Vicki:This is Real English from BBC Learning¹ English. I’m Vicki.

Chen Li:我是陈鹂。 在今天的节目中， 我们要学的是什么呢？

Vicki:Today’s new expression is keep a straight face.

Chen Li:Keep a straight face. 你能解释一下吗?

Vicki:Well, it’s quite simple really. Keep a straight face means that you don’t laugh or smile, even though you are amused.

Chen Li:据个例子怎么样？Vicki?

Vicki:Yes. When you were at school, if you laughed you might get in trouble and be punished, so you had to keep a straight face.

Chen Li:我明白了。 ‘keep a straight face’ 就是说强忍着，不让自己笑出声或者是露出笑脸来，即使觉得十分滑稽可笑。Is it easy to use?

Vicki:Well, I think so, yes. Just remember ‘keep’ is a verb, so you’ll need to change the form of the verb sometimes.

So you could say ‘I kept a straight face yesterday’ or ‘I promise I will keep a straight face’.

Chen Li:我知道了。

Insert

A: Look at that man’s hairstyle!

B: Keep a straight face! If he sees you laughing, he might get angry with us!

Vicki:When I was at school I often used to get in trouble for laughing when I should have kept a straight face.

Chen Li:那你曾经是个坏学生哦!

Vicki:No, of course not – I just couldn’t keep a straight face sometimes!

Chen Li:我知道有这个问题的。

Vicki:It can be hard to keep a straight face.

Chen Li:但是这却是很重要的。

Vicki:Yes. If you don’t keep a straight face sometimes, people may get angry with you.

Chen Li:是这样的。

Vicki:But, Chen Li, sometimes it’s ok to laugh.

Chen Li:是的，看来我们所剩时间不多了。让我们复习一下:

Vicki:To keep a straight face

Chen Li:意思就是忍住不笑出来。

Vicki:You’ve been listening to Real English from BBC Learning English. Join us again soon for more up-to-the-minute Real English. Bye.

Chen Li:再见。