VOA词汇掌故2024--Are You Strong 'Out of the Gate'?

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

At the start of this program, we usually share the expression or idiom we are going to talk about. We do this right out of the gate so that listeners know what to expect.

Out of the gate means the very start of something -- like an audio program!

Some people are really good at starting things. Whether it is planning a fun family reunion or a serious work-related project, they are strong right out of the gate. Other people may be slow out of the gate. They take their time getting started, but they may be strong finishers.

So, out of the gate means the very of beginning of something. We can also say at the outset.

Here is an example. As soon as I signed up for an online class, I had trouble with technology. I couldn't get logged in. I forgot my password. And then my computer crashed. I had so many technical issues right out of the gate! I had problems at the outset or at the very beginning of the class.

This expression comes from sports or activities that involve holding animals behind a gate until it is time to start. With horse racing¹, dog racing, and bull-riding, the animals all wait behind a gate.

When I was a child, my parents often took me to horse races. The horses were behind a gate as they waited to start the race. As soon as they were out of the gate, the race had started! That's also when my parents would start yelling³. Right out of the gate, they would yell² for their horse to win.

In English, we have other similar expressions.

Word experts say that the expression right off the bat is from baseball, cricket⁴, or another sport where a bat is involved.

The batter⁵ hits the ball, the ball is in play and the actions of the other players begin. They are, more or less, waiting for that ball to be hit before they have something to do. So, if something happens right off the bat, it happens as soon as something starts.

Another similar expression is from the get-go. When we say from the get-go, we are also talking about the start of something.

Here's an example using that one. Let's say you start a new job. It's important to make a good first impression from the get-go. On your first day, you want to be on time and ready to work. As we like to say, you don't get a second chance to make a first impression.

Words in This Story

reunion - n. a reuniting of persons after separation : an event where people come together after a period of separation

outset - n. a beginning, a start

impression - n. an especially marked and often favorable influence or effect on feeling, sense, or mind

1 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。

2 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。

3 yelling   

v.叫喊，号叫，叫着说( yell的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The coach stood on the sidelines yelling instructions to the players. 教练站在场外，大声指挥运动员。
• He let off steam by yelling at a clerk. 他对一个职员大喊大叫，借以发泄怒气。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 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。

5 batter   

v.接连重击；磨损；n.牛奶面糊；击球员

参考例句：

• The batter skied to the center fielder.击球手打出一个高飞球到中外野手。
• Put a small quantity of sugar into the batter.在面糊里放少量的糖。