On the Ball

The script of this programme 本节目台词

Yang Li: Hi I'm Yang Li, and welcome to Authentic Real English.

Diarmuid: And I'm Diarmuid.

Yang Li: 这档节目专门向大家介绍现代法语当中常用的一些词语。

Diarmuid: Eh, Yang Li, did you say words we use in modern French?

Is your eye on the ball?

Yang Li: Yes, well done Diarmuid! Just testing you there, I wanted to see if you were on the ball today, Diarmuid.

Diarmuid: Ah, I see. And that’s today's phrase: on the ball. When you are on the ball it means you are alert and quick to react to things.

Yang Li: 没错。To be on the ball 意思是机警的。遗憾的是我们并不是总能处于机警的状态。就象下面对话中的男子。

Examples:

A: I’m afraid your work this morning has not been good enough. You’ve made too many mistakes.

B: Sorry, I’m not really on the ball today.

Diarmuid: So to be on the ball means to be able to react quickly to things. There's also another phrase: 'to keep your eye on the ball'.

Yang Li: 这个短语意思是在一个变化无常的环境下你必须要保持精神集中不走神儿。

Diarmuid: For example, in business, like investment banking.

Yang Li: 比如，金融投资。

Examples:

A: That new guy’s great.

B: Yes, well you have to keep your eye on the ball in investment banking.

Yang Li: 说到这里我想提醒大家，如果你要保持对英语学习的高度注意力，保持前卫，那么就要经常登陆我们的网页跟踪新词新语。

Diarmuid: That's right. Our address is www.bbcchinauk.com.

Yang Li: Eh, hang on Diarmuid. That’s not our website address.

Diarmuid: Ha ha, just seeing if you were on the ball! Our address is of course www.bbcukchina.com.

Yang Li: That's correct. Bye everyone.

Diarmuid: Bye bye.