Jen: Hello, I’m Jen – and with me in the studio today is Helen!
Helen: Hi!
Jen: Helen, just before we get started – did you get the chance to go to the farmers’ market for me? I didn’t have time to go myself.
Helen: I did, I chose some things I thought you’d like… Here we are… 我买了一些苹果，胡萝卜，面包和蜂蜜。
Jen: Brilliant – thanks so much for doing that for me, I can’t wait to try it. So what’s the damage?
Helen: 损坏?没东西被损坏了啊?不过有只苹果被压出了印子，我还啃了半截胡萝卜。但没有什么大问题。
Jen: I don’t mean damage to the food. The phrase "what’s the damage?" can be used to ask how much money you owe someone for something.
Helen: 你问我买这些吃，你还欠我多少钱。
Jen: That’s right – let’s hear a couple of examples of the phrase in use.
What a lovely meal – I think we should split the bill two ways, though, so what’s the damage?
Thanks so much for fixing the brakes on my car. What’s the damage for the work you’ve done?
Helen: 在餐厅咖啡馆都能用这个表达?"what’s the damage?"
Jen asks Helen "what’s the damage?" but she doesn’t expect something to be really damaged.
Jen: That’s right; you might use the phrase amongst friends when you get a bill, or you might hear it if you are paying a workman to do something. Generally we use it when we don’t know how much something is going to cost or if the price has been estimated beforehand.
Helen: Like when I went to the market for you today!
Jen: Yeah, I didn’t know how much it would cost so I asked you "what’s the damage?" So how much do I owe you?
Helen: £12.50.
Jen: £12.50?! That’s pretty expensive.
Helen: 你看看这些食品的质量，你就明白了，可能值这个价。It’s very good.
Jen: Alright then, here you are – £12.50.
Helen: And here YOU are.
Jen: Let’s have a look then… Apples, yum… Well they do look a little more bruised than you mentioned…
Helen: Yes, sorry, 我把包不小心摔在地上了。
Jen: Look at the carrots! You said you’d nibbled them, but there are only the tops of them left! I can’t cook with those!
Helen: 我当时很饿。
Jen: At least this jar of honey looks good… it’s empty!
Helen: Sorry, sorry! 那瓶蜂蜜看着实在是太诱人了，所以我实在控制不住自己。
Jen: Well I think you should give me my money back. I’m not paying for food that’s already been eaten!
Helen: OK, what if we go out for a meal and I pay?
Jen: Hmm… OK…
Later on...
Jen: I’m stuffed! The apple and honey pie was really delicious.
Helen: Here’s the waiter with the bill. 我说了这次可是我请客。哎呀，这可真让人尴尬。 This is so embarrassing.
Jen: Is it expensive? What’s the damage?
Helen: It’s £40 for the meal but I’ve just remembered…
Jen: What?
Helen: 我把钱包忘在市场里了! Can you pay?
Jen: Argh!
