内容简介
Neil 特殊愉快地见告Li 他的网页greatmindsshakehands.com 即将完成设计，推出前须要“test the water”。怎么Neil的网页还须要水呢？原来这个短语另有说道！
笔墨稿
（关于台词的备注: 请把稳这不是广播节目的逐字稿件。本文稿可能没有表示录制、编辑过程中对节目做出的改变。）
Li大家好。欢迎收听BBC英语传授教化节目《隧道英语》。本日我的差错是Neil.
NeilHello everyone.
LiNeil, you're looking very happy today, what are you up to?
NeilI'm quite excited about my website: greatmindsshakehands.com. I've been designing it for months and it's nearly completed.
Li真的？我不知道你还会设计网页呢。Wow, I like the sound of it. I didn't know you could design websites, Neil.
NeilWell, it's for fun really. My website will be a public site where people can share ideas, you know like-minded people. I want to launch it next week but first I must test the water.
LiTest the water？ 你要测试水？难道你的网页还须要水吗？ Does your website depend on water? I'm very confused!
NeilNo Li, to test the water means to test the idea, try it out and see if it works.
LiOh I see. 'Test the water' 便是探测，摸底，看看别人有什么反应。
NeilThat's right. 'Test the water' is the phrase for Authentic Real English today. Let's hear some examples of how people use it.
Examples
Woman A: Have you started on your new book?
Woman B: Yes, I've written three chapters and I've sent it to the publishers to test the water.
Woman A: Oh, what perfume are you wearing? it's lovely.Woman B: Oh thanks. It's just a sample a company sent me. They're testing the water to see if people like it.
Woman A: How is your Shakespeare project going?
Woman B: It's early days; we're still testing the water.
Woman A: Well, good luck with it.
Woman B: Thanks.
LiSo Neil, how much testing have you done, have you got good feedback? 摸底的结果如何？
NeilWell, my wife loves it, but most other people say they don't understand how to use it.
LiIt sounds like it's not user-friendly.
NeilYou're right. I think, I need to make a few changes and then I'll test the water again.
Li如果须要我也可以充当你的摸底工具哦。I'm happy to be your guinea pig when you're ready.
NeilA 'guinea pig', I think that's an expression for another programme. For now, it's goodbye from both of us.
LiGoodbye.
NeilGoodbye.
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