密歇根新闻广播 分解ramshackle一词

 

It’s tempting¹ to parse² the word “ramshackle” into two separate words, “ram³” and “shackle.”

A listener named Brian Van Drie wrote to us about how this word makes him think of “a ram that is actually shackled⁵ and is making a mess of anything it can reach.”

We love that explanation. Unfortunately, it's not right.

A shackled ram certainly could create the kind damage and disorder⁶ associated with the word "ramshackle.” However, the origin of this term doesn't have anything to do with rams⁴.

"Ramshackle" actually goes back to the verb “ransack.”

“Ransack” goes back to Old Norse. It shows up in written English in the 15th century and means “to search thoroughly⁷.”

Later on, the regional verb form “ransackle” appears in Scottish and northern English dialects. We think that’s what lead to the adjective “ramshackled,” which meant disorderly or chaotic⁸.

The back-form “ramshackle” first shows up in written English in 1820. It could refer to a person or activity that is disorderly or irregular. It could also refer to a building or a vehicle -- that's generally how we use it today.

Origin stories aside, if you happen to own a ram, we don't recommend shackling⁹ it. We also don't recommend owning a ram, especially if you're not fond of settling arguments with head butts¹⁰.

1 tempting   

a.诱人的, 吸引人的

参考例句：

• It is tempting to idealize the past. 人都爱把过去的日子说得那么美好。
• It was a tempting offer. 这是个诱人的提议。

2 parse   

v.从语法上分析；n.从语法上分析

参考例句：

• I simply couldn't parse what you just said.我完全无法对你刚说的话作语法分析。
• It causes the parser to parse an NP.它调用分析程序分析一个名词短语。

3 ram   

(random access memory)随机存取存储器

参考例句：

• 512k RAM is recommended and 640k RAM is preferred.推荐配置为512K内存，640K内存则更佳。

4 rams   

n.公羊( ram的名词复数 )；(R-)白羊（星）座；夯；攻城槌v.夯实（土等）( ram的第三人称单数 )；猛撞；猛压；反复灌输

参考例句：

• A couple of rams are butting at each other. 两只羊正在用角互相抵触。 来自辞典例句
• More than anything the rams helped to break what should have been on interminable marriage. 那些牡羊比任何东西都更严重地加速了他们那本该天长地久的婚姻的破裂。 来自辞典例句

5 shackled   

给（某人）带上手铐或脚镣( shackle的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The hostage had been shackled to a radiator. 当时人质被铐在暖气片上。
• He was shackled and in darkness of torment. 他被困在黑暗中备受煎熬。

6 disorder   

n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调

参考例句：

• When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后，他发现屋子里乱七八糟。
• It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。

7 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。

8 chaotic   

adj.混沌的，一片混乱的，一团糟的

参考例句：

• Things have been getting chaotic in the office recently.最近办公室的情况越来越乱了。
• The traffic in the city was chaotic.这城市的交通糟透了。

9 shackling   

给（某人）带上手铐或脚镣( shackle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

10 butts   

笑柄( butt的名词复数 )； （武器或工具的）粗大的一端； 屁股； 烟蒂

参考例句：

• The Nazis worked them over with gun butts. 纳粹分子用枪托毒打他们。
• The house butts to a cemetery. 这所房子和墓地相连。