什么情况下一个吻不是真的吻?Neil 和菲菲在本期节目中介绍一种英国人见面打招呼和告别时所用的 “kiss”。

Neil

Hello and welcome to Authentic Real English from BBC Learning English, I'm Neil and with me is Feifei.

Feifei

Hello. You seem a bit tired Neil. 昨晚出去玩儿了吧?

Neil

Yeah I had to go to this old university reunion thing - which was fine - but by the time all the goodbyes and air kisses were over it was really late.

Feifei

Air kisses? You were kissing the air?

Neil

You know, those kisses people give each other where their lips never actually touch each other's? They just make the noise.

Feifei

Ah yes I know. 在社交场合与人打招呼或告别的时候，我们经常会象征性地给对方 air kisses 飞吻;它的动词形式就是 to air-kiss。

Neil

That's it. Usually you touch cheeks on either side and make a kissing noise but the lips never touch. Sometimes the cheeks don't touch either. And that is an air kiss.

Feifei

Let's hear some examples.

Examples

I always feel so awkward at parties. I hate all those air kisses and small talk. Urgh, so phoney!

Charles, so wonderful to see you, mwah! Mwah! Charles?! No lips, please. Let's stick to air kisses.

Woman: So, go on, tell me - did you kiss her?

Man: Well, I air-kissed her. Does that count?

Woman: No it does not!

Neil

An air kiss. A type of greeting and farewell between friends at social events.

Feifei

A kiss in which the two people's lips do not touch!

Neil

That's it – cheek to cheek and a big kissing noise into the air. Mwah! Shall we end with an air kiss to our audience? After all, they are our friends.

Both

Bye! Mwah, mwah, mwah, mwah.