VOA慢速英语20061217a

Now, the VOA Special English program Words and Their Stories.

Every people has its own way of saying things, its own special expressions. Some of these expressions are easy to understand. The words create a picture in your mind. As Easy as Falling off a Log¹ is one such expression. It describes a job that does not take much effort. If you ever tried to walk on a falling tree log, you understand what the expression means². It is easier to fall off the log than to stay on it. The expression is often used today. For example, you might hear a student say to her friend that her spelling test was as easy as falling off a log.

There are several other expressions that mean the same thing. And their meaning is as easy to understand as falling off a log. One is Easy as Pie. Nothing is easier than eating a piece of sweet juicy³ pie, unless it is a piece of cake. A Piece of Cake is another expression that means something is extremely⁴ easy to do. A friend might tell you that his new job was a piece of cake.

Another expression is As Easy as Shooting⁵ Fish in a Barrel⁶. It is hard to imagine why anyone would want to shoot fish in a barrel. But clearly, fish in a barrow will be much easier to shoot than fish in a stream. In fact, it would be as easy as falling off a log.

Sometimes, things that come too as easily also leave us just as easily. In fact, there is an expression Easy Come Easy Go. That recognizes this. You may win a lot of money in lottery⁷ then spend it all in a few days. Easy come easy go.

When life itself is easy, when you have no cares or problems, you are on easy street. Everyone wants to live on that imaginary⁸ street.

Another easy expression is To Go Easy on a Person. It means to treat a person kindly⁹ or gently, especially in a situation where you might be expected to be angry with him. A wife might urge¹⁰ her husband to go easy on their son, because the boy did not mean to wreck¹¹ the car. If it is necessary to borrow some money to fix the car, you should look for a friend who is an Easy Touch. An easy touch or a soft touch is someone who is kind and helpful. He will easily agree to lend you the money.

And one last expression, one that means DO NOT worry, or work too hard. Try to keep away from difficult situations. Take it easy, until we meet again.

You have been listening to the VOA Special English Program Words and Their Stories.

Acknowledgement: UNSV would like to say thanks to [email protected] for writing down her dictation.

1 log   

n.记录，圆木，日志；v.伐木，切，航行

参考例句：

• They log for a living.他们以伐木为生。
• And then what do you do with that log?然后你要拿那些记录做什么呢？

2 means   

n.方法，手段，折中点，物质财富

参考例句：

• That man used artful means to find out secrets.那人使用狡猾的手段获取机密。
• We must get it done by some means or other.我们总得想办法把它干完。

3 juicy   

adj.多汁的

参考例句：

• The flesh of the peach was sweet and juicy.桃子的果肉甜而多汁。
• These pears are very juicy.这种梨含的水分很多。

4 extremely   

adv.极其，非常，极度

参考例句：

• The film is extremely good,I just cannot miss it.这部电影太精彩了，我非看不可。
• The old man was extremely difficult to get along with.这个老人极难相与。

5 shooting   

n.射击，发射；猎场，狩猎场

参考例句：

• The soldiers began shooting away at the enemy positions.战士们开始朝敌人的阵地不断地射击。
• I was in the act of shooting him when I suddenly recognized him.我正要向他开枪时，突然认出了他。

6 barrel   

n.圆桶；一桶的量；枪管；vt.把...装桶

参考例句：

• I drew off three pints of beer from the barrel.我从酒桶里抽出三品脱啤酒。
• The man rolled the barrel into the yard.那个人把圆桶滚进院子。

7 lottery   

n.抽彩；碰运气的事，难于算计的事

参考例句：

• He won no less than ￡5000 in the lottery.他居然中了5000英镑的奖券。
• They thought themselves lucky in the lottery of life.他们认为自己是变幻莫测的人生中的幸运者。

8 imaginary   

adj.想象中的，假想的，虚构的，幻想的；虚数的

参考例句：

• All the characters in this book are imaginary.此书中的所有人物都是虚构的。
• The boy's fears were only imaginary.这小孩的恐惧只是一种想象。

9 kindly   

adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地

参考例句：

• Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
• A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。

10 urge   

n.冲动，推动力，迫切的要求；vt.驱策，力劝，力陈，推动；vi.强烈要求

参考例句：

• He has an urge to become a film star.他非常希望成为电影明星。
• We should constantly urge ourselves on to study hard.我们要经常鞭策自己努力学习。

11 wreck   

n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难

参考例句：

• Weather may have been a factor in the wreck.天气可能是造成这次失事的原因之一。
• No one can wreck the friendship between us.没有人能够破坏我们之间的友谊。