Freak

　　Jennifer: Hi, and welcome to Authentic Real English. Im Jennifer and with me today is Feifei.

　　Feifei: 大家好!

　　Jennifer: Why do you have that big bag with you?

　　Feifei: Oh this? 我準備下班后去健身房呢!

　　Jennifer: Again? But you went yesterday, and the day before that!

　　Feifei: 我必須得堅持每天鍛煉，這樣才能保持苗條身材!

　　Jennifer: Youre such a fitness freak.

　　Feifei: Hey, thats not very nice. What do you mean, Im a fitness freak? 健身怪物?我怎么成了怪物呢?

　　Jennifer: Im not calling you a monster, thats not what the word freak means in this context. In English, you can use the word freak with a noun to say that someone is obsessed by something which you think is strange.

　　Feifei: 如果一個人對某人癡迷狂熱，這時候我們就可以說這個人是什么什么 freak. So when you call me a fitness freak, youre saying Im obsessed by sport and fitness?

　　Jennifer: Thats right. Its an informal phrase, usually used if the person saying it is not interested in the hobby or action, or that the person who has the interest does it excessively. So someone might be a football freak if theyre always watching football. My boyfriend is a car freak hes obsessed with cars and talking about them, but Im not interested at all, I think its weird.

　　Feifei: I understand. Well you might call me a fitness freak, because I do it a lot, but you dont like it. Id say Im a fitness fanatic!

　　Jennifer: Well, I have no intention of going to the gym today or any day. I dont like it and the thought of using the equipment really freaks me out.

　　Feifei: 等一下，這里 freak 的意思有不一樣了。

　　Jennifer: Yes, in a slightly different way. To freak someone out is a phrasal verb which means to make someone feel strong emotions, like panic or fear. Going to the gym freaks me out; it makes me panic.

　　Feifei: To freak someone out 的意思是嚇到某人，把某人嚇壞了。So, going to the gym freaks you out? You need to toughen up. I really do think you should come and join me for a gym session tonight.

　　Jennifer:No way! Im too scared and too tired. Id rather lie on the sofa and watch my favourite soap opera.

　　Feifei: 我真是搞不懂那些每天晚上坐在家里看電視的人是怎么想的!So I guess youre a television freak! Join us again for another edition of Authentic Real English from bbcukchina.com.

　　Both: Bye!

　　Freak

　　Jennifer: Hi, and welcome to Authentic Real English. Im Jennifer and with me today is Feifei.

　　Feifei: 大家好!

　　Jennifer: Why do you have that big bag with you?

　　Feifei: Oh this? 我準備下班后去健身房呢!

　　Jennifer: Again? But you went yesterday, and the day before that!

　　Feifei: 我必須得堅持每天鍛煉，這樣才能保持苗條身材!

　　Jennifer: Youre such a fitness freak.

　　Feifei: Hey, thats not very nice. What do you mean, Im a fitness freak? 健身怪物?我怎么成了怪物呢?

　　Jennifer: Im not calling you a monster, thats not what the word freak means in this context. In English, you can use the word freak with a noun to say that someone is obsessed by something which you think is strange.

　　Feifei: 如果一個人對某人癡迷狂熱，這時候我們就可以說這個人是什么什么 freak. So when you call me a fitness freak, youre saying Im obsessed by sport and fitness?

　　Jennifer: Thats right. Its an informal phrase, usually used if the person saying it is not interested in the hobby or action, or that the person who has the interest does it excessively. So someone might be a football freak if theyre always watching football. My boyfriend is a car freak hes obsessed with cars and talking about them, but Im not interested at all, I think its weird.

　　Feifei: I understand. Well you might call me a fitness freak, because I do it a lot, but you dont like it. Id say Im a fitness fanatic!

　　Jennifer: Well, I have no intention of going to the gym today or any day. I dont like it and the thought of using the equipment really freaks me out.

　　Feifei: 等一下，這里 freak 的意思有不一樣了。

　　Jennifer: Yes, in a slightly different way. To freak someone out is a phrasal verb which means to make someone feel strong emotions, like panic or fear. Going to the gym freaks me out; it makes me panic.

　　Feifei: To freak someone out 的意思是嚇到某人，把某人嚇壞了。So, going to the gym freaks you out? You need to toughen up. I really do think you should come and join me for a gym session tonight.

　　Jennifer:No way! Im too scared and too tired. Id rather lie on the sofa and watch my favourite soap opera.

　　Feifei: 我真是搞不懂那些每天晚上坐在家里看電視的人是怎么想的!So I guess youre a television freak! Join us again for another edition of Authentic Real English from bbcukchina.com.

　　Both: Bye!