Helen:Hello, this is Real English from BBC Learning¹ English, I’m Helen.

Zo?:Hi, 你好吗？我是刘佳。欢迎收听地道英语。

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

Zo?:So what is today’s new phrase, Helen?

Helen:Today we’re going to look at the verb to top up.

Zo?:Top up?

Helen:That’s right. Top - T.O.P. Up – U.P. Top up.

Zo?:Top up 说的是什么呢, Helen?

Helen:Generally speaking to top up means to refill a container until it is full again.

Zo?:Right. 一般来说，top up 是个动词，表示把一个容器填满，就是续杯的意思。

Helen:Exactly. But in recent years to top up has come to mean putting more credit² into a mobile³ phone account or a public travel card.

Zo?:现在这个词又扩大了应用的范围，比如给手机充值，或者给公共交通卡充值，等等。

Helen:You’ve got it.

Insert

A: My mobile phone is out of credit.

B: Here, use mine. I topped up my phone this morning.

A: Thanks.

Zo?:如果我给我的手机充值，就是我往我的手机帐户里续存了钱。对吗？

Helen:That’s correct.

Zo?:Where can I top up my phone in the UK, Helen?

Helen:Topping up your mobile phone is very easy in the UK. You can buy a top-up card in most newsagents or supermarkets.

Zo?:这么简单，我只要去超市或者路边的报亭商店就可以买到充值卡了吗？

Helen:It’s that easy. Or you can top up your mobile phone on the internet – just go to the website and buy credit for your phone with your credit card.

Zo?:好啦，让我们来复习一下。To top up 就是给手机或者公共交通卡充值。

Helen:Well I’m afraid we are out of time again. So don’t forget to join us next time on BBC Learning English.

Zo?:Bye for now.