Helen: Hello and welcome to Real English from BBC Learning¹ English. I’m Helen.

Zoe: 你好，欢迎收听今天的地道英语，我是刘佳。

Helen: Today we’re going to look at words and phrases that have recently become part of the English language.

Zoe: Helen, 咱们今天要学的新词是?

Helen: Today’s new word is ‘plummet²’ – P.L.U.M.M.E.T. – plummet.

Zoe: Plummet 这是什么意思啊？

Helen: Well, plummet is a verb, and is often used in business English. Plummet means to fall suddenly and quickly from a high position.

Zoe: 这个 plummet 的意思是从一个很高的位置快速的跌落，会经常出现在商务英语中。那能给我们举个例子吗 Helen？

Helen: Of course. So do you watch the news?

Zoe: Yes I do.

Helen: Well, sometimes in the business news they might say share prices…

Zoe: 股票价格…

Helen: ...have plummeted³ to a low point of 3.5.

Zoe: 哦，你是说股票价格突然跌落倒了3.5。

Helen: Exactly.

Zoe: 那它是个贬义词吗 Helen?

Helen: Well, it depends but generally it’s a bad thing.

Zoe: 那如果要说我的公司的上市价格突然跌了很多应该怎么说呀？

Helen: Well you could say ‘the value of my company plummeted last year’.

Example

A: Why did you close your company?

B: Well, when we lost the contract with Sony our share price plummeted, so we had to close.

News reporter: It was a bad day for business in the USA today as prices plummeted across all markets. Experts hope they will improve tomorrow.

Helen: Anyway let’s recap – plummet.

Zoe: 意思就是从很高的位置快速突然的跌降。 Well, it looks like we are out of time.

Helen: Yes, we have to go. You’ve been listening to Real English from BBC Learning English. Join us again soon for more up-to-the-minute Real English. Bye.

Zoe: 下次节目再见。