地道英语：最后一刻（音频）

　　In the Nick of Time

　　Helen: 大家好，欢迎收听地道英语。我是 Helen.

　　Rob: And Im Rob. Helen, you look like youve been rushing. Here, have some water.

　　Helen: Oh thanks. Im a bit out of breath. 我好久没锻炼了，有点喘不上气了。抱歉，我在银行办事儿迟了。

　　Rob: You got here just in the nick of time then.

　　Helen: Just in the nick of time? Shouldnt it be just in time?

　　Rob: Well, you can say both.

　　Helen: 你刚才说的 in the nick of time 这个短语经常能听到吗?

　　Rob: Yeah, I think so. It means at the very last moment. Lets hear how this phrase is used.

　　Example

　　Woman 1: Alice gave birth to a baby girl last night.

　　Woman 2: I thought she wasnt due for another three weeks.

　　Woman 1: It was early and they got to the hospital just in the nick of time.

　　Man: Sarah and I were on our way to see Beyonce in concert. But she left her mobile in the office, so we had to go back and get it.

　　Woman: Did you miss the show?

　　Man: Thankfully not, we got there just in the nick of time.

　　Helen: 我们刚才听到一位孕妇正好在孩子出生前一刻赶到医院，而另一对恋人差点没赶上 Beyonce 的演唱会。

　　Rob: That wouldve been awful. You hear this phrase often used to suggest a disaster had been averted. If the action happened any later, then something awful could happen.

　　Helen: I see. 这个短语的意思是刚好，恰好，最后一刻赶到了。那么这是在英式英语吗?

　　Rob: I dont think the phrase in the nick of time is specifically British. It originated from the UK, but English speakers from all over the world use it now.

　　Helen: 让我们听听例子吧。

　　Example

　　Man: We arrived just in the nick of the time. Another five minutes, our plane would have left without us.

　　Woman: Sam was experimenting with stir frying last night and the wok caught fire. Luke rushed in with the fire blanket just in the nick of time.

　　Helen: That was close. 热锅烧菜起火了，还好 Luke 机灵没浇水灭火。就差那么一点点，不然就闯大祸了。

　　Rob: That would have been a catastrophe. So Helen, are you the kind of person who likes to do things at the very last minute?

　　Helen: Well, Id like to think of myself as a person who can do things in the nick of time. Thanks for listening. Bye.

　　Rob: Bye.