🎧 英语播客 / The English We Speak

Kick the can down the road

2026-03-16 · 2 分 23 秒 B1 When do people kick the can down the road?

🚗 连播

📝 本集词汇

expression /ɪkˈspres.ʃən/ n.

表达方式，指说话或写作的方式，用以显示你的感受或想法

a way of speaking or writing that shows how you feel or what you think

fluent /ˈflu.ənt/ adj.

流利的，能够轻松且无困难地说或写一种语言

able to speak or write a language easily and without difficulty

phrase /freɪz/ n.

短语，一组用作单一单位的词

a group of words that is used as a single unit

expression /ɪkˈspres.ʃən/ n.

表达方式，指说话或写作的方式，用以显示你的感受或想法

a way of speaking or writing that shows how you feel or what you think

delay /dɪˈleɪ/ v.

推迟，将某事推迟到更晚的时间

to postpone something until a later time

deal /diːl/ v.

处理，应对情况或问题

to handle or manage a situation or problem

💬 对话文字稿

Feifei

Hello and welcome to The English We Speak, where we explain phrases and expressions used by fluent English speakers so that you can use them too. I'm Feifei.

显示翻译

大家好，欢迎收听《英语我们说》，在这里我们解释熟练的英语说话者使用的短语和表达，以便你们也能使用它们。我是Feifei。

Phil

And I'm Phil.

显示翻译

我是Phil。

Feifei

You're a bit late!

显示翻译

你来得有点晚了！

Phil

Yes, sorry I've been getting my car fixed – it’s very old and it wouldn't start.

显示翻译

是的，对不起，我的车一直在修——它很老了，启动不了。

Feifei

Oh, not again! Why don't you just get a new car?

显示翻译

哦，又这样了！你为什么不换一辆新车呢？

Phil

I mean, I probably should, but it's very expensive so I'm going to kick the can down the road and just keep getting it fixed. I can probably make it last a few more years.

显示翻译

我的意思是，我可能应该换，但太贵了，所以我打算把问题踢到一边，继续修它。我可能还能再撑几年。

Feifei

And you'll end up spending as much as you would on a new car. Anyway, let's learn that expression you just used – 'kick the can down the road'.

显示翻译

而且你最终可能花掉和买新车一样多的钱。无论如何，让我们学习你刚才用的那个表达法——'把问题踢到一边'。

Phil

Yes, when we talk about kicking the can down the road, it means we delay doing something. It might mean that we'll have to deal with it in the future, or we might be able to delay it long enough that it becomes someone else's problem.

显示翻译

是的，当我们说到'把问题踢到一边'时，意味着我们推迟做某事。这可能意味着我们将来不得不处理它，或者我们可能能够推迟足够长的时间，以至于它变成了别人的问题。

Feifei

Yes, for example if you know you're leaving a job, you might want to delay some problems for someone else to deal with. So you might just kick the can down the road.

显示翻译

是的，例如，如果你知道你要离职，你可能会想推迟一些问题给别人处理。所以你可能会选择'把问题踢到一边'。

Phil

Let's hear some other people using the expression, 'kick the can down the road'.

显示翻译

让我们听听其他人如何使用这个表达法，'把问题踢到一边'。

Examples

I need some building work done on my house, but I keep kicking the can down the road because I think it'll be a bit stressful. Ugh, I've got some paperwork to do for the bank, but the task is just so boring, I keep kicking the can down the road. My aunt really wants to have a video call with me, but whenever I speak to her on the phone, we end up talking for hours so I've been avoiding it and I keep kicking the can down the road.

显示翻译

（例子）我需要在我家里做一些建筑工作，但我总是推迟，因为我觉得会有些压力。呃，我有一些银行文件要处理，但这个任务太无聊了，我总是推迟。我阿姨真的很想和我视频通话，但每次我给她打电话，我们都会聊几个小时，所以我一直在回避，我总是推迟。

Feifei

We've been learning the expression 'kick the can down the road' to talk about delaying something you have to do.

显示翻译

我们一直在学习这个表达法'把问题踢到一边'，来谈论推迟你必须做的事情。

Phil

Yes, a similar expression with the same meaning is to 'kick something into the long grass'. And it means the same – when you kick something into the long grass, you delay dealing with it.

显示翻译

是的，有一个意思相同的表达法是'把某事踢到长草里'。它的意思也是一样的——当你把某事踢到长草里时，你推迟处理它。

Feifei

OK. That's it for this programme, but join us next time to learn more English phrases and expressions.

显示翻译

好的。这就是今天的节目了，但下次再和我们一起学习更多的英语短语和表达。

Phil

Don't kick learning the next expression into the long grass. Learn it with us next time!

显示翻译

不要把学习下一个表达法推迟到长草里。下次和我们一起学习！

Feifei

That's right! See you then.

显示翻译

没错！到时候见。

Phil

Bye!

显示翻译

再见！

Source: BBC Learning English · 本集出处:bbc.co.uk 原页面 ↗
内容版权归 BBC 所有,本站转载仅供学习交流;如需官方原始材料(音频/文字稿/练习 PDF)请访问上列原页面。