Hi Rob.

你好，罗伯。

Hi Li. It looks like you've been busy.

你好，李。你看起来很忙。

I've just picked up some groceries from the local shop, you know - milk, eggs, bread, flour - I'm going to make a cake.

我刚才在当地的商店买了一些食品杂货，你知道的，牛奶，鸡蛋，面包，面粉，我将要做一个蛋糕。

Oh good. So how was Mr Brown, the shopkeeper? Hasn't he just split up with his wife?

哦好的。那么布朗先生怎么样，那个店长？他和妻子离婚了吗？

He has. It was tricky in the shop. I didn't want to say anything to him just in case I mentioned his wife.

离了。店里很棘手。我不想和他说任何话以防提到他的妻子。

I only said: "Good morning", and he just said: "Is it?"

我只说了：“早上好”，然后他说：“好吗？”

Hmm, it sounds like you've been treading on eggshells.

嗯，听起来你像走在鸡蛋壳上。

Oh no, the shop was very clean, nothing on the floor - I don't really think he's the sort of person to throw food around!

哦不，商店很干净，地面上没有东西——我真的觉得他不是把食物到处扔的那种人！

No Li - I mean you were trying very hard not to upset him - that's what treading on eggshells means.

不李，我的意思是你努力试着不去让他难过，这才是走在鸡蛋壳上的意思。

Oh! So it's about being nice - it's about being sensitive to the situation?

哦！所以它是说做的好，对情况很敏感？

Yes.

是的。

Well, I was very sensitive. But what have eggshells got to do with it?

我很敏感。但是和鸡蛋壳有什么关系？

Well, if there were eggshells on the floor literally you would have to be very careful where you put your feet!

从字面上说，如果地面上有地蛋壳你走路就会非常小心！

OK, but this phrase means you are being careful about what you say.

好的，但是这个词组意思是你对你说的话很小心。

出处：头条号 @零食英语