內容簡介

Neil 特別興奮地告訴Li 他的網頁greatmindsshakehands.com 即將完成設計，推出前需要“test the water”。怎么Neil的網頁還需要水呢？原來這個短語另有說道！

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（關于臺詞的備注: 請注意這不是廣播節目的逐字稿件。本文稿可能沒有體現錄制、編輯過程中對節目做出的改變。）

Li
大家好。歡迎收聽BBC英語教學節目《地道英語》。今天我的搭檔是Neil.

Neil
Hello everyone.

Li
Neil, you're looking very happy today, what are you up to?

Neil
I'm quite excited about my website: greatmindsshakehands.com. I've been designing it for months and it's nearly completed.

Li
真的？我不知道你還會設計網頁呢。Wow, I like the sound of it. I didn't know you could design websites, Neil.

Neil
Well, it's for fun really. My website will be a public site where people can share ideas, you know like-minded people. I want to launch it next week but first I must test the water.

Li
Test the water？ 你要測試水？難道你的網頁還需要水嗎？ Does your website depend on water? I'm very confused!

Neil
No Li, to test the water means to test the idea, try it out and see if it works.

Li
Oh I see. 'Test the water' 就是探測，摸底，看看別人有什么反應。

Neil
That's right. 'Test the water' is the phrase for Authentic Real English today. Let's hear some examples of how people use it.

Examples
Woman A: Have you started on your new book?
Woman B: Yes, I've written three chapters and I've sent it to the publishers to test the water.

Woman A: Oh, what perfume are you wearing? it's lovely.
Woman B: Oh thanks. It's just a sample a company sent me.? They're testing the water to see if people like it.

Woman A: How is your Shakespeare project going?
Woman B: It's early days; we're still testing the water.
Woman A: Well, good luck with it.
Woman B: Thanks.?

Li
So Neil, how much testing have you done, have you got good feedback? 摸底的結果如何？

Neil
Well, my wife loves it, but most other people say they don't understand how to use it.

Li
It sounds like it's not user-friendly.

Neil
You're right. I think, I need to make a few changes and then I'll test the water again.?

Li
如果需要我也可以充當你的摸底對象哦。I'm happy to be your guinea pig when you're ready.

Neil
A 'guinea pig', I think that's an expression for another programme. For now, it's goodbye from both of us.

Li
Goodbye.

Neil
Goodbye.