“Thanks, but no thanks” = “no.” —— 用Google解决问题

byXIAOLAIon2009/02/23·8 COMMENTS

有读者来信：

请问笑来老师thanks but no thanks什么意思？——谢谢！

其实，这样的问题，只需要使用Google就会很快得到答案。打开Google搜索一下【“Thanks, but no thanks.”】，在第一个页面就可以看到一个结果（我搜索的时候它排在第五位）“Re: What’s the meaning “thanks no thanks”:

8 May 2004 … what’s the meaning “thanks no thanks”. Thanks, but no thanks. It means, “I appreciate the offer, but I decline.” No, but thank you for asking.

多翻几页还能找到一个叫“British Council”的网站上有专门的讲解：

You’re listening to British Council’s English Online and I’m Nina.

Today on Language Snacks we take a look at the expressionthanks, but no thanks.

Let’s listen to the dialogue.

A: Tom, we’re all going out for a drink after work. Fancy joining us?

B:Thanks, but no thanks Bob, I’ve got to finish this report before I go home tonight.

A: OK, maybe next time.

Well we know that British people like to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ a lot, but this expression seems like a bit of a contradiction doesn’t it? ‘Thanks, but no thanks’.

In fact, it’s just a friendly way of refusing or turning down an invitation and sounds much better than just saying ‘no’, which can be a little abrupt.

So next time you feel like a night in front of the TV and your friend invites you to karaoke, you know what to say ‘thanks, but no thanks – maybe next time’.

And that’s it for now – join us again for some more Language Snacks.

You’ve been listening to English Online – the podcast for English learners in China.

也许能够直接问出个答案更加方便。但，学学使用Google实在是很值得的。

没想到马上就有个留言问“还有个‘why thank you’!”。请点击这里Google之……