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VOA慢速英语2020 "母亲节"相关表达

时间:2020-05-10 23:58来源:互联网 提供网友:nan   字体: [ ]
    (单词翻译:双击或拖选)

Now, it's time for Words and Their Stories, a program from VOA Learning1 English. On this program we explore common expressions in American English.

Every year in the United2 States, we celebrate Mother's Day on the second Sunday in May. So, in honor3 of mothers and mothering, today we are talking about expressions that use the words "baby," "child" or "kid."

Ah, babies!

Babies need lots of love, care and attention. Most new parents spend every waking moment caring for, worrying over and thinking about their baby.

This applies to other things too! In American English, anything that you have focused4 and worked on for long periods of time can become your "baby."

Let's say your friend Sam is opening a new coffee shop. He has invested5 his own money into it. For months he spends all day every day getting the shop ready for customers. In the evenings, he works6 on hiring, advertising7 and menu options8. And at night, as he tries to sleep, he worries about it. He really wants it to be a success.

So when Sam's friend asks about the progress of the business, she could say, "So, how's your baby coming along?" Yes, using "baby" in this way is slightly informal9. But it is very common and okay to use in just about any situation.

The opposite of caring for a baby would be throwing it out with its bathwater. What?! "That is terrible!" you might be saying.

Yes, it is terrible except -- when we do it in conversation. Then it is a useful expression.

Throwing the baby out with the bathwater means10 to get rid of all of something, (like the baby and the water it was bathing11 in) even though some parts of it were valuable and definitely12 worth keeping (like the baby)!

We often use this expression when we advise people to not act rashly13 or go to extremes14.

For example, let's say a married couple has been working with a designer15 for months on redecorating their home. They choose furniture, carpeting and wall color. But then suddenly, the designer pulls out of the project. The husband and wife are upset.

The husband does not want to start from the beginning. He didn't enjoy doing it the first time!

But the wife says, "Look, there's no need to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Let's keep all things we have already chosen. We can hire a new designer just to help us put them in the house."

Problem solved!

Now, not all expressions related16 to children are actually about children. Some of them are about adults.

If a grown-up17 is a babe in the woods, he is defenseless and naive18. He is easily fooled, and nobody expects much from him. The opposite of a babe in the woods is a veteran19, someone who is seasoned or experienced20.

For example, the law office had mostly seasoned, professional21 lawyers. But one young man was just out of school. He did not even know the most basic rules for the courtroom. As a result, he lost his first case. The judge called him a "babe in the woods."

Such a person is different than a new kid on the block. A new kid on the block is simply a newcomer to a group of people who know each other well. Here, "block" means part of a neighborhood.

When you are the new kid on the block, you do not know yet how things operate in a new environment. Your ignorance22 can be good or bad. Maybe you bring new energy, skills, or talent to the group. Or maybe you spend a lot of time wandering around looking for the bathroom.

Whether you are a teenager in a new high school or a grown-up starting a new job, being the new kid on the block is often uncomfortable.

Do you know what is not uncomfortable? Playing. Children do it naturally and effortlessly. So when we say a job is child's play, we mean it is very easy to do.

Note that this expression can be a little bit mean, because it suggests that the work is so simple even a child could do it (which is actually its own expression.)

Let's say in a meeting one of your co-workers says that she finds creating a spreadsheet really difficult. You say loudly to everyone, "Really? I finished mine in a few minutes. It was child's play! You just input24 the information."

This makes your co-worker23 angry. She is so angry with you that she looks for a way to get you back. In other words, she might do something mean in return. At lunchtime she finds her chance!

When you step outside for something to eat, you leave all your notes about an important, top-secret meeting on your desk. When you return, your co-worker is telling everyone else about the details of the meeting – details that no one was supposed to know.

You say to her, "Where did you get that information?"

She looks at you coldly. "On your desk," she says. "It was like taking candy from a baby."

Of course, babies should not be eating candy. But if a baby were eating candy, and an adult took it away, the baby could not fight back. He might cry and be upset, but he is helpless25 compared to the adult.

And that is the situation with your co-worker. She just walked in and picked up your notes. She is the adult. The notes are the candy. And, unfortunately, you are the baby.

Now, if someone takes candy away from a baby, the parents might demand that the person replace it. This isn't so bad. Going to a candy store is fun!

For many kids, being in a candy store is pure joy. Wide-eyed and smiling from ear to ear, they run from sweet to sweet, imagining how everything will taste and trying to decide what to choose.

So, if someone is very excited about all the possibilities in front of her, we say she is like a kid in a candy store.

For example, whenever I go into a library, I feel like a kid in a candy store. There are so many books I haven't read and I don't know where to start first!

And that's the end of this Words and Their Stories. I'm Anna Matteo. And I'm Bryan Lynn.

现在是《词汇掌故》节目时间,一档来自美国之声的学英语节目。节目探讨美式英语里的常见表达。

美国人在每年五月的第二个星期日庆祝母亲节。所以,为了向母亲们和母亲的养育致敬,今天我们将谈论含有单词“baby(婴儿)”、“child(儿童)”或者“kid(小孩)”的表达。

啊,宝贝们!

婴儿需要更多呵护和关注,多数新晋父母白天费劲心思照顾自己的小宝贝,为他们提心吊胆。

这也适用于其他事物!在美语里,任何你关注和从事了很长时间的事物都能成为你的“宝贝”。

假设你的朋友山姆新开了一家咖啡店。他自己投的钱。数月来,他每天全天为店铺接待顾客做准备。晚上,他忙于招聘、营销以及菜单内容。深夜睡觉的时候,他也挂念着店铺的事情。他真得希望店铺能经营得很好。

那么当山姆的朋友问到他生意的进度,她可能会说:“那你的宝贝咖啡店怎么样了?”是的,这样使用“baby”有点不正式。但是这种用法很常见且几乎在任何情境下都很适用。

和“照顾一个婴儿”相反的,会是“将婴儿和洗澡水一起倒掉(throw it out with its bathwater)”。什么?!“那太可恶了!”你也许会这么说。

是的,那很可恶除了——我们在交谈中这样使用这个表达。这个时候,它是一个很有用的表达。

“throw the baby out with the bathwater(全盘否定/不分良莠,全部丢弃)”意思是处理掉某事物的所有部分(就像婴儿和它的洗澡水),即使该事物的一些部分是珍贵的且绝对值得留下的(就像婴儿)!

我们经常在我们建议别人做事不要太鲁莽或者处理事情太极端时使用这个表达。

例如,假设一对已婚夫妇和设计师一起工作数月重装他们的家。他们挑选家具、地毯材质和墙壁的颜色。但是突然,设计师离开了他们的装修工程。丈夫和妻子很烦恼。

丈夫不想重新来过,他压根就不喜欢装修。

但是他的妻子说道:“你看,我们没有必要全部丢弃。我们把已经挑选好的东西留下。我们可以再请个新设计师帮我们将那些东西归置好在咱们家里。”

问题解决啦!

不是所有和孩子相关的表达的意思实际上都和孩子有关联。其中一些是和大人有关。

如果一个成年人是“a babe in the woods(幼稚盲从的人)”,那他毫无戒备之心且天真无邪。他很容易被愚弄,没人会对他抱有太多期望。“a babe in the woods”的反义词是“veteran(老手/经验丰富的人)”,指的是老练或者有经验的人。

例如,律师所里大多是经验丰富的专业律师。但是其中一个年轻人是刚毕业的。他甚至不知道法庭上最基本的规章。这导致他失去了他的第一个案子。法官说他还太幼稚。

这种人不同于“a new kid on the block(新人)”。“a new kid on the block”只是指彼此互相很熟识的一个团队里来的一个新人。这里的“block”意思是指一个街区的一部分。

当你是一个新人的时候,你还不知道新环境下事物是怎么运作的。你的无知可能是好事,也可能是坏事。也许你会你的团队带来了新的活力、技能或者聪明才智。或者也许你花了很长时间四处找卫生间。

无论你是一个高中少年或是新入职的成年人,作为一个新人的感觉往往都是令人感觉不太自在的。

你知道什么是自在吗?玩乐。孩子们玩起来很自然且毫不费力。所以,当我们说一份工作很简单(child's play),意思是这份工作很容易做。

注意下,这个表达可能有点刻薄,因为它表明这份工作简单到一个孩子都能做(这实际上是它的表达方式)。

假如在一场会议上,你的一个同事说她发现创建一个电子表格真得很难。你说得很大声,每个人都听到了:“真的吗?我几分钟就创建好我的表格了。这太简单了!你输入信息就好。”

这让你的同事很生气。她很生你的气,她想找个法子报复你。也就是说,她可能做什么坏事来报复你。午餐时,她找到了机会!

当你走出去拿点东西吃的时候,你将所有的关于一场重要且绝密的会议笔记放在你的桌子上了。当你回来的时候,你的同事正和其他人说着会议的细节——理应没人知道的细节。

你对她说:“你从哪知道的那些信息?”

她冷冷地看着你。“你桌子上,”她说。“这就像从一个婴儿手上拿走糖果一样容易(take candy from a baby)。”

当然,婴儿不该吃糖。但如果一个婴儿在吃糖,一个大人拿走糖,婴儿是无法反抗的。他也许会哭、生气,但是和大人相比,他是无助的。

这就是你同事面对的情景。她只是走进去,拿走你的笔记。她就是那个“大人”,笔记就是“糖果”。不幸地是,你就是那个“婴儿”。

现在,如果某人从婴儿手里抢走糖,那父母可能要求那个人重换一个。这不算糟糕。糖果店很好玩!

对于很多孩子来说,身处糖果店里就很快乐。大大的眼睛,笑得合不拢嘴,在糖果间跑来跑去,想象着所有的糖果尝起来的口味,试图决定要选什么糖果。

因此,如果某人非常兴奋地面对着她所拥有的所有可能性,我们说她像糖果店里的孩子一样(like a kid in a candy store 无比兴奋)。

例如,我不论何时走进图书馆,我都感觉无比兴奋。有那么多我没读过的书,我都不知道从哪本书开始读了!

这就是本期《词汇掌故》的全部内容了。我是安娜·马特奥。我是布莱恩·林恩。


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 learning wpSzFe     
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 united Yfmz2c     
adj.和谐的;团结的;联合的,统一的
参考例句:
  • The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
  • The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。
3 honor IQDzL     
n.光荣;敬意;荣幸;vt.给…以荣誉;尊敬
参考例句:
  • I take your visit as a great honor.您的来访是我莫大的光荣。
  • It is a great honor to receive that prize.能拿到那个奖是无上的光荣。
4 focused 8acc1df806644849e2432655065c3b7c     
adj.聚焦的v.(使)集中, (使)聚集( focus的过去式和过去分词 );调整(镜头,眼睛)焦点[焦距]以便看清;(光、声等的)焦点;集中(光束于)
参考例句:
  • Research has focused on improving the car's aerodynamics. 研究的重点是改善轿车的流线型。
  • The discussion focused on three main problems. 讨论集中在三个主要问题上。
5 invested 9a25ac4ea8d8a9b7bac3a3ed96702a06     
v.投资,花费( invest的过去式和过去分词 );授予;(把资金)投入;投入(时间、精力等)
参考例句:
  • The money will be invested in managed funds. 这笔钱将投资于管理基金。
  • He invested his lawyer with complete power to act for him. 他让律师全权代办。 来自《简明英汉词典》
6 works ieuzIh     
n.作品,著作;工厂,活动部件,机件
参考例句:
  • We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
  • The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。
7 advertising 1zjzi3     
n.广告业;广告活动 a.广告的;广告业务的
参考例句:
  • Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
  • The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。
8 options 93da65a9fd0004d9477aeac024e08e15     
n.选择(option的名词复数 );选项;选择权,选择能力;[经济]买卖的特权
参考例句:
  • She considered her options. 她仔细考虑了自己的各种选择。
  • We are considering the options available to us in this no-win situation. 在这种取胜无望的情形下,我们在考虑有什么选择。
9 informal fQVzW     
adj.非正式的,不拘礼的,通俗的
参考例句:
  • I got an informal reception.我受到了非正式接待。
  • The leaders met over informal lunches.领袖们在非正式午餐时进行会晤。
10 means 9oXzBX     
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。
11 bathing nyrzEv     
n.游泳,洗海水澡
参考例句:
  • The place is convenient for bathing.这地方适合游泳。
  • Naked bathing is not allowed to this beach.这个海滩禁止裸泳。
12 definitely RuJzx0     
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。
13 rashly UklzCa     
ad.too hastily;recklessly
参考例句:
  • Some people jumped rashly to the conclusion that something must be wrong. 有些人轻率地得出结论说一定是出了什么问题。
  • They had acted rashly, without thought. 他们未加考虑就轻率行动了。
14 extremes 622c334b5994c70defc4b9f7a739d438     
极端( extreme的名词复数 ); 极端政策(或办法、手段、行动、措施等); 极端不同的感情(或境况、行为方式等); [常用复数]在两末端的事物
参考例句:
  • He could not tolerate the extremes of heat in the desert. 他忍受不住沙漠的酷热。
  • It's a difficult place to live because of its climatic extremes. 该地气候极端,很难让人生存。
15 designer owsxW     
n.设计者,制图者
参考例句:
  • Carolyne is a fashion designer.卡罗琳是一名时装设计师。
  • He was a set designer.他是一个布景设计者。
16 related vkGzSv     
adj.有关系的,有关联的,叙述的,讲述的
参考例句:
  • I am not related to him in any way.我和他无任何关系。
  • We spent days going through all related reference material.我们花了好多天功夫查阅所有有关的参考资料。
17 grown-up ieWxz     
adj.成熟的,已经成人的;n.成人,大人
参考例句:
  • She has a grown-up daughter who lives abroad.她有一个已经长大成人的女儿,在海外生活。
  • The boy eats like a grown-up.那男孩的食量像个成人。
18 naive yFVxO     
adj.幼稚的,轻信的;天真的
参考例句:
  • It's naive of you to believe he'll do what he says.相信他会言行一致,你未免太单纯了。
  • Don't be naive.The matter is not so simple.你别傻乎乎的。事情没有那么简单。
19 veteran 3i3wX     
n.老兵;经验丰富的人,老手
参考例句:
  • My grandfather is a veteran of the Second World War.我祖父是二战时的老兵。
  • We often asked the veteran workers for advice.我们常常向老工人求教。
20 experienced ntPz2t     
adj.有经验的;经验丰富的,熟练的
参考例句:
  • Experienced seamen will advise you about sailing in this weather.有经验的海员会告诉你在这种天气下的航行情况。
  • Perhaps you and I had better change over;you are more experienced.也许我们的工作还是对换一下好,你比我更有经验。
21 professional T1ZzR     
adj.专业的;职业的;n.专业人员;职业运动员
参考例句:
  • He is a professional tennis player.他是一名职业网球运动员。
  • I need a professional to sort out my finances.我需要专业人士为我管理财务。
22 ignorance Mc4z9     
n.无知,愚昧,不了解,(of,about)不知道
参考例句:
  • The relation of disease to poverty and ignorance is easy to see.疾病与贫穷、无知之间的关系是显而易见的。
  • Maybe it is all due to my own ignorance.也许是我少见多怪。
23 co-worker co-worker     
n.共同工作者;同事
参考例句:
  • I went to visit my co-worker on Saturday.周六去同事家做客了。
  • My new co-worker comes to work late every day.我的新同事每天上班都迟到。
24 input X6lxm     
n.输入(物);投入;vt.把(数据等)输入计算机
参考例句:
  • I will forever be grateful for his considerable input.我将永远感激他的大量投入。
  • All this information had to be input onto the computer.所有这些信息都必须输入计算机。
25 helpless FdAxb     
adj.无助的,无依无靠的;不能自力的
参考例句:
  • The other team was helpless and we had a real field day.对方队很弱,我们轻易取胜。
  • They felt helpless to do anything about it.他们对这事感到无能为力。
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TAG标签:   VOA英语  慢速英语
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