地道英语：挣不了几个小钱儿

　　Work for Peanuts

　　挣不了几个小钱儿

　　Li: Hello and welcome to Authentic Real English, Im Li. And here with me is Neil. Hi Neil!

　　Neil: Hi Li! Before we start the programme Ive got some good news for you.

　　Li: Yes?

　　Neil: Ive just fixed your bike tyres as I promised!

　　Li: Oh Great! I am so happy, Neil! 你终于把我的自行车修好了!你知道，我每天上下班就靠这自行车了。I ride it when I come into work and when I go home. 上个星期我把车拿到修车店，可是他们竟没有修好。But now thanks to you I can use it again!

　　Neil: I am glad to have been of service but Well, you know, you told me youd pay me for the work Well, now would be a good time because I am a bit short of cash at the moment, actually.

　　Li: Oh, you want to receive some payment as I promised you? 我的确说过要回报你! Thats fair. Here you are!

　　Neil: What are these?

　　Li: Your payment, Neil.

　　Neil: Peanuts?!

　　Li: Yes, Neil, 花生。 You keep saying that there are people who work for peanuts! 你不总是说，很多人都在为挣花生而工作吗?这不，我给了你一大把花生还不行?

　　Neil: Yes I have said that on occasions but its got nothing to do with food! To work for peanuts is an expression in English that means to work for a very small payment.

　　Li: Now you tell me, Neil! 这么说 work for peanuts的意思是辛苦工作, 但是挣不到大钱。 Is that what you mean?

　　Neil: Yes. Think. A peanut is something very small and cheap.

　　Woman: My cousin is a catwalk model and she travels all over the world! But before she became famous she used to work for peanuts! She could hardly buy a lipstick.

　　Man: I am going to ask for a pay rise. I am tired of working for peanuts!

　　Li: Oh, I am sorry, Neil, when you said that some people work for peanuts 我以为你特别想要花生作为回报呢!

　　Neil: Thats okay, Li. But now that you know I dont work for peanutswill you give me some money?

　　Li: Oh yes, of course. As soon as we finish the programme Ill pay you with cash. 我的钱包在办公室的抽屉里，等回去我就把钱给你。 So now give me back my peanuts.

　　Neil: (sound of chewing)

　　Li: Neil, the peanuts! 那你还给我花生吧! 我从早上到现在还没吃东西呢，饿死了， I am hungry.

　　Neil: (speak while still chewing) But I am hungry too and these peanuts taste great!

　　Li: I know they do. I bought them in the new grocery shop around the corner. 那个食品店特好。

　　Neil: Dont worry, Li. As soon as you pay me we can go down there and Ill buy you some more of these delicious peanuts.

　　Li: Okay. I dont work for peanuts either but I am glad to eat some. 我特喜欢吃花生! Lets go then.

　　Neil: (sound of monkey) I want some peanuts! (sound of monkey)

　　Li: So do I, Neil, but why are you making this odd, funny noise? 你听上去像个猴子!

　　Neil: Well, you know what they say: if you pay peanuts you get monkeys!

　　Li: Okay, I got the message. 你给的是花生就只能招到猴子，这同汉语中的微薪养蠢材 类似。 Lets go. Bye!

　　Neil: (sound of monkey)