地道英语：失灵了

　　Playing Up

　　失灵了

　　Rob: Hello, Im Rob.

　　Helen: Hi 大家好，我是 Helen 欢迎收听地道英语。

　　Rob: Hold on Helen. We cant hear you properly.

　　Helen: Whats happening?

　　Rob: I think your microphones playing up.

　　Helen: Playing up 玩起来?

　　Rob: Sorry, sorry, I didnt quite catch that.

　　Helen: Let me just push this button. There! 我的麦克刚才出问题了。But Rob you said the microphone was playing up?

　　Rob: Thats right. It wasnt working properly. You see, if something isnt working as it should be, we sometimes say its playing up.

　　Helen: 如果什么东西不像原来那么好用了，或者出现小故障，那么我们就可以说 its playing up. 只能是 playing up not down?

　　Rob: Nope. Playing down something is a different expression that means something totally different.

　　Helen: OK. So as the picture on my TV at home is flickering, I can say my TV is playing up?

　　Rob: Exactly. And lets hear about some other things that are playing up

　　I dont think Ill be able to give you a lift to work today; my cars been playing up.

　　My phone keeps playing up. Every time I dial a number, it just switches itself off.

　　Helen: That sounds like my phone! 如果一个东西时好时坏，那么它表现可真不好，它失灵了 its misbehaving.

　　Rob: Ha ha! You could say that. And its just like people. When they misbehave we say theyre playing up. Like this

　　Sorry, but Im going to be late. The children have been playing up and Ive still got so much to do.

　　Helen: 当小孩子们表现不好时，我们也可以说他们不听话了。I think its usually because they want attention.

　　Rob: Mmm, now Helen, could I have your attention now please, because playing up is also something you can say to describe to a part of your body thats not working properly.

　　Ow! Im going to have to lie down; my backs playing up again.

　　Count me out of this weekends football match; my legs playing up so I need to rest it.

　　Helen: 我们可以说我们的身体部位出现小故障，比如今天腰疼了，不好使。So it seems playing up refers to anything thats not working or behaving as it should. Now Rob, my legs also been playing up so I wonder if you could give me a lift home in your car?

　　Rob: No way oh it sounds like my microphones playing up now!

　　Helen: No Rob, its you whos playing up now switch it back on!

　　Rob: Oh, oh OK then, Helen!

　　Helen: Lets go then. 再见!

　　Rob: Bye.