Despite a flag-down fare of 7 yuan (US$1.03), 2 yuan more than other taxis, Fu's Ford also charges passengers 2.4 yuan per km while the other models charge only 1.8 yuan for the distance.
尽管7元人民币(约合1.03美元)的起步价已经比其他出租车高2元了,但是付先生的福特车每公里计价2.4元人民币,仍高于其他出租车每公里1.8元的价格。
在上面的报道中,flag-down fare 就是指the minimum charge for hiring a taxi, to which the rate per kilometer is added(出租车起步价),它还可以用flag-down rate或flag-fall rate来表示。
Taxi drivers and Taipei City government officials are considering a number of proposals for a flag down fare hike almost certain to be implemented next month.(台北市政府和出租车司机正在考虑出租车起步价调涨的几个方案, 调涨时间基本确定在下个月。)
Flag down从字面上看是“挥旗”,原来它是指在比赛中裁判手中的旗一挥,比赛就开始了。引申到这里,它的意思是“要求停车”,如:A policeman flagged down the car with his flash light.(警察挥动手电筒让那辆车停下。)
Flag也可以单独使用,表示为某人“叫车”,如:The secretary flagged me a taxi. (秘书为我叫来一辆出租车)。