The english we speak(BBC教學)第44期: cut the mustard達到要求
Finn: Hi, I'm Finn. And this is The English We Speak. And this is Feifei. A very sad-looking Feifei, by the way.
芬：大家好，我是芬。這裏是我們所說的英語。這位是菲菲。另外，是一個看起來很傷心的菲菲。Feifei: Sorry, Finn. But I feel a bit of a failure today. I took part in a cooking contest where my grandmother and my mother were champions and I lost!
菲菲：不好意思，芬。但是我感覺今天有一絲失敗感。我參加了一個我祖母和母親曾經獲得冠軍的廚藝比賽，但是我失敗了。Finn: I sympathise with you more than you know. My grandfather and my father were the best fishermen ever, and when I go fishing all I catch is a cold.
芬：我比你想象的還要感到同情。我的祖父和父親曾經是最棒的漁民，但我釣魚的時候什麼也沒釣到還感冒了。
Feifei: I just can't understand why I didn't win this weekend. My pie was tasty, my cake looked appetising...
菲菲：我只是不明白爲什麼這個星期我沒有贏。我的派很好吃，我的蛋糕看起來很開胃。Finn: Sometimes Feifei we've got to accept that we just can't cut the mustard.
芬：菲菲有時我們需要接受我們不能達到要求的現實。Feifei: What!? Are you saying that I can't cut the mustard?! I can cut the mustard, and the cheese, I can beat the eggs, sieve the flour...
菲菲：什麼？你是說我不能切芥末？！我能切芥末，還有奶酪，我可以打破雞蛋，篩麪粉...Finn: Calm down dear, this has nothing to do with your cooking skills. In English, when you say someone or something 'can't cut the mustard' you mean that it's not good enough.
芬：冷靜親愛的，這和你的廚藝沒有任何關係。在英語中，當你說某人或某事不能“切芥末”意思是它還不夠好。Feifei: So you're not doubting my cooking abilities.
菲菲：所以你在質疑我的廚藝。Finn: I wouldn't dare. So, we can say 'can't cut the mustard', or 'don't' or 'doesn't cut the mustard'. Listen out for some examples of how to use this expression.
芬：我可不敢。所以你可以說“不能切芥末”或者“不去切芥末”。聽一些關於這個詞組用法的例子吧。I know the borough of Milton Keynes well. It's a charming place... but it doesn't cut the mustard where tourism is concerned.
我很瞭解米爾頓凱恩斯區。那是一個充滿魅力的地方...但是在旅遊方面它並沒有達到要求。I won't study architecture. I am bad at drawing. I just can't cut the mustard.
我不會學習考古的。我畫畫很差。我不能夠達到要求。Feifei: Now I get it. It means you can't meet the expectations. This is a very odd expression.
菲菲：現在我懂了。它的意思是你不能夠達到預期。這是一個很奇怪的表達。Finn: There is some controversy about its origins. Some say it is because 'mustard' used to be slang for something that was the real thing, or the genuine article. Others believe it has to do with the fact that mustard seeds are hard to crack.
芬：這裏有一些關於它的起源的矛盾。有些人說因爲“芥末”曾經是真貨或藝術真品的俚語表達。另一些人相信它和芥末的種子很難打破有關。Feifei: It sounds like an old expression.
菲菲：這聽起來像是一個古老的短語。Finn: It is and it seems to be very popular especially in America. Here in Britain you might hear a shorter version like 'he can't cut it'.
芬：是的，它似乎很流行特別在美國。在英國你也許會聽到一個短一點的版本比如“他不能達到要求”。Feifei: Oh, I've learnt a lot today. And now, to prove to you that I can cut it - the mustard, the cheese and the pie, I am inviting you to have lunch in my house this weekend.
菲菲：哦，我今天學到了很多。現在，爲了給你證明我能夠切芥末，奶酪和派，我邀請你這個週末來我家吃中午飯。Finn: And what is on the menu?
芬：那麼要吃什麼呢？Feifei: You mentioned fishing so I'll offer you my very own special fish dish: tuna and chocolate pie!
菲菲：你提到釣魚所以我給你提供了我個人特別的魚肉菜：金槍魚和巧克力派！Finn: Tuna and chocolate pie?! Sorry, I think I won't be able to make it this weekend. I've got to go... fishing. Bye.
芬：金槍魚和巧克力派？！不好意思，我覺得我這週末不能去。我得去釣魚。再見。Feifei: Another time, then. Bye.
菲菲：那麼下次吧。再見。
