VOA词汇掌故2024--Sometimes Help Is Just 'A Phone Call Away'

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

On today's show we talk about some expressions that deal with an important device² in our lives - our phones.

With a smartphone, we can connect to the world. In fact, we can say smartphones give us the world at our fingertips.

Needless³ to say, we use phones to stay in contact with the people in our lives. We use them to reach out to our friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers.

So, when we tell someone that we are just a phone call away, what we are really telling them is that we are available. We are there for them. We often use this expression to offer help to someone who is in a difficult situation or just in need of a friendly voice.

For example, let's say my friend is having a hard time with an advanced English course. The assignments⁴ are difficult, the material is hard to understand, and his teacher has not been answering his emails. I can say to him, "Look, if you ever need help, I'm just a phone call away. Call anytime!"

It's good to be available to some people some of the time.

But maybe not all the time.

We all have someone in our lives who contacts us too much. They may blow up our phones with a flood of calls and text messages. When your phone blows up, someone is trying to contact you repeatedly⁵.

Here's an example. Let's say your neighbor, Jana, is having trouble with another neighbor, Jake. And you are in the middle of it. They are both blowing up your phone with calls and texts about their disagreement⁶. You can tell them, "Hold the phone! Just stop! Talk to each other and work out your problems because I've had enough."

The expression hold the phone is a way to say "wait" or "stop." We use it when we hear something surprising or when we have had enough of a situation.

And it doesn't have to be about phone calls or texts. For example, let's say a friend tells me that my favorite singer is coming to town. I can't believe it! So, I can say, "Hold the phone! Are you serious?" It's like saying, "Hold on a minute!"

Now, let's go back to your arguing neighbors, Jana and Jake. Let's say they take your advice. They are willing⁷ to work out their problems. They try to call each other but the keep missing⁸ each other's calls. First Jana calls Jake, but he isn't available. Then Jake calls her back, but now Jana isn't available. They play phone tag⁹ like this for days until they finally speak to each other.

Tag is a child's game. One person is "it" and must chase¹⁰ and tag, or touch, the other children. So, phone tag is when two people try to contact each other but their calls go unanswered.

At least Jake and Jana are trying to work out their problems. When it comes to keeping relationships happy in the neighborhood, they are not phoning it in.

When we phone it in, we don't try our best at something. We don't give our best efforts. For example, some people who lose interest in their jobs might start phoning it in. They stop trying and do not do their best work.

That's not the case with us here at VOA Learning English. we are not phoning it in. We work hard every day to bring you new learning English content.

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

Words in This Story

tag - n. a game in which the player who is it chases others and tries to touch one of them who then becomes it

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 device   

n.器械，装置；计划，策略，诡计

参考例句：

• The device will be in production by the end of the year.该装置将于年底投入生产。
• The device will save much time and effort for us.这种装置会使我们节省大量时间和气力。

3 needless   

adj.不必，无须，不必要的，无用的

参考例句：

• Needless to say,I agree.无须说，我是同意的。
• It is needless to add that you are in want of a second.你需要一个助手，那是不必说的。

4 assignments   

n.分配( assignment的名词复数 )；工作；任命；归属

参考例句：

• You will need to complete three written assignments per semester. 你每学期要完成三个书面作业。
• Headquarters was swamped by an avalanche of applications for battle assignments. 请战书像雪片似地飞向指挥部。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 repeatedly   

adv.重复地，再三地

参考例句：

• The loudspeakers blared the speech repeatedly.扬声器里反复大声地播送那篇演讲。
• He repeatedly beat his foot upon the floor.他反复用脚敲着地板。

6 disagreement   

n.不一致；分歧；意见不合

参考例句：

• They were in disagreement about the move to Cambridge.他们在是否迁居剑桥方面有争议。
• I hope this disagreement does not divide us.我希望意见不同不至于使我们分道扬镳。

7 willing   

adj.愿意的，自愿的，乐意的，心甘情愿的

参考例句：

• We never lack food and clothing if we're willing to work.如果我们愿意工作,就不会缺吃少穿。
• He's quite willing to pay the price I ask.他很愿意照我的要价付钱。

8 missing   

adj.遗失的，缺少的，失踪的

参考例句：

• Check the tools and see if anything is missing.检点一下工具，看有无丢失。
• All the others are here;he's the only one missing.别人都来了，就短他一个。

9 tag   

n.标签，附属物，名称，谚语；vt.附以签条，尾随，添饰，指责，连接；vi.紧随，尾随

参考例句：

• Please tag your baggage.请在你的行李上贴上标签了。
• The clerk attached a price tag to each article.店员给每一件商品系上标价签。

10 chase   

vt.追逐，追赶，追求；n.追赶

参考例句：

• The police grabbed the robbers after a long chase.警察经过长距离追赶后逮住了抢劫犯。
• Would you chase me if I did?如果我逃开了，你会来追吗？