Down with the kids
Rob: Hello. I'm Rob. And this is Li! Li: Hello.
大家好，我是Rob。这位是Li! 大家好！
Rob: The weather is so great today we're outside on the sea, sailing in this beautiful boat. What do you think Li?
今天天气真好，我们出海了，在一艘很漂亮的船上。 你觉得怎么样呢？
Li: Impressive. Rob, I didn't know you had a sailing boat – in fact I didn't know you could sail a boat!
很令人吃惊。 Rob，我不知道你有帆船呢——事实上，我都不知道你会开船。
Rob: Don't worry Li, I know what I'm doing.
不用担心，Li，我知道我在干嘛。
Li: Mind that rock!
小心那块石头！
Rob: Whoa…it's ok Li. I’m in control – just keep your hand on that rope. We've got the wind in our sails, the sea is calm – we can just easily sail around this island and be home in time for tea.
哇……没事没事Li。我控制得很好，你只管抓住那根绳子。 我们的船帆刚好迎风呢，海面也很平静——我们可以随意地在小岛周围转一下然后赶回家喝茶。
Li: Oh right. I thought our excursion was going to be trouble free – or plain sailing. Rob: What? Plain sailing? We're not sailing any planes Li.
哦。对。我一早就知道我们这次出海不会遇到任何麻烦的，会一帆风顺。 什么？飞机划船？Li,我们没有驾驶什么飞机啊。
Li: No Rob. Plain sailing. It's an expression used to describe an activity that goes well or smoothly and is easy and uncomplicated.
不是，Rob，我说的是Plain sailing。这个短语指的是出行没遇到麻烦，一路顺风顺水。
Rob: Yes of course – this sailing is going well and is actually quite easy – so you're right – this is plain sailing. But can we only use the phrase to describe sailing boats?
当然。这次出海航行相当顺利和轻而易举。你是对的，这确实是一次Plain sailing...... 但是我们只能用这个短语来描述航海吗？
Li: No. Although it was originally a sailing term, it can really refer to any activity. Listen to these examples:
不止。尽管它最初的时候只是一个用于航海的术语，但是现在它也可以用来指其它的一些活动了。来听一下这些例句：
Driving through the city was difficult but once we were on the motorway it was plain sailing all the way.
在市区开车有点难，但是一旦上了高速路，就会开得很顺。
Once we found some office space and recruited staff, setting up our business was plain sailing.
一点我们找到办公地点并且招聘了员工，要把公司建立起来就是轻而易举的事情了。
Li: So plain sailing means things are going well. I have to admit Rob, your sailing skills are very good and …oh watch out for that big wave!
也就是说，plain sailing指的是一切运行得很顺利。 Rob，我得承认，你的划船技术非常好并且...哦，有大浪，小心！
Rob: Whoa...ouch! I've hit my head on the boom. Oh no, we're heading for the rocks again…hold the rope Li, quick!
哇...哎哟，我的头撞到吊杆上了。 哦，天哪，我们正在向石块撞过去...抓紧绳子，Li，快！
Li: I've changed my mind Rob, this isn't plain sailing anymore! That's taken the wind out of your sails Rob.
我改变主意了Rob，这次航海可不顺利啊。 这让你气馁受挫了吧。
Rob: Err, it's still windy Li. Look at the sails.
呃，还在刮风，你看那些帆就知道。
Li: No Rob. That's another sailing idiom – to take the wind out of your sails is an expression that means your boasting and arrogance has been challenged. Let's hear some other people using this expression:
不是的，Rob。这也是另外一个航海术语了.take the wind out of your sails这个短语指的是你吹的牛或者是你的自傲受到了考验！ 让我们来听听其他人怎么使用这个短语的。
I was all ready for a big argument but when he bought me some flowers it took the wind out of my sails.
我准备好了狠狠地吵一场，但是当看到他为我买了花，我就有点泄气了。
The negative feedback from my boss has really taken the wind out of my sails.
老板对我的负面评价真的让我很气馁。
Rob: Hmm, Li you've certainly taught me a lot about sailing today – there are some really good expressions – but one thing you haven't taught me is how to sail this boat.
呣，Li，你今天倒是教了我不少跟航海有关的东西呢。这些短语都很好用，但是，有一样东西你还没有教我，那就是怎样开这条船。
Li: You said you knew how to sail it.
你说过你知道怎么驾驶的。
Rob: Well when I said I had been sailing several times I had….but I meant on a ferry….as a passenger.
呃，当我说我航行过若干次，我的意思是，我作为乘客做过几次游轮！
Li: Oh. Watch out!
哦，小心！
Rob: That was close. I've a feeling this really isn't going to be plain sailing after all.
好险！我有一种感觉，这次的出海看来一点不会一帆风顺。
Li: Too right! Bye bye.
说得太对了！拜拜！
Rob: Bye. Now Li could you just hold that rope there please.
再会！Li,你现在可以抓住那根绳子了吧？