oh no, poor her. i know how she feels. 这位女同胞和自己非常喜欢的男士约会，可是因为自己太紧张了，这个男士问她的问题她一个也回答不上来。她是彻底不知道该说什么了，tongue-tied。

so, how was that important meeting you had to go to, neil?

neil: oh it was awful!

feifei: oh no! neil 去参加了一个非常重要的会议，可是他说这个会议非常糟糕！why was it so bad?

neil: well, there were some of the really big bosses there and when they asked me a question i just couldn't think of what to say. i was completely tongue-tied.

feifei: 原来是这样，在开会过程当中有人问了 neil 一个问题，可是与会的都是一些非常重要的领导，neil 一时紧张，什么也回答不上来了，所以他就被 tongue- tied. 舌头被系住了，语塞。这个比喻非常形象，当一个人的舌头被什么东西系住后，如果想说话可能就会比较困难了！

insert

a: hey, how was that date you went on with alan? he's so sexy!

b: i know, but i was so nervous i was completely tongue-tied when he asked me anything. he must think i'm such an idiot!

neil: oh no, poor her. i know how she feels.

feifei: 这位女同胞和自己非常喜欢的男士约会，可是因为自己太紧张了，这个男士问她的问题她一个也回答不上来。她是彻底不知道该说什么了，tongue-tied。

neil: do you ever get tongue-tied feifei?

feifei: yeah, i had a job interview recently and i just couldn't get my words out properly when they asked me questions. i was really tongue-tied. 在参加面试的时候，我一紧张想说的话全忘了。 i was tongue-tied.

neil: i know what you mean. sometimes i get tongue-tied when i'm on the radio.

feifei: you're on the radio now!

neil: oh yeah… well… ahh… so… um… oh… i'm tongue-tied again. i can't think of what to say!