VOA慢速英语2021--彩虹尽头有一罐金子吗?

Is There a 'Pot of Gold at the End of the Rainbow'?

And now, welcome to Words and Their Stories.

On March 17 in many places around the world, people celebrate Saint¹ Patrick's Day.

Encyclopedia² Britannica says St. Patrick is the patron³ saint of Ireland. "Born in Roman Britain in the late 4th century, he was kidnapped at the age of 16 and taken to Ireland as a slave. He escaped but returned to convert⁴ the Irish to Christianity."

Irish people and Irish-loving people everywhere celebrate St. Patrick's Day with religious services, parades, big meals and even bigger parties.

Decorations usually include green four-leaf clovers. The small plants are said to bring good luck. Another decoration is the Leprechaun. A Leprechaun is a trouble making creature in old Irish stories. He looks like a very small man. And he knows where to find gold.

Some experts say that, in Irish folklore⁵, it is believed that Leprechauns can reveal⁶ the hiding places of treasures.

The Encyclopedia Britannica explains that as far back as the 17th century the Irish would say a person "was as likely to find a pot of gold as to find the end of a rainbow." A colorful rainbow appears in the sky when the sun shines through water droplets⁷.

Keep in mind that there is no real "end" to a rainbow. And that brings us to our idiom: the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

The "pot of gold at the end of the rainbow" is something you really want to have or you really want to achieve. Finding⁸ your pot of gold at the end of a rainbow – or just "pot of gold" for short – feels like the realization⁹ of your hopes and dreams.

For example, let's say someone loves animals and hopes to live out in the country. They could describe their pot of gold at the end of the rainbow as a owning a working farm with cows, horses, dogs and goats!

Finding the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow can also be used to talk about actual money. When we use it this way, we usually mean that wealth has come suddenly. It means you have come into a huge windfall – which means a lot of money! For example, I found my pot of gold after winning the lottery¹⁰! But sadly, that is just an example.

However, finding your pot of gold may not be likely or even possible. Because of the unrealistic nature of the pot of gold, this expression is often used in the negative form.

For example, a friend of mine was always unhappy. She moved a lot looking for happiness. Her father told her that she was looking for a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. "It doesn't exist," he warned. "You must find a way to be happy wherever you are." But she ended up moving anyway. Some lessons we have to learn on our own.

Words in This Story

patron saint – n. a saint who is believed to protect a particular place or type of person

decoration – n. something that is added to something else to make it more attractive

parade – n. a public celebration of a special day or event that usually includes many people and groups moving down a street by marching or riding in cars or on special vehicles (called floats)

folklore – n. traditional customs, beliefs, stories, and sayings

treasure – n. something valuable (such as money, jewels, gold, or silver) that is hidden or kept in a safe place

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

achieve – v. to get or reach (something) by working hard

lottery – n. a drawing of lots in which prizes are distributed to the winners among persons buying a chance

negative – adj. harmful or bad : not wanted

1 saint   

n.圣徒；基督教徒；vt.成为圣徒，把...视为圣徒

参考例句：

• He was made a saint.他被封为圣人。
• The saint had a lowly heart.圣人有谦诚之心。

2 encyclopedia   

n.百科全书

参考例句：

• The encyclopedia fell to the floor with a thud.那本百科全书砰的一声掉到地上。
• Geoff is a walking encyclopedia.He knows about everything.杰夫是个活百科全书，他什么都懂。

3 patron   

n.资助人，赞助人，老主顾，顾客

参考例句：

• The student wants to find a wealthy patron in America.那学生想在美国找一个富有的赞助人。
• I hope that you will become our patron.我希望你将成为我们的靠山。

4 convert   

v.（在形式、状态、用途等方面）（使）改变

参考例句：

• I must convert sorrow into strength.我要化悲痛为力量。
• At what rate does the dollar convert into pounds?美元以什么汇率兑换成英镑？

5 folklore   

n.民间信仰，民间传说，民俗

参考例句：

• Zhuge Liang is a synonym for wisdom in folklore.诸葛亮在民间传说中成了智慧的代名词。
• In Chinese folklore the bat is an emblem of good fortune.在中国的民间传说中蝙蝠是好运的象征。

6 reveal   

vt.揭露，泄露；展现，显示

参考例句：

• The journalist did not want to reveal the identity of his informant.那个新闻工作者不想透露消息提供人的身份。
• Differences will help to reveal the functions of the genes.它们间的差异将会帮助我们揭开基因多种功能。

7 droplets   

n.小滴( droplet的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Droplets of sweat were welling up on his forehead. 他额头上冒出了滴滴汗珠。 来自辞典例句
• In constrast, exhaled smoke contains relatively large water droplets and appears white. 相反，从人嘴里呼出的烟则包含相当大的水滴，所以呈白色。 来自辞典例句

8 finding   

n.发现，发现物；调查的结果

参考例句：

• The finding makes some sense.该发现具有一定的意义。
• That's an encouraging finding.这是一个鼓舞人心的发现。

9 realization   

n.实现；认识到，深刻了解

参考例句：

• We shall gladly lend every effort in our power toward its realization.我们将乐意为它的实现而竭尽全力。
• He came to the realization that he would never make a good teacher.他逐渐认识到自己永远不会成为好老师。

10 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。