退居二线
Take a back seat
Hello, it's Feifei and Rob here with today's The English We Speak.
大家好，主持今天地道英语节目的是菲菲和罗布。
Feifei, keep your eyes on the road!
菲菲，专心看路！
Look where you're going.
看看你这是往哪儿开呢。
OK, OK! Rob is making me drive around while we present today's programme.
好的，好的！罗布让我开车来主持今天的节目。
Rob, why exactly am I driving my car?
罗布，为什么是我开车？
Well, I really wanted you to understand the phrase we're going to learn today.
我想帮助你理解我们今天要学习的短语。
But I'm going to leave it all to you.
不过我打算全交给你。
So what are you going to do then?
那你要做什么呢？
Oh nothing.
什么都不做。
I'm just going to a take a back seat today.
我今天要让权给你。
You carry on, I'll just watch.
你继续吧，我只是看着。
Take a back seat?
坐在后座上？
Hmmm — so you're going to let me take control — do all the work — while you sit there and watch?
嗯，所以你是让我来掌控所有的事情，而你只是坐在那里看吗？
Yes — look, I'm just sitting here — on the back seat.
对，看，我就坐在这里，就坐在后座上。
Oh I get it!
哦，我明白了！
'To take a back seat' is an idiom that means to give up control and let someone else take responsibility.
这个习语的意思是放弃控制权，让其他人来负责。
That's it Feifei.
没错，菲菲。
Let's hear from some other people who are 'taking a back seat'…
我们来听些例句，看看还有谁放弃了控制权。
Mary was happy to take a back seat and let Jim run the meeting.
玛丽很高兴能退居二线，让吉姆来负责会议。
I'm going to take a back seat this year and let you decide where we go on holiday.
我今年要让权给你，由你来决定我们去哪里度假。
Now he's getting older he's decided to take a back seat in running the company.
他年事已高，所以他决定退居二线，让出公司的经营权。
So, to take a backseat means to choose not to take control and let someone else be in charge.
to take a backseat的意思是选择让出控制权，让其他人去负责。
Rob, does this mean you're just being lazy?
责。罗布，这是不是意味着其实你只是很懒？
Of course not, Feifei.
当然不是了，菲菲。
It just means I'm letting you have a turn at being in charge — I trust you — although...
这意味着我要让你有掌控事情的机会，我相信你，不过……
What are you doing?!
你在干什么？！
Letting you take the back seat while I show you how to really drive!
你退居次要位置的时候我要让你看看什么才叫开车！
Feifei! Watch out for that roundabout... and that traffic light... aren't you driving a bit fast?
菲菲！注意那个环岛……还有交通灯……你是不是开得有点快？
Rob — don't be such a back seat driver!
罗布，不要在后座对开车的人指手画脚！
A what?
什么？
A back seat driver — someone who offers unwanted advice — someone who tells the driver how to drive.
在后座对开车的人指手画脚的人，就是告诉司机要怎么开车的人，可是实际上开车的人并不需要这些建议。
But we'll leave that expression for another day!
我们会找其他时间来解释这个短语的。
OK OK — but you are going really fast — can I take the front seat now?
好，好的，可是你真的开得太快了，现在我来开车怎么样？
Stay where you are!
呆在那里！
OK.
好吧。
Bye Bye.
再见。
Bye .
再见。