Neil: Hello and welcome to Authentic Real English from BBC Learning English. I'm Neil. Presenting the programme with me today is Li. She hasn't arrived at the studio yet and I must say that I'm a bit nervous about her arrival. Something's happened to her recently... she's so unfriendly and even frightening. A real dragon!

Li: (Bursts into the studio) What are you saying? Why didn't you wait for me Neil? 这个人真够呛...好了，快点儿吧我没有那么多时间帮你润色文字稿... (reads a bit out) Ahh hello, I'm Li... blah blah blah... 这稿子写得太没有意思了！

Neil: Li, what's the matter with you?

Li: What do you mean? Can we get on with this please? 你什么意思？咱俩能不能赶快把这节目录完？

Neil: What a dragon!

Li: 你说什么？

Neil: I said that you're a dragon, Li.

Li: No I'm not, I'm a rooster.

Neil: No, I'm not talking about your zodiac sign, I mean your personality.

Li: Oh! Oh, thanks!

Neil: What?

Li: I said thank you.

Neil: Li, I called you a dragon. That's not a compliment.

Li: Neil 说我象条龙 a dragon 我们是龙的传人，咱中国人谁不喜欢龙呢？不过，Neil 说，他并不是在称赞我，那他是什么意思？

Neil: Listen to these examples and see if you can get the meaning.


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A: I'm never going to make my deadline with this report.

B: You should speak to Kate to get an extension.

A: But I'm too scared of Kate – she's such a dragon.

B: That's true. She's so unfriendly and scary. She'll probably shout at you.


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C: (coughing)

D: Oh that doesn't sound good. You should go to the doctor's.

C: I can't face dealing with that dragon at reception. She's always so rude and aggressive.

D: Yeah, she's the last thing you want to deal with when you're ill.


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Li: 我噻，原来在英语里人们用龙来形容那些不友善，说话咄咄逼人的母老虎！真的吗？ Neil, are you calling me unfriendly and scary?

Neil: Erm... yes. Recently.

Li: Not strong, courageous and determined? 你不觉得我是一个强有力的人吗？一个有决心有勇气的人吗？

Neil: I'm afraid not. We use 'dragon' to describe a woman who is unfriendly and frightening.

Li: Oh, that's very interesting.

Neil: Yes it is, isn't it?

Li: Hang on, hang on. What do you mean I'm unfriendly? 你说我不友善？

Neil: Well, not usually but recently you have been.

Li: 你等着瞧吧，你这汝臭未干的小子，你才来了几天啊？不知自己吃几碗干饭了，是不是？

Neil: Now you're getting scary!

Li: 我会让你看一看我这龙的颜色!

Neil: OK, Li I think I'm going to leave now before you start breathing fire.

Li: Breathing fire!? I'll burn you till you're toast! 没错，我们的网页 www.bbcukchina.com 有很多精彩的英语教学节目。不过。我建议你不要听 Neil 的节目，没水平！Bye!