VOA慢速英语2021--Bed Expressions

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

On this program we explore words and expressions in the English language. We give examples, notes on usage¹, and sometimes we even use them in a short story.

For this week, we talk about something that we all use – a bed!

Everyone likes different sleep conditions. Some like it dark and quiet. Others like to listen to sounds of nature as they fall asleep. Some like soft beds, and some like hard beds.

So, today, we talk about beds. We have several expressions that use this word.

The first one we will talk about involves a flower -- the rose. Imagine sleeping on a bed of roses. Roses smell nice. So, that could be very pleasant, indeed. Well, as long as the roses do not have thorns³. Ouch!

Well, if a bed of roses is nice, then "no bed of roses" is not. If something is "no bed of roses," it is difficult or really unpleasant. And we have all had those experiences. I know I have.

Once, I was asked to sing and play the ukulele for a special event. The event was to raise money for a homeless shelter. So, I was happy to volunteer. I did not know the organizer well, but what could go wrong? The ukulele is such a happy instrument.

Well, as it turned out, a LOT could go wrong.

The organizer was actually kind of mean and bossy⁴. First, she picked all the songs, and they were not that great. So, when we suggested other songs, she would yell⁵. She also would yell at us if we played poorly. And this happened often because many of us were just beginners.

Then on the night of our performance, it rained and was very cold. So, only a few people came to hear us play. This put her in a very bad mood. But then something happy happened. Someone in the crowd joined in by playing the flute⁶. But then she yelled⁷ at them too!

In the end, I got sick and lost my voice for about a month. So, let me tell you, the whole experience was no bed of roses!

Now, if this woman had been unkind just once, I could say that maybe she "got up on the wrong side of the bed." This means you are in a bad mood. You feel irritable⁸. But it's not your usual way of feeling. Perhaps you just didn't get enough sleep.

However, this woman was unpleasant at every practice. So, it was more than just waking up on the wrong side of the bed. She was just no fun.

Well, months later she needed ukulele players to help in another performance. But none of us joined. Playing the uke, as it is sometimes called, is something we do for fun. And we did not want to get yelled at again.

So, this woman played alone and continues to play alone. You could say, "she made her bed, now she must lie in it." This means that a person has made a difficult situation and then must deal with the results, or consequences.

Usually we say this to someone who has put themselves in the difficulty and then complains about it.

When you use this expression, you can also use the word "sleep." "She made her bed, now she must sleep in it."

And you do not have to say the whole thing. Simply saying, "You made your bed ..." is quite enough.

Finally, bed is where we end up after finishing a long day. So, it is not surprising that we also have a "bed" expression for finishing a project or task. When you "put something to bed" you finish it.

In fact, we are done with this Words and Their Stories. So, it's time to put this episode⁹ to bed ... until next time.

Word in This Story

thorn² – n. a hard sharp leafless point on the stem¹⁰ or branch of a plant (as a rose bush)

ukulele – n. a small guitar of Portuguese¹¹ origin popularized in Hawaii in the 1880s and strung typically with four strings¹²

mood – n. a person's emotional state

flute – n. a musical instrument that is shaped like a thin pipe and that is played by blowing across a hole near one end

irritable – adj. easily made angry or annoyed

consequence – n. something produced by a cause or following from a condition

complain – v. to say or write that you are unhappy, sick, uncomfortable, etc., or that you do not like something

episode – n. a television show, radio show, etc., that is one part of a series

1 usage   

n.惯用法，使用，用法

参考例句：

• I am clear about the usage of this word at last.这个词的用法我算是弄明白了。
• The usage is now firmly established.这种用法现已得到确认。

2 thorn   

n.刺，荆棘，带刺小灌木

参考例句：

• The little boy stepped on a sharp thorn.那小男孩踩着了一根尖刺。
• The dog had a thorn in its pad.这只狗的爪垫上扎了根刺。

3 thorns   

（玫瑰之类植物的）刺( thorn的名词复数 )； 棘刺； 带刺的树； 荆棘

参考例句：

• I was sitting on the thorns while waiting for the outcome. 等待结果时我如坐针毡。
• They had to stop to pick out thorns from their feet. 他们只得停下来把脚上的刺拔去。

4 bossy   

adj.爱发号施令的，作威作福的

参考例句：

• She turned me off with her bossy manner.她态度专橫很讨我嫌。
• She moved out because her mother-in-law is too bossy.她的婆婆爱指使人,所以她搬出去住了。

5 yell   

vi./n.号叫，叫喊

参考例句：

• This gave them a chance to yell.这给了他们大声喊叫的机会。
• When his schoolmate made the last goal,the boy gave out with an untrammeled yell.那个男孩在他的同学踢进最后一球时不禁纵声欢呼。

6 flute   

n.长笛；v.吹笛

参考例句：

• He took out his flute, and blew at it.他拿出笛子吹了起来。
• There is an extensive repertoire of music written for the flute.有很多供长笛演奏的曲目。

7 yelled   

v.叫喊，号叫，叫着说( yell的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He yelled at the other driver. 他冲着另一位司机大叫。
• The lost man yelled, hoping someone in the woods would hear him. 迷路的人大声喊着，希望林子里的人会听见。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 irritable   

adj.急躁的；过敏的；易怒的

参考例句：

• He gets irritable when he's got toothache.他牙一疼就很容易发脾气。
• Our teacher is an irritable old lady.She gets angry easily.我们的老师是位脾气急躁的老太太。她很容易生气。

9 episode   

n.（作品的一段）情节，插曲，系列事件中之一

参考例句：

• The episode was a huge embarrassment for all concerned.这段小插曲令所有有关人员都感到非常尴尬。
• This episode remains sharply engraved on my mind.这段经历至今仍深深地铭刻在我的心中。

10 stem   

n.茎，干，船首，词干，血统；vt.堵住，阻止，抽去梗；vi.起源于，发生

参考例句：

• Cut the stem cleanly,just beneath a leaf joint.把茎切整齐点，正好切在叶根下。
• The ship was in a blaze from stem to stern.整艘船从头到尾都着火了。

11 Portuguese   

n.葡萄牙人；葡萄牙语

参考例句：

• They styled their house in the Portuguese manner.他们仿照葡萄牙的风格设计自己的房子。
• Her family is Portuguese in origin.她的家族是葡萄牙血统。

12 strings   

n.弦

参考例句：

• He sat on the bed,idly plucking the strings of his guitar.他坐在床上，随意地拨着吉他的弦。
• She swept her fingers over the strings of the harp.她用手指划过竖琴的琴弦。