再三思量
Something to chew on
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 I’m Neil.
我是尼尔。
Hey Neil, would like you like to try one of my homemade cookies?
嘿，尼尔，你要不要尝尝我在家烤的曲奇？
Well, we shouldn't really eat while we're presenting but… go on then…
我们上节目的时候确实不应该吃东西……不过……继续吧……
I made them last night and I thought I'd try them out on you!
我是昨天晚上烤的曲奇，想让你尝一尝！
You've got a sweet tooth so I know you can't resist!
你喜欢吃甜食，所以我想你肯定抵抗不了诱惑！
OK then...
好的，来吧……
Well, what do you think?
嗯？你怎么了？
Well, they're… OK. Perhaps not the best I've ever had.
好吧，它们……嗯，或许不会是我吃过的最好吃的。
Oh, so you think my cooking isn't great?
哦，所以你觉得我的曲奇不好吃？
Let's say it's something to chew on.
我的意思是这是一个需要“chew on”的事情。
Right! So you're saying my homemade cookies are chewy?
好的！所以你的意思是说我的饼干很“有嚼劲儿”吗？
No, I'm not. In fact they're… crunchy.
不，不是的。实际上，饼干很……脆。
But when someone says they need to chew on something, it's an informal way to say they need to think about it before making a decision.
不过，如果有人说需要“chew on something”，这是说“在做出决定之前仔细考虑某事”，这是一种非正式用法。
Well, Neil, I will chew on a response to your insult about my cooking while we hear some examples…
好吧，尼尔，我会好好想想该怎么回应你对我的饼干的“侮辱”，这会儿一起来听几个例子吧……
Our extension plans are great but we need to chew on it before we give them the go-ahead.
我们的推广计划很赞，不过在允许实施之前，我们还要好好考虑一下。
Hmm, it's very expensive to fly to Australia for a holiday. Let's chew on it shall we?
嗯……坐飞机去澳大利亚玩一周要花费很多，我们要好好掂量一下，不是吗？
My boyfriend asked me to marry him and I said I'd chew on it. He didn't seem that pleased!
我男朋友向我求婚了，我说要再考虑考虑。他看起来没那么高兴！
This is The English We Speak and Neil has been using the expression 'to chew on something' or 'something to chew on' which means to 'think about something before making a decision'.
这里是BBC地道英语，尼尔用英语短语“to chew on something”或“something to chew on”来表达“在做出决定前仔细考虑考虑”。
And Neil, I've made a decision about what to say to you!
尼尔，我已经决定了要怎么回复你了！
Oh yes?
什么？
If you don't like my cooking, I will not be inviting you to my dinner party tonight.
如果你不喜欢我烤的饼干，我今晚就不邀请你参加我的晚餐派对了。
Oh Feifei! Ah well, at least I'll avoid your cooking.
哦，菲菲！至少我不用尝试你的厨艺啦。
I’m not cooking.
我不下厨的。
We're getting a takeaway curry and lots of wine.
我们点了咖喱菜外卖和很多红酒。
I suppose you could come… if you pay for the take away?
我想你应该来……如果你出送餐费用的话。
Hmm that is something I don't need to chew on.
嗯……这种事我就不需要考虑了。
The answer's 'no' – I'll stay at home and… bake my own cookies! See ya.
答案就是“不”——我会待在家里……烤曲奇！拜拜~
Bye.
拜~