Brownie points
William: Hello and welcome to The English we Speak, I'm William.
大家好！欢迎收听“日常英语”。我是William。
Feifei: And I'm Feifei. William, what are you doing with that suitcase and flowers and boxes of chocolates?
我是Feifei。William，这箱子，花和巧克力是怎么回事啊？
William: Oh, well I'm spending the weekend with my wife's parents so I thought I'd better get something for my mother-in-law.
哦，这个周末我要和妻子一起看去岳父母岳，想着应该给送点礼物，所以咯……
Feifei: Oh I see! A weekend with the in-laws.
哦，原来是要和姻亲一起过周末。
William: And I'm going to do a bit of decorating and gardening for them too.
我还打算帮他们装修一下房子或是打理一下花园啊什么的。
Feifei: Wow, you really are trying to earn some brownie points, aren't you? William is trying to get praise and approval by doing something for them.
哇，你这是准备好了要去挣点印象分（品行积分）呀。 William想通过做事情来获得得到岳父母的嘉许赞赏。
William: Yes, I'm trying to earn some brownie points.
说的没错。我是打算去挣点印象分（品行积分）。
Feifei: To earn some brownie points. 'Brownie points' are badges young girls who are members of a youth organization called 'The Brownies' earn for doing good things for others. Now we use that term generally to mean 'trying to get praise for our actions'.
挣品行积分。这里分brownie point(品行分)指的是青少年组织“The Brownie”里的女孩们帮助他人所得到的徽章。 现在当我们想得到他人对我们品行的赞许我们通常用这个短语来表达。
William: Yes, you see I'm not sure if my mother-in-law really… likes me that much. So that's why I'm trying to earn some brownie points. Maybe she'll change her attitude towards me.
没错。我不是很确定我的岳母到底有多喜欢我。 就因为这个我打算去挣点印象分。她也许会改变对我的看法呢。
Feifei: Oh dear. Yes, maybe you'll get some approval from her.
恩，兴许吧，她也许会对你倍加赞赏呢。
hmm,I hope so.
唔，希望如此吧。
Man: Look at Gary. He keeps offering to do extra work - even at weekends.
瞧瞧Gary，总是主动要求做额外的工作，甚至牺牲周末时间来做。
Woman: Well he's hoping to earn a few brownie points with the bosses. There's a new position opening up and I reckon he'll apply for it.
我看哪，他是想在老板面前多表现挣一些品行分（印象分）呢。 (因为） 公司有一个新职位，他可能要准备申请。
Feifei: He's been offering to do extra work to impress his bosses. It's because there's an opportunity for a promotion coming up.
那人主动要求额外工作以此来取悦他的上司。 这是因为他可能很快会得到一个升职的机会。
William: But to earn brownie points is more than just doing someone a favour.
但是，品行分可不是靠帮小忙就能挣到的。
Feifei: Yes, the expression means you're trying to get approval from someone. It's also quite a light-hearted and informal expression.
这个表达的意思是，你试图得到某人的赞许。A 短语有些许戏谑味道而且也不是正式表达。
William: When was the last time you earned brownie points from someone, Feifei?
Feifei，你上次尝试挣品行分是什么时候呢？
Feifei: Oh I don't try to get other people's approval.
哦，我不喜欢做这种事。
William: Hmm, really? So you don't really care what people think about you?
唔，是吗？你不在乎别人对你的看法吗？
Feifei: No, not at all. But William, you've got so much stuff with you. Are you taking the train to your in-laws' house? Can I give you a lift to the station?
一点也不。 话说回来，你的东西挺多的。 你是坐火车去你岳父家吧？ 需要我载你到火车站。
William: Oh thanks! That's really kind of you, Feifei.
太感谢你了Feifei。你真是太好了。
I was beginning to think you were a bit selfish but now I can see you're quite generous.Ah,I understand! Feifei: Yes, I'm trying to earn some brownie points! William: Well, you succeeded! Goodbye! Feifei: Bye!
我差点就误认为你是个自私的人了,不过现在我知道了你挺个热心肠的。啊，我明白了！ 是的，我在尝试着挣点品行分呢。 唔,你得逞了。再会！ 再见！