[ti:Time Wasters: Lollygag and Dillydally] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:07.64]And now, Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English. [00:17.92]On this program we explore words and expressions in the English language. [00:25.72]Today, we begin with a story about two good friends: Caleb and Corrine. [00:34.72]They have a lot in common. [00:37.48]They like the same books, enjoy the same movies [00:42.32]and play the same sports. [00:46.84]But, the friends are also quite different [00:50.28]in the way they live their lives. [00:54.52]Corrine is a planner. [00:56.96]She always has a schedule. [00:59.48]And she likes to makes lists. [01:02.84]She is always on time and knows exactly where she is going. [01:10.28]Caleb is a free spirit. [01:13.52]He likes things unplanned [01:16.32]and likes to see where the road takes him. [01:21.20]In fact, sometimes he does not know exactly where he is going. [01:27.96]One day, these two friends decided to go shopping together. [01:33.40]You might find it surprising that something like shopping [01:38.16]would test their friendship. [01:40.68]But it did. [01:44.08]To Corrine shopping is an unpleasant task. [01:48.28]So, she does it as quickly as possible. [01:52.84]She goes to stores as soon as they open. [01:56.88]And she buys only what she needs. [02:01.80]To Caleb shopping is an adventure! [02:05.56]He likes to linger in front of store windows. [02:09.68]He looks at the objects for sale for a long time [02:14.04]without even stepping inside the store. [02:18.76]This activity, that is popular with some, [02:22.08]is called window shopping. [02:25.48]Caleb does not pay much attention to his shopping list. [02:30.36]In fact, he usually doesn't have one. [02:34.16]He likes to browse. [02:36.76]And he says that browsing has resulted [02:40.60]in some of his best purchases. [02:44.60]Well, he calls it browsing. [02:47.20]Corrine calls is dawdling, or wasting time. [02:52.64]And that is where their problems started. [02:57.52]The two had decided they would have a party. [03:01.04]They had to shop to buy party equipment, [03:04.64]like pretty dishes and tablecloths. [03:07.72]They also needed to buy flowers, [03:10.76]balloons and other decorations. [03:14.68]This meant going to several different stores. [03:17.76]Caleb wanted to browse to help him get ideas for the party. [03:24.56]Corrine just wanted to buy what they needed and leave. [03:31.16]It was not going well. [03:33.80]Finally, when Caleb lingered too long again [03:38.68]at a window display, Corrine said, [03:42.12]“Can you please stop dillydallying. [03:45.40]You’ve been lollygagging this whole time [03:48.88]and I just want to go home!” [03:52.28]Caleb turned to her and said, “I am not dillydallying. [03:56.92]Nor am I lollygagging. This is how I shop. [04:01.88]If you feel like this is wasting time, then you can go home.” [04:07.88]Corrine thought about it and said, [04:10.32]"That is the best idea I have heard all day!" [04:15.24]While Caleb shopped, Corrine could start making food for the party. [04:20.96]It was a good idea to separate and do different tasks. [04:25.44]The party was a success, and their friendship survived. [04:32.04]Now, back to our words: Lollygag and dillydally. [04:37.44]They are funny sounding words. [04:41.44]People who fool around during tasks [04:44.56]can be said to “lollygag.” [04:48.12]People who “dillydally” move or act slowly. [04:53.80]And as we said earlier, these words also mean “dawdle.” [05:00.16]Lollygaggers, dillydalliers, and dawdlers all waste time. [05:07.84]We usually use these words to describe people [05:11.20]who move or act slowly [05:13.40]to avoid doing something unpleasant. [05:17.88]Here's another example. [05:19.92]A parent might accuse their child [05:22.80]of lollygagging on their way to school. [05:26.52]Or a teacher might accuse a student [05:29.60]of dillydallying before starting a test or homework. [05:34.64]Sometimes we just say dally. [05:37.64]So, a parent could warn a child, [05:40.12]“Don’t dally at the playground after school. [05:42.72]Come straight home!” [05:44.28]Although, that usage is a little less common. [05:49.88]And please note when you say [05:52.64]someone is dillydallying or lollygagging, [05:56.72]as Corrine did with Caleb, they might take offense. [06:02.36]And that’s all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories. [06:06.36]Until next time … I'm Anna Matteo. [06:09.40]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM