<bold><link type="page"><caption> 點擊收聽節目</caption><url href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/ukchina/trad/elt/2015/04/150421_are_306_to_go_around_the_houses_audio" platform="highweb"/></link> </bold>
Feifei: 大家好，歡迎收聽由BBC製作的《地道英語》節目。我是馮菲菲，還有我的搭檔...
Rob: ...and me, Rob. Hello!
Feifei: Rob, I've been meaning to ask... you've got a car haven't you? 我想借用 Rob 的車，但不知道怎麼開口是好。
Rob: Err... yes I have, Feifei.
Feifei: Is it quite a... special car? You know, a valuable, expensive one?
Rob: No no, it's just an old car - but it gets me around. Why are you asking?
Feifei: Oh no reason... 要不我問問他的車是不是經常開？You don't use it much, do you?
Rob: No... Feifei, there's no need to go around the houses - just say what you want to say.
Feifei: OK... can I borrow your car please? But don't worry, I won't take it around the houses - I just want to go to the supermarket.
Rob: Ha! Feifei when I said there's no need 'to go around the houses', I wasn't referring to where you drive my car. I mean, you don't have to waste time saying lots of unimportant things before you actually say what you want to say.
Feifei: 哦，我明白了。在英語裏，我們用 go around the houses 來形容一個人拐彎抹角的、不直截了當地問問題或浪費時間在做很多無用功。這麼一說，Rob 其實就是讓我直截了當的說想說的話，Rob, you mean I should get to the point?
Rob: Yes, that's another way of putting it. Basically it means you take a long time to say or do something, when in reality it can be done or said a lot quicker. Let's hear some examples of the phrase 'to go around the houses' in action...
Examples
Don't go around the houses: just tell me straight, what have you done?
He went all around the houses talking about the match but all I wanted to know was who won?
I didn't know how to tell him he'd failed his exams so I went all around the houses before I let him know.
Feifei: 所以，短語 to go around the houses 常被用來形容旁敲側擊的、拐一大圈兒問問題。Rob, you haven't answered my question yet.
Rob: Err, what was the question?
Feifei: Can I borrow your car... please?
Rob: Oh well, erm, I need to fill it up with petrol...
Feifei: Oh right...
Rob: And I need to drive to work...
Feifei: But that's not until Monday!
Rob: And it's not very tidy inside...
Feifei: Rob - don't go around the houses - your answer is 'no' isn't it?
Rob: Yes Feifei. You can't borrow it. I crashed it last week - nobody can drive it!
Feifei: Well, you certainly won't be going round any houses then Rob!
Rob: Very funny Feifei.
Both: Bye!