VOA慢速英语--To Succeed You Must 'Just Keep Swimming'

 

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

On this program we explain the origin and usage of common phrases and expressions in American English.

Popular culture has a strong influence on language. The expressions that come from movies and television shows can be especially powerful.

When we use expressions that come from a movie or television experience shared by others, it can create a feeling of closeness with them. If someone says a line from one of your favorite movies, it is kind of like you both belong to the same club.

Some of these pop culture expressions have become so common that you might not even know the shows they come from. But you can still use them!

English has many phrases that have found their way into common usage. Today we talk about a water-based phrase and useful adjectives that relate to it.

If I say to you, just keep swimming, I am quoting a fish -- a really famous fish.

In the movie Finding Nemo, Dory is a friendly, helpful, optimistic fish. She becomes friends with Marlin, a clown fish who has just lost his only son.

Dory offers to help Marlin find Nemo. (Actually she does not take “no” for an answer.) The search is very difficult. Along the way, they face bloodthirsty, confused vegetarian¹ sharks; bloodthirsty, but very clear-headed pelicans³ and dentists!

Every time Marlin feels like giving up Dory says to him, “Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming.”

DORY: When life gets you down, you know what you got to (gotta) do?

MARLIN: I don’t want to know what you got to (gotta) do.

DORY: Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do? We swim,swim.

MARLIN: Dory, no singing.

With these words, Dory is telling her friend that he should not give up. He should keep looking for his son.

At some point, we all face a difficult situation. We may feel frightened, sad or just overwhelmed. And we may want to give up. But then a friend says, “Just keep swimming,” and it gives us the hope we need to reach our goal – to finish strong.

The expression may come from a children’s film, but its meaning is not childish. And even if someone has not seen the film Finding Nemo, they most likely will know what you mean when you say it.

If you keep swimming you will not drown. Another expression, to keep your head above water, expresses a similar message. Don’t drown. Take action to survive, even if that is all you can do.

English has some great adjectives to describe people and things that do not give up.

One is resilient. Resilient people do not give up in the face of adversity. "Resilient" can refer to things, also. For example, a tree that keeps growing even after lightning strikes it, could be called a resilient tree.

Another adjective to describe someone who will not give up is indefatigable⁴. Now, it does have six syllables⁶. So, you may need to practice saying it. I know I did. A lot. Just remember that the stress is on the third syllable⁵: in-de-FA-ti-ga-ble.

So, would I say “just keep swimming” in a very serious situation or to a very serious co-worker who I don’t know well? Probably not. But we do have other words of encouragement. You can say “Hang in there!” “You can do it!” or “Don’t give up!”

When we use expressions or phrases from movies or television shows, it is a way of sharing culture with another.

And that’s it for Words and Their Stories! I’m Anna Matteo.

I have some advice for you,

Don’t give up. Keep on trying.

You’re going to make it. I ain't lying.

Don’t give up. Don’t ever quit.

Try and try and you can do it.

Don’t give up. Yeah...

Words in This Story

club – n. a group identified by some common characteristic

optimistic – adj. feeling or showing hope for the future

bloodthirsty – adj. eager for or marked by the shedding of blood, violence, or killing⁷

confused – adj. unable to understand or think clearly

vegetarian – n. a person who does not eat meat : someone whose diet consists wholly of vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts, and sometimes eggs or dairy products

pelican² – n. a large ocean bird that has a large bag that is part of its lower bill for catching⁸ and holding fish

overwhelmed – adj. completely overcome or overpowered by thought or feeling

resilient – adj. tending to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change

adversity – n. a state or instance of serious or continued difficulty or misfortune

indefatigable – adj. always determined⁹ and energetic in trying to achieve something and never willing to admit defeat

encouragement – n. something that makes someone more determined, hopeful, or confident

1 vegetarian   

n.素食者；adj.素食的

参考例句：

• She got used gradually to the vegetarian diet.她逐渐习惯吃素食。
• I didn't realize you were a vegetarian.我不知道你是个素食者。

2 pelican   

n.鹈鹕，伽蓝鸟

参考例句：

• The pelican has a very useful beak.鹈鹕有一张非常有用的嘴。
• This pelican is expected to fully recover.这只鹈鹕不久就能痊愈。

3 pelicans   

n.鹈鹕( pelican的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Kurt watched the Pelicans fire their jets and scorch the grass. 库尔特看着鹈鹕运兵船点火，它们的喷焰把草烧焦。 来自互联网
• The Pelican Feeding Officers present an educational talk while feeding the pelicans. 那个正在喂鹈鹕的工作人员会边喂鹈鹕边给它上一节教育课。 来自互联网

4 indefatigable   

adj.不知疲倦的，不屈不挠的

参考例句：

• His indefatigable spirit helped him to cope with his illness.他不屈不挠的精神帮助他对抗病魔。
• He was indefatigable in his lectures on the aesthetics of love.在讲授关于爱情的美学时，他是不知疲倦的。

5 syllable   

n.音节；vt.分音节

参考例句：

• You put too much emphasis on the last syllable.你把最后一个音节读得太重。
• The stress on the last syllable is light.最后一个音节是轻音节。

6 syllables   

n.音节( syllable的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a word with two syllables 双音节单词
• 'No. But I'll swear it was a name of two syllables.' “想不起。不过我可以发誓，它有两个音节。” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

7 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

8 catching   

adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住

参考例句：

• There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
• Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。

9 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。