VOA慢速英语--Time to Get ‘Back on That Horse’

And now, Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning¹ English.

On this program, we explore words and expressions in the English language. Sometimes we explain where they come from and how to use them.

Today we talk about horses. They are strong, fast, and beautiful animals. Many years ago, in many places around the world, people used horses to get around. These days, horseback riding is done for sport. It is a good way to get exercise outdoors. However, it is not the easiest sport to enjoy.

First of all, horseback riding can cost a lot. You need a horse, the right equipment, a place for it to live, called a stable², and a lot of land to ride it on. Those things can cost a lot of money. So, many people just rent time on a horse. But that can cost a lot too.

Then there is the learning curve³. This is the time it takes to learn how to do something. Horseback riding has a pretty steep⁴ learning curve. Most people need to do it a lot to feel safe on a horse. So, people who did not take lessons when they were young, may have a harder time learning when they get older.

That is because there is also some danger with horseback riding. You could get seriously hurt if a horse throws you from its back. If that happens, people say it is important to get back on the horse as soon as you can. (Of course, after you get checked for injuries.)

If you do not get back in the saddle⁵, you may be afraid to ever ride a horse again. But if you climb right back on the horse, you might forget about falling off.

That is where we get two expressions: "back in the saddle," and "If you fall off a horse, (you) get right back on."

Now, a saddle is the leather seat that you put on horse's back. It secures⁶ a rider⁷ to the horse. When we say we are getting "back in the saddle," we are doing something that we have not done in a while or something we think we no longer do well.

For example, let's say I get fired from my job. It not only upsets me, but it also hurts my self-confidence. So, my friends could say to me, "Anna, It's time you get back in the saddle! Go find another job!"

"If you fall off a horse, you get right back on" is the same advice. It means⁸: To return to an activity that you have failed at or had trouble with. But not just any activity. If you did something that you didn't enjoy and failed, there is really no need to do it again.

For this expression, the activity is usually something that you like or that is important to you for some reason.

For example, a friend of mine is a piano player. Once he wrote a piece of music and played it for a room full of people. But they did not really like it. So, he got upset and wanted to quit playing.

I told him, "You have to get right back on that horse. Go back home right now and write another song." And he did! He is still trying, but he is not afraid of playing in front of people.

So, if you need to tell someone to get over their fears and try something again, you can use one of these expressions.

If you make mistakes speaking English to a room full of people, just forget about it. My advice is: "Get back in the saddle!" as soon as possible.

And that's all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories.

Words in This Story

rent – v. to pay money in return for being able to use (something that belongs to someone else)

learning curve – n. the course of progress made in learning something

steep – adj. going up or down very quickly

saddle – n. a leather-covered seat that is put on the back of a horse

self-confidence – n. feeling good about oneself and in one's powers and abilities

song – n. a short piece of music with words that are sung

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 stable   

adj.稳定的；稳固的

参考例句：

• I'm glad she has become such a stable character.我很高兴她变得如此沉稳。
• This chair isn't very stable.这把椅子不大稳固。

3 curve   

n.曲线，弯曲，曲球；v.弯，使...弯曲

参考例句：

• The train slowed its speed as it went around the curve.火车在弯道行驶时放慢了速度。
• The path of an arrow is a curve.箭的轨迹是一条曲线。

4 steep   

adj.陡峭的，险峻的，急剧升降的，不合理的；n.悬崖，峭壁，浸渍，浸渍液；v.浸，泡，沉浸

参考例句：

• The slope is too steep for us to climb.这斜坡太陡，我们爬不上去。
• There was a steep climb on the road out of town.市外公路上有一处很陡的上坡路。

5 saddle   

n.鞍，车座，山脊，拖具；vt.装以马鞍，使负担；vi.装马鞍

参考例句：

• The bicycle saddle is too high for this child.这辆自行车车座对这孩子来说太高了。
• We got the order to saddle up just after dawn.我们得到命令,天一亮就要上好马鞍。

6 secures   

保护( secure的第三人称单数 )； （使）获得； 使安全； 担保

参考例句：

• A firm secures a needed commodity and is protected against price fluctuation. 公司得到需要的商品，而且不会由于价格变动而受损失。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• Collateral, such as property or investments, secures the repayment of traditional loans. 抵押品是传统贷款的安全保证，通常包括财产或投资抵押。

7 rider   

n.骑士，附件，扶手

参考例句：

• The rider forced his horse on through the storm.骑手在暴风雨中策马前进。
• The jury added a rider to their verdict recommending mercy.陪审团在裁决后加了一条建议宽恕的附文。

8 means   

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。