A finger in every pie

　　Rosie: Hi and welcome to Authentic Real English. Today were having an office party with the whole BBC Learning English team.

　　Helen: And were eating some delicious cakes and pies that Jen has baked for us. 我的同事 Jen 还带来了她做的蛋糕和水果派。Have you tried the apple tart?

　　Rosie: Mmm... Its so tasty... Jen really has a lot of different skills, doesnt she?

　　Helen: Yeah, she really gets involved in loads of different activities. 她做好多事情，可忙了。Shes always organising different parties, goes rowing... and did you know she works as a weather presenter at the weekend too?

　　Rosie: And shes a really good cook - this blueberry crumble is just delicious. She really does have a finger in every pie.

　　Helen: Err, really? 这些糕点味道是不错，不过 Jen 把手指放在里面，太不卫生了吧!I think Ive just lost my appetite.

　　Rosie: Thats not what I meant when I said she has a finger in every pie. It means she gets involved in a lot of different things .

　　Helen: 你是说如果某人 has a finger in every pie, 意思是他们做很多事情，样样活动都参与。 Is it a good thing then?

　　Rosie: Well, in this case, when I said Jen has a finger in every pie I meant it as a good thing, but it can sometimes suggest someone gets involved in things when they shouldnt.

　　Helen: So it can be a good or a bad thing. Lets have a look at some examples:

　　If you need any information just ask Annabel. She has a finger in every pie and always knows the answer.

　　At work Im a teacher but I also do some accounting and organise the end-of-term play. I like to have a finger in every pie!

　　I cant seem to do anything without him being there yesterday I went to the photography club and he was there. Well, unfortunately he does have a finger in every pie.

　　Helen: 原来这个短语也有贬义，也就是指某人多管闲事，参与不应该管的事 情。

　　Rosie: Shakespeare used it in his play Henry VIII. In the play its used as a criticism of someone who gets involved in everything when he shouldnt:

　　No mans pie is freed

　　From his ambitious finger.

　　Helen: So the person criticised here feels the need to put his ambitious finger in every single pie that is baked... 莎翁在他的舞台剧《亨利八世》中也提到了这个短语，其中一个角色非要尝每一个烤好的派。

　　Rosie: Yes, which means he gets involved in things he shouldnt.

　　Helen: 莎翁的剧本说法稍有不同，现在我们说 someone has a finger in every pie.

　　Rosie: Yes, its slightly less poetic than No mans pie is freed from his ambitious finger.

　　Helen: 的确听起来没有莎翁的剧本那么好听，不过意思都一样。Well, this is all very interesting, but I think I might have a slice of peach pie... 这么多好吃的水果派，我还饿着呢，可不能放弃。

　　Rosie: No pie is freed from your greedy fingers, is it Helen? Only joking...

　　A finger in every pie

　　Rosie: Hi and welcome to Authentic Real English. Today were having an office party with the whole BBC Learning English team.

　　Helen: And were eating some delicious cakes and pies that Jen has baked for us. 我的同事 Jen 还带来了她做的蛋糕和水果派。Have you tried the apple tart?

　　Rosie: Mmm... Its so tasty... Jen really has a lot of different skills, doesnt she?

　　Helen: Yeah, she really gets involved in loads of different activities. 她做好多事情，可忙了。Shes always organising different parties, goes rowing... and did you know she works as a weather presenter at the weekend too?

　　Rosie: And shes a really good cook - this blueberry crumble is just delicious. She really does have a finger in every pie.

　　Helen: Err, really? 这些糕点味道是不错，不过 Jen 把手指放在里面，太不卫生了吧!I think Ive just lost my appetite.

　　Rosie: Thats not what I meant when I said she has a finger in every pie. It means she gets involved in a lot of different things .

　　Helen: 你是说如果某人 has a finger in every pie, 意思是他们做很多事情，样样活动都参与。 Is it a good thing then?

　　Rosie: Well, in this case, when I said Jen has a finger in every pie I meant it as a good thing, but it can sometimes suggest someone gets involved in things when they shouldnt.

　　Helen: So it can be a good or a bad thing. Lets have a look at some examples:

　　If you need any information just ask Annabel. She has a finger in every pie and always knows the answer.

　　At work Im a teacher but I also do some accounting and organise the end-of-term play. I like to have a finger in every pie!

　　I cant seem to do anything without him being there yesterday I went to the photography club and he was there. Well, unfortunately he does have a finger in every pie.

　　Helen: 原来这个短语也有贬义，也就是指某人多管闲事，参与不应该管的事 情。

　　Rosie: Shakespeare used it in his play Henry VIII. In the play its used as a criticism of someone who gets involved in everything when he shouldnt:

　　No mans pie is freed

　　From his ambitious finger.

　　Helen: So the person criticised here feels the need to put his ambitious finger in every single pie that is baked... 莎翁在他的舞台剧《亨利八世》中也提到了这个短语，其中一个角色非要尝每一个烤好的派。

　　Rosie: Yes, which means he gets involved in things he shouldnt.

　　Helen: 莎翁的剧本说法稍有不同，现在我们说 someone has a finger in every pie.

　　Rosie: Yes, its slightly less poetic than No mans pie is freed from his ambitious finger.

　　Helen: 的确听起来没有莎翁的剧本那么好听，不过意思都一样。Well, this is all very interesting, but I think I might have a slice of peach pie... 这么多好吃的水果派，我还饿着呢，可不能放弃。

　　Rosie: No pie is freed from your greedy fingers, is it Helen? Only joking...