Helen: And I'm Helen.

Neil: This is the programme in which we look at words and phrases that you might not find in your dictionary.

Helen: 地道英語和大家一起學習現代英式英語中經常出現的流行詞匯和實用表達。What word are we going to learn today, Neil?

Neil: Today’s word is creep.

Helen: Yes, creep.

Neil: C-R-E-E-P, creep.

Helen: What does it mean?

Neil: Well, a creep is a person who tries to make someone who’s important like them.

Helen: Ah, I see, a creep 就是那些向上級領導拍馬屁的人。

Neil: So, for example if you always offer to make your boss a coffee…

Helen: Yes, that makes you a creep. 如果有人不斷的為領導做好事兒，獻殷勤，那這人就是 a creep.

Insert

A: Why did you agree with old Mr Smith in that meeting?

B: What do you mean?

A: Well you told me you thought his new management plan was a terrible idea. You’re such a creep. I know you’re just after a promotion!

Helen: What a creep!

Neil: Yes, he agreed with his boss’s plans just to make himself more popular.

Helen: So creep is a negative word. 這個詞絕對是一個貶義詞。

Neil: Yes, people don’t really like creeps.

Helen: Is it rude?

Neil: Well it’s not really rude, but it’s not very nice to call someone a creep either… unless, of course, you’re joking.

Helen: 在什么情況下用這個詞，大家需要注意，偶爾開開玩笑還是可以用的。Does creep have any other meanings?

Neil: Yes, you might hear women saying that a man is a creep if he’s giving them attention they don’t really want.

Helen: Creep 還有另外一個含義，就是指那些令女孩討厭，但是又不停向她們獻殷勤的男人，that’s a creep too.

Neil: Well, that’s all we have time for today, Helen.

Helen: Yes we’d better finish, I’ve offered to do a bit of shopping for the boss.

Neil: Helen, you’re such a creep!

Helen: You’ve been listening to Real English from BBC Learning English. Join us again soon for more up-to-the-minute Real English. Bye.

Neil: See you next time.