一辆跑车！肯定特别贵。It must have cost him a fortune!

Neil

Oh, you know Rob – he spends money left, right, and centre.

他花钱“left, right, and centre”？你的意思是他到处乱花钱？

Neil

That's right. It's a phrase that just means everywhere or all the time.

我懂了。表达“left, right, and centre”的意思是“时时刻刻，到处，四面八方”。I suppose left, right, and centre is everywhere – in all directions.

Neil

That’s correct. And there are examples left, right, and centre – such as these.

Examples

I'm not surprised the cafe closed, it's been losing customers left, right, and centre over the past couple of years.

You can't miss that new film; they've been promoting it left, right, and centre.

“Left, right, and centre”有时在日常对话中可以被省略地说成“left and right”或“right and left”。Actually, I want to know how Rob can afford a new sports car?

Neil

Well, our boss has been handing out bonuses left, right, and centre – he must have got a big one!

The bonuses aren't that big. It's the bank – they're happy to give out loans left, right, and centre!

Neil

I think you may be right – anyway the good thing is he'll take us for a drive in his new car. Here he comes now…

Rob

Hi there. Jump in!

Bye.

Neil

Bye.