Neil:Hello, this is Real English from BBC Learning English, I’m Neil.

Helen:大家好，我是Helen，欢迎收听地道英语。

Neil:In Real English, we look at words and phrases that you might not find in your dictionary.

Helen:英语是在现实生活中不断发展的语言，所以我们需要随时更新词汇，最好的方法莫过于收听 BBC Learning English 制作的地道英语。

Neil:That’s right, Helen.

Helen:今天你给我们准备的词是什么？Neil?

Neil:Well today’s word is a very common word in English but it’s a word you probably never want to hear in relation to yourself.

Helen:That sounds scary! What’s the word?

Neil:Today’s word is to sack. S.A.C.K. Sack.

Helen:I thought a sack was a kind of bag.

Neil:It is, but we use the verb ‘to sack’ to refer to being dismissed from your job.

Helen:那么说 to sack somebody 就是解雇某人的意思，炒鱿鱼。

Neil:That’s right. Your boss might sack you because you’re always late for work or because you do your job very badly.

Insert

A: Did you hear about Andrew?

B: No, what happened?

A: The boss sacked him.

B: He got sacked! Why?

A: Because he was late for work every day for a month!

Helen:如果不干活，或者工作干得不好，都会遭到被解雇的厄运。

Neil:That’s right. It is very embarrassing and shameful¹ to get the sack.

Helen:To get the sack?

Neil:Yes, that’s another way to use the word. It’s possible to say: I was sacked; or my boss sacked me; or I got the sack.

Helen:看来，这个词又有其他的用法，虽然意思相同。 Have you ever been given the sack, Neil?

Neil:Certainly not! I’m a true professional. Anyway, we’re nearly out of time.

Helen:So let’s recap. To sack somebody 就是解雇某人，to get the sack 就是说因为犯错或者做了什么坏事，被解雇了，从而丢掉了工作。

Neil:Exactly so. Now it’s time for us to go now, Helen. See you all next time.

Helen:Yes, see you next time. Bye.