The english we speak(BBC教學)第265期:Six of one, half a dozen of the other 半斤八兩

Two of Finn and Feifei's colleagues are having an argument. Finn asked Feifei who started the argument. Which expression did Feifei use in her answer? What does her expression mean?

芬恩和菲菲的同事起了爭執。芬恩問菲菲是誰挑起的事端。菲菲在回答時用了什麼表達方式？她用的短語是什麼意思？

Finn: Hello, I'm Finn.

芬恩：大家好，我是芬恩。

Feifei: Hi, I'm Feifei. Sorry I'm late — Peter and Dave are having an argument in the kitchen. I was trying to calm them down.

菲菲：大家好，我是菲菲。抱歉，我遲到了，彼得和戴夫在廚房吵起來了。我剛纔試圖讓他們冷靜下來。

Finn: Oh, really? What are they arguing about?

芬恩：哦，真的嗎？他們在吵什麼？

Feifei: Something about who spilled the milk — it was getting very heated.

菲菲：到底是誰弄灑了牛奶，他們吵得不可開交。

Finn: Oh, no. Who started the argument?

芬恩：哦不。是誰挑起的事端？

Feifei: Hmm, I don't really know, I think it's six of one, half a dozen of the other.

菲菲：嗯，這個我不清楚，我想兩個人都有錯吧。

Finn: Good expression, Feifei.

芬恩：菲菲，這個表達方式用得好。

Feifei: Thank you, Finn. I learnt this phrase just the other day. I think I can use it in this situation, can't I?

菲菲：謝謝你，芬恩。我也是那天學到的這個短語。我想可以用來形容這個狀況，對吧？

Finn: Yes, indeed you can. We normally use 'six of one, half a dozen of the other' when we think there is very little difference between two choices. We also use it when two people are equally responsible for something. Now, let's hear some examples.

芬恩：對，當然可以。我們認爲兩種選擇之間的差異很少時通常會用“半斤八兩”這個短語。另外，如果兩個人在某件事上要負同等責任，我們也會用這個表達方式。現在我們來聽幾個例句。

Examples

例句

A: I don't know whether to give my mum flowers or chocolates for Mother's Day.

A：我不知道母親節那天是要送我媽媽花還是巧克力。

B: It's six of one, half a dozen of the other.

B：這兩個都可以。

A: Do you think we should take the third ring road instead of the second ring road?

A：你認爲我們應該走三環，而不是走二環嗎？

B: Oh, I don't know, it's six of one, half a dozen of the other.

B：哦，我不知道，我感覺差不多。

A: They keep blaming each other — whose fault was it really?

A：他們一直在互相指責，到底是誰的錯？

B: Oh, it was six of one, half a dozen of the other.

B：他們兩個都有錯。

Feifei: So remember you can use 'six of one, half a dozen of the other' when two choices are very similar and it doesn't really matter which one you choose.

菲菲：記住，在兩種選擇很相似，選擇哪種都可以時，可以用“半斤八兩”這個短語。

Finn: Yes, that's right. Ah, sorry Feifei, wait a sec, I need to go now.

芬恩：對，沒錯。抱歉，菲菲，等一下，我現在要走了。

Feifei: Where are you going?

菲菲：你要去哪兒？

Finn: I'm going to dinner with Sophia. Quick, help me decide — should I wear this blue shirt? Or this pink one?

芬恩：我約了索菲亞吃晚餐。快點，幫我決定一下，我是應該穿這件藍色襯衫，還是那件粉色襯衫？

Feifei: You know what I am about to say, don't you?

菲菲：你知道我要說什麼，對吧？

Finn: The pink one?

芬恩：粉色那件？

Feifei: No, they are very similar. It's six of one, half a dozen of the other...

菲菲：不是，這兩件很像。這兩件差不多……

Finn: Oh, you're not helping! I'm off, bye.

芬恩：哦，你沒幫上任何忙！我走了，再見。

Feifei: Wait...

菲菲：等等……

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重點講解：
1. calm down （使）平靜下來；（使）鎮定下來；
例句：I'll try a herbal remedy tocalmhimdown.
我來用草藥試試，看能不能讓他鎮靜下來。
2. be responsible for 負有責任的；應承擔責任的；
例句：All pilotsare responsible fortheir passengers' safety.
凡是飛機駕駛員均應對乘客的安全負責。
3. instead of 代替…；而不是…；
例句：Let's play cardsinstead ofwatching television.
咱們玩紙牌吧，別看電視了。
4. each other 彼此；互相；
例句：The two plans meshed witheach othersmoothly.
這兩個計劃互相配合得很好。
5. be about to do sth. 即將（做…）的；快要（發生…）的；
例句：Shewas about todish up when some guests came.
她剛要上菜開飯，這時來了一些客人。