All Mouth and No Trousers 只说不做

Neil: Hello, welcome to Real English from BBC Learning English, I'm Neil.

Helen: 大家好，我是 Helen.

Neil: In Real English we look at words and phrases people use all the time, but you probably won't find in your dictionary.

Helen: 希望您在今天的《地道英语》节目中能学到在词典里可能找不到的常用英语表达。 So Neil, have you started writing your novel yet?

Neil: No, not yet, but I'm definitely going to start next month, when I have, you know, a bit more free time.

Helen: Oh, Neil you're always making excuses! Neil 好久以前就说他要写书了，结果磨了这么久，我什么都没看见，他肯定一个字都没写。

Neil: What are you saying, Helen?

Helen: You're all mouth and no trousers!

Neil: Why, thanks a lot! Helen thinks I'm all mouth and no trousers. Can you explain what that means?

Helen: 这个意思就是说，如果有人只说不做，那我们就可以说他是 all mouth and no trousers. 字面上的翻译是 '都是嘴而没有裤子'。听起来很奇怪，但是一个很通俗的表达。

Example

A: Dave's going on about climbing Mount¹ Everest again. He reckons² he can do it with just two months' training, but he hasn't even been for a hike yet.

B: Yeah, the problem is he's all mouth and no trousers.

Neil: So it means he's been talking a lot about climbing Mount Everest but actually we know he's not really going to do it.

Helen: Yep. He's all mouth and no trousers. Just like you, Neil.

Neil: Hmm.

Helen: It's a very long expression, isn't it?

Neil: Yes, but you can shorten³ it.

Helen: Oh, I see. 我们可以把这个表达说得更简单一些。

Neil: You can just say 'you're all mouth'.

Helen: 可以说 '你都是嘴', 'you're all mouth'. Is it rude?

Neil: Well, it depends who you say it to. It's best to keep it to friends.

Helen: 这个表达最好是在朋友之间用用，不然陌生人会觉得你没礼貌。

Neil: Well, that's all we have time for today on Real English. If you want more help with your English, go to our website www.bbcchina.com.cn.

Helen: 我们的网址是 www.bbcchina.com.cn. 今天就到这儿，我们下次节目再见。

Neil: Bye.