听话听声，锣鼓听音。在剑桥镀金，授课老师提醒说，听英国佬讲话（What the British say），切不可听话生义，注意体会他们要表达的真正意思（what the British mean）往往与外国人按字面所理解的内容（what is understood）有很大区别甚至截然相反——为了避免误解，上课前先预习一下（答案附后）：

1. What the British say: "I hear what you say"
（What is understood:"He accepts my point of view"）

2. What the British say: "This is in no sense a rebuke"
（What is understood: "I am not cross with you"）

3. What the British say: "With the greatest respect"
（What is understood: "He is listening to me"）

4. What the British say: "Correct me if I'm wrong"
（What is understood: "Tell me what you think"）

5. What the British say: "That's not bad"
（What is understood: "That's poor or mediocre"）

6. What the British say: "QUITE good" (with the stress on the "quite")
（What is understood: "Quite good"）

7. What the British say: "quite GOOD" (with the stress on the "good ")
（What is understood: "Quite good"）

8. What the British say: "Perhaps you would like to think about...."/"I would suggest..." /"It would be nice if..."
（What is understood: "Think about the idea, but do what you like"）

9. What the British say: "Do as much as you think is justifed"
（What is understood: "Do what you can"）

10. What the British say: "Oh, by the way/Incidentally ..."
（What is understood: "This is not very important ..."）

11. What the British say: "I was a bit disappointed that/It is a pity you..."
（What is understood: "It doesn't really matter"）

12. What the British say: "Very interesting"
（What is understood: "They are impressed"）

13. What the British say: "Could we consider some other options"
（What is understood: "They have not yet decided"）

14. What the British say: "I'll bear it in mind "
（What is understood: "They will probably do it"）

15. What the British say: "Please think about that some more"
（What is understood: "It's a good idea, keep developing it"）

16. What the British say: "I'm sure it's my fault"
（What is understood: "It was somebody else's fault"）

17. What the British say: "That is an original point of view"
（What is understood: "They like my ideas!"）

18. What the British say: “I’m sure you'll get there eventually”
（What is understood: “Keep on trying; they agree I'm on the right track”）

参考答案：

1. What the British say: "I hear what you say"
（What the British mean: "I disagree and do not want to discuss it any further"）
 

2. What the British say: "This is in no sense a rebuke"
(What the British mean: "I am furious with you and letting you know it")
 

3. What the British say: "With the greatest respect"
(What the British mean: "I think you are wrong (or a fool)")
 

4. What the British say: "Correct me if I'm wrong"
(What the British mean: "I know I'm right--please don't contradict me")
 

5. What the British say: "That's not bad"
(What the British mean: "That's good or very good")
 

6. What the British say: "QUITE good" (with the stress on the "quite")
（What the British mean: "A bit disappointing"）
 

7. What the British say: "quite GOOD" (with the stress on the "good ")
（What the British mean: "excellent"）
 

8. What the British say: "Perhaps you would like to think about...."/"I would suggest..." /"It would be nice if..."
（What the British mean: "This is an order. Do it or be prepared to justify yourself..."）
 

9. What the British say: "Do as much as you think is justifed"
（What the British mean: "Do it all"）
 

10. What the British say: "Oh, by the way/Incidentally ..."
（What the British mean: "The primary purpose of our discussion is..."）
 

11. What the British say: "I was a bit disappointed that/It is a pity you..."
（What the British mean: "I am most upset and cross"）
 

12. What the British say: "Very interesting"
（What the British mean: "I don't agree/I don't believe you"）
 

13. What the British say: "Could we consider some other options"
（What the British mean: "I don't like your idea"）
 

14. What the British say: "I'll bear it in mind "
（What the British mean: "I will do nothing about it"）
 

15. What the British say: "Please think about that some more"
（What the British mean: "It's a bad idea: don't do it"）
 

16. What the British say: "I'm sure it's my fault"
（What the British mean: "I know it is your fault, please apologise"）
 

17. What the British say: "That is an original point of view"
（What the British mean: "You must be mad, or very silly"）
 

18. What the British say: “I’m sure you'll get there eventually”
（What the British mean: “You don't stand a chance in hell”）
 

【参见http://www.economist.com/blogs/johnson/2011/05/euphemistically_speaking】