VOA慢速英语2020--“无风不起浪”

And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning¹ English. On this program we explore words and sayings in American English a little deeper.

Today we talk about fire. Any kind of fire – from a campfire to a lit match – gives off smoke. This fact about fire relates to today's idiom: There is no smoke without fire.

Before we continue, let's talk about two words often used to explain this idiom: rumor² and gossip³.

Rumors⁴ and gossip are stories or pieces of information that are passed from person to person but have not been proven to be true. They are often about something bad.

One meaning of "there's no smoke without fire" is that rumors and gossip often have some truth behind them.

If the word on the street is that something is really bad, it just might be. Or if you hear unpleasant things about someone or something from many different people, there may be some truth to it. Maybe.

Here's an example:

I think we should start looking for another job. I've heard that this bank is going under. It could just be gossip. But usually there's no smoke without fire.

In other words, there must be at least some truth to all the talk. The logic⁵ is this: If many people are saying that something bad is happening, it could be partly true.

We say this idiom several ways. You can say, "there's no smoke without fire." Or you can say, "where there's smoke there's fire." You can even simply say, "where there's smoke..." without finishing the rest of the sentence. People will definitely⁶ understand your meaning.

Here is another example.

Hey, I hear you're going out with that new guy at work.

We went for a long walk together. That's about it.

Well, be careful. Rumor has it that he is bad news.

What kind of bad news?

Well, he's been married before.

So. There's no crime against having a marriage that didn't work out.

Right. But he's been married four times. My cousin knows a former wife of his. She says the guy owes money all over town.

This is all just gossip.

Look, I'm just saying be careful. Where there's smoke ... yeah, you know.

And that brings us to the end of this week's Words and Their Stories.

Words in This Story

idiom – n. an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its separate words but that has a separate meaning of its own

rumor – n. information or a story that is passed from person to person but has not been proven to be true

gossip – n. casual⁷ or unconstrained conversation or reports about other people, typically involving details that are not confirmed as being true.

word on the street - idiom what people are saying

going under – v. to be overwhelmed⁸, destroyed, or defeated

logic – n. a proper or reasonable way of thinking about something : sound reasoning

rumor has it - idiom the information or story that is going around is

1 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

2 rumor   

n.谣言，谣传，传说

参考例句：

• The rumor has been traced back to a bad man.那谣言经追查是个坏人造的。
• The rumor has taken air.谣言流传开了。

3 gossip   

n.流言蜚语，爱说长道短的人；vi.传播流言

参考例句：

• She broadcast the gossip all over the town.她将这个流言传遍全镇。
• They spread a lot of tacky gossip about his love life.关于他的爱情生活，他们散播了许多不堪的闲言闲语。

4 rumors   

n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷

参考例句：

• Rumors have it that the school was burned down. 有谣言说学校给烧掉了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Rumors of a revolt were afloat. 叛变的谣言四起。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 logic   

n.逻辑(学)；逻辑性

参考例句：

• What sort of logic is that?这是什么逻辑？
• I don't follow the logic of your argument.我不明白你的论点逻辑性何在。

6 definitely   

adv.一定地，肯定地；明确地，确切地

参考例句：

• The team will definitely lose if he doesn't play.如果他不参加比赛，这个队肯定会输。
• I shall definitely be home before six o'clock.6点以前，我一定回家。

7 casual   

adj.漠不关心，冷漠的；随便的，非正式的；偶然的，碰巧的

参考例句：

• He earns a living by casual labour.他靠做临时工为生。
• The guests wore casual clothes.客人们穿着便服。

8 overwhelmed   

[ overwhelm ]的过去式

参考例句：

• She was overwhelmed by feelings of guilt. 她感到愧疚难当。
• If (one was) overwhelmed by passion, it could lead to serious blunders. 当感情完全淹没理智时，就可能铸成大错。