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Helen 被提名為學(xué)校家長(zhǎng)會(huì)的財(cái)務(wù)總監(jiān)，這可是一個(gè)重要的職位，可是Helen 還沒(méi)上任就已經(jīng)覺(jué)得壓力大，睡不了覺(jué)了。這可怎么辦？Neil 提出了一個(gè)建議，在事情成為 “燙手山芋”之前做出決定。

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Neil
Hello and welcome to Authentic Real English. I'm Neil.

Helen
大家好，歡迎收聽(tīng) BBC 英語(yǔ)教學(xué)的《地道英語(yǔ)》。我是 Helen。

Neil
Oh what’s the matter, Helen? You look really tired.

Helen
Is it that bad?

Neil:
You've got very dark shadows under your eyes.

Helen
是嗎？我的黑眼圈你都看到了。唉呀，有人想交給我一份工作，可是我是真的做不了。

Neil
What is it?

Helen
就是做學(xué)校家長(zhǎng)協(xié)會(huì)的財(cái)務(wù)總監(jiān)，但是你是知道，我看到數(shù)字就頭大！I am hopeless with numbers.

Neil
Sounds like it could turn into a hot potato for you.

Helen
現(xiàn)在都什么時(shí)候了，你還讓我吃熱土豆。我可吃不下，急都急死了。

Neil
I'm not talking about food. I am talking about this job. I can see it’s going to be a problem for you.

Helen
I’m thinking the same.

Neil
You need to think about it very carefully before it becomes a hot potato. When something becomes a ‘hot potato’, it becomes a problem and difficult to handle.

Helen
I see. 你說(shuō)的 hot potato 是中文中常說(shuō)的“燙手山芋”，也就是非常棘手的問(wèn)題。的確這個(gè)形容非常貼切。如果我做了財(cái)務(wù)總監(jiān)，就像是手中拿著一塊燙手的山芋，會(huì)把事情搞得一團(tuán)糟。

Neil
Exactly, you’ve got it. A hot potato is a phrase we use to refer to difficult or tricky situations, or even people. Here are a few examples:

Examples
The shortage of housing supply is fast becoming a hot potato for the council.

The pay rise issue is a hot potato for management; I don't know how they are going to sort this one out between the staff, the union and the shareholders. 

Neil
Helen, my word of advice is…

Helen
Please, I’m listening.

Neil
Tell the school you can’t do it. Drop it before it becomes a real hot potato for you.

Helen
You are right. That’s what I will do. Thanks

Neil
You’re welcome.