Neil: Hello, this is Real English from BBC Learning1 English, I'm Neil.
Helen: And I'm Helen. Hello!
Neil: In Real English, we look at words and phrases that you might not find in your dictionary.
Helen: 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,知道英国人常见的通俗语言和表达方法也是尤为重要的。
Neil: Today's expression is 'a bite to eat'.
Helen: 听起来这个短语和吃有关,对不对Neil?
Neil: Yes, it certainly does have something to do with eating. To have a bite to eat means to go and have something to eat.
Helen: 这种说法是指吃那些东西都行还是说是要吃正经的一顿饭呢?
Neil: It usually means to have a small amount of food so a snack or a light meal or it can just mean to go and eat some food or a meal.
Helen: Bite就是用嘴咬的意思,而a bite to eat一般就是专指随意的吃点什么东西或者吃顿便饭的意思。
Neil: Here are some examples of how we might use it.
Insert
A: I'm hungry shall we go for a bite to eat?
B: Sounds good.
A: So are we going to see the new Harry2 Potter film later?
B: Yes. If we meet at 6 we should have time for a quick bite first.
Helen: 刚刚他两个说的是a quick bite就是非常快的吃点东西。所以a bite to eat也可以简单说成a bite 都是咬一口什么东西吃,就是随意吃点东西的意思。
Neil: All this talk of food is making me hungry
Helen: Shall we go for a bite to eat?
Neil: I would love a bite to eat. And that's about all from Real English today.
Helen: And today's expression is 'a bite to eat' 随意吃点东西。感谢大伙收听大家BBC Learning English的节目。 We'll see you next time.
Neil: Bye for now.