【英语点心】Thanks, but no thanks! 谢了，不用了。

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        Listen
       
        Exercise
        1. Is 'thanks, but no thanks' a polite expression to use?
        2. What do British people say a lot?
        3. Why is it better to use this expression than just saying 'no'?
       
                Answers
       
                1. Yes, it is.
       
                2. 'Please' and 'thank you'
       
                3. Just saying 'no' is a little abrupt.
       
                Read
       
                You’re listening to British Council’s English Online and I’m Nina.
       
                Today on Language Snacks we take a look at the expression thanks, 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.