Close menu

地道英语

中级

Short-change 亏待，坑人

Episode 260303 / 03 Mar 2026

节目简介

买东西的时候被少找了钱难免让人感到不快。由单词 “short（不够的）” 和 “change（零钱）” 组成的表达 “short-change” 就可以用来描述这个 “少找给...零钱” 的行为。“Short-change” 还可以用来比喻 “亏待、敷衍、用不太公平的方式对待他人，坑人” 的行为；它的形容词形式 “short-changed” 则可以形容 “感到被亏待了，被坑了” 的心情。听节目，跟主持人菲菲和 Georgie 学习这个表达的用法。

文字稿

（关于台词的备注: 请注意这不是广播节目的逐字稿件。本文稿可能没有体现录制、编辑过程中对节目做出的改变。）

Feifei
Hello and welcome to Authentic Real English, where we explain phrases and expressions used by fluent English speakers so that you can use them too! I'm Feifei, and I'm joined by Georgie. How's it going?

Georgie
I'm a bit annoyed actually because this morning I decided to treat myself with a really nice takeaway coffee, and I ordered a large cappuccino, but when I looked at it, it was only half full. I was short-changed.

Feifei
Oh no! You should go back! So, you just used the expression 'short-change'. Shall we start by explaining its origin?

Georgie
I think that's a good idea, Feifei. So, the word 'change' can refer to the money you get back after you've paid too much for something. So, imagine I pay £10 for something that costs £7. I should get £3 change. 

Feifei
Right, but if the cashier only gives you £2 back, they have short-changed you. They gave you less than they should have. And that is the very literal meaning of the expression, isn't it, Georgie?

Georgie
It is, but this expression is often used in a metaphorical sense as well. It means that you've been given less than you deserve or that you've been treated unfairly. So, thinking back to my coffee example, the barista short-changed me by giving me a half-full cup of coffee when I paid for a large cappuccino. I feel short-changed. When was the last time someone short-changed you, Feifei?

Feifei
Well, last summer when I was booking a holiday, I saw there was gold package – a premium package – so we upgraded, but it turned out the only thing we received that was different or extra was the airport transfer. So that was a bit of a waste of money. They really short-changed us.

Georgie
Oh, that is really disappointing. OK, well let's listen to more examples.

Examples
I was promised the best seat in the restaurant for Valentine's Day, but they sat me right by the toilets. I feel like they short-changed me a bit.

We both worked on the report, but only my colleague got a shout-out in the company call. I feel a bit short-changed, to be honest.

They said everything was included in the course, but then I had to buy my own materials. I really feel a bit short-changed.

Feifei
你正在收听的是 BBC 英语教学制作的 “地道英语” 节目。在本期节目中，我们正在学习 “short-change” 的用法。“Short-change” 是一个合成词，由 “short（不够的）” 和 “change（零钱）” 组成，它原本的意思是买东西的时候 “少找了钱”。不过，我们也可以用这个词来比喻 “亏待、敷衍、用不太公平的方式对待他人，坑人” 的行为。

Georgie
So, short-changing someone is about giving someone less than they deserve, whether that's money, recognition or opportunities.

Feifei
And we've heard it can be used as a verb – the barista short-changed you, Georgie.

Georgie
That's right. But we've also heard it used as an adjective to describe the feeling of being short-changed. So we can say 'be short-changed' or 'feel short-changed'. I felt very short-changed when I received my coffee this morning.

Feifei
Hopefully you'll have better luck next time! “Short-change” 是一个动词，我们还可以用它的形容词形式 “short-changed” 来表达 “被亏待了” 的状态或感受。比如，“be short-changed” 或 “feel short-changed”。

Georgie
Let's recap. We learnt 'short-change', which means give someone less than they deserve. 

Feifei
Join us again next time. Bye!

Georgie
Goodbye!

最新 地道英语

下载

下载文字稿
下载音频

播客

地道英语