John: Hello, this is Real English from BBC Learning English, I’m John.

Jean: And I’m Jean. Hello!

John: In Real English, we look at words and phrases that you might not find in your dictionary.

Jean: 英语是一种富有成语和不同语言习惯的语言，所以要想学习地道纯正的英国英语，了解英国人常用的通俗语言和表达方式也是非常重要的。

John: Today’s expression is ‘agony A.G.O.N.Y. – aunt A.U.N.T’ –agony aunt.

Jean: Agony 通常是痛苦苦恼的意思，aunt是阿姨的意思，那这两个词放在一起不就成了“苦恼阿姨”了吗？！

John: Well you would normally find an agony aunt in a newspaper or magazine. An agony aunt will give advice to people who write to them about their personal problems.

Jean: OK – 原来这个agony aunt其实就是我们中国话“知心大姐”的意思。大家有了什么苦恼烦心的事情就可以写信给报纸杂志上的知心大姐专栏，询求指教和帮助。

John: Agony is another word for pain.

Jean: 是的，agony就是指身体上或者精神上的痛苦。知心大姐之所以叫 agony aunt就是因为她是一位帮助别人排解痛苦的人。不过John，一般这些给知心大姐写信的人都有一些什么样的痛苦难题呢？

John: Well maybe you think your boyfriend is seeing another woman, or you might be a 16 year old who is pregnant.

Jean: Ah 就是说如果你的伴侣有了外遇，或者你意外怀孕了等等这样很个人的痛苦和难题。

Insert

A: What are you reading there?

B: Oh I’m reading the agony aunt section in the newspaper – I love reading about people’s problems and the advice they give.

A: I feel like an agony aunt at work sometimes – people are always telling me their personal problems

B: You must be good at giving advice!

A: I am pretty good….

John: So come on Jean, be honest – have you ever written to an agony aunt?

Jean: Honestly John – I have never done that. But I do enjoy reading the agony aunt columns in magazines though.

John: It must be quite depressing being an agony aunt though – and to have to listen to people’s problems all the time.

Jean: But you can help people with the advice you give – I think it would be interesting – 不过我本来就比较爱管别人闲事，严格来讲应该算是Nosy而不是个agony aunt。

John: Well everyone – now you know – if you have any problems you can send them to Jean at BBC Learning English!! Anyway, that’s today’s expression ‘agony aunt’

Jean: Agony Aunt – 知心大姐。好了今天我们BBC Learning English 的地道英语节目就到这了.

John: See you next time.