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內容簡介

主持人 Neil 為了強身健體，想重新開始騎車，但他找不到自己的自行車了。佳瑩說自己有一輛自行車只是在 “gathering dust”，可以借給他。難道這是在說車上積滿了灰塵？聽兩個人的對話，學習地道英語表達 “gathering dust” 的實際含義和用法。

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（關于臺詞的備注: 請注意這不是廣播節(jié)目的逐字稿件。本文稿可能沒有體現(xiàn)錄制、編輯過程中對節(jié)目做出的改變。）

Jiaying
歡迎收聽 BBC英語教學的 “地道英語” 節(jié)目，大家好！我是佳瑩。

Neil
… and I’m Neil. Hi, Jiaying.

Jiaying
你怎么穿了一身自行車騎行服，還戴了一頂頭盔來辦公室？

Neil
Well, I’ve decided to get fit again, and I love cycling. The thing is, I can’t find my bike, so I decided to wear the outfit to look fitter – without doing the exercise.

Jiaying
That makes zero sense. If you can’t find your bike, you can borrow my old one. It’s just gathering dust anyway.

Neil
Ewww – no, thanks. I don’t want to use it if it’s dirty and dusty.

Jiaying
不是的，Neil！我剛剛說的是 “gathering dust”。我們用表達 “gathering dust” 來表示 “某樣事物很長時間不被問津，無人使用，只是閑置在一邊”，也就是我們說的 “在吃灰”。別看我的那輛自行車很久都沒騎過，但它其實很干凈。

Neil
Well, in that case – yes, please! I’d love to borrow your nice clean bike!

Jiaying
OK. I’ll get it for you right after these examples.

Examples
When my father sold his house, we discovered an old car in the garage that was gathering dust. It was worth a fortune.

You can have my old pictures. They’re just gathering dust.

If you don’t want that tea service, I’ll give it to charity. No point it gathering dust here.

Jiaying
你正在收聽的是 BBC英語教學的 “地道英語” 節(jié)目。上面，我們介紹了表達 “gathering dust”，用來表示某樣物品 “很久都被閑置不用，在吃灰”。

Neil
Wow! This bike is really great! It’s so clean and fast!

Jiaying
That’s great, Neil. But I’m not sure you should be riding it round the office.

Neil
I’m fine! I nearly turned professional because I was so quick. I won awards for my speed. My medals are gathering dust somewhere. The reason I didn’t turn professional is because I wasn’t very good at steering.

Jiaying
That sounds really dangerous. Maybe you should stop cycling now. Neil! Are you OK?

Neil
Aww… I’m fine. I only forgot to turn. But I crashed into that store cupboard. And guess what? I found my bike, just gathering dust!

Jiaying
Oh, Neil. Never a boring day in the office with you! Bye!

Neil
Bye!