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89_A_Slip_of_the_Tongue(口误)

89 A Slip of the Tongue

People will do anything to see a free show--even if it is a bad one. When the news got round (that a comedy show would be presented at our local cinema by the P. and U. Bird Seed Company), we all rushed to see it. We had to queue for hours to get in and there must have been several hundred people present just before the show began. Unfortunately, the show was one of the dullest we have ever seen. Those (who failed to get in) need not have felt disappointed, as many of the artistes who (should have appeared) did not come. The only funny things (we heard that evening) came from the advertiser at the beginning of the programme. He was obviously very nervous and for some minutes stood awkwardly before the microphone. As soon as he opened his mouth, everyone burst out laughing. We all know what the poor man should have said, but what he actually said was: 'This is the Poo and Ee Seed Bird Company. Good ladies, evening and gentlemen!'

人们总要想尽办法去看不花钱的演出——哪怕是拙劣的演出。当"皮尤"鸟食公司将在我们当地影院演出喜剧节目的消息传开后， 我们都赶紧跑去观看。我们不得不排了好几个小时的队才进得场去。在演出开始前场内肯定已有好几百人了。 不幸的是，这次演出是我们看过的最乏味的演出了。那些没能进到场内的人没有必要感到失望， 因为很多应该出场的专业演员都没有来。那天晚上唯一有趣的事情是节目开始时那个报幕员的开场白。 他显然非常紧张，局促不安地在麦克风前站了好几分钟。刚一开口说话，人们便哄堂大笑起来。 我们都明白那个可怜的人应该说些什么，而他实际说的却是："这是'皮尤'鸟食公司，好女士们，晚上和先生们！"

Words

  • presented /priˈzɛntɪd/ adj. 演出
    1. They will be presenting a comedy show tonight.（L13）
    2. A comedy show had been presented before…
  • dullest /ˈdʌləst/ 无聊的
  • artistes /ɑrˈtists/ n. 艺人
    1. We should keep in touch with the artiste we met last night.
    2. The artiste had a perfect alibi, so he couldn’t commit the murder.（L87）
    3. The artiste devoted his life to comedy show.（L85）
  • advertiser /ˈædvɚˌtaɪzɚ/ n. 报幕员
    1. On the surface, Leo and the advertiser are good friends.（L88）
    2. They kept in touch with the old advertiser for a long time.（L88）
    3. The advertiser had a perfect alibi.（L87）
    4. hold up the queue…
  • nervous /ˈnɝvəs/ 胆小的
  • awkwardly /ˈɔkwɚdli/ 尴尬地
  • comedy /ˈkɑmədi/ n. 喜剧
    1. a comedy show…
    2. They watched a comedy show together last night. did/what/who/why/where/when…
    3. I looked at the paper, and realized that a new comedy show was coming soon.（L20）
    4. To tell you the truth, this is actually a comedy show.（L87）
  • queue /kju/ n. 排队
    1. Don’t hold up the queue, man!
    2. We stood in a queue for half an hour.
    3. We had to queue for hours.

Expressions

  • a slip of the tongue 口误
  • a comedy show 喜剧表演
  • hold up the queue... 堵住队伍
  • do anything to do sth. 想尽办法做某事
    1. I’ll do anything to help you.
    2. I’ll do anything to keep in touch with the artist.（L88）
    3. He’ll do anything to win the election.（L83）
  • the news get around ... 消息传开
    1. When the news got around, the bus driver went on strike.（L84）
    2. When the news got around, the students volunteered to drive the buses.（L84）
  • feel disappointed 感到失望
  • at the beginning of a 在……的开头
  • burst out laughing 突然大笑起来
    1. The moment I walked into the room, everyone burst out laughing.（L60）
    2. When I had finished my story, everyone burst out laughing.（L7）