Elizabeth: Oh, I do love this time of day. Shall we walk while there s still light? You know the clocks go back next week. It ll be dark before five. I do hope you re a walker.
Tony: I am.
Elizabeth: Good. I always think these meetings have far a greater chance of success if the Prime Minister is a walker. As a matter of fact, it s how I think best, on my feet. I ve never been one for sitting around endlessly. A good walk in fresh air sorts everything out. One in four, you said, wanted to get rid of me?
Tony: For about half an hour, but then you came down to London, and all that went away.
Elizabeth: I ve never been hated like that before.
Tony: It must have been difficult.
Elizabeth: Yes. Very. Nowadays, people want glamour1 and tears, the grand performance. I m not very good at that. I never have been. I prefer to keep my feelings to myself, and foolishly, I believed that was what people wanted from their Queen - not to make a fuss2, nor wear one s heart on one s sleeve. Duty first, self second. That s how I was brought up. That s all I ve ever known.
Tony: You were so young when you became Queen.
Elizabeth: Well. Yes. Yes, a girl. But I can see that the world has changed, and one must... modernize3?
Tony: Well, perhaps that s where I can help.
妙语佳句,活学活用
1. On one s feet
这是个很容易理解的片语,on one s feet 的意思就是"站着",例如:I m tired--I ve been on my feet all day. 它还可以表示"恢复健康",常与back连用,如:I hope you get back on your feet very soon.
2. Sort out
这是一个动词短语,意为"evolve; develop; turn out 发展,进展",例如:We ll just have to wait and see how things sort out.
在这个片段中,sort out 意为"to put in order; clarify 使有秩序,澄清,阐明",例如:After I sort things out here, I ll be able to concentrate on your problem.
3. Keep to oneself
这个片语的意思是"Refrain4 from revealing, to hold as secret or confidential5 不外露,保守秘密",例如:He promised to keep the news to himself.
此外,keep to oneself 还表示"独处,不交际",例如:She kept to herself all morning.
4. Make a fuss 小题大做
这是个很有意思的片语,用来指人们"小题大做,大惊小怪",例如:I m sure he ll be here soon; please don t make a fuss.
如果要表示"针对……大惊小怪",要与介词 about / over 连用,例如:He s making a fuss about nothing. If you make a fuss over the small budget items, what will it be like when we discuss the big ones?
如果是make a fuss over someone,那就表示"对某人表现出过分的关心",例如:Whenever they visit Grandma she makes a fuss over the children.
5. Wear one s heart on one s sleeve
意思是"to make one s intimate feelings or personal affairs known to all 张扬,外露,坦率",尤指感情上的外露,例如:She was not the kind who would wear her heart on her sleeve.
这个片语也写作pin one s heart on one s sleeve。