给事情“盖上盖子”
Keep a lid on it
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak. I'm Feifei.
大家好，欢迎来到BBC地道英语，我是菲菲。
And hello, I'm Neil.
大家伙，我是尼尔。
Phwa! What is that smell?
哎呦，这是什么味道？
Rob's homemade cooking.
罗伯自己做的饭。
Rob cooks?!
罗伯会做饭？！
Yes, he does. But it doesn't taste very nice.
是的，他会做饭。不过味道并不怎么样。
So why do you have to eat it – and why do have to make the studio stink of it?
那你为什么还要吃呢——为什么弄得整个录音室都是这个味道？
Well, I don't want to offend him.
好吧，可我不想得罪他。
He keeps giving me his homemade food and asking me for some honest feedback.
但他总是带一些自己做的饭给我，还让我给他一些诚实的反馈。
And I just tell him 'it's interesting, unique, special'.
我只能告诉他“味道很有趣、与众不同”。
Oh Feifei, you need to keep a lid on it.
哦，菲菲，你应该“keep a lid on it”。
Well, if you think that'll stop the smell, I will.
好吧，如果你认为这能阻止这个味道的话，我会的（盖上盖子）。
That's not what I meant, although it's a good idea.
哦，我不是这个意思，虽然这也是个好主意。
If you 'keep a lid on something' it means to keep something under control – to stop the situation getting worse.
如果你“keep a lid on something”，那就是说控制住事态——不让情况变得更糟。
OK, Neil!
好的，尼尔！
Here are some examples of this phrase in action.
接下来有几个实际应用的例句。
I couldn't keep a lid on my feelings about the rota so I shouted at the boss!
对于这个值日表，我控制不住自己的情绪了，所以我对着老板大吼了起来！
With rising food prices, it's hard to keep a lid on how much I spend at the supermarket.
食物价格越来越高，我很难控制自己在超市的消费情况。
This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English and we're looking at the phrase 'to keep a lid on something'
这里是BBC地道英语，我们正在讨论短语“to keep a lid on something”的意思。
which means to keep something under control and to stop the situation from getting worse.
它是指“管理好局势，以防失控”。
But this isn't the only meaning, is it?
不过这个短语还有其他的意思吧，是吗？
No. If you keep a lid on something, it can also mean you keep something secret. Like this…
是的。如果你“keep a lid on something”，这也可以指保守秘密，比如……
I've heard that Daisy is expecting a baby – but keep a lid on it until it's official!
我听说黛西怀孕了——不过还是先保守秘密吧，直到她公开消息。
OK Neil, you're telling me to keep a lid on things by telling Rob to stop giving me his homemade food?
好的，尼尔，你在教我要告诉罗伯别再给我带他自己的做的饭了，控制住情况，是吗？
Yes – unless his cooking is amazing.
是的——除非他做的饭很好吃。
It's not.
并不是的。
Right, well tell him you're on a diet or you've become vegan and that should stop him.
好吧，跟他说你在节食，或者你要做个素食主义者，这样会阻止他的。
And I will keep your little lie a secret.
我会为你的小谎言保守秘密的。
You mean, you'll keep a lid on it?
你的意思是，你会“keep a lid on it”？
Exactly. But in the meantime, could you actually keep a lid on that box of food please? It stinks!
当然。不过同时，你能不能先把饭盒的盖子盖上？味道太难闻了！
OK. Right, I'm off to speak to Rob. Bye.
好的。我要去跟罗伯说了，拜拜。
Remember to be firm and say what you mean.
记得语气坚决一点，表达出你想说的。
Hi, Neil. Feifei doesn't seem to want this delicious food I made. Would you like it?
嗨，尼尔。菲菲不想吃我做的美食了，你要不要尝尝？
Err... go on then. Looks lovely. Bye.
呃……继续。看起来很好吃。拜拜。