WORDS AND THEIR STORIES - Birds

By Jill Moss¹

Broadcast: Sunday, January 30, 2005

Now, the VOA Special English program, "Words and Their Stories".

Today we explain some expressions about birds. For example, if something is "for the birds", it is worthless or not very interesting. Someone who eats like a bird eats very little. And "a bird`s eye view" is a general look at an area from above.

Did you know that if you tell a young person about "the birds and bees", you are explaining about sex and birth. Have you ever observed that "birds of a feather flock² together?" In other words, people who are similar become friends or do things together.

There is some good advice. "A bird in a hand is worth two in a bush". This means you should not risk losing something you have by trying to get more of something you do not have.

Sometimes, I can do two things by performing only one action. This is called "killing³ two birds with one stone". But I would never really kill any birds. I love all kinds animals. This is "a real feather in my cap". It is something to be proud of.

Most of the people I work with are "early birds". They believe that "the early bird catches the worm". They think that a person who gets up early in the morning for work has the best chance of success. Everyone in my office works hard but some people have "had their wings clipped⁴". Their jobs have been limited. This is because the office is organized by packing order. People with more years and experience are given more responsibility.

Some bird`s expressions are about crows, chickens and ducks. For example, when I am driving. I always travel "as the crow flies". I go the most direct way. Anyone who "eats crow" has to admit a mistake or defeat.

Now let`s talk about my sister. She is not very young. She is "no spring of chicken". She will work any job for "chicken feed", a small amount of money. She is easily frightened. For example, she is too "chicken livered" to walk down a dark street alone at night. Often she will "chicken out". She will not go out alone at night.

My sister was "an ugly duckling". She looked strange when she was a child. But she grew up to be a beautiful woman. Sometimes she thinks too much about having something in the future before she really has it. She "counts her chickens before they are hatched⁵". Sometimes "her chickens come home to roost". That means her actions or words cause trouble for her. However my sister does not worry about what people say about her. Criticism falls off her like water off a duck`s back.

Politicians are sometimes considered "lame⁶ ducks" after losing an election. They have little time left in office and no much power. Congress holds a "lame duck" session after an election. Important laws are not passed during this period

This VOA Special English program Words and Their Stories was written by Jill Moss. I'm Faith Lapidus.

1 moss   

n.苔，藓，地衣

参考例句：

• Moss grows on a rock.苔藓生在石头上。
• He was found asleep on a pillow of leaves and moss.有人看见他枕着树叶和苔藓睡着了。

2 flock   

n.羊群，一群，大量；vi.群集，聚集，成群

参考例句：

• A flock of customers were waiting for the store to open.一群顾客在等候着商店开门。
• A few sheep have been lost from the flock.羊群里少了几只羊。

3 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

4 clipped   

adj.发音清楚截断的，缩短的的；经修剪而显整齐的v.用别针别在某物上，用夹子夹在某物上( clip的过去式)；剪短

参考例句：

• his clipped military tones 他那短促的军人音调
• He clipped the article out of the newspaper. 他从报纸上剪下了那篇文章。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 hatched   

孵化( hatch的过去式和过去分词 )； 孵出，破壳而出； 秘密策划，（尤指）密谋； 使（小鸟、小鱼、小虫等）孵出

参考例句：

• Silkworms are fed mulberry leaves after they have hatched. 蚕孵出后食桑叶。
• Ten out of the set of twelve were hatched. 一窝十二个蛋孵出了十个。

6 lame   

adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的

参考例句：

• The lame man needs a stick when he walks.那跛脚男子走路时需借助拐棍。
• I don't believe his story.It'sounds a bit lame.我不信他讲的那一套。他的话听起来有些靠不住。