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It's no good trying to talk to a wall - it doesn't answer |
Neil: Hi, and welcome to BBC Learning English. I’m Neil.
Yang Li: 大家好，我是杨莉。
Neil: In this Real English programme we'll be looking at an English idiom.
Yang Li: 还有对应的汉语成语。
Neil: Today's English idiom is: It's like talking to a brick wall!
Yang Li: 什么意思呢？
Neil: Well this idiom is used to say that something is totally pointless and that you are not achieving anything.
Yang Li: 这就是说，白费功夫，没有结果，因此是徒劳的努力。
Neil: It's like talking to a brick wall!
Yang Li: 字面意思是对着石墙说话。
Neil: Do you have an equivalent idiom in Chinese?
Yang Li: I think so. 汉语中我们说，对牛弹琴。
Neil: Let's hear some examples of people using this idiom in conversation.
Example
A: I've tried to tell him not to work so hard, but it's like talking to a brick wall.
B: I've been trying to get a refund from that company for months, but it's like talking to a brick wall.
Yang Li: 第一个人听起来好像是妻子在抱怨丈夫，告诉他不要那么拼命地干，可是他丈夫就是不听。
Neil: It's like talking to a brick wall.
Yang Li: 第二个人好像是抱怨他一直在追一项什么退款，可是这个公司始终就不理睬。
Neil: It's like talking to a brick wall. This idiom is usually used when talking about communication of some sort which isn't working.
Yang Li: 同某人交流，但是对方根本不明白你的意思。
Neil: So to recap the English idiom is: It's like talking to a brick wall.
Yang Li: 汉语中我们说，这是对牛弹琴。
Neil: Well, I hope you've enjoyed our programme.
Yang Li: 下次节目还有更多成语，千万不要错过收听，我们下次节目再会。
Neil: Goodbye! | 
