VOA慢速英语2021--让事情“从头开始”

Making Things 'from Scratch'

And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.

Some people get great joy and satisfaction from doing things by themselves. That is why DIY, or do-it-yourself, projects are so popular.

Such projects became even more popular during the coronavirus health crisis¹. Another activity became popular -- baking.

I am not talking about opening a box of cake mix, stirring in some water and baking it in the oven. I'm sure that it would still taste good. But it would not be completely homemade. You used a cake mix you bought at the store. In other words, you did not make the cake "from scratch."

That is the expression we are going to talk about today – from scratch!

Let's continue with another baking example. I love to make bread from scratch. I measure out the flour, salt, sugar and yeast². I add some water and then knead the mixture into dough³, which is the word for uncooked bread. It is so much fun. And, in my opinion, making it from scratch creates the tastiest bread.

To create something from scratch is to make it without any ready-made ingredients or materials.

Let's say you want to build a greenhouse for your plants. You could buy one. But it might cost a lot of money. So, you decide to build it from scratch. You build it from the ground up with the most basic materials.

Starting from scratch can also mean starting something over from the beginning. For example, a group of people want to start a reading program for children. But after hours and hours of planning, they have not decided⁴ anything. They thought of many good ideas, but those ideas do not seem to work well together. And the heart of the project has been lost. So, someone suggests, "Hey, why don't we start from scratch and simplify our ideas."

Starting from scratch is often the only way to more forward once a project gets really complex.

You can start many things from scratch – from a reading program to your career. If you start your career from scratch, you start over and do something new. After many years of being a lawyer, my friend started her career over from scratch and became a video game developer.

Or you could continue the same career but in a new way or in a new place.

Here's another example. A friend of mine wanted to re-start his singing career. He was living in Chicago but did not find success there. So, he moved to Pittsburgh and started his singing career over from scratch. It seems to have worked because he is doing really well in that city.

Some word experts say the expression "from scratch" comes from foot races.

The "scratch" used to mean the line scratched in the ground as the starting line for the race. All the runners would begin with their toes on the scratched line.

The term also is used in cricket⁵ and boxing. In fact, it may have been used in those sports first.

Experts often do not agree on word origins. But don't let that stop you from using "from scratch." Use the expression the next time you talk about doing something yourself or starting something from the beginning.

Words in This Story

bake –v. to cook in an oven using dry heat

cake mix --n. a mixture bought at a store for making cake

stir –v. to mix together in a circular movement

yeast –n. a kind of fungus⁶ used in making bread and alcoholic⁷ drinks

knead –v. to prepare dough by mixing flour and water with your hands and pressing it together

ingredient –n. one of several materials used to make a kind of food

greenhouse –n. a structure with clear, glass or plastic, walls used for growing plants

career –n. a job or profession that someone has for a long time

origin –n. the point or place where something begins or is created

1 crisis   

n.危机，危急关头，决定性时刻，关键阶段

参考例句：

• He had proved that he could be relied on in a crisis.他已表明，在紧要关头他是可以信赖的。
• The topic today centers about the crisis in the Middle East.今天课题的中心是中东危机。

2 yeast   

n.酵母；酵母片；泡沫；v.发酵；起泡沫

参考例句：

• Yeast can be used in making beer and bread.酵母可用于酿啤酒和发面包。
• The yeast began to work.酵母开始发酵。

3 dough   

n.生面团；钱，现款

参考例句：

• She formed the dough into squares.她把生面团捏成四方块。
• The baker is kneading dough.那位面包师在揉面。

4 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

5 cricket   

n.蟋蟀，板球运动；adj.公平的

参考例句：

• The England cricket team scored quite a useful total.英格兰板球队得分总数令人满意。
• We could hear the shrill of the midsummer cricket.我们可以听到仲夏时节蟋蟀的尖叫声。
• Your behaviour isn't cricket.你的行为不光彩。

6 fungus   

n.真菌，真菌类植物

参考例句：

• Mushrooms are a type of fungus.蘑菇是一种真菌。
• This fungus can just be detected by the unaided eye.这种真菌只用肉眼就能检查出。

7 alcoholic   

adj.（含）酒精的，由酒精引起的；n.酗酒者

参考例句：

• The alcoholic strength of brandy far exceeds that of wine.白兰地的酒精浓度远远超过葡萄酒。
• Alcoholic drinks act as a poison to a child.酒精饮料对小孩犹如毒药。