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内容简介

不论是安排日程还是制定预算，有时需要预留一些 “允许变通、商量的空间”。英语表达 “wiggle room” 就指这种 “回旋余地”。主持人菲菲用表达 “wiggle room” 告诉同事 Neil 自己会争取更高的团队聚餐预算。听菲菲和 Neil 的对话，学习这个地道英语表达的含义和用法。

文字稿

（关于台词的备注: 请注意这不是广播节目的逐字稿件。本文稿可能没有体现录制、编辑过程中对节目做出的改变。）

Feifei
大家好，欢迎收听 BBC英语教学的 “地道英语” 节目，我是菲菲。

Neil
… and me, Neil. Wow, Feifei, you look really busy. Do you need any help?

Feifei
唉，不用了，谢谢你。为了咱们 BBC英语教学的团队聚餐，我正在研究附近餐厅的价格呢。我本来看中的是办公室旁边的那家高级餐厅。

Neil
Brilliant! I've been wanting to try that place. It looks amazing.

Feifei
唉，你可能需要再接着等了。我看了，那家餐馆特别贵，我们的预算根本不够。

Neil
Oh. Have you asked the boss to see if the budget can be increased so we can go?

Feifei
Good idea! I'll see if there's any wiggle room on the amount of money we can spend!

Neil
I'm sorry, what? Wiggle room?

Feifei
Wiggle room! 表达 “wiggle room” 的意思是 “回旋余地”，它用来指 “可以在某种程度上改变原有的安排或计划，找出做一件事情的时间或金钱”。我刚刚说 “I'll see if there's any wiggle room on the amount of money we can spend” 的意思是 “我试试看我们能提高预算的可能性有多大”，也就是 “看看预算有没有回旋余地”。

Neil
Great – well, good luck with that. We'll listen to some examples while you make the call.

Examples
The company had no more wiggle room in the marketing budget to employ new actors.

I'm afraid I don't have much wiggle room in my schedule to meet you today.

How much wiggle room do we have on the salary we're offering? He's demanding more money.

Feifei
你正在收听的是 BBC英语教学的 “地道英语” 节目。通过上面的例句我们可以看出，“wiggle room” 通常被用来指 “如果需要，可以进行变通，从而促成某事”。

Neil
And tell me, Feifei – was there any wiggle room in the budget for us to go to the restaurant?

Feifei
I'm afraid not. I'm going to start looking for a cheaper restaurant now.

Neil
OK, Good luck with that!

Feifei
Thanks. Bye-bye.

Neil
Bye!