Travel & Transport

Vehicles, journeys, directions, and getting around

简介

不管你是在伦敦“catching the Tube（坐地铁）”、在美国“riding shotgun（坐副驾）”，还是计划一场“road trip（公路旅行）”——出行的语言揭示了不同英语文化是怎么在世界上移动的。

英式英语发展出了独特的公共交通用语（“bus”、“underground”），而美式英语反映的是以汽车为中心的文化。澳式英语则为跨越广袤距离的长途旅行贡献了自己的彩色表达。

这一章讲的是出行词汇——从每天的通勤到史诗般的冒险，从堵车到风景如画的路线。

主题

本章全部英语俚语（57）

• The Tube The London Underground railway system.
• Mind the gap Warning to watch out for the space between train and platform; also used meta...
• Riding shotgun Sitting in the front passenger seat of a car.
• Road trip A long journey by car, especially for pleasure or adventure.
• Pit stop A brief stop during a journey for fuel, food, or bathroom.
• Backseat driver Someone who gives unwanted advice, especially about driving.
• Gridlock A complete traffic standstill where nothing can move.
• Fender bender A minor car accident with little damage.
• Prang A minor car accident or collision.
• Flat tyre/tire A punctured or deflated tire.
• Banger An old, noisy car in poor condition.
• Motor A car.
• Wheels A car or means of transportation.
• Ride A car or a lift/journey in a vehicle.
• Lift A ride in someone's vehicle.
• Cabbie A taxi driver.
• The Knowledge The test London taxi drivers must pass to become licensed.
• Motorway A major highway for high-speed traffic (British).
• Petrol Gasoline for vehicles.
• Lorry A large truck for transporting goods (British).
• Caravan A trailer/camper towed behind a car for holidays (British).
• Roundabout A circular junction where traffic flows around a central island.
• Sat nav GPS navigation system in a vehicle.
• Dual carriageway A road with two lanes in each direction, separated by a central barrier.
• Slip road An entrance or exit ramp on a motorway.
• Zebra crossing A pedestrian crossing marked with white stripes.
• Pelican crossing A pedestrian crossing with traffic lights activated by a button.
• Car park A parking lot or parking garage.
• Pavement The sidewalk (British); the road surface (American).
• Kerb/Curb The edge between the pavement/sidewalk and the road.
• Indicator The turn signal on a vehicle (British).
• Windscreen The front window of a vehicle (British).
• Number plate The license plate on a vehicle (British).
• Lay-by A rest area beside a road where vehicles can pull over.
• Services A service station on a motorway with food, fuel, and toilets.
• Ute A utility vehicle or pickup truck (Australian).
• Arvo Afternoon (Australian).
• Oyster card London transport payment card
• jalopy old, rickety car
• put your foot down drive fast / insist on something
• coach long-distance bus
• kerb curb
• gear stick gear shift
• indicators turn signals
• MOT annual vehicle safety test
• fly by the seat of your pants improvise without proper preparation
• off the beaten track away from popular routes
• hit the road start a journey
• jaunt short pleasure trip
• on the hoof while traveling / without planning
• give a wide berth stay far away from
• packed like sardines crowded very tightly together
• tailback queue of slow traffic
• contraflow traffic using opposite lane
• detour alternative route around obstruction
• diversion official alternative route
• layover wait between connecting flights