地道英语
Rat race “老鼠赛跑” 永无休止的竞争
[图片来源：Getty Images]
内容简介
鼠年到！Rob 脸上贴着夸张的胡须，说他决定要在新的一年中加入老鼠赛跑 “rat race”，意思就是他将把所有的时间全部用来工作，目的是升职和加薪。听 Rob 和菲菲的对话，学习如何用老鼠赛跑 “rat race” 描述人们努力工作，拼命挣钱的生活方式。
文字稿
（关于台词的备注: 请注意这不是广播节目的逐字稿件。本文稿可能没有体现录制、编辑过程中对节目做出的改变。）
Feifei
大家好！欢迎收听 BBC英语教学的 “地道英语” 节目。我是冯菲菲。
Rob
…and me, Rob.
Feifei
Rob，我有一个简单的问题要问你。
Rob
Yep.
Feifei
Why have you got enormous whiskers glued to the side of your face, and a why are you wearing a running vest?
Rob
Well, Feifei, it’s a new year – and according to our Chinese friends it’s the Year of the Rat. New Year, new resolutions. I’ve decided to join the rat race!
Feifei
You’ve decided to join the rat race? 你要加入 “老鼠赛跑”？你的意思是你想在工作中变得更有竞争力，为了专注于升职和加薪而牺牲自己的闲暇时间？
Rob
That’s right.
Feifei
But why?
Rob
Ha… Money!
Feifei
Right. Well, let’s hear some examples of this expression before a little more explanation.
Examples
I am gonna quit the rat race. I earn all this money but I never have enough time to spend it! It’s just work, work, work!
People complain about the rat race, but if you earn enough, you can retire at 50!
Nieves decided to quit the rat race after she had a serious health scare. She realised that the money wasn’t worth the stress.
Feifei
这里是BBC英语教学的 “地道英语” 节目。在这期节目中，我们来学习 “rat race” 这个短语。它被用来描述一种人们生活的方式——努力工作，拼命挣钱。
Rob
But there’s no free time and it’s very, very competitive. You heard in the examples, we often hear the word ‘quit’ used with ‘rat race’. Quit the rat race.
Feifei
But you, Rob, have decided to join it. You do know that you don’t have to look like a rat to join the rat race? And you certainly don’t have to wear a racing vest.
Rob
Umm… just trying to make things clear for our audience, Feifei!
Feifei
I do quite like those whiskers, though. Bye!
Rob
Bye-bye!