Jen: Hello, I'm Jennifer. Welcome to Authentic Real English. Joining me in the studio today is Helen. Hi Helen!
Helen: Hi Jen! 你怎么上班来了？我以为你今天请假休息了呢？
Jen: No, that's next week. I'm taking two weeks off work and I can't wait!
Helen: Are you going on holiday?
Jen: Not this time, it's too expensive, but I do have a few irons in the fire that will keep me busy across the fortnight...
Helen: Irons in the fire? 烧铁？这是什么意思？你几时成了铁匠？
Jen: No, Helen, I'm not an ironmonger...
Helen: ...because that could be great! 我看中了一个特别漂亮的手工打造的铁床架子，不过实在是太贵了。Perhaps with your new iron-making skills you can make me one, instead!
Jen: I definitely don't have any iron-making skills!
Helen: But you said you had a few irons in the fire... Oh! 我理解错了，是不是你有很多衣服要烫？你衣服可多了，那得花很多时间才能烫完。
What are Jen's irons in the fire?
Jen: No, that's not what I meant!
Helen: So what did you mean?
Jen: This is another English phrase which you shouldn't take too literally. If you have a few irons in the fire, it means that you have a few different projects or potential ideas going on at the same time.
Helen: I see. 你不早点解释，原来这个短语 irons in the fire 和打铁，烫衣服都没关系，它的意思是同时有好几件事情要办，或者是同时你有好多选择。So you have a few irons in the fire because you have a few different options for your fortnight off?
Jen: That's right - I can't wait.
Helen: So, tell me, Jen, what are your irons in the fire - what are you planning?
Jen: Well, I have a friend in Paris who I haven't seen for ages, so I could go there... I'd like to pop up to Scotland to visit my sister and her children for a few days... There's also a cheap deal to Turkey that I've seen and I already have some yoga classes booked in!
Helen: Wow, that's a lot!
Jen: There was one thing you were right about, though...
Helen: What's that?
Jen: I do have a huge pile of ironing to do, too! Join us again for another edition of Authentic Real English from bbcukchina.com. Bye for now!
Helen: Bye!
