Helen: This is Real English from BBC Learning¹ English. I’m Helen.
Jean: And I’m Jean.

Helen: English is a language that changes constantly, so you really need to stay up-to-date².

Jean: Helen, 咱们今天要学的新词是什么呢

Helen: Today’s new expression is an idiom. ‘face the music?

Jean: Face the music. 面对音乐？这到底是什么意思啊

Helen: Listen carefully, as idioms can be hard to understand. Face the music is an idiom that means to accept punishment when you have done something wrong.

Jean: 我明白了。Face the music 就是做了什么错事之后不得不面对后果、应付迎面而来的批评或者惩罚。这跟面对音乐的意思可是差了十万八千里了，那我们该怎么用这个说法呢Helen?

Helen: Well, if you do something wrong, you could say ‘I didn’t finish my work, so I have to face the music.

Jean: 就是说“我没做完功课，所以我得硬着头皮挨训了”

Helen: That’s right.

Insert 录音片断

A: But officer, I wasn’t the only one writing on the wall!

B: Well, I didn’t catch your friends. You’ll have to face the music alone!

A: ?so your company lost $100 000 last month?

B: Yes, and I have to face the music on Monday. I have a meeting with the owner and he is going to criticise³ me a lot.

Jean: Were you a good student, Helen?

Helen: Generally, but sometimes I had to face the music.

Jean: Really? What happened?

Helen: Well, one time I did very badly in a maths test.

Jean: Were your parents angry?

Helen: Well, I had to face the music.

Jean: How did they react?

Helen: They weren’t very happy. I had to do extra classes for one month and couldn’t go out with my friends.

Jean: And how’s your maths now, Helen?

Helen: It’s OK, but don’t test me, Jean. I don’t want to face the music again!

Jean: 是的，face the music - 硬着头皮挨训的滋味儿可实在不好受

Helen: anyway, let’s recap ?face the music ?is an idiom meaning accept criticism⁴ or punishment for something you have done.

Jean: Well, it looks like that’s all we have time for.

Helen: Yes, I’m afraid it is.

Jean: You’ve been listening to Real English from BBC Learning English. Bye.

Helen: See you next time. 

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