: Hello, this is Real English from BBC Learning English, I’m John.
Jean: And I’m Jean. Hello!
John: In Real English, we look at words and phrases that you might not find in your dictionary.
Jean: 英語是一種富有成語和不同語言習慣的語言，所以要想學習地道純正的英國英語，了解英國人常用的通俗語言和表達方式也是非常重要的。
John: Today’s expression is 『agony A.G.O.N.Y. – aunt A.U.N.T』 –agony aunt.
Jean: Agony 通常是痛苦苦惱的意思，aunt是阿姨的意思，那這兩個詞放在一起不就成了「苦惱阿姨」了嗎？！
John: Well you would normally find an agony aunt in a newspaper or magazine. An agony aunt will give advice to people who write to them about their personal problems.
Jean: OK – 原來這個agony aunt其實就是我們中國話「知心大姐」的意思。大家有了什麼苦惱煩心的事情就可以寫信給報紙雜誌上的知心大姐專欄，詢求指教和幫助。
John: Agony is another word for pain.
Jean: 是的，agony就是指身體上或者精神上的痛苦。知心大姐之所以叫 agony aunt就是因為她是一位幫助別人排解痛苦的人。不過John，一般這些給知心大姐寫信的人都有一些什麼樣的痛苦難題呢？
John: Well maybe you think your boyfriend is seeing another woman, or you might be a 16 year old who is pregnant.
Jean: Ah 就是說如果你的伴侶有了外遇，或者你意外懷孕了等等這樣很個人的痛苦和難題。
Insert
A: What are you reading there?
B: Oh I’m reading the agony aunt section in the newspaper – I love reading about people’s problems and the advice they give.
A: I feel like an agony aunt at work sometimes – people are always telling me their personal problems
B: You must be good at giving advice!
A: I am pretty good….
John: So come on Jean, be honest – have you ever written to an agony aunt?
Jean: Honestly John – I have never done that. But I do enjoy reading the agony aunt columns in magazines though.
John: It must be quite depressing being an agony aunt though – and to have to listen to people’s problems all the time.
Jean: But you can help people with the advice you give – I think it would be interesting – 不過我本來就比較愛管別人閒事，嚴格來講應該算是Nosy而不是個agony aunt。
John: Well everyone – now you know – if you have any problems you can send them to Jean at BBC Learning English!! Anyway, that’s today’s expression 『agony aunt』
Jean: Agony Aunt – 知心大姐。好了今天我們BBC Learning English 的地道英語節目就到這了.
John: See you next time.