内容简介

单词 “dial” 除了可以作动词表示 “拨号” 之外，还可以作名词表示 “调整音量等数值的按钮”。不过，在 “dial down” 这个表达中，我们并不需要一个实际的按钮来 “缓和，减轻一件事的强烈程度”。听节目，跟主持人菲菲和 Phil 学习 “dial down” 的用法。

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
Hello and welcome to Authentic Real English, where we explain phrases used by fluent English speakers so that you can use them too. I'm Feifei.

Phil
And I'm Phil. I'm so happy!

Feifei
How are you so bouncy at the start of the week? Can you dial down the energy a little bit, I'm getting tired just listening to you.

Phil
OK, I'll dial it down a bit. And actually, that's what we should learn in this programme – what 'dial down' means.

Feifei
Well, imagine you're looking at the controls of a machine. A dial can be something that you turn to change the intensity of something. “Dial” 作名词时可以指 “用于调节音量、频率等等的按钮”。'Dial' is also a verb. If you dial something down, you reduce its intensity.

Phil
Now, you told me to dial down the energy. Obviously there aren't actually any controls – it's just a metaphor. So, we use it much more generally to talk about reducing the intensity of something.

Feifei
Yes. If you want someone to make something simpler, then you can ask them to dial down the complexity. If you want to resolve an awkward situation at work, then you might ask people to dial down the tension.

Phil
OK, listen to some more people using the expression 'dial down'.

Examples
OK kids, it's getting really noisy in here. It's time to dial down the volume.

Wow! This curry is so spicy! Can you dial down on the chilli please?

Urgh! He's always so arrogant in meetings. I really wish he'd dial it down a bit.

Feifei
你正在收听的是 BBC 英语教学的 “地道英语” 节目。以上我们一起学习了如何使用 “dial down” 这个表达。“Dial down” 的字面意思是 “调低音量”，但在日常交流中，“dial down” 可以用来比喻 “降低或缓和某事的强烈程度”。在口语交流中，有时我们也可能会用 “dial back” 来表达和 “dial down” 相同的意思。

Phil
Yes, so a shop might decide to dial back the number of discounts they offer if they need to make more money. And don't forget that the opposite of 'dial down' or 'dial back' is 'dial up'.

Feifei
Yes. For example, a sports team might decide to dial up the pressure on their opponents to make sure they win a game. 和 “dial down” 意思相反的表达是 “dial up”，它的意思就是 “增强或者提高某事的强烈程度”。

Phil
And if you want to dial up your efforts to learn English, make sure you come back next time. See you then!

Feifei
Bye-bye!