《中英對照讀新聞》Hold the phone…you shouldn't answer it if you're out on a date 關掉電話…假如你正在約會，就不該接電話

◎俞智敏

The flirtatious text messages worked a treat, you enjoyed your first date and then they dumped you. But rather than terrible table manners or pungent breath, the romance could have been killed by your love affair with your phone.

調情的手機簡訊發揮功效，你的第一次約會也進行順利，接下來約會對象卻把你給甩了。但除了餐桌禮儀不佳或口臭熏天外，這場浪漫韻事很有可能是被你和手機須臾不離的關係所破壞的。

Men find sending texts or taking calls during a dinner date the biggest turn-off of all, according to a new study. While people rely on their phones to chat others up, a fondness for your mobile makes partners frustrated, jealous and suspicious, the report for phone company Orange's On/Off campaign has found.

根據一項新研究調查顯示，男性認為在晚餐約會期間傳送簡訊或接手機是最令人掃興的項目之一。雖然人們仰賴手機向他人大送秋波，不過太愛手機卻會讓你的伴侶感到挫折、嫉妒和起疑，英國Orange電信公司的On/Off活動調查報告中發現。

Nearly one in five men and women make more than 16 texts or calls before asking someone out on a first date. But once in a relationship, 68% of those surveyed said mobile phones interrupted quality time with a partner.

幾乎有五分之一的男性和女性會在邀某人出外第一次約會前，會先發送或撥打16次以上的簡訊和電話給對方。但一旦雙方進入情侶關係，有68%的受訪者表示，手機會妨礙他們和伴侶間的相處時間。

新聞辭典

flirtatious：愛調情的、輕浮的。動詞為flirt，如：She flirted with David.（她與大衛眉來眼去。）亦可指並非認真考慮某事，如：I'm flirting with the idea of taking a year off and travelling round the world.（我正幻想休一整年的假去環遊世界。）

work a treat：（主用於英國與澳洲）非常有效，如：If you want to get rid of that stain, put some salt on it, it works a treat.（假如你想除掉那塊污漬，在上面灑點鹽，這樣非常有效。）

turn-off（或turnoff）：令人掃興、倒胃口的事物，如：The evening was a real turnoff.（那天晚上真讓人倒胃口。）

chat somebody up：（英國，非正式用語）和某人交談，並讓對方感覺到你深為其所吸引。如：He spent all evening chatting her up and buying her drinks.（他一整晚都在向她示好，還請她喝酒。）