又中又英——fleecing the people
Michael Chugani 褚简宁
2020-03-31 04:17 HKT
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Anyone who goes to the supermarket regularly will have noticed the recent price hikes of even ordinary items. Price hikes of items such as hand sanitizers are understandable because there is a global shortage. But there is no global shortage of items such as frozen fish, frozen chicken, canned tuna and even cheese. So why have Hong Kong's supermarkets hiked the prices of these items? It is common knowledge our supermarkets have long been shamelessly fleecing the people. Supermarkets can fleece the people because there are no laws against it. The Consumer Council is a toothless tiger. That's why supermarkets thumb their noses at the Consumer Council because it only names and shames supermarkets in a wishy-washy way.
The expression “price hike” means increasing the price of something. The word “fleece” means the thick, wooly covering of a sheep. A jacket made from such wool can also be called a fleece. But to “fleece the people” means to cheat them by charging them too much. Supermarkets always fleece the people when they have sales. They cross out a higher price and put a lower price to pretend there is a sale. But the items have never been sold at the crossed-out higher price. The Consumer Council exposed this fleecing of the people some time ago but in a wishy-washy way. The expression “wishy-washy” means lacking in decisiveness or strength. That’s why supermarkets thumb their noses at the Consumer Council.
If you “thumb your nose” at someone, it means you don’t respect that person or don’t care what that person thinks. There is a global health crisis. The coronavirus, which began in Wuhan, has now spread across the world. Hong Kong people, like people all over the world, are scared. Many Hong Kong people have lost their jobs. Instead of fleecing the people, supermarkets should be helping the people. Hong Kong’s two main supermarket chains are owned by two of Hong Kong’s biggest companies. They should have a conscience during these difficult times instead of fleecing the people. The Consumer Council should name and shame them more forcefully.
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任何恒常光顾超市的人都会留意到，最近连日常用品都是物价高企（price hikes）。酒精搓手液一类的物品价格上涨（price hikes）是可理解的，因为全球都短缺；但急冻鱼、急冻鸡、罐头吞拿鱼甚至芝士，可没有全球缺货啊，那么香港的超级市场为何会大幅提高这些货物的价格（hiked the prices）？人所共知，我们的超市长期无耻地敲诈人们（fleecing the people）。超市得以敲诈人（fleece the people），因为现时没有法例规管制止。消费者委员会是无牙老虎。因此，超市对消委会都是嗤之以鼻（thumb their noses），因为它只会用软弱无力的（wishy-washy）手法点名谴责一下那些超市。
习语“price hike”是指某物价格上涨。Fleece是指那层厚厚的、毛茸茸的羊毛；以那些羊毛制成的抓绒外套也叫作fleece。但to “fleece the people”则是指以过高的价格欺诈人们。超市减价的时候，就常常蒙骗人们（fleece the people）。他们会划掉一个较贵的「原价」，再展示一个低价来装成是特价，然而其实那件货物从未以被划去的高价发售。消委会在前些日子就曾揭发这种欺诈人们（fleecing the people）的手法，但都是软弱无力的（wishy-washy）。习语“wishy-washy”是指犹疑不决或无力的。因此超市都对消委会嗤之以鼻（thumb their noses）。
若你“thumb your nose” at someone，意即你不尊重那人，亦不在乎那人怎样看。全球衞生危机已现，起源于武汉的新型冠状病毒，现已扩散至全世界。香港人，一如世界各地的人，都会惊恐，许多香港人亦已失业。超市好应帮助人，而不是敲诈市民（fleecing the people）。香港的两大连锁超市是由香港两个最大的财团所拥有。他们在这艰难的时期好应存有良知，而不是去敲诈人们（fleecing the people）。消委会应该更有力地点名谴责它们。[email protected]
中译：七刻
＊只须用手机扫描 QR code，就可以聆听我朗读专栏的录音，希望这能帮助大家改善英文字词的发音。
Michael Chugani 褚简宁
The expression “price hike” means increasing the price of something. The word “fleece” means the thick, wooly covering of a sheep. A jacket made from such wool can also be called a fleece. But to “fleece the people” means to cheat them by charging them too much. Supermarkets always fleece the people when they have sales. They cross out a higher price and put a lower price to pretend there is a sale. But the items have never been sold at the crossed-out higher price. The Consumer Council exposed this fleecing of the people some time ago but in a wishy-washy way. The expression “wishy-washy” means lacking in decisiveness or strength. That’s why supermarkets thumb their noses at the Consumer Council.
If you “thumb your nose” at someone, it means you don’t respect that person or don’t care what that person thinks. There is a global health crisis. The coronavirus, which began in Wuhan, has now spread across the world. Hong Kong people, like people all over the world, are scared. Many Hong Kong people have lost their jobs. Instead of fleecing the people, supermarkets should be helping the people. Hong Kong’s two main supermarket chains are owned by two of Hong Kong’s biggest companies. They should have a conscience during these difficult times instead of fleecing the people. The Consumer Council should name and shame them more forcefully.
＊＊＊＊＊
任何恒常光顾超市的人都会留意到，最近连日常用品都是物价高企（price hikes）。酒精搓手液一类的物品价格上涨（price hikes）是可理解的，因为全球都短缺；但急冻鱼、急冻鸡、罐头吞拿鱼甚至芝士，可没有全球缺货啊，那么香港的超级市场为何会大幅提高这些货物的价格（hiked the prices）？人所共知，我们的超市长期无耻地敲诈人们（fleecing the people）。超市得以敲诈人（fleece the people），因为现时没有法例规管制止。消费者委员会是无牙老虎。因此，超市对消委会都是嗤之以鼻（thumb their noses），因为它只会用软弱无力的（wishy-washy）手法点名谴责一下那些超市。
习语“price hike”是指某物价格上涨。Fleece是指那层厚厚的、毛茸茸的羊毛；以那些羊毛制成的抓绒外套也叫作fleece。但to “fleece the people”则是指以过高的价格欺诈人们。超市减价的时候，就常常蒙骗人们（fleece the people）。他们会划掉一个较贵的「原价」，再展示一个低价来装成是特价，然而其实那件货物从未以被划去的高价发售。消委会在前些日子就曾揭发这种欺诈人们（fleecing the people）的手法，但都是软弱无力的（wishy-washy）。习语“wishy-washy”是指犹疑不决或无力的。因此超市都对消委会嗤之以鼻（thumb their noses）。
若你“thumb your nose” at someone，意即你不尊重那人，亦不在乎那人怎样看。全球衞生危机已现，起源于武汉的新型冠状病毒，现已扩散至全世界。香港人，一如世界各地的人，都会惊恐，许多香港人亦已失业。超市好应帮助人，而不是敲诈市民（fleecing the people）。香港的两大连锁超市是由香港两个最大的财团所拥有。他们在这艰难的时期好应存有良知，而不是去敲诈人们（fleecing the people）。消委会应该更有力地点名谴责它们。[email protected]
中译：七刻
＊只须用手机扫描 QR code，就可以聆听我朗读专栏的录音，希望这能帮助大家改善英文字词的发音。
Michael Chugani 褚简宁
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