Lesson 89 A slip of the tongue

People will do anything to see a free show -- even if it is a bad one. When the news got round that a comedy show would be presented at our local cinema by the P. and U. Bird Seed Company, we all rushed to see it. We had to queue for hours to get in and there must have been several hundred people present just before the show began. Unfortunately, the show was one of the dullest we have ever seen. Those who failed to get in need not have felt disappointed, as many of the artistes who should have appeared did not come. The only funny things we heard that evening came from the advertiser at the beginning of the programme. He was obviously very nervous and for some minutes stood awkwardly before the microphone. As soon as he opened his mouth, everyone burst out laughing. We all know what the poor man should have said, but what he actually said was: 'This is the Poo and Ee Seed Bird Company. Good ladies, evening and gentlemen!"

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【Pronouncation】

1. present

[pri'zent] v 展出、呈现

['prezənt]adj. 在场的、出席的 n.礼物

2. obviously ['ɑbvɪəslɪ]注音前面O的发音

【Words & Expression】

1. slip [slɪp] n.小错误

a slip of the tongue 说走了嘴，失言

slip of the pen 笔误

slip away 逃走；悄悄溜走

slip in 悄悄溜入；偷偷溜进去

slip-on adj. 容易穿或脱的；不系鞋带的 n. 易于穿上或脱下的衣服

2. petrified  ['petrɪfaɪd] adj. Make sb unable to think, move, act, etc because of fear, surprise, etc.惊呆的；目瞪口呆的

Petrify sb ( with sth)

eg. He was absolutely petrified with fear.

self-deprecating adj. showing that you think you are not very good or important 自嘲的

3. 脑袋一片空白

My mind goes/is blank when I am nervous.

I draw a blank when I am nervous.

I get so nervous that nothing comes out.

stage fright 怯场

4. cat gets my tongue 舌头打结

5. chrysanthemum [krɪ'sænθəməm] n.菊花

6. butt of a joke 笑柄

7. Go flat:反响不大，变平静，轮胎撒气

eg. The premiere of this movie went flat.

8.tedious/monotonous/mundane/boring 同义词，都有“枯燥、单调”之意

tedious adj. tiresome because of being so long, slow or dull; boring 厌倦的，烦人的

eg. The work is tedious.

9. monotonous adj. [mə'nɑtnəs] not changing and therefor uninteresting; boring or tedious 单调的

eg. His articles are fixed in form and monotonous in content.

10. mundane adj. Ordinary and typically unexciting 平凡的，平淡的

eg. I lead a pretty mundane life.

11. butcher n. [ 'bʊtʃə]刽子手

12. Mike: microphone 麦克风

13. rookie mistake 低级错误