Fight tooth and nail “牙爪並施”，竭盡全力

[圖片來源：Getty Images]

內容簡介

Rob 最喜歡的街角小飯館改頭換面，變成瞭一傢隻賣純素食品的館子。這可惹得 Rob 不高興。他下決心一定要改變飯館老板的主意，讓飯館恢復賣肉食。“Fight tooth and nail” 這個說法就可以形容 Rob “竭盡全力，拼命努力” 的做事態度。Rob 和菲菲將在節目中講解 “fight tooth and nail” 的具體用法。

文字稿

Feifei
大傢好，歡迎收聽 AYYBLOG英語教學的 “地道英語” 節目。我是馮菲菲。

Rob
…and hello, I’m Rob.

Feifei
You’re looking a bit angry, Rob.

Rob
Yes, I am. I’m really angry. I’ve just heard some bad news.

Feifei
Rob 剛剛收到瞭一些壞消息。What’s happened?

Rob
Well, it’s the cafe I go to. They’ve decided to become a vegan cafe – no more meat! Where am I going to buy my bacon sandwich from now?

Feifei
Rob 常去的那傢小飯館決定成為一傢純素的館子，所以 Rob 不能再去那裡買他喜歡吃的培根三明治瞭。There could be worse things to get angry about.

Rob
Really? I don’t think so. I’m going to fight tooth and nail to get them to change their mind.

Feifei
Oooh, that sounds painful – protesting with your teeth and nails.

Rob
Of course not, Feifei. When you fight tooth and nail for something, you use a lot of effort to get something you want. You can also do it to stop something happening.

Feifei
我明白瞭。“Fight tooth and nail” 的意思是 “竭盡全力”，正如它的字面意思，“牙爪並施 fight tooth and nail”。這個說法用來形容人做事全力以赴，不屈不撓。It’s an odd phrase, Rob.

Rob
Yes, and it’s a very old English phrase and basically means to use everything you have available to get the outcome you want.

Feifei
Even your teeth and nails! Well, let’s hear some examples of people fighting tooth and nail.

Examples
We’re going to fight tooth and nail to stop them building a new motorway going right past our house.

After fighting tooth and nail, I finally managed to get the pay rise I felt I deserved.

My football team needs to fight tooth and nail to stay in the top division. They have to win today’s match!

Feifei
這裡是 AYYBLOG英語教學的 “地道英語” 節目。在這集節目裡，我們一起學習一個老式經典表達 “fight tooth and nail”。它可以用來形容人做事 “全力以赴，不遺餘力，盡心盡力”。So Rob, that’s what you’re going to do to stop your favourite cafe from serving vegan food?

Rob
Umm, well, not exactly – they can sell vegan food but I want them to carry on selling bacon sandwiches – I love them. That’s what I’m fighting tooth and nail for.

Feifei
Yes, I know. 可是還要繼續賣培根，就不能是純素的館子瞭。

Rob
Well, I’m going to organise a petition to get bacon back – do you want to sign it?

Feifei
No, I don’t. But Rob, have you seen this leaflet that I was given? It says “fifty percent off all vegan food this week”. And guess what? It’s at your ‘favourite’ cafe.

Rob
Oh, fifty percent discount you say? Hmmm, maybe I should try some vegan food.

Feifei
Yes, try a beetroot hummus sandwich – far healthier and less fattening, Rob.

Rob
Thanks! I will. Bye!

Feifei
Goodbye.